PBS高端访谈:能让番茄酱、牙膏和胶水从容器中滑出的高科技涂料

Judy Woodruff: Finally tonight- Have you ever had trouble getting ketchup¹ out of a bottle? How about stopping an oil rig from exploding? A lab in Boston has developed a slick solution for both problems. Our science producer, Nsikan Akpan, reports about this new coating in our latest episode of ScienceScope.

Nsikan Akpan: Look at this ketchup sliding, so smooth, so easy. Back in the day, using condiments² tended to end with a caveman-mess, but not with these high-tech³ bottles. Their insides are coated with something called LiquiGlide.

Kripa Varanasi: It's a coating technology that can basically get every last bit of the product out, so you can save on billions of tons of product that's wasted. What LiquiGlide does is fundamentally changes how liquids and solids interact.

Nsikan Akpan: That's Kripa Varanasi, a mechanical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who co-created LiquiGlide to battle the nefarious⁴ issue of interfaces⁶. An interface⁵ is any spot or surface where two things meet. You're familiar with the physical forces creating friction⁷ and solid interfaces, like when a tire skids⁸ on a road. But a liquid sliding across a solid also experiences this friction in tension. It's part of what makes some liquid sticky, such as maple⁹ syrup¹⁰.

Kripa Varanasi: It's a ubiquitous problem, whether it be in consumer products, or personal care products to chemical industry to energy industry.

Nsikan Akpan: LiquiGlide came about due to an infamous¹¹ interface problem in the oil industry. Drilling oil unearths¹² all types of crud, mucky sediment¹³ and minerals. This includes methane¹⁴ hydrate crystals, which can form molasses-like goop and plug a pipe.

Kripa Varanasi: If they form, it can be very catastrophic, because if you release sort of this methane hydrate plug, the methane can come out and essentially¹⁵ lead to an explosion.

Nsikan Akpan: Kripa was mulling how to prevent these plugs from forming when a similar problem sprouted¹⁶ at home.

Kripa Varanasi: And at that time, my son was about a year old. My wife was trying to get honey out of a bottle. And, you know, she said, you know, why don't you apply this technology to bottles?

Nsikan Akpan: Kripa knew a plastic surface, a glass surface, any solid surface, for that matter, isn't truly smooth. It's covered with microscopic¹⁷ ridges¹⁹ and gaps. These pockets trap liquid and cause friction at interfaces. So, Kripa and his former grad student Dave Smith chemically designed a liquid to intentionally²⁰ experience so much friction, it gets stuck in these pockets. This embedded²¹ liquid acts like a lubricant. Put ketchup in the bottle and it glides²² against the lubricant nano-layer, never coming in physical contact with the glass. Get it? LiquiGlide.

Dave Smith: Then we thought about, how can we make this easily and sprayable?

Nsikan Akpan: Smith developed a formula that can predict and build coatings for any solid surface. Once sprayed, LiquiGlide adheres so firmly to the bottle that it can't seep²³ into the container's contents. But, as a precaution, the coatings they use for food applications are edible²⁴ and FDA-approved. They founded a start-up in 2012 and their sprayable coatings now help squeeze out the stickiest stuff, toothpaste, cream cheese, paint. Even Elmer's Glue uses LiquiGlide. LiquiGlide won't work for every pocketbook. Uniformly applying a coating becomes tricky²⁵ for larger containers. And specialized²⁶ coatings are more expensive than materials like plain old glass. So, right now, LiquiGlide is best suited for smaller containers or situations where you can easy respray it, like with industrial bins²⁷. Back at Kripa's lab, a new legion of grad students is conquering other interfaces. Say you're tired of flight delays due to ice-covered planes.

Henri-Louis Girard: If you have icing rain, for instance, on a wing, the time that it's going to spend on the surface will determine whether it ices or it doesn't. So we want to minimize the time that it spends on the surface. And the way we do that is that we create microscopic ridges on the surface. And if we impact a drop now on the middle of the ridge¹⁸, we can see that it breaks up in two parts that will bounce off independently. And because these two parts are smaller than the initial drop, they bounce off faster. And this is because when the drop bounces, it actually acts like a spring that gets compressed when it expands and then retracts²⁸. And smaller drops act like smaller springs that are actually stiffer than the larger drop. And stiffer springs will bounce off faster.

Nsikan Akpan: If smaller drops bounce off faster, then water is less likely to stick, so covering a plane in these microscopic ridges could eliminate the toxic²⁹ chemicals airlines currently use. Other students in Kripa's lab are learning how to stop clogs³⁰ at desalination³¹ water facilities by observing how saltwater evaporates, or they're keeping water from condensing on steam turbines to improve energy efficiency at power plants, or they have brewed³² a pesticide³³ spray that sticks to plant leafs more effectively, rather than washing away into the environment. That's all from now. I'm Nsikan Akpan, and this is ScienceScope from the PBS NewsHour.

