TED演讲:辣味的科学(2)

 　　The standard measure of a food's spiciness¹ is its rating on the Scoville scale, 食物辣度的标准计量方法是借助史高维尔辣度单位测量，

　　which measures how much its capsaicin content can be diluted² before the heat is no longer detectable³ to humans. 方法是不断稀释被测物中的辣椒素，直到人感觉不到辣为止，稀释液体的总和即是被测物的史高维尔辣度单位。

　　A sweet bell pepper gets 0 Scoville heat units, while Tabasco sauce clocks in between 1,200-2,400 units. 甜椒的史高维尔辣度单位是0，塔巴斯科辣沙司的辣度单位在1200-2400之间。

　　The race to create the hottest pepper is a constant battle, but two peppers generally come out on top: 现在，培植最辣辣椒俨然成为一种国际竞赛，

　　The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion⁴ and the Carolina Reaper⁵. 目前公认最辣的两种辣椒是千里达莫鲁加毒蝎椒和卡罗来纳死神辣椒。

　　These peppers measure between 1.5 and 2 million Scoville heat units, which is about half the units found in pepper spray. 这两种辣椒的史高维尔辣度单位在150-200万之间，相当于一半的辣椒喷雾剂辣度单位。

　　So, why would anyone want to eat something that causes such high levels of pain? 为什么有人愿意吃能造成如此巨大痛苦的食物呢？

　　Nobody really knows when or why humans started eating hot peppers. 我们无法得知人类最早食用辣椒的时间和原因。

　　Archaeologists have found spices like mustard along with human artifacts dating as far back as 23,000 years ago. 考古学家从两万三千多年前的古人类器皿中发现了类似芥末的香料。

　　But they don't know whether the spices were used for food or medication or just decoration. 但尚不明确这些香料是用作调味、治病，还是仅仅作为装饰。

　　More recently, a 6,000 year old crockpot, lined with charred⁶ fish and meat, also contained mustard. 最近，考古学家还发现一个六千多年前的瓦罐罐旁有烤鱼和烤肉的遗迹罐内有芥末。

　　One theory says that humans starting adding spices to food to kill off bacteria. 有观点认为古人类从这时开始在食物中加入香料以此杀菌。

　　And some studies show that spice developed mostly in warmer climates where microbes also happen to be more prevalent. 一些研究显示，在古代，香料主要生长在气候较热的地区而这些地方也更容易滋生细菌。

　　But why we continue to subject ourselves to spicy⁷ food today is still a bit of a mystery. 至于为什么人类到了今天仍对辛辣食物欲罢不能还是个解不开的谜团。

　　For some people, eating spicy food is like riding rollercoasters; 对一些人来说吃辛辣的食物就像坐过山车，

　　they enjoy the ensuing thrill, even if the immediate⁸ sensation is unpleasant. 虽然当时最直接的感受并不舒服，但他们非常享受随之而来的刺激感。

　　Some studies have even shown that those who like to eat hot stuff are more likely to enjoy other adrenaline-rich activities, like gambling⁹. 还有研究显示喜欢吃辣食的人也更乐于从事其他能激起肾上腺素的活动，比如赌博。

　　The taste for spicy food may even be genetic¹⁰. 对辛辣食物的喜好程度甚至也有遗传的因素。

　　And if you're thinking about training a bit, to up your tolerance¹¹ for spice, know this: 如果你想训练得自己更能吃辣，有这么几条信息跟您分享：

　　According to some studies, the pain doesn't get any better.You just get tougher.  一些研究显示辣带来的灼烧感从不会减轻。只是吃辣的人的忍耐力提高了。

　　In fact, researchers have found that people who like to eat spicy foods don't rate the burn any less painful than those who don't. 研究人员发现喜欢吃辣食的人跟不喜欢吃辣食的人体验到的辛辣感是一样的。

　　They just seem to like the pain more. 只是喜欢吃辣的人更享受那种灼烧感。

　　So, torment¹² your heat receptors all you want, but remember, when it comes to spicy food, you're going to get burned. 所以，尽情磨练你的热觉感受器吧，不过要记住，当你吃辣食的时候大脑会认为你被灼烫了。

1 spiciness   

n.香馥，富于香料；香味

参考例句：

• For that extra spiciness, add powdered nutmeg to taste. 至于要得到那种额外的香味，酌量加入肉豆蔻粉。 来自互联网
• Aside from a graph a thermometer will be used to show spiciness. 除了文字标记以外，还将用温度表图像形象地表达辣度。 来自互联网

2 diluted   

无力的，冲淡的

参考例句：

• The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

3 detectable   

adj.可发觉的；可查明的

参考例句：

• The noise is barely detectable by the human ear.人的耳朵几乎是察觉不到这种噪音的。
• The inflection point at this PH is barely detectable.在此PH值下，拐点不易发现。

4 scorpion   

n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭

参考例句：

• The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。
• The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。

5 reaper   

n.收割者，收割机

参考例句：

• The painting is organized about a young reaper enjoying his noonday rest.这幅画的画面设计成一个年轻的割禾人在午间休息。
• A rabbit got caught in the blades of the reaper.一只兔子被卷到收割机的刀刃中去了。

6 charred   

v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦

参考例句：

• the charred remains of a burnt-out car 被烧焦的轿车残骸
• The intensity of the explosion is recorded on the charred tree trunks. 那些烧焦的树干表明爆炸的强烈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

10 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

11 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

12 torment   

n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠

参考例句：

• He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
• Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。