Interactive transcript · 235 lines
Good morning, global minds.
早上好，各位全球听众。
Take a deep breath of this fresh, crisp morning air.
深深地吸一口这新鲜、清爽的晨间空气。
Grab your favorite warm beverage and welcome to TalkCast.
端起你最喜欢的暖心饮料，欢迎收听 TalkCast。
This is your daily space to sharpen your English skills while staying informed about the fascinating
这是你每天提升英语技能的专属空间，同时还能了解迷人的
world around us.
我们身边的世界。
Today is September 17th, 2026.
今天是 2026 年 9月 17日。
I am Zoe.
我是佐伊。
And a very cheerful and sunny morning to you all.
祝大家度过一个非常愉快且阳光明媚的早晨。
I am Liam.
我是利亚姆。
I have my warm English breakfast tea right here and I am absolutely thrilled to be here with you today.
我手边放着热腾腾的英式早餐茶，今天能在这里陪着大家，我感到非常兴奋。
Zoe, we have got an incredibly rich lineup of stories this morning.
佐伊，今天早上我们的新闻阵容可谓相当丰富。
We are talking about giant canals, green aviation debates, history meet computer science, and the
我们将讨论巨型运河、绿色航空争议、历史与计算机科学的碰撞，以及
secrets to living to 100.
活到100岁的秘诀。
We certainly do, Liam.
我们当然有，利亚姆。
But before we jump into our headlines, we have an important notice for our lovely listeners.
但在进入头条新闻之前，我们有一个重要通知要告诉各位可爱的听众。
The TalkCast website has recently updated its audio and text collection downloads.
TalkCast 网站最近更新了音频和文本合集的下载。
If you want to download our study packages to practice your English on the go, please visit our
如果你想下载我们的学习资料包在随时随地练习英语，请访问我们的
website at www .talkcast .top.
网站 www.talkcast.top。
That is wonderful.
那太棒了。
It's a super convenient way to study our scripts and listen back whenever you want.
这是研究我们的逐字稿并随时回听的一种超级方便的方式。
So do not forget to check it out.
所以千万不要忘记去看看哦。
Now, Zoe, give us a quick taste of today's headlines.
现在，佐伊，带我们快速了解一下今天的头条吧。
What is our big lead story?
我们最主要的主打故事是什么？
We are kicking off in southern China, where the newly constructed Pinglu Canal has officially opened
我们从中国南部开始，新建成的平陆运河已正式开通
to navigation, creating a direct and massive gateway connecting inland rivers to the sea and
进行航行，开辟了一条连接内河与大海的直接而巨大的通道，并且
slashing travel times to Southeast Asia.
大幅缩短了前往东南亚的航行时间。
Slashing transit times?
大幅缩短运输时间？
That sounds like a major boost for trade.
这听起来对贸易是一个巨大的推动。
I can't wait to learn more about how they built a river -to -sea canal.
我迫不及待想了解更多关于他们如何修建一条通江达海的运河了。
It is an engineering masterpiece.
这是一项工程杰作。
After that, we'll fly over to the United Kingdom, where climate advisors are telling London's
在那之后，我们将飞往英国，那里的气候顾问正在告诉伦敦的
Heathrow Airport that its controversial third runway should only be built if airlines pay a heavy
希思罗机场，其备受争议的第三条跑道只有在航空公司支付巨额
price for carbon dioxide removal and cleaner flying.
二氧化碳清除费用和采用更清洁的飞行方式时才应该修建。
A clean flying fee?
清洁飞行费用？
That sounds like a heavy ticket to pay, literally.
从字面意义上讲，这听起来确实是一笔昂贵的开销。
I'm very curious to see how that might affect ticket prices for regular travelers.
我非常好奇这会如何影响普通旅客的机票价格。
It definitely could make family vacations more expensive.
这绝对会让家庭度假变得更加昂贵。
We'll discuss that shortly.
我们很快就会讨论这个问题。
Next, we'll look at an incredible demographic milestone in Japan.
