英语沙龙：第二种皮肤

Second Skin

Although soldiers don special suits and masks to protect their skin and airways¹ from toxic² chemicals，these defenses are uncomfortable and don't provide sufficient protection against biological weapons．So the Defense³ Advanced Research Projects Agency challenged Da Ingber，scientific founder⁴ of Molecular⁵ Geodesics Inc．in Cambridge，Massachusetts，to come up withan alternative．

One of the problems with existing suits，says Ingber，is that they are too much like raincoats－－that is，they prevent body heat from dissipating into the air．Another issue：Existing suits don't allow the freedom of movement needed to perform such tasks as loading and firing weapons．

To create a better material，the company is testing different structures based on an architectural principle．

Since a pathogen is most likely to enter the body via the nose and mouth，the company is also devising materials for face masks that filter pathogens and allow soldiers to breathe normally．Existing masks feel like breathing through a blanket while exercising，says Ingber．The ideal material would mimic⁶ the porosity⁷ of biological cells to allow air in，while selectively filtering out hazardous⁸ pathogens．The company is presently testing a prototype materials．

第二种皮肤

所谓的“第二种皮肤”，就是仿生皮肤。这种“皮肤”实则是一种近似人体“皮肤”的防生物武器的衣服，它的质地结构具有生物细胞的多孔性，但比生物的“皮肤”更胜一筹，因为它还能选择性地将外界有害病原菌阻隔在体外。美国研制这种“皮肤”已有很长时间，目的是防御生物武器。由此制成的防毒服，还可以保证士兵投弹和射击活动的自如。“９．１１”事件后，美国的行政部门不断收到能引起炭疽病的孢子邮寄物。很显然，这种防生物武器的材料的研制步伐会因此而大大加快。这篇文章讲述了这种“皮肤”的一些性能，并未透露其材料的化学构成如何。但对国防事业无疑具有重要意义。

虽然士兵身穿特殊服装、头戴面罩，以保护他们的皮肤，防止空中的有毒化学物质，但是这些防御措施令人不适，而且也无法充分防御生物武器。所以，国防高级研究计划署向丹·因格博（马萨诸塞州坎布里奇分子测量公司的科学奠基人）提出研制替代品的新课题。

因格博说，现在的防毒服存在的问题之一是，它们太像雨衣，也就是说它们阻止了体温散出来。另一个问题是：现在的防毒服阻碍了像投弹和射击这类任务所需的自由活动。

为了制造一种更好的材料，该公司正在检测不同物质的结构，性能是以建筑学原理为基础的。

由于病原菌极大可能是通过鼻腔和口腔进入人体，该公司还在设计能过滤病原体的面罩材料，以使士兵能正常呼吸。因格博说，现有的面罩一运动就会感到像透过毯子呼吸。理想的材料应该是摹仿生物细胞的多孔性，使空气能吸入，并选择性地滤出有危险性的病原菌。该公司现在正在测定这种样品材料。

1 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

6 mimic   

v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人

参考例句：

• A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

7 porosity   

n.多孔性，有孔性

参考例句：

• Commonly the dolomite crytals form a framework with evenly distributed porosity. 通常白云石晶体构成格架，它有均匀分布的孔隙。 来自辞典例句
• Seismic velocity can occasionally be affected by porosity and temperature. 孔隙率和温度有时也能影响地震波速。 来自辞典例句

8 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。