小羊英文报摘

China's "Manned Space(载人航天)" program issued a terse(简短的；言简意赅的) announcement on Sunday regarding its much-anticipated(备受期待的) Chang’e 7 lunar exploration(月球探测) mission. The agency stated: "In keeping with the principle of proceeding prudently(稳妥地；审慎地) and reliably(可靠地), and ensuring absolute success(确保万无一失/绝对成功), after a comprehensive assessment(综合评估) it has been determined that the Chang’e 7 mission does not meet the conditions for launch and therefore cannot be carried out during the planned launch window(发射窗口) this year." The Chinese message offered no explanation for the cause of the delay from the Wenchang Space Launch Site(文昌航天发射场), located on an island in the South China Sea. Consisting of a lunar orbiter(月球轨道器), lander(着陆器), rover(巡视器/月球车), and a mini-hopper(微型跳跃探测器) of a probe(探测器), the mission was due to launch as early as Sunday on a Long March 5(长征五号) rocket. It is intended to land at the South Pole of the Moon. Read full article Comments

The first telegram arrived in Singapore on a Monday, sent from the city of Batavia in the Dutch East Indies (荷属东印度群岛，今印度尼西亚) (now Jakarta, Indonesia). “Terrific (极大的；可怕的) detonations (爆炸声；爆炸) from Krakatau (volcanic island (火山岛)),” it reported. Soon afterward: “Stones falling. Village near Anjer washed away (被冲走；被冲毁).” The wires continued clattering (发出咔哒声；急促地传送) out news of bridges destroyed, boats smashed, lighthouses “disappeared.” By noon on Tuesday, the scope (范围；规模) of the natural disaster was clear: “Where once Mount Krakatau stood the sea now plays (海水在此嬉戏/来回拍打——指岛屿消失，只剩海洋).” Within days, the source of the destruction was known worldwide. On the morning of August 27, 1883, a volcanic eruption had obliterated (彻底毁灭；抹去) two islands in the strait (海峡) between Java and Sumatra, and most of a third. More than 36,000 people perished (遇难；丧生), the majority in devastating (毁灭性的；极严重的) tsunamis (海啸) that raced outward from the colossal (巨大的；庞大的) explosion. Thanks to Victorian-era (维多利亚时代的；19世纪中后期的) telecommunications (电信), it was the first time in history that people around the globe could begin to document, in near real time (近乎实时地), the immediate and long-term effects of a catastrophic (灾难性的；毁灭性的) volcanic eruption. What they learned over the next few years laid the foundations for the modern science of volcanology (火山学). And it was an especially eye-opening (令人大开眼界的；震撼人心的) lesson in how the biggest eruptions can influence climate, agriculture, and even the course of human history. Read full article Comments