经济学人228:年龄与智慧 姜是老的辣?

Science and technology 科学技术 Age and wisdom 年龄与智慧 Older and wiser? 姜是老的辣？ Americans get wiser with age. Japanese are wise from the start 美国人年龄越大越聪明。日本人从小就聪明 ONE stereotype of wisdom i

经济学人:中国商业航天 (1)

The first rockets were Chinese. In the 1230s the armies of the Song dynasty, 首批火箭出现在中国。十三世纪三十年代，宋朝军队 who were fighting Mongol invaders, started launching fire arrows propelled by gunpowder some 300 metres

经济学人:熊猫遗传学:熊猫的远亲是谁?(2)

And most curiously of all, both have a sixth digit on their forepawsa kind of ancillarythumb derived from one of the bones of the wrist that helps them hold bamboo stalks for consumption. 最令人惊奇的是，它们的前爪上都长有第六指，是

经济学人:熊猫遗传学:熊猫的第二拇指(1)

The anatomy-related adaptations were those that seemed to control the development of the pandas second thumbs. 与生物体结构相关的基因有可能控制熊猫第二拇指的生长。 Two genes in particular, DYNC2H1 and pericentrin, have mutat

经济学人:熊猫遗传学:熊猫的第二拇指(2)

He and his colleagues noted parallel changes in the genes for three digestive enzymes whose job is to liberate two particular amino acids, lysine and arginine, from proteins. 他的团队发现三种消化酶基因相似的改变，这些消化酶的作

经济学人:车辆引擎管理:省油的电脑程序(1)

Science and technology: Vehicle engine management: Intelligence test 科技：车辆引擎管理：智能测试 A computer program that learns how to save fuel 一种习得省油的电脑程序 From avoiding jaywalkers to emergency braking to eventua

经济学人:车辆引擎管理:省油的电脑程序(2)

Ultimately, the idea is that the algorithm will also learn from the experiences of its brethren in other cars, by arranging for all such systems to share their data online. 最终，通过数据在线分享的方式，可以获得其他车辆所获得的

经济学人:空间探索:拂去尘埃(1)

Science and technology: Space exploration: Dusting yourself down 科技：空间探索：拂去尘埃 A new space suit could resist the damaging effects of sharp lunar dust. 一款新型的宇航服能够抵抗尖利的月尘带来的破坏性影响。

经济学人:中国商业航天 (2)

OS-X was assembled in the laboratory where its remnants now reside. OS-X是在实验室中装配的，OS-X的残料现在还在这间实验室内。 But OS-M, the next generation, will be built in a factory now nearing completion in Chongqing. 但是在

经济学人:航空航天:可执行卫星作业的高空无人机 (1)

On August 6th a flimsy-looking pilotless aircraft, the Zephyr S, came slowly in to land at an undisclosed location in Arizona, 8月6日，一架薄得像纸一般的无人驾驶飞机Zephyr S在美国亚利桑那州的一个未知地点缓慢着陆，

经济学人:航空航天:可执行卫星作业的高空无人机 (2)

But it will provide no other details for fear of tipping off rivals, of whom there are several. 但由于担心向对手（对手有几家）泄密，公司并未提供其他细节。 (Though one potential competitor, Facebook, closed its own high al

经济学人:进化生物学:古人类异血缘交配的证据 (1)

Set aside romantic sentiment. Sex is a biological insurance policy. 除了浪漫调情，性也是一份生物保险单。 By chaotically mixing their genetic information, animals generate extraordinary diversity. 通过将基因信息杂乱混合，动

经济学人:进化生物学:古人类异血缘交配的证据 (2)

Furthermore, the fossil had Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA. This is passed from mother to child, 此外，化石中有尼安德塔线粒体DNA。这是从母亲基因中遗传下来的， which meant that either the teenager was the daughter of a Deni

经济学人: 清理海洋垃圾 (1)

Few things exercise green sensibilities more these days than marine plastic litter. 如今没有什么能像海洋塑料垃圾那样更能唤醒人们的环保意识。 The detritus looks unsightly when it washes up on beaches, and cruel when it chok

经济学人: 清理海洋垃圾 (2)

A three-metre deep skirt (made of sturdy polyester) dangles beneath the boom to prevent litter from escaping under it; 3米深的裙座（由坚固的聚酯制成）悬挂在吊杆下方，以防止垃圾漏出来； buoyant plastic tends to float wi

经济学人:空间探索:拂去尘埃(2)

At the same time a growing number of private firms have ambitions to mine precious metals from those celestial bodies, too. 同时，许多私营公司都有从那些天体中开采贵金属的野心。 One of the (many) problems that NASA and the sp

经济学人341:锻炼也会上瘾 奔跑的奥秘

Science and technology 科学技术 Exercise and addiction 锻炼也会上瘾 Fun run 奔跑的奥秘 People, it seems, have evolved to be addicted to exercise 人类似乎在进化过程中对锻炼上瘾了 AS THE legions of gym bunnies and jogging

经济学人343:牙科X光 请不要太频繁

Science and technology 科学技术 Dental X-rays 牙科X光 Little and not often, please 请不要太频繁,一点就好 Confirmation that dental X-rays can be bad for you 已证实牙科X光对你是有危害的 If you are a suspicious type you may

经济学人344:动物实验 善待小鼠

Science and technology 科学技术 Animal testing 动物实验 Be nice to mice 善待小鼠 and they may return the favour 或许它们会报以恩情 ONLY one drug of every ten successfully tested in laboratory animals ends up working in people. 在动

经济学人345:电脑密码

Science and technology 科学技术 Computer passwords 电脑密码 Speak, friend, and enter 说，朋友和进入 Computer passwords need to be memorable and secure. 电脑密码须具备两个特性：易记及难猜。 Most people's are the first