TED2019
Karen Lloyd: The mysterious microbes living deep inside the earth -- and how they could help humanity
凯伦·劳埃德: 神秘的地底微生物——它们是如何帮助人类的
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Readability: 4.4
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在你脚下的土地，是庞大又神秘的微生物的家园——它们中的一些已经在地壳里生活了成千上万年了。它在下面是什么样子的？就像置身于哥斯达黎加的火山和温泉，微生物学家凯伦·劳埃德将为我们展示这些地下隐秘的生物以及它们如何对地上产生了深远的影响。
Karen Lloyd - Marine microbiologist
Karen Lloyd studies novel groups of microbes in Earth's deep surface biosphere, collecting them from disparate remote places such as Arctic fjords, volcanoes in Costa Rica, even deep in mud in the Marianas Trench Full bio
Karen Lloyd studies novel groups of microbes in Earth's deep surface biosphere, collecting them from disparate remote places such as Arctic fjords, volcanoes in Costa Rica, even deep in mud in the Marianas Trench Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
It may seem like we're all standing
on solid earth right now,
on solid earth right now,
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看起来我们现在都站在
坚固的地球表面上，
坚固的地球表面上，
然而并不是。
00:15
but we're not.
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00:17
The rocks and the dirt underneath us
are crisscrossed by tiny little fractures
are crisscrossed by tiny little fractures
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在我们脚下的石头和尘土里
交叉分布着
交叉分布着
细小的断裂层和空隙。
00:22
and empty spaces.
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这些空隙中充满
天文数量级的微生物，
天文数量级的微生物，
00:23
And these empty spaces are filled
with astronomical quantities of microbes,
with astronomical quantities of microbes,
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比如这些。
00:28
such as these ones.
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00:30
The deepest that we found microbes
so far into the earth
so far into the earth
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目前我们可以找到微生物的最大深度
是地下5000米。
00:34
is five kilometers down.
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所以，如果你在地面上定一个点位，
00:36
So like, if you pointed
yourself at the ground
yourself at the ground
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然后开始向地心跑，
00:38
and took off running into the ground,
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沿途5000米的路径上都能看到微生物。
00:40
you could run an entire 5K race
and microbes would line your whole path.
and microbes would line your whole path.
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00:45
So you may not have ever thought
about these microbes
about these microbes
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所以你可能从来没想到这些微生物
还存在于地壳的深处，
00:47
that are deep inside earth's crust,
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但是你可能会想到生活
在我们内脏里的微生物。
在我们内脏里的微生物。
00:49
but you probably thought
about the microbes living in our guts.
about the microbes living in our guts.
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如果你将地球上所有生物的
00:52
If you add up the gut microbiomes
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00:54
of all the people
and all the animals on the planet,
and all the animals on the planet,
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内脏微生物全部加在一起，
它们的重量约有10万吨。
00:56
collectively, this weighs
about 100,000 tons.
about 100,000 tons.
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每一天，这么庞大的生物群
就生活在我们的肚子里。
就生活在我们的肚子里。
01:00
This is a huge biome that we carry
in our bellies every single day.
in our bellies every single day.
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01:05
We should all be proud.
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我们都应该感到非常骄傲。
01:07
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
但是相对于可以覆盖
整个地球表面的微生物，
整个地球表面的微生物，
01:08
But it pales in comparison
to the number of microbes
to the number of microbes
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比如在土壤里、河里和海里的微生物，
01:12
that are covering
the entire surface of the earth,
the entire surface of the earth,
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内脏里的微生物
就显得相形见绌了。
就显得相形见绌了。
01:14
like in our soils,
our rivers and our oceans.
our rivers and our oceans.
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它们加起来约有20亿吨。
01:17
Collectively, these weigh
about two billion tons.
about two billion tons.
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01:22
But it turns out that the majority
of microbes on earth
of microbes on earth
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但是事实说明大部分地球上的微生物
并不是在我们的内脏或者污水处理厂里。
01:24
aren't even in oceans or our guts
or sewage treatment plants.
or sewage treatment plants.
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实际上，它们大多数都在地壳里。
01:28
Most of them are actually
inside the earth's crust.
inside the earth's crust.
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所以这些加起来有400亿吨重。
01:31
So collectively,
these weigh 40 billion tons.
these weigh 40 billion tons.
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01:35
This is one of the biggest
biomes on the planet,
biomes on the planet,
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这是地球上最大的微生物群之一，
而我们在几十年前才发现它们的存在。
01:39
and we didn't even know it existed
until a few decades ago.
until a few decades ago.