朱蒂·伍德瑞夫：今晚的最后——你有没有遇到过这样的麻烦，番茄酱黏在瓶子里不出来？那么石油钻塔防爆又如何呢？波士顿的一个实验室已为这两个问题找到了解决之道。我们的科学制片人，尼斯坎·阿克潘将在最新一集的ScienceScope中为您报道这种新型涂层（材料）。

尼斯坎·阿克潘：看这番茄酱滑动得如此平顺，如此容易。以前，使用调味品时总不免会出点乱子，因为那时没有这些高科技的瓶子。如今瓶子的内部覆有名为LiquiGlide的涂层。

克利潘·威瓦纳斯：这是一种涂层技术，应用这种技术，基本可以把产品一点不剩地挤出来，这样可以使数十亿吨的产品免于浪费。而LiquiGlide技术所做的就是从根本上改变液体和固体之间的相互作用关系。

尼斯坎·阿克潘：这是麻省理工学院的机械工程师克利潘·威瓦纳斯，为攻克接触面难题，威瓦纳斯与人合伙创立了LiquiGlide。 两个物体相遇的任何点面即是接触面。大家对物理力产生摩擦和固体界面比较熟悉，比如像轮胎在路上打滑。但液体在固体上滑动时，也会产生这种张力摩擦。这也是为什么像枫糖浆这样的液体具有粘性的部分原因。

克利潘·威瓦纳斯：这个问题普遍存在，无论是消费品，还是个护产品，再到化工产业，能源产业都会用到。

尼斯坎·阿克潘：石油行业中有个讨厌棘手的接触面问题，LiquiGlide的成立正是为了解决这一问题。石油钻探挖掘各类杂质、淤泥质沉积物和矿物。这其中包括甲烷水合晶体，这种晶体可形成糖浆一样的黏糊，堵塞管道。

克利潘·威瓦纳斯：如果这种黏糊形成，后果可能是灾难性的，因为如果除掉这种甲烷水合物黏糊，甲烷就会冒出来，势必会引发爆炸。

尼斯坎·阿克潘：正当克利潘思考如何防止这些黏糊形成时，发现类似的问题也会出现在家里。

克利潘·威瓦纳斯：那时，我儿子大约一岁。我妻子正尝试从瓶子里把蜂蜜挤出来。而且，你知道，她说，你知道，你为什么不把这项技术应用到瓶子上呢？

尼斯坎·阿克潘：克利潘知道就这点而言，塑料表面，玻璃表面，任何固体表面，都并非完全平滑。上面布满了微小的凸脊和缝隙。这些缝隙捕捉住液体，引起了界面间的摩擦。于是，克利潘和他以前的研究生戴夫·史密斯有意设计了一种可以产生大量摩擦化学液体，它就粘在了这些缝隙里。这种嵌入液体就像润滑剂。把番茄酱放在瓶子里，它滑到润滑剂纳米层上，不会与玻璃发生物理接触。明白了吗？LiquiGlide。

戴夫·史密斯：然后，我们思考，怎么才能让它容易实行还易于喷涂？

尼斯坎·阿克潘：史密斯构建了一个公式，它可以预测和建立任何固体表面的涂层。一次喷涂，LiquiGlide便牢牢黏在了瓶子上，并且不会渗入容器内的承载物。但是，预防起见，他们在食品应用中使用的涂料是可食用的，已经过FDA批准。2012年他们创办了一家公司，如今使用他们的涂层可以挤出最粘稠的物质，牙膏、奶油、奶酪、油漆。连埃尔默胶水，也使用了LiquiGlide。LiquiGlide也并非处处适用。对较大容器进行均匀喷涂还是会很棘手。这种特殊涂料比普通的旧玻璃昂贵得多。所以，现在，LiquiGlide是最适合于较小的容器或你很容易重新喷涂的场合，比如像工业垃圾箱。在克利潘的实验室，另外一批研究生正在努力攻克其他界面。比如说你对飞机结冰，造成航班延误感到厌倦。

亨利-路易斯吉拉德：如果你遇到冻雨，例如，在机翼上，水停留在上面的时间将决定它是否会结冰，所以我们想尽量减少水停留在上面的时间。我们的做法是在机翼表面上形成微小的脊线。如果现在我们让一滴水落在脊线中央，我们可以看到它分裂成两部分，独立地弹开。因为这两个部分比原来的那滴水小，所以它们反弹得更快。这是因为当下落弹起，它就像一个弹簧被压缩时，膨胀然后缩回。较小的水滴就像更小的弹簧，比大的更硬。而较硬的弹簧会弹跳得更快。

尼斯坎·阿克潘：如果较小的水滴反弹得更快，那么水就不太可能粘住（机翼），所以在机翼上覆盖一层这样的微脊，飞机就可以减少使用当下应用的有毒化学物质。在克利潘的实验室里，其他学生正在通过观察海水蒸发，学习如何解决海水淡化设施中的问题。他们（研究如何）保证水不在蒸汽涡轮机上冷凝，从而提高发电厂的能源效率。他们也在研究如何才能让农药喷雾高效附着在植物叶表，而不会冲刷到环境中去。一切就从现在开始。我是尼斯坎·阿克潘，这里是PBS NewsHour ScienceScope。

