Many people are afraid of insects, probably because they're creepy, disgusting, freaky, and scary. But despite their weird appearances, many insects possess incredible abilities that will put other animals, and even us humans, to shame. Despite their miniscule sizes and simple brains, these lowly creatures hold the key to solving some of mankind's greatest problems. Just like…
在很多人眼里，昆虫因其诡异的出没、畸形、丑陋甚至恐怖的外形被列为可怖的存在。但是撇开外表因素不说，事实上这些其貌不扬的小生灵，大多拥有着令其他动物，甚至人类羞惭的"超能力"。尽管它们的身体很"迷你"，大脑也很简单，但是它们却可以解决一些对人类来说无方可解的难题。比如……
10.蟑螂
Cockroaches are perhaps the most disliked creatures in the whole world. Despite that, they're also the most powerful. Just the mere presence of a single cockroach can make the strongest, most powerful men jump, run, and scream like a girl.
蟑螂估计是世界上最令人讨厌的昆虫了。尽管如此，它们也堪称世界上最强大的生物。只要一只小小的蟑螂出现，就可以让最剽悍的人瞬间化身为惊叫逃窜的小女孩。
What most people don't know is that cockroaches have significant value to the medical world. A number of researchers nowadays are studying cockroaches for their potential in curing some of man's most dreaded diseases. Scientists have discovered that the brains of cockroaches contain "nine antibiotic molecules … that protect them from voracious, lethal bacteria". So, what does this have to do with modern day medicine? Well, the antibacterial molecules found in the brains of cockroaches are more powerful than the antibiotics we use today. In fact, the antibacterial properties of these disgusting insects are far more effective than some of our modern medicine that they make "prescription drugs look like sugar pills". Laboratory tests show that the antibacterial molecules found in cockroaches can easily cure MRSA—a bacterial infection more deadly than AIDS—and E. coli.Aside from their amazing healing power, cockroaches also have the incredible ability to survive nuclear explosions. When Hiroshima and Nagasaki were annihilated by atomic bombs, the only sole survivors were cockroaches. However, it's important to note that this amazing ability has its limitations. When exposed to 100,000 radon units, cockroaches will die.
大多数人不知道的是，蟑螂这种昆虫具有很高的医用价值。当代许多研究者都致力于开发蟑螂在治疗某些人类绝症过程中的作用。而科学家们也已经在蟑螂的大脑中检测出了"九种抗菌素分子……使它们免疫于贪婪而致命的细菌"。那么，这对现代医药有什么贡献呢？研究证明，在蟑螂大脑里检测到的抗菌素分子，比我们现在使用的抗生素更强效。事实上，这种恶心的小虫子对细菌的抵抗力远远强于某些现代医药，跟它们比起来，"处方药简直就像是糖丸"。除了惊人的治愈力，蟑螂还能奇迹般地在核爆炸中幸存。当初日本的广岛和长崎被原子弹夷平，唯一生存下来的就是蟑螂。当然，蟑螂的这一"超能力"也不是无限的。暴露在100000标准单位的氡气下，即使是打不死的小强也难逃死劫了。
9.蜜蜂
Bees are one of the most intelligent insects in the animal world. Not only do they have their own sophisticated means of communication, they also have extraordinary navigation skills despite the fact that their eyesight is limited.
蜜蜂是动物界中最具智慧的昆虫之一。它们不仅有其特有的一套复杂的沟通方式，还拥有非凡的"航空"技巧——尽管事实上它们的视野很有限。
It's common knowledge that honey bees can communicate with each other. They perform a series of movements called a "waggle dance" to tell each other where food is located or which spot is best for building a new colony. However, what many people don't know is that the dance is extremely advanced. Honey bees know that the Earth is round, and they take this fact into consideration when they're learning the location of a certain food source. Aside from that, they can also calculate angles very easily just by reading their waggle dances. For example, if a bee dances from a 12 to 6 o'clock direction, that means food or home is located directly away from the sun. In contrast, a 6 to 12 o'clock movement signifies that bees are to "fly straight forward towards the sun". A 7 to 1 o'clock movement means that the bees are to fly "to the right of the sun".Aside from communicating with each other, honey bees also navigate their surroundings through other means like remembering visual landmarks, taking the sun's position into consideration, and using the Earth's electromagnetic field.
众所周知，蜜蜂可以跟彼此沟通。它们用一套被称为"摇摆舞"的舞姿来传递信息，告知同伴食物的所在地或者建筑蜂巢的最佳据点。然而大多数人不知道的是，这套"摇摆舞"其实十分先进。蜜蜂天生就知道地球是圆的，而且它们也已经在寻找食源的时候将这一事实列入考虑。除此之外，蜜蜂还可以通过同伴的"摇摆舞"轻而易举地计算出角度。例如，当一只蜜蜂沿12点钟到6点钟的方向飞舞时，这代表着食源或者蜂巢在与太阳正相反的方向。反之，当它沿6点钟到12点钟的方向飞舞时，就是在告诉同伴"小伙伴们，笔直地朝着太阳飞吧"。而当它沿着7点钟向1点钟方向飞舞，那么蜜蜂的飞行部队就该朝向太阳的右侧前进了。除了独特的沟通技巧，蜜蜂还会在飞行过程中通过记忆明显的地标，参考太阳的方位，利用地球的电磁场等方式为自己"导航"。
8.蝗虫
Locusts are one of the most efficient pilots in the insect world. These winged creatures, which many people consider to be menaces, can fly great distances without using too much energy. For many years now, scientists have been studying them, and they found out that even though these insects don't produce great amounts of thrust and lift, they're capable of sustaining a steady flight rate. Their ability to maintain a steady flight rate doesn't change even if the winds and temperature become unfavorable. This amazing ability enables them to travel vast distances without wasting much energy.