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01:42
So the possibilities
for what life is like down there,
for what life is like down there,
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所以地球下的生活是什么样，
或者它们对人类的影响
01:45
or what it might do for humans,
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无法估量。
01:48
are limitless.
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01:50
This is a map showing a red dot
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这个地图上的红点标记的每一个地方
都是我们通过现代微生物学手段
01:52
for every place where we've gotten
pretty good deep subsurface samples
pretty good deep subsurface samples
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获得的非常好的地表下层样本。
01:55
with modern microbiological methods,
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你可能想不到，
01:57
and you may be impressed
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我们在全球各地都有取样。
01:58
that we're getting a pretty good
global coverage,
global coverage,
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但是实际上，如果你发现
这些是我们仅有的几个采样地点，
这些是我们仅有的几个采样地点，
02:01
but actually, if you remember
that these are the only places
that these are the only places
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情况看起来就没那么乐观了。
02:04
that we have samples from,
it looks a little worse.
it looks a little worse.
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假如我们在一个外星人的飞船上，
02:06
If we were all in an alien spaceship,
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试图通过仅有的这些样本
来重新构建地球的地图，
来重新构建地球的地图，
02:08
trying to reconstruct a map of the globe
from only these samples,
from only these samples,
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那是绝对不可能做到的。
02:12
we'd never be able to do it.
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02:15
So people sometimes say to me,
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有时候有人跟我说，
“没错，地表下有很多微生物，但是……
02:17
"Yeah, there's a lot of microbes
in the subsurface, but ...
in the subsurface, but ...
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它们不是在冬眠吗？”
02:21
aren't they just kind of dormant?"
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02:23
This is a good point.
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这是非常好的一个问题。
当比无花果属植物或者麻疹，
或者是我小孩养的那些豚鼠，
或者是我小孩养的那些豚鼠，
02:25
Relative to a ficus plant or the measles
or my kid's guinea pigs,
or my kid's guinea pigs,
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这些微生物大概真的是什么事情都不做。
02:30
these microbes probably
aren't doing much of anything at all.
aren't doing much of anything at all.
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我们知道因为它们数量过于庞大，
它们不得不成长得很缓慢。
它们不得不成长得很缓慢。
02:33
We know that they have to be slow,
because there's so many of them.
because there's so many of them.
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如果它们按照大肠杆菌的速度开始分裂，
02:37
If they all started dividing
at the rate of E. coli,
at the rate of E. coli,
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仅仅一夜之间，
它们就让整个地球，包括石头的
它们就让整个地球，包括石头的
02:39
then they would double the entire
weight of the earth, rocks included,
weight of the earth, rocks included,
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重量翻倍。
02:43
over a single night.
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02:45
In fact, many of them probably haven't
even undergone a single cell division
even undergone a single cell division
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实际上，从古埃及时代以后，
很多微生物大概甚至没有
完成过一次细胞分裂。
完成过一次细胞分裂。
02:49
since the time of ancient Egypt.
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02:52
Which is just crazy.
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这真是太神奇了。
我们到底该如何去看待
这样长寿的东西？
这样长寿的东西？
02:53
Like, how do you wrap your head
around things that are so long-lived?
around things that are so long-lived?
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但是我想到了一个我非常喜欢的类比，
02:59
But I thought of an analogy
that I really love,
that I really love,
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虽然它听起来会有些奇怪和复杂。
03:02
but it's weird and it's complicated.
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我希望你们可以听听看。
03:04
So I hope that you can all
go there with me.
go there with me.
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好的，让我们试试。
03:06
Alright, let's try it.
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03:08
It's like trying to figure out
the life cycle of a tree ...
the life cycle of a tree ...
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这个类比就像是试图理解
一棵树的生命周期……
一棵树的生命周期……
如果你只能活一天。
03:11
if you only lived for a day.
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所以假如人类的生命只有一天，
并且是在冬天 ，
并且是在冬天 ，
03:13
So like if human life span was only a day,
and we lived in winter,
and we lived in winter,
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那么你的整个人生，
03:17
then you would go your entire life
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都不会在树上看到任何一片叶子。
03:19
without ever seeing a tree
with a leaf on it.
with a leaf on it.
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在仅仅一个冬天里，
03:21
And there would be so many
human generations
human generations
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人类就会拥有非常多的后代子孙，
03:23
that would pass by within a single winter
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以致于历史书上
03:25
that you may not even have access
to a history book
to a history book
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只会记载树木
是一个没有生命的棍子，
是一个没有生命的棍子，
03:28
that says anything other than the fact
that trees are always lifeless sticks
that trees are always lifeless sticks
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没啥用处。
03:32
that don't do anything.
