密歇根新闻广播 用特殊紫外线杀死流感病毒

 

It's been a tough flu season. Health experts are always looking for ways to outsmart the influenza¹ virus.

David Brenner thinks he's found a new way: a type of ultraviolet light called far-UVC.

"This far-UVC light that we're talking about is at the short wavelength² end of UVC light," he says.

Brenner directs the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He says we've known for about a century that UV light is very good at killing³ bacteria and viruses. It damages their DNA⁴.

"But the problem is that conventional UV light is a health hazard. It can cause skin cancer, cataracts⁵ in our eyes. So while it can be used to sterilize⁶ rooms and instruments when people aren't around, it can't be used when people are around because it's a health hazard," he says.

So here's where far-UVC light comes in. Brenner found in a recent study that it can kill the influenza virus without hurting people's skin or eyes.

"Bacteria and viruses such as the influenza virus are really, really small. So, far-UVC light can penetrate⁷ them as they're floating around in the air, but it simply can't reach any of the sensitive cells in our bodies and damage them," says Brenner.

He first tested far-UVC light on the drug resistant⁸ bacteria known as MRSA.

"I actually had a friend who went into hospital for some minor⁹ surgery, and he developed a drug resistant surgical¹⁰ site infection and he died," he says. "And I was pretty devastated¹¹ and I got my team together, and started to think, ‘is there anything we can do as physics people to try and take a bite out of this problem?'"

They found that far-UVC light worked to kill the bacteria. Several years ago, they started testing it on the influenza virus.

He says eventually, lamps using far-UVC light could be used in hospitals or airplanes or other public places. They're working on getting FDA approval now.

1 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

2 wavelength   

n.波长

参考例句：

• The authorities were unable to jam this wavelength.当局无法干扰这一波长。
• Radio One has broadcast on this wavelength for years.广播1台已经用这个波长广播多年了。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 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。

5 cataracts   

n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障

参考例句：

• The rotor cataracts water over the top of the machines. 回转轮将水从机器顶上注入。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Cataracts of rain flooded the streets. 倾盆大雨弄得街道淹水。 来自辞典例句

6 sterilize   

vt.使不结果实；使绝育；使无效；杀菌，消毒

参考例句：

• Antiseptic is used to sterilize the skin before giving an injection.杀菌剂被用于在注射前给皮肤消毒。
• He pricks the blister on his heel with a sterilize needle.他用一根消过毒的针扎破他脚后跟上的水泡。

7 penetrate   

v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解

参考例句：

• Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
• The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。

8 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

9 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

10 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

11 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。