ABOUT THE SPEAKER
E.O. Wilson - Biologist
Biologist E.O. Wilson explores the world of ants and other tiny creatures, and writes movingly about the way all creatures great and small are interdependent.

Why you should listen

One of the world's most distinguished scientists, E.O. Wilson is a professor and honorary curator in entomology at Harvard. In 1975, he published Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, a work that described social behavior, from ants to humans.

Drawing from his deep knowledge of the Earth's "little creatures" and his sense that their contribution to the planet's ecology is underappreciated, he produced what may be his most important book, The Diversity of Life. In it he describes how an intricately interconnected natural system is threatened by man's encroachment, in a crisis he calls the "sixth extinction" (the fifth one wiped out the dinosaurs).

With his most recent book, The Creation, he wants to put the differences of science- and faith-based explanations aside "to protect Earth's vanishing natural habitats and species ...; in other words, the Creation, however we believe it came into existence." A recent documentary called Behold the Earth illustrates this human relationship to nature, or rather separation from an originally intended human bond with nature, through music, imagery, and thoughtful words from both Christians and scientists, including Wilson. 

More profile about the speaker
E.O. Wilson | Speaker | TED.com
TED2007

E.O. Wilson: My wish: Build the Encyclopedia of Life

爱德华·威尔逊论生物多样性

Filmed:
1,596,443 views

作为2007年的TED大奖得主之一,爱德华·威尔逊代表所有的生物,提出我们应当关注生物圈的倡议,并且宣布要建立一个在线的百科全书,记录物种多样性。
- Biologist
Biologist E.O. Wilson explores the world of ants and other tiny creatures, and writes movingly about the way all creatures great and small are interdependent. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:26
I have all my life wondered想知道 what "mind-boggling令人难以置信" meant意味着.
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我整整一生都在想,“mind-boggling”(令人难以置信的)到底是指什么
00:31
After two days here, I declare宣布 myself boggled猛然一惊, and enormously巨大 impressed印象深刻,
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在这里呆了两天,我承认,我已经被深深感染
00:41
and feel that you are one of the great hopes希望 --
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我感到,你们代表着伟大的希望
00:47
not just for American美国 achievement成就 in science科学 and technology技术,
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不仅仅是美国在科学技术上取得进步的希望
00:54
but for the whole整个 world世界.
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也是整个世界的希望
00:56
I've come, however然而, on a special特别 mission任务 on behalf代表 of my constituency选民,
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我今天来到这里,是代表我的"选民"
01:04
which哪一个 are the 10-to-the--to-the-18th-powerTH-电源 -- that's a million百万 trillion --
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它们的数量多达10的18次方
01:13
insects昆虫 and other small creatures生物, and to make a plea恳求 for them.
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它们是昆虫以及其他的小动物,我是来为它们申张正义的
01:27
If we were to wipe擦拭 out insects昆虫 alone单独, just that group alone单独, on this planet行星 --
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假如我们要把昆虫从地球上消灭掉,就单单是昆虫
01:33
which哪一个 we are trying hard to do --
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实际上我们也在努力这样做……
01:37
the rest休息 of life and humanity人性 with it would mostly大多 disappear消失 from the land土地.
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那么剩下的生物包括人类也很可能从地球消失
01:46
And within a few少数 months个月.
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这只需几个月的时间
01:48
Now, how did I come to this particular特定 position位置 of advocacy拥护?
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那我是怎么成为这样一个为昆虫辩护的斗士呢?
01:54
As a little boy男孩, and through通过 my teenage青少年 years年份,
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当我还是小孩子的时候,
02:00
I became成为 increasingly日益 fascinated入迷 by the diversity多样 of life.
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我就对生物之多样性感到越来越浓厚的兴趣
02:03
I had a butterfly蝴蝶 period, a snake period, a bird period, a fish period, a cave洞穴 period
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我曾经对蝴蝶、蛇、小鸟、鱼以及洞穴感兴趣
02:15
and finally最后 and definitively明确, an ant蚂蚁 period.
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最后,我对蚂蚁产生浓厚而长久的兴趣
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By my college学院 years年份, I was a devoted忠诚 myrmecologistmyrmecologist,
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读大学的时候,我对于蚂蚁研究很有热情
02:24
a specialist专家 on the biology生物学 of ants蚂蚁,
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我是一位研究蚂蚁的专家
02:26
but my attention注意 and research研究 continued继续 to make journeys旅程
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我的关注点以及研究都
