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Science & technology
科技板塊
Farming and the climate
農業與氣候
How to toilet train your cow
如何訓練奶牛上廁所
Another way to fight climate change
應對氣候變化的另一種方法
Puppies can be taught. So can human children, though not for the first couple of years.
小狗可以被馴服，人類幼崽也可以，盡管頭幾年做不到。
Now, in the hope of fighting climate change, Dr Jan Langbein, of the Fredrich-Loweffler-Institut in Germany, and his colleagues hope they can train cows to use the toilet, too.
現在，為了對抗氣候變化，德國Fredrich Loweffler研究所的揚·朗本博士和他的同事們希望也能訓練奶牛上廁所。
Cow urine contains urea, a nitrogen-rich compound that, when broken down by enzymes in cow faeces, is converted into ammonia.
牛尿中含有尿素，一種富含氮的化合物。當尿素被牛糞便中的酶分解時會轉化為氨，
Bacteria in the soil, in turn, convert that ammonia into nitrous oxide.
土壤里的細菌反之將氨轉化為氧化亞氮。
Best known as a dental anaesthetic, the stuff is also a potent greenhouse gas.
眾所周知，這種物質是一種牙科麻醉劑，同時也是一種強效溫室氣體。
And agriculture is a big source of it.
而農業是這種物質的主要來源。
In the European Union, livestock farming accounts for around 70% of ammonia emissions.
在歐盟，畜牧業約占氨排放量的70%。
Collecting and treating cow pee before the ammonia can be produced might, therefore, seem like a good idea.
因此，在氨產生之前就對牛尿進行收集和處理似乎是個好主意。
But it has proved difficult in the past without confining the cows to small areas, which is bad for their welfare.
但事實證明，在過去，如果不把牛限制在小范圍內飼養(不利于牛的福利)，那么很難對牛尿進行收集和處理。
As Dr Langbein describes in Current Biology, this conundrum could be solved if free-roaming cows could be persuaded to voluntarily relieve themselves in a latrine.
正如朗本博士在《當代生物學》中所描述的那樣，如果能夠說服自由漫步的奶牛自愿在廁所中小便，那么這個難題就可以解決。
But going to the loo is a tricky business, says Dr Langbein.
但朗本博士表示，讓牛上廁所是一件棘手的事情。
It requires awareness of bladder fullness, self-control to override excretory reflexes, selection of a latrine, and intentional relaxation of the muscles which control the flow of urine.
它需要牛意識到膀胱充盈、控制排泄反射、選擇廁所以及有意識地放松控制尿流的肌肉。
Nevertheless, he has developed a three-stage process to help cows master toilet training.
盡管如此，朗本博士開發了一個分為三個階段的過程來幫助奶牛上廁所。
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