VOA常速英语:Life on Venus, Counterpunching an Asteroid, and a Stargazers'Perch

Good news this week for explorers seeking extraterrestrial life.
本周对于寻找外星生命的探险家来说是个好消息。
Scientists say they have detected a gas called phosphine swirling in the highly acidic clouds of venus,
科学家说，他们在金星的高酸性云层中发现了一种叫做磷化氢的气体，
but the European Southern Observatorys Itciar De Gregorio says
但是欧洲南方天文台的Itciar De Gregorio说
it is probably too soon to say life exists on the planet.
说地球上存在生命可能为时过早。
This doesnt mean that we discovered extraterrestrial life on venus far from it.
这并不意味着我们在遥远的金星上发现了外星生命。
It is possible that we are unaware of a chemical that produces this phosphene
我们可能不知道有一种化学物质能产生这种磷。
and we have to investigate in that direction.
我们必须朝这个方向调查。
The quest to study Venus began in 1960 with the pioneer 5 space probe,
研究金星的探索始于1960年的第五次太空探索，
but with this weeks development theres heightened interest in the planet.
但是随着本周的研究发展，人们对这个星球的兴趣越来越大。
On earth bacteria thriving in oxygen starved environments like sewers and intestines produce the gas phosphine.
在地球上，细菌生长在缺氧的环境中，如下水道和肠道，产生气体磷化氢。
The discovery on Venus is raising speculation that microbial life exists there
金星上的发现引起了人们对那里存在微生物生命的猜测。
but De Gregorio adds that the phosphine source could simply be something researchers have yet to study.
但De Gregorio补充说，磷化氢的来源可能只是研究人员尚未研究的问题。
In other news that could be ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel
在其他的新闻中，这些可能就来自科幻小说。
NASA and the European Space Agency or ESA joined forces this week
美国宇航局和欧洲航天局本周联合起来
to build a spacecraft to deflect an earthbound asteroid.
建造航天器使小行星偏离地球轨道
This mission is essentially a demonstration
这次任务实质上是一个示范
so we can understand how these technologies could be used.
这样我们就能理解这些技术是如何被使用的。
Its like billiards.
就像台球。
Small force hits the asteroid that is heading for earth
小力撞击了正在向地球移动的小行星。
which should create an aversion and we want to practice this,
这应该会产生一种不利情况，我们想要实践这一点，
so that we are ready if an asteroid is actually heading for us.
这样我们就准备好了，如果一颗小行星真的朝我们撞过来。
NASA is set to launch a craft in June 2021 on a collision course
美国宇航局将于2021年6月在碰撞路线上发射一艘飞船
with the asteroid to attempt altering its flight path.
让小行星试图改变它的飞行路线。
If the mission succeeds the ESA will launch a follow-up in 2024.
如果任务成功，欧洲航天局将在2024年启动后续行动。
In other news images from space showed the vast and ancient ice sheet
在其他新闻中，来自太空的图片显示了巨大而古老的冰层
atop greenland shed a 113 square kilometer chunk of ice last month.
上个月，这个在格陵兰岛顶部的冰层面积达113平方公里。
The new research is yet another piece important piece of evidence
这项新的研究是另一项重要的证据。
showing that its really time we stop hitting the snooze button and wake up to the climate emergency.
这表明我们真的是时候停止打瞌睡了，醒来面对气候紧急情况。
We need to curb climate emissions right now immediately.
我们现在需要立即控制气候排放。
And we need to create a network of ocean sanctuaries covering at least a third of of the blue planet,
我们需要建立一个海洋保护区网络，覆盖至少三分之一的蓝色星球，
if we are to take climate crisis seriously.
如果我们要认真对待气候危机。
Dr Laura Mellor from Greenpeace says the time to act is now.
绿色和平组织的劳拉·梅勒博士说，现在是采取行动的时候了。
As more ice melts experts say more dark water appears in its place
随着更多的冰融化，专家说更多的黑水出现在它的位置上。
absorbing heat further accelerating the process of melting ice and rising seas,
吸收热量，进一步加速了冰融化和海平面上升的过程，
and finally UNESCO certifies Italys Saint Bartholomew valley as a starlight stellar park
最后，联合国教科文组织认定意大利的圣巴索洛缪山谷为星光公园
meaning its one of the best places on earth to look up at the sky.
这意味着它是地球上最适合仰望天空的地方之一。
The northern Italian municipality takes this designation seriously
意大利北部的市政府对此非常重视。
having recently replaced lampposts with special leds that do not shine up.
最近用不向上发光的特殊LED取代灯柱。
Arashara Basadi VOA news Washington
阿拉沙拉·巴萨迪华盛顿报道