230606 喷出巨大水柱!土卫二有望成为新地球?
▍原文
Astronomers have detected a huge plume of water vapour spurting out into space from Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn.
The water stream spans some 9,600km - a distance equivalent to that of flying from the UK to Japan.
Scientists are fascinated by Enceladus because its sub-surface salty ocean - the source of the water - could hold the basic conditions to support life.
▍语言点
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detect /dɪˈtekt/ v. 查明,探测 · 构词:前缀de-不,词根-tect覆盖 · 近义表达:discover, find
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plume /pluːm/ n. 长长的羽毛;一股长长的某物平地而起 · a plume of smoke 一缕青烟 · a plume of water 一股水柱 · a plume of fire 一道火光
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water vapour 水蒸气(water stream) · vapour /ˈveɪpər/ n. 蒸气
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spurt /spɜːrt/ v. 喷射 · 构词:前缀sp-吐,喷出 · spray /spreɪ/ v./n. 喷洒 · spew /spjuː/ v. 喷出 · spurt out 向外喷射
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Enceladus 土卫二“恩克拉多斯”(名字来自希腊神话中的巨人恩克拉多斯,土星第二颗被人类发现的卫星,也是土星的第六大卫星) · Saturday 星期六(Saturn’s day土星日)
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moon /muːn/ n. (天文中)卫星
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Saturn /ˈsætərn/ n. 土星
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span /spæn/ v. 横跨,跨越
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equivalent to 等于(equal to) · Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles. 八公里约等于五英里。
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be fascinated by 被……迷住了/吸引住了
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sub-surface adj. 地下的,表面下的 · 构词:前缀sub-向下 · submarine /ˈsʌbməriːn/ n. 潜艇
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sth. holds the basic conditions to support life 维持生命的基本条件 · Water and oxygen hold the basic conditions to support life 水和氧气是维持生命的基本条件。