Pole position: human body might be able to pick up on Earth’s magnetic field 朝向地球極點起跑 人體可能感知地球磁場

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. magnetic field phr. 磁場
2. magnetoreception n.地磁感應

3. electromagnetic adj.電磁的

4. pole n.地球極點

5. equator n.赤道 (chi4 dao4)

6. within the realm of possibility adj.有可能的

It sounds like a power to be boasted of by the X-Men, but researchers say humans might have the ability to pick up on Earth’s magnetic field. Many animals, from pigeons to sea turtles, use it to navigate, while research has shown cattle prefer to align themselves with the field when standing in, well, a field. Even dogs make use of it — albeit when defecating. 雖然聽起來很像X戰警誇耀的特殊能力，不過科學家近日指出，人類可能具有感知地球磁場的能力。從鴿子到海龜，許多動物會使用這種能力導航，也有研究顯示，當牛隻在牧場中站立不動時，排列方向會傾向於朝向磁場校準，甚至是狗也會運用這種能力，不過是在排便的時候。

But while debates continue about the mechanisms behind such phenomena, it has remained unclear whether humans also have the power of magnetoreception. Now scientists say there are signs that we do. “We have not as a species lost the magnetic sensory system that our ancestors [millions of years ago] had,” said Joseph Kirschvink, leader of the research from the California Institute of Technology. “We are part of Earth’s magnetic biosphere.” 學界對此現象背後的機制仍爭論不休，也無法確定人類是否也有地磁感應的能力，不過科學家近日表示，有跡象顯示人類具備這種能力。這項研究由加州理工學院進行，計畫主持人約瑟夫‧柯許溫克教授指出：「我們人類，以一個物種而言，並未失去我們祖先（數百萬年前）具備的磁感應系統」，「我們是感應地球磁場的生物圈一份子。」

Writing in the journal eNeuro, Kirschvink and colleagues in the US and Japan describe how they made their discovery after building a six-sided cage, the walls of which were made of aluminum to shield the setup from electromagnetic interference. These walls also contained coils through which currents were passed to produce magnetic fields of about the same strength as Earth’s. Each participant was asked to enter the cage and sit still on a wooden chair in the dark, facing straight ahead toward the north. During the experiment, the team measured the participant’s brain waves using an electroencephalogram (EEG). 在這篇發表於美國神經科學學會線上期刊《eNeuro》的研究中，柯許溫克和美國與日本的同事描述他們如何獲得這項發現：他們建造一個六面的立方體籠子，牆面由鋁打造，保護這項設施不受電磁干擾影響。牆壁中埋有電線，電流通過後遂產生磁場，磁力約等同於地球磁場。每位受試者被要求進入籠子，在黑暗中坐在一張木椅上維持不動，面朝北方。實驗過程中，研究團隊會用腦電波圖量測受試者的腦波。

In some experiments, the applied magnetic fields were fixed in one direction, while in others they were rotated. In still others, the machines were turned on but no magnetic field was produced — meaning the participant was only exposed to Earth’s natural magnetic field. The participant was unaware of which experiment was underway. 在其中幾次實驗中，人為設定的磁場會固定在單一方向；其他幾次實驗中，磁場則會旋轉。在另外幾次實驗中，儀器是開啟的，但並未製造出磁場，也就是讓受試者單純暴露在地球的自然磁場中。受試者都不知道目前正在進行哪一種實驗。

The results, gathered from 34 adult participants, revealed that certain scenarios triggered a drop in participants’ alpha brain waves — a change that is linked to the brain processing information. This occurred if the applied magnetic field was pointed north and then swept upwards or downwards, or directed down while pointing north and rotated anticlockwise. That is similar to a human in the northern hemisphere nodding their head, or turning their head to the right respectively. 從三十四名成年受試者獲得的結果顯示，某些特定情況會觸發大腦的阿爾法波降低，而阿爾法波的變化和大腦處理資訊有關。這個變化會發生磁場設定指向北，然後上下晃動，或是磁場指向北，但卻向下傾斜，同時逆時鐘旋轉。這兩種設定分別相似於人類在北半球點頭，或是向右轉頭。

