TED2012
Brian Greene: Is our universe the only universe?
Brian Greene: 我們的宇宙如何巧妙地容許生命?
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現代宇宙觀的思想中心有個巨大的謎團:為甚麼我們的宇宙如此細膩地構成使生命繁衍的條件? Brian Greene 於這個充滿現今科學最新發現的演講中，以多元宇宙這個令人難以置信的理論解答這個亙古謎題。
Brian Greene - Physicist
Brian Greene is perhaps the best-known proponent of superstring theory, the idea that minuscule strands of energy vibrating in a higher dimensional space-time create every particle and force in the universe. Full bio
Brian Greene is perhaps the best-known proponent of superstring theory, the idea that minuscule strands of energy vibrating in a higher dimensional space-time create every particle and force in the universe. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
A few months ago
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幾個月前，
00:17
the Nobel Prize in physics
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兩個天文學家的團隊，
00:19
was awarded to two teams of astronomers
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因為他們所作出的一個
00:21
for a discovery that has been hailed
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被稱為天文觀測史上
00:24
as one of the most important
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最重要的觀察之一，
00:26
astronomical observations ever.
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而獲得了諾貝爾物理學獎。
00:28
And today, after briefly describing what they found,
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而今天，在簡短的描述他們的發現之後，
00:30
I'm going to tell you about a highly controversial framework
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我將告訴你們一個可以解釋他們的發現，
00:33
for explaining their discovery,
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但卻非常有爭議的理論架構。
00:36
namely the possibility
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那就是，
00:38
that way beyond the Earth,
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在超出地球，
00:40
the Milky Way and other distant galaxies,
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超出銀河系和一切遙遠的星系以上，
00:43
we may find that our universe
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我們可能會明白我們的宇宙
00:45
is not the only universe,
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并不是唯一的宇宙，
00:47
but is instead
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而只是一個極度龐大的宇宙群，
00:49
part of a vast complex of universes
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我們所謂的多元宇宙，
00:51
that we call the multiverse.
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其中的一個。
00:53
Now the idea of a multiverse is a strange one.
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多元宇宙的想法有些奇怪。
00:56
I mean, most of us were raised to believe
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我們大多數人在成長中都被教予
00:58
that the word "universe" means everything.
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“宇宙”這個詞代表著所有的一切。
01:01
And I say most of us with forethought,
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我說“我們大多數”是經過考慮的，
01:04
as my four-year-old daughter has heard me speak of these ideas since she was born.
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因為我的四歲的女兒從出生便開始聽我說這些想法，
01:07
And last year I was holding her
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而去年當我抱住她
01:09
and I said, "Sophia,
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然後我對她說： “索菲亞，
01:11
I love you more than anything in the universe."
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我愛你超過宇宙中所有的一切。”
01:14
And she turned to me and said, "Daddy,
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然後她轉過來對我說， “爸爸，
01:16
universe or multiverse?"
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是宇宙還是多元宇宙？”
01:18
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
01:21
But barring such an anomalous upbringing,
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但在這反常的教育以外，
01:24
it is strange to imagine
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設想和我們的世界
01:26
other realms separate from ours,
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分離的領域還是很奇怪，
01:28
most with fundamentally different features,
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它們或許有著從根本上完全不同的特徵，
01:30
that would rightly be called universes of their own.
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并各自可以被稱作宇宙。
01:33
And yet,
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但是，雖然
01:35
speculative though the idea surely is,
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這個設想只是推測，
01:37
I aim to convince you
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我的目標是說服你們
01:39
that there's reason for taking it seriously,
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的確有理由來認真的考慮它，
01:41
as it just might be right.
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因為它有可能就是真的。
01:43
I'm going to tell the story of the multiverse in three parts.
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我將把多元宇宙的故事分成三部份。
01:46
In part one,
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在第一部份，
01:48
I'm going to describe those Nobel Prize-winning results
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我將描述那獲得諾貝爾獎的研究結果，
01:50
and to highlight a profound mystery
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以及這些結果揭發的
01:52
which those results revealed.
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一個意義深遠的謎團。
01:54
In part two,
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在第二部份，
01:56
I'll offer a solution to that mystery.
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我將為那個謎團提出一個解釋。
01:58
It's based on an approach called string theory,
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它基於一個叫做弦理論的方法，
02:00
and that's where the idea of the multiverse
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並會將多元宇宙的概念
02:02
will come into the story.
