【753-754】“章鱼语者”与海洋生物有着密切的联系&美国将向其他国家提供核废料技术
每日一歌
81 Bob Dylan--Like a rolling stone
更多歌曲：《最适合学习英语的英文歌曲80首》
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AS IT IS
‘Octopus Whisperer’ Feels Close Connection to Sea Creatures
January 27, 2019
You might have heard of a “whisperer” – a person who has special skills to calm and train animals. Some of the most well-known whisperers work with horses or dogs.
American Wilson Menashi discovered long ago that he too had this kind of gift. However, the animal he feels closely connected to, the octopus, rarely has contact with people.
But that never stopped Menashi, now 84, from continuing to help aquarium workers who call him the octopus whisperer.
Menashi retired from a career as a chemical engineer 25 years ago. Shortly thereafter, he began volunteering at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Since then, the aquarium says he has spent 7,800 hours working there with octopuses. The time is equal to nearly four years of full-time work.
“I’ve been able to interact with them from the beginning,” Menashi told the Associated Press (AP) about his involvement with octopuses. “I do not know why. I cannot explain it, but I can connect with them,” he added.
Menashi spoke to the AP while working with the octopuses. As he put his arm into a large tank, a giant Pacific octopus named Freya stretched out her arms to meet him, almost like a friend.
Freya immediately began putting some of her 2,240 suction cups onto Menashi’s arm. An octopus uses the suction cups to taste and smell as it gathers information about its surroundings and other living things.
“She’s just contacting me and she’s saying, ‘You come to me,’” Menashi says of Freya. The 3-year-old octopus weighs about 18 kilograms. Her arms stretch about four meters in length and contain enough strength to kill sharks and other enemies.
But the interaction at the aquarium shows Menashi’s special skills dealing with such dangerous sea animals. Looking happy and playful, he keeps touching the octopus.
He explains to the AP the sea creatures have left life-long impressions on him. But along with that, the octopuses also leave physical marks. “I will come back home sometimes with hickeys all over my arm and my neck,” he said.
He is asked how he explains such marks to his wife. “Not too difficult when you have about 10 or 15 marks next to each other,” he answers. “It did not take much. She also knew where I was, anyway.”
Bill Murphy works at the aquarium. He told the AP Menashi’s eye for detail, patienceand willingness to experiment makes him the perfect octopus whisperer. “Every octopus is different. So then you can’t use the same rules for every octopus,” Murphy said. “You need to change it up. And Wilson does that.”
Menashi says spending time with octopuses and other animals has given his life a whole new purpose in retirement.
“Just being here has been, to me, a lifesaver,” he said. “Gave me something to do. Gave me different interests and showed me the world is a wonderful place to be,” he added.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
whisperer – n. a person who can tame and train a type of animal just by using the voice and gentle body movements
aquarium – n. building people can visit to see water animals and plants
suction cup – n. round piece often made of rubber material that sticks to surfaces when pressed against them
impression – n. an effect or influence on the way someone feels or thinks
hickey – n. a temporary red mark on someone's skin, often the neck, that may be caused by kissing
puzzle – n. a game or activity in which places have to put pieces together or answer questions using skill
patience – n. being able to stay calm and not get angry, especially when something takes a long time
AS IT IS
US to Offer Nuclear Waste Technology to Other Countries
January 27, 2019
FILE - This photo shows the interior of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump near Mercury, Nevada, April 9, 2015.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear security office is developing a project to help other countries deal with nuclear waste. The information comes from two sources who spoke to the Reuters news agency. They asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The sources say the plan aims to keep the United States competitive against other countries that are developing their own waste technology. For example, both Russia and France offer services to take care of nuclear waste.
Dov Schwartz is the spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration. He confirmed the group is thinking about how to help other countries reduce nuclear waste. However, Schwartz did not give details.
The NNSA also declined a Reuters request for an interview with Brent Park, who is leading the effort.
What would the technology do?
The unnamed sources say the technology could involve crushing, heating or sending an electric current through nuclear waste to reduce its size.
The machinery to do so would be put in a “black box” the size of a shipping container. It would be sent to other countries with nuclear energy programs; however, it would remain owned and operated by the United States, the sources said.
The sources did not name countries to which the service would be offered. They also did not say where the waste would be stored after it is run through the equipment. But they said they were worried the processes could increase the risk of dangerous materials reaching militant groups or nations unfriendly to the United States.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter banned nuclear waste reprocessing in 1977. The reprocessing opens pure amounts of uranium and plutonium, both of which could be used to make nuclear bombs.
NNSA spokesperson Dov Schwartz said the plans under consideration do not involve reprocessing. But he did not say what technologies could be used.
Concerns
The government of U.S. President Donald Trump has made promoting nuclear technology abroad a high priority. The U.S. Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, visited Saudi Arabia this month for talks on a nuclear energy deal with the kingdom. And the American business Westinghouse hopes to sell nuclear power technology to countries from Saudi Arabia to India.
But a top arms control officer during the Obama administration questions the direction of the Trump government. Thomas Countryman said the U.S. should improve its ability to get rid of its own nuclear waste before helping other countries.
A nuclear expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists also expressed some doubt about the NNSA plan. Edwin Lyman said NNSA should not be focused so much on reducing the size of nuclear waste. Instead, it should be concerned about the dangers of nuclear waste that make it hard to store.
Lyman said even a small amount of nuclear waste gives off radioactivity and heat. It “remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years,” he said.
I'm Susan Shand.
The Reuters news agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
source – n. a person, book, etc., that gives information
uranium – n. a radioactive element that is used to make nuclear energy and nuclear weapons
plutonium – n. a radioactive element that is used to make nuclear energy and nuclear weapons
priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first
radioactive – adj. having or producing a powerful and dangerous form of energy
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