02:31
across横过 the great variety品种 of life on Earth地球 in general一般 --
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围绕地球上巨大的生物多样性而展开
02:35
including包含 all that it means手段 to us as a species种类, how little we understand理解 it
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包括这对我们人类意味着什么,以及为何我们对此所知甚少
02:43
and how pressing紧迫 a danger危险 that our activities活动 have created创建 for it.
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还有人类活动正在对生物多样性构成的严重威胁
02:50
Out of that broader更广泛 study研究 has emerged出现 a concern关心 and an ambition志向,
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长期的研究使我产生一种对生物的关切以及一个宏愿
02:55
crystallized结晶 in the wish希望 that I'm about to make to you.
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待会我会在叙述愿望的时候具体说明
03:00
My choice选择 is the culmination大成 of a lifetime一生 commitment承诺
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我的这一选择是整个研究生涯之落脚点
03:05
that began开始 with growing生长 up on the Gulf海湾 Coast of Alabama阿拉巴马, on the Florida佛罗里达 peninsula半岛.
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我小时候在佛罗里达半岛的阿拉巴马湾度过
03:12
As far back as I can remember记得, I was enchanted入迷 by the natural自然 beauty美女 of that region地区
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从记事起,我就被那一带的自然美景深深陶醉
03:21
and the almost几乎 tropical热带 exuberance丰富 of the plants植物 and animals动物 that grow增长 there.
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包括该地繁盛成长的接近热带的动植物
03:27
One day when I was only seven years年份 old and fishing钓鱼,
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七岁那年,有一天我去钓鱼
03:31
I pulled a "pinfishpinfish," they're called, with sharp尖锐 dorsal spines, up too hard and fast快速,
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我捉到一条免齿鲷——有尖利的背棘——猛然用力拉上来
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and I blinded失明 myself in one eye.
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并因此而弄瞎了其中一只眼睛
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I later后来 discovered发现 I was also hard of hearing听力,
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另外,我后来还发现自己在听力方面也不是很好
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possibly或者 congenitally先天不足, in the upper registers寄存器.
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也许是生来就有的缺陷
03:47
So in planning规划 to be a professional专业的 naturalist博物 --
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于是,为了成为一名职业的自然学家
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I never considered考虑 anything else其他 in my entire整个 life --
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我就决定只做一件事
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I found发现 that I was lousy糟糕 at bird watching观看 and couldn't不能 track跟踪 frog青蛙 calls电话 either.
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要我观鸟,我不在行;要我追踪青蛙,我也不擅长于此
04:03
So I turned转身 to the teeming丰富的 small creatures生物
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于是我决定做那些小动物的研究
04:07
that can be held保持 between之间 the thumb拇指 and forefinger食指:
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它们大多可以放在我的拇指跟食指之间
04:12
the little things that compose撰写 the foundation基础 of our ecosystems生态系统,
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而正是它们构建了我们整个生态圈的基础
04:19
the little things, as I like to say, who run the world世界.
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它们才是世界的主人
04:24
In so doing, I reached到达 a frontier边境 of biology生物学 so strange奇怪, so rich丰富,
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通过这样的方式,我来到一个非常古怪却又非常丰富的生物学领域
04:32
that it seemed似乎 as though虽然 it exists存在 on another另一个 planet行星.
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简直就像降临到别的星球一样
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In fact事实, we live生活 on a mostly大多 unexplored未开发 planet行星.
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事实上,我们就生活在一个很多地方皆未被研究的星球上
04:42
The great majority多数 of organisms生物 on Earth地球 remain unknown未知 to science科学.
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科学家对于地球上大多数的有机体都是一无所知的
04:47
In the last 30 years年份, thanks谢谢 to explorations探索 in remote远程 parts部分 of the world世界
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过去30年,人们去到了一些较为边缘的地区
04:53
and advances进步 in technology技术,
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也得益于科技的进步
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biologists生物学家 have, for example, added添加 a full充分 one-third三分之一 of the known已知 frog青蛙 and other amphibian两栖动物 species种类,
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生物学家使已知的青蛙以及两栖类物种数增加了三分之一
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to bring带来 the current当前 total to 5,400,
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现在,两栖类生物物种总数为5400种
05:09
and more continue继续 to pour in.
