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Space-Age Shower Saves Water, Money

Showering typically sends water down the drain, but a new space-age shower could change that. The design, inspired by NASA, saves water and money.

Astronauts have no choice but to recycle the water they use in space. Now the OrbSys Shower of the Future brings that concept down to Earth. This futuristic shower comes from Orbital Systems, a Swedish advanced technology company. Its CEO, Mehrdad Mahdjoubi, invented the product.

"The shower of the future is a water-recycling shower, thus enabling water savings up to 90 percent, energy savings up to 80 percent, at the same time increasing comfort and hygiene. The water is being collected in the drain, it's being analyzed, purified and then pumped back up to the shower head. So what is so special about the purification technology? Well, it's based on a patented purification capsule system that makes sure that the water is always crystal clear," he explained.

Mahdjoubi was inspired by a project between NASA and Sweden's Lund University to come up with designs for a mission to Mars. He adapted the closed-loop system that allows astronauts to re-use shower water again and again.

The product already has been tested in Sweden, where it saved up to 100,000 liters of water over four months. Based on those results, Mahdjoubi is confident his company can distribute the shower system worldwide.

"Our market is anyone who takes a shower, actually, and the biggest benefit it gives is to the market segment where the water consumption is the highest, such as bathing establishments, gyms, sports centers. Also, private households where the water consumption and the prices are high," said Mahdjoubi.

The "out of this world" design has won several business and innovation awards.

词汇解析

recover

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.恢复；复原；重获

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

He's now fully recovered from his stroke.

他现已从中风病完全康复了。

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liberal

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.慷慨的；大方的；开明的；自由主义的

n.自由主义者；开明的人

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

They are liberal in their help.

他们慷慨相助。

用作名词 (n.)

He is an open-minded liberal.

他是一个开明的自由主义者。

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tragedy

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.悲剧；灾难；惨事

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

This recent tragedy has put the manufacturersof the drug squarely in the dock.

新近发生的这一悲惨事件使药品厂商受到指控。

It was a tragedy that she died so young.

她这么年轻就去世，真是太不幸了。

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react

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

v.反应；反攻

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

The British would never react militarily to the invasion of the islands.

英国根本不会在他们侵占福岛后在军事上进行反攻。

The Glade Riders and Warhawk Riders are swift and skilful beastmasters, striking with speed before the foe can react.

森林骑兵和战鹰骑士都能灵巧地驾驭他们的坐骑，从而能迅速地攻击敌人，致使其不能反攻。

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calendar

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.日历；历法；日程表；一览表

vt.把 ... 列入日程表

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

I don't see how we can fit this into the mayor's busy calendar.

我不明白我们要怎样把这件事挤进市长满满的日程表中。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

The assistant will calendar the next appointment in for me.

助手会把下一个会面排进我的日程表。

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female

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.女性的；雌性的

n.女性；雌性动物；[植]雌株

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The male and female genders are equal.

男性和女性是平等的。

用作名词 (n.)

The male is physically stronger than the female.

男性在身体上要比女性强壮。

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respond

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.回答；响应；反应；反应灵敏；反响

n.[建]壁联；[宗]应唱圣歌

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

I invited her to dinner but she did not respond.

我请她吃晚饭，但她未作回答。

The professor lectured with a beaming countenance, but the students didn't respond much, only agreeing with what he said.

教授讲得眉飞色舞，学生们却没有太大的反响，只是随声应和。

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