1 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

2 condiments   

n.调味品

参考例句：

• Refill and clean all salt and peppers, sugar bowls, and other condiments. 清洁并续满所有的胡椒瓶、盐瓶、糖缸及其他调料。
• Go easy on condiments, they tend to be salty. 别放太多调味品，这样往往会太咸。

3 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

4 nefarious   

adj.恶毒的，极坏的

参考例句：

• My father believes you all have a nefarious purpose here.我父亲认为你们都有邪恶的目的。
• He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.因为他干了许多罪恶的勾当，所以人人都惧怕他。

5 interface   

n.接合部位，分界面；v.(使)互相联系

参考例句：

• My computer has a network interface,which allows me to get to other computers.我的计算机有网络接口可以与其它计算机连在一起。
• This program has perspicuous interface and extensive application. 该程序界面明了，适用范围广。

6 interfaces   

界面( interface的名词复数 )； 接口（连接两装置的电路，可使数据从一种代码转换成另一种代码）； 交界； 联系

参考例句：

• If the class needs to be reprogrammed, new interfaces are created. 如果class需要重新程序设计，新的interfaces创建。
• Interfaces solve this problem of evolving code. Interfaces解决了代码升级的问题。

7 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

8 skids   

n.滑向一侧( skid的名词复数 )；滑道；滚道；制轮器v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的第三人称单数 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区

参考例句：

• The aging football player was playing on the skids. 那个上了年纪的足球运动员很明显地在走下坡路。 来自辞典例句
• It's a shame that he hit the skids. 很遗憾他消沉了。 来自辞典例句

9 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

10 syrup   

n.糖浆，糖水

参考例句：

• I skimmed the foam from the boiling syrup.我撇去了煮沸糖浆上的泡沫。
• Tinned fruit usually has a lot of syrup with it.罐头水果通常都有许多糖浆。

11 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。

12 unearths   

发掘或挖出某物( unearth的第三人称单数 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露

参考例句：

13 sediment   

n.沉淀，沉渣，沉积(物)

参考例句：

• The sediment settled and the water was clear.杂质沉淀后，水变清了。
• Sediment begins to choke the channel's opening.沉积物开始淤塞河道口。

14 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

15 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

16 sprouted   

v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• We can't use these potatoes; they've all sprouted. 这些土豆儿不能吃了，都出芽了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The rice seeds have sprouted. 稻种已经出芽了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

18 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

19 ridges   

n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊

参考例句：

• The path winds along mountain ridges. 峰回路转。
• Perhaps that was the deepest truth in Ridges's nature. 在里奇斯的思想上，这大概可以算是天经地义第一条了。

20 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

21 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

22 glides   

n.滑行( glide的名词复数 )；滑音；音渡；过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The new dance consists of a series of glides. 这种新舞蹈中有一连串的滑步。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The stately swan glides gracefully on the pond. 天鹅在池面上优美地游动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 seep   

v.渗出，渗漏；n.渗漏，小泉，水（油）坑

参考例句：

• My anger began to seep away.我的怒火开始消下去了。
• If meteoric water does not evaporate or run overland,it may seep directly into the ground.如果雨水不从陆地蒸发和流走的话，就可能直接渗入地下。

24 edible   

n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的

参考例句：

• Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
• This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得，那种吃不得。

25 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

26 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

27 bins   

n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句
• Would you be pleased at the prospect of its being on sale in dump bins? 对于它将被陈列在倾销箱中抛售这件事，你能欣然接受吗？ 来自辞典例句

28 retracts   

v.撤回或撤消( retract的第三人称单数 )；拒绝执行或遵守；缩回；拉回

参考例句：

• A cat retracts its claws. 猫缩进它的爪子。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The split graph is given endomorphism images are retracts. 给出了任意自同态像图都是收缩核的分裂图的结构。 来自互联网

29 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。

30 clogs   

木屐； 木底鞋，木屐( clog的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Clogs are part of the Netherlands national costume. 木屐是荷兰民族服装的一部分。
• Clogs are part of the Dutch traditional costume. 木屐是荷兰传统装束的一部分。

31 desalination   

n.脱盐(作用)

参考例句：

• Crops can be grown on this land after desalination. 这片土地经过脱盐就可以种植庄稼了。
• One source is by desalination-taking the salt out of salt water to make it drinkable. 淡水的来源之一是使水淡化--把含盐的水中的盐份去掉，使之能够饮用。

32 brewed   

调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡）

参考例句：

• The beer is brewed in the Czech Republic. 这种啤酒是在捷克共和国酿造的。
• The boy brewed a cup of coffee for his mother. 这男孩给他妈妈冲了一杯咖啡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

33 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。