新奇事件簿 水熊可生存至太阳末日

A new study has revealed that a tiny, water-dwelling creature is likely to live until the end of the Earth. The near indestructible tardigrade, also known as water bear, looks like a short caterpillar¹ with eight legs. It is just one-tenth of a millimeter in size but has the physiological² makeup³ to be able to survive in any extreme conditions. The microscopic⁴ water bear can survive without food for three decades. It can also exist in bitterly freezing temperatures of -272 Celsius⁵ and in furnace-like temperatures of 150 C. Water bears can also survive the crushing pressure of deep oceans, the vacuum of outer space, nuclear war, global warming, or any other extreme meteorological event that would doom⁶ humans.

一项最新研究发现，一种微小的水上生物可能存活至地球末日。这种坚不可摧的缓步动物水熊虫看上去就像有八条腿的矮小的毛毛虫。水熊的体型只有0.1毫米，但是其生理结构使它可以在任何极端环境下生存。这种微小的水熊可以在没有食物的环境下生存三十年。还可以在零下272摄氏度的严寒和150度的酷暑中存活。水熊还能在深海高压，外太空的真空，核战争，全球变暖或任何会使人类灭亡的其他极端气象条件下存活。

Scientists say water bears are so hardy⁷ and resilient that the only thing that would wipe them out for good is if the Sun boils all the Earth's oceans away. The study says this is likely to happen in several billion years from now. The new study states that complex life is extremely difficult to destroy and could exist on other planets. A researcher said: "Tardigrades are as close to indestructible as it gets on Earth, but it is possible that there are other resilient species examples elsewhere in the Universe." He added: "There is a real case for looking for life on Mars and in other areas of the Solar System. If tardigrades are Earth's most resilient species, who knows what else is out there?"

科学家表示，水熊的适应力非常强，唯一能使它们消亡的是太阳把地球上所有海洋蒸发。研究表示，这种情况可能在几十亿年之后发生。新的研究显示，这种复杂的生命非常难以毁灭，可能在其他行星上存在。一名研究员表示：“缓步动物在地球上几乎是难以毁灭的，但是宇宙中其他地方可能存在其他适应力极强的物种。”他补充说：“这是在火星和太阳系其他地方寻找生命的良好案例。如果缓步动物是地球上最顽强的物种，谁知道其他地方有什么物种呢？”

1 caterpillar   

n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫

参考例句：

• A butterfly is produced by metamorphosis from a caterpillar.蝴蝶是由毛虫脱胎变成的。
• A caterpillar must pass through the cocoon stage to become a butterfly.毛毛虫必须经过茧的阶段才能变成蝴蝶。

2 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

3 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

4 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

5 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

6 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

7 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。