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Cooking is one big science experiment. And chefs have been gaining fame for more explicit¹ use of scientific techniques and tools in the kitchen.

Now, according to an article in the December issue of Physics World, mixologists—the folks behind the bar—are getting into the act. They're borrowing tools from the labs to create wild new libations.

Here's one example. Alcohol is better than water at delivering flavors and aromas³, since many of those molecules⁴ aren't water-soluble.

Plant material is fermented⁵ and then heated to extract the alcohol that contains those flavors—that's distillation⁶. But the heat can destroy some aroma² molecules.

Enter the scientists' rotary⁷ evaporator. The fermented liquid goes in a rotating container. The pressure is lowered, so volatile⁹ components¹⁰ evaporate. Then a cool coil condenses the vapor⁸ back into liquid.

One mixologist in London used this technique to make a mild habañero liqueur. The spicy¹¹ capsaicin isn't volatile—so it gets left behind. The final product has the fruity and floral flavors of chili¹² peppers with none of the searing heat.

For more proof, go to the article "Cocktail¹³ Physics," at physicsworld.com

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Cynthia Graber.

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收听单词发音

1 explicit
adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的
参考例句：
She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。 He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。

2 aroma
n.香气，芬芳，芳香
参考例句：
The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。 The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

3 aromas
n.芳香( aroma的名词复数 )；气味；风味；韵味
参考例句：
Intoxicating earth aromas induced lassitude and ethereal calm. 泥土的醉人的芳香叫人懒洋洋的，感到一种远离尘世的宁静。来自辞典例句 Nose and elegant nose with attractive fruity, floral and citrus fruit aromas. 芳香：优雅、馥郁、迷人的柑橘属水果的果香及花的清香。来自互联网

4 molecules
分子( molecule的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。 Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

5 fermented
v.（使）发酵( ferment的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）激动；骚动；骚扰
参考例句：
When wine is fermented, it gives off gas. 酒发酵时发出气泡。来自《简明英汉词典》 His speeches fermented trouble among the workers. 他的演讲在工人中引起骚动。来自辞典例句

6 distillation
n.蒸馏，蒸馏法
参考例句：
The discovery of distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs of the 11th century.通常认为，蒸馏法是阿拉伯人在11世纪发明的。 The oil is distilled from the berries of this small tree.油是从这种小树的浆果中提炼出来的。

7 rotary
adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的
参考例句：
The central unit is a rotary drum.核心设备是一个旋转的滚筒。 A rotary table helps to optimize the beam incidence angle.一张旋转的桌子有助于将光线影响之方式角最佳化。

8 vapor
n.蒸汽，雾气
参考例句：
The cold wind condenses vapor into rain.冷风使水蒸气凝结成雨。 This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor.这部机器有时排出大量的热气。

9 volatile
adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质
参考例句：
With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。 His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

10 components
（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分；成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量；（混合物的）组成部分
参考例句：
the components of a machine 机器部件 Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

11 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。

12 chili
n.辣椒
参考例句：
He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。 It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。

13 cocktail
n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物
参考例句：
We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。 At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。