減緩新陳代謝率
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan identified certain nerve cells in the mouse brain that can be artificially activated to send the animals into a hibernation-like state called torpor.
日本筑波大學研究學者在老鼠腦部發現某些神經細胞，經由人工刺激後，會讓老鼠進入一種類似冬眠的休眠狀態。
researcher(n.)研究者identify(v.)發現;辨別nerve cells神經細胞artificially(adv.)人工地artificial(adj.)人工的artificial intelligence人工智慧activate(v.)開啟;啟用-like(suff.)類似~childlike behaviorstate(n.)狀態the state of calmtorpor(n.)休眠
Most mammals hibernate as their body temperature lowers to slow metabolism and store up energy in winter months, but mice do not hibernate as other mammals do.
多數哺乳動物在冬天的時候，透過降低體溫減緩新陳代謝率及儲存能量，但老鼠不會像其它哺乳動物一樣冬眠。
mammal(n.)哺乳類動物lower(v.)降低low-lower-lowestmetabolism(n.)新陳代謝metabolic(adj.)新陳代謝相關的metabolic rate新陳代謝率metabolic disorder代謝障礙store up儲存;保存
However, scientists found that the mouse brain can be genetically modified to activate a set of neurons, named Q neurons, by using chemicals or light.
不過，科學家發現可以用化學物質或光線對老鼠腦內的Q神經元進行基因改造，
genetically(adv.)genetic(adj.)基因相關的modify(v.)改造;修飾genetically modified crops基因改造的作物
Then the mice will go into a short-term sleeping state, which is similar to hibernation.
接著老鼠就會進入類似冬眠的短期睡眠狀態，
go into進入(某狀態);從事(某工作或活動)go into marriagego into a trancego into teachingshort-term(adj.)短期的short-term planninglong-term(adj.)長期的long-term relationshipbe similar to相似於
They become less active as their body temperatures drop and metabolic rates slow down considerably.
牠們會因為體溫下降與代謝率大幅減慢而變得比較不活躍。
active(adj.)活躍的slow down慢下來considerably(adv.)顯著地;很大程度地
If similar groups of neurons are found in humans, this finding could open a door to limiting tissue damage after humans have a heart attack or stroke by slowing down metabolic processes.
如果人類腦部也有類似的Q神經元，那這個發現就有機會開啟新的可能，可望促成透過減緩代謝率，控制心臟病或中風帶來的組織受損。
open a(the) door to sth.開啟~的可能;使~成為可能limit(v.)(n.)限制tissue damage組織受損heart attack心臟病stroke中風
In addition, one NASA-funded research shows that astronauts could travel much farther if they were kept in torpor.
此外，由美國太空總署（NASA）資助的研究顯示，如果太空人能休眠的話，他們將能航行得更遠。
fund(v.)(n.)資助;資金travel(v.)旅遊;航行far-farther-farthest(物理距離上)遠keep-kept-kept
They will also need less food and oxygen for the entire journey when the metabolic processes are slowed to almost zero.
當新陳代謝幾乎降到零的時候，整趟旅程所需的食物與氧氣也就跟著減少了。
oxygen(n.)氧氣entire(adj.)=whole全部;整個journey(n.)旅程almost(adv.)=nearly幾乎;差不多