An Encyclopedia on a Tiny (миниатюрный) Crystal

Scientists have discovered (обнаруживать; открывать) that a laser beam can be effectively used to record alphanumeric (буквенно-цифровой) data and sound on crystals. According to Russian researchers a method for recording information on crystals by means of (с помощью, посредством) a laser has already been developed, but advanced (перспективный; передовой) technologies are needed to make it commercially applicable.

At present researchers are looking for (to look for – искать) the most suitable (пригодный, подходящий) chemical compounds (соединения) to be used as data storages (ЗУ для данных) and trying to determine optimum recording conditions. Theoretically, the entire «Great Soviet Encyclopedia» can be recorded on a single tiny crystal.

As far back as (еще в …) 1845, Michael Faradey discovered that a light beam reverses (to reverse – менять(ся) на обратное) its polarization as (когда) it passes through (to pass through – проходить через) a magnetized crystal. Scientists of our day have used this phenomenon (явление) to identify crystalline materials capable of storing information. Lasers have been successfully (успешно) employed to record information on and read it off.

No ideal data storage crystal has yet (пока еще не …) been found, but it is obvious (очевидно, ясно) now that the future of computer engineering (вычислительная техника) lies in (заключается в) lasers and optoelectronics.

A Story Too Terrible To Tell

Three men came to New York for the first time. They took a room in a hotel. In the evening they went sight-seeing and did not come back till nearly three in the morning. The room they had taken was on the 43rd floor. «I am sorry, gentlemen», said the porter, «but the elevator does not work, there is something wrong with it. You will have to walk up to your room». This was too bad, but the men agreed to tell stories on the way up in order to kill the time.

By the time the first one had told his story, they had climbed up (to climb (up) – подниматься (вверх)) to the 11th floor. The next story kept them amused (to amuse – забавлять, развлекать, смешить) till they had reached (to reach – достигать; добиваться) the 31st floor. At last (наконец) it was time for the third man to tell his story, but he refused (to refuse – отказывать(ся)). He said the story he had in mind was too (слишком, чересчур, очень) terrible (ужасный), he simply couldn't tell it. They continued climbing and all the time the two asked him to begin. At last they stopped and refused to go on unless (пока he told … он не расскажет …) he told them his terrible story. «The story I have to tell you is a short one», he said at last, «we have left the key to our room downstairs (внизу) with the porter (у портье)».

Science and International Cooperation

One of the most striking (поразительный) features (feature – характерная особенность, отличительная черта) of modern science is the increasing (все (постоянно) возрастающий) tendency towards closer cooperation between scientists and scientific organizations (institutions) all over the world. In fact, it is becoming more and more evident that many of the problems that affect (оказывать воздействие на …) the world today cannot be solved without joining (to join – научный потенциал) scientific efforts and material resources on a world-wide scale (в общемировом (всемирном) масштабе). The exploration (исследование; в этом значении exploration используется чаще всего, если речь идет об исследовании «глубин» космоса и морских глубин) of space, world finance, global environment protection problems and the development of new sources of power are the examples of areas of scientific research which are so costly (дорогостоящий) and complicated (сложный) that it is difficult for a single country to solve them efficiently and in a short period of time. The renewal (обновление) of international scientific cooperation was demonstrated in the sharing (разделение; совместное (ис)пользование) of data which were obtained (to obtain – получать (информацию, результаты)) by Russian, Japanese and European space probes (космические зонды) in 1986 on Halley's comet.

Many countries were successfully cooperating on a programme called lntercosmos in launching a large number of vertical geophysical rockets and satellites. Space exploration programmes were being conducted between Russia and Austria, India, France, Sweden and other countries. Joint manned flights by Russian and foreign cosmonauts included citizens from numerous countries. Many international crews have worked on orbit and carried out a lot of scientific experiments.

Everyone is interested in the possibility of Russia-USA cooperation in space exploration. Joint scientific ventures (программы, проекты) for the benefit of (во благо, на пользу) all mankind are a sign (символ) of mutual (взаимный; обоюдный) trust (доверие к, вера в) in human cooperation that can only strengthen (укреплять) peace. Space is our last frontier (буквально: "последний рубеж", но правильнее: "передний край") and we have the opportunity now to prevent it from (помешать, предотвратить) becoming (Gerund) another source of conflict. If we began to establish a cooperative relationship (взаимоотношения, отношения) in space today, this dream could (сослагательноe наклнение) become a reality. Russia and the United States can and must overcome their differences (различия; зд.: разногласия). It is necessary to understand that a state of permanent animosity (вражда) is not constructive for either side (для обеих сторон). There is no doubt (нет сомнения) that improved relations (улучшение отношений*) between these countries and cooperation, especially in the latest (зд: современный) technology, will continue to develop for the benefit of all mankind. Having obtained the enormous (огромный; чудовищный) power (мощь) of nuclear weapons (ядерное оружие) to destroy (разрушать) the world, we have no longer (уже не ..., больше не...) an alternative.

* improved relations - левое определение в форме Participle II нередко переводится существительным (не «улучшенные отношения», а «улучшение отношений»)

Например, at increased pressure - при увеличении давления; with reduced temperature - с уменьшением температуры и т.д.

СЛОВА И СЛОВОСОЧЕТАНИЯ ДЛЯ ЗАПОМИНАНИЯ

achievement п — достижение below adv — ниже, внизу benefit п ~ выгода, польза boil V — кипеть continue V — продолжать cool V — охлаждать current п — электрический ток discover v — открывать, обнаруживать finally adv — наконец introduce v — вводить lack V — нуждаться likely adv — вероятно lose V — терять master v — овладевать

moreover adv — более того pass V — пропускать present V — представлять previously adv — ранее, предварительно prominent a — выдающийся, известный random a — беспорядочный, случайный resistivity n — удельное сопротивление return V — возвращаться satisfactory a — приемлемый, удовлетворительный suddenly adv — вдруг, внезапно sufficiently adv — достаточно tend V — стремиться, иметь тенденцию wire n — провод

eith…or – или …, или…; либо…, либо at once — сразу, немедленно that is (i.e.) — то есть