Scientific Achievements

科學成就

10. Electricity Conducting Cement

第10名：導電水泥

When it comes to good conductors, cement is usually not the first material you’d think

當你在找一個好的導電體時，水泥通常不會是第一個出現在你腦中的選項

of…until now. Scientists at the University of Alicante have recently developed cement

...直到現在。在阿利坎特大學的科學家最近發展出一種水泥

that has the ability of conducting both heat and electricity efficiently and without compromising

具有有效率導電和導熱的能力，同時不需犧牲一半水泥所具有的

the strength that normal cement provides. While electricity conducting cement may not

強度、剛性。導電水泥看似

seem like a “mind-blowing scientific achievement” it has huge applications for places like airports

不像一個「令人興奮的成就」，但它在許多地方像是機場和

and roads to prevent ice or snow build-up. Not only can the cement exist on its own,

道路上被使用來防止結冰或這積雪具有殺手級的應用。不只能夠以水泥的形式存在，

it can also be used as a coating on existing cement to give it heat and electric conductivity.

它也可以被用來塗在其他水泥表面上，賦予原本基礎水泥導電和導熱特性。

The cement incorporates carbon nanotubes, which help give it the conductivity and strength

水泥將奈米碳管吸納進去，能夠賦予水泥所需要的導電性和

it needs. While the material has proved successful in multiple tests, they are continuing to

強度。他們一邊證明這種材料能夠通過多重測試考驗，也一邊持續地

improve the material’s conductivity and strength.

去改進材料強度和導電性。

9. Bose-Einstein Condensate

第九名：玻色–愛因斯坦凝聚

Satyendra Bose and Albert Einstein first hypothesized Bose-Einstein Condensates in the 1920s. With

Satyendra Bose and Albert Einstein 在1920年代首次假設玻色–愛因斯坦凝聚現象的存在。

drastically improved facilities and techniques scientists have now been able to create and

隨著基礎研究設施和技術的發展突飛猛進，現在科學家們已能創造和

observe this completely new form of matter. In simple terms, Bose-Einstein Condensates

觀察這個嶄新的型態的物質，玻色–愛因斯坦凝聚

are to extremely cold temperatures what plasma is to extremely hot temperatures. At these

是在極度低溫狀態下形成，而電漿則是在極度高溫中存在。在這些

extreme temperatures, scientists have found that atoms begin to act in very odd ways.

極端溫度下，科學家們開始找到一些行為奇怪的原子。

While no scientists have yet to achieve slowing particles down to absolute zero or the point

當沒有任何一個科學家至今能夠達成將粒子降溫至絕對零度或者

at which there is no molecular motion, they have been able to generate the slowest and

達到沒有分子運動的溫度，他們其實已經能夠在我們已知的宇宙中，其實就是地球上

coldest temperatures in the known universe right here on Earth. It was during one of

產生一個夠冷的環境使分子運動達到極慢速的狀態。這是

these “deep freezes” that particles were slowed to only billionths of a degree above

在其中一個「深度冷凍」狀態下粒子運動速度減慢到只有比絕對零度時

absolute zero. Using the atom Rubidium, the scientists Cornell and Weiman discovered that

多出十億分之一。藉由使用銣原子，科學家 Cornell 和 Weiman 發現

atoms would clump together forming a “super atom”. All of the same properties are retained,

這些原子會聚在一團形成一個「超級原子」。因著玻色–愛因斯坦凝聚在同一個地方被證實「存在」，

BCEs take condensing to a whole new level by actually existing in the same place. It’s

其所有的特性都被發現保留下來，而將凝態帶到一個全新的境界。

such an odd behavior that there is no known way of telling the atoms apart from eachother

這個如此奇怪的表現，一旦它們聚成了一滴超級原子團後，就讓人沒有辦法

once they’ve formed the blob.

分辨原子和原子的差別了。

8. LiquiGlide

第八個：LiquiGlide

Ever had that irritating moment as you attempt to bang out the last bit of ketchup or shampoo

有沒有過這種令人惱怒的時刻像是從瓶中擠不出最後幾滴番茄醬或者洗髮精的經驗，

stuck at the bottom of a bottle? Well not anymore thanks to a new non-stick material

它們就是卡在平底出不來呢？好的，這從此不會在發生，多虧了一個由MIT研究人員發展出的

developed by researchers at MIT! LiquiGlide, as it’s called, is a nontoxic, nonstick,

新的不沾粘材質！LiquiGlide，正如其名，是種無毒、不沾粘

and insanely slippery coating that can have wide applications even outside the realm of

，且不可思議地滑順塗層，能夠廣泛地被應用，即使是用在食品調味

condiments. While it’s not the first “superhydrophobic” material ever invented, it is the first non-toxic