Kirschvink said the responses are akin to the brain “freaking out” — in other words clocking an unexpected change in the environment. Crucially, he said, it means that humans must be able to detect such changes — although the strength of the response varied hugely among participants. The team says the experiments offer clues as to what the human magnetoreception system might look like — noting that the results rule out electrical induction, or simply artifacts, as explanations. 柯許溫克表示，這類反應近似於腦袋「突然異常」，換言之，就是大腦感應到環境中發生意料之外的變化。他說，重要的是這表示人類一定能偵測這種變化，只是受試者彼此間的反應強度大相逕庭。研究團隊認為，這項實驗提供線索，有助了解人類的地磁感應系統可能會是什麼模樣，並且註明實驗結果排除電感應和干擾波的解釋。

One possible system that has been mooted for other animals, particularly birds, is a “quantum compass” based on molecules with unpaired electrons that respond to Earth’s magnetic field. This would allow an animal to tell whether they are moving toward a pole or the equator, but not whether they are headed north or south. But authors say the new research suggests the human system can tell north from south, supporting an alternative mechanism involving special cells containing iron-based crystals. These crystals are thought to rotate rather like the needle of a compass, opening or closing pores in the cells, thereby affecting signals being sent to the brain. 在其他動物身上──特別是鳥類──已被提出來討論的一種可能系統是「量子羅盤」，藉由分子內的不成對電子對應地球磁場。這個系統讓動物可以判斷他們是往地極或是赤道移動，但無法辨識前進方向是往南還是北。不過，作者群認為，這份新研究顯示人類的系統可以分辨南北，並且支援由含有鐵基晶體的特殊細胞參與運作的另一種機制。這類晶體被認為會像羅盤上的指針那樣旋轉，從而開啟或關閉細胞中的孔洞，進而影響傳送給大腦的訊號。

"We are specifically predicting [these cells'] existence — they have to be there," said Kirschvink. As all of the participants came from the northern hemisphere, the idea goes that their cells might have become tuned to its magnetic field — hence the team says modern environments would likely interfere with this "sense," while there is no sign as yet that such a system is linked to human consciousness, or that it influences our behavior — although the team says it remains a possibility, and are planning experiments to find out. 柯許溫克表示：「我們特別預測（這些細胞）確實存在──它們一定就在那裡。」由於全數受試者皆來自北半球，他們的細胞也因此被認為可能已調整朝向北半球的磁場──所以具備分辨南北極的能力。研究團隊指出，現代生活環境有可能干擾這種「感覺」，不過目前還沒有跡象顯示這個系統和人類意識有關，或是它會對我們的行為產生影響。儘管如此，研究團隊仍然不排除這個可能性，也計畫進行實驗找出答案。

Peter Hore, an expert on magnetoreception from the University of Oxford, welcomed the study but said the experiments need to be repeated, including on people from the southern hemisphere, to confirm the findings. Kenneth Lohmann, an expert in magnetoreception from the University of North "Given that a number of other animals can sense Earth's magnetic field, it is certainly within the realm of possibility that humans can as well," he said. However, he also urged caution "It is one thing to find a subtle change in brain activity in response to a weak magnetic field and another thing to show that people really detect and use magnetic field information in a meaningful way." 牛津大學的地磁感應專家彼得‧侯爾對這份研究表示歡迎，不過他也指出實驗需要重複施作，加入南半球的受試者，才能證實這些發現。北卡羅萊納大學教堂山分校的地磁感應專家肯尼斯‧羅曼則認為，這份研究既吸引人又發人深省。他表示：「有鑑於其他多種動物可以感覺到地球磁場，人類有這種能力完全是有可能的。」不過他也呼籲研究需謹慎行事：「在腦部活動中找到一個細微的變化，會對磁性弱的磁場產生反應，這是一回事，但是要證明人類真的可以偵測到、並且有意義地運用磁場的資訊，又是另一回事。」

(The Guardian)（台北時報章厚明譯）

India’s Festival of Turmeric 印度節慶 薑黃鋪天蓋地

When the new moon coincides with a Monday, the small Indian town of Jejuri in western Maharashtra state sparkles with gold. 每當新月出現在星期一，印度馬哈拉什特拉邦西部的小鎮傑久里，滿城盡是一片金黃。

