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Ever throw an avocado in a paper bag with a banana to get the avocado to ripen faster?
有沒有試過將鱷梨和香蕉放在一個紙袋里加速鱷梨的成熟?
That trick works because both of them are what's called"climacteric" fruits.
這個小妙招之所以起效是因為它們都是更年性果實。
Meaning they release ethylene gas as they mature—and the gas in turn accelerates ripening.
這其中的奧妙在于隨著這些果實的成熟會釋放乙烯，而乙烯反過來會加速果實的成熟。
At maximum ethylene release, the fruit reaches peak ripeness:ideal taste and texture.
乙烯釋放達到峰值后，果實也達到最佳成熟期:擁有誘人口感和完美質(zhì)地。
After that, the fruit's cells begin to die, molds move in, and it rots.
在那之后，果實細胞開始死亡，霉菌侵入繼而腐爛。
So how to determine the best time for picking—and eating?
那么如何確定采摘和食用的最佳時機呢?
Today's high-tech farmers might sample the ethylene released by the fruit, as it sits in an airtight container.
如今掌握高科技技術(shù)的農(nóng)民們也許會將有待成熟的果實放在密閉容器中然后釋放用水果做成的乙烯樣本。
Or use a color meter, to track a fruit's progression towards "ripe color."
他們或者會用到一種色溫表以便跟蹤果實慢慢走向成熟這一過程。
But now researchers have devised what might be a simpler and more scientifically accurate technique—shooting fruit with lasers.
但現(xiàn)在研究人員發(fā)明了一種更為簡單、科學性方面更為準確用激光射擊檢驗水果成熟度的方法。
When they zapped golden delicious apples, what bounced back was a speckled pattern of black and red dots:
當他們對著金燦燦的蘋果射擊時，反饋回來的是黑色和紅色的圓斑點：
a measure of how the fruit's cells and water absorbed and reflected the laser light.
這是一種衡量果實細胞及水分境況通過激光反饋的方法。
That pattern changed over time, right in step with the fruit's release of ethylene.
這種模式會隨著時間的推移而改變，且與水果釋放的乙烯保持一致。
Meaning these images could be a good proxy for ethylene measurements, and let farmers know the best time to harvest.
而這些圖像可以作為衡量乙烯的很好標準，幫助農(nóng)民知曉收獲的最佳時機。
The study is in the journal Applied Optics.
這一研究已經(jīng)在《應(yīng)用光學》雜志上發(fā)表。
Next, the researchers hope to develop a handheld laser for farmers, so they can shoot fruit right on the tree.
研究人員接下來希望為農(nóng)民開發(fā)一種手持激光，這樣他們就可以直接了解樹上水果的情況。
It remains to be seen if laser measurement of bananas will have…appeal.
而香蕉激光檢驗法能否實現(xiàn)還是個未知數(shù)。
譯文為可可英語翻譯，未經(jīng)授權(quán)請勿轉(zhuǎn)載！
