What gives tree shrews their drinking superpower, however, remains a mystery.

然而，是什么赋予了树鼩饮酒的超能力， 这仍然是个谜。

Tree shrews have a huge tolerance for alcohol.

树鼩对酒精有很强的耐受性。

It wasn't elephants, though, that inspired the new work. It was tree shrews.

不过，启发这项新工作的并不是大象。那是树鼩。

We humans and an ancient tree shrews are the only mammals in the world known to tolerate or even seek out capsaicin.

我们人类和一种古老的树鼩是世界上已知的唯一能够耐受甚至寻找辣椒素的哺乳动物。

But tree shrew brains are a full 10 percent of their body mass, and they drink beer for a living.

但树鼩的大脑占其体重的 10%， 而且它们以喝啤酒为生。

It is believed that the molecule emerged as a defence mechanism against invasive bacteria, plant pathogens and — We humans and an Asian tree shrew are the only mammals in the world known to tolerate or even seek out capsaicin.

据称，辣椒分子能够防御入侵的细菌、植物病原体和-人类和一种亚洲树鼠是世界上已知的能耐受甚至寻找辣椒素的哺乳动物。