: SHIRLEY GRIFFITH:此次非洲之角的旱灾被称为是近60年以来最为严重的。 科学家认为，干燥的气候是这次轰动世界的旱灾事件的原因之一。这次事件被称为是“拉尼娜”现象，在西班牙语中它是“小姑娘”的意思。 当太平洋 ...
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SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS , in VOA Special English . I 'm Shirley Griffith .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :这里是VOA 慢速英语科技新闻节目， 我是主持人舍莉·格里夫斯。
BOB DOUGHTY : And I 'm Bob Doughty . Today , we examine the extremely dry conditions in parts of East Africa . We also tell about a powerful computer getting a new job . And we tell about a link between laughter and good health .
BOB DOUGHTY :我是主持人鲍勃·多提。 今天，我们要来关注东非部分地区极其干旱的恶劣条件。 此外，我们还将讲述一台功效强大的电脑得到一份新工作的故事， 以及欢笑和健康之间的联系。
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SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : The drought in the Horn of Africa has been called the worst in sixty years . Scientists say the dry weather is at least partly the result of an event half a world away .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :此次非洲之角的旱灾被称为是近60年以来最为严重的。 科学家认为，干燥的气候是这次轰动世界的旱灾事件的原因之一。
The event is called La Nina , which means "little girl " in Spanish . A La Nina begins when waters become cooler than normal in the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator . Changes in wind currents can then affect weather around the world . Another event , called an El Nino , happens when the waters become unusually warm .
这次事件被称为是“拉尼娜”现象，在西班牙语中它是“小姑娘”的意思。 当太平洋东部赤道附近的水温低于正常水温时，拉尼娜现象就会出现。 风流的变化将会影响到整个世界的天气。 另外一个被称为“厄尔尼诺”的现象，是在水温变得异常暖和的时候会发生的。
La Ninas and El Ninos happen about every three to five years . The latest La Nina began in July of last year and ended in May . The conditions , however , can last for up to two years .
大概每隔三至五年就会发生拉尼娜现象和厄尔尼诺现象。 最近的一次拉尼娜现象，从去年的七月持续到了今年的五月。 然而，它所导致的干旱情况将会一直持续两年。
BOB DOUGHTY : Wassila Thiaw studies Africa for the Climate Prediction Center at the National Weather Service in the United States . With a La Nina , Mr . Thiaw says the easterly winds that are supposed to bring moisture into East Africa are reduced .
BOB DOUGHTY :Wassila Thiaw 在美国国家气象局的气象预报中心里面研究非洲的气候。 Thiaw 先生说，由于拉尼娜现象，吹往东非的风所具有的湿度减小了。
WASSILA THIAW : "There was less moisture coming into East Africa and therefore rainfall is reduced ."
WASSILA THIAW :“由于进入东非的湿气减少了，所以这里的降雨也减少了。”
BOB DOUGHTY : Starting late last year , rains that were supposed to fall over Somalia , southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya failed . That part of the Horn of Africa has a second rainy season from March through May . Mr . Thiaw says that one failed , too , but for different reasons .
BOB DOUGHTY : 去年的降雨姗姗来迟，本指望它的足迹会遍布整个索马里，埃塞俄比亚南部以及肯尼亚北部地区，但实际情况并非如此。 在非洲之角的部分地区从三月到五月会有第二个雨季。 Thiaw 先生说这个雨季还是没有令人满意，但是原因不同了。
WASSILA THAW : "What played out here during the March-April-May season we don 't think that is really La Nina . But it [is ] probably mostly due to the atmospheric conditions that prevailed during that time ."
WASSILA THAW : “我们认为，这次三月至五月中所出现的现象并不是真正的拉尼娜现象， 但是它可能在很大程度上受到了当时所盛行的大气条件的影响。”
BOB DOUGHTY : Mr . Thiaw says La Nina conditions might begin again by the end of this year . And if that happens , he says , then the October-through-December rainy season could again be dryer than normal .
