新奇事件簿 防晒药物即将问世（在线收听）

Scientists say they are close to producing a pill that would protect us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Researchers have located the chemicals coral uses to protect itself and can use these to produce a synthetic sun-shield compound. A sunscreen pill could be available by the year 2016. This is good news for sun-lovers as they would only need to take a pill once a week, instead of slapping sunscreen on every few hours. A sunbather on Sydney’s Bondi Beach welcomed this news, saying: “Bring it on. No more sunscreen. No more sunburn. Now we can stay out in the sun all day long.” However, some scientists warned the pill could be harmful as too much sun protection can lead to vitamin D deficiency, resulting in weak bones.

科学家称防太阳紫外线药物即将问世。研究人员已找到珊瑚为保护自己而制造的化学物质，并可用它来制作遮阳合成化合物。防晒药物或将在2016年之前问世。这对于阳光爱好者而言是个好消息，不像几小时就失效的普通防晒霜，这种药物每周仅服用一粒。一位来自悉尼邦迪海滩的日光浴爱好者对此表示欢迎，称快些研发吧，不再需要防晒霜。不会再被晒伤。我们可以尽情沐浴在阳光下。但有科学家警告称，使用过多或对身体有害，它可导致维他命D不足，造成骨质疏松。

The research team analysed coral samples from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to find out how coral can survive under the sun without suffering any damage. They discovered that algae provide the coral with the chemicals it needs to shield itself from UV rays. Lead scientist Dr Paul Long said: "What we have found is that the algae living within the coral makes a compound that we think is transported to the coral, which then modifies it into a sunscreen for the benefit of both the coral and the algae.” He added: “If we can determine how this compound is created and passed on, we could biosynthetically develop it in a laboratory to create a sunscreen for human use.” He said testing on humans could take place in the next two years.

为了解珊瑚如何在日照下不受损伤，研究小组对澳洲大堡礁的珊瑚样本进行了分析。他们发现藻类为珊瑚提供了遮挡紫外线的化学物质。研究主任保罗·隆认为：“我们发现珊瑚内部的藻类物质制造了某种合成物，并将它转移给了珊瑚，随即成为了保护珊瑚和藻类的太阳屏障。”他还指出：“一旦我们了解这种合成物的制作和传递方式，那么我们就可以通过生物合成为人类创造防晒霜。”他称临床试验将在未来两年内展开。