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AlexGendler_Sunspots_2021E-_凝视太阳的女人_
In the spring of 1944, Tokyo residents experienced numerous aerial attacks from Allied bombers . 1944 年春天,东京居民们 遭受了来自盟军轰炸机的 数次空袭。
Air raid sirens warned citizens to get indoors and preceded strategic blackouts across the city. 长鸣不止的空袭警报警示人们躲进室内, 全城同时实施灯火管制。
But 28-year old Hisako Koyama saw these blackouts as opportunities. 但 28 岁的小山久子却将灯火管制 视为难得的机会。
residents:n.居民;住院医生;房客;(resident的复数) numerous:adj.许多的,很多的; aerial:adj.从飞机上的;空中的;空气中的;地表以上的;n.天线; Allied:adj.联合的;同盟的;与…同属一系;v.联合(ally的过去分词); bombers:n.[航][军]轰炸机;喷射机;扔炸弹的人(bomber的复数形式); Air raid:n.空袭; sirens:n.[铁路][船]汽笛,警报器(siren的复数); v.引诱; indoors:adv.在室内,在户内; preceded:v.在…之前发生(或出现);先于;走在…前面;(precede的过去分词和过去式) strategic:adj.战略上的,战略的; blackouts:n.黑朦;灯火管制(blackout的复数);
Dragging a futon over her head for protection, 她拉了条床褥子盖在头顶,
Koyama would gaze at the night sky, tracking all sorts of astronomical phenomena . 躲在遮挡保护下,小山凝望夜空, 持续追踪各种天文现象。
However, her latest endeavor required the light of day. 然而,她最近的工作需要在白天进行。
By angling her telescope towards the sun, 通过将望远镜以某种角度对着太阳,
futon:n.蒲团;日式床垫; gaze:v.凝视;注视;盯着;n.凝视;注视; tracking:n.追踪,跟踪;v.跟踪;(track的现在分词) astronomical:adj.天文的,天文学的;极大的; phenomena:n.现象(phenomenon的复数); endeavor:n.v.努力;尽力;试图; telescope:n.望远镜;v.(使)叠套缩短;精简;
Koyama could project the star's light onto a sheet of paper, allowing her to sketch the sun’s shifting surface. 小山可以将阳光投射到一张纸上, 从而能够用手绘制出太阳 不断变化的表面。
She spent weeks recreating this set up, tracking every change she saw. 她花了数周的时间不断调整这一套装置, 记录她看到的每一点变化。
But while Koyama didn't know it, these drawings were the start of one of the most important records of solar activity in human history. 当时小山并不知道, 这些手绘文档标志着人类历史上 记录太阳活动观测的开端, 且是最重要的文件之一。
sheet:n.薄板;床单;纸张;报纸;v.覆盖;展开;给…铺床单;铺开;adj.片状的; sketch:n.素描;草图;速写;概述;v.概述;简述;画素描;画速写; shifting:adj.不断移动的;流动的;v.转移;赶快;快速移动;变换;(shift的现在分词) recreating:v.再现;再创造;(recreate的现在分词)
To understand exactly what Koyama saw on the sun’s surface, we first need to understand what’s happening inside the star. 要理解小山从太阳表面观察到的 到底是什么, 我们首先需要了解 在这颗恒星内部发生了什么。
Every second, trillions of oxygen molecules fuse into helium molecules in a process called nuclear fusion . 每一秒钟,就有数万亿氧分子 与氦分子发生结合。 这一过程叫做核聚变。
This ongoing explosion maintains the sun’s internal temperature of roughly 15 million degrees Celsius , which is more than enough energy to transform gas into churning pools of plasma . 这一持续发生的爆炸 将太阳的内部温度 维持在 1500 万摄氏度左右。 这一温度蕴含的能力足以将气体 转化为不停搅动翻腾的等离子体。
trillions:n.[数]万亿;adj.万亿的;num.[数]万亿; molecules:n.[化学]分子,微粒;[化学]摩尔(molecule的复数); fuse:n.保险丝;导火线;v.(使)融合,熔断;熔接; helium:n.[化学]氦(符号为He,2号元素); process:v.处理;加工;列队行进;n.过程,进行;方法,adj.经过特殊加工(或处理)的; nuclear fusion:na.核聚变;核融合;"atomicfusion"的变体; ongoing:n.发展; adj.持续存在的; explosion:n.爆炸;爆发;激增; maintains:v.维持;保持;维修;保养;坚持(意见);(maintain的第三人称单数) internal:n.内脏;本质;adj.内部的;里面的;体内的;(机构)内部的; roughly:adv.粗糙地;概略地; Celsius:adj.摄氏的;n.摄氏度; transform:v.使改变;使改观;使转换;n.[数]变换式;[化]反式; churning:n.搅乳;一次提制的奶油;v.搅拌(churn的现在分词); plasma:n.[等离子]等离子体;血浆;[矿物]深绿玉髓;
Plasma consists of charged particles that produce powerful magnetic fields. 等离子体由众多带电粒子组成, 这些带电粒子又形成强力的磁场。
