1、Unit4FunwithscienceReadingThe human microbiome: an invisible microuniverse人类微生物群系:一个看不见的微宇宙What organisms live with us, make up about two per cent of an adults body mass, yet are invisible to the naked eye? They are the estimated 39 trillion microorganisms living in and on our body, like bacteria an
2、d viruses, which compose the human microbiome!什么生物和我们共生，约占成年人体重的2%，而肉眼却看不见?它们是生活在我们体内和体表的约39万亿个微生物，比如细菌和病毒，它们构成了人类微生物群系!不过没必要恐慌，因为它们大多数都是对健康有益的。尽管极其微小，这些微生物会以巨大的意想不到的方式影响我们的身心。But there is no need to panic, for most of them are there to keep us healthy. Even though incredibly small, these microorgan
3、isms influence our body and mind in big unexpected ways.So, where do these microorganisms come from? Well, they have always been a part of us. Our very first birthday gift-three quarters of the essential microorganisms we need to survive and grow-is from our mother when we are born. By the time we r
4、each two years old, we have our very own personal collection of microorganisms that reflects the various circumstances of our lives. Going through life, we further expose ourselves to foreign microorganisms, which cause a part of our microbiome to change every day. However, our core set of microorga
5、nisms, approximately two thirds, stays fairly constant throughout our lives.那么，这些微生物是从哪里来的呢?其实，他们一直是我们的一部分。我们的第一份生日礼物-我们生存和成长所需的基本微生物的四分之三-在出生时从母亲那里获得。到两岁时，我们就有了个人的微生物群，它们反映着我们生活的各种环境。生活中，我们进一步接触外来微生物，导致我们的微生物群系每天都在发生局部变化。但是，占比约三分之二的核心微生物群，在我们一生中是相当稳定的。The make-up and state of our special blend of m
6、icroorganisms affects us physically, including our immune system, weight and sleep patterns. Every day, the resident microorganisms in our bodies compete with the invading ones, preventing them from getting a foothold, thus helping form a strong immune system and keep us healthy. Similarly, the comp
7、osition of our gut microbiome plays a vital role in regulating our body weight. Besides helping digest food, evidence indicates that gut microorganisms affect the way we store fat and respond to chemicals that make us feel hungry or full. As a result, without the proper mix of microorganisms in the
8、gut, we might suffer from health problems like obesity. Added to this, microorganisms can influence certain aspects of our sleep patterns. If we stay up all night or travel rapidly through many time zones, we may interrupt the microorganisms biological schedules, which is likely to cause a disturban
9、ce in our normal sleep routine.我们特有的微生物混合体的构成与状态影响着我们的身体健康，包括我们的免疫系统、体重和睡眠模式。每天，我们体内的常驻微生物与入侵微生物竞争，阻止它们立足，从而有助于形成强大的免疫系统，让我们保持健康。同样，我们肠道微生物群系的构成在调节体重方面至关重要。除了能帮助消化食物，有证据显示，肠道微生物还会影响我们储存脂肪的方式，以及让我们产生饥饿感和饱腹感的相关化学品的应答方式。因此，如果肠道微生物组合出差错，就会引发肥胖等健康问题。此外，微生物还会影响我们睡眠模式的某些方面。如果熬夜或快速跨越多个时区，体内微生物的生物钟会被打乱，进而有可能
10、干扰我们正常的睡眠习惯。The influence of microorganisms reaches beyond physical health to our cognitive and psychological well-being. Believe it or not, gut microorganisms affect how well the brain functions. While scientists are still at the early stages of uncovering exactly how gut microorganisms communicate
11、 with the brain, they do know that the brain and the gut talk to each other. For example, when the body is stressed, ill or old, some gut microorganisms respond negatively, releasing harmful substances which may enter the brain through the bloodstream. When the immune system attacks these substances