接下来，我们将关注日本一个不可思议的人口里程碑。
For the first time in history, the country has recorded over 100 ,000 centenarians, people who are
历史上首次，该国记录的百岁老人超过了10万人，即那些
100 years old or older.
年龄在100岁或更老的人。
100 ,000 people celebrating their 100th birthday?
有10万人在庆祝他们的100岁生日？
That's a mind -blowing milestone.
这真是个令人震惊的里程碑。
I wonder what their secret is.
我想知道他们的秘诀是什么。
Is it the green tea, the diet, or just good genes?
是因为绿茶、饮食，还是仅仅因为良好的基因？
We'll explore the secrets and the economic challenges of this super -aging society.
我们将探讨这个超高龄化社会的秘诀与经济挑战。
Then, we'll travel back in time using modern network science.
然后，我们将利用现代网络科学穿越回过去。
A new study shows that ancient Roman roads were so well -designed that their structure still
一项新研究表明，古罗马道路的设计非常精妙，以至于它们的结构至今仍然
determines which areas are wealthy today, thousands of years later.
几千年后依然决定着今天哪些地区富有。
Using data science to study ancient Roman concrete?
用数据科学研究古罗马的混凝土？
That's like using a supercomputer to read a stone tablet.
这就像用一台超级计算机去读取一块石板。
I love how history and technology come together in that story.
我喜欢那个故事里历史与技术融合的方式。
It is fascinating, Liam.
这太令人着迷了，利亚姆。
And finally, we'll share a heartwarming story from Vatican City, where Pope Leo celebrated his 71st
最后，我们将分享一个来自梵蒂冈的暖心故事，教皇利奥在那里庆祝了他的71岁
birthday by giving his employees a very unexpected and generous financial gift.
生日，他给员工发放了一份非常意想不到且慷慨的资助礼金。
Wait, usually you receive gifts on your birthday, but the Pope is giving them out?
等等，通常生日时你会收到礼物，但教皇却在分发礼物？
That sounds like the kind of boss we all want.
那听起来像我们都想要的那种老板。
It's a lovely gesture.
这表达了一份美好的心意。
Let's start with our first headline, the opening of China's Pinglu Canal.
让我们从第一条头条新闻开始，即中国平陆运河通航。
Zoe, I've been reading about this project.
佐伊，我一直在关注这个项目。
They're calling it a game -changer for Southeast Asian trade.
他们称其将彻底改变东南亚贸易格局。
But let's explain what a canal actually is for our English learners.
不过，让我们为英语学习者解释一下什么是运河。
Good idea.
好主意。
A canal is an artificial waterway built to allow boats or ships into inland areas or to connect two
运河是一种人造水道，建造目的是允许船只进入内陆地区或连接两条
larger bodies of water.
更大的水域。
Think of it like a massive man -made highway.
把它想象成一条巨大的人造公路。
But instead of asphalt for cars, it's filled with water for giant cargo ships.
但它不是供汽车行驶的沥青路，而是装满了水供巨型货轮通行。
That is a perfect metaphor.
这是一个完美的比喻。
A water highway.
水上公路。
So what makes the Pinglu Canal so special compared to other canals?
那么与其他运河相比，平陆运河有什么特别之处呢？
Well, it's China's first major river -to -sea canal project in modern history.
嗯，这是中国现代历史上第一个重大的江海连通运河工程。
It stretches about 135 kilometers through the Guangxi -Zhuang Autonomous Region.
它贯穿广西壮族自治区，延伸约135公里。
Before this canal was built, cargo ships from inland cities like Nanning had to travel east all the
在这条运河建成之前，来自南宁等内陆城市的货船不得不一路向东
way through Guangdong Province to reach the sea.
穿过广东省才能到达大海。
It was a very long detour.
那是一段非常漫长的绕道。
Ah, so it's like having to drive all the way around a mountain just to get to the grocery store on
啊，所以这就好比为了去另一侧的杂货店
the other side.
不得不一路绕过整座山开到对面。
And this canal is like digging a tunnel straight through the mountain. Exactly.
