Earth and Sky:Narrowing Uncertainties 新发现

Narrowing Uncertainties¹ 新发现

In science, theories abound². Some are proven true, some are modified, some are completely abandoned. But even discrediting³ a theory is progress. Learn more about sorting through the uncertainties -- on today's Earth and Sky.

JB: This is Earth and Sky. Scientists don't spend all their time doing research. They also have to convince funders and policy makers⁴ that their research is making progress and should continue.

Harvard University's Steven Wofsy said there is still a lot of uncertainty⁵ in our understanding of global warming.

Steven Wofsy: Sometimes people ask me, "Are we narrowing the uncertainties?" This is a fairly common question that you get from policy makers and politicians. And if I tell them that I've shown that there are a lot of issues that we didn't know about, they say, "Well, you're not helping⁶. That doesn't narrow the uncertainties."

JB: Wofsy says that politicians and scientists use different definitions of uncertainty. For example, a scientist might disprove one of several competing theories or even learn something entirely⁷ unexpected -- but still not be any closer to solving a problem.

Steven Wofsy: But if you then step back for a moment and say, "Well, if I didn't know that this idea or theory was wrong, and I made a policy based on that, that wouldn't be a good thing, would it?" So in that sense, I think I can convince them that I've narrowed the uncertainties, even though I may have just exploded what was accepted before.

JB: For a transcript of our conversation with Dr. Wofsy, come to today's show on the web at earthsky.org. Special thanks to the National Science Foundation, where discoveries begin. I'm Joel Block for Earth and Sky.

1 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

2 abound   

vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于

参考例句：

• Oranges abound here all the year round.这里一年到头都有很多橙子。
• But problems abound in the management of State-owned companies.但是在国有企业的管理中仍然存在不少问题。

3 discrediting   

使不相信( discredit的现在分词 )； 使怀疑； 败坏…的名声； 拒绝相信

参考例句：

• It has also led to the discrediting of mainstream macroeconomics. 它还使得人们对主流宏观经济学产生了怀疑。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 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。