【英语时差8,16】嘿！你伤到我的树叶了！

Hey! You’re Hurting My Leaves! D:Yael,the last time I was mown the lawn,I couldn't help thinking,it's lucky these grass plant don't feel pain Y:Ture,Don.But did you know that scientists have discovered that plants use a form of electrical signaling that spreads throughout the plant when one of its leaves is injured. D:Like the electric signals that spread through our nerves when we are injured? Y:The electric signals in plants, called “system potentials”, are not exactly like the electric “action potentials” in the nervous systems of animals. But they do have certain similarities. Both kinds of electric signals travel very quickly from the site of the wound to distant parts of the organism. D:Cool. Y:The way these electric signals were discovered is pretty cool,too. A team of German scientists carefully inserted super thin, hair like electrodes through open stomata on the leaves. Stomata are tiny pores¹, found on the undersides of leaves, that open and close to control evaporation² and gas exchange for the plant. The tiny electrodes could then record activity from cells inside the leaf.Using these sensitive electrodes, the scientists were able to record changes in voltage as the electric signals spread from leaf to leaf across the entire plant. The system potentials in plants move much more slowly than the electric signals that run through our neurons, spreading at rates between two to four inches per minute. D:So,can my grass feel pain? Y:No.Plants don't have brains or feelings the way animals do.But it is important for plants to detect damage from herbivores, insects or even lawnmowers. Electrical signaling is one way plants know there is damage and it’s time to activate³ defense⁴ mechanisms⁵ or begin re growth in damaged areas.

1 pores   

（皮肤上的）毛孔，微孔( pore的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pores of your body secrete sweat. 身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
• Sweat exudes through the pores. 汗从毛孔中渗出。

2 evaporation   

n.蒸发，消失

参考例句：

• Be careful not to lose too much liquid by evaporation.小心不要因蒸发失去太多水分。
• Our bodies can sweat,thereby losing heat by evaporation.我们的身体能出汗，由此可以蒸发散热。

3 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

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。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》