BOB DOUGHTY :Thiaw 先生说，今年年底拉尼娜现象可能会再次发生。 他认为，如果该现象发生了，那么今年十月至十二月的雨季将会异常干燥。
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : Climate researcher Simon Mason at Columbia University in New York says East Africa has been getting drier over about the last ten years . Mr . Mason says this is at least partly the result of global warming . Rising temperatures in the Indian Ocean create conditions that pull moisture away from East Africa .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :来自于纽约哥伦比亚大学的气候研究员西蒙·梅森说，在过去的十年里东非变得越来越干燥了。 梅森先生认为，全球气候变暖是东非干旱的原因之一。 印度洋的水温不断升高，使得东非的湿气流失。
Claudia Ringler at the International Food Policy Research Institute also points to another issue . She said by Skype that much of the land in the drought-affected areas is not very productive even in good times .
国际食品政策研究所的Claudia Ringler 指出了另外一个问题。 她在网络电话中提到，在受干旱影响的地区大多数的土地生产效益都不是很好，即使是在丰收的季节。
CLAUDIA RINGLER : "It will not get any better . Even if we have a bit more rainfall , the general potential for more food production is not expected to improve dramatically in the region ."
CLAUDIA RINGLER : “这种情况很难改变。 即使是降雨量加大了，这个地区总体的粮食生产潜力也不会有明显的提高。”
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : In the United States , the latest La Nina pushed moisture away from the south , causing severe droughts . Texas has suffered billions of dollars in agricultural losses . Changes in the winds pushed the rain toward the northern states , causing floods .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :最近的拉尼娜现象使得美国南部地区的湿气流失，从而引起了严重的旱灾。 德克萨斯州遭受了几十亿美元的农业损失。 同时，风的变化将降雨带到了北部地区，从而引起了洪灾。
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BOB DOUGHTY : It appears that Watson will soon get a real job ... in medicine . Watson is best known for appearing on an American television program . Watson , however , is not a person . He , or it , is a very powerful computer . The International Business Machines Corporation , or IBM , created Watson . The company worked for six years to make a computer that could understand the human voice . IBM researchers hoped that it could hear a question and answer it very quickly .
BOB DOUGHTY :看起来似乎沃森很快就会在医学方面得到一份真正的工作了。 沃森因为在一个美国电视节目上的出现而出名。 然而，沃森并不是一个真正的人。 他（它）是一台功能非常强大的计算机。 创造这台电脑的是美国国际商用机器公司，或称为IBM 。 这个公司花了六年时间才制造出像它这样能够理解人类声音的电脑。 IBM 研究员们希望它能够听懂一个问题，并快速地给出回答。
IBM tested Watson 's ability last February on the television game show "Jeopardy ." The computer competed against two very intelligent humans . Watson won by answering the most questions about many subjects . But that was just for fun . Now IBM wants to put Watson to work on more serious things .
去年二月，在名叫“危险”的电视游戏节目上，IBM 对沃森进行了能力测试。 这台电脑和两个非常聪明的人比赛。 沃森因为回答出了关于很多学科的大多数问题而赢得比赛。 但是那只是为了娱乐而已。 现在，IBM 打算把沃森运用到更加重要的事情上去。
Watson 's "brain " or computer memory is made up of ten electronic devices . Each is about the size of a home refrigerator . Computer scientists have filled Watson 's brain with millions and millions of facts . Lately they have been giving Watson information about medicine and human diseases .
沃森的“大脑”，或者说是计算机内存，是由十个电子装置组成的。 每一个装置的大小就和家里的冰箱差不多。 计算机科学家们在沃森的大脑里面填充了数百万的信息。 最近，他们还给沃森输入了有关医学和人类疾病的信息。
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : WellPoint is a large health insurance provider in the United States . Thirty-four million people use it to help pay for their medical costs . WellPoint and IBM plan to use Watson to help doctors find what disease a patient might have , and then suggest a treatment .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :维朋公司是美国的一家大型的健康保险公司。 有三千四百万人使用它来帮助支付医疗费用。 维朋和IBM 计划使用沃森来帮助医生诊断病人可能得了什么病，并给出治疗建议。
When a patient goes to a doctor , he or she explains what the problem is . Watson might be listening to the patient through an electronic device in the doctor 's office . Within seconds , the computer can search two hundred million pages of data , and then suggest what treatment the patient needs . Watson can also say that it has found more than one disease that might be responsible for the problem . And the computer can also explain how it reached that finding .
