2021年经济学人 如何把牙膏挤得一滴不剩?(2)

To produce their slippery pipes and containers, Dr Varanasi and Dr Smith first impose a microscopically¹ textured³ pattern on them and then apply a suitably formulated⁴ liquid.

为了制造出光滑的管道和容器，瓦拉纳西博士和史密斯博士首先在它们身上施加一种微观纹理图案，然后再应用一种配方合适的液体。

This fills the gaps in the texture², creating a surface across which gooey substances slide easily.

这就填补了纹理上的空白，创造了一个粘性物质容易滑动的表面。

Any risk of contamination can be eliminated by making the liquid in question from materials also employed in the product.

任何污染的风险都可以通过将问题液体从产品中使用的材料中消除。

Besides pleasing customers who like to get their money's worth, the new, slippery toothpaste tubes should help with recycling.

除了取悦那些想物有所值的顾客之外，这些新的、光滑的牙膏管还应该有助于回收利用。

Existing tubes are rarely recycled, not only because they have residue⁵ left inside them but also because they are usually made from a laminate of plastic and aluminium⁶ foil.

现有的塑料管很少被回收利用，不仅因为它们内部有残留物，还因为它们通常由塑料和铝箔制成。

Mixed materials of this sort are hard to recycle, and therefore end up being dumped in landfill, or incinerated.

这种混合的材料很难回收利用，因此最终会被扔进垃圾填埋场或焚烧。

Despite their success with toothpaste, Dr Varanasi and Dr Smith have not given up on food producers.

瓦拉纳西博士和史密斯博士尽管在牙膏方面取得了成功，但他们并未放弃食品生产商。

Besides ketchup⁷, their slippery surfaces also aid the dispensing⁸ of products such as mayonnaise, and may help, too, with things like hummus and soured cream that have a thicker consistency⁹ and which usually come in tubs.

除了番茄酱，它们光滑的表面他们的光滑表面还能帮人们更畅快地涂抹蛋黄酱等产品，还可能有助于像鹰嘴豆泥和酸奶油之类更粘稠和通常用盒子包装的产品。

They have, for instance, carried out a trial putting cream cheese into a squeezy bottle with a slot-shaped dispenser.

例如，他们进行了一项试验，将奶油奶酪放入一个带有槽形分配器的可挤压的瓶子中。

"You get this perfect strip of cream cheese right on your bagel," enthuses Dr Smith.

“你可以在百吉饼上挤出完美的一圈奶油芝士，”史密斯博士热情地说。

1 microscopically   

显微镜下

参考例句：

• Microscopically the ores are medium grained to amorphous. 显微镜下，矿石为中粒至非晶质。 来自辞典例句
• He studied microscopically the statistics of trade. 他极仔细地研究了贸易统计数字。 来自辞典例句

2 texture   

n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理

参考例句：

• We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
• Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。

3 textured   

adj.手摸时有感觉的, 有织纹的

参考例句：

• The shoe's sole had a slightly textured surface. 鞋底表面稍感粗糙。
• Shallow burial seems to preserve chalky textured porosity. 浅埋藏似能保留具白垩状结构的孔隙。

4 formulated   

v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示

参考例句：

• He claims that the writer never consciously formulated his own theoretical position. 他声称该作家从未有意识地阐明他自己的理论见解。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This idea can be formulated in two different ways. 这个意思可以有两种说法。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 residue   

n.残余，剩余，残渣

参考例句：

• Mary scraped the residue of food from the plates before putting them under water.玛丽在把盘子放入水之前先刮去上面的食物残渣。
• Pesticide persistence beyond the critical period for control leads to residue problems.农药一旦超过控制的临界期，就会导致残留问题。

6 aluminium   

n.铝 (=aluminum)

参考例句：

• Aluminium looks heavy but actually it is very light.铝看起来很重，实际上却很轻。
• If necessary, we can use aluminium instead of steel.如果必要，我们可用铝代钢。

7 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

8 dispensing   

v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜，但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。