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当然，这种结论很荒唐。
03:33
Of course, this is ridiculous.
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我们知道树木
只是在等待夏天的到来，
只是在等待夏天的到来，
03:35
We know that trees
are just waiting for summer
are just waiting for summer
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这样它们就可以恢复活力。
03:37
so they can reactivate.
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但是假如人类的寿命
03:38
But if the human life span
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明显比树木的寿命短，
03:41
were significantly shorter
than that of trees,
than that of trees,
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我们可能就完全不会察觉到
这个非常平凡的事实。
这个非常平凡的事实。
03:44
we might be completely oblivious
to this totally mundane fact.
to this totally mundane fact.
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03:48
So when we say that these deep
subsurface microbes are just dormant,
subsurface microbes are just dormant,
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所以当我们说这些深埋于
地下的微生物只是在沉睡，
地下的微生物只是在沉睡，
我们是不是就像那些寿命只有一天
却试图理解树木如何生存的人们？
却试图理解树木如何生存的人们？
03:53
are we like people who die after a day,
trying to figure out how trees work?
trying to figure out how trees work?
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03:58
What if these deep subsurface organisms
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这些地表下的微生物
会不会只是在等待它们的“夏天”，
04:00
are just waiting
for their version of summer,
for their version of summer,
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而我们只是因为生命太短暂而无法看到？
04:02
but our lives are too short
for us to see it?
for us to see it?
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04:06
If you take E. coli
and seal it up in a test tube,
and seal it up in a test tube,
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如果你将大肠杆菌封闭在一个试管里，
没有食物或者营养剂给它，
04:10
with no food or nutrients,
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然后将它成年累月的放在那里不管，
04:11
and leave it there for months to years,
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当然，大部分细胞都会饿死。
04:14
most of the cells die off, of course,
because they're starving.
because they're starving.
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但是很小一部分细胞会生存下来。
04:17
But a few of the cells survive.
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如果你取下这些年老的
存活下来的细胞，
存活下来的细胞，
04:19
If you take these old surviving cells
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让它们在饥饿的条件下，
04:21
and compete them,
also under starvation conditions,
also under starvation conditions,
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和一些新的、快速成长的
大肠杆菌竞争，
大肠杆菌竞争，
04:24
against a new, fast-growing
culture of E. coli,
culture of E. coli,
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这些头发花白、吃苦耐劳的老年人
每一次都打败了吱吱作响的
每一次都打败了吱吱作响的
04:27
the grizzled old tough guys
beat out the squeaky clean upstarts
beat out the squeaky clean upstarts
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干净的新贵。
04:31
every single time.
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04:33
So this is evidence there's actually
an evolutionary payoff
an evolutionary payoff
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所以，这证明了
进化的格外缓慢
进化的格外缓慢
其实有好处。
04:37
to being extraordinarily slow.
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04:40
So it's possible
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所以有可能，
我们也许不应该将慢等同于不重要。
04:42
that maybe we should not equate
being slow with being unimportant.
being slow with being unimportant.
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04:50
Maybe these out-of-sight,
out-of-mind microbes
out-of-mind microbes
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也许这些看不见的，
我们不放在心上的微生物
我们不放在心上的微生物
实际上对人类是有帮助的。
04:53
could actually be helpful to humanity.
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04:56
OK, so as far as we know,
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目前我们所知道的是，
有两种方法让它们在地表下的生活。
04:57
there are two ways to do
subsurface living.
subsurface living.
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04:59
The first is to wait for food
to trickle down from the surface world,
to trickle down from the surface world,
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第一种是等待食物从地表向下滴流，
这就好像尝试吃从一千年前的
野餐上剩下来的食物。
野餐上剩下来的食物。
05:03
like trying to eat the leftovers
of a picnic that happened 1,000 years ago.
of a picnic that happened 1,000 years ago.
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真是个疯狂的生活方式。
05:08
Which is a crazy way to live,
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令人吃惊的是，对于很多地球上的
微生物来说，这个方法是可行的。
微生物来说，这个方法是可行的。
05:10
but shockingly seems to work out
for a lot of microbes in earth.
for a lot of microbes in earth.
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05:13
The other possibility
is for a microbe to just say,
is for a microbe to just say,
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另外一种方式是，
微生物会觉得，
微生物会觉得，
“我不需要地表世界，
05:17
"Nah, I don't need the surface world.
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我在这下面挺好的。”
05:19
I'm good down here."