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并且还不断有新的物种被发现
05:11
Two new kinds of whales鲸鱼 have been discovered发现, along沿 with two new antelopes羚羊,
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也发现了两种新的鲸鱼种类,以及两种新的羚羊
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dozens许多 of monkey species种类 and a new kind of elephant --
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还有几十个猴子的种类以及一种新的大象种类
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and even a distinct不同 kind of gorilla大猩猩.
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甚至还有一种新发现的大猩猩!
05:24
At the extreme极端 opposite对面 end结束 of the size尺寸 scale规模, the class of marine海洋 bacteria,
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而在生物体体型大小的另一端,我们发现了新的海洋细菌
05:34
the ProchlorococciProchlorococci -- that will be on the final最后 exam考试 --
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原绿球藻,也许在你的期末考试出现过
05:40
although虽然 discovered发现 only in 1988, are now recognized认可 as likely容易 the most abundant丰富 organisms生物 on Earth地球,
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虽说是1988年发现的,现在则被认为是地球上最繁盛的生物
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and moreover此外, responsible主管 for a large part部分 of the photosynthesis光合作用 that occurs发生 in the ocean海洋.
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这一生物为海洋里头发生的光合作用起到了很大的推动作用
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These bacteria were not uncovered裸露 sooner
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我们没能在更早的时候发现这些细菌
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because they are also among其中 the smallest最少 of all Earth's地球 organisms生物 --
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是因为它们也是地球上体型最小的生物之一
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so minute分钟 that they cannot不能 be seen看到 with conventional常规 optical光纤 microscopy显微镜.
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你用普通的光学仪器是难以看得到它们的
06:11
Yet然而 life in the sea may可能 depend依靠 on these tiny creatures生物.
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但海底的生物却必须依赖它们才能生存
06:15
These examples例子 are just the first glimpse一瞥 of our ignorance无知 of life on this planet行星.
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这些都不过是一些例子,显示出我们对于地球上的生物是多么无知
06:20
Consider考虑 the fungi菌类 -- including包含 mushrooms蘑菇, rusts锈病, molds模具 and many许多 disease-causing致病 organisms生物.
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再看看真菌,包括蘑菇、锈菌、霉菌以及其他携带病原体的真菌
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60,000 species种类 are known已知 to science科学,
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我们知道有6万种的真菌
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but more than 1.5 million百万 have been estimated预计 to exist存在.
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但科学家估计,事实上有150万真菌存活于地球上
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Consider考虑 the nematode线虫 roundworm蛔虫, the most abundant丰富 of all animals动物.
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再看看线虫,它们是所有动物家族当中最为繁盛的
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Four out of five animals动物 on Earth地球 are nematode线虫 worms蠕虫 --
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地球上80%的动物都是线虫
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if all solid固体 materials物料 except nematode线虫 worms蠕虫 were to be eliminated淘汰,
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假如地球上除了线虫以外所有的固态物质都消失
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you could still see the ghostly幽灵的 outline大纲 of most of it in nematode线虫 worms蠕虫.
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你还是可以从线虫身上看出曾经的地球痕迹
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About 16,000 species种类 of nematode线虫 worms蠕虫
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大约16000种线虫动物
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have been discovered发现 and diagnosed确诊 by scientists科学家们;
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已经被科学家发现并进行研究
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there could be hundreds数以百计 of thousands数千 of them, even millions百万, still unknown未知.
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而事实上,也许有数以千计甚至是数以百万计的我们还未曾知道
07:13
This vast广大 domain of hidden biodiversity生物多样性 is increased增加 still further进一步
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还有另外一个生物群体
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by the dark黑暗 matter of the biological生物 world世界 of bacteria,
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它们通常不被关注,但其蕴含的生物多样性却更多
07:24
which哪一个 within just the last several一些 years年份
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单单是过去的几年
07:30
still were known已知 from only about 6,000 species种类 of bacteria worldwide全世界.
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世界范围内就发现了6000例新的细菌物种
