To help save the environment, researchers have gone underwater to find inspiration.
為了幫助拯救環境，研究員已深入水底去尋找靈感。
The scales on sharks are tiny, rough, tooth-like structures. This makes their skin feel like armor and helps the sharks move quickly and gracefully through the water. For many years now, humans have been copying shark skin in different products. Artificial sharkskin fabric is very light and does not wrinkle easily, which makes it ideal for suits, curtains, and tablecloths. Other things that have been made with sharkskin fabric are diving suits and winter coats.
The biggest technological advancement that is related to shark skin in recent years is paint. This new kind of paint, which has been inspired by the efficiency of shark skin, can be applied to airplanes, ships, and wind turbines. By doing so, wind drag is reduced. This means that fuel costs for boats and planes are reduced and money is saved. On wind turbines, less air resistance means that more energy is generated, making them more efficient. The best things about sharkskin paint are that very little extra weight is added to the ships, planes, and wind turbines and it can resist ultraviolet radiation and extreme temperatures.
There are particles in the paint that recreate the shark-skin like quality, but it needs to be applied properly with stencils. The researchers in Germany who came up with the paint tested it on ships. They found that the paint reduces drag by five percent. On large container ships, this could save 2,000 tons of fuel. If this paint were applied to every plane in the world, 4.48 million tons of fuel would be saved every year. That would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and when it comes to protecting the environment, every little bit helps.
鯊魚的魚鱗是很小、很粗糙而且像牙齒一樣的構造。這讓牠們的皮膚摸起來像是盔甲，而且幫助鯊魚在水裡快速且優雅地移動。多年來，人類在許多不同產品上都仿照了鯊魚皮膚。人造的鯊魚皮布料非常輕，而且不容易皺，這使得這種材質很適合用來作西裝、窗簾和桌布。其他以鯊魚皮布料製成的還有潛水衣和冬天的外套。
近年來和鯊魚皮膚有關的最大科技發展就是塗料。這種新式塗料是以鯊魚皮膚的功能為靈感，它可以運用於飛機、船隻以及風力發電機。塗上這種塗料後，便能減低風阻。這意味著船隻和飛機的燃料費用會減少，同時也省了不少錢。在風力發電機方面，較少的空氣阻力意味著能夠產生更多的能源，也讓機器更有效率。鯊魚皮塗料最棒的就是它幾乎完全不會為船隻、飛機和風力發電機增加額外的重量，同時它還可以抗紫外線和極端的溫度。
這種塗料裡有可以重現和鯊魚皮膚類似特性的粒子，但是它必須適當地搭配模版來塗抹。這群想出這種塗料的德國研究員將它塗在船隻上做測試。他們發現這種塗料可以減少百分之五的阻力。以大型的貨櫃船來說，這種塗料可以省下兩千公噸的燃料。如果這種塗料運用在全世界每一艘船隻，那麼每年將可以省下四百四十八萬公噸的燃料。這將會減少二氧化碳的排放量，而且就保護環境而言，這一點一滴都有所幫助。
ideal a. 理想的
It is Jane's view that an ideal husband should always be respectful and truthful.
阿珍認為理想的老公一定要對人尊重及誠實。
advancement n. 進步，進展
Lack of imagination is an obstacle to your advancement.
缺乏想像力會阻礙你進步。
inspire vt. 啟發
That rock and roll singer inspired Nick to start up his own band.
那位搖滾歌手啟發尼克創立自己的樂團。
efficiency n. 效能
A potential customer called to inquire about the efficiency of the new instrument.
有位潛在顧客來電詢問這項新儀器的效能。
be applied to... 被應用在……上
Nanotechnology is applied to many aspects of our lives.
奈米科技被應用在我們生活中的許多層面。
＊nanotechnology n. 奈米科技
generate vt. 產生（電、熱、光等）
Dams are often used to generate electricity.
水壩經常被利用來發電。
come up with...
想出∕提出（主意、想法等）
Steve came up with an idea for getting rid of the roaches in his house.
史提夫想出一個將蟑螂趕出家裡的點子。
emission n. 排放（物）
emit vt. 散發
The machines need to be properly maintained to prevent black smoke emission.
這些機器必須適當保養以避免排放黑煙。
The rays emitted from the microwave can cause problems for some people with heart conditions.
微波爐散發的輻射可能對某些有心臟病的人造成問題。
when it comes to N/V-ing 說到……
George is not so adventurous when it comes to food.
談到食物，喬治並沒有那麼勇於嘗試。
＊adventurous a. 勇於冒險的
scale n. 魚鱗
armor n. 盔甲
fabric n. 布料
wrinkle vi. 起皺紋
turbine n. 渦輪（機）
drag n. 阻力
ultraviolet a. 紫外線的
radiation n. 輻射
particle n. 微粒；粒子
recreate vt. 使重現
apply vt. 塗，抹
stencil n. 模版
container n. 貨櫃的
文章出處：聯合電子報
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