Everyone loves food, but how much do you know about the science behind many foods? Here are some fun scientific food questions.
大家都喜歡吃東西，可是我們對於許多食物背後的科學又了解多少呢？以下有一些關於食物的有趣科學問題。
Why does airline food taste so bad?
為什麼飛機餐那麼難吃？
If you travel by plane, you may find that a large amount of airline food is not so tasty. You might think airlines want to keep costs down, so they provide cheap food and drinks. Actually, there are other reasons. The low pressure and dry air inside an airplane make your taste buds less sensitive. Even the noise can change the way food tastes. It can make sweet things less sweet and salty foods less salty.
要是你搭乘飛機，可能會發覺許多飛機餐的味道不怎麼樣。你可能認為航空公司想降低成本，所以提供廉價餐飲。事實上，高空飲食難吃還另有原因。機艙內的低氣壓和乾燥空氣會使你的味蕾變得遲鈍。甚至連噪音都會改變食物的味道。讓甜的東西比較不甜，而鹹的東西比較不鹹。
Is it true that bananas are radioactive?
香蕉真的有放射性嗎？
Yes, it is, but not dangerously so. According to scientists, bananas contain potassium. When potassium decays, it becomes a little radioactive. Potassium, however, is necessary for good health, and you would have to eat a huge number of bananas to have a dangerous amount of it. In fact, it won't match the natural radiation levels in your body unless you eat 10 million bananas. Don't worry, just keep on enjoying this healthy fruit.
是真的，但不具危險性。科學家表示，香蕉含鉀。而鉀在衰退時帶有輕微輻射性。然而鉀是維持健康的必要元素，要達到危險的量必須吃非常大量的香蕉。事實上，除非你吃上一千萬根香蕉，才會達到自然輻射量。別擔心，繼續享受這種健康的水果吧。
Why are jelly beans so shiny?
為什麼豆豆糖這麼光亮？
The shine on the surfaces of jelly beans, some apples, and other things is caused by shellac. Shellac is processed from the bodily excretions of an insect which is found in the forests of Thailand. In addition to a food additive, shellac is used as a wood finishing product and to make medicines shiny. In other words, you've probably eaten insect waste many times before.
豆豆糖還有一些蘋果以及其他東西表面的光澤是蟲膠所致。蟲膠是用泰國森林裡的一種昆蟲排泄物加工而成。除了作為食品添加物外，蟲膠也被用來當作給木頭上光的產品和使藥物光亮。換句話說，你以前可能吃過很多次昆蟲排泄物呢。
How long does honey last?
蜂蜜可以保存多久？
The simple answer is, forever. Honey is made with the purpose of being stored. Those clever bees have created a food source that will last a long time. Honey is loaded with sugar and kills any bacteria that find their way into it by drying them out. No doubt you have seen a jar of honey that has crystallized into a solid mass. It's still OK to eat, though. Put the jar into a pan of hot water and the honey will return to its normal state.
簡單來說就是永遠。蜂蜜製作的目的就是要儲存。聰明的蜜蜂創造出一種可以長久保存的食物來源。蜂蜜富有糖分，會使進入蜂蜜中的細菌脫水死亡。想必你一定曾看過結晶成固態的蜂蜜。不過那還是可以吃的。只要把整罐蜂蜜放到一鍋熱水中，就會還原到正常的狀態了。
You don't have to be a scientist to enjoy good food, of course. For the sake of your health and happiness, however, it's helpful to learn more about food so that you can add some spice (and sugar, and sauce) to your life.
當然，你不必是個科學家才能享受美食。可是為了你的健康和幸福，多學一些食物相關知識是有好處的，這樣也可以為你的生活添加滋味（還有糖和醬料）。
- scientific [͵saɪənˋtɪfɪk] adj.
科學的
Dr. Cook is going to report the results of her scientific experiment next week.
Cook 博士下禮拜即將報告她的科學實驗結果。 - scientist [ˋsaɪəntɪst] n.
