Interactive transcript · 166 lines
Good morning, global minds.
早安，全球的智者们。
Welcome to TalkCast, your daily audio companion where we turn the world's most intriguing news into
欢迎来到 TalkCast，这是你的每日音频伙伴，我们将世界上最引人入胜的新闻变成
a stepping stone for your English learning journey.
你英语学习旅程的一块垫脚石。
I am Jack, your lead anchor, bringing you a fresh start to your morning on this bright and beautiful
我是杰克，你的首席主播，在这个明媚美好的清晨为你带来全新的开始
day of October the 9th, 2026.
2026年10月9日这一天。
And a very warm and happy morning to you, Jack, and to our wonderful listeners joining us from every
也祝你早安，杰克，以及从世界各个角落加入我们的广大听众朋友们，祝你们拥有一个温馨快乐的早晨。
corner of the world.
每一个角落的世界。
I am Emily, your commentator and conversational partner.
我是艾米丽，你的评论员兼对话伙伴。
I have my warm mug of coffee ready, my notebook is open, and I am incredibly excited to share
我已经准备好了温热的咖啡，打开了笔记本，并且极其兴奋地与大家分享
today's stories.
今天的故事。
How are you feeling today, Jack?
杰克，你今天感觉怎么样？
I am feeling absolutely fantastic, Emily.
艾米丽，我感觉好极了。
Today, we have a lineup of stories that feel like a journey through time.
今天，我们准备了一系列听起来像是穿越时空之旅的故事。
We will be exploring the secrets of extreme longevity in a living legend, unearthing an ancient
我们将探索一个活着的传奇人物身上极度长寿的秘密，发掘一件古老的
creature buried inside Egypt's most famous monument, and discussing a vital update on our global environment.
被埋葬在埃及最著名古迹内的生物，并讨论关于我们全球环境的一个至关重要的更新。
Wow, that sounds like an incredible journey.
哇，这听起来像是一次难以置信的旅程。
My vocabulary notebook is definitely going to be packed today.
我的生词本今天肯 定要被塞满了。
What is our very first headline?
我们今天的第一个头条是什么？
We begin with a true living legend.
我们从一个真正的活传奇开始。
Scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of Jonathan, a giant tortoise who is currently 194
科学家们已经成功测序了乔纳森的基因组，他是一只目前194岁的巨型乌龟。
years old, making him the world's oldest living land animal.
岁，这使他成为世界上最老的陆地动物。
194 years old.
194岁。
That is absolutely mind -boggling, Jack.
杰克，这绝对是匪夷所思的。
Just think about it.
仔细想想看。
Jonathan was already walking this earth when Charles Darwin was formulating his theory of evolution.
当查尔斯·达尔文正在构想他的进化论时，乔纳森已经在这片土地上漫步了。
But wait, you used a heavy science phrase there, sequenced the genome.
但是等等，你在那里用了一个沉重的科学短语，“测序基因组”。
Let us break that down for our English learners.
让我们为我们的英语学习者将其拆解一下。
What is a genome, and what does it mean to sequence it?
什么是基因组，对它进行测序又意味着什么？
That is a perfect place to start, Emily.
这是个完美的切入点，艾米丽。
Think of every living creature as a complex piece of biological machinery.
把每一个有生命的生物想象成一件复杂的生物机械。
To build and run that machinery, you need a highly detailed instruction manual.
为了建造和运行这台机器，你需要一本高度详细的说明书。
In Living Things, that instruction manual is written in our DNA.
在生物体中，这本说明手册是用我们的 DNA 书写的。
The entire set of these instructions is called the genome, and sequencing it simply means reading
这一整套指令被称为基因组，对其进行测序仅仅意味着阅读
that entire manual cover to cover, letter by letter, so we can finally understand how it is written.
从头到尾逐字逐句地阅读整本手册，这样我们才能最终理解它是如何被书写的。
Ah, that is a wonderful metaphor.
啊，这是一个绝妙的隐喻。
So, genome sequencing is like translating a massive ancient instruction manual into a language we
所以，基因组测序就像是将一本庞大的古代说明手册翻译成一种语言
can actually read and study.
我们实际上可以阅读和研究。
But why are scientists so interested in reading a giant tortoise's manual?
但是为什么科学家们对阅读一只巨型乌龟的说明书这么感兴趣呢？
Because giant tortoises have a biological superpower, Emily.
因为巨型乌龟拥有生物学上的超能力，艾米丽。
They do not seem to age the way humans do.
它们似乎不像人类那样衰老。
They rarely get cancer, they do not suffer from many age -related diseases, and their cells can
它们很少得癌症，不会遭受许多与年龄相关的疾病，并且它们的细胞可以
repair themselves with incredible efficiency.