But unlike the stable charged particles that maintain magnetic activity on Earth, this plasma is constantly in flux , alternately disrupting and amplifying the sun's magnetic field . 但不像地球上由稳定的带电粒子 所形成的稳定的磁场, 这些等离子体持续处于流通状态, 交替扰乱并放大太阳的磁场。
consists:v.由…构成;由…组成(consist的三单形式); particles:n.微粒,粒子;粒子系统;碎木料(particle的复数形式); magnetic:adj.像磁铁的;有磁性的;磁的;富有吸引力的; stable:n.马厩;牛棚;adj.稳定的;牢固的;坚定的;vi.被关在马厩;赶入马房; constantly:adv.不断地;时常地; flux:n.[流][机]流量;变迁;不稳定;流出;vt.使熔融;用焊剂处理;vi.熔化;流出; alternately:adv.交替地;轮流地;隔一个地; disrupting:v.扰乱;使中断;打乱;(disrupt的现在分词) amplifying:adj.放大的; magnetic field:磁场;
This ongoing movement can produce temporary concentrations of magnetic activity which inhibit the movement of molecules and in turn reduce heat in that area. 这一持续发生的运动 能暂时将磁场活动集中变强, 从而抑制该区域的分子活动, 导致温度降低。
And since regions with less heat generate less light, places with the strongest magnetic fields appear as dark spots scattered across the sun’s surface. 由于温度较低,产生的光也就越弱, 因此磁场最强的地方看起来就会像黑点 分布在太阳表面。
These so-called sunspots are always moving, both as a result of plasma swirling within the sphere , and the sun’s rotation . 这些太阳黑子总是在移动, 一方面是因为等离子体在太阳球体内搅动, 另一方面是太阳本身的旋转。
temporary:adj.暂时的,临时的;n.临时工,临时雇员; concentrations:n.关注点;[土壤]浓聚物(concentration的复数); inhibit:vt.抑制;禁止; regions:n.地区;地域;行政区;左近;(region的复数) generate:v.产生;引起; scattered:adj.零散的; v.撒; (scatter的过去分词和过去式) so-called:adj.所谓的;号称的; sunspots:n.太阳黑子;雀斑; as a result:结果; swirling:v.(使)打旋,旋动,起旋涡;(swirl的现在分词) sphere:n.球;领域;球体;球形;v.使成球形;包围;把…放在球内;使处于天体之间; rotation:n.旋转;循环,轮流;
And because they’re often clustered together, accurately counting sunspots and tracking their movement can be a challenge, depending greatly on the perception and judgment of the viewer. 又因为这些黑子总是成群出现, 因此确定它们的数量 并且跟踪它们的运动就变得十分困难, 十分依赖观测者的感知和判断。
This is precisely where Koyama’s contributions would be so valuable . 正因为此, 小山的贡献才显得如此珍贵。
Despite having no formal training in astronomy , her observations and sketches were remarkably accurate. 尽管从未接受过天文学方面的正规训练, 小山的观测和记录却异常精确。
clustered:adj.成群的;成簇的;v.群聚;聚集;(cluster的过去式和过去分词) accurately:adv.精确地,准确地; greatly:adv.很,大大地;非常; perception:n.感知;知觉;看法;洞察力; judgment:n.判断;裁判;判决书;辨别力; contributions:n.捐款;捐资;定期缴款;贡献;促成作用;(contribution的复数) valuable:adj.有价值的;贵重的;可估价的;n.贵重物品; Despite:prep.尽管,不管;n.轻视;憎恨;侮辱; formal:adj.适合正式场合的; n.(美)须穿礼服的社交集会; (口)夜礼服; astronomy:n.天文学; observations:n.观察,观察值;观察结果;(observation的复数形式); sketches:n.[测]草图; v.素描,写生(sketch的第三人称单数); remarkably:adv.非常;极为;格外;出乎意料地
After sending her work to the Oriental Astronomical Association , she received a letter of commendation for her dedicated and detailed observations. 东亚天文学会在收到她的观测成果后, 给她发来了嘉奖信, 赞扬了她的辛勤付出和详尽的观测记录。
With their support, she began to visit the Tokyo Museum of Science, where she could use a far superior telescope to continue her work. 在他们的支持下, 小山来到东京科学博物馆, 使用更先进的望远镜继续她的工作。
Koyama soon joined the museum's staff as a professional observer , and over the next 40 years, she worked on a daily basis, producing over 10,000 drawings of the sun’s surface. 很快小山以职业观测者的身份 成为了博物馆的一员, 并在接下来的 40 多年里, 她每天都在博物馆工作, 绘制了超过 1 万幅太阳表面的手稿。