而这条运河就像直接开凿了一条穿山隧道。一点也没错。
The Pinglu Canal cuts the shipping distance from inland China to the sea by more than 560 kilometers.
平陆运河将中国内陆至大海的海运距离缩短了560多公里。
That saves a tremendous amount of time, fuel, and reduces carbon emissions.
这节省了巨大的时间和燃料，并减少了碳排放。
They excavated 315 million cubic meters of earth and rock to build it.
为了修建它，他们挖掘了3.15亿立方米的土石方。
315 million cubic meters?
3.15亿立方米？
Wow, my brain can't even process that number.
哇，我的大脑甚至无法消化这个数字。
What did they do with all that dirt?
他们用所有那些泥土做了什么？
They actually used it to create fertile farmland along the canal.
他们实际上用它在运河沿线创造了肥沃的农田。
So instead of wasting the soil, they turned it into a productive resource for local farmers.
因此，他们没有浪费土壤，而是将其转化成了对当地农民非常有生产力的资源。
It is a wonderful example of circular economy.
这是循环经济的一个绝佳范例。
That is incredibly smart.
那真是极其聪明。
It is like taking the leftover ingredients from dinner and making a delicious breakfast the next morning.
这就像把晚餐剩余的食材拿来，第二天早上做一顿美味的早餐。
No waste, just smart design. Indeed.
没有浪费，只有明智的设计。确实如此。
Now from green design in China, let us move to a heated green debate in the United Kingdom regarding
现在，从中国的绿色设计，让我们转向英国关于
Heathrow Airport.
希思罗机场的一场激烈的绿色辩论。
Yes, Heathrow.
是的，希思罗机场。
It is one of the busiest airports in the world.
它是世界上最繁忙的机场之一。
They've wanted to build a third runway for years, but environmental groups have been blocking it
多年来他们一直想修建第三条跑道，但环保组织一直在阻挠
because of climate change concerns.
因为对气候变化的担忧。
What is the latest update?
有何最新进展？
The UK government's climate advisors have issued a new recommendation.
英国政府的气候顾问提出了一项新建议。
They say the third runway should only go ahead if airlines are forced to pay for cleaner flying.
他们表示，只有在航空公司被迫为更清洁的飞行付费的情况下，第三条跑道才能推行。
Specifically, they want airlines to pay for carbon dioxide removal technology.
具体而言，他们希望航空公司为二氧化碳清除技术买单。
Wait, carbon dioxide removal technology?
等等，二氧化碳去除技术？
How do you remove carbon from the air?
你如何从空气中去除碳呢？
Is it like a giant vacuum cleaner for the atmosphere?
它就像是一个用于大气层的巨型吸尘器吗？
Actually, yes.
实际上，是的。
That's a great way to picture it.
这是构想它的一个绝佳方式。
There are giant machines that literally suck carbon dioxide directly out of the air and bury it deep
确实有巨型机器能真正地直接从空气中抽取二氧化碳并将其深埋
underground where it cannot warm the planet.
埋在地下，使其无法变暖地球。
This is called direct air capture.
这被称为直接空气捕集。
But as you can imagine, this technology is incredibly expensive.
但正如你能想象的那样，这项技术极其昂贵。
I bet it is.
我敢打赌确实如此。
So the climate advisors want the airlines to pay for these giant air vacuums to clean up the
所以气候顾问希望航空公司为这些巨型空气吸尘器买单，以清理
pollution caused by their planes? Precisely.
由他们的飞机造成的污染？正是如此。
It's based on the principle of the polluter pays.
它是基于“污染者付费”的原则。
If airlines want to expand and fly more planes, they must pay to clean up their own mess.
如果航空公司想要扩张并执飞更多航班，他们必须付钱清理自己的烂摊子。
That sounds fair in theory.
这在理论上听起来很公平。
But we all know how businesses work.
但我们都知道企业是如何运作的。
If the airlines have to pay millions of pounds for carbon removal, who is actually going to pay for
如果航空公司不得不为碳去除支付数百万英镑，谁实际上会为
it in the end?
它最终买单呢？
The passengers, right?