以惊人的效率自我修复。
Scientists want to find the exact pages in Jonathan's manual that explain this secret.
科学家们想要在乔纳森的说明书中找到解释这个秘密的确切页面。
If we can find those specific genetic instructions, we might be able to develop new medicines to
如果我们能找到那些特定的基因指令，我们也许能够开发出新药
help humans live healthier lives and combat diseases associated with aging.
来帮助人类过上更健康的生活，并对抗与衰老相关的疾病。
That is absolutely fascinating.
这真是迷人至极。
Imagine if the secrets to healthy aging and curing diseases have been walking slowly on a remote
想象一下，如果健康衰老和治疗疾病的秘密一直在一个偏远的岛屿上缓慢行走
island for nearly two centuries.
近两个世纪。
Jonathan is not just an old animal.
乔纳森不仅仅是一只年迈的动物。
He is a walking library of scientific discoveries.
他是一座会走路的科学发现图书馆。
He really is, Emily.
他确实是，艾米莉。
Now let us travel from a living ancient animal to a long dead one.
现在让我们从一个活着的古代动物转向一个早已死去的动物。
Our second story takes us to Giza, Egypt, where scientists have identified a newly discovered
我们的第二个故事把我们带到了埃及吉萨，科学家们在那里确认了一个新发现的
extinct species of crocodile.
已灭绝的鳄鱼物种。
An extinct crocodile?
一只灭绝的 鳄鱼？
That is exciting.
那真令人兴奋。
But wait, did you say extinct?
等等，你刚才说灭绝了吗？
Let us define that word for our listeners. Yes.
让我们为听众定义一下这个词。是的。
Extinct is an adjective we use to describe a species of animal or plant that no longer has any
灭绝是一个我们用来描述不再有任何……的动物或植物物种的形容词
living members on Earth.
地球上活着的成员。
They have completely died out, just like the dinosaurs. Right.
它们已经完全消亡了，就像恐龙一样。对的。
So we do not have to worry about bumping into one of these while swimming.
所以我们在游泳时不必担心撞上其中一只。
But what is the connection between this extinct crocodile and the Great Sphinx of Giza?
但是这只已灭绝的鳄鱼与吉萨大狮身人面像之间有什么联系呢？
The connection is actually in the very stones of the monument itself.
这种联系实际上就在纪念碑本身的石头里。
The Great Sphinx was carved out of massive limestone blocks around 4 ,500 years ago.
大约在4500年前，大狮身人面像是从巨大的石灰岩块中被雕刻出来的。
Scientists studying the geological history of the quarries where those limestone blocks were cut
研究那些切割石灰岩块的采石场地质历史的科学家们
discovered fossils of this ancient crocodile buried deep within the rock layers. Fossils?
在岩层深处发现了这只古代鳄鱼的化石。化石？
So this crocodile's remains were literally trapped inside the rocks that were used to build the Sphinx?
所以这只鳄鱼的遗骸确实被困在了用来建造狮身人面像的石头里？
That is like a historical crossover event.
这就像是一场历史性的跨界联动事件。
It truly is.
它确实是。
What is even more surprising is that millions of years ago, the area around Giza was not a dry,
更让人惊讶的是，数百万年前，吉萨周边地区并不是一个干燥的
sandy desert.
沙质沙漠。
It was a lush, green wetland filled with giant rivers and lakes where these crocodiles ruled as top predators. Wow.
这是一个郁郁葱葱的绿色湿地，到处都是巨大的河流和湖泊，这些鳄鱼在那里作为顶级捕食者统治着这里。哇。
It is so hard to picture the Sahara Desert as a green wetland.
很难想象撒哈拉沙漠会是一个绿色的湿地。
It is a powerful reminder of how much our planet's climate and landscapes can change over millions
这是一个强有力的提醒，让我们看到我们星球的气候和地貌在数百万年里可以发生多大的变化
of years.
年的时间。
But Jack, I heard there is a rather funny visual detail about this crocodile skull.
但是杰克，我听说关于这个鳄鱼头骨有一个相当有趣的视觉细节。
What is that? Yes.
那是什么？是的。
As many of our listeners know, the Great Sphinx of Giza is famous for missing its nose.
正如我们的许多听众所知，吉萨大狮身人面像以其没有鼻子而闻名。
Well, the skull of this newly discovered fossil crocodile is also missing its snout, which is the
嗯，这只新发现的化石鳄鱼的头骨也缺少了它的吻部，也就是
animal's nose area, due to natural erosion over millions of years.
由于数百万年的自然侵蚀，动物的鼻子区域。
So they both share a very distinctive noseless appearance.
