BBC新闻附字幕:中微子超光速代表时光能倒流?

A discovery in the last week hasturned physics on its head.

A team of scientists have said that they recorded subatomic particles called neutrinos travelling faster than light. No-one thought that was possible.

It is a finding that couldoverturnone of Einstein's long-acceptedfundamentallaws of the Universe.

The finding was made by researchers at Cern in Switzerland and Gran Sasso in Italy.

The speed of light is acornerstonein Einstein's theory of special relativity, which is what gives us the concept of causality: causesprecedeeffects.

Among the implications of this challenge to mainstream theory is the fact that it could mean time travel is possible, ahypothesisthat has long convinced writers of science fiction.

But the experiment has its sceptics.A physicist from the University of Surrey, Jim Al-Khalili, believes that the current consensus is correct and that the light-speed barrier is impossible tosurpass.

He has tried topick holesin the methodology of the Cern researchers. So sure is Al-Khalili that they have made an error in their measurements that he has decided todefendthe laws of physics by challenging the laws of social convention.

Al-Khalili said: "If the Cern experiment proves to be correct... I will eat my boxer shorts on live TV."

第二页：中英双语

A discovery in the last week has turned physics on its head.

上周的一个重大发现彻底改变了物理学。

A team of scientists have said that they recorded subatomic particles called neutrinos travelling faster than light. No-one thought that was possible.

一些科学家表示，他们记录到一种叫做中微子的次原子粒子的速度超过光速。所有人都认为这是不可能的。

It is a finding that could overturn one of Einstein's long-accepted fundamental laws of the Universe.

该发现可能会推翻长期以来为人们所接受的爱因斯坦关于宇宙的基本定律。

The finding was made by researchers at Cern in Switzerland and Gran Sasso in Italy.

该现象是瑞士欧洲核子研究委员会和意大利的巨岩发现的。

The speed of light is a cornerstone in Einstein's theory of special relativity, which is what gives us the concept of causality: causes precede effects.

光速是爱因斯坦狭义相对论的基石，为我们提供了因果关系的概念：原因先于结果出现。

Among the implications of this challenge to mainstream theory is the fact that it could mean time travel is possible, a hypothesis that has long convinced writers of science fiction.

对主流理论提出的其中一个挑战是，这意味着时光穿梭是可能的，该假设长期以来一直使科幻小说作家信服。

But the experiment has its sceptics. A physicist from the University of Surrey, Jim Al-Khalili, believes that the current consensus is correct and that the light-speed barrier is impossible to surpass.

但是也有人怀疑这次实验。萨里大学物理学家Jim Al-Khalili相信现在的共识是正确的，光速障碍是不可能克服的。

He has tried to pick holes in the methodology of the Cern researchers. So sure is Al-Khalili that they have made an error in their measurements that he has decided to defend the laws of physics by challenging the laws of social convention.

他试图找出欧洲核子研究委员会这次实验的漏洞。Jim Al-Khalili确信科学家们在测量过程中犯了错误，他决定挑战社会管理法，捍卫物理学定律。

Al-Khalili said: "If the Cern experiment proves to be correct... I will eat my boxer shorts on live TV."

Jim Al-Khalili表示，“如果欧洲核子研究委员会的实验是正确的，我会在电视直播中吃掉我的拳击短裤。”

