Instead, they gather into thick blobs of liquid around their eyes because the water surface tension holds tears together.

相反，眼泪在眼睛周围凝结成浓稠的液体团，因为水的表面张力把眼泪聚集在了一起。

But for an insect the force of water surface tension is so strong that getting wet is a question of life and death.

但对于昆虫，水的表面张力是如此强，让碰水变成一个攸关生死的问题。