新奇事件簿 科学家研发自行修复衣物

Humans have learnt many things from nature. These things have helped us in our daily life. The latest thing is self-repairing clothing. Scientists have developed a special way for clothing to repair rips and tears by itself, without the need for sewing. It works with materials such as cotton, linen¹ and wool. The scientists are from the Naval² Research Office and Pennsylvania State University in the USA. Scientists Dr. Walter Dressick and Dr Melik Demirel looked at how squid can cling on to things so well. The research team found a protein in the rings of teeth that cover the suckers on a squid. The protein is similar to the one found in the silk that spiders use to make spider webs. It is very strong and elastic³ (stretchy).

人类从大自然中学到了许多。这些有助于我们日常生活。最新研究成果是自行修复衣物。科学家研发了一种能够让衣物自行修复裂痕的特殊方法，无需手动缝纫。适用于像棉布类、亚麻类以及羊毛类等服装。科学家来自美国海军研究所和宾州州立大学。沃尔特·德里斯科和梅利克·德米雷尔博士对鱿鱼的吸附力进行了研究。研究团队在覆盖吸盘的一圈牙齿上发现了一种蛋白质。此类蛋白质与蜘蛛网的蚕丝相类似。弹性和韧劲十足。

The new protein has been developed as part of a coating, which is put on clothes. When the coating is dipped in water, the area around the rip or tear joins together in less than a minute. This could help clothes last longer and save us money. It could also be useful for military and survival clothes. People like soldiers and mountaineers would be safer if they had clothes that repaired quickly and easily. Professor Demirel spoke⁴ about the invention. He said: "The coatings are thin, less than a micron, so they wouldn't be noticed in everyday wear." He added: "Even thin, they increase the overall strength of the material. For the first time, we are making self-healing textiles."

人们将此类新型蛋白质应用在了衣服涂料上。一旦涂料着水，裂痕周围区域将在不到一分钟内愈合。此举将延长衣服寿命，为您节省资金。它也可应用于军事和野外生存衣。如果它能立即修复，那么对于士兵或登山者来说就更加安全。德米雷尔教授谈及了此项发明。他认为：“这种涂料很薄，不到一微米，我们很难在日常衣物中发现它。”他还表示：“尽管它非常轻薄，但却增加了材质的韧性。这也是我们首次研发自行修复纺织品。

1 linen   

n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的

参考例句：

• The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
• Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 elastic   

n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的

参考例句：

• Rubber is an elastic material.橡胶是一种弹性材料。
• These regulations are elastic.这些规定是有弹性的。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。