During the Bhandara Festival, or the Festival of Turmeric, which falls on Feb. 4, June 3 and Oct. 28 this year, devotees worship Lord Khandoba and celebrate his victory over the demons Mani and Malla. 今年的班達拉節落在二月四日、六月三日，以及十月二十八日。信徒在班達拉節敬拜勘都巴神，慶祝祂戰勝了兩個惡魔馬尼和馬拉。

There are more than 600 Khandoba temples across the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and northern and central Karnataka. However, as many as 600,000 devotees come especially to Jejuri to cover the town — and each other — in golden swirls of turmeric, a mild, earthy spice that in its powdered form is a vital component of Indian cuisine. 印度馬哈拉什特拉邦、泰倫加納特邦、安得拉邦，以及卡納塔克邦北部及中部，共有六百多座勘都巴寺廟。然而，多達六十萬的信徒卻特別來到傑久里，用大量金黃色的薑黃粉灑遍全鎮──也互相丟灑。薑黃是一種溫和、有草根味的香料，薑黃粉是印度料理中不可或缺的重要成分。

There are several explanations for the choice of this spice to celebrate Khandoba. The most common is the belief that Khandoba is a descendant of the sun god Surya and is often depicted with four arms holding bowls of turmeric that symbolize sunlight. In other interpretations, turmeric represents the gold that worshippers pray to Khandoba to receive. 之所以選擇薑黃這香料來敬拜勘都巴神，有好幾種解釋。最常見的說法是認為，勘都巴神是太陽神蘇利耶的後代，常被描繪成有四隻手臂，各持著碗，碗裡裝有象徵陽光的薑黃。其他說法則是認為，薑黃代表信徒祈求勘都巴神能夠賜予的黃金。

During the festival, people show their devotion with ritual songs to Khandoba and make wishes. Then men take the statue of Khandoba from the temple and carry it to the river for a traditional bath as crowds try to touch the idol for a blessing. 班達拉節期間，眾人唱敬拜歌並許願，表達對堪都巴神的虔敬。之後男子們將堪都巴神像由寺廟中迎出，抬到河邊進行沐浴的傳統儀式，途中群眾爭相觸摸神像，以祈求好運。

(AP)(台北時報林俐凱譯)

Polish activists try to save cows condemned to death 波蘭社會運動人士試圖拯救乳牛免於死刑

新聞辭典

• dismay：名詞、動詞，指驚愕、焦慮、氣餒。例句：He was dismayed when he found his passport gone.（發現護照不見時，他驚慌失措。）
• cause célèbre：借自法文的外來語，指轟動一時的事件、引起公眾關注的訴訟案。例句：His case has become a cause célèbre.（他的官司已成為公眾關注的事件。）
• fuss：名詞，指大驚小怪、小題大作、緊張、急躁；動詞，指煩憂。kick up a fuss指大吵大鬧、起鬨、滋事。

A herd of about 180 free-roaming cows in Poland must be slaughtered, authorities have ruled, to the dismay of activists fighting to save them as a cause célèbre for animal rights.

• 
  一群乳牛在波蘭西部自治市德什奇諾附近的自然保護區遊蕩。（路透）

波蘭當局裁定，一群在境內漫遊的約180頭乳牛須被宰，令奮力拯救牠們而成動物權利訴訟著名案例的社會運動人士心灰意冷。

Left to wander fields in the western municipality of Deszczno for years, the cows are a threat to public safety and the health of other animals because they have not had proper checks, Poland’s chief veterinary officer has ruled. 多年來被放在西部自治市德什奇諾的田野遊蕩，波蘭首席獸醫官判定，因一直沒有接受適當檢查，這些乳牛威脅到公共安全及其他動物健康。

The owners of the cows, who are twin brothers, left them to roam and breed, comparing them to revered holy cows in India.這些乳牛的雙胞胎飼主兄弟檔，放任牠們閒晃及繁殖，並把牠們與印度受到尊敬的聖牛相比。

"I have instructed the veterinary services that they have to clean up these cows," Minister of Agriculture Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski said earlier this month. The slaughter would cost about 350,000 zlotys, local media reported.農業部長楊‧西什托夫‧阿勒丹諾吾斯基本月稍早說，「我已指示獸醫處，他們必須清除這些乳牛。」當地媒體報導，宰殺費用約35萬茲羅提。

Animal rights campaigners have been staging protests and kicking up a fuss on social media. (Reuters)動物權利捍衛人士一直發動示威，並在社群媒體起鬨。（路透）

HONOR YOUR SCARS WITH THE ART OF KINTSUGI 化缺陷為美麗的金繼修補藝術

生活必備字

• sorrow n.悲傷，悲痛，難過

The family members of the murder victim began sobbing with sorrow when they learned of the terrible news.

