一探人类未来世界的10种食物(下)
ler Animals
5.更小的动物My wife, when I was describing the items that would populate this list, exclaimed when I got to this one, "what, like rats?" Rats are indeed small animals and there are a lot of them (and people have been known to eat them in desperate situations). But no, we are not talking about rats in this case. Whether we are talking about placing a larger emphasis on animals that are not as problematic as cattle to raise as a food source. With this, there are a whole host of animals that can provide a dietary substitute for beef. Rabbits, squirrels, coon, goats, and the like are on the list. In fact, in many parts of the world, these animals are consumed on a regular basis. The benefit of such animals is that you can raise more of them, relative to cattle, for consumption. Or so say the experts. I haven't done the math, but a typical steer provides about 400 pounds of meat. This works out to about 1,600 servings (at 4 ounces per serving). Meanwhile, an average rabbit is about 5 pounds, and provides about half its weight in edible meat – so you would need about 160 rabbits for a comparable amount of meat.
我正在写这一清单时，我的妻子大声叫喊:"什么？老鼠？"老鼠确实是小动物，并且其数量众多（当我们处于绝境之时还不得不吃它）。但是，我们不是要在这个实例上探讨老鼠。我们要讨论的动物养起来没有养牛那么麻烦。以此理念为基础，兔子、松鼠、浣熊、山羊，诸如此类的动物都可以替代牛肉。实际上，世界上许多地方平时都会吃这些动物。这些动物的优点是，相比养牛，我们可以养更多此类动物作为食物。有专家说，虽然没有做过确切的计算，但是一头牛大约可提供400磅肉，这些肉能做1600道菜（每道菜5盎司）。一只兔子约为5磅，它身上只有一半的肉可食用——因此，约160只兔子才能抵上一头牛所供的肉量。
Nevertheless, smaller critters – even in the necessary greater numbers – are comparatively inexpensive, and generate less greenhouse gas effects. In short, raising a gaggle of rabbits is a lot more economical, practical, and environmentally sound than a herd of cows. And honestly, grilled rabbit tastes pretty good!
虽然如此，较小的家禽——即使需求量大——但是相对便宜，排放的二氧化碳更少。总之，喂养兔子比喂养牛更经济、实际且环保。而且说实在的，烤兔肉真的是相当美味！
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4.草
Well, maybe not weeds in the traditional sense. But some experts suggest the dietary benefits of a weed-like vegetation called purslane. This particular strain of vegetation is a nutritionist's dream! It's loaded with stuff like vitamin A , omega-3 and beta carotene. According to one source, the chewy peddles of this weed (it really is a weed – it has the affectionate nickname of pigweed) is more nutritious than vegetables like carrots and spinach. That alone makes it worth its while. Reportedly, it also tastes good.
专家说马齿苋草类的植物（也许并不是传统意义上的草）对我们的饮食有好处。这种品系的植物对于营养学家们来说如美梦一样美好，因为其含维生素A，奥米茄-3和β—胡萝卜素。据说这种兜售杂草（这是真正的杂草——它有一个昵称叫藜）比胡萝卜和菠菜这些蔬菜更加有营养。据说，它还很美味。Unfortunately, at present, farmers hate Purslane because it chokes off other crops that are more profitable. But the great thing about weeds: the darn things tend to grow everywhere. Purslane has adapted itself to grow in dry environments, as well as areas with plentiful water, making in a prime choice for a crop in arid climates. As the world moves to more hardy food substances (especially those that are hardy and nutritious), we can expect to see vegetation, such as purslane, on our dinner plates in greater quantities. Yum.
不幸的是，现在农民们很讨厌马齿苋，因为它会扼杀其他利润较高的农作物。但是杂草最厉害的就是可以随处生长。干燥缺水的环境，水源充沛的环境它们都能茁壮成长，干旱的气候是这种作物生长的第一选择。世界慢慢的趋向于那些适应力强的植物。tically Modified Food
3.转基因食品
Genetic manipulation is seen as the way of the future. The technology in this regards in still in the infancy stage, but the promise of being able to manipulate current foods into hardier, tastier and more nutritious stock is a prime motivator in this area. Essentially, we are talking about making existing food better. This includes shortening the growing times of crops, making them more resistant to insects and other issues that plague crops, increasing yields, enabling crops to grow in areas not normally suitable to do so, and more.
转基因食品被视为未来的食物方向。转基因技术仍在起步阶段，但是这个领域的首要动力是通过操控现在的食物，使其更加的耐寒，美味和拥有更多的营养成分。本质上我们在探讨将现有的食物变得更好。包括缩短作物的生长时间，对害虫和其他祸害植物的生物有更强的抵抗力，增产和增加农作物的适应性。In fact, researchers are even speculating on engineering foods to fight certain diseases, like cancer. Imagine eating a piece of watermelon that has been genetically modified to provide a protein that allows someone with diabetes to forgo taking insulin. On a more immediate application, genetic manipulation will allow foods to taste even better, blend flavors, or even event totally new tastes to commonly known foods. We may be quite a ways from Star Trek-style food replicators, but the science of creating new food is right on our finger tips.