在昆虫的世界，蝗虫该是最高效的飞行员之一。这些被人视作威胁的带翼昆虫，可以在不花费过多体力的前提下飞行很远的距离。多年以来，科学家们一直在对蝗虫进行研究。他们发现，即使在扑翼飞行时产生的推力和升力都不大，蝗虫仍旧可以保持平稳的飞行速度。而且蝗虫的这一能力还不受风和气温的影响。有这项绝技傍身，蝗虫就可以穿越辽阔的大地，同时也不耗费过多的体力。
What's more amazing is that locusts have the capacity to twist their wings during flights. By doing so, they can preserve and even control the quantity of lift they generate. This, in turn, helps in keeping their flight at a consistent rate. This additional feature enables them to fly up to 80 kilometers in one day without requiring a rest.
更让人拍手称奇的是，蝗虫还可以在飞行过程中扭曲它的翅膀。这样，蝗虫就可以维持甚至控制扑翼时产生的升力。反过来，对升力的维持和控制又可以帮助它们保持平稳的飞行速度。这项"附加技能"保证了蝗虫可以在一天的时间里毫不停歇地飞行80公里。
7.萤火虫
Fireflies' amazing ability to produce their own light is a wonder in the animal kingdom, and a source of inspiration and joy for many of us. As a child, you've probably experienced that magical feeling that comes upon seeing the twilight flickering of these amazing creatures for the first time.
萤火虫为自己点灯的特异功能是昆虫王国的奇闻异事，也是很多人灵感与欢乐的来源。夜色如水，萤火虫闪着微弱的光亮在四下明明暗暗，相信第一次看见这景象的记忆，是很多人孩童时期尤为梦幻且奇异的经历。
One thing that we, as humans, can learn from fireflies is how to use energy efficiently. Fireflies were designed by Nature to use energy without wasting much of it through heat. The light bulbs we have in our homes only use 10% of their total energy in producing light. The remaining 90% becomes wasted heat energy. On the other hand, the amazing bodies of fireflies were designed to use 100% of the energy to produce light. If fireflies were like light bulbs, in that they use only 10% to make light and the remaining 90% is released as heat energy, they would almost certainly burn to death.Moreover, just like bees, fireflies can talk with each other too. Fireflies use their ability to produce light to signal each other that they are available for mating. Male fireflies give off distinct flash patterns (each species has their own unique patterns) that signal the female fireflies that they are "single". On the other hand, if the female fireflies are interested in mating, they too would reply by flickering.
作为人类，我们应该像萤火虫学习的是如何有效地利用能源。萤火虫是造物主手下的节能战士，它们利用本身的能源发光，但是不会在发光的过程中产生多余的热能。而我们家用的灯泡在照明时只能利用能源的10%，剩下的90%都被转化成了没用的热能。如果萤火虫像灯泡一样，只能利用10%的能量发光，剩下的都转化成热能，那估计它们就只能一个个的"自焚"了。此外，萤火虫也可以像蜜蜂一样彼此沟通，不过它们的沟通方式跟蜜蜂有所不同。萤火虫通过尾部的闪光给异性发出求偶信号。雄性萤火虫发出一组独特的闪光信号（不同种类的萤火虫闪光模式有所不同），通知雌虫它们目前"单身"。另一方面，如果雌虫也想要交配，那么它们就会同样通过闪光的方式来回应。
6.跳蚤
Fleas are harmful not only to your pets, but also to you and your family. Despite that, they have something in them that deserves human admiration: these insects are capable of jumping 150 times their own height! Now, this might not sound really amazing if you view it in insect terms, but if you look at it in a human perspective, then you'll find that the fleas plaguing your pets are indeed incredible creatures.
跳蚤不仅对你的宠物不利，对你和你的家人也是个威胁。尽管如此，它们身上仍有一些闪光点值得称赞。比如，跳蚤可以跳到它本身身高150倍的高度。当你把它看作是一只小虫子的时候，也许这并不算什么。但是试想如果它是一个人，那你就能理解，这些在你的宠物身上祸害的小虫子是多么的不可思议了。
Consider this. A certain person, let's call him Bill, is 5'9" tall. If he were a flea, then he would be able to jump 862.5 feet into the air, which would be defying gravity to the highest extent. Just imagine how different our world would be if we possessed this amazing flea ability. There would be fewer cars, less pollution, less expenses, etc. So, the next time you crush a flea, think of what it can do.
让我们来试想一下，假设有一个叫比尔的人，身高五英尺九寸。如果他是一只跳蚤，那么他就可以跳到862.5英尺高的空中。这必将成为对抗地心引力能跳到的最高记录。想象一下如果我们都身怀跳蚤这项绝技，那么世界将会是另一番景象：车辆会减少，污染会减轻，花费也会下降……所以，下次当你逮到一只跳蚤的时候，想象一下它的"超能力"吧。
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