• option n. 選擇；可選擇的東西

Because the airport was closed, we had no option but to drive home.

If you’ve ever broken a favorite mug, plate, or bowl, you’ve likely gone through several stages of sorrow. Tossing it would be an option, but there is another way. The Japanese art of kintsugi shines with broken pottery. This tradition, which means“ golden seams” or “golden joinery,” uses lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum to fix an object. It treats the whole breaking incident like a happy accident. We could all use the message of kintsugi in our everyday lives. Things fall apart and nobody is perfect. That’s life.

如果你曾打破一個最喜歡的馬克杯、盤子或是碗，你可能已經經歷過幾個階段的難過。扔掉它也是個選擇，但是還有另外一個方法。日本的「金繼」藝術讓破損的陶器綻放光芒。這項意思為「金色線縫」或「金色木工」的傳統用亮漆混合金、銀或白金來修復一件物品。它把這整個打破東西的事件視為一場令人開心的意外。我們都可以在日常生活中應用金繼的中心思想。東西都會破碎而且沒有人是完美的。這就是人生。

Want to quit smoking? Try acupuncture or hypnosis 想戒菸嗎？試試針灸或催眠吧

TODAY’S WORDS 今日單字

1. kick the habit v. phr.戒除
例: No coffee for me, thanks. I’m trying to kick the habit.
(我不用咖啡，謝謝。我正試著戒掉喝咖啡的習慣。)

2. measure up against v. phr.擺在一起比較
例: Please measure Fred up against Tom and see who has the best qualifications.
(請將弗烈德和湯姆擺在一起比較，看誰的條件最好。)

3. caveat n.警告
例: The look of doubt on his face prompted me to repeat the caveat.
(他臉上疑惑的表情讓我再重複說一次警告。)

Acupuncture and hypnosis have been promoted as drug-free ways to help smokers kick the habit, and there is some evidence that they work, according to a research review that looked at 14 international studies. 一項針對十四份國際研究的文獻探討指出，針灸或催眠一向被推廣為不需用藥且能幫助吸菸者戒菸的方法，而且若干證據證實有效。Researchers, whose findings appeared in the American Journal of Medicine, said that there are still plenty of questions, including exactly how effective alternative therapies might be and how they measure up against conventional methods to quit smoking. 在《美國醫學期刊》發表報告的研究人員表示，這種說法仍有許多疑問，包括這些另類療法到底多有效以及和傳統戒菸方法的比較。But the alternatives should still stand as options for smokers determined to break the habit. In general, smokers who want to quit should first try the standard approaches, which include nicotine-replacement therapy, medications and behavioral counseling. 不過這些另類療法仍可做為決心戒菸者的選擇。一般而言，想戒菸的人應該先嘗試標準戒菸法，包括尼古丁替代療法、藥物治療、行為諮商。

Researchers found that some studies showed that smokers subjected to acupuncture were more than three times as likely to be tobacco-free six months to a year later.研究學者發現，有些研究顯示，接受針灸的吸菸者，六個月至一年後不抽菸的機率可達三倍以上。 Similarly, across four trials of hypnosis, smokers had a higher success rate with the therapy compared to people who had minimal help. 同樣的，經過四次催眠，接受催眠治療的吸菸者，戒菸成功的機率比只受到最少幫助的人更高。But there were some caveats, researchers said. The success rate was not consistent in all the tests conducted, although the broad trends pointed to the benefits of alternative treatment. (Reuters) 不過研究人員說，有幾點要警告，儘管主要趨勢指出另類療法的好處，但以全部的實驗來看，成功率並不一致。（路透/編譯：陳維真）

