每日新闻播报（March 9）

>Plastic plant cared for 2 yrs
女子精心养护'塑料多肉'?

Two years is a pretty long lifespan for a house plant, particularly if you're not exactly green-fingered.
两年对室内盆栽植物来说时间算是挺长了，尤其是在主人不太擅长养花的情况下。

That's why Caelie Wilkes felt particularly proud of having kept her "perfect" succulent alive for so long – that is until she realized it was made of plastic.
这就是凯莉·威尔克斯感到特别自豪的原因，因为她的一盆"完美的"多肉植物已经养了两年，直到她发现这盆多肉植物竟然是塑料做的。

The California stay-at-home mum had been diligently watering the plant, which she kept on her kitchen windowsill. However, after going to repot the plant, she realized that the plant was actually a fake one.
这位来自加州的全职妈妈把这盆多肉植物放在厨房窗台上，一直辛勤地浇水，直到移盆时才意识到这株植物其实是假的。

In a hilarious Facebook post about the incident, Caelie said: "I've had this beautiful succulent for about 2 years now. Tried my hardest to keep it looking it's best, and it's completely plastic! How did I not know this? I feel like these last two years have been a lie."
凯莉在脸书上发布了一则令人啼笑皆非的帖子，写道: "这株漂亮的多肉植物，我养了大概两年。我尽最大的努力使它保持最佳状态，但它根本就是塑料的！我怎么就没发现这一点？觉得过去两年都生活在谎言里。"

>Face masks may curb virus
新型口罩检测新冠病毒

Researchers hope to trial low-cost face masks that can detect whether someone has infectious coronavirus before they display any symptoms.
英国研究人员希望测试一种低成本的口罩，这种口罩可以在出现症状前检测出受测者是否感染了冠状病毒。

Experts at the University of Leicester said if successful, the method could simplify large-scale screening for the virus and curb the spread of COVID-19.
莱斯特大学的专家表示，如果测试成功，这种方法可以简化对病毒的大规模检测，并抑制新冠病毒的传播。

The sampling masks will be adapted using 3D printed strips and can trap exhaled microbes in a 30-minute period. “
这种采样口罩上配有3D打印的条状物，可以在30分钟内捕获呼出的微生物。

If that trial validates the new approach, researchers will then move on to using the masks in trials with the new coronavirus.
如果该试验证实了新方法的有效性，研究人员将继续针对新冠病毒患者测试这种口罩。

It is expected to take between two to three months to reach this stage.
预计需要两到三个月的时间才能达到这个阶段。

The university said if the sampling masks were manufactured on an "industrial scale" they could potentially cost "pennies".
该大学表示，如果这种口罩能进行工业规模生产，成本可能只有"几便士"。

>Luxembourg makes transport free
卢森堡公共交通全免费

With a population of 602,000, Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest countries - yet it suffers from major traffic jams.
卢森堡有60.2万人口，是欧洲最小的国家之一，但也面临严重的交通堵塞。

But that could be about to change.
但这种情况可能即将改变。

As of March 1, 2020 all public transport - trains, trams and buses - in the country is now free.
从2020年3月1日起，卢森堡所有公共交通——火车、电车和公共汽车——会免费运营。

The government hopes the move will alleviate heavy congestion and bring environmental benefits, according to Dany Frank, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works.
交通与公共工程部发言人丹尼弗兰克表示，政府希望此举能缓解严重的交通拥堵，并有益于环保。

The government is putting up the cost of making it free, Frank says.
弗兰克说，政府会承担公共交通免费的成本。

"The country at this very moment is in really good shape. We, the government, want the people to benefit from the good economy."
卢森堡目前经济运行良好。政府希望人民从中受益。

Luxembourg's public transport system covers the whole country and costs $562 million per year to run.
卢森堡的公共交通系统覆盖全国，每年的运营费用为5.62亿美元(约合人民币39.2亿美元)。

Each year, it generates around $46 million in ticket sales, according to the ministry.
据交通与公共工程部统计，每年的公共交通售票收入约为4600万美元。

>Airline unveils sleeping pods
新西兰航空研发'卧铺'舱

Air New Zealand filed patent and trademark applications for the "Economy Skynest" - the result of three years of research, development and testing based on input from more than 200 customers at a hanger in Auckland.
根据奥克兰一家航空公司200多名客户的意见，经过三年的研发和测试，新西兰航空公司于近日为"经济型空中之屋"申请了专利和商标。

According to the airline announcement, the Skynest will consist of six full-length lie-flat sleep pods in the economy cabin. The exact location within the aircraft is yet to be confirmed.
新西兰航空公司的公告称，"经济舱空中之屋"将由6张可完全平躺的单人床舱位组成，其位于飞机内的确切位置还有待确定。

Each pod will be about 200 centimeters long and 58 centimeters wide, and come with a pillow, sheets, blanket, ear plugs and privacy curtains.
每张单人床长约2米，宽约0.58米，配有枕头、床单、毯子、耳塞和隐私拉帘。

The airline is reportedly also exploring additional features such as reading lights and USB outlets.
据报道，该航空公司还将增加其他配置，如阅读灯和USB接口。

The airline will reportedly make a final decision on the Economy Skynest in 2021, once it has assessed the performance of its inaugural year of Auckland-New York operations, due to take flight in October this year.
"空中之屋"预计将在今年10月奥克兰飞往纽约的航线率先使用。据报道，新西兰航空公司将评估该航线的首年运营业绩，并在2021年对是否推广做出最后决定。

That flight will take an estimated 17 hours and 40 minutes one way, making it one of the longest in the world.
该航线预计单程飞行时间约为17小时40分钟，是世界上最长的航线之一。

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