SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2115 - Digest

12 科技新闻摘要（一）
DATE=3-13-01
TITLE=SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2115 - Digest
BYLINE=Staff

VOICE ONE:
This is Bob Doughty¹.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long with Science in the News, a VOA Special English program about recent developments in science. Today, we tell about the discovery of the (1)wreck² of an (2)ancient (3)Greek ship. We tell about a World Health Organization campaign against the disease³ (4)epilepsy. And we tell about a new kind of (5)plastic that repairs itself.
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
An American (6)exploration company has found the wreck of an ancient Greek ship in a very deep area of the Mediterranean⁴ Sea. It may be the deepest ancient (7)shipwreck⁵ ever found. The discovery questions a long-held belief that ancient (8)sailors lacked skills needed to guide ships in open seas.
The magazine "(9)Archeology" reports the discovery. The ancient ship lay more than three-thousand meters below the surface of the (10)Mediterranean. The wreck was more than four-hundred-eighty kilometers from the island of (11)Corsica. Scientists believe the ship is about two-thousand-three-hundred years old.
VOICE TWO:
The Nauticos Corporation⁷ of Hanover, (12)Maryland discovered the wreck. The company was looking for an Israeli (13)submarine⁸ that had (14)disappeared more than thirty years ago. The Nauticos crew found the ancient ship two years ago. They kept the discovery secret until they had recovered the Israeli submarine.
Nauticos official Thomas Dettweiler said two company ships were searching for the Israeli submarine. He (15)supervised the operation from a ship with sonar (16)equipment. A sonar system uses sound waves to find and (17)identify objects under the water. A second ship carried a (18)vehicle for deep-sea searches.
VOICE ONE:
During the search, one ship's sonar began making strange sounds. Mister⁹ Dettweiler thought this meant they had found the lost submarine. He ordered the other ship to send down the deep-sea vehicle to search.
But a video camera on the vehicle did not show a submarine. Instead, it showed many large (19)clay (20)containers lying on the bottom of the sea. These containers are called (21)amphoras. Mister Dettweiler was excited. He says he knew that the (22)presence of about two-thousand amphoras meant they had discovered an important shipwreck. In ancient times such containers held wine, (23)olive oil and other goods.
He also knew that scientists believe ancient trading ships stayed close to the (24)coast. Scientists thought that sailors were afraid of open seas and deep water. So Mister Dettweiler knew scientists would be very interested in the discovery.
VOICE TWO:
The Nauticos team sent their video and (25)sonar studies to scientists at Texas A and M University in College Station, Texas. A scientist there says the ancient ship may have traveled in deep, open waters from Greece to Egypt.
The scientists believe the amphoras probably came from the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kos. The containers lie on top of each other. They cover the remains¹⁰ of the ship. A large metal container is among the amphoras. The experts believe this (26)cauldron was used for cooking.
VOICE ONE:
The scientists hope to examine a piece of the cauldron. The condition of its metal could tell how the Mediterranean Sea and (27)atmosphere have changed over the past two-thousand years.
Nauticos and the scientists hope to do more research in the area soon. Mister Dettweiler believes four other ancient ships may be nearby. He says finding¹¹ shipwrecks¹² from different time periods could be especially important. It could be the first evidence of continued open-sea trading in the ancient world.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE TWO:
You are listening to the Special English program SCIENCE IN THE NEWS on VOA. This is Sarah Long with Bob Doughty in Washington.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
The World Health Organization has announced projects in four countries as part of its campaign against the disease epilepsy. The countries are China, (28)Argentina, (29)Senegal and (30)Zimbabwe.
The four (31)projects will find out the number of people suffering from epilepsy. Medical experts will train health care workers to identify and treat patients with the disease.
VOICE ONE:
Epilepsy is a brain disorder¹³ in which (32)nerve cells suddenly release¹⁴ a large amount of (33)electrical energy. Victims react by suffering what are called seizures¹⁵. They may close their eyes, fall down and move their muscles uncontrollably for a few minutes. Or they may appear confused for a few minutes or act strangely.
The World Health Organization says epilepsy is the world's most common brain disorder. At least fifty-million people suffer from it. Eighty-five percent of them live in developing countries. Two-million people develop epilepsy every year.
VOICE TWO:
The W-H-O says any kind of brain injury or disease can lead to epilepsy. It also says common causes of epilepsy in developing countries include poor care during (34)childbirth and a lack of healthy food. There is no cure, but epilepsy can be treated. The W-H-O says up to eighty percent of the people with epilepsy could lead normal lives if they were treated.
The W-H-O says most epilepsy sufferers get no treatment. For example, its office in Latin¹⁶ America says five-million people in the area suffer epilepsy. It also says more than three-million of them are not treated. A recent study in thirty Latin American countries showed that none have national (35)policies for epilepsy. In Africa, only one doctor for every four-million people is able to treat brain disorders¹⁷.
VOICE ONE:
People with epilepsy fear that other people will find out they have the disease. The W-H-O campaign wants to educate the public about epilepsy. And it wants to improve the lives of those with the disease. Officials say their aim is to improve treatment, (36)prevention and social acceptance¹⁸ of the disease.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE TWO:
American scientists have developed the first material that repairs itself. The material is a form of plastic that has been (37)engineered to fill breaks in its surface.
Plastics are used today in everything from airplane wings to hundreds of objects found in the home. Scientists wanted to find a way to make objects made of plastic last longer. The researchers hope their new discovery can be used to make objects that are difficult or impossible to replace.
The surface of plastic objects breaks over time. Very small breaks, or cracks, develop every time a plastic object is used. The researchers wanted to find out how to stop plastic from developing small cracks that grow, weaken¹⁹ and destroy it. The research team at the University of (38)Illinois at Champaign-Urbana found an answer to the problem. They found the answer in the chemical structure of plastic itself.
VOICE ONE:
Plastic is made of small molecules²⁰ called monomers. These monomers link together to form very long molecules called polymers. Polymers give plastic its ability to be shaped and its strength.
The research team found a way to make plastic that contains very small balloons filled with liquid. The liquid contains (39)monomer (40)molecules - the building material of plastic. The team then created solid plastic that contains a special chemical. This chemical is called a (41)catalyst²¹. A catalyst is a (42)substance that starts a chemical reaction.
The new plastic still cracks like common plastic. But, when it does, the monomer liquid is released²² and flows into the crack. The catalyst in the solid plastic then reacts with the liquid monomer. The chemical reaction between the liquid monomer and the catalyst creates (43)polymer molecules that repair the break. The repaired plastic has seventy-five percent of the strength of undamaged plastic.
VOICE TWO:
The scientists say the new self-repairing plastic is not yet ready for production. But it has several possible uses. One could be in space vehicles where parts cannot be repaired or replaced. Another possible use might be in bridges. And it could be used in people, to replace bone joints²³ that have become broken or damaged. These include knees or hips⁶.
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Jerilyn Watson, Nancy Steinbach and Mario Ritter. It was produced by George Grow. This is Bob Doughty.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long. Join us again next week for more news about science