科學家
Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists in history.
亞伯特．愛因斯坦是史上最著名的科學家之一。 - airline [ˋɛr͵laɪn] n.
航空公司
Captain Jones is an experienced airline pilot who often flies long distances.
Jones 機長是資深的航空公司飛行員，他經常飛長途班機。 - provide [prəˋvaɪd] v.
提供
James works hard to provide his family with everything they need.
James 努力工作養家，讓他們衣食無缺。 - pressure [ˋprɛʃɚ] n.
氣壓，液壓；壓力
This high-pressure cleaning machine should only be used by an expert.
這種高壓清潔機器只能由專家操作。
The need to memorize so much information puts a lot of pressure on students.
必須背下這麼多資訊讓學生倍感壓力。 - sensitive [ˋsɛnsətɪv] adj.
敏感的，敏銳的
These birds are very sensitive to changes in their environment.
這些鳥對環境中的改變非常敏感。 - contain [kənˋten] v.
含有，包含
This box contains candles that we can use when the lights go out.
這個盒子裡裝有蠟燭，我們可以在停電時使用。 - container [kənˋtenɚ] n.
容器
These containers can be used for storing fresh food in the fridge.
這些容器可以用來盛裝要放進冰箱的新鮮食物。 - decay [dɪˋke] v.
腐敗
The vegetables had decayed a lot so they could not be eaten.
這些蔬菜已經腐爛到無法食用的地步。 - decay [dɪˋke] n.
衰敗
The dentist explained to the boy how eating candy can cause tooth decay.
牙醫向男孩解釋吃糖會如何造成蛀牙。 - match [mætʃ] v.
比得上，達到...的程度；相配
Phillip's talent and skills match those of his older brother.
Phillip 的天分和技巧不輸他哥哥。
Amy was upset when her boyfriend mentioned that her coat didn't match her hat.
Amy 的男友說她的外套和帽子不搭時，她覺得不太高興。 - match [mætʃ] n.
相配的人、事、物
I think Adam is an ideal match for Eve.
我認為 Adam 是 Eve 的理想對象。 - shiny [ˋʃaɪnɪ] adj.
有光澤的，光亮的
Dave thinks he looks cool in those shiny pants, but I think he looks silly.
Dave 覺得自己穿那條亮晶晶的褲子很酷，但我覺得他看起來矬死了。 - shine [ʃaɪn] n.
光彩，光澤
Miranda's hair has a beautiful shine.
Miranda 的頭髮帶著美麗的光澤。 - shine [ʃaɪn] v.
閃耀，發亮
The sun was shining all day, and it was very hot in the afternoon.
整天都豔陽高照，下午的時候更是熱到不行。 - surface [ˋsɝfɪs] n.
（物體的）表面，外層；（人或情況的）表面
I breathed on the surface of the mirror and wiped it with a cloth.
我對鏡子表面呼了一口氣，然後拿布擦拭。
Though Vera said nothing, under the surface she was very excited about the idea.
雖然 Vera 什麼都沒說，但暗地裡她對那個構想雀躍不已。 - process [ˋprɑsɛs] v.
加工（食品或原料）
My cousin works in a factory that processes fruit and vegetables.
我表哥在一家蔬果加工廠上班。 - process [ˋprɑsɛs] n.
過程，步驟
Dealing with anger can be a difficult process, but it is necessary.
處理滿腔怒火的過程可能不容易，卻是必要的。 - processed [ˋprɑsɛsd] adj.
（食品）加工過的
Cooking fresh dishes is preferable to eating processed food.
新鮮現煮的料理比吃加工食品好。 - product [ˋprɑdəkt] n.
產品
Cheese and other dairy products can be found at the back of the store.
商店後排的位置可以找到起司和其他乳製品。 - produce [prəˋdjus] v.
生產，製造
This farm produces roses, tulips, and other flowers.
這座農場生產玫瑰、鬱金香及其他花卉。 - production [prəˋdʌkʃən] n.