07:37
But that number of bacteria species种类 can be found发现 in one gram公克 of soil,
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在一克的泥土里,就可以找出这一数目的细菌出来
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just a little handful少数 of soil, in the 10 billion十亿 bacteria that would be there.
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一剖泥土,里面就有一百亿的细菌
07:52
It's been estimated预计 that a single ton of soil -- fertile soil --
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有人估计,单单是一吨沃土当中
07:57
contains包含 approximately four million百万 species种类 of bacteria, all unknown未知.
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就包含了近四百万种的细菌,并且我们对这些细菌一无所知
08:05
So the question is: what are they all doing?
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所以,我们要问:那些家伙到底在干嘛?
08:13
The fact事实 is, we don't know.
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答案是:我们根本不知道答案。
08:16
We are living活的 on a planet行星 with a lot of activities活动, with reference参考 to our living活的 environment环境,
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我们对于这个地球上所发生的许多现象
08:25
doneDONE by faith信仰 and guess猜测 alone单独.
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都只是通过信念或猜测来认知
08:29
Our lives生活 depend依靠 upon these creatures生物.
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我们的生命依赖于这些生物
08:33
To take an example close to home: there are over 500 species种类 of bacteria now known已知 --
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举一个身边的例子:已知有500多种的细菌——
08:41
friendly友善 bacteria -- living活的 symbiotically共生 in your mouth and throat
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友好的细菌——正生活在你的口腔里
08:46
probably大概 necessary必要 to your health健康 for holding保持 off pathogenic bacteria.
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也许它们正在为你抵抗来自致病细菌的进攻
08:53
At this point I think we have a little impressionistic写意 film电影
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说到这里,我想给大家放一个片子
08:57
that was made制作 especially特别 for this occasion场合.
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就是为了这次演讲而准备的
08:59
And I'd like to show显示 it.
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现在请看屏幕
09:02
Assisted辅助 in this by Billie比莉 Holiday假日.
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我们得到了Billie Holiday的帮助
09:05
(Video视频)
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(视频)
11:07
And that may可能 be just the beginning开始!
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这也许还只是开始!
11:10
The viruses病毒, those quasi-organisms准有机体 among其中 which哪一个 are the prophages原噬菌体,
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病毒,也就是那些带有有机体特性的“准”生物,prophasias 就是其中一种
11:16
the gene基因 weavers织工 that promote促进 the continued继续 evolution演化 in the lives生活 of the bacteria,
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它是基因编织师,正是它使得细菌的持续进化成为可能
11:23
are a virtually实质上 unknown未知 frontier边境 of modern现代 biology生物学, a world世界 unto themselves他们自己.
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这一世界是现代生物学的一个待开垦的处女地,也是一个自我——的世界
11:32
What constitutes构成 a viral病毒 species种类 is still unresolved未解决,
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是什么构成了病毒还尚无定论
11:36
although虽然 they're obviously明显 of enormous巨大 importance重要性 to us.
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虽然这对人类而言意义重大
11:40
But this much we can say: the variety品种 of genes基因 on the planet行星 in viruses病毒
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但是有一点可以肯定,病毒世界的基因多样性
11:46
exceeds超过, or is likely容易 to exceed超过, that in all of the rest休息 of life combined结合.
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远远大于所有其他生物的基因多样性之总和——至少科学家是这么认为的
11:54
Nowadays如今, in addressing解决 microbial微生物 biodiversity生物多样性,
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今天,那些研究微生物多样性的科学家
11:58
scientists科学家们 are like explorers探险 in a rowboat划艇 launched推出 onto the Pacific和平的 Ocean海洋.
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就如乘着木船驶进太平洋的探索者
12:04
But that is changing改变 rapidly急速 with the aid援助 of new genomic基因组 technology技术.
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但是,随着新的基因组技术的发展,这一境况正得到改善
12:09
Already已经 it is possible可能 to sequence序列 the entire整个 genetic遗传 code of a bacterium细菌 in under four hours小时.
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现在,我们已经可以用四个小时的时间完成对一个细菌进行基因测序
12:16
Soon不久 we will be in a position位置 to go forth向前 in the field领域 with sequencers on our backs --
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不久的将来,我们还将可以通过便携式的测序机完成这样的操作
12:22
to hunt打猎 bacteria in tiny crevices裂缝 of the habitat's栖息地的 surface表面
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直接寻找到那些隐藏在细小的缝隙里的细菌
12:28
in the way you go watching观看 for birds鸟类 with binoculars望远镜.
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就像你用双筒望远镜来观鸟一样
