《中英對照讀新聞》Living in space appears to reverse key ageing processes, study finds－研究發現，住在太空看來像是逆轉老化過程的關鍵

◎陳正健

An astronaut who spent nearly a year in the International Space Station experienced changes to his body which appeared to reverse one of the key ageing processes, according to new research.

最新研究顯示，一名太空人在國際太空站待了將近1年時間，經歷身體的變化，看來像是逆轉一個人老化過程的關鍵。

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Scott Kelly, who has an identical twin who is a retired astronaut, spent 340 days on the space station in 2015 and 2016. Scientists used the opportunity to monitor changes in Kelly’s body compared to those experienced by his brother Mark.

史考特．凱利於2015至2016年花了340天待在太空站，他有一名同卵雙胞胎兄弟是退休太空人。科學家利用這個機會，監控凱利的身體變化，並與他的兄弟馬克的經歷作比較。

A key indicator for ageing is how the ends of the chromosomes behave. These tips are called telomeres. As one ages, the telomeres shrink, but Kelly’s telomeres became longer. However, after his return to Earth they began to shrink again like his twin.

老化關鍵指標之一，就是染色體的末端如何運作。這些尖端被稱為端粒。當一個人老化時，其端粒會縮短，但凱利的端粒變長。然而，在他重返地球後，這些端粒又再次開始縮短，像他的雙胞胎兄弟一樣。

Scientists are quick to point out that the effect might have been less about being in space and more about a reduced caloric load and increase in physical activity, but for now they still can’t be sure.

科學家隨即指出，這種變化可能與待在太空較無關係，而是與降低卡路里負擔與增加體能活動的關係較大，但他們現在仍無法確定。

新聞辭典

reverse：動詞，顛倒，逆轉。例句：The decision can not be reversed.（這項決定無法逆轉。）

indicator：名詞，指標，指示器。例句：Breast density may be an indicator of cancer risk.（乳房密度可能是癌症風險的指標之一。）

chromosome：名詞，染色體。例句：The X and Y chromosomes determine a person’s sex.（X和Y染色體決定一個人的性別。）