万物简史 第345期:孤独的行星(10)

　　Collapsed¹ lungs were a routine hazard. 肺部坍缩是常有的危险，

　　Perforated eardrums were quite common, but, as Haldane reassuringly² noted³ in one of his essays, "the drum generally heals up; 鼓膜穿孔也是家常便饭，但霍尔丹在一篇论文中安慰别人说：“鼓膜一般来说会愈合。

　　and if a hole remains⁴ in it, although one is somewhat deaf, one can blow tobacco smoke out of the ear in question, which is a social accomplishment⁵." 要是留一个小孔，尽管你会有点儿耳背，但要是你抽烟，烟雾会从相关的耳朵里冒出来。这对社会是个贡献。”

　　What was extraordinary about this was not that Haldane was willing to subject himself to such risk and discomfort⁶ in the pursuit of science, 这件事的不平常之处，不在于霍尔丹本人为了从事科学研究愿意经受这样的风险或难受的感觉，

　　but that he had no trouble talking colleagues and loved ones into climbing into the chamber⁷, too. 而在于他能毫不费事地说服他的同事和亲人爬进减压室。

　　Sent on a simulated descent, his wife once had a fit that lasted thirteen minutes. 他的妻子有一次在进行模拟下降试验的过程中，痉挛了13分钟。

　　When at last she stopped bouncing across the floor, she was helped to her feet and sent home to cook dinner. 等她终于停止在地板上蹦来跳去，她被扶了起来，打发回家去做晚饭，

　　Haldane happily employed whoever happened to be around, including on one memorable⁸ occasion a former prime minister of Spain, Juan Negrin. 霍尔丹乐意利用任何恰好在场的人，包括有一次令人难忘地利用了西班牙的前首相胡安·内格林。

　　Dr. Negrin complained afterward⁹ of minor¹⁰ tingling¹¹ and "a curious velvety¹² sensation on the lips" but otherwise seems to have escaped unharmed. 内格林博士事后抱怨有点刺痛，“嘴皮上有点滑溜的感觉”，但除此以外安然无恙。

　　He may have considered himself very lucky. 他也许会为自己感到庆幸。

　　A similar experiment with oxygen deprivation¹³ left Haldane without feeling in his buttocks and lower spine¹⁴ for six years. 在类似的一次减氧试验中，霍尔丹的臀部和脊梁下部失去感觉达6年之久。

　　Among Haldane's many specific preoccupations was nitrogen intoxication¹⁵. 霍尔丹潜心研究许多问题，其中之一是氮中毒。

　　For reasons that are still poorly understood, beneath depths of about a hundred feet nitrogen becomes a powerful intoxicant. 由于至今仍不大清楚的原因，氮在30米以下的深处成了一种毒性很强的气体。

1 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

2 reassuringly   

ad.安心，可靠

参考例句：

• He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
• The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑，让人心里很踏实。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

6 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

9 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

10 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

11 tingling   

v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 velvety   

adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的

参考例句：

• a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒
• Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软，令人赞叹。

13 deprivation   

n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困

参考例句：

• Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous.多实验都证实了睡眠被剥夺是危险的。
• Missing the holiday was a great deprivation.错过假日是极大的损失。

14 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

15 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。