SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Maya Developed Early / A Shortage of S

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Maya Developed Early / A Shortage¹ of Scientists? / Good Health Information
By

Broadcast: Tuesday, May 18, 2004

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VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I'm Sarah Long.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Bob Doughty². This week ... new thinking about an ancient people.

VOICE ONE:

Concerns about a possible shortage of American scientists.

VOICE TWO:

Some places to go for health information on the Internet.

VOICE ONE:

And, just how much water do we really need to drink?

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VOICE TWO:

 
Guatemalan Culture Minister Manuel Salazar Tezahuic, in white hat, and American Ambassador³ John Hamilton with a Maya altar stone found at a royal palace at Cancuen.
In Central America, scientists have made some recent discoveries about the ancient Maya people. These findings⁴ show that the Maya developed their civilization centuries earlier than experts thought. Three separate teams made the discoveries in the rainforest of Guatemala.

Experts call the time between the year two-fifty and the year nine-hundred the Classic⁵ Maya period. It was a period of great civilization. Until now, scientists thought that earlier Maya people were simple farmers. The discoveries show that they used writing, drew pictures and built complex structures sooner than the experts knew.

VOICE ONE:

Scientists have found some things they say are more than two-thousand years old. For example, a team found two masks inside the main pyramid in the city of Cival. These masks are three meters tall. They are cut in the image of a sun god. The Maya used the pyramid as a temple. The masks may have been a part of ceremonies led by a king. Experts from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, made the discovery.

Another Vanderbilt team reported on new research at the city of Cancuen. And scientists from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, made discoveries at the ancient city of Waka [wah-KAH]. The National Geographic⁶ Society supported all the research.

VOICE TWO:

 
A piece of jade⁷ recovered at Waka.
At Waka, scientists found the burial place of a woman they think was a Maya queen. They do not know her name. But they believe she ruled more than one-thousand-two-hundred years ago.

Her bones were lying on a stone table. Many jewels surrounded her remains⁸. The team also found pieces of green stone that appeared to be the remains of the kind of war helmet worn by rulers.

Scientists say the discovery will help then understand how Maya women shared power with men. Not many burial places of important royal women have been found.

Tens of thousands of people may have lived in the ancient city of Waka. Today it is called El Peru.

The Waka project is part of an effort to save an area of rainforest from farming and other illegal activities inside a national park.

VOICE ONE:

Also in northern Guatemala, scientists found a stone showing an eighth-century king playing a game of ball with visiting rulers. It is the third such stone found at the city of Cancuen.

They also found large pieces of stone with writing and pictures of leaders. A Guatemalan expert called it one of the greater masterpieces of Maya art ever discovered in Guatemala.

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VOICE TWO:

A new government report warns that the United States may not have enough scientists in the future. The National Science Board says the situation threatens the economic health and security⁹ of the country.

The United States is now seventeenth in its share of young people who train in science and engineering¹⁰. In nineteen-seventy-five, the United States was third among nations in the number of people studying science.

The report says the number of American jobs that require science and engineering will continue to grow. But the number of people prepared for those jobs will not.

Today, thirty-eight percent of all the scientists and engineers in the United States are foreign born. But the National Science Board says the number of people with scientific training who come to the United States will decrease.

One reason is because of limits to entry since the terrorist¹¹ attacks of September eleventh, two-thousand-one. But there is also intense¹² competition around the world for people with scientific skills.

VOICE ONE:

The National Science Board says that even if action is begun today, the situation will not improve for ten to twenty years. That is because students have to prepare at a young age if they want to become scientists or engineers. They must take the necessary math classes in middle school.

The twenty-four member board governs the National Science Foundation¹³. This independent federal¹⁴ agency¹⁵ advises Congress¹⁶ and the president. The report says the government has a responsibility to support education in science and technology at levels that will appeal to more students.

VOICE TWO:

Americans do still publish almost thirty-three percent of all scientific papers. This is one reason why not all scientists agree about the dangers to the health of American science.

Still, they say schools and scientists themselves should be doing more to get young people to choose science over business or other jobs. For one thing, many older scientists will retire in the next ten years.

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VOICE ONE:

You are listening to SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English.

The National Library of Medicine, near Washington, D.C, is the largest center of medical information in the world. It is part of the National Institutes of Health. Doctors and scientists use this library. So do people from around the world who just want some health information.