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对于选择这条路的微生物来说，
05:21
For microbes that go this route,
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它们为了生存，不得不从地球内部
05:22
they have to get everything
that they need in order to survive
that they need in order to survive
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来获取它们所需求的一切。
05:26
from inside the earth.
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05:30
Some things are actually
easier for them to get.
easier for them to get.
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实际上，有些东西
对它们来说比较容易获得。
对它们来说比较容易获得。
这些东西在地球里面更加充足，
05:32
They're more abundant inside the earth,
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比如水源或者营养，
比如氮、铁和磷，
比如氮、铁和磷，
05:34
like water or nutrients,
like nitrogen and iron and phosphorus,
like nitrogen and iron and phosphorus,
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或者可以居住的地方。
05:38
or places to live.
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这些是我们在地表世界上
需要靠互相厮杀
需要靠互相厮杀
05:39
These are things that we literally
kill each other to get ahold of
kill each other to get ahold of
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来得到的东西。
05:42
up at the surface world.
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但是在地表下，它们只需要担心
是否有足够的能量。
是否有足够的能量。
05:44
But in the subsurface,
the problem is finding enough energy.
the problem is finding enough energy.
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05:48
Up at the surface,
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在地表上，
当太阳光子照到植物的叶子上时，
05:49
plants can chemically knit together
carbon dioxide molecules into yummy sugars
carbon dioxide molecules into yummy sugars
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它们可以尽快地
将二氧化碳分子转化成美味的糖分。
将二氧化碳分子转化成美味的糖分。
05:53
as fast as the sun's photons
hit their leaves.
hit their leaves.
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但是在地表下，当然了，
那里没有阳光，
那里没有阳光，
05:56
But in the subsurface, of course,
there's no sunlight,
there's no sunlight,
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所以这个生态系统
不得不解决这个问题：
不得不解决这个问题：
05:58
so this ecosystem has to solve the problem
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谁来给其它的微生物制造食物。
06:01
of who is going to make the food
for everybody else.
for everybody else.
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06:05
The subsurface needs something
that's like a plant
that's like a plant
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地表下需要像植物那样的东西，
但是呼吸的是石头。
06:09
but it breathes rocks.
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06:11
Luckily, such a thing exists,
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幸运的是，存在这么一个东西，
叫做化能无机自养生物。
06:14
and it's called a chemolithoautotroph.
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（笑声）
06:17
(Laughter)
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这个单词是由一个微生物
利用化学物质——“chemo”
利用化学物质——“chemo”
06:18
Which is a microbe
that uses chemicals -- "chemo,"
that uses chemicals -- "chemo,"
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从石头里——"litho"，
06:22
from rocks -- "litho,"
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生产食物——"autotroph"。
06:24
to make food -- "autotroph."
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它们可以用大量不同的元素。
06:27
And they can do this
with a ton of different elements.
with a ton of different elements.
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它们可以用硫磺、铁、镁、氮、碳，
06:29
They can do this with sulphur,
iron, manganese, nitrogen, carbon,
iron, manganese, nitrogen, carbon,
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其中有些可以直接用纯电子。
06:33
some of them can use
pure electrons, straight up.
pure electrons, straight up.
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06:37
Like, if you cut the end
off of an electrical cord,
off of an electrical cord,
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就像是，如果你切掉
一个电线的尾部，
一个电线的尾部，
它们可以用它呼吸，
就像潜水通气管那样。
就像潜水通气管那样。
06:39
they could breathe it like a snorkel.
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（笑声）
06:41
(Laughter)
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这些化能无机自养生物
06:43
These chemolithoautotrophs
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将这个过程中得到的能量
06:44
take the energy that they get
from these processes
from these processes
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用来制造食物，就像植物那样。
06:47
and use it to make food, like plants do.
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但是我们知道植物
并不仅仅只是制造食物。
并不仅仅只是制造食物。
06:49
But we know that plants do more
than just make food.
than just make food.
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06:53
They also make a waste product, oxygen,
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它们也可以制造
一种多余的产物，氧气，
一种多余的产物，氧气，
这是我们百分之百赖以生存的东西。
06:55
which we are 100 percent dependent upon.
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06:57
But the waste product
that these chemolithoautotrophs make
that these chemolithoautotrophs make
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但是这些化能无机自养生物
制造的多余的产物
制造的多余的产物
则是矿物，
07:01
is often in the form of minerals,
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比如锈或者黄铁矿，包括愚人金，
07:03
like rust or pyrite, like fool's gold,
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或者碳酸盐，包括石灰岩。
07:07
or carminites, like limestone.
