新奇事件簿 地球两磁极将要开始转动

When doom-and-gloom merchants warn us about threats to our existence, we usually hear about climate change, asteroid¹ strikes or nuclear war. Now scientists have warned of the potential threat from Earth's magnetic poles flipping³ upside down. The North Pole and South Pole are responsible for creating a special barrier around Earth that protects us from killer⁴ radiation from space. All life on Earth depends on this shield. Without it, scientists say solar rays could cause considerable damage. The poles could flip² in the next thousand years. This is because a rolling layer of liquid iron under the earth's crust is changing direction. The revolving⁵ currents of this molten iron at Earth's center act as a gigantic electromagnet.

当无望的商人们让我们警惕危及人类生存的威胁时，我们常听到的是气候变化、小行星碰撞或核战争。现在科学家们让人类警惕来自地球磁极颠倒的潜在威胁。北极和南极负责在地球周围创造一种特别的屏障以保护我们不受太空辐射的危害。地球上的所有生命都依赖于这个防御。没有了这层屏障，科学家表示，太阳光线会导致相当大的损害。两极会在下个千年中转动。这是因为地壳下的铁水卷层正在变化方向。地球中心铁水的旋转电流充当着一个巨大的电磁体。

Historically, Earth's North and South magnetic poles have flipped⁶ every 200,000 to 300,000 years. The last time was 780,000 years ago, so the next flip is well overdue⁷. Some scientists say the flip could destroy satellite communications and power grids⁸; that dangerous solar rays would greatly multiply rates of cancer; and that climate change could kill billions of creatures. Some scientists forewarn that a polar flip could even blow Earth's atmosphere away. However, one scientist dismissed the doom-mongers. He believes that the effects of any increase in radiation would be as harmful as lying on a hot beach for a day. He suggested a "floppy⁹ hat" would be enough to protect us from any increased radiation.

从历史上来看，地球的北南磁极每二十万到三十万年转动一次。上次转动是七十八万年前，所以下一次转动已经超过这个时间段了。一些科学家表示转动会摧毁卫星通信和电网；危险的太阳光线会极大提高癌症患病率；气候变化将会危及上亿生物。一些科学家预警，两极转动甚至会吹跑地球大气。然而一名科学家驳斥了末世论者。他认为辐射增加的危害就像是在热沙滩躺上一天一样。他还暗示，“宽檐帽”足以保护我们不受任何增加辐射的危害。

1 asteroid   

n.小行星；海盘车(动物)

参考例句：

• Astronomers have yet to witness an asteroid impact with another planet.天文学家还没有目击过小行星撞击其它行星。
• It's very unlikely that an asteroid will crash into Earth but the danger exists.小行星撞地球的可能性很小，但这样的危险还是存在的。

2 flip   

vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的

参考例句：

• I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。
• Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

3 flipping   

讨厌之极的

参考例句：

• I hate this flipping hotel! 我讨厌这个该死的旅馆！
• Don't go flipping your lid. 别发火。

4 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

5 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

6 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

7 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

8 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句

9 floppy   

adj.松软的，衰弱的

参考例句：

• She was wearing a big floppy hat.她戴了顶松软的大帽子。
• Can you copy those files onto this floppy disk?你能把那些文件复制到这张软盘上吗？