The library has a service on the Internet called MedlinePlus. This offers general information about more than six-hundred-fifty diseases¹⁷ and conditions. There is also a medical dictionary, and information about medicines. The Web site is medlineplus.gov. Again, the address is medlineplus dot g-o-v.

The National Library of Medicine also has a Web site for older adults and their families. This service is called N.I.H. Senior Health. The address is nihseniorhealth.gov. The library created this site with the National Institute on Aging. Again, the site is nihseniorhealth, all one word, dot g-o-v.

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VOICE TWO:

Many people believe they are supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day, or about two liters¹⁸. Why? Because that is what they have been told all their life. But a recent report offers some different advice. Experts say people should obey their bodies; they should drink as much water as they feel like drinking.

The report says most healthy people meet their daily needs for liquid by letting thirst be their guide. The report is from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies¹⁹. This organization provides scientific and technical advice to the government and the public.

The report contains some general suggestions. The experts say women should get about two-point-seven liters of water daily. Men should get about three-point-seven liters. But wait -- in each case, that is more than eight glasses.

VOICE ONE:

There is one important difference. The report does not tell people how many glasses of water to drink. In fact, the experts say it may be impossible to know how many glasses are needed to meet these guidelines²⁰. This is because the daily water requirement can include the water content in foods.

People do not get water only by forcing themselves to drink a set number of glasses per day. People also drink fruit juices and sodas²¹ and milk. They drink coffee and tea. These all contain water. Yet some also contain caffeine. This causes the body to expel²² more water. But the writers of the report say this does not mean the body loses too much water.

As you might expect, the Institute of Medicine says people need to drink more water when they are physically²³ active. The same is true of those who live in hot climates. Depending on heat and activity, people could need two times as much water as others do.

All this, however, does not answer one question. No one seems sure why people have the idea that good health requires eight glasses of water daily.

VOICE TWO:

It may have started with a misunderstanding. In nineteen-forty-five, the National Academy²⁴ of Sciences published some guidelines. Its Food and Nutrition Board said a good amount of water for most adults was two-point-five liters daily. This was based on an average of one milliliter for each calorie of food eaten.

But that was only part of what the board said. It also said that most of this amount is contained in prepared foods.

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Nancy Steinbach and Jerilyn Watson. Cynthia Kirk was our producer. This is Sarah Long.

VOICE ONE:

And this is Bob Doughty. Listen again next week for more news about science, in Special English, on the Voice of America.

1 shortage   

n.缺少，缺乏，不足

参考例句：

• The city is suffering a desperate shortage of water.这个城市严重缺水。
• The heart of the problem is a shortage of funds.问题的关键是缺乏经费。

2 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

3 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

4 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

5 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

6 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

10 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。

11 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

12 intense   

adj.认真的，专注的；强烈的；紧张的；热情的

参考例句：

• Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
• The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。

13 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

14 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

15 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

16 Congress   

n.(代表)大会；(C-:美国等国的)国会，议会

参考例句：

• There were some days to wait before the Congress.大会的召开还有几天时间。
• After 18 years in Congress,he intented to return to private life.在国会供职18年后，他打算告老还乡。

17 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

18 liters   

n.升( liter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This can holds five liters of water. 这个容器可装五升水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 academies   

n.专科学校( academy的名词复数 )；研究院；（苏格兰）中等学校；（美国）私立学校

参考例句：

• The millitary academies are also enjoying halcyon years, attracting more and better-qualified students. 军事院校因招收的学生数量多了，质量好了，年头也很好过。 来自辞典例句
• But international students can also attend the nation's five service academies. 而留学生也可以参加国立五个军事院校学习。 来自互联网

20 guidelines   

n.指导方针，准则

参考例句：

• The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill. 政府制订了对待精神病人的指导方针。
• Planners seem a little uncomfortable with the current government guidelines. 规划师似乎不太接受现行的政府指道方针。

21 sodas   

n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
• Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句

22 expel   

vt.把...开除，驱逐，放逐，排出，喷出

参考例句：

• They were told at first that they should simply expel the refugees.一开始有人告诉他们应该直接将那些难民驱逐出境。
• The headmaster may expel the boy from the school.校长可能要把那个男孩从学校开除。

23 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

24 academy   

n.(高等)专科院校；学术社团，协会，研究院

参考例句：

• This is an academy of music.这是一所音乐专科学院。
• I visited Chinese Academy of Sciences yesterday.我昨天去访问了中国科学院。