12:32
What will we find as we map地图 the living活的 world世界, as, finally最后, we get this underway进行 seriously认真地?
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那么,假如我们真的去对现实世界中的生物进行测序,将会带来什么?
12:40
As we move移动 past过去 the relatively相对 gigantic巨大 mammals哺乳动物, birds鸟类, frogs青蛙 and plants植物
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从大型哺乳动物到鸟类到青蛙到植物
12:45
to the more elusive难以捉摸 insects昆虫 and other small invertebrates无脊椎动物 and then beyond
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一直到昆虫以及其他非脊椎动物
12:51
to the countless无数 millions百万 of organisms生物 in the invisible无形 living活的 world世界
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再到无数的肉眼不可见的生物
12:56
enveloped笼罩 and living活的 within humanity人性?
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——它们就在人体内发展、生存
13:00
Already已经 what were thought to be bacteria for generations
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过去科学家曾认定是细菌的生物
13:06
have been found发现 to compose撰写, instead代替, two great domains of microorganisms微生物:
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现在的发现则显示,它们实际上是由两种微生物组成的
13:12
true真正 bacteria and one-celled单细胞 organisms生物 the archaea,
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即真细菌和单细胞的古细菌
13:16
which哪一个 are closer接近 than other bacteria to the eukaryota真核生物, the group that we belong属于 to.
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它比其他的细菌更接近真核生物,人也是真核生物
13:23
Some serious严重 biologists生物学家, and I count计数 myself among其中 them,
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一些严肃的科学家,包括我
13:28
have begun开始 to wonder奇迹 that among其中 the enormous巨大 and still unknown未知 diversity多样 of microorganisms微生物,
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就开始怀疑,在多元与未知的微生物世界中
13:37
one might威力 -- just might威力 -- find aliens外星人 among其中 them.
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也许还能找到外星生物的存在
13:42
True真正 aliens外星人, stocks个股 that arrived到达 from outer space空间.
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我说的是真正的外星生物,来自外太空的生物
13:47
They've他们已经 had billions数十亿 of years年份 to do it,
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它们有数十亿年时间到达地球
13:49
but especially特别 during the earliest最早 period of biological生物 evolution演化 on this planet行星.
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特别是地球上出现生物进化的原始阶段
13:56
We do know that some bacterial细菌 species种类 that have earthly俗世的 origin起源
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我们知道,有些发源自地球的细菌
14:00
are capable of almost几乎 unimaginable不可思议 extremes极端 of temperature温度
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竟然可以在极端的温度下生存
14:08
and other harsh苛刻 changes变化 in environment环境,
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也能适应非常恶劣的环境变化
14:11
including包含 hard radiation辐射 strong强大 enough足够 and maintained保持 long enough足够 to crack裂纹 the Pyrex耐热玻璃 vessels船只
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包括经受足以穿透Pyrex玻璃箱的强辐射的作用
14:19
around the growing生长 population人口 of bacteria.
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这个在细菌的家族里很常见
14:22
There may可能 be a temptation诱惑 to treat对待 the biosphere生物圈 holistically从整体上
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也许有些人会走捷径,用一种整体的视角来看待整个生物圈
14:28
and the species种类 that compose撰写 it as a great flux通量 of entities实体
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将其中的物种看成是个体的流动
14:34
hardly几乎不 worth价值 distinguishing区别 one from the other.
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无须区分出它们之间的细微差别
14:38
But each of these species种类, even the tiniest最小的 ProchlorococciProchlorococci,
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但是每一个这样的物种,即使是最细小的原绿球菌
14:43
are masterpieces名作 of evolution演化.
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都是进化之杰作
14:45
Each has persisted坚持 for thousands数千 to millions百万 of years年份.
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它们都在地球上存活了千百万年
14:51
Each is exquisitely玲珑 adapted适应 to the environment环境 in which哪一个 it lives生活,
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都能很好的融入到其生活环境当中
14:55
interlocked互锁 with other species种类 to form形成 ecosystems生态系统 upon which哪一个 our own拥有 lives生活 depend依靠
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并且与其他的物种相互作用,构成我们赖以生存的生态系统
15:02
in ways方法 we have not begun开始 even to imagine想像.
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而这些我们十年前还未曾想象得到
15:06
We will destroy破坏 these ecosystems生态系统 and the species种类 composing构成 them
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假如我们破坏这些生态系统以及生活于其间的物种
15:10
at the peril of our own拥有 existence存在 --
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我们终将自食其果
15:13
and unfortunately不幸 we are destroying销毁 them with ingenuity创造力 and ceaseless不断 energy能源.
