微波炉发明源于一项最高军事机密（在线收听）

微波炉发明源于一项最高军事机密

Many people around the world use a microwave oven every day, not knowing that a crucial part of it was once a top military secret.

世界上许多人每天都在使用微波炉,但却不了解它曾经是一项最高军事秘密。

In 1940, the situation in Europe was desperate.

1940年,欧洲局势正处于水深火热当中。

German forces were preparing for the invasion of Britain while U-boats were decimating the convoys bringing supplies from the United States.

当时德国军队正准备入侵英国，而德海军潜艇舰队正摧毁运输来自美国物资的车队。

In September of that year, a high-level British scientific delegation traveled to the U.S. to ask for help in manufacturing several secret inventions, including a revolutionary vacuum tube that could create microwave emissions, essential for building more efficient radars.

同年9月,英国一个高层科学代表团前往美国寻求正在制造几项秘密发明的帮助,其中就包括一种革命性可以发射微波的真空管,它对构建更有效的雷达不可或缺。

“The advantage of microwave radar, which allowed the use of parabolic antennas that we see today, fundamentally changed radar from the lower frequencies and all the advantages that going to the higher frequency provided.”

“微波雷达的优势在于我们能够使用今天所看到的抛物面天线,从根本上改变了低频率雷达转向更高的频率。”

A new tube called cavity magnetron enabled radar operators to distinguish between individual aircraft as well as submerged submarines, helping to change the military situation.

一种名为腔磁控管的新管使得雷达操作员能够区分飞机以及水下潜艇,这有助于改变战局。

But just as it changed the course of the war, the magnetron soon changed the course of cooking around the world, becoming the primary component of today's microwave oven.

但正如它改变了战争进程一样,这种磁控管很快也为世界各地的烹饪带来了变革,它成为今天微波炉的主要组成部分。

A group of British, American and Canadian civil and military scientists recently gathered in Washington to commemorate the mission that brought military secrets to the U.S.

一群英国、美国和加拿大民间及军事科学家最近齐聚华盛顿,纪念这次将军事机密带去美国的任务。

They reconfirmed their commitment to cooperation in search for new technologies with potential application to everyday life.

他们重申将致力于寻找应用于日常生活的潜在新技术。

“We’re also working in the photonics and high energy, energy density and directed energy research areas, not only for weapons but for energy storage, energy engagement for our ships, for our shore facilities, to bring ourselves to a more efficient footprint.”

“我们也在光子学及高能量,能量密度及能源研究领域展开合作,不仅是武器用途,而且这些能源存储、能源运用能使得我们的船只,岸上设施更有效率。”

Hopefully, one of those inventions will change the course of global warming, the same way the cavity magnetron influenced the course of World War II.

希望其中一项发明将改变全球变暖进程,就像腔磁控管左右世界大战局势一样。