是乘客，对吧？
You hit the nail on the head, Liam.
你一针见血，击中了要害，利亚姆。
Analysts estimate that airfares would have to rise significantly.
分析师估计机票价格将不得不大幅上涨。
In fact, some suggest a climate charge of up to 600 pounds more per family trip to discourage
事实上，有人建议每个家庭出游多收高达600英镑的气候费，以遏制
excessive flying and cover the cleanup costs.
过度的飞行并弥补清理成本。
600 pounds more? Ouch!
再加600英镑？哎哟！
That would definitely make people think twice before booking a weekend getaway.
这绝对会让人们在预订周末短途度假前三思。
It is a tough balance between economic growth and protecting our planet.
在经济增长与保护我们的地球之间取得平衡是一件难事。
It really is a global challenge.
这确实是一个全球性的挑战。
Speaking of long -term global challenges, let us look at our next story about Japan's population.
谈到长期的全球挑战，让我们看看关于日本人口的下一个故事。
Ah, yes.
啊，是的。
The centenarians.
百岁老人。
I love this word.
我喜欢这个单词。
Let us spell it for our listeners.
让我们为听众拼写一下它。
C -E -N -T -E -N -A -R -I -A -N.
C-E-N-T-E-N-A-R-I-A-N（百岁老人）。
A centenarian is simply a person who has reached the ripe old age of 100 years.
百岁老人简单来说就是达到了100岁高龄的人。
Yes, and Japan now has more than 100 ,000 of them.
是的，日本现在有超过10万这样的老人。
To put this in perspective, when Japan first started tracking this data in 1963, there were only 153
为了客观地看待这一背景，当日本在1963年首次开始追踪这项数据时，只有153
centenarians in the entire country.
整个国家的百岁老人。
From 153 to over 100 ,000 in just over 60 years?
在短短60多年的时间里，从153人增加到10万多人？
That is an astronomical increase.
这真是天文数字般的增长。
What is driving this incredible longevity?
是什么促成了这种令人难以置信的长寿？
Experts point to several factors.
专家指出了几个因素。
Japan has an excellent healthcare system, a traditional diet that is low in fat and high in fish and
日本拥有完善的医疗保健系统，低脂高鱼类和
vegetables, and a strong cultural emphasis on staying active and socially connected as you age.
蔬菜的传统饮食，以及在文化上强烈强调在年老时保持活跃和社交联系。
That makes sense.
那很有道理。
It is like keeping a classic car in a warm garage, changing the oil regularly, and taking it for
这就好比把一辆老爷车停在温暖的车库里，定期更换机油，然后带着它去
gentle drives instead of letting it rust in the rain.
平缓地开一开，而不是让它在雨中生锈。
That is a beautiful analogy, Liam.
真是个绝妙的类比，利亚姆。
However, while living longer is a wonderful personal achievement, it does create some systemic
然而，虽然长寿是极好的个人成就，但它确实带来了一些系统性的
challenges for the country.
给国家带来的挑战。
As the number of elderly people rises, welfare and healthcare costs skyrocket, and there are fewer
随着老年人口数量增加，福利和医疗成本飞涨，而且
young workers to support them. Right.
年轻的工人来支持他们。没错。
The financial scale is tipping.
财务的天平正在倾斜。
It means society has to adapt, perhaps by redefining retirement and finding new ways to integrate
这意味着社会必须适应，也许可以通过重新定义退休并寻找新方法来融入
older generations into the economy. Absolutely.
把年长的一代人纳入经济体系中。确实如此。
Now, let us turn from the future of aging to the distant past.
现在，让我们从老龄化的未来转向遥远的过去。
Our next story shows how ancient infrastructure still shapes our modern world. Infrastructure.
我们的下一个故事展示了古代的基础设施如何依然塑造着我们当今的世界。基础设施。
That's a big, important word for English learners.
对于英语学习者来说，这是一个宏大且重要的词汇。
Zoe, how would you define infrastructure?
Zoe，你会如何定义基础设施？
Think of infrastructure as the basic physical systems of a country.
