SSS 2008-02-13
时间：2019-01-08 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(二)月
This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I am Karen Hopkin. This'll just take a minute.
Seems like every other week brings news that global warming is gonna be bad for some poor animal or other. But plants? Well, I guess I was thinking that plants would welcome the heat. I mean, global warming is caused by greenhouse gases. And plants live in greenhouses. So everyone’s happy. Well, according to a new study, published in the February 12 issue of the Proceedings 1 of the National Academy of Sciences, I was wrong. Or at least not quite right. Because plants, too, are likely to face problems as the earth heats up. And their biggest problem may be: insects.
Scientists were looking at the fossilized remains 2 of leaves that fell off trees about 55 million years ago. At that time, the planet was undergoing a period of warming. The scientists found that as the temperatures rose, the leaves looked more…nibbled. Seems that with more CO2 in the atmosphere, plants take up more carbon. That actually makes their leaves less nutritious 3 for plant-munching bugs 4—so the insects just eat more. So, a warmer planet will be home to some hungry bugs. Which I dare say will not please the trees. Or anyone else who relies on plants for food—which includes, ultimately, all of us.
Thanks for the minute, for Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I am Karen Hopkin.
- He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
- to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
- Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
- Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。