生產；產量
The company is famous for the production of high quality cars.
這家公司以生產高品質的汽車聞名。 - productive [prəˋdʌktɪv] adj.
多產的，富饒的
Eleanor's love of her work makes her one of our most productive employees.
Eleanor 對工作的熱愛讓她成為我們產能最高的員工之一。 - waste [west] n.
排泄物；浪費
Human waste is associated with the spread of disease.
人類排泄物跟疾病擴散有關。
That self-help book won't solve your problems and is a waste of money.
那本心靈勵志書解決不了你的問題，充其量只是浪費錢。
The company has been trying to cut costs by reducing waste.
那家公司一直試著減少浪費以降低成本。 - waste [west] v.
浪費
During the exam, don't waste too much time on one question.
考試當中，不要在某個問題上浪費太多時間。 - last [læst] v.
持續，維持
I know these pens don't last long, but they're cheap so it's no big deal.
我知道這些筆的壽命不長，但是因為很便宜，所以也沒什麼關係。 - store [stor] v.
儲存，儲備
Before he went abroad, Stan stored some of his things at a friend's home.
Stan 出國前把他的部分物品寄放在朋友家裡。 - store [stor] n.
儲存量
The police destroyed the large store of drugs that they found in the house.
警方銷毀了他們在那間屋子裡發現的大量毒品。 - source [sors] n.
來源
This website is a good source of information on Japanese culture.
這個網站對日本文化提供豐富的資訊來源。 - loaded [ˋlodɪd] adj.
富含...的
This vegetable is loaded with vitamins, so eat it as often as you can.
這種蔬菜富含維生素，所以盡可能常常吃。 - load [lod] v.
裝載
After the apples were picked, they were loaded onto a truck.
蘋果採收後被裝載到貨車上。 - solid [ˋsɑlɪd] adj.
固狀的
The baby is old enough to eat solid food now.
寶寶已經大到可以吃固體食物了。 - solid [ˋsɑlɪd] n.
固體
Liquid water turns into a solid at zero degrees Celsius.
液態的水會在攝氏零度時凝結成固態。 - mass [mæs] n.
團，塊，堆；大量
It doesn't look like a cake—just a big sticky mass.
這看起來一點也不像蛋糕－－只是一大塊黏黏的東西。
A huge mass of people outside the store were waiting for the sale to begin.
商店外有大批人潮在等待特賣開始。 - normal [ˋnɔrm!] adj.
正常的，一般的
It's normal to be nervous on your first day at a new school.
第一天到新學校會覺得緊張是正常的。 - abnormal [æbˋnɔrm!] adj.
反常的，異常的
The poor dog's legs seem to be growing in an abnormal way.
那隻可憐的狗，腳生長的方式似乎有異常。 - state [stet] n.
狀態，情況
The company was in a bad state before the new manager solved its problems.
在新任經理解決問題之前，那家公司的情況岌岌可危。 - keep on
繼續
Boris felt like taking a break, but he kept on studying for the test.
Boris 本來想休息一下，但還是繼續唸書準備考試。 - in addition to
除了...之外（還）
In addition to his job in an office, Eric runs a stall in the night market.
除了在辦公室的工作，Eric 還有在夜市擺攤。 - in other words
換句話說，換言之
The other team is strong. In other words, we'll have to play well to win this game.
另一隊很強。換言之，我們這場比賽必須打得很好才能贏。 - no doubt
毫無疑問地，肯定地
Simon is on the baseball team and no doubt wants to play as well as his brother did.
Simon 也是棒球隊的一員，當然想打得跟他哥哥一樣好。 - for the sake of
為了
The doctor emphasized that Bill had to lose weight for the sake of his health.
醫生強調 Bill 為了健康一定要減重。 - add some spice to one's life
為生活增添趣味
You can add some spice to your life by developing new hobbies.
你可以藉由培養新的嗜好來為生活增添樂趣。