Oriental:adj.东方的;东方人的;n.东方人; Association:n.协会;关联;联想;交往; commendation:n.推荐;赞扬;奖状; dedicated:adj.献身的; v.把…奉献给; (dedicate的过去分词和过去式) superior:n.上级;上司;adj.(在品质上)更好的;占优势的;更胜一筹的; professional:adj.专业的;职业的;职业性的;n.专业人员;职业运动员; observer:n.观察员;观察者;观察家;观测者;
Researchers already knew magnetic currents in the sun followed an 11 year cycle that moved sunspots in a butterfly shaped path over the star’s surface. 当时研究人员们已经知道 太阳的磁场遵循 11 年为周期, 以蝴蝶状的路径 在太阳表面形成移动的黑子。
But using Koyama’s record, they could precisely follow specific sunspots and clusters through that journey . 但利用小山的记录, 在这一过程中,研究人员可以准确跟踪 特定的黑子或黑子群。
This kind of detail offered a real-time indication of the sun’s magnetic activity, allowing scientists to track all kinds of solar phenomena, including volatile solar flares . 这个级别的细节 可以实时反应出太阳的磁场活动, 从而让科学家 能够追踪各种各样的太阳现象, 包括爆炸性的太阳耀斑。
specific:adj.特殊的,特定的;明确的;详细的;[药]具有特效的;n.特性;细节;特效药; clusters:n.[植]簇;丛(cluster的复数形式);[计]群集; journey:n.旅行;行程;vi.旅行; real-time:adj.实时的;接到指示立即执行的; indication:n.显示;表明;标示;象征; volatile:adj.[化学]挥发性的;不稳定的;爆炸性的;反覆无常的;n.挥发物;有翅的动物; flares:n.喇叭裤;
These flares typically emanate from the vicinity of sunspots, and can travel all the way to Earth’s atmosphere . 这些耀斑通常在太阳黑子附近爆发, 并可以一路直冲地球大气层,
Here, they can create geomagnetic storms capable of disrupting long range communication and causing blackouts. 掀起地磁风暴。 由此能扰乱远距离通信 并引起大规模停电。
Solar flares also pose a major risk to satellites and manned space stations, making them essential to predict and plan for. 太阳耀斑还能对卫星和载人空间站 造成巨大威胁, 因此预测太阳耀斑并采取对策 变得尤为重要。
typically:adv.代表性地;作为特色地; emanate:vt.放射(过去式emanated,过去分词emanated,现在分词emanating,第三人称单数emanates,形容词emanative); vi.发出; vicinity:n.邻近,附近;近处; atmosphere:n.大气;气氛;气压;风格; geomagnetic:adj.地磁的;地磁气的; capable:adj.能干的,能胜任的;有才华的; pose:v.引起; n.装腔作势; (为画像、拍照等摆的)姿势; essential:n.要点;要素;实质;必需品;adj.完全必要的;必不可少的;极其重要的;本质的; predict:v.预报;预言;预告;
During an interview in 1964, 在 1964 年的一次采访中,
Koyama lamented that her 17 years of observation had barely been enough to produce a single butterfly record of the solar cycle. 小山叹息到,自己 17 年的观测 才勉强能绘出一个太阳周期的蝴蝶图。
But by the end of her career , she’d drawn three and a half cycles— one of the longest records ever made. 但到她职业生涯末年, 她已经画了 3.5 个周期—— 这是有史以来最长的记录之一。
interview:n.接见,采访;面试,面谈;v.采访;接见;对…进行面谈; lamented:adj.令人遗憾的;被哀悼的;v.哀悼(lament的过去式和过去分词形式); barely:adv.仅仅,勉强;几乎不;公开地;贫乏地; career:n.职业;事业;生涯;经历;
Better still, the quality of her drawings was so consistent , researchers used them as a baseline to reconstruct the past 400 years of sunspot activity from various historical sources . 更棒的是, 她绘图的质量始终如一得高, 因此研究人员们将其绘图作为基准线, 通过众多历史资料, 重构了过去 400 年的太阳黑子活动。
This project extends Koyama’s legacy far beyond her own lifetime, and proves that science is not built solely on astounding discoveries, but also on careful observation of the world around us. 这一项目让小山观测图的影响 远远跨越了她自己的时代, 并且证明了科学 不仅仅是建立在惊人的发现上, 同时也建立在 仔细观察我们周围的世界。
consistent:adj.始终如一的,一致的;坚持的; baseline:n.基线;底线; reconstruct:vt.重建;改造;修复;重现; historical:adj.历史的;史学的;基于史实的; sources:n.来源;出处;起源;根源;原因;v.(从…)获得(source的第三人称单数和复数) extends:v.使伸长;扩大;扩展;延长;使延期;(extend的第三人称单数) legacy:n.遗赠,遗产; solely:adv.单独地,唯一地; astounding:adj.令人震惊的;使大吃一惊的;v.使震惊;使大惊;(astound的现在分词)