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07:10
So what we have are microbes
that are really, really slow, like rocks,
that are really, really slow, like rocks,
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我们的微生物，就像石头那样，
变化非常非常慢，
变化非常非常慢，
07:18
that get their energy from rocks,
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它们从石头里获取能量，
来制造的多余的产物，还是石头。
07:21
that make as their waste
product other rocks.
product other rocks.
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07:25
So am I talking about biology,
or am I talking about geology?
or am I talking about geology?
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所以我是在讨论生物，
还是在讨论地理？
还是在讨论地理？
07:29
This stuff really blurs the lines.
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这个东西真的很难定义。
（笑声）
07:31
(Laughter)
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如果我要研究微生物，
07:32
So if I'm going to do this thing,
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并且我将要作为一名生物学家
07:34
and I'm going to be a biologist
who studies microbes
who studies microbes
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来研究这种行为像石头一样的微生物，
07:38
that kind of act like rocks,
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那么，我大概应该开始学习地理了。
07:40
then I should probably
start studying geology.
start studying geology.
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那么，地理最酷的部分是什么呢？
07:43
And what's the coolest part of geology?
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07:47
Volcanoes.
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火山。
（笑声）
07:48
(Laughter)
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这是从哥斯达黎加的
珀阿斯火山口内部的景象。
珀阿斯火山口内部的景象。
07:49
This is looking inside the crater
of Poás Volcano in Costa Rica.
of Poás Volcano in Costa Rica.
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07:53
Many volcanoes on earth arise
because an oceanic tectonic plate
because an oceanic tectonic plate
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地球上许多火山
是由于海洋地壳构造板块
是由于海洋地壳构造板块
撞上大陆板块而出现的。
07:57
crashes into a continental plate.
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当海洋板块下沉
07:59
As this oceanic plate subducts
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或移动到大陆板块下面时，
08:01
or gets moved underneath
this continental plate,
this continental plate,
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像水和二氧化碳以及其它的物质
08:03
things like water and carbon dioxide
and other materials
and other materials
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就被挤压脱离了大陆板块，
08:06
get squeezed out of it,
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就像箍住了一块湿毛巾。
08:07
like ringing a wet washcloth.
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08:10
So in this way, subduction zones
are like portals into the deep earth,
are like portals into the deep earth,
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这样一来，俯冲带就成了
通往地壳的传送带，
通往地壳的传送带，
在这里，地表和地表下的物质
得以相互交换。
得以相互交换。
08:14
where materials are exchanged between
the surface and the subsurface world.
the surface and the subsurface world.
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最近我收受到一些
在哥斯达黎加的同事邀请，
在哥斯达黎加的同事邀请，
08:17
So I was recently invited
by some of my colleagues in Costa Rica
by some of my colleagues in Costa Rica
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和他们一起对一些火山进行研究。
08:20
to come and work with them
on some of the volcanoes.
on some of the volcanoes.
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当然，我同意了，
因为我觉得哥斯达黎加很漂亮，
因为我觉得哥斯达黎加很漂亮，
08:24
And of course I said yes,
because, I mean, Costa Rica is beautiful,
because, I mean, Costa Rica is beautiful,
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但是也是因为哥斯达黎加位于
这其中一个俯冲带的上方。
这其中一个俯冲带的上方。
08:28
but also because it sits on top
of one of these subduction zones.
of one of these subduction zones.
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08:32
We wanted to ask
the very specific question:
the very specific question:
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我们想问一个非常具体的问题：
为什么从这个深埋的海洋板块中
08:35
Why is it that the carbon dioxide
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释放出来的二氧化碳
08:37
that comes out of this deeply buried
oceanic tectonic plate
oceanic tectonic plate
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只能来自火山呢？
08:40
is only coming out of the volcanoes?
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为什么它没有分部在整个俯冲带？
08:42
Why don't we see it distributed
throughout the entire subduction zone?
throughout the entire subduction zone?
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这和微生物会不会有什么联系？
08:46
Do the microbes have something
to do with that?
to do with that?
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这是我和我的同事
多纳托·吉欧瓦内利
多纳托·吉欧瓦内利
08:48
So this is a picture of me
inside Poás Volcano,
inside Poás Volcano,
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在珀阿斯火山里的一张照片。
08:52
along with my colleague
Donato Giovannelli.
Donato Giovannelli.
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在我们旁边的是一个
由纯蓄电池酸液构成的湖泊，
由纯蓄电池酸液构成的湖泊，
08:54
That lake that we're standing next to
is made of pure battery acid.
is made of pure battery acid.