第三页：词汇解析

overturn

英汉解释

vt. 推翻；倾覆；破坏

vi. 推翻；倾覆

n. 倾覆；[经]周转；破灭

同义词

n.turnover，upset

v.bring down，knock over，override，tip over

参考例句

1. The building wasoverturned at the earthquake.

那栋大楼在地震中已坍塌了。

2. Never use the fork tooverturnthe pallet.

不准用货叉挑翻货盘的方法取货。

3. The 21st century willoverturnmany of our basic assumptions about economic life.

21世纪将会颠覆很多我们关于经济生活的基础假设。

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fundamental

英汉解释

adj. 基本的，根本的

n. 基本原理；基本原则

同义词

n.first harmonic，fundamental frequency

a.cardinal，key，profound，rudimentary

词汇辨析

basic，essential，fundamental，radical，vital

这些形容词均有“基本的，基础的”之意。 basic 普通用词，指明确、具体的基础或起点。

essential 语气比basic和fundamental强，强调必不可少，暗含某物如缺少某部分，则失去本质特征的意味。

fundamental 书面用词，不如basic使用广泛，侧重指作为基础、根本的抽象的事物。

radical 着重指事物的根本或其来源。

vital 正式用词，侧重指维持生命、活力必不可少的，或生死攸关的。

参考例句

1. They wished to emphasize morefundamentalissues.

他们希望强调更重要的问题。

2. Obligation or duty is mostfundamentalconcept in ethics.

责任或义务是伦理学中最基本的概念。

3. Language economy principle is afundamentalone to guide language use.

语言经济原则是指导语言使用的一条根本原则。

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cornerstone

英汉解释

n. 基础；柱石；地基

同义词

n.base，foundation，fundament，groundwork

参考例句

1. Jesus is the Cornerstone.

耶稣是那房角石。

2. But all of itscornerstone, is life!

但所有的一切，其基石就是生命！

3. Never forget that doing what you love is thecornerstoneof having success in your life.

永远不要忘记：做你所爱做的事情是你人生获得成功的基石。

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precede

英汉解释

vt. 领先，在…之前；优于，高于

vi. 领先，在前面

同义词

v.come before，forego，lead，predate

反义词

v.come after，follow，postdate，succeed

参考例句

1. Mprecedes N in the alphabet.

在字母表上M在N的前面。

2. Invalid date}The starting date mustprecedethe finishing date.

{日期无效}开始日期必须在完成日期之前。

3. Unfortunately, the chapters in the history books about how to deal with asset bubbles usuallyprecedetales of woe.

不幸的是，历史书上关于如何应对资产泡沫的章节，后面跟着的通常是悲惨的故事。

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hypothesis

英汉解释

n. 假设

同义词

n.conjecture，guess，possibility，theory

词汇辨析

hypothesis，assumption，presumption，supposition

这些名词均有“假设，假想”之意。 hypothesis 书面用词，指有待作进一步检验或证实的假设。

assumption 侧重主观推测或主观设想。

presumption 着重指以可能性为依据的假设。

supposition 可与assumption换用，还可表某种试探性的主观看法或建议。

参考例句

1. Thehypothesismust check with the facts.

必须用事实对假说进行检验。

2. Does the sample contain strong enough thesishypothesis?

样本是否含有足够强大的论文假说？

3. Streaming is still the onlyhypothesisto account for translocation in fungus.

胞质流还仅仅是一种解释真菌中转移的假说。

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surpass

英汉解释

vt. 超越；胜过，优于；非…所能办到或理解

同义词

v.exceed，excel，go by，transcend

参考例句

1. The costs of the vacationsurpassed my expectation.

这次度假的花销超出了我的预想。

2. Alwayssurpassyourself . Always seek for excellence.

每天超越自我，时刻追求卓越。

3. To obtain its anticipated target, China mustsurpassThailand first.

要想达到预期的目的，中国必须首先超越泰国。

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defend

英汉解释

vt. 辩护；防护

vi. 保卫；防守

同义词

v.champion，fend for，fight，guard

反义词

v.assail，attack，prosecute

词汇辨析

defend，protect，safeguard，guard，shield，shelter，harbour

这些动词均有“保护、保卫”之意。 defend 普通用词，指用武力或其它措施使人或物不受损害，消除危险。用作比喻时，指坚持某种行动、决定或意见。

protect 普通用词，指用某种手段作为防御工具以防危险或伤害。

safeguard 语气强，指采取积极措施预防可能发生的一切攻击或危险。

guard 普通用词，指保持警惕以防可能的攻击或伤害。

shield 语气比protect强，但侧重防止迫在眉睫的攻击或伤害。

shelter 通常指寻找安全地方躲避风雨或使人免遭危害。

harbour 贬义词，指隐匿或非法保护、窝藏。

参考例句

1. The sentrydefended the gate against sudden attack.

哨兵守卫大门以防突然袭击。

2. We shoulddefendour students.

我们应该保护学生。

3. After basking how todefend?

晒太阳之后怎样防护?