SSS 2012-05-25
时间：2018-12-24 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(五)月
英语课
This is scientific Americans 60 second science, I am Sophie Bushwick. got a minute.
Tens of millions of years ago, cephalopods were hiding from their enemies in clouds of ink. And it turns out that cuttlefish 1 today produce ink that’s almost identical.
Researchers found fossils of two giant cephalopods that swam the seas more than 160 million years ago. Each one contained a preserved ink sac. Analysis of the sacs revealed that some melanin pigment 2—the stuff that makes the ink dark—had survived. Plus, the chemical makeup 3 of the melanin was virtually the same as the pigment found in modern-day cuttlefish ink. The work is in the Proceedings 4 of the National Academy of Sciences.
It’s rare to find preserved soft tissue in the fossil record. In addition, biomolecules often break down, leaving none of the original organic compounds. Melanin, however, has a sturdy structure that resists this fate. And the methods these researchers used to isolate 6 it from the fossils could help other paleontologists better identify preserved organic molecules 5 and their functions.
The finding also demonstrates that when something works, evolution usually leaves it alone. Because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Thanks for the minute for scientific Americans 60 second science, i am Sophie Bushwick.
1 cuttlefish
n.乌贼，墨鱼
- I have no idea about how to prepare those cuttlefish and lobsters.我对如何烹调那些乌贼和龙虾毫无概念。
- The cuttlefish spurts out dark ink when it is in danger.乌鲗遇到危险的时候会喷出黑色液体。
2 pigment
n.天然色素，干粉颜料
- The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls.古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。
- Who thought he might know what the skin pigment phenomenon meant.他自认为可能知道皮肤色素出现这种现象到底是怎么回事。
3 makeup
n.组织；性格；化装品
- Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
- Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？
4 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
- 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