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拍这张照片的时候
我们正在测试pH值。
我们正在测试pH值。
08:58
I know this because we were measuring
the pH when this picture was taken.
the pH when this picture was taken.
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09:02
And at some point while
we were working inside the crater,
we were working inside the crater,
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在某个时刻，
我转过身去对我哥斯达黎加的同事
卡洛斯·拉米雷斯说，
卡洛斯·拉米雷斯说，
09:05
I turned to my Costa Rican colleague
Carlos Ramírez and I said,
Carlos Ramírez and I said,
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“如果这个东西现在开始喷发，
09:09
"Alright, if this thing
starts erupting right now,
starts erupting right now,
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我们有什么逃生策略吗？”
09:13
what's our exit strategy?"
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09:15
And he said, "Oh, yeah,
great question, it's totally easy.
great question, it's totally easy.
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然后他说，“哦，当然了，
好问题，这非常简单，
好问题，这非常简单，
转过身欣赏一下这个景象。”
09:18
Just turn around and enjoy the view."
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（笑声）
09:21
(Laughter)
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“因为这将是你最后看到的风景。”
09:22
"Because it will be your last."
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（笑声）
09:24
(Laughter)
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这可能听起来是过于夸张了，
09:25
And it may sound like
he was being overly dramatic,
he was being overly dramatic,
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但是在54天之后，
09:29
but 54 days after I was standing
next to that lake,
next to that lake,
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这一幕发生了。
09:33
this happened.
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观众：啊！
09:35
Audience: Oh!
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09:37
Freaking terrifying, right?
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太吓人了，是吧？
（笑声）
09:38
(Laughs)
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09:40
This was the biggest eruption
this volcano had had in 60-some-odd years,
this volcano had had in 60-some-odd years,
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这是这个火山在60多年来
发生的最大的一次喷发，
发生的最大的一次喷发，
并且在拍完这段视频之后，
09:45
and not long after this video ends,
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拍摄这个视频的摄像机就模糊了，
09:47
the camera that was taking
the video is obliterated
the video is obliterated
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并且我们曾经取样的整个湖泊
09:50
and the entire lake
that we had been sampling
that we had been sampling
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完全蒸发了。
09:52
vaporizes completely.
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09:54
But I also want to be clear
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但是我也想申明，
在火山现场的那一天，
09:56
that we were pretty sure
this was not going to happen
this was not going to happen
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我们是非常确定这种事是不会发生的，
09:59
on the day that we were
actually in the volcano,
actually in the volcano,
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因为哥斯达黎加通过
公立大学地震火山观测站
公立大学地震火山观测站
10:01
because Costa Rica monitors
its volcanoes very carefully
its volcanoes very carefully
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对火山进行了非常细致的观测，
10:04
through the OVSICORI Institute,
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并且那一天也有研究所的
科学家与我们同行。
科学家与我们同行。
10:05
and we had scientists from that institute
with us on that day.
with us on that day.
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但是火山喷发完美的说明了
10:08
But the fact that it erupted
illustrates perfectly
illustrates perfectly
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如果你想找二氧化碳
10:12
that if you want to look
for where carbon dioxide gas
for where carbon dioxide gas
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是从海洋板块的哪个位置产生的，
10:14
is coming out of this oceanic plate,
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没有比观察火山本身更好的机会了。
10:16
then you should look no further
than the volcanoes themselves.
than the volcanoes themselves.
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但是如果你去哥斯达黎加，
10:19
But if you go to Costa Rica,
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除了火山，你还应该注意到
10:21
you may notice that in addition
to these volcanoes
to these volcanoes
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这里遍地都是舒适的温泉。
10:24
there are tons of cozy little hot springs
all over the place.
all over the place.
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10:28
Some of the water in these hot springs
is actually bubbling up
is actually bubbling up
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这些温泉里的一些水源实际上就是
深埋于海洋板块之下的
气泡上升而成的。
气泡上升而成的。
10:31
from this deeply buried oceanic plate.
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10:33
And our hypothesis was
that there should be carbon dioxide
that there should be carbon dioxide
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而我们的假设就是二氧化碳应该
会和气泡一起上升，
10:37
bubbling up with it,
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但是一些地下的东西将它过滤掉了。
10:38
but something deep underground
was filtering it out.
was filtering it out.
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所以我们用了两周的时间，
在哥斯达黎加
在哥斯达黎加
10:41
So we spent two weeks
driving all around Costa Rica,
driving all around Costa Rica,
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将我们可以找到的
所有温泉都取样了——
所有温泉都取样了——
10:45
sampling every hot spring we could find --
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大家都疲惫不堪。
10:48
it was awful, let me tell you.