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可悲的是,我们罔若无知,肆无忌惮的继续这样的行为
15:22
My own拥有 epiphany顿悟 as a conservationist保护主义者 came来了 in 1953, while a Harvard哈佛 graduate毕业 student学生,
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我的灵光一现出现在1953年,那时我是哈佛大学的一位研究生
15:32
searching搜索 for rare罕见 ants蚂蚁 found发现 in the mountain forests森林 of Cuba古巴,
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我去古巴的大山和森林里寻找罕见的蚂蚁种类
15:36
ants蚂蚁 that shine闪耀 in the sunlight阳光 --
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这些蚂蚁在阳光照射之下会发光
15:38
metallic金属的 green绿色 or metallic金属的 blue蓝色, according根据 to species种类, and one species种类, I discovered发现, metallic金属的 gold.
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金属绿、金属蓝,甚至是黄金的颜色
15:46
I found发现 my magical神奇 ants蚂蚁, but only after a tough强硬 climb into the mountains
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经过一段艰难的山地跋涉,我终于找到了我的神奇蚂蚁
15:51
where the last of the native本地人 Cuban古巴 forests森林 hung鸿 on,
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那里也是古巴仅存的一块原始森林地带
15:55
and were then -- and still are -- being存在 cut back.
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但后来,直到现在,那片森林不断遭受砍伐
16:01
I realized实现 then that these species种类
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我意识到
16:04
and a large part部分 of the other unique独特, marvelous奇妙 animals动物 and plants植物 on that island --
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像这些蚂蚁以及那个岛上生活的其他独特且多姿的动植物
16:10
and this is true真正 of practically几乎 every一切 part部分 of the world世界 --
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这对于世界任何一个地方都是一样的
16:15
which哪一个 took millions百万 of years年份 to evolve发展, are in the process处理 of disappearing消失 forever永远.
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经过数百万年的进化,才有今天,但它们一旦消失,就有可能永远不会再次出现了
16:20
And so it is everywhere到处 one looks容貌.
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这一现象在世界各地都在发生
16:25
The human人的 juggernaut剑圣 is permanently永久 eroding侵蚀 Earth's地球 ancient biosphere生物圈 by a combination组合 of forces军队
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人类正在以不可抗拒的力量,持续破坏着那些亿万年演化而成的生物系统
16:33
that can be summarized总结 by the acronym缩写 "HIPPO河马," the animal动物 hippo河马.
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这些力量可以总结为“HIPPO”,原意是河马
16:38
H is for habitat栖息地 destruction毁坏, including包含 climate气候 change更改 forced被迫 by greenhouse温室 gases气体.
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H是代表栖息地破坏, 这包括因为大量排放温室气体而产生的气候变化
16:45
I is for the invasive侵入的 species种类 like the fire ants蚂蚁, the zebra斑马 mussels青口贝, broom扫帚 grasses
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I是代表入侵物种,包括红火蚁、 斑马贻贝等
16:53
and pathogenic bacteria and viruses病毒 that are flooding洪水 every一切 country国家, and at an exponential指数 rate -- that's the I.
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以及那些正在以惊人速度在各个国家蔓延的病毒和致病菌
17:04
The P, the first one in "HIPPO河马," is for pollution污染.
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P,第一个P是代表污染
17:08
The second第二 is for continued继续 population人口, human人的 population人口 expansion扩张.
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第二个是指持续的人口增长
17:14
And the final最后 letter is O, for over-harvesting过度采伐 --
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而O则代表过度捕获
17:17
driving主动 species种类 into extinction灭绝 by excessive过多 hunting狩猎 and fishing钓鱼.
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过度的狩猎和捕捞正使许多物种走向消亡
17:21
The HIPPO河马 juggernaut剑圣 we have created创建, if unabated不减, is destined注定 --
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人类如果不减弱这些力量(HIPPO)
17:27
according根据 to the best最好 estimates估计 of ongoing不断的 biodiversity生物多样性 research研究 --
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根据一直在进行的生物多样性研究的最乐观估计——
17:31
to reduce减少 half of Earth's地球 still surviving幸存 animal动物 and plant species种类
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也将使得地球现存的动植物种类中有一半
17:36
to extinction灭绝 or critical危急 endangerment危害 by the end结束 of the century世纪.
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走向灭绝或走到濒危 的境地,也许就发生在本世纪末
17:41
Human-forced人强制 climate气候 change更改 alone单独 -- again, if unabated不减 --
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单单是人为引起的气候变化,假如不加以遏制
17:46
could eliminate消除 a quarter25美分硬币 of surviving幸存 species种类 during the next下一个 five decades几十年.
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就将会在未来的半个世纪使得现存物种数目减少四分之一
17:52
What will we and all future未来 generations lose失去
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假如地球环境真的这样恶化下去,
17:56
if much of the living活的 environment环境 is thus从而 degraded降级?
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那么我们以及我们的后代将经受怎样的后果
18:02
Huge巨大 potential潜在 sources来源 of scientific科学 information信息 yet然而 to be gathered云集,
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有大量的科学数据就藏在大自然当中等待我们去发掘
