新奇事件簿 美科学家发现引力波

Scientists in the USA have seen something amazing in space for the very first time. They saw gravitational waves. These are waves that form in space and travel outwards¹. The waves are similar to how ripples² in water move outwards after you throw a stone in a lake. The gravitational waves in space start when two giant space objects hit each other. Albert Einstein first spoke³ about waves in space in 1916 when he made his General Theory of Relativity⁴. One hundred years later, the researchers have proved that Einstein's theory was right. The researchers used powerful technology to see the gravitational waves. Einstein did not have this technology. He used his genius to predict that the waves existed.

美科学家首次公布太空惊人发现。引力波确实存在。引力波始于太空，并不断向外蔓延。引力波如同石头落入湖中的波纹。强烈碰撞才会产生引力波。1916年，爱因斯坦首次在广义相对论中提到引力波。100年后，此理论得到研究人员证实。并通过精密仪器探测引力波。而当时的爱因斯坦却完全不具备这些技术。而只是预测了它的存在。

Scientists say the discovery of the gravitational waves is one of the most important discoveries ever. Dr Lawrence Krauss, from Arizona State University, said the discovery was as great as the invention of the telescope. He said it would let scientists see many new things in space. It would also answer many questions about our universe. Dr Krauss said: "It has opened a new window on the universe, just like the telescope." He added that: "Using gravitational waves to explore the universe will allow us to see things we could have never seen before. It will also allow us to explore objects in the universe we've never seen before." He said it was beautiful that the discovery happened 100 years after Einstein's prediction.

据科学家表示，引力波的发现是一次巨大成就。亚利桑那州立大学劳伦斯·克劳斯博士认为，发现引力波就如同发现望远镜一样伟大。他认为引力波会让科学家获得更多新发现。通过引力波，许多太空问题迎刃而解。克劳斯博士认为：“就像望远镜的发现，引力波为太空提供了新视角。”他还表示：“通过引力波探索太空，我们能够发现许多前所未见的事物。以及前所未见的宇宙物体。他认为百年之后我们证实了爱因斯坦预测，这真是美妙至极。

1 outwards   

adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形

参考例句：

• Does this door open inwards or outwards?这门朝里开还是朝外开？
• In lapping up a fur,they always put the inner side outwards.卷毛皮时，他们总是让内层朝外。

2 ripples   

逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The moon danced on the ripples. 月亮在涟漪上舞动。
• The sea leaves ripples on the sand. 海水在沙滩上留下了波痕。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 relativity   

n.爱因斯坦的相对论；相关性，相对性

参考例句：

• Finally they accepted Einstein's relativity.他们终于接受了爱因斯坦的相对论。
• There is no relativity between the two matters.这两件事毫无关系。