纪录片《恐龙灭绝真相》 第21期 森林大火

The objection was based on one simple observation, earth has been hit many times...

这种异议基于一个简单的发现，地球已经遭受过多次碰撞，

and these impacts, even the really big ones, seldom coincide with mass extinctions.

而这种碰撞，哪怕是最大的碰撞，都很少与物种大灭绝相关联。

For the very large craters² that we think might have produced global effects,

我们通常认为那些巨大的陨石坑会造成全球性的影响，

in some cases they don't line up with any extinction¹ events whatsoever³

但是一方面它们没有关系到任何一次灭绝事件，

and in other cases extinction events, very well dated extinction events

另一方面，就清楚记载的灭绝事件而言，

have occurred that are not associated with any impacts.

它们的发生都与碰撞无关。

Because of this, some scientists had long doubted that any impact could have wiped out the dinosaurs⁴

基于这个原因，一些科学家一直都在怀疑究竟是不是大碰撞导致了恐龙消失，

and now there is new evidence which seems to reinforce those suspicions.

现在他们的疑虑有了新的证据作为支撑。

The new evidence relates to the forest fires that were said to have raged all over the world.

这些新的证据，与据说肆虐了整个世界的森林大火有关。

They seem to have been supported by soot⁵ in the KT boundary layers,

支持该理论的证据是存在于第三纪界线层中的烟灰，

but the problem with soot is that it can be blown thousands of miles from where the burning actually happened,

但是烟灰有可能是从实际发生火灾的数千英里之外被吹到这里来的，

so one researcher decided⁶ to investigate a more reliable kind of evidence... charcoal⁷!

所以一位研究人员决定着手调查一种更为可靠的证据：木炭！

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 craters   

n.火山口( crater的名词复数 )；弹坑等

参考例句：

• Small meteorites have left impact craters all over the planet's surface. 这个行星的表面布满了小块陨石留下的撞击坑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The battlefield was full of craters made by exploding shells. 战场上布满弹坑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

4 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。