(1) wreck[ rek ]n.失事船(或飞机), 残骸, (船, 飞机的)失事vt.破坏, 拆毁
(2) ancient[ 5einFEnt ]adj.远古的, 旧的
(3) Greek[ ^ri:k ]adj.希腊的, 希腊人的, 希腊语的n.希腊人, 希腊语
(4) Pilepsy[ 5epilepsi ]n.[医]癫痫症
(5) plastic[ 5plAstik, plB:stik ]n.塑胶, 可塑体, 塑料制品, 整形adj.塑胶的, 塑造的, 有可塑性的, 造形的, (外科)整形的
(6) exploration[ 7eksplC:5reiFEn ]n.探险, 踏勘, 探测, [医](伤处等的)探查, 探察术
(7) shipwreck[ 5Fiprek ]n.船只失事, 海难, 遇难
(8) sailor[ 5seilE ]n.海员, 水手, 不大会晕船的人, 船员
(9) archeology[B:kI5RlEdVI]n.考古学
(10) Mediterranean[ 7meditE5reinjEn ]n.地中海（=Mediterranean sea, 位于欧, 亚, 非三大洲之间）, 地中海沿岸的居民adj.地中海的, 地中海民族的
(11) Corsica[ 5kC:sikE ]科西嘉(岛)[法国东南部省名]
(12) Maryland[ 5mZErilAnd ]n.马里兰
(13) submarine[ 5sQbmEri:n, sQbmE5ri:n ]n.潜水艇, 潜艇adj.水下的, 海底的
(14) disappear[ 7disE5piE ]vi.消失, 不见
(15) supervise[ 5sju:pEvaiz ]v.监督, 管理, 指导
(16) equipment[ i5kwipmEnt ]n.装备, 设备, 器材, 装置, 铁道车辆, (一企业除房地产以外的)固定资产, 才能
(17) identify[ ai5dentifai ]vt.识别, 鉴别, 把...和...看成一样v.确定
(18) vehicle[ 5vi:ikl ]n.交通工具, 车辆, 媒介物, 传达手段
(19) clay[ klei ]n.粘土, 泥土, 肉体, 人体, 似黏土的东西, 陶土制的烟斗
(20) container[ kEn5teinE ]n.容器(箱,盆,罐,壶,桶,坛子), 集装箱
(21) amphora[ 5AmfErE ]n.双耳细颈椭圆土罐
(22) presence[ 5prezns ]n.出席, 到场, 存在
(23) olive[ 5Cliv ]n.橄榄树, 橄榄叶, 橄榄枝, 橄榄色
(24) coast[ kEust ]n.海岸, 滑坡v.沿海岸而行
(25) sonar[ 5sEunB: ]n.声纳, 声波定位仪
(26) cauldron[ 5kC:ldrEn ]n.(=caldron)大锅炉
(27) atmosphere [ 5AtmEsfiE ]n.大气, 空气, 气氛
(28) Argentina[ 7B:dVEn5ti:nE ]n.阿根廷(南美洲南部国家)n.阿根廷(南美洲国家)
(29) Senegal[ 7seni5^C:l ]n.[国名]塞内加尔（西非国家）
(30) Zimbabwe[ zim5bB:bwei ]津巴布韦
(31) project[ 5prCdVekt ]n.计划, 方案, 事业, 企业, 工程v.设计, 计划, 投射, 放映, 射出, 发射(导弹等), 凸出
(32) nerve[ nE:v ]n.神经, 胆量, 勇气, 叶脉vt.鼓起勇气
(33) electrical[I5lektrIk(E)l]adj.电的, 有关电的
(34) childbirth[5tFaIldb:W]n.分娩
(35) policy[ 5pClisi ]n.政策, 方针
(36) prevention[ pri5venFEn ]n.预防, 防止
(37) engineer[ 7endVi5niE ]n.工程师, 技师, 火车司机, 轮机员, 工兵
(38) Illinois[ 7ili5nCi(z) ]n.伊利诺斯州(美国州名)
(39) monomer[ 5mCnEmE ]n.单体
(40) molecule[ 5mClikju:l, 5mEu- ]n.[化]分子, 些微
(41) catalyst[ 5kAtElist ]n.催化剂
(42) substance[ 5sQbstEns ]n.物质, 实质, 主旨
(43) polymer[ 5pClimE ]n.聚合体