当病人去看病的时候，他（或她）会向医生描述自己哪里出了问题。 沃森就会通过放在医生办公室里面的一个电子装置听到这些描述。 几秒钟内，它可以搜索两亿页数据，然后建议病人需要什么样的治疗。 沃森还可以显示它找到了多种可能导致这些症状的疾病。 它甚至还可以解释自己是怎么样得到这个结论的。
BOB DOUGHTY : One of the most difficult things the scientists at IBM needed to "teach " Watson was how to understand the human voice . Some people speak in a loud voice . Others speak softly . Some people speak quickly or do not talk clearly . Watson also needed to know the difference between two words that sound alike .
BOB DOUGHTY :对IBM 科学家们而言，最困难的地方在于教会沃森怎么样去理解人类的声音。 有的人说话嗓音大， 而有的人说话声音很轻柔。 还有些人语速很快，或者吐词不清晰。 此外，沃森需要了解两个听起来相似的字有什么不同的意思。
For example , a patient might say , "I heard the dog bark , and then it bit me ." Or she might say , "I hurt my hand when it hit the bark on a tree ." IBM says Watson will know the difference when it starts the new job early next year . After that , scientists hope to use Watson to help fix public safety issues , and even use its "brain " to work on complex banking or financial questions .
例如，病人说：“我听到了狗吠声（bark ），然后它咬了我。” 或者，有病人会说：“我的手碰撞在树皮（bark ）上面，受伤了。” IBM 说，沃森将会在明年初开始这份新工作的时候具备区分同音字的能力。 之后，科学家希望使用沃森来帮助修复公共安全问题， 甚至是用它的“大脑”来解决复杂的银行业务或者金融问题。
If you are wondering why the computer has the name Watson , you need to understand just a small , historical fact . IBM was formed in nineteen twenty-four by a man named Thomas J . Watson .
如果你好奇为什么给这台电脑取名为“沃森”，你需要了解小小的历史— IBM 是由一个名叫托马斯·亚柏克隆·沃森的人于1924年创建的。
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SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : This is fine . (Laughter )
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : 这样很好。（笑声）
And so is this . (Laughter )
这样也可以。（笑声）
BOB DOUGHTY : This is better . (Laughter )
BOB DOUGHTY :这样更好。（笑声）
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : But this ...this is excellent ! (Laughter )
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :这样是最好的。（笑声）
You have probably always known it . Laughter is good for you . Poets have said , "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face ." "Laugh and the world laughs with you ." And , finally , "Laughter is the best medicine ."
你肯定知道 欢笑有利于身体健康。 诗人们曾说：“笑容是人们脸上的太阳，能给人带来温暖。” “欢笑可以感染全世界。” “欢笑是最好的良药。”
BOB DOUGHTY : Scientists in England now think they have evidence that a great , big , long laugh does good things to your body .
BOB DOUGHTY :英国科学家证明了开怀大笑对身体有益。
Robin Dunbar is an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford University . His study about laughter was published in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences ."
罗宾·邓巴是牛津大学的一位进化心理学家。 他对于欢笑的研究报告在英国皇家社会学报的生物科学专栏里发表。
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : Professor Dunbar tested volunteers to see how their bodies reacted to funny things , and to some nice , but not necessarily funny things . The professor showed videos to his subjects . At first , they watched things like sporting events . Then they were shown fifteen minutes of really funny things , like television programs designed to make people laugh really loud .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :邓巴教授通过测试一些志愿者们了解他们对一些趣事和对一些未必有趣的好事各自的身体反应。 教授播放了他关于这个课题研究的录像带。 起初，给他们看了一些体育赛事。 然后又给他们看了十五分钟有趣的片子，比如说一些专门用来使人们开怀大笑的娱乐电视节目。
After the programs ended , Robin Dunbar tested the volunteers to see how they reacted to pain . He put ice on a person 's arm to see how long they could take the extreme cold . Some had their arms squeezed -- tighter and tighter . And some were asked to use exercise equipment that made them move faster and faster .