Tranquility 寧靜 for Spring 春天

A quiet, peaceful, tranquil scene, composed mainly of gentle blues and serene greens. The greens surround the statue in the background, a Buddha figure in a meditative pose, seated on a platform of bluish rock. The statue’s pose is mirrored by that of the elderly woman in the foreground, seated on a rock island in a patch of green. 這靜謐、祥和、寧靜的景象，主要由柔和的藍色和沉靜的綠色構成。背景中的綠色植物環繞一個打坐的佛像，佛像坐在帶點藍色的平台上。佛像的姿態和前景老婦的身影相呼應，老婦坐在一方綠草中的岩石島上。

The woman is at repose, relaxed and taking time out of her day, resting upon the rock, looking unperturbed, untroubled, composed and undistracted. She steadies herself by leaning against her cane, planted firmly on the green, stable as the rock upon which she sits, just as the youthful trees to either side of the statue are steadied by struts, keeping them firmly in place. She is protected on all sides by the rocks, the cluster on the green patch below and to the side, and above by the Buddha’s platform, forming a protective screen around her. 老婦歇著、放鬆著休息。她坐在石頭上小憩，看來無憂無慮，沉靜而專注。她撐著拐杖穩住身體，拐杖穩穩抵在綠草上，像她坐著的岩石般穩固，如同佛像兩旁的小樹，由支架支撐著，穩固不移。她的四面為石頭所環繞。除了上方的佛像石座，她的身體兩側和腳下的草地上也都有石頭，形成了保護的屏障。

The picture is about tranquility, serenity, calm, quietude, stillness, stability, steadfastness, posture and meditation. 這張圖所呈現的是寧靜、安祥、平靜、寂靜、靜止、安定、堅定、姿態及冥想。

(Paul Cooper, Taipei Times)（台北時報編譯林俐凱譯）

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH DAYS 「心」生病了，該怎麼辦？

Yoga is a very effective technique for combating stress.練瑜伽是舒緩壓力非常有效的方法

生活必備字詞

• mental a. 精神狀態的；心理的

Working out is not only good for your body but your mental health.

• in response (to sth) 作為（對某事的）回應

In response to your letter dated December 13, we regret to tell you that this deal will be canceled. In the past couple of years, taking a few days off to regain a healthy mindset has become more widely accepted. For example, a tweet by an office worker went viral in 2017. In it, an employee shared an email in which she said she was taking a couple of days to rest her worried mind. In response, her boss thanked her. What did the boss thank her for? It was for reminding everyone in the company that mental health is just as important as your physical well-being.

中譯

過去幾年以來，休幾天假來恢復心靈狀態的概念已被更廣泛地接納。就好似 2017 年有一則上班族發的推特推文在網上瘋傳。裡面寫著，一名員工分享了一封電子郵件，說她請了幾天假來讓自己鬱悶的心靈得到休息。她的老闆以感謝她來作為回應。為什麼她的老闆會感謝她呢？這是為了提醒公司裡的每個人，心理健康與身體健康同等重要。

Lantern Festival celebrations light up Taiwan 全台多個縣市 歡慶元宵佳節

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. lantern n.花燈 

2. animal sign phr. 生肖動物

3. Disneyland n. 迪士尼樂園

4. parade n. 遊行 (

5. sky lantern phr. 天燈 

The 2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival will kick off on Tuesday in Pingtung County. Although the festival celebrates the Year of the Pig, it will feature a giant tuna-themed main lantern, Pingtung being known for its tuna. The event marks its 30th anniversary this year, this being the first year the main lantern is not based on an animal sign of the Chinese zodiac. 二○一九年台灣燈會下週二將在屏東縣登場，雖然燈會是為了慶祝「豬年」舉辦，巨型主燈卻是以屏東名產鮪魚為主題。在燈會今年邁入三十週年之際，這也是主燈首次未配合黃道十二宮的生肖動物而設計。

