研究生科技英语阅读课文翻译对照(52)

我们都知道裸眼会产生一些错觉。一个明亮的光点，例如金星，常常看上去像在移动。天文物体也会让司机神经兮兮，好像它们在“跟着”他们的车一样。对于 UFO 的距离和速度的视觉印象也非常不可靠，因为他们是基于臆想的尺寸，而且常常是在别无一物的天空中出现，没有背景参照物（比如云、山之类）来确定一个最大距离。窗户和眼镜片的反光会造成重叠的影像，而例如相机镜头这样精密的光学系统会将点状光源扩散为看似碟形的现象。这样的光学幻觉和对图像解释的心理愿望被认为是许多 UFO 目击报告的原因，至少有的目击报告最后被发现纯属欺骗。在某种程度上更为可靠的雷达观测无法区别大气中的人造飞船、流星轨迹、电离的空气、雨滴和热断层。
“Contact events,” such as abductions, are often associated with UFOs because they are ascribed to extraterrestrial visitors. However, the credibility of the ETH as an explanation for abductions is disputed by most psychologists who have investigated this phenomenon. They suggest that a common experience known as “sleep paralysis” may be the culprit, as this causes sleepers to experience a temporary immobility and a belief that they are being watched.
“接触事件”，例如绑架，经常和 UFO 关联起来，因为他们被归结为地外访客。但是，外星人假说来解释绑架事件的可靠性在那些调查过这些现象的心理学家中存在争论。他们认为一种叫作“睡眠性麻痹”的常见情况可能是元凶，它会让睡觉的人感到暂时性的束缚，认为他们被监视了。
Unit 10 Video Gamer Can Control Dreams, Study Suggest
Playing video games before bedtime may give people an unusual level of awareness and control in their dreams, LiveScience has learned.