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Since NASA published a paper in 1989 claiming that house plants can soak up pollution and toxic chemicals, businesses and homeowners have increasingly invested in greenery to help clean their air.
美国国家航空航天局在1989年发表了一篇论文，声称室内盆栽植物可以吸收污染和有毒化学物质，自此以后，越来越多的企业和房主对绿色植物投入资金，以帮助净化空气。
But a new analysis suggests it could actually take more than 1,000 plants per square meter to gain a benefit any greater than simply opening a couple of windows.
但是，一项新的分析表明，要想获得比简单打开几扇窗户更大的益处，实际上每平方米需要种植1000多株植物。
The problem lies in the fact that NASA conducted their tests in sealed containers that do not simulate the conditions in most people's homes or offices.
问题在于，美国国家航空航天局是在密封容器中进行测试的，而密封容器并不能模拟大多数人家中或办公室的环境。
The space agency was primarily concerned about keeping the air fresh for astronauts cut off in biospheres or space stations, and helping to combat “sick building syndrome” which had become a problem due to the super-insulated and energy-efficient offices of the late 1970s.
美国国家航空航天局主要关注的是如何给被隔离在生物圈或空间站中的航天员保持清新的空气，以及如何帮助应对“病态建筑综合征”--由于20世纪70年代末的超级隔热和节能办公室，“病态建筑综合征”已经成为一个问题。
By the early 1980s, workers regularly complained of skin rashes, sleepiness, headaches, and allergies as they breathed in toxic chemicals from paints and plastics.
到20世纪80年代初，工人们经常抱怨由于吸入油漆和塑料中的有毒化学物质而出现皮疹、嗜睡、头痛和过敏等症状。
NASA found that certain plants could remove chemicals from the air, and even today garden centers recommend the plants for air cleaning properties.
美国国家航空航天局发现，某些植物可以清除空气中的化学物质，时至今日，园艺中心仍在推荐具有空气净化功能的植物。
However, a new evaluation of dozens of studies spanning 30 years found that house plants in a normal environment have little impact.
然而，一项对持续了30年的数十项研究进行的新评估发现，在正常环境下种植室内盆栽植物的作用微乎其微。
In fact, natural ventilation is far better at cleaning the air.
事实上，自然通风在净化空气方面的效果要好得多。
The researchers also calculated the clean air delivery rate for plants in the studies they analyzed and found that the rate at which plants disperse the compounds was well below the usual rate of air exchange in a normal building, caused by the movement of people coming and going, opening doors and windows.
研究人员还在他们所分析的研究中计算了植物的洁净空气输送率，发现植物挥发化合物的速度远远低于正常建筑中常规的换气率，而人来人往、开门开窗就会产生换气。
Many of the studies did show a reduction in the concentration of volatile organic compounds over time, which is likely why people have seized on them to praise the air purifying virtues of plants.
许多研究确实表明，随着时间的推移，挥发性有机化合物的浓度会降低，这可能就是人们抓住这些研究来赞美植物具有净化空气这一优点的原因。
But the researchers' calculations showed it would take 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor space to compete with the air cleaning capacity of a building's air handling system or even just a couple of open windows in a house.
但研究人员的计算显示，每平方米的建筑面积需要种植10 到1000株植物，才能与建筑物空气处理系统的空气净化能力相媲美，或者与仅仅打开房屋的几扇窗户的空气净化效果相媲美。
In contrast, NASA's sealed experiment recommended one pot plant per 100 square feet.
相比之下,美国国家航空航天局的封闭实验建议每100平方英尺种植一盆植物。
This is certainly an example of how scientific findings can be misleading or misinterpreted over time.
这无疑是一个例子，说明了科学发现随着时间的推移会具有误导性或被曲解。
But it's also a great example of how scientific research should continually re-examine and question findings to get closer to the ground truth of understanding what’s actually happening.
但这也是一个很好的例子，说明科学研究应该不断重新审视和质疑研究结果，以更了解实际情况的真相。
Question 22.What does NASA’s 1989 paper claim house plants can do?
美国国家航空航天局于1989年发表的论文声称室内盆栽植物能做什么?
Question 23.What is said to be the problem with NASA’s study reported in its 1989 paper?
据说美国国家航空航天局在其1989年发表的论文中报告的研究存在什么问题?
Question 24.What is the finding of a new evaluation of dozens of studies spanning 30 years?
对持续了30年的数十项研究进行的新评估发现了什么?
Question 25.What does NASA's sealed experiment recommendation exemplify in scientists'pursuit of truth?
美国国家航空航天局的封闭实验建议对科学家追求真理来说，例证了什么?
