听力文摘：最大的磁体

The Biggest Magnet

最大的磁体

A: What's the biggest magnet ever?

究竟什么是最大的磁体？

B: Well, that's a great question. Well, for starters you'd have to mention whoppers like the hybrid¹ magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Tallahassee, Florida.This magnet weighs thirty-four tons and stands twenty-two feet tall.Giant magnets in hospitals, physics labs, and other facilities help in cutting edge research. However, even a magnet the size of a building can't compete with a magnet the size of a planet.

嗯，问得好。对于初学者来说，不得不提一下那些庞然大物，比如佛罗里达塔拉哈西的国家高磁场实验室的混合磁体。这块磁铁重34吨，立起来有22英尺高。医院，物理实验室和其他设备里的巨型磁体对尖端研究有帮助。然而，即使是一块建筑物大小的磁体也不能和一块行星大小的磁体相匹敌。

A: A magnet the size of a planet?

一块行星大小的磁体？

B: The Earth itself is a magnet! Researchers think it's the effect of convection currents in our planet's molten interior that causes the entire Earth to behave as one gigantic magnet, with a North and South Pole.Whenever you look at a compass, what you're doing is reading the magnetic field of the planet on which you are standing².

地球本身就是一块磁体。研究者们认为，是地球内部熔岩里对流流的作用使得整个地球像个拥有南北磁极的巨型磁体一样运转。每当你看着指南针的时候，你所做的就是读取你所在行星的磁场。

A: So that must be the biggest magnet than anywhere.

所以那就是最大的磁体咯。

B: Yet, even a magnet the size of a planet can't compete with a magnet the size of a star.

但是，即使是行星大小的磁体也不能和恒星大小的磁体相匹敌。

A: A star?

恒星？

B: what about the sun? The sun is a magnet. In this case, the magnetic field is probably generated by swirling³ plasma⁴. Magnetic storms on the sun are powerful enough to have an effect on satellites and communication systems all the way here on Earth.

比如说太阳？太阳是一块磁体。假若这样，磁场可能是由旋动的等离子产生的。太阳上的磁暴威力足够强大，可以对人造卫星和地球上通信系统的各个方面产生影响。

A: So is that?

那就是最大的了？

B: Not even close. There are things in space that put all of these magnets to shame.

还差得远呢。宇宙中还有更多让这些磁体相形见绌的事物呢。

A: Super magnet in space? What are they?

宇宙中的超强磁体？是些什么呢？

B: Next time.

下次再说吧。

1 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

4 plasma   

n.血浆，细胞质，乳清

参考例句：

• Keep some blood plasma back for the serious cases.留一些血浆给重病号。
• The plasma is the liquid portion of blood that is free of cells .血浆是血液的液体部分，不包含各种细胞。