News
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While human exploration of space has landed a man on the Moon and journeyed to the surface of Mars, our dreams of living in cities under the sea have not come true yet. Neil and Rob talk about some projects of underwater habitats and teach you vocabulary along the way.
One of the first adventure stories to fire the public’s imagination about the underwater world was the 1870 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. But who wrote this underwater classic? Was it:
a) H G Wells?
b) Arthur Conan Doyle?
c) Jules Verne?
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
seabedsolid surface of the earth that lies under the ocean, at least 1.8 kilometres underwater
natural resourcesnaturally existing things such as minerals, forests, coal and other energy sources that can be used by people
verticallystanding or pointing straight up and down at an angle 90 degrees, perpendicular to the ground, as opposed to horizontally parallel to the ground
the bendsdecompression sickness - a serious medical sickness caused by nitrogen bubbles in the muscle tissues, resulting from return to the surface of the sea too quickly when diving
physiologicallyrelating to how the bodies of living humans and animals function
atmospheric pressurethe normal air pressure within the Earth’s atmosphere
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Neil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Rob And I’m Rob.
NeilFrom the ancient Roman sea god, Neptune, to myths of mermaids, to modern Hollywood films like Finding Nemo, people throughout history have been fascinated by the idea of living underwater. In this programme, we’ll be hearing about projects to create liveable underwater habitats and the challenges they face.
RobWe’ll be finding out how realistic it is to believe that in a few years we could be eating breakfast whilst watching fish swim outside the kitchen window, before heading off to work in an office under the ocean...
Neil…and we’ll be learning some related vocabulary as well. But first it’s time for our quiz question. One of the first adventure stories to fire the public’s imagination about the underwater world was the 1870 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. But who wrote this underwater classic? Was it:a) H G Wells?,b) Arthur Conan Doyle?, orc) Jules Verne?
RobI think I know this one, Neil. Wasn’t it, a) H G Wells?
Neil OK, Rob, we’ll find out later if you’re right. Now, one of the most ambitious designs for an underwater city is Ocean Spiral, a huge transparent globe attached to the seabed – the solid ground which lies deep below the sea level.
RobThe top of the globe stands above the surface of the ocean and running through the centre is a tower to add strength, and to provide space for homes, offices and even an amusement park for five thousand underwater residents.
NeilOcean Spiral has been dreamt up by the Japanese Shimizu Corporation. Here’s Shimizu engineer, Maksaki Takeuchi, explaining to BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience, the motivation behind the idea:
Masaki TakeuchiAt the moment the world is facing a lot of serious problems regarding food, energy, water, natural resources... however we are trying to solve the issues just by using our land. Our idea is to connect the sea surface and the deep sea vertically and that way we believe that we can utilise the capability of the deep sea and that’s the purpose of this whole project.
RobThe effects of human activity on the land have led some to look to the oceans for natural resources - naturally existing things such as minerals, oil, coal and other energy sources that can be used by people.
NeilThis search deep underwater is happening vertically - at a ninety degree angle straight up or down from the ground, as opposed to horizontally, or flat across the Earth’s surface.
RobBut as yet, Shimizu Corporation’s plans for an underwater city are still in the planning stages - no part of the project has yet been built and the total cost is thought to exceed 26 billion dollars.
NeilIn fact, the longest anyone has spent living under the sea is only 73 days. That record was set by Roger Garcia, ex-military diver and head of The Aquarius, currently the world’s only underwater research station.
RobHere’s Roger Garcia, explaining to BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience, what happens to the human body after living underwater for so long:
Roger Garcia…perhaps a change in their voice, not much ‘cos we’re not very deep, that’s because the air becomes denser. Physiologically the most important thing though, is that since you are in this case at two and a half times atmospheric pressure you do take on more inner gas, and in this case - inside The Aquarius we just breathe normal air - you’re gonna take on more nitrogen and depending on how long you stay in The Aquarius, that’s going to incur some sort of decompressed obligation.
NeilIn addition to engineering challenges, living underwater for long periods of time also affects the human body. One example is the bends – or decompression sickness, a serious medical disorder created by nitrogen bubbles in the muscles when returning to the surface of the sea too quickly.
RobThe bends, and changes to the voice, are examples of how underwater living changes the body physiologically – relating to how the bodies of living humans and animals function.
