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This is Scientific American's 60s Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute.

Think about the tools used by biologists, perhaps test tubes and microscopes come to mind. But what about diapers? No, it's not the investigators¹ in their work to take bathroom breaks. Turns out that the absorbing material and disposable diapers can be used to expend² the biological specimens³ and make them easier to see with a microscope. Researchers from MIT wanted to take a closer look at the connections formed between neurons and intact brains. Close enough so that they can see the actual molecules⁴ those nerve cells use to interact. That level of details is beyond the resolution of conventional light microscopes. But what if the structure of interests can somehow be made bigger? That's where the diapers come in. Researchers found they can infuse their tissue samples with acrylate, the super absorbing stuff in threw-away diapers. The chemical forms a molecular⁵ mesh⁶ to which the tissue can anchor. Then, when the reserchers add water, the acrylate swells⁷, and so does the sample, which makes the ? structures more visible. The technique is decribed in the journal Science. The researchers have used the acrylate swelling⁸ or huggie enhancement or even pamper⁹ amplification¹⁰ if you will to peer into the brains of mice, fruitflies and zebra fish. Now whether this nifty ? maneuver¹¹ will expand our understanding of life small as cellular¹² mysteries? Well, it depends.

Thanks for the minute for Scientific American's 60s Science. I'm Karen Hopkins.

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1 investigators
n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句：
This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。 The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。来自《简明英汉词典》

2 expend
vt.花费，消费，消耗
参考例句：
Don't expend all your time on such a useless job.不要把时间消耗在这种无用的工作上。 They expend all their strength in trying to climb out.他们费尽全力想爬出来。

3 specimens
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人
参考例句：
Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。 The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。来自《简明英汉词典》

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 molecular
adj.分子的；克分子的
参考例句：
The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

6 mesh
n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络
参考例句：
Their characters just don't mesh.他们的性格就是合不来。 This is the net having half inch mesh.这是有半英寸网眼的网。

7 swells
增强( swell的第三人称单数 )；肿胀；（使）凸出；充满（激情）
参考例句：
The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。 A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

8 swelling
n.肿胀
参考例句：
Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。 There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

9 pamper
v.纵容，过分关怀
参考例句：
Don't pamper your little daughter.别把你的小女儿娇坏了！ You need to pamper yourself and let your charm come through.你需要对自己放纵一些来表现你的魅力。

10 amplification
n.扩大，发挥
参考例句：
The voice of despair may be weak and need amplification.绝望的呼声可能很微弱，需要扩大。 Some of them require further amplification.其中有些内容需进一步详细阐明。

11 maneuver
n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略
参考例句：
All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。 I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

12 cellular
adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的
参考例句：
She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。 Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。