所以它们都有一个非常独特的无鼻子外表。
Oh, that is brilliant.
哦，这太棒了。
A noseless crocodile found inside the rocks of the noseless Sphinx.
一只无鼻子的鳄鱼被发现藏在无鼻子的狮身人面像的石头里。
You really cannot make this stuff up.
你真的编不出这种东西来。
It is a beautiful example of how geology and archaeology can combine to tell a story about our
这是一个极好的例子，展示了地质学和考古学如何结合起来讲述关于我们
planet's deep past.
星球遥远的过去。
I completely agree, Emily.
我完全同意，艾米莉。
Now, speaking of changing environments and global wildlife, our third story brings us to the present day.
现在，说到不断变化的环境和全球野生动物，我们的第三个故事把我们带到了现代。
The Worldwide Fund for Nature, or WWF, has released its latest Living Planet Report, and it contains
世界自然基金会，即WWF，发布了其最新的《地球生命力报告》，其中包含
some very important data.
一些非常重要的数据。
The report warns that, on average, monitored wildlife populations have declined by 73 % between 1970
报告警告说，在1970年至2022年期间，受到监测的野生动物种群平均下降了73%
and 2022. 73 %?
与2022年73%？
Jack, that sounds absolutely terrifying.
杰克，这听起来绝对令人毛骨悚然。
But wait, let us look closely at that term, monitored wildlife populations.
但是等等，让我们仔细看看这个术语，受监测的野生动物种群。
Does that mean 73 % of all animals on Earth have disappeared?
这是否意味着地球上所有动物的73%都已经消失了？
That sounds like a complete ecological collapse.
这听起来像是一场完整的生态崩溃。
That is a very common misunderstanding, Emily, and it is a crucial point to clarify for our listeners.
这是一个非常普遍的误解，艾米莉，对于我们的听众来说，澄清这一点是一个至关重要的点。
No, it does not mean we have lost 73 % of all individual animals on the planet.
不，这并不意味着我们失去了地球上所有个体动物的73%。
Rather, it means that if you look at the thousands of specific wildlife groups or populations that
相反，这意味着如果你看看成千上万个具体的野生动物群体或种群
scientists track and monitor around the globe, their average size has shrunk by 73%.
科学家在全球范围内追踪和监测，它们的平均体型已经缩小了 73%。
It is still an incredibly urgent warning, but it is about the shrinking size of animal groups, not
这仍然是一个令人难以置信的紧急警告，但它是关于动物群落体型的缩小，而不是
the total extinction of three quarters of all life.
所有生命的四分之三完全灭绝。
Ah, thank you for making that distinction.
啊，谢谢你做出了这种区分。
That is a huge relief to hear, but it is still a massive wake -up call.
听到这个消息真是大大地松了一口气，但它仍然是一个巨大的警钟。
The report says we need to change how we produce food to avoid what scientists call a biodiversity collapse.
报告称，我们需要改变食物生产方式，以避免科学家所说的生物多样性崩溃。
Can we explain biodiversity using a simple picture?
我们能用一幅简单的图画来解释生物多样性吗？
Of course.
当然。
Let us use the metaphor of a giant Jenga tower.
让我们用一个巨大的层层叠塔的隐喻。
In a Jenga game, you build a tower using dozens of wooden blocks.
在层层叠游戏中，你用几十块木块搭建一座塔。
Each block represents a different species, a bird, a tree, an insect, or a mammal.
每个方块代表一个不同的物种，一只鸟、一棵树、一只昆虫或一只哺乳动物。
Biodiversity is the variety of all those different blocks.
生物多样性就是所有这些不同方块的多样性。
If you have high biodiversity, your tower has many blocks and is incredibly stable.
如果你有很高的生物多样性，你的塔就会有很多方块并且极其稳定。
But if you start pulling blocks out, meaning species go extinct or populations shrink, the tower
但如果你开始把方块抽出来，意味着物种灭绝或种群萎缩，这座塔
becomes shaky.
就会变得摇晃。
If you pull out too many blocks, the entire tower collapses, which directly impacts our water, soil,
如果你抽出太多方块，整座塔就会坍塌，这会直接影响我们的水、土壤、
and food supply.
以及食物供应。
That Jenga metaphor is incredibly powerful, Jack.
那个层层叠的比喻真是太有力了，杰克。
It makes the danger of losing biodiversity feel so real and urgent.
它让失去生物多样性的危险感觉如此真实和紧迫。
We are all living on that same tower, so we have a major interest in keeping it stable.
我们都生 活在同一座塔上，所以我们有保持其稳定的重大利益。
But Jack, is there any good news in this report?
但是杰克，这份报告里有什么好消息吗？
Please tell me we have some hope.
