TED演讲:探索世界最深洞穴(4)

 This gadget¹ you see right here was called the digital wall mapper,  你们在这里见到的这个是电子墙体测绘仪，

and it produced the first three-dimensional map anybody has ever done of a cave, and it happened to be underwater in Wakulla Springs.  它制出了世界上第一个山洞的三维地图，那是在瓦库拉泉水下。

It was that gadget that serendipitously² opened a door to another unexplored world.  正是这小仪器不经意地开启了通往另一个世界的门。

This is Europa.  这是木卫二。

Carolyn Porco mentioned another one called Enceladus the other day.  卡罗琳?波科尔前几天提到另一个叫做恩克拉多斯的行星。

This is one of the places where planetary scientists believe there is a highest probability of the detection of the first life off earth in the ocean that exists below there. 研究行星的科学家相信那里是最有可能探索到有地球之外的初级生命的地方之一，生命就存在在恩克拉多斯行星的大洋之下。

For those who have never seen this story,  对于那些从未看过这个故事的人来说，

Jim Cameron produced a really wonderful IMAX movie couple of years ago, called "Aliens of the Deep."  几年前卡梅隆拍出过精彩的IMAX(巨幕)电影名叫《深海异形》。

There was a brief clip.  这是片中的一个小片段。

A mission to explore under the ice of Europa would be the ultimate robotic challenge.  探索木卫二冰底的任务将会成为机器人的终极挑战。

Europa is so far away that even at the speed of light,  木卫二很远，即使用光速，

it would take more than an hour for the command just to reach the vehicle.  指令到达飞行器也要花一个多小时。

It has to be smart enough to avoid terrain³ hazards and to find a good landing site on the ice.  必须非常聪明才能避免各种冒险找到一个好的冰面降落

Now we have to get through the ice.  现在我们还得穿过冰层。

You need a melt probe.  需要一个融化器。

It's basically a nuclear-heated torpedo⁴.  它基本上就是一个核能加热鱼雷。

The ice could be anywhere from three to 16 miles deep.  冰层可能有3至16英里 (5到26公里）深。

Week after week, the melt probe will sink of its own weight through the ancient ice, until finally...Now, what are you going to do when you reach the surface of that ocean?  一周接一周，融化探头靠着自身重量下沉穿过远古的冰层，直至最后…当你到达洋面你将要做什么？

1 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

2 serendipitously   

偶然发现的

参考例句：

• There was a serendipitous second advantage working with a library of equations. 利用方程库有个意外收获的附带好处。
• Strategic networking prepares us for serendipitous moments. 战略性人际交往让我们为不时之需做好准备。

3 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

4 torpedo   

n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏

参考例句：

• His ship was blown up by a torpedo.他的船被一枚鱼雷炸毁了。
• Torpedo boats played an important role during World War Two.鱼雷艇在第二次世界大战中发挥了重要作用。