可以将基础设施视为一个国家最基本的实体系统。
It's like the skeleton of a body.
它就像是人体的骨架。
It includes roads, bridges, power grids, water pipes, and public transport.
它包括道路、桥梁、输电网、自来水管和公共交通。
Without a strong skeleton, a body cannot stand.
没有强壮的骨架，身体就无法站立。
Similarly, without strong infrastructure, a country's economy cannot run.
同样地，如果没有强大的基础设施，一个国家的经济就无法运转。
What a clear explanation.
真是个清晰明了的解释。
The skeleton of a country.
一个国家的骨架。
And the Romans were famous for building a fantastic road skeleton, right?
而罗马人以修建了奇妙的道路骨架而闻名，对吧？
They certainly were.
他们确实如此。
They built over 80 ,000 kilometers of paved roads across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East to
他们在欧洲、北非和中东修建了超过 80,000 公里的铺砌道路，用来
move their armies and goods.
调动他们的军队和运送货物。
Now modern scientists have used network science to analyze this massive road network.
现在，现代科学家运用网络科学来分析这个庞大的道路网络。
Network science.
网络科学。
Isn't that what we use to study how information spreads on the internet or how people connect on
那不就是我们用来研究信息如何在互联网上传播，或者人们如何在
social media? Yes.
社交媒体上建立联系的学科吗？是的。
Network science is the study of complex connections.
网络科学是对复杂连接的研究。
Think of a giant spider web.
想象一张巨大的蜘蛛网。
If you pull one thread, how does it affect the rest of the web?
如果你拉动一根线，它会如何影响网的其余部分？
By applying this computer science tool to ancient Roman maps, researchers found that these roads
通过将这种计算机科学工具应用于古罗马地图，研究人员发现这些道路
were not just built randomly.
并非只是随机修建的。
They were carefully designed to maximize economic trade and connectivity. Wow.
它们经过精心设计，以最大程度地扩大经济贸易和连通性。哇。
So the Romans built the ancient version of the high -speed fiber -optic internet, but with stone and gravel?
所以罗马人建造了古代的高速光纤互联网，只不过用的是石头和碎石？
They really did.
他们确实这么做了。
And here's the most astonishing part of the study.
这是这项研究中最令人惊叹的部分。
Areas that were closer to major Roman roads 2 ,000 years ago are still significantly wealthier and
2000年前距离罗马主要道路较近的地区，如今依然显著更加富有、
more developed today than areas that were far from the roads?
比那些远离道路的地区更发达？
No way.
绝不可能。
2 ,000 years later, a stone road built by soldiers and sandals is still deciding who was rich and who
2000年后，一条由士兵和凉鞋踩出来的石路，依然在决定着谁富裕、谁
was poor?
贫穷？
That is mind -boggling persistence.
这真是令人难以置信的延续性。
It is called economic persistence.
这被称为经济持续性。
It shows that once you build great infrastructure, it attracts businesses, cities grow around it,
这表明，一旦修建了伟大的基础设施，它就会吸引企业，城市围绕它发展，
and that prosperity lasts for centuries.
这种繁荣会持续几个世纪。
It just shows that doing a job right the first time really pays off.
这正好说明第一次就把工作做好确实会带来回报。
Talk about a long -term investment.
这才是真正的长期投资。
It certainly does.
确实如此。
And finally, let us end on a heartwarming and generous note from Vatican City. Yes!
最后，让我们以来自梵蒂冈城的温暖而慷慨的消息作为结尾。太棒了！
Pope Leo's 71st birthday.
教皇利奥的71岁生日。
Tell us about this surprise gift.
快跟我们讲讲这份惊喜礼物吧。
Well, usually when a leader celebrates a birthday, they receive gifts.
通常情况下，当一位领导人庆祝生日时，他们会收到礼物。
But Pope Leo decided to do the opposite.
但教皇利奥决定做相反的事。
To celebrate his 71st birthday, he announced that he is officially ending the COVID -era salary cuts
为了庆祝他的71岁生日，他宣布将正式结束疫情时期的降薪措施
for Vatican employees, including senior officials and cardinals.