节目结束之后，罗宾·邓巴测试了志愿者们对疼痛的身体反应。 他把冰块放在他们的手臂上，想看看他们能够忍受多久这种冰冷刺骨的感觉。 一些人会抱着他们的双臂，而且越来越紧。 一些人要求使用健身器材，使他们快速地运动起来。
BOB DOUGHTY : Professor Dunbar found that the people who had laughed loudly and long could take up to ten percent more pain than the others . He thinks that when we have really big laughs ... some call them belly laughs ... our brains release chemicals called endorphins . Endorphins not only make us feel good , but they also help reduce pain .
BOB DOUGHTY :邓巴教授发现那些长时间开怀大笑的人能够比其他人多了百分之十的疼痛忍受力。 他认为，当我们真的大笑，也就是一些人所说的捧腹大笑的时候，我们的大脑会释放出叫做“安多芬”（亦称“内啡肽”）的化学物质。 安多芬不仅能给我们舒适感，还能帮助我们减少疼痛感。
The way the subjects laughed was important . Small laughs ... giggles or a simple "ha , ha , ha " had little effect . Big belly laughs , however , caused a greater release of endorphins and much greater pain relief . Scientists think that the greatest amount of endorphins are released when laughing causes our stomach muscles to move a lot . When this happens , people often say , "I can 't stop laughing . It almost hurts !"
在这项课题研究中，笑的方式很重要。 轻轻地笑，咯咯地笑，或者是简单的“哈哈一笑”都没有太大的作用。 然而，捧腹大笑可以使得大量的安多芬被释放出来，从很大程度上减轻疼痛感。 科学家认为，当我们笑得腹部肌肉不断抖动的时候，九十安多芬释放得最多的时候。 这种情况下，人们通常会说：“我笑得停不下来了， 肚子都笑痛了。”
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : Professor Dunbar also believes that laughter was important for our early ancestors thousands of years ago . He calls it an "early mechanism to bond social groups ." He thinks that laughter helped people to form larger and larger groups .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :邓巴教授还认为，在几千年以前，笑对于我们早期的祖先们是非常重要的。 他把笑称为是“团结社会团体的一个早期的途径”。 他认为是笑帮助人们不断地壮大了队伍。
When ancient humans got together , they ate , danced , sang , and laughed . The professor thinks people have not changed that much when it comes to laughing . We all like to be around others who laugh , and who can make us laugh . John may be intelligent . Sue may be nice . But Caty is always a lot of fun !
当远古的人类http ://www .remword .cn 在一起的时候，他们一起吃喝玩乐，载歌载舞，共同欢笑。 教授认为，在笑的这个问题上，人类并没有多少改变。 我们都喜欢和那些时常欢笑，或者能给我们带来欢笑的人待在一起。 John 很聪明， Sue 很友善， 但是Caty 总是很有趣。
So if Mr . Dunbar is correct , our bodies will feel less pain , and we will feel better if we just ... laugh ! By the way , have you heard the joke about the hurricane and the chicken ? It was so windy , the chicken laid the same egg TWICE !
因此，如果邓巴先生的研究结果是正确的话，那么只要经常笑一笑，我们身体的疼痛感就会减少，我们也会感觉好一些。 顺便提一下，你们有没有听说过一个关于飓风和鸡的笑话？ 它讲的是，在一场飓风中，一只鸡下了两次同一个蛋。
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BOB DOUGHTY : This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Jerilyn Watson and Jim Tedder . Our producer was June Simms . I 'm Bob Doughty .
BOB DOUGHTY :本期科技新闻节目的编剧是Jerilyn Watson 和Jim Tedder ， 制片人是June Simms 。 我是主持人鲍勃·多提。
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH : And I 'm Shirley Griffith . You can find transcripts , MP3s and podcasts of our programs at voaspecialenglish .com . And you can find us on Twitter and YouTube at VOA Learning English . Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America .
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH :我是主持人舍莉·格里夫斯。 你可以登陆“voaspecialenglish .com .”来获取我们节目的文本，MP3s，以及视频播客。 也可以通过脸谱网，微博，以及YouTube 网上的VOA 英语学习版块来关注我们。 敬请下周继续收听我们VOA 慢速英语科技新闻节目。
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