时差N小时 蚂蚁感染真菌变"僵尸“(上)

Scientists have found zombie ants in the Brazilian rainforests. How can that be? The ants are infected by a fungus¹. As a matter of fact, scientists have just found four new species of the zombie creating fungus, Ophiocordyceps. You are telling me the fungus turns out the answer to the zombies. Fungi² produce little seed like particles called spores³. If an ant gets infected by one, the fungus hijacks⁴ its brain. Instead of doing its normal chores, the ant starts searching for the ideal location for the fungus to grow. It's not just wonder? No. Scientists have found that infected ants go to specific locations: beneath leaves on the north sides of plants, about ten inches above the ground, in 94-95% humidity, and at 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit⁵ temperatures.

科学家在巴西发现了“僵尸蚂蚁”，那是怎么回事？原来蚂蚁感染上一种真菌。事实上，科学家刚刚已经发现了能产生真菌的4种新物种。真菌就是蚂蚁变僵尸的原因。真菌会产生叫 “孢子”的微粒，如果蚂蚁感染上真菌，真菌就会控制蚂蚁的大脑。感染后蚂蚁不会做正常的活动，而是去寻找真菌生长的理想环境。这不令人吃惊吗？不。科学家发现被感染的蚂蚁会去特定的地方：在植物北侧的叶片下面，距离地面大概10寸高，处在94%-95%的湿度，和77-86的华氏温度中。

1 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

2 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

3 spores   

n.（细菌、苔藓、蕨类植物）孢子( spore的名词复数 )v.（细菌、苔藓、蕨类植物）孢子( spore的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Ferns, mosses and fungi spread by means of spores. 蕨类植物、苔藓和真菌通过孢子传播蔓生。
• Spores form a lipid membrane during the process of reproducing. 孢于在生殖过程中形成类脂膜。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器

4 hijacks   

劫持( hijack的名词复数 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• Just as life infiltrates matter mercilessly and then hijacks it forever, cultural life hijacks biology. 正如生命无情地浸入物质并永远地将其劫持，文化生命也劫持了生物界。

5 Fahrenheit   

n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的)

参考例句：

• He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
• The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。