新奇事件簿 地球两磁极将要开始转动（在线收听）

When doom-and-gloom merchants warn us about threats to our existence, we usually hear about climate change, asteroid strikes or nuclear war. Now scientists have warned of the potential threat from Earth's magnetic poles flipping upside down. The North Pole and South Pole are responsible for creating a special barrier around Earth that protects us from killer radiation from space. All life on Earth depends on this shield. Without it, scientists say solar rays could cause considerable damage. The poles could flip in the next thousand years. This is because a rolling layer of liquid iron under the earth's crust is changing direction. The revolving 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 flipped every 200,000 to 300,000 years. The last time was 780,000 years ago, so the next flip is well overdue. Some scientists say the flip could destroy satellite communications and power grids; 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 "floppy 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。