Part I
Today we’re going to look at an important area of science, namely nanotechnology. So what is it? Nano means tiny, so it's science and engineering on the scale of atoms and molecules.The idea is that by controlling and rearranging atoms, you can literally create anything. However, as we'll see, the science of the small has some big implications affecting us in many ways. There's no doubt that nanotechnology promises so much for civilisation. However, all new technologies have their teething problems.And with nanotechnology, society often gets the wrong idea about its capabilities.Numerous science-fiction books and movies have raised people's fears about nanotechnology - with scenarios such as inserting little nano-robots into your body that monitor everything you do without you realising it, or self-replicating nano-robots that eventually take over the world. 然而，正如我们将看到的，微观科学具有一些重大意义，在许多方面影响着我们。1. atom 原子; molecule 分子; proton 质子; neutron 中子; electron 电子; photon 光子; ion 离子adv. used to emphasize the truth of sth that may seem surprising（强调事实可能令人惊讶）真正地，确实地E.g.: There are literally hundreds of prizes to win.
真的有好几百份奖品可以领呀。
3. implication|ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn|noun. a possible effect or result of an action or a decision可能的影响（或作用、结果）
E.g.: They failed to consider the wider implications of their actions.
他们没有考虑到他们的行动会产生更广泛的影响。
4. civilization|ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn|noun. all the people in the world and the societies they live in, considered as a whole文明世界；文明社会E.g.: The ancient civilizations of Central and Latin America were founded upon corn.
中美洲和拉丁美洲的古代文明社会是建立在玉米之上的。
short-term problems that occur in the early stages of a new project初期困难；暂时困难；创业阶段的困难
adj. existing in large numbers 众多的；许多的
E.g.: He has been late on numerous occasions.
他已经迟到过无数次了。
noun. a description of how things might happen in the future设想；可能的情况；预测E.g.: The worst-case scenario (= the worst possible thing that could happen) would be for the factory to be closed down.
最坏的情况可能是工厂关闭。
verb. to put sth into sth else or between two things插入；嵌入
E.g.: They inserted a tube in his mouth to help him breathe.
他们在他嘴里插了根导管帮助他呼吸。
So how do we safeguard such a potentially powerful technology? Some scientists recommend that nano-particles be treated as new chemicals with separate safety tests and clear labelling. They believe that greater care should also be taken with nano-particles in laboratories and factories. Others have called for a withdrawal of new nano products such as cosmetics and a temporary halt to many kinds of nanotech research. But as far as I'm concerned there's a need to plough ahead with the discoveries and applications of nanotechnology. I really believe that most scientists would welcome a way to guard against unethical uses of such technology. We can't go around thinking that all innovation is bad, all advancement is bad. As with the debate about any new technology, it is how you use it that's important. So let's look at some of its possible uses.一些科学家建议将纳米颗粒视为新型化学品，进行单独的安全测试并贴上详细的标签。1. safeguard |ˈseɪfɡɑːrd|verb. to protect sth/sb from loss, harm or damage; to keep sth/sb safe保护；保障；捍卫
E.g.: They will press for international action to safeguard the ozone layer.
他们将竭力要求国际行动来保护臭氧层。
2. withdrawal|wɪðˈdrɔːəl|noun. the act of moving or taking sth away or back撤走；收回；取回
E.g.: the withdrawal of a product from the market
从市场上撤下一种产品
noun. a substance that you put on your face or body to make it more attractive化妆品；美容品
E.g.: the cosmetics counter of a department store
一个百货商店的化妆品专柜
noun. an act of stopping the movement or progress of sb/sth停止；阻止；暂停E.g.: They decided it was time to call a halt to the project (=stop it officially).
他们决定该叫停这项工程了。
to continue with a plan, project, or journey with determination, often despite difficulties, opposition, or challenges不顾困难，努力向前推进，尤其在进展困难时坚持不懈地做某事
E.g.: Despite the setbacks, the team decided to plough ahead with the product launch.
尽管遭遇挫折，团队还是决定继续推进产品发布。。
adj. not morally acceptable不道德的
E.g.: It's simply unethical to promote and advertise such a dangerous product.
