听力文摘：香菜, 该爱他还是恨他

On today’s Moment of Science, we’ll be sniffing¹ our way through a controversial culinary conundrum²: the great cilantro debate.

今天的《科学一刻》栏目，我们将来探讨一个有争议性的烹饪难题：关于香菜的大辩论。

According to scientists working at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, the smell of cilantro usually produces a “love it” or “hate it” response.

据莫来尔化学感官中心的科学家称，香菜的气味通常会让人产生“喜欢它”或者“讨厌它”这两种反应。

Researching The Response

关于这两种反应的研究

Researchers used gas chromatography to isolate³ the different components⁴ of the cilantro smell. They learned that its distinct aroma⁵ comes primarily from a group of molecules⁶ called aldehydes.

研究人员使用了气相色谱法分离香菜气味的不同组成部分。他们了解到，其独特的香气主要来自一组称为醛的分子。

Aldehydes are one of the main by products of soap making. There are a few different aldehydes in the cilantro aroma “recipe. One emits the offensive soapy odor that makes you cringe. But, another produces the fresh, green, citrusy aroma that people like me find so appealing. Our ability to detect these different parts of the cilantro scent⁷ spectrum⁸ varies widely, and is linked to our genetics. Some people can’t smell the good part at all.

醛是肥皂的主要成分之一。香菜的气味“配方”中含有几种不同的醛。其中一种会发出令人不快的肥皂水的气味而使你畏缩。但是，另外一种会产生清新的柑橘味的香气，像我就非常喜欢这种香味。人们察觉香菜中各种香味的能力差距很大，而这与我们的基因是有联系的。有些人甚至不能闻其中好闻的部分。

Future Research

未来研究

We need more research to figure out the exact details, but the science of smells indicates that, when it comes to liking⁹ or hating cilantro, genetics matter. Thanks to our DNA¹⁰, we pick up on the good and bad parts of the cilantro sensory¹¹ experience in different ways.

我们需要更多的研究以找出确切的信息。但气味科学表明，喜欢或讨厌香菜与我们的遗传基因有关。我们之所以能通过不同的方式来感受香菜中好闻和不好闻的部分，这都要归功于我们的DNA。

1 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 conundrum   

n.谜语；难题

参考例句：

• Let me give you some history about a conundrum.让我给你们一些关于谜题的历史。
• Scientists had focused on two explanations to solve this conundrum.科学家已锁定两种解释来解开这个难题。

3 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

4 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

5 aroma   

n.香气，芬芳，芳香

参考例句：

• The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。
• The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

6 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

7 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

8 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

9 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

10 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

11 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。