的範疇內亦然。當然這不會是第一個被發明出的「超級疏水性」材料，它卻是第一個經由FDA核可的

material approved by the FDA that is safe to use with food. By simply turning the bottle

無毒性材料，能夠安全地被添加在食品中。僅僅只需將瓶身倒置

upside down, all of its contents smoothly slide out with no residue. Not only can it

其內容物就輕易無殘留地流出。它不僅能

save companies money by eliminating the need for creating costly specialty caps and bottles,

減少製造昂貴的特製瓶蓋和瓶身而替公司節省支出，

it also saves the frustration of banging the last bit of ketchup onto your plate. It works

也同時能夠減少因欲擠出瓶中最後一點番茄醬到盤子的沮喪敢。這種材了能使用在

with both glass and specific kind of plastic. Companies are beginning to quickly take notice

和玻璃以及特定種類的塑膠上。公司行號們以開始迅速注意到

of the amazing material and it should be appearing in bottles very very soon.

這個令人驚艷的材料，而它應該將很快地會被使用在市面上的瓶子。

7. Deep Voice Gas

第七名：低音氣體

We’ve all heard of helium gas that gives people high pitched voices, but have you ever

我們都聽過吸過氦氣的人發出的高音調聲音，但是你聽過

heard of the gas that can make you sound like Darth Vader? Sulfur Hexafluoride is a man-made

讓人聲音變低沈的氣體使你聽起來像是Darth Vader嗎？六氟化硫是種人造的

compound with some pretty interesting and unique abilities. Its abilities come from

化合物具有一些蠻有趣且奇特的能力。它的能力來自於

the fact that it’s an incredibly dense and heavy particle. Not only can you inhale it

它是種難以想像的重且高密度的粒子。你不僅能夠把它吸入肺中

and suddenly become Barry White, you can float things on it and make them look like they’re

然後突然變成Barry White，你能夠讓東西漂浮在其上，而讓它們看起來像是

levitating. Due to its weight, the speed of sound is slowed down considerably when trying

飄在空中。由於它很重，聲音在其中傳播的速率被大幅降低

to fight through the gas, causing your voice to deepen. Likewise, sulfur hexafluoride sinks

使你的聲音聽起來更低沈。同樣地，六氟化硫

to the bottom of a container when exposed to the air and has the density to cause things

遇到空氣時會沉到容器底部，它的高密度性質會使像是錫箔做的船

like tinfoil boats to float on it and look as if they’re floating in mid air. While

漂浮在其上，而讓人以為船彷彿飄在空中。雖然

sulfur hexafluoride has both fun and practical application, caution has to be taken when

六氟化硫兼顧趣味以及實用性，在使用時還是要小心

inhaling it because it could sink to the bottom of your lung and remain their if not exhales

因為當你吸入它卻沒有適切地將它呼出體外時

properly much like It would outside your body.

這種氣體可能會沉積到你的肺部底部。

6. Upsalite

第六名：Upsalite

Imagine making the most absorbent substance known to man…by accident. Researchers at

試想意外...製造出人類有史以來吸水力最強的物質。瑞典Uppsala大學研究人員

Uppsala University in Sweden accidentally left equipment running over the weekend causing

意外地讓儀器持續運作整個週末後

the magnesium carbonate they were working with turn into a powder that has a surface

導致使用中的碳酸鎂變成粉末狀變成

area of 800m for just 1 gram of it. This extremely porous material is so absorbent, it’s referred

一克的碳酸鎂有800平方公尺的表面積。這個極度多孔的材料極度吸水，這

to as an “impossible material”. The most expensive absorbent material used now, zeolite,

可說是一個「無法想像存在的物質」。目前使用中最昂貴的吸水材料，zeolite，

doesn’t even hold a candle to its absorbency. It has massive implications for things like

根本無法和Upsalite的吸水性匹敵。它的應用層面廣泛如

humidity control and large scale oil clean ups. The impressive material is surprisingly

濕度控制和大範圍的清潔等。這個令人眼睛為之一量的物質驚人地

easy and inexpensive to make as well. The pores that little Upsalite’s surface are

容易製造且造價很低廉。這種係小的Upsalite的表面上的孔洞

smaller than 10 nanometers, for those non-scientists a nanometer is on BILLIONTH of a meter. It

小於10奈米寬，對那些非科學背景的人解釋一下，一奈米就是一公尺的10億分之一。

goes to show that even little mistakes can end in great successes.