The 2019 Taipei Lantern Festival begins tomorrow in Taipei’s Ximending area. Visitors will have a chance to meet with Mickey Mouse and other characters from Tokyo Disneyland, who will do surprise performances beside the Mickey Mouse-themed lantern and join the parade scheduled for Sunday next week on the closing day.二○一九年台北燈節明日亦將在台北市的西門町登場，遊客將有機會和來自東京迪士尼樂園的米奇與其它角色見面。他們將會在米奇主題花燈附近進行驚喜表演，並預計加入下週日閉幕當天的大遊行。

Meanwhile, the 2019 Pingsi Sky Lantern Festival will take place tomorrow and on Tuesday in New Taipei City’s Pingsi District. Participants from home and abroad are set to release thousands of sky lanterns from Pingsi Junior High School and Shihfen Sky Lantern Plaza to pray for good luck. 同時，二○一九年新北市平溪天燈節將在明日與下週二，在新北市平溪區舉行。來自國內外的參加者，將分別在平溪國中、十分廣場施放數千盞天燈，藉以祈求好運。

(Eddy Chang, Taipei Times)（台北時報張聖恩〉

Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂!

Day 1

A: I forgot: we’re not supposed to cook on New Year’s Day. A: 啊，可是我忘記我們家大年初一不開火了。

B: That just means you can’t make new dishes. Eating leftovers from New Year’s Eve means food was plentiful last year, and will continue to be this year. B: 那是指不煮新的菜餚，吃除夕剩下的菜餚，象徵去年的東西吃不完，今年還有剩。

A: So, heating something up or cooking it in different ways doesn’t count. A: 哦，那重新烹煮應該就不在此限了吧。

B: That’s right. So let’s cook the fish head casserole. B: 沒錯，我們來煮砂鍋魚頭吧。

Day 2

A: It’s the second day of the new year. I will visit my grandparents. You coming? A: 今天初二，我要去拜訪外公外婆，你要一起來嗎？

B: Sure. Where are your grandparents from, originally? B: 好哇，你外公外婆是哪裡人呀？

A: My grandfather is from Shandong, my grandmother from Jiangsu. They met and got married in Taiwan. This year is their 60th anniversary. I’m giving them more than usual in their red envelope this year. A: 外公是山東人、外婆是江蘇人，他們在台灣認識結婚的，今年是他們結婚六十週年，我準備了一個大紅包。

B: You’re a good grandson to them. B: 你真的是孝順的外孫耶。

Day 3

A: It’s noon. When are you going to get out of bed? A: 現在是中午了耶，你到底要不要起床？

B: It’s the third day of the new year. According to tradition, I have to sleep until I wake naturally. If you force me out of bed on this day, I will be rushed to do things for the rest of the year. B: 今天是初三，根據習俗我要睡到自然醒。如果你今天催我起床，我一整年都會被催促哦。

A: Fine, you sleep then. If you can’t sleep tonight, that’s your problem. A: 好哦，那你就睡吧，晚上睡不著自己想辦法。

B: Whatever. I’m gearing up for playing video games through the night. B: 那有什麼關係，我已經準備好要打一整個晚上的電動了。

Day 4

A: It’s the fourth day. We’re going to pray to the God of Wealth. Coming? A: 今天是大年初四，我們家要去拜財神，你要不要一起來？

B: Sure. I can catch up on sleep in the car. Where’s the God of Wealth temple? B: 好啊，我可以在車上補眠，哪裡有財神廟呀？

A: We’re going to the Martial God of Wealth temple. There are literary and a military gods. The martial ones have a black face and beard, with a silver whip in one hand and a gold ingot in the other. A: 我們要去武財神廟，財神也有分文武哦。武財神像多是黑面濃鬚，一手執銀鞭，一手持元寶。

B: Sounds interesting. Let me make a cup of coffee first. B: 聽起來好有趣哦，等我煮一杯咖啡喝完就出門。

Day 5

A: The fourth and fifth days are about welcoming the God of Wealth. Many stores open today.A: 初四初五都是迎財神，很多店家今天都開門了。

B: We prayed to him yesterday, today we should clean the house and throw out the garbage. B: 既然我們昨天已經去拜過財神，今天就來打掃家裡跟倒垃圾吧。

A: After I’ve cleaned the house, I can shower. Traditionally, washing is a no-no during the break. A: 好啊，打掃完以後我正好可以去洗澡，習俗說過年期間不要洗澡。

