节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-03-30
难易度:Medium
关键字:artificial, expand, layer, stand out, camouflage, runway
Today we are learning about cuttlefish technology and the possibilities it has
in fashion.
We've learned that a couple of scientists have created an artificial skin based
on the way a cuttlefish changes color.
They have very small cells that expand to make the skin look darker.
It's a very interesting idea.
And we can learn some more about it in the next part of the article for today.
(Music).
Lessons from the Cuttlefish.
In the future, Rossiter hopes that by layering the cells, they can create
material with multiple color changes or moving patterns.
How can it be used?
Military groups may find the material useful for camouflage.
Hikers and bikers, though, will appreciate the ability to become suddenly
bright, making themselves stand out for safety purposes.
And who knows, "cuttlefish fashion" may someday be the latest thing on the
runway.
All right. We were learning about how this technology could work.
And we read:
In the future, Rossiter hopes that by layering the cells, they can create
material with multiple color changes or moving patterns.
Well, it does sound very interesting.
And we want to talk about a word here from that sentence from the Word Bank.
It is the word "layer." When you layer something, you're putting one thing on
top of another,
or maybe three or four things or many things on top of each other.
How else could you use that word, Carolyn?
Well, a lot of times when I'm getting dressed, I like to layer my clothes.
Today I'm wearing a long-sleeve shirt, but I'm also wearing this vest over top.
It is a layer of clothing.
OK. So you can layer your clothes.
Maybe if you get a haircut; some styles are called layers.
You get your hair layered.
Nathanael, how else would you use that word?
Well, just remember that this word is also a noun.
You've probably heard it before.
But you might say that a cake has many different layers, depending on what kind
of cake it is.
But remember, it is a noun as well.
So a cake has many different layers.
Lasagna also has many different layers of noodle and meat sauce.
These things can be used... or this word can be used in many different ways.
So we're talking about the cuttlefish and cuttlefish technology.
How can it be used?
Nathanael, what does our lesson say?
It says military groups may find the material useful for camouflage.
Camouflage is something that you wear so that you can blend in with an area.
It might often be a color to blend in with trees or leaves or something like
that.
Have you ever worn camouflage before, Carolyn?
Well, actually growing up in West Virginia, I have worn camouflage.
It's very stylish to wear there.
And many people wear it because they like to go hunting and they need to blend
in with their surroundings.
But in this... in this sentence, we also see a phrase: find something useful.
And we want to talk about that today.
If you find something useful, Gabe, what does that mean?
Well, that means that you can use it for maybe many purposes.
You find something useful.
Maybe you didn't expect to be able to use it, but you have found a way to use
it.
I think of something like duct tape.
I mean, people find duct tape useful for many things.
They can repair things.
You can do many things with duct tape.
You can find it useful.
How would you use that phrase, Nathanael?
Well, and you can also use this in different ways.
You don't have to say "useful." You can find something uh, something very
different as well.
I might say that I find green apples to be very sour, but other people enjoy
them a lot.
OK. So I find this food to be sour.
I find that person attractive.
And I find this useful.
People find this material useful for camouflage.
Let's go and learn something else... with Steve and Ken in the Information
Cloud.
Biomimicry is applying what we learned from nature to stir our imaginations and
solve our problems.
Now here are two more examples of how nature inspired technology.
First, termite mounds.
Researchers in Africa found that the temperature and humidity inside a tall
termite mound stay at a fairly comfortable constant.
It didn't matter if the outside temperature was a cilly 2 degrees or a scorching
40 degrees.
After some careful study, researchers took what they learned from the tiny
insect architects and applied it to designing energy-efficient buildings for
humans.
And there's a building in Zimbabwe now that stays cool without any air
conditioning.
And it uses just 10 percent of the energy of a building of similar size - all
thanks to the termite.
Amazing.
Well, our last example of biomimicry is the lotus flower.
Have you ever noticed the leaves of lotus flowers are always clean?
That's because their special surface naturally repels dust and dirt.
When it rains, the water simply washes all the dirt away.
Now one German company carefully studied the surface of lotus flower leaves and
developed paint with similar properties.
