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每日英語跟讀 Ep.K642: The Unconventional Ferret: A Pioneering Tale from the Particle Accelerator World

Step back to the 1970s, a time when laboratory protocols were less stringent than today. In this setting, a group of brilliant minds at what was then known as the US National Accelerator Laboratory, now recognized as Fermilab, embarked on an ingenious experiment involving a rather unexpected participant: a ferret. This intriguing story sheds light on the creative problem-solving that characterized the scientific community of the era.
回到1970年代，那是實驗室標準不如今天嚴格的時候。在這個背景下，一群聰明的頭腦，當時被稱為美國國立加速器實驗室，現在叫費米國立加速器實驗室，參與了一個創意實驗，其中涉及一位充滿意外性的參與者：一隻雪貂。這個有趣的故事啟示了當時科學界以創造力解決問題的特質。

In the winter of 1971, excitement buzzed around the NAL's Meson Laboratory as they unveiled the Main Ring particle accelerator. With a price tag of $250 million, this cutting-edge equipment consisted of a 4-mile tube intended to harness the power of magnets to accelerate protons and push the boundaries of scientific exploration. However, by spring, the initial optimism began to wane as contamination issues surfaced, leading to repeated magnet failures that threatened to derail the project.
在1971年的冬天，美國國立加速器實驗室的介子實驗室公開了主環粒子加速器，這項價值2.5億美元的尖端設備由一條4英里長的管道組成，主要利用磁鐵的力量加速質子，推動科學探索的界限。然而，到了春天，最初的樂觀情緒開始衰退，因為污染問題浮出水面，導致反復出現磁鐵故障，威脅著項目的進展。

The root cause of the problem, as it turned out, was the presence of minuscule metal shavings within the accelerator's confines. Yet, the challenge was far from trivial. The accelerator tube, with a diameter no wider than a tennis ball, posed a formidable obstacle for effective cleaning. This conundrum prompted physicist Ryuji Yamada to propose a novel solution involving magnets. But the crucial question remained: who would carry out this intricate task?
問題的根本原因是加速器內部存在微小的金屬碎片。然而，這個挑戰並不簡單。加速器管道的直徑不到一顆網球寬，對於有效清潔來說是一個艱鉅的阻礙。這個難題促使物理學家山田龍治（Ryuji Yamada音譯）提出了一個採用磁鐵的新解決方案。但關鍵問題仍然存在：誰將執行這個複雜的任務？

Enter Robert Sheldon, a resourceful British physicist, whose inspiration came from an unexpected source: ferrets. Drawing from the knowledge that ferrets were used for tunnel exploration by hunters, Sheldon saw potential in employing these agile creatures for the cleaning task. Thus, the laboratory contacted the Wild Game and Fur Farm in Minnesota, leading to the introduction of Felicia, a diminutive ferret equipped with a harness and a mission to navigate the accelerator's intricate tunnels.
轉到羅伯特·謝爾登（Robert Sheldon），這位機智的英國物理學家，他有個靈感來自於意外的來源：雪貂。謝爾登從獵人使用雪貂進行隧道探索的知識中得到啟發，認為可以利用這些敏捷的生物來進行清潔任務。因此，實驗室聯繫了明尼蘇達州的野生動物和毛皮農場，引入了一隻名叫費莉西亞的小雪貂，它配備了一個馬具，並且有著在加速器複雜隧道中巡查的使命。

With meticulous training and the promise of tantalizing treats, Felicia embarked on her unique role, scurrying through sections of the accelerator to clean away debris. Though her efforts were commendable, advancements in cleaning technology eventually rendered her contributions obsolete. The tale of Felicia, the intrepid ferret, remains a testament to the innovative spirit of the scientific community, showcasing their willingness to embrace unconventional solutions in the pursuit of knowledge and progress.
在細心的培訓和引人入勝的待遇激勵下，費莉西亞開始了她獨特的角色，穿越加速器的各個部分清除碎片。雖然她的努力值得讚揚，但清潔技術的進步最終使她的貢獻變得過時。這隻勇敢的雪貂費莉西亞的故事仍然是科學界創新精神的一個證明，展示了他們在追求知識和進步的過程中，願意接受非傳統的解決方案。
Reference article: https://www.sciencealert.com/bizarre-true-story-physicists-once-put-a-ferret-in-a-particle-accelerator