新奇事件簿 气候改变我们鼻子的形状

Have you ever wondered why everyone's nose is a different shape? Researchers have come up with a possible explanation for this. A study from Pennsylvania State University in the USA says the Earth's climate could have something to do with the shape of our nose. The study found that people who have wider noses usually live in warmer, more humid areas. People with narrower noses are more commonly found in colder and drier climates. The nose plays an important function in making sure the air we breathe reaches our lungs in a warm and moist¹ condition. The width² of the nostrils³ and length of the nose help to make sure this happens. Researchers said the nose is like a little temperature controller.

你有没有想过，为什么我们每个人的鼻子形状不同？研究人员提出了一个可能的解释。来自美国宾夕法尼亚州立大学的一份研究表示，地球的气候可能与我们的鼻子形状有关。这份研究发现，鼻子比较宽的人通常居住在温暖潮湿的地区。鼻子比较窄的人居住的地区通常气候寒冷干燥。鼻子在确保我们呼吸的空气以温暖潮湿的状态进入肺部方面发挥着重要作用。鼻孔的宽度和长度可以确保这一点的实现。研究人员表示，鼻子像一个小小的气温控制器。

The researchers used 3D images to measure the noses of more than 2,600 people from Africa, Asia and Europe. They measured the width of the nostrils, the distance between nostrils and nose height. The researchers said their findings⁴ could help people who move to different climates to adjust to the heat or cold, and the humidity⁵. This could help reduce respiratory problems. Study co-author Dr Arslan Zaidi said increased travel and climate change make it difficult to predict if our nose will change shape in the future. He said: "Our lifestyles aren't what they used to be. We move around the world way too much. That makes it very complicated⁶ to predict the future evolution of the nose with the changing climate."

研究人员使用3D图像测量了来自非洲，亚洲和欧洲2600多人的鼻子。他们衡量了鼻孔的宽度，两个鼻孔之间的距离和鼻子的高度。研究人员表示，他们的发现可以帮助搬往气候不同地区的人们适应不同的温度和湿度。这样可以减少呼吸问题。研究联合作者Arslan Zaidi博士表示，不断增加的旅行数量和气候变化让我们预测将来鼻子的形状是否会改变更加困难。他表示：“我们的生活习惯和过去有所不同。我们经常在世界各地流转。这让我们预测鼻子随着气候变化的进化非常复杂。”

1 moist   

adj.潮湿的，湿润的；(果物)多汁的；[医]有分泌物的，湿性的；n.潮湿

参考例句：

• There were no windows to admit moist atmosphere to enter.没有窗户使潮湿的空气进入室内。
• Winds from the sea are usually moist.海风通常是潮湿的。

2 width   

n.宽度，阔度，广度；宽阔，广阔

参考例句：

• The hall is 15 metres in length and 8 in width.这个大厅直里有15米，横里有8米。
• Use a rule to measure the width of that cloth.用尺子量一下那块布的宽度。

3 nostrils   

鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
• The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

4 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

5 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。

6 complicated   

adj.错综复杂的，麻烦的，结构复杂的

参考例句：

• The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning.这首诗太复杂，我理解不了它的意思。
• This is the most complicated case I have ever handled.这是我所处理过的最为复杂的案子。