這個故事告訴我們即使飯了小的錯誤也可能導致極大的成功。

5. Nitinol

第五名：鎳鈦合金（鎳鈦諾）

When asked to describe the properties of a metal memory and elasticity usually aren’t

當被問及描述金屬記憶和延展性等性質通常

the two words that come to mind unless you’ve heard of nitinol. Nitinol is an alloy of nickel

並沒這麼容易想到這兩個名詞，除非，你聽過鎳鈦諾。鎳鈦諾是1958年Nacal Ordance 實驗室的

and titanium created in the Naval Ordnance Laboratory by William Buehler and Frederick

William Buehler 和 Frederick 用鎳和鈦製成的一種合金。

Wang in 1958. Its properties exist at two phases, austenite and martensite. At low-temperatures

它的性質存在兩種相態：沃斯田鐵和麻田散鐵之間。低溫時（麻田散鐵態）

(martensite) the alloy can be deformed and manipulated, but pops right back into shape

這種合金能被操縱和改變形狀，但是一旦到了高溫（沃斯田鐵態）就會

at high-temperatures (austenite). This ability to miraculously pop right back into its parent

回到原來的型態。這種還原的能力

shape is known as thermal shape memory. Along with its incredible memory, Nitinol is also

稱為熱塑型記憶。除了它驚人的記憶力，鎳鈦諾也

known for its ability to be extremely useful in super springs because of its elasticity.

因它的超強的延展性而被用在超級彈簧當中。

The superelasticity works hand-in-hand with its thermal shape memory to snap it back into

超強的延展性與它的熱塑型記憶性質同時發揮而使其回復到

place. While Nitinol has received criticism for certain medical uses due to its nickel

原本狀態、形體。當鎳鈦諾因其中鎳成分而受質疑和批評使用在醫療用途有問題時

composition, it is very useful in applications where a lot of flexibility or movement is

它在許多需要彈性和運動涉入的應用中仍是非常

involved. While most metals are known to break after continuous bending, Nitinol has been

有幫助的。當大部分已知的金屬會在一段持續彎曲受力後折斷，鎳鈦諾已經被

proven to be nearly immune to breaking under this stress. Since its invention, it has been

證實幾近沒有所謂的受應力下疲勞破壞的發生。打從這東西發明以來，已被用在

used in a variety of industrial and technological applications. The possibilities for this amazing

各種不同的工業和科技應用當中。當產業界在尋找一種能夠承受衝擊力且耐久的材料時，

material are continuing to grow as industries look for materials that can take a hit and

這種神奇的材料被使用的機率

keep on going.

會持續地增加。

4. Breathing Liquid

第四名：可呼吸液體

While it may seem like an idea right out of a science fiction movie, humans have the ability

這也許看似科幻片的情節，人類利用「全氟化碳」而具有

to breathe through liquids with the use of Perfluorocarbons. What makes Perfluorocarbons

在液體中呼吸的能力。「全氟化碳」究竟有什麼

so special? Well, it’s their amazing capacitance, or ability to hold oxygen particles. While

特別的？這個嘛，跟它的驚人的含氧量有關，或者說它具有捉住的氧氣粒子能力。當

normal air has a capacitance of 30 times that of water, Perfluorocarbons have about 20 times

正常的空氣含氧量是水的30倍，「全氟化碳」有約水的含氧能力

the ability of water. Before you go and fill a pool with Perfluorocarbons for no reason

的20倍之多。在你沒有理由，只為了看起來酷或者能夠在裡頭游上好幾個鐘頭

other than to look cool and swim for hours, it does have some pretty cool uses practically

而把整個水池裝滿「全氟化碳」之前，我要告訴你它的確在實用性上、醫學使用上

and medically. Diving suits have been filled with it to mimic fish and prevent problems

有些非常酷的用途。潛水裝會填充「全氟化碳」來模仿魚類且防止類似

like nitrogen narcosis. It also have serves as a way to save the lives of premature babies

氮麻醉的問題。它也被當做拯救早產嬰兒的一個方法或者是

or help those with respiratory problems. The uses for this amazing scientific invention

用來幫助有呼吸道問題的人們。這個驚奇的科學發明

are growing with seemingly no end in sight.

似乎前途無量。

3. Self-Cleaning Clothes

第三名：自我清潔衣物

No more cleaning clothes? Yep, scientists have finally developed a material to solve

不用再清洗衣物了？是的，科學家終於發展出一種材料來解決

the problem of dirty laundry. Using only sunlight, the special cotton material breaks down not

骯髒衣物的清洗問題。只需要陽光照射，這種特別的棉花材料不僅僅會分解

only dirt and residue, but toxic chemicals as well. A student at UC Davis has done this

髒污和殘留物，有毒物質也同樣會被去掉。一個就讀UC Davis的學生已經

by embedding 2-anthraqunone carboxylic acid into cotton fabric by binding it to the cellulose.