面向梵蒂冈的员工，包括高级官员和枢机主教。
Oh, salary cuts from the pandemic.
哦，这是疫情大流行期间的降薪。
A lot of organizations had to cut pay during COVID to save money.
许多机构在新冠疫情期间不得不降薪以节省资金。
So the Pope is finally restoring their full pay?
所以教皇终于要恢复他们的全额薪水了？
Yes, he is reversing those financial policies and giving them their full wages back plus some extra bonuses.
是的，他正在撤销那些财务政策，补发他们的全额工资并附带一些额外的奖金。
It is his way of thanking the dedicated staff who keep the Vatican running smoothly day in and day out.
这是他感谢那些日复一日保障梵蒂冈顺畅运转的尽职尽责员工的方式。
That is a beautiful gesture.
这是一个非常有心的善意举动。
It's like a boss saying, Thank you for sticking with me during the hard times.
这就像老板说：感谢大家在艰难时期能够不离不弃。
Now that things are better, let me share the rewards with you.
现在情况好转了，让我和大家一起分享回报吧。
That must have made his birthday very special for everyone there.
那一定让那里的每一个人都觉得他的生日非常特别。
It definitely brought a lot of smiles to Vatican City.
这无疑给梵蒂冈城带来了许许多多的笑容。
And on that sweet and happy note, we wrap up our main news stories for today, September 17, 2026.
在这样温馨快乐的氛围中，我们总结了今天（2026年9月17日）的主要新闻报道。
What a journey we have had today.
今天我们真是一起经历了一趟精彩的旅程。
We talked about China's new Pinglu Canal shortcut, the debate over green flying at Heathrow Airport,
我们讨论了中国平陆运河这一新捷径，希思罗机场关于绿色飞行的争论，
Japan's Centenarian milestone, the lasting power of Roman roads, and Pope Leo's birthday bonus.
日本百岁老人里程碑，古罗马道路持久的生命力，以及教皇利奥的生日奖金。
It was indeed an inspiring morning.
这确实是一个令人深受鼓舞的早晨。
And now, dear listeners, we have an interesting question for you to ponder today. Yes.
而现在，亲爱的听众们，我们今天有一个有趣的问题 供大家思考。是的。
Our question today is, if you had the opportunity to live to be over 100 years old, what is the one
我们今天的问题是，如果你有机会活到100岁以上，你会从今天开始
healthy habit you would start doing today to make sure you stay happy and fit?
养成哪一个健康习惯，以确保自己保持快乐和健康？
Please write your answers in the comments section below, or take a look at what other listeners are saying.
请在下面的评论区写下您的答案，或者看看其他听众都在说些什么。
We absolutely love reading your ideas.
我们非常喜欢阅读大家的想法。
We really do.
我们确实非常喜欢。
Your comments are the highlight of our day.
您的评论是我们一天中最闪亮的精彩时刻。
If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe to Talkcast, share it with your friends, and leave
如果您喜欢今天的节目，请订阅 Talkcast，与您的朋友分享，并留
us a warm review.
给我们写一份温暖的评价。
Your support helps other English learners find us.
您的支持将帮助其他英语学习者找到我们。
And don't forget, the full English transcript and audio of this show are regularly published on our
同时别忘了，本期节目的英文完整逐字稿和音频都会定期发布在我们的
website, www .talkcast .top, and on our official WeChat public account, Talkcast.
网站 www.talkcast.top 以及我们的微信官方公众号 Talkcast 上。
It is the perfect tool to help you practice reading and listening at your own pace.
这是帮助您按照自己的节奏练习阅读和听力的完美工具。
Thank you so much for spending your morning with us.
非常感谢您与我们一起度过早晨的时光。
Keep practicing your English, stay curious, and have a beautiful day ahead.
坚持练习英语，保持好奇，祝您度过美好的一天。
Have a wonderful day, everyone.
祝大家度过美好的一天。
See you next time. Goodbye.
下次见。再见。
Bye -bye.
拜拜。
Bye -bye.
拜拜。