12、, it often kills healthy brain nerve cells. Furthermore, gut microorganisms help regulate brain chemistry with certain chemicals they produce, so an imbalance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms in the gut can negatively affect brain chemistry. These gut-brain interactions sometimes result in s
13、uch problems as memory loss and depression. It is therefore important that we take good care of our gut microorganisms so as to improve our cognitive capabilities and enhance our psychological health.微生物的影响不仅限于身体健康，还涉及我们的认知和心理健康。不管你信不信，肠道微生物会影响大脑功能。虽然科学家还处于探究肠道微生物与大脑交流方式的初级阶段，但他们的确知道大脑和肠道能相互“交谈”。例如，
14、当身体压力大、生病或衰老时，一些肠道微生物会作出消极反应，释放一些有害物质，这些物质可能随血液进人大脑。免疫系统在攻击这些物质时，经常杀死健康的脑神经细胞。此外，肠道微生物用它们产生的某些化学品来帮助调节大脑化学结构，因此肠道中有益和有害微生物的失衡会对大脑化学结构产生负面影响。这种肠脑交互作用有时会导致诸如记忆力减退和抑郁等问题。因此，照顾好我们的肠道微生物，这很重要，可以提高我们的认知能力和改善我们的心理健康。Given their importance, scientists are working hard to find out how we can take advantage o
15、f microorganisms within the field of human health. Successful projects have found ways to improve the immune system through microbiome transplants-using good microorganisms to replace bad ones. Furthermore, the findings of how the microbiome affects psychological health have given rise to a whole ne
16、w class of medicines that could be used for treating serious mental illnesses, as well as relieving daily stress and anxiety. In the future, we might even be capable of developing microbiome vaccinations that could get rid of current health issues like obesity or malnutrition.鉴于它们的重要性，科学家正在努力探究在人类健康
17、领域利用微生物的方法。有些项目已经成功地找到了通过微生物群系移植来改善免疫系统的方法，即用“好”微生物取代“坏”微生物。而且，关于微生物群系如何影响心理健康的研究成果催生了一类全新药物，可用于治疗严重心理疾病，以及缓解日常压力和焦虑。未来，我们甚至可能研发出“微生物群系疫苗”，从而攻克肥胖、营养不良等现有的健康问题。Microorganisms, those tiny creatures we carry around all our lives, have surprised us with their seemingly limitless potential. They will cer
18、tainly reveal more secrets as researchers continue to explore their world. The invisible microuniverse is filled with endless possibilities waiting to be explored, just like the great universe out there.微生物，那些伴随我们一生的小东西，它们似乎无穷无尽的潜力让我们震惊。随着研究者对微生物世界的持续探究，肯定会有更多奥秘被揭开。看不见的微宇宙就像那大宇宙一样，蕴含着无限可能，只等我们去发掘。(译
19、者:胡晓平)Bionics: where nature and technology intersect仿生学:自然与技术的交汇点Humans are curious by nature, and about nature. Perfected over billions of years, natures forms and functions have inspired us to imitate it and develop materials and technologies that improve our lives. Consequently, a science known a
20、s bionics was born. Although the term bionics officially dates back to 1958, the practice is centuries old. It could be said that as far back as 2,500 years ago, Lu Ban, a carpenter in ancient China, was engaged in bionics when he produced a saw by copying the shape of a leafs sharp teeth. Currently
21、, bionics has scientists eagerly combing the natural world for original ideas to stimulate their creativity.人类天生充满好奇心，对大自然(更是) 充满好奇心。经过几十亿年的日臻完善，大自然的形态和功能激励我们去模仿它，开发出改善我们生活的材料和技术。因此，一门称之为“仿生学”的科学诞生了。虽然“仿生学”一词正式追溯到1958年，但这种实践已有几个世纪的历史。据说早在2500年前，古代中国的木匠鲁班就开始从事仿生学，当时他通过模仿树叶锋利的齿状制造了一把锯子。目前，仿生学促使科学家热切地在
22、自然界中寻找有创意的想法，激发他们的创造力。The idea of taking inspiration from nature may sound simple; however, scientists often need to go to great lengths to effectively combine nature and innovation. Firstly, they must observe a living organism with the potential for offering solutions to a particular human problem.