NeilAs divers descend deep below the ocean’s surface, there is an increase in atmospheric pressure – the normal air pressure within the Earth’s atmosphere. The deeper they dive, the higher the pressure. Physiological reactions like the bends are caused by divers incorrectly readjusting to normal atmospheric pressure.
RobWell, Neil, with so many difficulties, it’s no surprise that H G Wells's fantasy of living under the sea is still science-fiction.
NeilAh, but are you sure it was H G Wells, Rob? In my quiz question I asked you who wrote the classic underwater adventure Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
RobYes, and I said a) H G Wells.
NeilWhich was… the wrong answer! It was, in fact, c) Jules Verne, the French author who also wrote Around the World in Eighty Days.
RobIn this programme, we’ve been discussing the challenge of living underwater, going down vertically – at a 90 degree angle – to the seabed – the solid ground hundreds of metres under the sea.
NeilOcean explorers search underwater for natural resources – useful materials like coal and oil.
RobBut they face many physiological problems – problems relating to how the human body functions, such as the bends – a painful medical condition caused by returning too quickly to atmospheric pressure – the Earth’s usual air pressure.
NeilThat’s all for this programme, but we hope you’ll be diving back into 6 Minute English very soon. Bye for now!
RobBye!
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Will we still be speaking in an English we recognise in a thousand years' time? Alice and Neil make some educated guesses!
Neil and Alice discuss the threat to The Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru
Why do some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours? Neil and Alice discuss our perception of time
What will the cities of the future look like, and will we enjoy living in them? Alice and Neil discuss Neil's attempt at town planning
Why is the disease diabetes on the rise? Alice and Neil talk about the role that diet has to play in this global health problem
Why do we procrastinate? Rob and Alice discuss why it can be difficult to get on with tasks
Why do we like to impersonate people? Neil tries out his best impression of Elvis while teaching you some related vocabulary
Alice and Rob consider which study techniques are good and which aren't. Does sleeping with a book under your pillow help?
Young entrepreneurs are appearing everywhere. Alice and Rob discuss whether grey hair is best
Why do people often say one thing and do another? Alice and Rob ask how far hypocrisy is actually part of who we are
Do you have what it takes to go to space? Alice and Rob discuss the challenges of a job thousands of people are keen on
Do you believe men walked on the Moon? Alice and Rob discuss why some people are suspicious about everything
You've decluttered and tidied but could you live life free of stuff? Alice and Rob discuss why we give objects emotional value
Are you a teetotaler or a drinker? Rob and Alice discuss what risk to your health regular drinking may have
What does it take to impress the ladies in the 21st century? Neil and Alice discuss knights in shining armour
Is retirement the end of everything or just a door for new opportunities? Alice and Rob talk about aging
Do you always agree with what most people in your group say? Neil and Sophie discuss staff meetings.
Neil and Sophie discuss the health benefits of being able to speak two languages fluently. And Neil... speaks Japanese!
How often do you check your phone? Neil and Sophie discuss how social media is changing the way we interact.
Sophie and Neil discover that soil has some surprising qualities and discuss how growing food can be therapeutic too
Sophie and Neil talk about traditional fairy tales for the adult market and teach you some magical vocabulary
Neil and Sophie discuss the growing industry of team building – from zombie bootcamps to horse training for executives.
Neil and Sophie discuss Mars, the fourth rock from the Sun
Neil and Sophie talk about gene editing, designer babies and how many errors Neil might have in his genetic code.
How generous are you? Neil and Sophie discuss Mark Zuckerberg and what it takes to be a modern-day philanthropist.
Are the days of paying by cash for a latte or a newspaper nearly gone? Alice and Neil discuss Neil's fondness for loose change...
Tea comes in different forms – milky, sweet or spicy. Alice and Neil discuss how this Asian leaf conquered the world.
Train, car, bicycle ... Hundreds of millions of us make the same journey day in day out. Take a hike with Alice and Neil and learn new vocabulary.
Are food allergies on the increase and if so, why? Neil and Alice talk about the growing fear of food and teach new words.
Are artificial lights and late night TV ruining our sleep? Neil and Alice discuss the issue and teach you related vocabulary.
What does it take to be a good interviewer? Neil and Alice discuss TV chat show hosts and teach you some related vocabulary.
How much does appearance really matter? Neil and Alice discuss fitness and New Year's resolutions
Can a woollen hat make a difference when you are cold?
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