SSS 2008-04-30

This is scientific American's 60-Second Science, I am Cynthia Graber. This’ll just take a minute.

The Taliban destroyed international treasures when they wrecked 1 the ancient Buddha 2 statues in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan region. But new treasures have now been revealed.  Cave walls behind where the statues stood are adorned 3 with paintings from the fifth and sixth centuries. The paintings depict 4 sitting Buddhas 5 surrounded by palm trees and mythical 6 creatures. Scientists recently published a study showing that some of these works were painted with oils, centuries before the technique was employed in Europe. The study was published in the Journal of Analytical 7 Atomic Spectrometry. To figure out the materials used, researchers employed a combination of infrared 8 micro-spectroscopy and various X-ray methodologies. The beams separated out the layers of paint, and the different techniques allowed researchers to analyze 9 the variety of materials. They discovered oils in the mix of layers, probably either walnut 10 or poppy seed oil. Art historians date the earliest use of oils in Europe to about the 15th century. Scientists say the new findings place the Bamiyan paintings many hundreds of years earlier, giving the Bhuddha images the honor of being the earliest known oil paintings in the world.

Thanks for the minute for Scientific American’s 60-Second Science, I am Cynthia Graber.

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wrecked

adj.失事的，遇难的

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸

• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

Buddha

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。

• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

adorned

[计]被修饰的

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。

• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

depict

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。

• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

Buddhas

n.佛，佛陀，佛像( Buddha的名词复数 )

• She called on spirits and Buddhas and made innumerable vows, all to no avail. 她把一切的神佛都喊到了，并且许下多少誓愿，都没有用。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

• Tibetans identification with the political role of Living Buddhas is declining. 藏新政权的政治舞台中活佛的政治角色处于边缘。 来自互联网

mythical

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。

• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

analytical

adj.分析的；用分析法的

• I have an analytical approach to every survey.对每项调查我都采用分析方法。

• As a result,analytical data obtained by analysts were often in disagreement.结果各个分析家所得的分析数据常常不一致。

infrared

adj./n.红外线(的)

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。

• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

analyze

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。

• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

walnut

n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色

• Walnut is a local specialty here.核桃是此地的土特产。

• The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.凳子有几种尺寸，材质分胡桃木和红木两种。