B: Couldn’t you bend the traditions? Not showering for five days is a bit much. B: 你可不可以折衷一點。五天沒洗澡也太可怕了吧。

Moonlight influences opening and closing of oysters’ shells 月光光心慌慌？研究顯示月光影響牡蠣殼開闔

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字

1. mollusc n. 軟體動物 

2. lunar cycle phr.月週期 

3. circadian clock phr. 日變時鐘 

4. be attuned to phr. 調適於

5. wax v. 月圓；盈 

6. wane v.月虧；衰退 

The gentle glow of moonlight on water has moved musicians, poets and painters — and, it turns out, molluscs. Researchers have discovered the opening and shutting of oysters’ shells appears to be tied to the lunar cycle.

Biological clocks have intrigued scientists for centuries, and researchers in the field won the 2017 Nobel prize for studies into the 24-hour body clock. However, organisms do not necessarily have biological processes linked only to the rhythm of day and night, the circadian clock. Other patterns that include links to the tides have been found for species including the horseshoe crab, and to the phases of the moon for creatures including the bristle worm. Some have suggested the latter may also affect humans.

Now experts say they have found evidence that oysters not only have a circadian clock and a tidal clock, but are also attuned to lunar rhythms. “It was a surprise to see that there is such an effect of the moonlight,” said Laura Payton, co-author of the research from the University of Oldenburg. Writing in the Biology Letters journal, Payton and her colleague Damien Tran from the University of Bordeaux describe how they tracked the behavior of 12 Pacific oysters submerged off the French coast over three-and-a-half lunar cycles from the end of 2014.

The team used electrodes to track the molluscs’ degree of opening every 1.6 seconds and looked at astronomical data to assess how much of the moon was illuminated. The results reveal the oysters were most open in the buildup to — and presence of — a new moon, and less open as the moon entered first quarter and full phases. The team says that suggests oysters can sense moonlight — even though it is far less intense than the sun’s rays.

The team suggests the increased opening of the oysters when moonlight levels are lower might be linked to the possibility that more food is available at low light levels: previous studies have suggested the movement of plankton also appears to be influenced by light. “We know that oysters open their valves when there is food,” Payton said.However, Payton said the situation was complex, noting the creatures appeared to be able to tell if the moon was waxing or waning: the oysters were generally more open during the third quarter than the first quarter. Payton said one possibility was that the benthic bivalves may have evolved an internal lunar clock, rather than passively relying on direct cues. In that case, she added, the moonlight sensed by the oyster would help keep this clock in sync with the environment rather than directly triggering the opening and shutting of the shell — similar to how humans use daylight to keep their internal 24-hour clock on track.

However, the study did not look at the impact of the moon on oysters’ behavior in all seasons, or take into account cloud cover — and hence the actual level of moonlight the molluscs experienced. David Wilcockson, a senior lecturer in aquatic biology at Aberystwyth University, said there were still many mysteries in the field. “We know that, for example, tidal, lunar and circadian clocks appear to have separate mechanisms, but they are to some extent linked — and we don’t know quite how and to what level,” he said.

Wilcockson said human activity could cause unexpected problems in marine environments — an issue research like the latest study could help examine. “If you have coastal lighting, for example, or lighting on marine structures, then of course we don’t really know what the impacts of those might be,” he said. 

自古以來，月光倒映在水面的溫潤光澤深深觸動音樂家、詩人和畫家──以及水下的軟體動物。學者日前發現，牡蠣殼的開闔似乎和月週期有關。

好幾世紀以來，生物時鐘強烈吸引著科學家興趣，該領域學者最近才以二十四小時生理時鐘研究獲頒二○一七年的諾貝爾獎。不過，生物體內並非只有跟日夜轉換節奏連動的生物程序，或稱日變時鐘。科學家已發現其他模式存在，例如潮汐和包括鱟等物種的行為相關，或是月相與海中多毛綱目等生物作息有關。有些科學家則認為，月相也會影響人類。

