每日英译中，来自每日翻译

· 英译中

原文：

Although the hornworm is a voracious eater that can strip a tomato plant in a matter of days, it is, in fact, harmless to humans. Entomologists had known the insect to be innocuous for decades, and his claims were widely mocked by experts. So why did the rumors persist even though the truth was readily available? People are social learners. We develop most of our beliefs from the testimony of trusted others such as our teachers, parents and friends. This social transmission of knowledge is at the heart of culture and science. But as the tomato hornworm story shows us, our ability has a gaping vulnerability: sometimes the ideas we spread are wrong.

译文：

番茄天蛾是一种贪婪的食者，几天内就能把一棵番茄植株吃个精光，但事实上它对人类无害。昆虫学家数十年来就知道这种昆虫是无害的，因此这位医生的说法受到专家们的广泛嘲讽。那么，为什么在真相唾手可得的情况下，谣言却一直存在呢？人是社会学习者。我们的大部分信念源自老师、父母和朋友等信赖之人的话。知识的这种社会传播是文化和科学的核心。但是，正如番茄天蛾的故事告诉我们的那样，我们的能力有一个漏洞：有时我们传播的观点是错误的。