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

3 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

4 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

5 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

6 hips   

abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的

参考例句：

• She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
• They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 corporation   

n.公司，企业&n.社团，团体

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。

8 submarine   

n.潜水艇；adj.水底的，海底的；vt.用潜艇袭击；vi.滑入...底下

参考例句：

• Within a short time,everything on the submarine was buttoned up.不一会儿，潜水艇内所有的东西都扣紧了。
• The submarine signaled for help.潜水艇发出求救的信号。

9 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

10 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。

11 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

12 shipwrecks   

海难，船只失事( shipwreck的名词复数 )； 沉船

参考例句：

• Shipwrecks are apropos of nothing. 船只失事总是来得出人意料。
• There are many shipwrecks in these waters. 在这些海域多海难事件。

13 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

14 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

15 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

16 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

17 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 acceptance   

n.接受，接收，验收，接纳；承认，认可

参考例句：

• The new laws gained widespread acceptance.新法令受到广泛赞同。
• It took years for Einstein's theory to gain acceptance.爱因斯坦的理论经过多年才被人们接受。

19 weaken   

v.(使)变弱，(使)虚弱

参考例句：

• You can weaken the tea by adding water.你可以加水把茶弄得淡一些。
• We never weaken our efforts in face of difficulties.我们在困难面前从不软化我们的努力。

20 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。

21 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

22 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

23 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。