最近更有專家發現，證據顯示牡蠣不只具有日變時鐘和潮汐時鐘，還會調適於月周律動。該研究來自德國奧爾登堡大學，共同作者蘿拉‧培頓表示：「看到月光竟有這樣的效果，實在讓人訝異。」在這篇刊登於《生物學報》期刊的研究中，培頓和波爾多大學的同儕戴米恩‧特蘭，描述他們如何從二○一四年底開始，在三個半的月亮週期間，追蹤十二隻浸在法國近海的太平洋牡蠣行為模式。

該團隊運用電極，每隔一點六秒追蹤這類軟體動物打開殼的角度，並參考天文資料，評估月球被照亮的程度。結果顯示，牡蠣在新月逐漸發生時──以及新月當天──打開的程度最大，而當月球進入上弦月和滿月階段時打開程度較小。團隊表示，這代表牡蠣可以感知月光，就算亮度遠不及太陽光強烈。

不過，培頓也表示實際情況其實更為複雜。她指出，這類生物似乎能夠辨識月球正在轉盈或是漸虧：牡蠣在月虧期普遍比月盈期還要更開一點。培頓認為，可能性之一是這類底棲性雙殼貝也許已經演化出身體內的月相時鐘，而不是被動地倚賴直接光感受。在這種情況下，培頓補充說，牡蠣感知到的月光會幫助體內的月相時鐘和環境同步，而不是直接觸發殼的開闔──就像是人類利用日光，讓體內的二十四小時生理時鐘維持正常運作的方式。

研究團隊認為，牡蠣在月光亮度較低時增加殼打開的角度，或許跟低亮度時食物更多的可能性有關：前行研究曾指出浮游生物的活動似乎也會受光影響。培頓說：「我們知道的是，牡蠣會在有食物的時候把殼打開。」

不過，這份研究並未納入月球在不同季節對牡蠣造成的影響，也未將雲層遮蓋程度──直接影響這類軟體動物實際感受到的月光亮度──納入考量範圍。英國亞伯立斯威大學水族生物學的高級講師大衛‧威考森認為，此領域仍有許多未解之謎。他表示：「舉例來說，我們知道潮汐、月相和日變時鐘似乎是不同的機制，又在某種程度上互相關聯──但我們並不知道它們如何互相牽動，彼此間的關聯程度又為何。」

威考森指出，人類活動可能對海洋環境造成預期外的問題，這是像這份最新研究的學術調查可以協助探討的。威考森說：「舉例而言，如果海岸上有照明設施、或是海中的建築結構有燈光，我們當然就無法確知可能會有什麼影響。」

（台北時報章厚明譯）

New Year's Resolutions新年決心

A: Have you made any New Year’s resolutions this year? 你今年有沒有許下什麼新年願望？

B: I’m going to stop eating cakes for two months; I need to lose weight. And you? 我要戒吃蛋糕兩個月，我需要減重。你呢？

A: My new year resolution is to learn to play the piano. I’ve been meaning to do it for ages, but keep putting it off.我的新年願望是去學彈鋼琴。我想做這件事好久了，但一直在拖延。

B: It will take years of hard work to become really proficient. Good luck. 這要花上好幾年的努力才能彈得很熟練。祝你好運。

2019 Yoga Challenges for the New Year:

30 Day Yoga Journey Dedicate (Adriene Mishler)

14 Day Chakra Yoga Challenge (Brett Larkin)

30 Day Yoga Journey (Om Stars)
Transform Your Life: 30 Day Beginner Challenge (Do Yoga with Me)
Yoga for Strength: 30 Day Challenge (Yoga International's Free Trial)
Previous Year's Yoga Challenges 2018, 2017

New Year's Eve 除夕

A: Have you got any plans for celebrating New Year’s Eve tonight?
A: 你今天晚上有什麼慶祝跨年夜的計畫嗎？

B: No, I’m going to have a quiet night in. I don’t like parties.
B: 沒有耶，我要待在室內過一個安安靜靜的晚上。我不喜歡派對。

A: That’s so boring. Why don’t you celebrate with us? We’re going to watch the fireworks.
A: 那太無聊了吧。為什麼不來跟我們慶祝呢？我們要去看煙火。

B: That’s very kind, but I suffer from agoraphobia. Large crowds make me uneasy.
B: 感謝你的好意，但我有廣場恐懼症。大量的人潮讓我很不自在。