藉由將其與纖維素結合而內嵌 2-anthraqunone carboxylic acid 到棉花纖維當中。

It works by breaking down the dirt in the fabric like peroxides do to the bacteria found

它的作用在於分解纖維當中的灰塵如過氧化物殺死在傷空中發現的

in wounds. While the clothes are a bit more expensive, as anyone would expect self-cleaning

細菌一般。然而這種衣物會有點貴，正如大家預期的自我清潔衣物

clothes to be, researchers say that other chemicals similar to 2-AQC could work just

應該有的價格，研究人員說其他類似2-AQC的化學物質的功能

as well and less expensively. Before you go sell your washing machine, you may not be

其實和其他不那麼貴的替代品差不多。在你去做洗衣機買賣生意之前一陣子，你可能都不會想

seeing self-cleaning clothes on store shelves for quite a while. It’s inventors are looking

看見這些自我清潔衣物在市面上流通。它的發明者正在尋找

towards more practical applications in places like the military or hospitals where clean

更實用的地方，像是軍隊或醫院中，

closes are more vital and hard to come by than to the average Joe.

當乾淨衣物的需求更加重要，且對普通的大兵而言是不易獲得的奢侈享受。

2. Oxygen Injection

第二名：氧氣注射

David Blaine currently holds the world record for holding his breath an amazing 17 minutes,

David Blaine 目前是世界憋氣記錄保持人，記錄是驚人的17分鐘，

but thanks to a new oxygen injection, anyone could easily hold their breath for 17 minutes

但多虧了一種新的氧氣注射技術，任何人都能憋氣17分鐘

or longer without discomfort. Thanks to a breakthrough new oxygen particle invented

或更常的時間而不會感到不舒服。多虧了波士頓兒童醫院突破性技術，發明的新的氧氣粒子

by the Boston Children’s Hospital, humans can survived up to 30 minutes or more without

人類現今能夠撐過30分鐘或以上的時間

taking a breath. What makes this particle so special is the fact that it’s surrounded

不用呼吸。讓這個粒子如此特別的原因是事實上它周圍環繞著

by a fatty material, allowing it to be easily injected into the bloodstream. After injection,

一種脂肪物質，使其能夠輕易地被注射到血管當中。在注射之後，

blood-oxygen levels can be returned to perfectly normal within just seconds. The particles

血養濃度會在短短幾秒鐘內復歸到完全正常的程度。這種粒子

are unlike any oxygen particles invented because they don’t cause bubbles (embolisms) upon

與以往被發明出的任何氧氣粒子都不同，因為它們注射時其實不會產

injection. The particles deform to prevent this problem from occurring. The applications

生泡泡（栓塞）。這些粒子會產生形變以防止這種問題產生。這種粒子在

of the particle in medical world are endless. This miracle particle has the possibility

醫學界中的應用是無遠弗屆的。這神奇的粒子有可能

of saving millions from those with respiratory failure to those who simply have trouble breathing.

能夠拯救數以百萬計有呼吸衰竭以及那些有呼吸問題的人們。

1. Invisibility Cloak

第一名：隱形斗篷

Masking the appearance of someone with an invisibility cloak is one thing, but scientists

用隱形斗篷將某個人的外表隱匿起來是一回事，但科學家

have now figured out a way to mask time as well. How does this happen? Well Purdue scientists

也已經想出一個能夠把時間隱匿的方法了。這是怎麼一回事？這個嘛，普渡大學的科學家們

have found a way to manipulate the speed of light by speeding up the front of its wavelength

已經找到一個在光纖中，以加速一道光線本身前方波長和減低其後端波長的速度

and slowing down the end in optical fibers, so no one can perceive what you’re doing.

來操縱光速的方法，所以沒有人能夠發覺你在做什麼。

It essentially creates a little “hole” in space-time where you can do basically anything

重點是要在時空中創造一個小「空缺」，好讓別人

you want without notice. The idea itself was mathematically proven as being possible in

基本上不會注意到你做的任何事情。這個點子本身已經於2010年在數學上被證實是可能的

2010 (not including the premiere of Harry Potter) and has since been successfully developed.

（不包括哈利波特首映）且因此被成功地發展下去。

While the cloak part itself doesn’t exist, scientists are intending to weave the optical

由於隱形斗篷還沒被發明，科學家意圖藉由編織光纖

fibers into a cloak like material. The material will have the ability to hide anything under

到類似斗篷的材質上。這種材質將會具有隱形匿蹤的能力

it from everyone around you. The whole process occurs in 36 trillionths of a second and scientists

避開周圍所有的人。整個過程只需要36兆分之一秒的時間，而科學家們

are continuing to develop

正持續地發展

the technology.

這種科技。