① A team of Chinese researchers have turned cheap copper into a new material "almost identical” to gold, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances recently.
identical /aɪˈdentɪkəl/: adj. 一模一样的
② The discovery will significantly reduce the use of rare, expensive metals in factories, said the authors.
③ Copper has a similar weight and look to gold. For centuries it has attracted alchemists who saw it as a gateway to instant riches.
④ The new material cannot be used to make fake gold pennies. Its density remains the same as ordinary copper. But the process could prove lucrative and provide a significant boost for Chinese industries, according to the researchers.
⑤ Precious metals remain central to modern economies. The components of electronic devices, for instance, contain a large amount of gold, silver and platinum. 40 smartphones are estimated to contain as much gold as a tonne of ore.
⑥ Copper cannot function as well as gold in industrial applications, mainly because there are fewer stable electrons. The new method can inject a large amount of energy into copper atoms and made the electrons more dense and stable, according to the authors.
▍词汇拓展
1. turn … into …: 把……转变为……
turn stone into gold 点石成金
You should work hard to turn your dream into reality.
你应该努力工作，把梦想变成现实。
turn U.S. dollars into Hong Kong dollars 将美元换成港币
2. identical /aɪˈdentɪkəl/: adj. 一模一样的
· 比 similar 程度要强，similar 是“有点像”，而 identical 强调基本是一个模子刻出来的
You look similar to him.
你长得有点像他。
You look identical to him.
你和他长得一模一样。
The two pictures are similar, although not identical.
这两幅画很相似，虽然不完全相同。
3. peer review: 同行评议；同行评审
The paper has been submitted for peer review.
这篇论文已经提交给同行评审了。
4. gateway /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/: n. 通道；途径
Hopefully, my college degree will be a gateway to a high-paying job.
希望我的大学学位会成为高薪工作的敲门砖。
5. instant riches: 一夜暴富
instant noodles 方便面
instant coffee 速溶咖啡
Riches can be grown in the peaceful time.
财富在和平时代可以积累。
6. density /ˈdensɪti/: n. 密度
high population density 人口密度高
7. prove /pruːv/: Linking verb 证明是；结果是
The new drug proved effective.
事实证明，新药是有效的。
His advice proved useless.
事实证明，他的建议是没用的。
8. provide a boost for: 为……助力
· 近义表达 be a boost to
a boost for my confidence 增强了我的信心
an innovation that has been a boost to the entire industry 推动整个行业发展的创新
9. fewer: adj. 较少的；不多的 (修饰可数名词)
Now I meet with fewer difficulties in my work.
现在我工作中不怎么遇到困难了。
10. inject … into …: 把……注入到……
One way of boosting the banking system is to inject more capital into it.
促进银行体系的一种方法是向其注入更多资金。
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