2021年经济学人 如何训练奶牛上厕所（1）

Now, in the hope of fighting climate change, Dr Jan Langbein, of the Fredrich-Loweffler-Institut in Germany, and his colleagues hope they can train cows to use the toilet, too.

现在，为了对抗气候变化，德国Fredrich Loweffler研究所的扬·朗本博士和他的同事们希望也能训练奶牛上厕所。

Cow urine contains urea, a nitrogen-rich compound that, when broken down by enzymes¹ in cow faeces, is converted into ammonia.

牛尿中含有尿素，一种富含氮的化合物。当尿素被牛粪便中的酶分解时会转化为氨，

Bacteria in the soil, in turn, convert that ammonia into nitrous oxide².

土壤里的细菌反之将氨转化为氧化亚氮。

Best known as a dental anaesthetic, the stuff is also a potent³ greenhouse gas.

众所周知，这种物质是一种牙科麻醉剂，同时也是一种强效温室气体。

And agriculture is a big source of it.

而农业是这种物质的主要来源。

In the European Union, livestock⁴ farming accounts for around 70% of ammonia emissions⁵.

在欧盟，畜牧业约占氨排放量的70%。

Collecting and treating cow pee before the ammonia can be produced might, therefore, seem like a good idea.

因此，在氨产生之前就对牛尿进行收集和处理似乎是个好主意。

But it has proved difficult in the past without confining the cows to small areas, which is bad for their welfare.

但事实证明，在过去，如果不把牛限制在小范围内饲养(不利于牛的福利)，那么很难对牛尿进行收集和处理。

As Dr Langbein describes in Current Biology, this conundrum⁶ could be solved if free-roaming cows could be persuaded to voluntarily relieve themselves in a latrine.

正如朗本博士在《当代生物学》中所描述的那样，如果能够说服自由漫步的奶牛自愿在厕所中小便，那么这个难题就可以解决。

But going to the loo is a tricky⁷ business, says Dr Langbein.

但朗本博士表示，让牛上厕所是一件棘手的事情。

It requires awareness⁸ of bladder fullness, self-control to override⁹ excretory reflexes, selection of a latrine, and intentional¹⁰ relaxation¹¹ of the muscles which control the flow of urine.

它需要牛意识到膀胱充盈、控制排泄反射、选择厕所以及有意识地放松控制尿流的肌肉。

Nevertheless, he has developed a three-stage process to help cows master toilet training.

尽管如此，朗本博士开发了一个分为三个阶段的过程来帮助奶牛上厕所。

1 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。

2 oxide   

n.氧化物

参考例句：

• Oxide is usually seen in our daily life.在我们的日常生活中氧化物很常见。
• How can you get rid of this oxide coating?你们该怎样除去这些氧化皮？

3 potent   

adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的

参考例句：

• The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。
• We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。

4 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

5 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

6 conundrum   

n.谜语；难题

参考例句：

• Let me give you some history about a conundrum.让我给你们一些关于谜题的历史。
• Scientists had focused on two explanations to solve this conundrum.科学家已锁定两种解释来解开这个难题。

7 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

8 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

9 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

10 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

11 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。