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10:50
And then we spent the next two years
measuring and analyzing data.
measuring and analyzing data.
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然后我们花了接下来两年时间
测量和分析数据。
测量和分析数据。
如果你不是一个科学家，
我现在告诉你科研发现
我现在告诉你科研发现
10:56
And if you're not a scientist, I'll just
let you know that the big discoveries
let you know that the big discoveries
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一般不会在一个漂亮的温泉里
10:59
don't really happen
when you're at a beautiful hot spring
when you're at a beautiful hot spring
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或者公共演讲台上发生；
11:02
or on a public stage;
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650792
1151
它们发生在你弓着腰
坐在一个凌乱的电脑前的时候，
坐在一个凌乱的电脑前的时候，
11:03
they happen when you're hunched
over a messy computer
over a messy computer
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或者你在排查一个
复杂仪器的故障的时候，
复杂仪器的故障的时候，
11:06
or you're troubleshooting
a difficult instrument,
a difficult instrument,
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2317
或者你在和你的同事视频的时候，
11:08
or you're Skyping your colleagues
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因为你已经完全看不懂数据了。
11:10
because you are completely
confused about your data.
confused about your data.
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科研发现就像是
深层地表下的微生物，
深层地表下的微生物，
11:13
Scientific discoveries,
kind of like deep subsurface microbes,
kind of like deep subsurface microbes,
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3331
这个过程是非常、非常慢的。
11:16
can be very, very slow.
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11:19
But in our case,
this really paid off this one time.
this really paid off this one time.
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但对我们来说，
花这些时间是值得的。
花这些时间是值得的。
我们发现，表面上，大量的二氧化碳
11:22
We discovered that literally
tons of carbon dioxide
tons of carbon dioxide
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4278
是来自于这个深埋的海洋板块。
11:26
were coming out of this
deeply buried oceanic plate.
deeply buried oceanic plate.
237
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3183
11:30
And the thing that was keeping
them underground
them underground
238
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2349
而让它们始终存在于地下
并且让它们无法被释放到空气中的
11:32
and keeping it from being released
out into the atmosphere
out into the atmosphere
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则是这个深藏于地下的，
11:35
was that deep underground,
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1560
在哥斯达黎加所有可爱的树懒
和巨嘴鸟下面的，
和巨嘴鸟下面的，
11:37
underneath all the adorable sloths
and toucans of Costa Rica,
and toucans of Costa Rica,
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3984
化能无机自养生物。
11:41
were chemolithoautotrophs.
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1800
11:43
These microbes and the chemical processes
that were happening around them
that were happening around them
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3501
这些微生物和它们周围的化学过程
将二氧化碳转化成碳酸盐矿物，
11:46
were converting this carbon dioxide
into carbonate mineral
into carbonate mineral
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11:49
and locking it up underground.
245
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1928
并且将它们留在在地表之下。
这会让你们感到奇怪：
11:51
Which makes you wonder:
246
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如果这些地表下的过程如此重要，
11:53
If these subsurface processes
are so good at sucking up
are so good at sucking up
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3501
可以把地面下产生的
二氧化碳全部吸收，
二氧化碳全部吸收，
11:57
all the carbon dioxide
coming from below them,
coming from below them,
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2581
那它们能不能针对我们地表上的
12:00
could they also help us
with a little carbon problem
with a little carbon problem
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2460
二氧化碳问题帮上一点忙？
12:02
we've got going on up at the surface?
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2165
12:05
Humans are releasing enough
carbon dioxide into our atmosphere
carbon dioxide into our atmosphere
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4325
我们知道，人类往空气中
释放了太多的二氧化碳，
释放了太多的二氧化碳，
以致于减弱了我们的地球
12:09
that we are decreasing
the ability of our planet
the ability of our planet
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2974
维护生命的能力。
12:12
to support life as we know it.
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2000
12:14
And scientists and engineers
and entrepreneurs
and entrepreneurs
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2432
科学家、工程师和企业家们
正在致力于研究将二氧化碳
12:17
are working on methods
to pull carbon dioxide
to pull carbon dioxide
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2504
赶出这些源头的方法，
12:19
out of these point sources,
256
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1293
12:21
so that they're not released
into the atmosphere.
into the atmosphere.
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这样二氧化碳就不会被释放到空气中。
他们还需要将这些二氧化碳
安置在别的地方。
安置在别的地方。
12:23
And they need to put it somewhere.
