新奇事件簿 科学家即将找到治疗秃顶的方法（在线收听）

Scientists say they believe they are close to finding a cure for baldness. This is welcome news for millions of people worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have been working on developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique has been successful in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new protocol overcomes key technological challenges....Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited source of human stem cells."

科学家称，他们相信他们即将找到治疗秃顶的方法。这对全世界数百万脱发或秃顶的人来说是个好消息。加利福尼亚一所医疗机构的研究人员一直在开发能让头发重生的干细胞。科学家们表示，通过复制头发自然生长的方式，他们的技术已在植发和培育新发生长方面取得成功。研究员Alexey Terskikh表示：“我们的新方案克服了关键技术挑战...现在我们有了一种强大且高度可控的方法来生成看起来自然的头发，通过使用无限的人类干细胞来源，这种头发可以通过皮肤生长。”

Baldness affects approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Hair transplant surgery can cost up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for decades. The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety and a loss of self-confidence. Many men worry about receding hairlines, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from thinning hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly affects many people's lives."

全球大约有一半的男性在50岁时秃顶。毛发移植产品已经发展成为了一个数十亿美元的全球产业。头发移植手术费用可高达五万美元。几十年来，科学家们一直在研发治疗方法。男性脱发通常发生在他们二十或三十岁出头的年纪。脱发会导致焦虑和失去自信。很多男性都在为自己的发际线、秃斑和秃顶担忧。女性也有秃顶问题。很多女性在晚年遭受脱发之苦。一名医生表示：“脱发深深地影响着许多人的生活。”