The Story of Post-it Notes
A 3M chemist invents a glue so weak it seems useless — until a choir singer, tired of bookmarks falling out of his hymnal, sees what it's really for.
很多人日常会用到一种小纸条，叫做“便利贴”（英文叫Post-it Notes）。Many people use a kind of small paper note in their daily lives, called “Post-it Notes” (in English called Post-it Notes).但是，你知道便利贴是如何发明的吗？But, do you know how Post-it Notes were invented?其实，这个故事既意外又有趣。Actually, this story is both unexpected and interesting.
1968年，在美国有一家名叫3M的公司。In 1968, there was a company named 3M in the United States.公司里有一位科学家，名叫斯宾塞·西尔弗。There was a scientist in the company named Spencer Silver.一天，他试图研发一种超强胶水，但实验失败了。One day, he tried to develop a super strong glue, but the experiment failed.他研制出来的胶水粘性很弱，很容易脱落。The glue he developed had very weak stickiness, and was very easy to come off.用这种胶水粘贴东西，轻轻一碰就会掉下来。Using this glue to stick things, it would fall off with a gentle touch.他当时觉得这东西没什么用，就暂时搁置了。He thought at the time that this thing was of no use, so he temporarily set it aside.几年后的1974年，同一家公司有另一位科学家，名叫亚瑟·弗莱。A few years later in 1974, the same company had another scientist named Arthur Fry.
他经常参加教堂的唱诗班。He often participated in the church choir.做礼拜时习惯用小纸条当书签夹在歌本里During worship, he was accustomed to using small paper notes as bookmarks clipped in the hymnbook.但纸条总是滑落。But the paper notes always slipped out.一天，在翻歌本时，他忽然想起了斯宾塞·西尔弗之前研制的那种“弱粘性”胶水。One day, while flipping through the hymnbook, he suddenly remembered the “weak adhesive” glue that Spencer had developed earlier.他灵光一闪：“如果用这种胶水来做书签，不是很方便吗？”He had a flash of inspiration: “If we use this glue to make bookmarks, wouldn't it be very convenient?”亚瑟立即找到斯宾塞，用他的胶水试制了一些小纸条。Arthur immediately found Spencer and used his glue to prototype some small paper notes.
结果，这种纸条出乎意料地好用！The result was that these paper notes were unexpectedly good to use!它们可以轻松地粘贴在各种地方。They can be easily stuck to various places.又能随时干净地移除，几乎不会留下任何痕迹。And they can be cleanly removed at any time, almost without leaving any traces.两人很快意识到，这种小纸条用途广泛，远不止于当书签。The two quickly realized that these small paper notes had wide uses, far beyond just being bookmarks.后来，他们将这种纸条命名为便利贴。Later, they named this paper note “Post-it Notes”.
1980年，便利贴正式上市推广，迅速风靡全球。In 1980, Post-it Notes were officially launched and promoted, quickly becoming popular globally.如今，便利贴几乎遍布世界各地的办公室和家庭。Nowadays, Post-it Notes are almost everywhere in offices and homes around the world.所以，下次当你使用便利贴时，请记住：So, next time when you use Post-it Notes, please remember:
它的诞生，源于一种“失败的”胶水和一位渴望解决书签烦恼的人。Its birth originated from a kind of “failed” glue and a person eager to solve the bookmark troubles.
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