Chinese scientists turn copper i

① A team of Chinese researchers have turned cheap copper into a new material "almost identical” to gold, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances recently.

identical /aɪˈdentɪkəl/: adj. 一模一样的

② The discovery will significantly reduce the use of rare, expensive metals in factories, said the authors.

③ Copper has a similar weight and look to gold. For centuries it has attracted alchemists who saw it as a gateway to instant riches.

④ The new material cannot be used to make fake gold pennies. Its density remains the same as ordinary copper. But the process could prove lucrative and provide a significant boost for Chinese industries, according to the researchers.

⑤ Precious metals remain central to modern economies. The components of electronic devices, for instance, contain a large amount of gold, silver and platinum. 40 smartphones are estimated to contain as much gold as a tonne of ore.

⑥ Copper cannot function as well as gold in industrial applications, mainly because there are fewer stable electrons. The new method can inject a large amount of energy into copper atoms and made the electrons more dense and stable, according to the authors.

▍词汇拓展

1. turn … into …: 把……转变为……

turn stone into gold 点石成金

You should work hard to turn your dream into reality.

你应该努力工作，把梦想变成现实。

turn U.S. dollars into Hong Kong dollars 将美元换成港币

2. identical /aɪˈdentɪkəl/: adj. 一模一样的

· 比 similar 程度要强，similar 是“有点像”，而 identical 强调基本是一个模子刻出来的

You look similar to him.

你长得有点像他。

You look identical to him.

你和他长得一模一样。

The two pictures are similar, although not identical.

这两幅画很相似，虽然不完全相同。

3. peer review: 同行评议；同行评审

The paper has been submitted for peer review.

这篇论文已经提交给同行评审了。

4. gateway /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/: n. 通道；途径

Hopefully, my college degree will be a gateway to a high-paying job.

希望我的大学学位会成为高薪工作的敲门砖。

5. instant riches: 一夜暴富

instant noodles 方便面

instant coffee 速溶咖啡

Riches can be grown in the peaceful time.

财富在和平时代可以积累。

6. density /ˈdensɪti/: n. 密度

high population density 人口密度高

7. prove /pruːv/: Linking verb 证明是；结果是

The new drug proved effective.

事实证明，新药是有效的。

His advice proved useless.

事实证明，他的建议是没用的。

8. provide a boost for: 为……助力

· 近义表达 be a boost to

a boost for my confidence 增强了我的信心

an innovation that has been a boost to the entire industry 推动整个行业发展的创新

9. fewer: adj. 较少的；不多的 (修饰可数名词)

Now I meet with fewer difficulties in my work.

现在我工作中不怎么遇到困难了。

10. inject … into …: 把……注入到……

One way of boosting the banking system is to inject more capital into it.

促进银行体系的一种方法是向其注入更多资金。

Forward from YouLing.