So now your house can look as clean and fresh as a lotus flower.
(Chinese).
Thank you, gentlemen.
Well, I certainly do learn a lot from the Information Cloud.
Well, we continue with our lesson.
Hikers and bikers, though, will appreciate the ability to become suddenly
bright, making themselves stand out for safety purposes.
So maybe hikers and bikers think the opposite from people in the military.
If you're in the military, you might want to camouflage yourself.
But if you're a biker or a hiker, you want cars to notice you.
You want to stand out.
Let's talk about those words from the Word Bank: to stand out.
Carolyn, what does that mean?
Well, if you stand out, that means that you are very obvious.
It is very clear that you are different from what is around you.
And a lot of times I think about if you are applying for a job, you should stand
out from the other applicants.
You want the employer to see how you are different and why that is a good thing.
All right.
So Nathanael, how else could you use these words, stand out?
Well, standing out may be positive, but I'm a person who doesn't like to stand
out in public.
I don't always like a lot of attention.
OK. So maybe you don't like to stand out.
Well, what stands out to you?
Maybe you just read a book or watched a movie, and you want to recommend it to
somebody else.
You should share the things that stand out to you, the things that you will
remember.
Of course, it may not always be positive.
This also reminds me of another phrase: to stick out.
If something sticks out like a sore thumb, that means it really is obvious but
not in a good way.
So you want to stand out in a positive way.
Nathanael, how does the lesson continue?
Well, the last sentence says:
And who knows, cuttlefish fashion may someday be the latest thing on the runway.
And of course, when they say "runway," they mean in places where fashion is
popular, or this is where models walk.
If you go to a fashion show, you'll see them walking on the runway.
Who knows, maybe one day it could be the latest thing on the runway.
Well, it's time for us now to enjoy a review skit, and then some time with
Michelle in the Language Lab.
Look at my new pet.
It's a cuttlefish.
Where?
I just see water and rocks.
Look! He's right here.
Well, why can't I see him?
You can't see him because he's the master of disguise.
Master of disguise? A fish?
Well actually, the cuttlefish is not really a fish.
He's more like a squid or an octopus.
Oh. Well, I don't see a squid or an octopus or any kind of cuttlefish.
That's because this little eight-armed creature can easily change its color and
texture to match his surroundings.
Really! That's so amazing.
How does he do it?
Well, he's got millions of special cells under his skin.
They change colors.
So he's like a chameleon of the sea.
Yeah.
This little guy is teaching scientists how to make smart clothing.
What, scientists are learning from your cuttlefish?
Yeah. Engineers have created a clear, artificial skin using cuttlefish
technology.
Wow! That it just so amazing.
Uh huh. They hope that by layering the cells, they can create material with
multiple color changes or moving patterns.
Oh. Well, that would be useful for camouflage, and for hikers and bikers.
Yeah. What a great pet!
We can learn lessons from the cuttlefish.
Yeah! Hi, little cuttlefish.
You're amazing.
Actually, he's over here now.
Oh.
(Music).
OK.
(Chinese).
Keep watching as our lesson continues.
All right.
Well, we've learned a lot about the cuttlefish.
And of course, technology can take a cue from the cuttlefish, especially in
fashion.
Well, this does make me wonder about other animals that have special talents or
special things about them.
Nathanael, here's kind of a fun question.
What... what animal ability would you like to adapt?
Yeah, I think it's a very hard question.
I thought maybe I would like to fly, but I don't really want wings that would
make me feel a little strange.
And I would like to be able to breathe underwater.
But if I had gills, I would also feel a little strange and I would stand out in
the crowd. Um...
OK, you don't like standing out.
No, I don't like standing out.
I think maybe I'll just stay as I am.
Right. I like you as you are, Nathanaiel.
Oh, thank you.
Carolyn, how would you answer that question?
Well, it wouldn't be a big change, but I would like to have the vision of an
eagle so that I could see very, very far away.
Very nice.
Well, I would probably want to be like an ant and lift 20 times my body weight.
Well friends, we've had a lot of fun learning all about the cuttlefish and
learning from the cuttlefish.
We'll see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
Goodbye.