Plastic-munching superworms offer hope for recycling
By Tiffanie Turnbull
能吃塑料的大麥蟲為循環再用提供了希望
munch [mʌntʃ] v. 大聲咀嚼，用力咀嚼
superworm n. 大麥蟲，麥皮蟲
recycling 循環再用A species of insect larvae with a taste for plastic could help revolutionise recycling, researchers say.
研究人員說，一種喜歡吃塑料的昆蟲幼蟲可以幫助徹底改變循環再用領域。
species [ˈspiːʃiːz] n. （動植物的）種，物種；種類
larva [ˈlɑːvə] n. [水產] 幼體，[昆] 幼蟲
with a taste for 以…為食；有……方面的的興趣
revolutionise [ˌrevəˈljuːʃənaɪz] v. 使發生革命性巨變，徹底改變Australian scientists have found the Zophobas morio - commonly known as a superworm - can survive on a diet of polystyrene.
澳大利亞科學家發現Zophobas morio，通常被稱為大麥蟲，可以聚苯乙烯為食。
Zophobas morio 大麥蟲
on a diet of 以……為主食
polystyrene [ˌpɒliˈstaɪriːn] n. [高分子] 聚苯乙烯，目前世界上應用最廣的塑料之一They believe the beetle larvae digest the plastic through a gut enzyme.
他們認為這種甲蟲的幼蟲通過腸道酶消化塑料。
beetle [ˈbiːtl] n. 甲蟲，是指一種身體有一層堅硬覆蓋物的昆蟲。
digest [daɪˈdʒest] v. 理解，領悟；消化
gut [ɡʌt] n. 腸，腸道；內臟
enzyme [ˈenzaɪm] n. 酶
That could be significant for advancements in recycling, says one of the study's authors.
該研究的一位發起者說，這個發現對於循環再用向前推進可能具有重要意義。
significant [sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt] adj. 顯著的；重要的
author n. 作者；發起者，創始人"Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut," Dr Chris Rinke said.
「大麥蟲就像小型回收廠，它用嘴撕碎聚苯乙烯，然後將其餵給腸道中的細菌，」克里斯·林克博士說。
mini [ˈmɪni] adj. 微型的；袖珍的
recycling plant 回收廠，再循環工廠
shred [ʃred] v. 切碎，撕碎；粉碎銷毀
bacteria [bækˈtɪəriə] n. 細菌The University of Queensland team fed three groups of superworms different diets over three weeks. The batch that ate polystyrene even put on weight.
昆士蘭大學的團隊給三組大麥蟲在三周內餵食了不同的飲食。吃聚苯乙烯的那批大麥蟲甚至長胖了。
diet [ˈdaɪət] n. 特定飲食；日常飲食
put on weight 體重增加The team found several enzymes in the superworm's gut have the ability to degrade polystyrene and styrene. Both are common in takeaway containers and other items such as insulation and car parts.
研究小組發現，大麥蟲腸道中的幾種酶具有降解聚苯乙烯和苯乙烯的能力。這兩者塑料在外賣容器以及絕緣材料、汽車零件等其他物品中都很常見。
degrade [dɪˈɡreɪd] v. 侮辱，貶低；降解，分解
styrene [ˈstaɪriːn] n. [有化] 苯乙烯
takeaway [ˈteɪkəweɪ] n. 外賣食品；外賣餐館
insulation [ˌɪnsjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n] n. 隔熱，絕緣，隔音；隔熱（或絕緣、隔音）材料But the research is unlikely to lead to massive worm farms that double as recycling plants.
但這項研究不太可能推動大規模大麥蟲養殖場的建設，就像回收廠那樣。
Instead, they hope to identify which enzyme is the most effective so it can be reproduced at scale for recycling.
相反，他們希望確定大麥蟲腸道里的哪種酶最有效，以便可以大規模複製用於循環再用領域。
effective [ɪˈfektɪv] adj. 有效的
reproduce [ˌriːprəˈdjuːs] v. 複製；再製造，再現；繁殖，生殖
at scale 大規模地
Research has previously shown some types of beetle larvae can consume polystyrene.
先前的研究就表明，某些類型的甲蟲幼蟲可以聚苯乙烯為食。
But this study takes it a step further, says Australian National University researcher Colin Jackson - who wasn't involved with the study.
「但這項研究更加深入，」並未參與這項研究的澳大利亞國立大學研究員科林·傑克遜說。
take it a step further 更進一步，更加深入"This study goes a long way towards understanding how the bacteria in [the superworms'] gut do this at the molecular level," Professor Jackson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
傑克遜教授告訴澳大利亞廣播公司：「這項研究對了解大麥蟲腸道中的細菌如何在分子層次上做到這一點大有幫助。」
go a long way towards 大大有利於，對……大有幫助
molecular [məˈlekjələ(r)] adj. 分子的，與分子有關的Internationally, other researchers have had success in using bacteria and fungi to break down plastics.
在國際上，其他研究人員已成功利用細菌和真菌分解塑料。
fungi [ˈfʌŋɡiː] n. 真菌；菌類 （複數）
fungus [ˈfʌŋɡəs] n. 真菌 （單數）
break down分解；發生故障But some question whether such techniques will ever be commercially viable.
但有些人質疑這種技術在商業上是否可行。
question v. 向……提出問題；對……提出質疑（異議），懷疑
commercially [kəˈmɜːʃəli] adv. 商業上，從商業角度看
viable [ˈvaɪəb(ə)l] adj. 可望成功的，切實可行的定期推出BBC文章精讀
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