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Thousands of energetic particles called cosmic rays fly right through our bodies every second without us ever noticing. Now scientists want your help to track this radiation from space in a massive citizen science project—by using your smartphone.
每秒，有成千上万个被称为“宇宙射线”的高能粒子穿过我们的身体，然而，我们却从未注意过。现在，科学家希望你们使用一款大众科技产品——智能手机，来帮助他们追踪这些来自太空的放射物。
Physicists don't know for sure where cosmic rays come from, but they suspect supernovae and powerful black holes are involved. Although we're bombarded with the particles, the very highest energy cosmic rays are rare. Studying them has therefore been difficult. But it turns out that smartphone cameras are actually good at detecting them.
科学家不确定这些宇宙射线来自哪里，但他们怀疑强大的黑洞及超新星与此相关。尽管我们每时每刻与这些粒子接触，但很少能见到超能量宇宙射线。因此，它们研究起来非常困难。但事实证明，智能手机的摄像头非常擅长捕捉它们。
When these especially energetic rays hit Earth's atmosphere they create a shower of other charged particles. These particles hit a camera's sensor, resulting in one bright pixel against a dark background. If enough phones in the same area see particles, scientists can recreate the cosmic ray's path through space.
当这些超高能带电粒子撞击地球大气层时，会产生大量的其他带电粒子。这些带电粒子在撞击摄像头的感应器时，会在黑暗的背景下产生一个光点。如果有足够多的手机在同一地区与粒子相撞，科学家便可以再现宇宙射线穿越空间的路径了。
You can take part in the project through an app called CRAYFIS (for Cosmic Rays Found in Smartphones).
你可以通过CRAYFIS应用（一个用于搜索宇宙射线的智能手机应用）参与该项目。
CRAYFIS only operates when a phone is plugged into a power source and not otherwise being used, so it will not drain your battery. Imagine: between Candy Crush and Facebook sessions, your phone can help unravel the mysteries of the universe.
CRAYFIS应用只能在手机接通电源的情况下运行，其他情况则无法运行，因此，该应用是不会耗尽你手机电池的。想象一下：除了玩糖果粉碎游戏或在脸谱网上聊天，你的手机还能协助解开宇宙奥秘呢。
