VOA慢速英语:Small Organisms in Deep Sea Rocks Eat Methane

短语讲解：

1. The gas methane has been linked to rising temperatures on Earth.

link to 与…连接， 联系
例句：Research finds genetic link to some types of gum disease. 
研究发现遗传与某些牙龈疾病有关。

2. But methane does not stay in the atmosphere as long as another “greenhouse gas” -- carbon dioxide. Scientists say both gases trap heat from the sun.

as long as 只要;  如果; 既然;  由于
例句：He resisted as long as he could. 
他尽力抗御。 

3. Little of that methane reaches the atmosphere, thanks to methane-eating organisms that live in sea bed sediments – materials that sink to the sea floor.

thanks to 幸亏， 多亏， 由于
例句：Thanks to the update back to april.
这多亏了四月份的那次升级。

4. These organisms would be able to extract energy from methane using sulfate found in sea water rather than oxygen.

be able to 能够
例句：I know you'll be able to take care of it. 
我知道你能够处理好这件事。 

5. “These are not just simply end products of methane oxidation, but they actually maintain a viable community of microorganisms living inside the pore spaces of the rock that turns out are still capable of consuming methane.”

turn out 结果是; 关掉
例句：None of those assertions turn out to be accurate.
这些断言没有哪一个证明是准确的。

6. So instead of just considering this a process that is going on in sediments, we now have this whole other expansive habitat to look at as a sink for methane over time.

instead of （用…）代替…， （是…）而不是…， （用…）而不用…
例句：Why do that instead of judging?
为什么不那样代替判断呢？

7. As a result, the gas has trouble reaching the atmosphere.

as a result 结果， 因此
例句：As a result, we grew through word-of-mouth.
因此，我们依赖口口相传。