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The Biggest Magnet
最大的磁体
A: What's the biggest magnet ever?
究竟什么是最大的磁体？
B: Well, that's a great question. Well, for starters you'd have to mention whoppers like the hybrid magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Tallahassee, Florida.This magnet weighs thirty-four tons and stands twenty-two feet tall.Giant magnets in hospitals, physics labs, and other facilities help in cutting edge research. However, even a magnet the size of a building can't compete with a magnet the size of a planet.
嗯，问得好。对于初学者来说，不得不提一下那些庞然大物，比如佛罗里达塔拉哈西的国家高磁场实验室的混合磁体。这块磁铁重34吨，立起来有22英尺高。医院，物理实验室和其他设备里的巨型磁体对尖端研究有帮助。然而，即使是一块建筑物大小的磁体也不能和一块行星大小的磁体相匹敌。
A: A magnet the size of a planet?
一块行星大小的磁体？
B: The Earth itself is a magnet! Researchers think it's the effect of convection currents in our planet's molten interior that causes the entire Earth to behave as one gigantic magnet, with a North and South Pole.Whenever you look at a compass, what you're doing is reading the magnetic field of the planet on which you are standing.
地球本身就是一块磁体。研究者们认为，是地球内部熔岩里对流流的作用使得整个地球像个拥有南北磁极的巨型磁体一样运转。每当你看着指南针的时候，你所做的就是读取你所在行星的磁场。
A: So that must be the biggest magnet than anywhere.
所以那就是最大的磁体咯。
B: Yet, even a magnet the size of a planet can't compete with a magnet the size of a star.
但是，即使是行星大小的磁体也不能和恒星大小的磁体相匹敌。
A: A star?
恒星？
B: what about the sun? The sun is a magnet. In this case, the magnetic field is probably generated by swirling plasma. Magnetic storms on the sun are powerful enough to have an effect on satellites and communication systems all the way here on Earth.
比如说太阳？太阳是一块磁体。假若这样，磁场可能是由旋动的等离子产生的。太阳上的磁暴威力足够强大，可以对人造卫星和地球上通信系统的各个方面产生影响。
A: So is that?
那就是最大的了？
B: Not even close. There are things in space that put all of these magnets to shame.
还差得远呢。宇宙中还有更多让这些磁体相形见绌的事物呢。
A: Super magnet in space? What are they?
宇宙中的超强磁体？是些什么呢？
B: Next time.
下次再说吧。
