英语 英语 日语 日语 韩语 韩语 法语 法语 德语 德语 西班牙语 西班牙语 意大利语 意大利语 阿拉伯语 阿拉伯语 葡萄牙语 葡萄牙语 越南语 越南语 俄语 俄语 芬兰语 芬兰语 泰语 泰语 泰语 丹麦语 泰语 对外汉语

VOA科学技术2024--Study Explores History of Cockroaches

时间:2024-08-12 07:39来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

They are six-legged, hairy home invaders1 that will not die, no matter how hard you try.

Cockroaches3 are experts at surviving indoors. But they did not start out that way.

A recent study uses genetics to examine cockroaches' spread across the world, from beginnings in southeast Asia to Europe and beyond. The findings cover thousands of years of cockroach2 history and suggest the pests may have spread across the world by getting a ride with another species: people.

"It's not just an insect story...It's an insect and humanity story," said Stephen Richards of Baylor College of Medicine. Richards was not involved with the study.

Researchers studied the genes4 of over 280 cockroaches from 17 countries and six continents. They confirmed that the German cockroach - a species found worldwide - has its beginnings in southeast Asia. The creature likely evolved from the Asian cockroach around 2,100 years ago. Scientists have long suspected the German cockroach's Asian beginnings since similar species still live there.

The research appeared recently in the publication Proceedings5 of the National Academy of Sciences.

The cockroaches then spread around the world on two major paths. They traveled west to the Middle East about 1,200 years ago, perhaps living in soldiers' food storage containers. And they may have gotten on Dutch and British East India Company trade ships to get to Europe about 270 years ago, the scientists' findings suggest.

Once the creatures arrived in Europe, inventions like the steam engine and indoor plumbing6 likely helped the insects travel further and get used to living indoors, where they are most commonly found today.

Researchers said exploring how cockroaches conquered past environments may lead to better pest control.

Modern-day cockroaches are tough to keep away because they evolve quickly to resist pesticides8, said the study's writer Qian Tang of Harvard University.

Words in This Story

species - n. group of animals or plants that are similar

evolve - v. to develop by a process of evolution

plumbing -- n. the system of pipes and fixtures9 that distribute and use water in a building

pesticide7 -- n. an agent used to destroy insects or pests


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 invaders 5f4b502b53eb551c767b8cce3965af9f     
入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
  • The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。
2 cockroach AnByA     
n.蟑螂
参考例句:
  • A cockroach can live several weeks with its head off.蟑螂在头被切掉后仍能活好几个星期。
  • She screamed when she found a cockroach in her bed.她在床上找到一只蟑螂时大声尖叫。
3 cockroaches 1936d5f0f3d8e13fc00370b7ef69c14c     
n.蟑螂( cockroach的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • At night, the cockroaches filled the house with their rustlings. 夜里,屋里尽是蟑螂窸窸瑟瑟的声音。 来自辞典例句
  • It loves cockroaches, and can keep a house clear of these hated insects. 它们好食蟑螂,可以使住宅免除这些讨厌昆虫的骚扰。 来自百科语句
4 genes 01914f8eac35d7e14afa065217edd8c0     
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因,所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪
5 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
6 plumbing klaz0A     
n.水管装置;水暖工的工作;管道工程v.用铅锤测量(plumb的现在分词);探究
参考例句:
  • She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche. 她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。
  • They're going to have to put in new plumbing. 他们将需要安装新的水管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 pesticide OMlxV     
n.杀虫剂,农药
参考例句:
  • The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
  • 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。
8 pesticides abb0488ed6905584ea91347395a890e8     
n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 );除害药物
参考例句:
  • vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
  • There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 fixtures 9403e5114acb6bb59791a97291be54b5     
(房屋等的)固定装置( fixture的名词复数 ); 如(浴盆、抽水马桶); 固定在某位置的人或物; (定期定点举行的)体育活动
参考例句:
  • The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
  • The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了,钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎点击提交分享给大家。
------分隔线----------------------------
TAG标签:   VOA英语  慢速英语  科学技术
顶一下
(0)
0%
踩一下
(0)
0%
最新评论 查看所有评论
发表评论 查看所有评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:
听力搜索
推荐频道
论坛新贴