给这样一个危险的产品做宣传广告是极不道德的。
Part III
Thanks to nanotechnology, there could be a major breakthrough in the field of transportation with the production of more durable metals. These could be virtually unbreakable, lighter and much more pliable leading to planes that are 50 times lighter than at present. Those same improved capabilities will dramatically reduce the cost of travelling into space making it more accessible to ordinary people and opening up a totally new holiday destination. In terms of technology, the computer industry will be able to shrink computer parts down to minute sizes. We need nanotechnology in order to create a new generation of computers that will work even faster and will have a million times more memory but will be about the size of a sugar cube.Nanotechnology could also revolutionise the way that we generate power. The cost of solar cells will be drastically reduced, so harnessing this energy will be far more economical than at present. But nanotechnology has much wider applications than this and could have an enormous impact on our environment. For instance, tiny airborne nano-robots could be programmed to actually rebuild the ozone layer, which could lessen the impact of global warming on our planet.That's a pretty amazing thought, isn't it? On a more local scale, this new technology could help with the clean-up of environmental disasters as nanotechnology will allow us to remove oil and other contaminants from the water far more effectively.这些材料几乎坚不可摧，更轻便，也更具柔韧性，从而使飞机重量比现在的飞机轻50倍。adj.likely to last for a long time without breaking or getting weaker耐用的；持久的E.g.: Fine bone china is eminently practical, since it is strong and durable.
精细骨瓷是非同一般地实用，因为它坚固耐用。
2. virtually|ˈvɜːrtʃuəli|adv. almost or very nearly, so that any slight difference is not important几乎；差不多；事实上；实际上
E.g.: Virtually all students will be exempt from the tax.
差不多所有的学生都可免此税项。
adj. easy to bend without breaking易弯曲的；柔韧的
E.g.: As your baby grows bigger, his bones become less pliable.
随着你的宝宝慢慢长大，他的骨头柔韧性会变弱。
adj. that can be reached, entered, used, seen, etc.可到达的；可接近的；可进入的；可使用的；可见到的
E.g.: The remote desert area is accessible only by helicopter.
只有乘直升机才能进入那遥远的荒漠地区。
verb. to become or to make sth smaller in size or amount（使）缩小，收缩，减少
E.g.: Television in a sense has shrunk the world.
从某种意义上说电视把世界缩小了。
adj. extremely small极小的；微小的；细微的
E.g.: minute amounts of chemicals in the water
水中含量极小的化学成分
noun. a device for producing an electric current, for example by the action of chemicals or light电池
E.g.: a photoelectric cell
光电池
verb. to control and use the force or strength of sth to produce power or to achieve sth控制，利用（以产生能量等）
E.g.: attempts to harness the sun's rays as a source of energy
利用日光作为能源的尝试
adj. airborne means in the air or carried in the air. 空气中的
E.g.: Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.
许多人对空气中花粉之类的污染物质过敏。
10. contaminant |kənˈtæmɪnənt|noun. a substance that makes sth impure致污物；污染物
E.g.: Contaminants found in poultry will also be found in their eggs.
在家禽里发现的污染物，也将会在它们下的蛋里发现。
And, if nanotechnology progresses as expected —as a sort of building block set of about 90 atoms—then you could build anything you wanted from the bottom up.In terms of production, this means that you only use what you need and so there wouldn't be any waste. The notion that you could create anything at all has major implications for our health. It means that we'll eventually be able to replicate anything. This would have a phenomenal effect on our society. In time it could even lead to the eradication of famine through the introduction of machines that produce food to feed the hungry.But it's in the area of medicine that nanotechnology may have its biggest impact. How we detect disease will change as tiny biosensors are developed to analyse tests in minutes rather than days. There's even speculation nano-robots could be used to slow the ageing process, lengthening life expectancy. As you can see, I'm very excited by the implications that could be available to us in the next few decades. Just how long it'll take, I honestly don't know.而且，如果纳米技术按照预期发展——作为一种由大约90个原子组成的基本构件——那么你就可以从下往上构建任何你想要的东西。随着微型生物传感器的研发，疾病检测方式将发生改变，因为这些传感器可以在几分钟内而不是几天内分析检测结果。
verb. to improve or develop over a period of time; to make progress进步；改进；进展E.g.: Work on the new road is progressing slowly.noun. an idea, a belief or an understanding of sth观念；信念；理解
E.g.: She had only a vague notion of what might happen.
对于可能发生的事她只有一个模糊的概念。
3. phenomenal |fəˈnɒmɪnl|adj. very great or impressive了不起的；非凡的
E.g.: Exports of Australian wine are growing at a phenomenal rate.
澳大利亚葡萄酒的出口正以惊人的速度增长。
verb. to destroy or get rid of sth completely, especially sth bad根除；消灭；杜绝
E.g.: They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.
他们已经在为根除疟疾、破伤风等疾病而斗争。
noun. a lack of food during a long period of time in a region饥荒
E.g.: disasters such as floods and famine
水灾和饥荒这一类灾难
6. speculation|ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn|noun. the act of forming opinions about what has happened or what might happen without knowing all the facts推测；猜测；推断
E.g.: Our speculations proved right.
事实证明，我们的推断是对的。
the number of years that a person is likely to live; the length of time that sth is likely to exist or continue for预期寿命；预计存在（或持续）的期限
E.g.: The average life expectancy was 40.
平均期望寿命曾是40岁。
10个月宝宝每天需要喝多少奶粉？