18:06
much of our environmental环境的 stability稳定性
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环境稳定性
18:10
and new kinds of pharmaceuticals药品 and new products制品 of unimaginable不可思议 strength强度 and value --
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还有许多价值非凡的新药物新产品
18:17
all thrown抛出 away.
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都会因此而被遗弃
18:20
The loss失利 will inflict造成 a heavy price价钱
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这样的损失也将
18:23
in wealth财富, security安全 and yes, spirituality灵性 for all time to come,
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给我们的财富、安全以及精神生活带来巨大的冲击
18:30
because previous以前 cataclysms灾难 of this kind --
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我们知道,历史上曾出现过的类似这类灾难性事件
18:32
the last one, that ended结束 the age年龄 of dinosaurs恐龙 --
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对上一次是数百万年前,使得恐龙走向灭绝
18:35
took, normally一般, five to 10 million百万 years年份 to repair修理.
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必须经过一千万年才能得到恢复
18:41
Sadly可悲的是, our knowledge知识 of biodiversity生物多样性 is so incomplete残缺
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可悲的是,我们关于生物多样性的了解是如此之少
18:45
that we are at risk风险 of losing失去 a great deal合同 of it before it is even discovered发现.
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也许有许多知识未待我们发现就已经不复存在
18:50
For example, even in the United联合的 States状态, the 200,000 species种类 known已知 currently目前
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比方说,在美国,我们知道有20万个物种
18:59
actually其实 has been found发现 to be only partial局部 in coverage覆盖;
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但我们发现这其实只是很小的一个部分
19:06
it is mostly大多 unknown未知 to us in basic基本 biology生物学.
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而我们学基础生物学的时候是没有学这个的
19:11
Only about 15 percent百分 of the known已知 species种类 have been studied研究 well enough足够 to evaluate评估 their status状态.
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只有15%的已知物种是有过深入研究,使得我们可以评估它们的境况
19:18
Of the 15 percent百分 evaluated评估, 20 percent百分 are classified分类 as "in peril,"
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在这15%的物种里,有20%是被列为“处于危险状态”
19:24
that is, in danger危险 of extinction灭绝.
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换言之,它们就在灭绝的边缘
19:26
That's in the United联合的 States状态.
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这只是美国的故事
19:28
We are, in short, flying飞行 blind into our environmental环境的 future未来.
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概而言之,我们就像盲人一样去迎接这样的未来环境
19:35
We urgently迫切 need to change更改 this.
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我们必须尽快改变这一现状
19:37
We need to have the biosphere生物圈 properly正确 explored探讨
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我们需要对生物圈正确地进行探测
19:41
so that we can understand理解 and competently胜任 manage管理 it.
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唯有如此,我们才能把握其秘密,并更好的加以保护
19:45
We need to settle解决 down before we wreck破坏 the planet行星.
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我们要知道我们的处境,而后才能对未来采取应对措施
19:49
And we need that knowledge知识.
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我们需要这样的知识
19:50
This should be a big science科学 project项目 equivalent当量 to the Human人的 Genome基因组 Project项目.
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这将会是一个相当庞大的科学项目,堪与人类基因组计划相比
19:55
It should be thought of as a biological生物 moonshot大胆创新计划 with a timetable时间表.
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或者说是一次时间概念更强烈的生物学阿波罗项目
20:00
So this brings带来 me to my wish希望 for TEDstersTEDsters,
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我接下来就 要宣布我的TED愿望
20:04
and to anyone任何人 else其他 around the world世界 who hears就听 this talk.
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世界各地热爱科学的朋友也欢迎你们的聆听
20:07
I wish希望 we will work together一起 to help create创建 the key tools工具
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我希望我们可以携手合作,创建一些工具
20:13
that we need to inspire启发 preservation保存 of Earth's地球 biodiversity生物多样性.
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来鼓励保护地球生物多样性
20:17
And let us call it the "Encyclopedia百科全书 of Life."
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不妨将此项目称为“生命百科”
20:21
What is the "Encyclopedia百科全书 of Life?" A concept概念 that has already已经 taken采取 hold保持
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“生命百科”的概念已经得到人们的认同
20:25
and is beginning开始 to spread传播 and be looked看着 at seriously认真地?
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并且正在不断的传播与普及
20:29
It is an encyclopedia百科全书 that lives生活 on the Internet互联网
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这将会是一本在线的百科全书
20:32
and is contributed贡献 to by thousands数千 of scientists科学家们 around the world世界.
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世界各地的科学家都将参与其间