23、 Secondly, during observation and data analysis, scientists should try to identify natures own solutions, which may be used in design and engineering. Thirdly, further exploration is required to determine how the natural solution will fit in with human needs. Finally, they need to decide whether the
24、 solution can be recreated to develop a new product or perhaps improve an existing one, and how this can be achieved. This process may have to be performed several times and it may take scientists years of trial and error to perfect the product.从大自然中汲取灵感的想法可能听起来很简单;然而，科学家经常需要不遗余力地将自然和创新有效地结合起来。首先，他们
25、必须观察有可能为某一特定人类问题提供解决方案的生物。其次，在观察和数据分析过程中，科学家要努力发现自然自身的解决方案，这些方案可能被应用到设计和工程中。第三，科学家需要进一步探索，确定自然的解决方案如何与人类需求相适应。最后，他们需要决定是否可以再现该解决方案，以开发新产品或有可能改进现有产品，以及如何实现这一点。这一过程可能不得不操作好几次，科学家可能需要多年的反复试验才能完善产品。Once scientists bridge the gap between nature and innovation, a path opens up to many novel ideas. One ide
26、a grew from observing the sunflowers spiral seed pattern, which is not just eye-catching, but also intelligent. The seeds grow at the golden angle of 137.5, ensuring all of them receive sunlight. To capture maximum sunlight, the sunflowers face also follows the suns path. As capturing sunlight is th
27、e purpose of solar power plants, it is not surprising when engineers have decided to imitate the sunflowers natural solutions. Solar mirrors are arranged to copy the spiral seed pattern and positioned at the same golden angle. The mirrors are also programmed to follow the sun, hence the solar plant
28、functions exactly like a sunflower. The design is also eco-friendly, requiring less land to build on and less energy to operate.一旦科学家跨越了自然和创新之间的鸿沟，就打开了-一条通往许多新奇想法的道路。一个 想法源自观察向日葵螺旋形的种子图案，这种图案不仅好看，还很聪明。种子都以137.5的“黄金角度”排列，确保所有种子都能接受到阳光照射。为了最大限度地获得光照，向日葵的花盘也随着太阳的轨迹而转向。由于太阳能发电厂的目的就是要获得阳光，所以毫不奇怪，工程师决定模仿向
29、日葵的自然的解决方案。阳光反射镜模仿螺旋形的种子图案而排列，并安装在相同的“黄金角度”处。镜子也被设定为随着太阳而转向，因此太阳能发电厂完全像向日葵一 样运行。太阳能发电厂也是环保的，需要用于建设的土地和用于运行的能源更少。Equally exciting are the diverse possibilities provided by the animal kingdom. For example, research into the brilliant blue wings of a species of butterfly has led to innovative technolog
30、ies since scientists uncovered the secret behind their bright colour. The wings of these butterflies are covered with tiny diamond-shaped structures that interact with light, causing some colour wavelengths to be cancelled out while intensifying and reflecting others. Inspired, scientists have recre
31、ated these microstructures that can be inset into legal documents and banknotes and produce a unique visual effect almost impossible to copy. A better understanding of the butterflys vividly coloured wings has also led scientists to develop paints without using harmful substances, which not only las
32、t longer but are also more eco-friendly.动物王国提供的各种可能性也同样令人激动。例如，在科学家发现了蝴蝶翅膀颜色鲜艳背后的秘密后，针对种蝴蝶的湛蓝翅膀的研究带来了创新技术。这些蝴蝶的翅膀上覆盖着微小的菱形结构，这些结构与光相互作用，使-些颜色的波长被抵消，而增强和反射其他颜色的波长。受此启发，科学家再现了这些微结构，将其嵌人到法律文件和纸币中，获得一种几 乎不可能复制的独特的视觉效果。进一步了解蝴蝶的色彩鲜艳的翅膀，还使得科学家研发出不使用有害物质的涂料，这种涂料不仅使用寿命更长，而且更加环保。As we continue to study and ap
33、preciate the wonder of nature, it is certain that our future will see many more fascinating technological innovations. Bionics is set to move forward quickly with potential growth in the areas of vision, hearing, artificial limbs and wearable robotics. For example, inspired by the incredibly strong
34、exoskeleton of insects, scientists and engineers are now building robotic suits. When worn, these exoskeletons can greatly improve the mobility, strength and load-bearing capabilities of the wearer. However, what we are witnessing today is just the tip of the iceberg. Once such obstacles as power su
35、pply, weight and range of motion are solved, exoskeletons will have even wider applications. Indeed, a real-life Iron Man could be waiting for us in the future!随着我们继续研究和欣赏大自然的神奇，我们的未来会有许许多多不可思议的技术创新。仿生学要迅速向前发展，可能发展的领域有视觉、听觉、假肢以及可穿戴机器人科学。例如，受非常坚固的昆虫外骨骼启发，科学家和工程师现在正在建造机器人外套。当穿在人体上，这些外骨骼可以大大改善穿戴者的移动性、力
36、量和承载力。然而，今天我们见证的只是冰山一角。- 一旦电源、重量和活动范围这样的障碍得到排除，外骨骼会有更广泛的应用。事实上，现实生活中的钢铁侠或许就在未来等着我们!With such rapid advancements being made in bionics, we have come to realize how clever nature is and how much it can show us. As we work hard to make life better for everyone, it is possible that nature has the answer
37、s to our most urgent questions, and all we have to do is look for them. Nature not only provides our lives with a scenic backdrop, it could also prove to be our greatest teacher!随着仿生学取得如此迅速的进展，我们已经逐渐认识到大自然是多么的聪明，它能向我们展示多少东西。当我们努力为每个人创造更好的生活时，大自然有可能为我们最迫切的问题提供答案，而我们所要做的就是寻找它们。大自然不仅为我们的生活提供了风景优美的背景，它也证明是我们最伟大的老师!(译者:郭安康)
