passage eleven (superconducting materials)

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1、英语100篇精读汇粹（基础篇）【TypeBySimonLau（8029）】PassageEleven(SuperconductingMaterials)Thestoneage,TheIronAge.Entireepochshavebeennamedformaterials.Sowhattocallthedecadesahead?Thechoicewillbetough.Welcometotheageofsuperstuff.Materialscience--oncetheleastsexytechnology–isburstingwithnew

2、,practicaldiscoveriesledbysuperconductingceramicsthatmayrevolutionizeelectronics.Butsuperconductorsarejustpartofthepicture:fromhouseandcarstocookpotsandartificialteeth,theworldwillsomedaybemadeofdifferentstuff.Exoticplastics,glassandceramicswillshapethefuturejustassurelyasha

3、vegeneticengineeringandcomputerscience.Thekeytothenewmaterialsisresearchers’increasingabilitytomanipulatesubstancesatthemolecularlevel.Ceramics,forexample,havelongbeenlimitedbytheirbrittleness.Butbyminimizingthemicroscopicimperfectionsthatcauseit,scientistsaremakingfarstrong

4、erceramicsthatstillretainsuchqualitiesashardnessandheatresistance.FordMotorCo.nowusesceramictoolstocutsteel.AfirmcalledKyocerahascreatedalineofceramicscissorsandknivesthatstaysharpforyearsandneverrustorcorrode.Asimilartransformationhasovertakenplastics.High-strengthpolymersn

5、owformbridges,ice-skatingrinksandhelicopterrotors.Andonenewplasticthatgenerateselectricitywhenvibratedorpushedisusedinelectricguitars,touchsensorsforrobothandsandkaratejacketsthatautomaticallyrecordeachpunchandchop.Evenplasticlitter,whichoncethreatenedtopermanentlyblotthelan

6、dscape,hasprovedamenabletomoleculartinkering.Severalmanufacturersnowmakebiodegradableforms;someplasticsix-packringsforexample,graduallydecomposewhenexposedtosunlight.Researchersaredevelopingwaystomakeplasticsasrecyclableasmetalorglass.Besides,composites–plasticreinforcedwith

7、fibersofgraphiteorothercompounds–madetheround-the-worldflightofthevoyagerpossibleandhaveevenbeenprovedincombat:ahelmetsavedaninfantryman’slifebydeflectingtwobulletsintheGrenadainvasion.Someadvancedmaterialsareoldstandardwithanewtwist.Thenewestfiberopticcablethatcarrytelephon

8、ecallscross-countryaremadeofglasssotransparentthatapieceof100milesthickiscl