在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

Scientists Develop Robotic Fish to ‘Eat’ Microplastics

Chinese scientists say they have developed a robotic fish that can remove microplastic particles from water environments.

中国科学家表示，他们已经研发出一种可以清除水中微塑料颗粒的机器鱼。

Researchers working on the project say the robots could help to clean up plastic pollution in oceans around the world.

从事该项目的研究人员表示，这种机器鱼可以帮助清理世界各地海洋中的塑料污染。

The robotic swimmers are about 1.3 centimeters long.

这些“机器游泳者”约1.3厘米长。

They are made of a soft chemical compound.

它们由一种柔软的化合物构成。

The robots are designed to absorb microplastics while moving through the water.

这些机器鱼的设计目的是当其在水中移动时能吸收微塑料。

The project was launched by a team at Sichuan University in southwestern China.

该项目由中国西南部的四川大学的一个团队发起。

The researchers said the robots have already performed well in shallow water and they plan to carry out more tests in deeper waters.

研究人员表示，这种机器鱼已经在浅水中表现良好，研究人员计划在更深的水域进行更多测试。

The scientists reported their findings in a new study in Nano Letters.

科学家们在发表于《纳米快报》的一项新研究中公布了他们的发现。

The publication comes from the American Chemical Society, a nonprofit organization supported by the U.S. Congress.

该期刊由美国国会支持的非营利组织——美国化学学会——出版。

The robotic fish were built to target microplastic particles, which are smaller than five millimeters.

这种机器鱼是针对小于5毫米的微塑料颗粒制作而成。

Studies have confirmed that microplastic pollution has been discovered in many natural environments.

研究证实，人们在许多自然环境中都发现了微塑料污染。

The material comes from the breakdown¹ of manufactured plastic products and industrial waste.

这种材料来自塑料制品和工业废料的分解。

The team said the robots can be controlled by light.

美国化学学会表示，打开和关闭“近红外线激光器”会使机器鱼的尾巴来回摆动。

Turning "a near-infrared light laser" on and off causes the fish's tail to move back and forth², the American Chemical Society said.

美国化学学会说，打开和关闭“近红外线激光”会导致鱼的尾巴来回移动。

The robotic fish can swim up to 2.76 body lengths per second.

机器鱼每秒可游动2.76个身长。

The researchers said this is faster than most similar soft robots.

研究人员说这比大多数类似的软体机器人要快。

Wang Yuyan was a member of Sichuan University's research team.

王玉燕是四川大学研究团队的一员。

She told Reuters news agency that the small, lightweight robot is currently being used to collect microplastics for research purposes.

她告诉路透社，出于研究目的，这种小型轻量化机器鱼目前被用于收集微塑料。

But Wang added that the team plans to expand that use so the robot fish can remove larger amounts of microplastic waste from deep ocean areas.

但王补充说，该团队计划扩大这一用途，那样机器鱼就可以清除深海地区的更多微塑料垃圾。

The fish can take in different kinds of microplastics and even repair itself when damaged, the researchers said.

研究人员说，这种机器鱼可以吸收不同种类的微塑料，甚至在受损时可以自我修复。

And if a robot fish is accidentally eaten by a real fish, it could safely digest the material, the team added.

研究小组补充说，如果机器鱼一不小心被真鱼吃掉了，真鱼也可以安全地消化这些材料。

Wang said similar robots could be developed to be placed inside the human body to remove unwanted materials or disease.

王说，类似的机器人可以被开发出来放置在人体内，以去除不想要的物质或疾病。