事实上，研究者甚至推测转基因食物可用于治疗某些疾病，如：癌症。想象一下吃一片转基因西瓜提供蛋白质，糖尿病患者不再需要服用胰岛素。还有一个更加有效的应用是，转基因操作可以使食物更加美味，混合口味，甚至是与原来食物不一样的新口味都将成为可能。我们可能离《星际迷航》中的食物复制还远一些，但是科学家创造新的食物确是唾手可得。foods
2.纳米食品
If you are smarter than me (and you probably are) then you more-than likely-understand the difference between nanofoods and the above-mentioned genetically modified food. Scientists swear that there is a distinct difference between the two. From what I can gather, nanofood is a somewhat less-ambitious scientific process. While genetically modified food involves altering the very genes of a food (changing the essence of item in question), nanofood technology restructures the molecular/atomic structure of foods using nanotechnology to produce nanoparticles.
如果你比我更聪明的话（你很可能是），那么你就更能理解纳米食品和上述转基因食品的区别。科学家断言两者之间具有明显区别。据我了解，纳米食品并没有转基因食品前景好。转基因食品涉及到改变食物的内在基因（改变了问题的本质），纳米技术则利用纳米技术生产出的纳米颗粒重组食物的分子（或原子）结构。A fine line for sure, but a difference nonetheless. These nanoparticles can alter a way that a food taste, what nutrients are produced, or extend the life of a particular food. Currently, this science is used in packaging, by extending shelf life (preservatives can be released into the food), improving product safety (by alerting consumers to spoiled food), and even repairing torn packaging through some sort of self-sealing process. One interesting development that is in the works by Kraft Foods is interactive products. Essentially, the company is attempting to use nanotechnology to cater a food's taste to individual consumers. Now that's getting food how you want it! Ultimately, what scientist hope to achieve is to be able to take this technology to the next level, and perform feats that are more in common with genetic modification – changing taste and providing increased nutritional benefits. Suffice to say, this stuff is definitely next-generation technology that approaches science fiction.
虽然有一定道理，但仍然存在分歧。这些纳米粒子可以改变品尝食物味道的方式，一些营养素生产的方式，或延长特定食品的保质期。目前，这门技术使用的包装，通过延长保质期（防腐剂可放到食品里），提高产品的安全性（提醒消费者变质的食品），甚至通过某些自动封口的方式修复撕裂的包装。卡夫卡食品公司生产出一种有趣的互动产品。实质上，该公司正在尝试用纳米技术，让食物的味道满足每个消费者。现在所得到的食物都是你想要的！最终，科学家希望此技术能达到一个新的水平，并在更广泛的基因改良、改变味道和增加营养价值的基础上使用这个技术。我只想说，这个技术绝对是科幻小说式的科学技术。thing We Haven't Thought Of Yet
1.一些我们还没想到的食物
If you would have told folks 100 years ago, that we would have genetically altered seeds that would double the yield of crops, they probably would have thought you were reading too many science fiction novels. Yet fiction, as crazy as it may sound, is the harbinger of things to come. We were dreaming of reaching the moon long before we actually did it. In this same fashion, the unimaginable in regards to food will probably be tomorrow's reality. I mentioned earlier the food replicators on Star Trek. Well, do you also remember those handheld flip communicators they used? Take a look at the cell phones (older models now) that performed the same function. As such, it's not hard to imagine a machine that could actually produce any kind of food you desire right out of the molecules that are floating around in the air. Or maybe the nutrient-enhanced slime that the folks ate in The Matrix?
如果你告诉100年前人们，我们改变种子的遗传基因会让作物增加一倍的产量，他们可能会觉得你读了太多的科幻小说。然而，尽管科幻小说听起来疯狂，成为现实也不是没有可能。在我们实现登月之前，登月是我们长期以来的梦想。依照这个方式，很难想象对食物的预言可能在明天变成现实。我之前提到在《星际迷航》里的食品复制，你还记得他们所用的手提式反翻转工具吗？看看我们的手机（现在都是老款了）已有了相同的功能。因此，不难想象，在未来，只要是你想吃的食物，加工机器都能从空气中获取必要的分子，从而加工出来。只要你想，《黑客帝国》中人们所吃的营养强化泥也并不遥远。Farfetched? Maybe, but our imaginations will be the breeding grounds for the next evolution in food. As our food supplies continue to shrink, we will be forced to find ever new ways to feed our growing population. Perhaps the answer lies in space – new foods that can only be grown in the vacuum or on a space station. Or maybe we can find a way to make dirt tasty and nutritious. For certain, I've seen people make a delicacy out of lawn grass! Whatever the case, you can bet that our great grandchildren will find it hard to believe that we were actually eating meat from animals and vegetables that were grown in real soil. Just wait and watch!
也许有点牵强，但我们的想象力将会是下一个食物发展的温床。由于我们的粮食供应在不断减少，我们不得不寻找新方法为我们不断增长的人口提供食物。也许答案就在太空中，新型食物只能在真空或空间站上生长。或许我们能找到一种方法，使灰尘变得可口美味并且营养丰富。我确信已经见到人们做出精致美味的草坪！无论是哪种情况，我敢打赌我们的孙辈会觉得很难相信我们竟然会吃动物肉，种蔬菜果腹。那么，让我们拭目以待吧！审校：由敬雯 来源：前十网