20:37
Amateurs业余 can do it also.
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科学爱好者也能参与
20:40
It has an indefinitely无限期 expandable扩张 page for each species种类.
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对于每个物种,都可以为其添加尽可能多的数据
20:45
It makes品牌 all key information信息 about life on Earth地球 accessible无障碍 to anyone任何人,
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可以使得地球上所有生物的信息向世人公开
20:51
on demand需求, anywhere随地 in the world世界.
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何时何地都可查阅得到
20:53
I've written书面 about this idea理念 before,
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我曾为此写过文章
20:57
and I know there are people in this room房间 who have expended花费 significant重大 effort功夫 on it in the past过去.
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我知道这里也有人曾为同类项目作出巨大贡献
21:04
But what excites的激励 me is that since以来 I first put forward前锋 this particular特定 idea理念 in that form形成,
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但最让我兴奋的是,自从我产生这个想法之后
21:12
science科学 has advanced高级.
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科学有了飞跃的发展
21:14
Technology技术 has moved移动 forward前锋.
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技术也有飞跃的发展
21:17
Today今天, the practicalities实用性 of making制造 such这样 an encyclopedia百科全书,
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今天,从技术上来说,我们完全有能力
21:21
regardless而不管 of the magnitude大小 of the information信息 put into it, are within reach达到.
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去编制这样一部百科全书,不管当中包含的数据容量有多大
21:27
Indeed确实, in the past过去 year, a group of influential有影响 scientific科学 institutions机构
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事实上,过去一年,有多家颇具影响力的科研机构
21:31
have begun开始 mobilizing动员 to realize实现 this dream梦想.
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就已经着手将此设想变为现实
21:35
I wish希望 you would help them.
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我希望你们能帮助他们
21:38
Working加工 together一起, we can make this real真实.
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携手合作,我们就可以实现目标
21:42
The encyclopedia百科全书 will quickly很快 pay工资 for itself本身 in practical实际的 applications应用.
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项目本身很快就会得到回报,因为会有很多实际的用途
21:47
It will address地址 transcendent超然 qualities气质 in the human人的 consciousness意识, and sense of human人的 need.
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它也将为人类带来更深层次的精神维度,重新定义人类的需求
21:53
It will transform转变 the science科学 of biology生物学 in ways方法 of obvious明显 benefit效益 to humanity人性.
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它将改变生物学的面貌,这样的改变也将为人类带来福音
21:59
And most of all, it can inspire启发 a new generation of biologists生物学家
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最重要的是,它将为年轻一代的生物学家带来启发
22:04
to continue继续 the quest寻求 that started开始, for me personally亲自, 60 years年份 ago:
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去继续我60年前开始的征途
22:09
to search搜索 for life, to understand理解 it and finally最后, above以上 all, to preserve保留 it.
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去寻找生命,理解生命,最终守护生命
22:14
That is my wish希望. Thank you.
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这就是我的愿望。谢谢大家。
Translated by Tony Yet
Reviewed by lin qiang

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
E.O. Wilson - Biologist
Biologist E.O. Wilson explores the world of ants and other tiny creatures, and writes movingly about the way all creatures great and small are interdependent.

Why you should listen

One of the world's most distinguished scientists, E.O. Wilson is a professor and honorary curator in entomology at Harvard. In 1975, he published Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, a work that described social behavior, from ants to humans.

Drawing from his deep knowledge of the Earth's "little creatures" and his sense that their contribution to the planet's ecology is underappreciated, he produced what may be his most important book, The Diversity of Life. In it he describes how an intricately interconnected natural system is threatened by man's encroachment, in a crisis he calls the "sixth extinction" (the fifth one wiped out the dinosaurs).

With his most recent book, The Creation, he wants to put the differences of science- and faith-based explanations aside "to protect Earth's vanishing natural habitats and species ...; in other words, the Creation, however we believe it came into existence." A recent documentary called Behold the Earth illustrates this human relationship to nature, or rather separation from an originally intended human bond with nature, through music, imagery, and thoughtful words from both Christians and scientists, including Wilson. 

More profile about the speaker
E.O. Wilson | Speaker | TED.com