美国国家公共电台 NPR--Canada aims to provide medical technologies for deep space exploration

Canada aims to provide medical technologies for deep space exploration

Transcript¹

Twenty teams in Canada received small grants to develop portable medical tools that could be used on long interplanetary space flights. They could also be useful in remote parts of Canada.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Canada plays a big part in the U.S. space program. The Canadarm, for instance, is critical hardware on the International Space Station. Now Canada is angling to provide medical tech for deep space exploration. NPR's Joe Palca has more.

JOE PALCA, BYLINE²: To get to Mars, astronauts will have to spend months in space. A major challenge will be making sure they stay healthy during the trip. Lightweight, remotely operable medical equipment will be essential. To develop that equipment, the Canadian Space Agency started the Deep Space Healthcare Challenge. Annie Martin runs the challenge. She says there weren't any restrictions³ on what people could propose.

ANNIE MARTIN: We didn't want to limit any potential great ideas.

PALCA: While it's true Canada wants a role in space exploration, the same technologies could play a role in providing health care to people in that country's many small and isolated⁴ communities.

MARTIN: We're looking for a solution that could first address remote health care needs on Earth.

PALCA: Martin says they got about a hundred entries for the health care challenge, and there are a variety of intriguing⁵ ideas - clothing that can detect problems with muscles or joints⁶, patches that can provide an early alert about heart problems. And then there's Gordon Sarty's idea.

GORDON SARTY: And the idea is simple - put MRI into space.

PALCA: MRIs are used to provide detailed⁷ images of what's going on inside someone's body. Most MRI machines weigh many tons. Sarty has been working on MRIs at the University of Saskatchewan for years, and he thinks he can make a pint-sized version.

SARTY: A couple hundred kilograms max.

PALCA: While not as versatile⁸ as its heavier cousins, Sarty says the MRI he wants to build will still be useful for spotting medical problems.

SARTY: Tumors - you can still see tumors. Maybe not as small of a tumor⁹ as you could with a larger MRI, but those kinds of capabilities¹⁰ are all still there.

PALCA: Of course, there's still the issue of what to do about a tumor if you find one. There are no mini clinics or emergency rooms on the way to Mars. Canada is hoping to be part of the creative thinking it will take to solve that problem as well.

Joe Palca, NPR News.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

5 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

7 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

8 versatile   

adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的

参考例句：

• A versatile person is often good at a number of different things.多才多艺的人通常擅长许多种不同的事情。
• He had been one of the game's most versatile athletes.他是这项运动中技术最全面的运动员之一。

9 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

10 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