请告诉我我们还有些希望。
There actually is some wonderful, inspiring news, Emily.
事实上确实有一些极好、鼓舞人心的消息，艾米丽。
The report highlights that when we take active steps to protect nature, it has an incredible ability
报告强调了当我们采取积极步骤保护自然时，它具有令人难以置信的能力
to recover.
去恢复。
A prime example is the spectacular comeback of the Atlantic bluefin tuna in the waters around the
一个典型例子是大西洋蓝鳍金枪鱼在周边水域的壮观回归
United Kingdom.
联合王国。
The bluefin tuna?
蓝鳍金枪鱼？
I remember they were critically endangered due to overfishing.
我记得由于过度捕捞，它们曾处于严重濒危状态。
Are they really returning?
它们真的在回归吗？
Yes, they are.
是的，它们回来了。
Thanks to strict international fishing regulations and dedicated conservation efforts, bluefin tuna
由于严格的国际捕鱼法规和专门的保护努力，蓝鳍金枪鱼
have returned to UK waters in massive, healthy numbers.
以大量、健康的数量回到了英国水域。
It is a brilliant success story that shows nature can heal if we simply stop pulling blocks out of
这是一个精彩的成功故事，表明如果我们停止把方块从
the Jenga tower and give it a chance.
层层叠塔中抽出来并给它一个机会。
That is so heartening to hear.
听到这个真是让人鼓舞。
It proves that conservation is not a lost cause.
这证明自然保护并不是一项无望的事业。
When we cooperate and set clear rules, we can actually reverse the damage.
当我们合作并制定明确的规则时，我们实际上可以扭转这种破坏。
That gives me so much hope for the future of our planet.
这让我对我们星球的未来充满了希望。
It really does, Emily.
确实如此，艾米丽。
Today, we have journeyed through some truly fascinating stories.
今天，我们经历了一些真正迷人的故事。
From the genomic secrets of a 194 -year -old giant tortoise to a noseless ancient crocodile found in
从一只 194 岁巨型乌龟的基因组秘密，到在……中发现的无鼻古代鳄鱼
the stones of the Sphinx.
狮身人面像的石头中。
And finally, a powerful reminder of how we can protect our global biodiversity.
最后，这是一个强有力的提醒，提醒我们如何保护全球生物多样性。
It has been an absolutely brilliant show, Jack.
这绝对是一场精彩的节目，杰克。
My English vocabulary is richer and my mind is full of wonder.
我的英语词汇量更丰富了，我的脑海里也充满了奇思妙想。
Now, dear listeners, it is time for our favorite part of the day, our daily interactive question. Yes.
现在，亲爱的听众朋友们，到了我们一天中最喜欢的环节，我们的每日互动问题。是的。
Based on today's stories, we have a fun and thought -provoking question for you.
根据今天的故事，我们有一个有趣且发人深省的问题要问大家。
If you could have the slow -paced life and incredible longevity of Jonathan the Giant Tortoise, would
如果你能拥有巨龟乔纳森那慢节奏的生活和令人难以置信的长寿，你愿意吗
you want to live for nearly 200 years?
你想活将近 200 年吗？
Why or why not?
为什么或者为什么不？
Oh, I love that question.
哦，我很喜欢那个问题。
Listeners, please write down your answers in the comments section below.
听众们，请把你们的答案写在下方的评论 区。
Practicing your English by sharing your thoughts is an amazing, pressure -free way to build your
通过分享你的想法来练习英语是一种极好的、毫无压力的途径去构建你的
writing skills.
写作技巧。
And do not forget to check out what other listeners from around the world have written.
并且不要忘记去看看来自世界各地的其他听众写了什么。
Let us learn from each other.
让我们互相学习。
We absolutely love reading your comments and seeing our global community support each other.
我们绝对喜欢阅读你们的评论，并看到我们的全球社区互相支持。
We also want to say a warm welcome to our new TallCast members and express our deepest gratitude to
我们还想对我们新的 TallCast 成员表示热烈的欢迎，并向大家表达我们最深的感激之情
everyone who has subscribed, shared our episodes, or left us a kind review.
所有订阅过、分享过我们的单集或给我们留下好评的人。
Your enthusiasm is what keeps us going every single day.
你们的热情是我们每天坚持下去的动力。
Thank you so much for starting your morning with us.
非常感谢你们与我们一起开始清晨。
Keep practicing your English, stay curious, and have a truly wonderful day ahead.
继续练习你的英语，保持好奇，并且祝接下来的一天过得真正精彩。
Until next time, keep learning and keep talking.
直到下次，继续学习，继续交流。
Goodbye, everyone.
再见，大家。
Bye -bye.
拜拜。
