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Ever throw an avocado in a paper bag with a banana to get the avocado to ripen faster?
有没有试过将鳄梨和香蕉放在一个纸袋里加速鳄梨的成熟?
That trick works because both of them are what's called"climacteric" fruits.
这个小妙招之所以起效是因为它们都是更年性果实。
Meaning they release ethylene gas as they mature—and the gas in turn accelerates ripening.
这其中的奥妙在于随着这些果实的成熟会释放乙烯，而乙烯反过来会加速果实的成熟。
At maximum ethylene release, the fruit reaches peak ripeness:ideal taste and texture.
乙烯释放达到峰值后，果实也达到最佳成熟期:拥有诱人口感和完美质地。
After that, the fruit's cells begin to die, molds move in, and it rots.
在那之后，果实细胞开始死亡，霉菌侵入继而腐烂。
So how to determine the best time for picking—and eating?
那么如何确定采摘和食用的最佳时机呢?
Today's high-tech farmers might sample the ethylene released by the fruit, as it sits in an airtight container.
如今掌握高科技技术的农民们也许会将有待成熟的果实放在密闭容器中然后释放用水果做成的乙烯样本。
Or use a color meter, to track a fruit's progression towards "ripe color."
他们或者会用到一种色温表以便跟踪果实慢慢走向成熟这一过程。
But now researchers have devised what might be a simpler and more scientifically accurate technique—shooting fruit with lasers.
但现在研究人员发明了一种更为简单、科学性方面更为准确用激光射击检验水果成熟度的方法。
When they zapped golden delicious apples, what bounced back was a speckled pattern of black and red dots:
当他们对着金灿灿的苹果射击时，反馈回来的是黑色和红色的圆斑点：
a measure of how the fruit's cells and water absorbed and reflected the laser light.
这是一种衡量果实细胞及水分境况通过激光反馈的方法。
That pattern changed over time, right in step with the fruit's release of ethylene.
这种模式会随着时间的推移而改变，且与水果释放的乙烯保持一致。
Meaning these images could be a good proxy for ethylene measurements, and let farmers know the best time to harvest.
而这些图像可以作为衡量乙烯的很好标准，帮助农民知晓收获的最佳时机。
The study is in the journal Applied Optics.
这一研究已经在《应用光学》杂志上发表。
Next, the researchers hope to develop a handheld laser for farmers, so they can shoot fruit right on the tree.
研究人员接下来希望为农民开发一种手持激光，这样他们就可以直接了解树上水果的情况。
It remains to be seen if laser measurement of bananas will have…appeal.
而香蕉激光检验法能否实现还是个未知数。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