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1651
因为这个原因，
12:25
So for this reason,
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1177
我们一直在研究也许能够
储存这些二氧化碳的地方，
储存这些二氧化碳的地方，
12:26
we need to keep studying places
where this carbon might be stored,
where this carbon might be stored,
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3338
或许在地表下，
12:29
possibly in the subsurface,
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2294
需要了解当二氧化碳
在那里时可能会发生的事情。
在那里时可能会发生的事情。
12:31
to know what's going to happen to it
when it goes there.
when it goes there.
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这些深埋于地表下的微生物
是否会成为一个难题，
是否会成为一个难题，
12:34
Will these deep subsurface microbes
be a problem because they're too slow
be a problem because they're too slow
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它们行动非常缓慢，是否
真的可以保存那下面的任何东西？
真的可以保存那下面的任何东西？
12:38
to actually keep anything down there?
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或者，它们会很有用，
12:39
Or will they be helpful
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因为它们可以把二氧化碳
转化成固体的碳酸盐矿物？
转化成固体的碳酸盐矿物？
12:41
because they'll help convert this stuff
to solid carbonate minerals?
to solid carbonate minerals?
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3790
12:45
If we can make such a big breakthrough
267
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2420
如果我们可以在哥斯达黎加的研究上
12:48
just from one study
that we did in Costa Rica,
that we did in Costa Rica,
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取得重大的科学突破，
想象一下，那下面还会有
什么东西等待着我们去发现。
什么东西等待着我们去发现。
12:50
then imagine what else
is waiting to be discovered down there.
is waiting to be discovered down there.
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12:53
This new field of geo-bio-chemistry,
or deep subsurface biology,
or deep subsurface biology,
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这个地理生物化学的新领域，
或者深层地下生物学，
或者深层地下生物学，
或者任何你想称呼的名字，
12:59
or whatever you want to call it,
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将会产生巨大的影响，
13:01
is going to have huge implications,
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并不仅仅是缓解气候变化，
13:03
not just for mitigating climate change,
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而可能是对生命和地球共同进化的理解，
13:05
but possibly for understanding
how life and earth have coevolved,
how life and earth have coevolved,
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13:09
or finding new products that are useful
for industrial or medical applications.
for industrial or medical applications.
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或者是寻找对工业和
医学应用有效的新产品。
医学应用有效的新产品。
或者甚至是预测地震
13:14
Maybe even predicting earthquakes
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或者寻找地球以外的生命。
13:16
or finding life outside our planet.
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它可能甚至可以帮助
我们理解生命的起源。
我们理解生命的起源。
13:18
It could even help us understand
the origin of life itself.
the origin of life itself.
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13:22
Fortunately, I don't have
to do this by myself.
to do this by myself.
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幸运的是，在这件事上，
我不是一个人。
我不是一个人。
13:25
I have amazing colleagues
all over the world
all over the world
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我在全世界都有着了不起的同事，
他们闯入了这个深埋于
地表下的世界的奥秘。
地表下的世界的奥秘。
13:29
who are cracking into the mysteries
of this deep subsurface world.
of this deep subsurface world.
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13:33
And it may seem like life
buried deep within the earth's crust
buried deep within the earth's crust
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看起来好像深埋于地壳的生命
13:38
is so far away from our daily experiences
that it's kind of irrelevant.
that it's kind of irrelevant.
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离我们的日常生活非常遥远，
以致于和我们毫无关系。
以致于和我们毫无关系。
13:43
But the truth is
that this weird, slow life
that this weird, slow life
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但是真相就是这个
怪异而又缓慢的生命体
怪异而又缓慢的生命体
可能实际上有着
我们地球上的生命中蕴含的
我们地球上的生命中蕴含的
13:47
may actually have the answers
to some of the greatest mysteries
to some of the greatest mysteries
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一些最大奥秘的答案。
13:50
of life on earth.
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13:52
Thank you.
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谢谢大家。
（掌声）
13:53
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Karen Lloyd - Marine microbiologistKaren Lloyd studies novel groups of microbes in Earth's deep surface biosphere, collecting them from disparate remote places such as Arctic fjords, volcanoes in Costa Rica, even deep in mud in the Marianas Trench
Why you should listen
Karen G. Lloyd applies molecular biological techniques to environmental samples to learn more about microbes that have thus far evaded attempts to be cultured in a laboratory. She has adapted novel techniques to quantify and characterize these mysterious microbes while requiring minimal changes to their natural conditions. Her work centers on deep oceanic subsurface sediments, deep-sea mud volcanoes and cold seeps, terrestrial volcanoes and hot springs, serpentinizing springs, Arctic marine fjord sediments and ancient permafrost. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee.
Karen Lloyd | Speaker | TED.com