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來引進這個故事中。
02:04
Finally, in part three,
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最終，在第三部份，
02:06
I'm going to describe a cosmological theory
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我將描述一個叫做“暴脹”的
02:08
called inflation,
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宇宙論，
02:10
which will pull all the pieces of the story together.
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而它將把故事所有的片段聯繫在一起。
02:13
Okay, part one starts back in 1929
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好的。 第一部份從1929年開始。
02:17
when the great astronomer Edwin Hubble
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著名的天文學家愛德文.哈伯
02:19
realized that the distant galaxies
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發現遠處的星系
02:22
were all rushing away from us,
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都在迅速的離我們遠去，
02:24
establishing that space itself is stretching,
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說明了空間本身正在伸展，
02:26
it's expanding.
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在擴張。
02:28
Now this was revolutionary.
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而這是突破性的。
02:31
The prevailing wisdom was that on the largest of scales
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當時普遍的認知是，在最大的範圍內，
02:34
the universe was static.
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宇宙是靜止的。
02:36
But even so,
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但即使如此，
02:38
there was one thing that everyone was certain of:
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有一件事情是所有人都確信的：
02:41
The expansion must be slowing down.
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擴張必定在逐漸緩慢下來。
02:44
That, much as the gravitational pull of the Earth
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就像地球上的萬有引力
02:47
slows the ascent of an apple tossed upward,
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將往上拋的蘋果的速度慢下來，
02:50
the gravitational pull
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每一個星系對對方的
02:52
of each galaxy on every other
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萬有引力
02:54
must be slowing
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必定也在將空間的擴張
02:56
the expansion of space.
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緩慢下來。
02:58
Now let's fast-forward to the 1990s
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現在讓我們快轉到90年代，
03:01
when those two teams of astronomers
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當我在一開始講到的
03:03
I mentioned at the outset
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那兩個天文學家的團隊
03:05
were inspired by this reasoning
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受到了這個推理的啟迪，
03:07
to measure the rate
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來測量宇宙擴張
03:09
at which the expansion has been slowing.
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減慢的速度。
03:11
And they did this
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他們
03:13
by painstaking observations
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對很多個遠處星系
03:15
of numerous distant galaxies,
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做出的縝密的觀察
03:17
allowing them to chart
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允許他們記錄下來
03:19
how the expansion rate has changed over time.
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宇宙隨著時間過去，擴張速度的變化
03:22
Here's the surprise:
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而令人吃驚的事情發生了：
03:25
They found that the expansion is not slowing down.
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他們發現擴張并沒有緩緩減速。
03:28
Instead they found that it's speeding up,
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相反，他們發現它正在加速，
03:30
going faster and faster.
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越來越快。
03:32
That's like tossing an apple upward
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這就像將一個蘋果拋上空中，
03:34
and it goes up faster and faster.
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然後它往上的速度越來越快。
03:36
Now if you saw an apple do that,
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如果你看到一個蘋果那樣表現的話，
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you'd want to know why.
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你會想知道這是爲什麽。
03:40
What's pushing on it?
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是什麽東西在推動著它？
03:42
Similarly, the astronomers' results
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同樣的，這些天文學家的結果
03:44
are surely well-deserving of the Nobel Prize,
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肯定應該獲得諾貝爾獎，
03:47
but they raised an analogous question.
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但它們也提起了一個相似的問題。
03:51
What force is driving all galaxies
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是什麽力量在將
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to rush away from every other
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所有的星系往外
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at an ever-quickening speed?
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以越來越快的速度推動？
03:59
Well the most promising answer
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最好的答案
04:01
comes from an old idea of Einstein's.
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源於愛因斯坦的一個老想法。
04:04
You see, we are all used to gravity
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你看，我們都習慣於萬有引力
04:06
being a force that does one thing,
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只做一件事情，
04:09
pulls objects together.
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那就是將事物拉到一起。
04:11
But in Einstein's theory of gravity,
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但在愛因斯坦的萬有引力理論，
04:13
his general theory of relativity,
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它的廣義相對論中，
04:15
gravity can also push things apart.
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萬有引力也可以將事物推開。
04:18
How? Well according to Einstein's math,
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這是如何做到的？根據愛因斯坦的計算，
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if space is uniformly filled
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如果空間被一種
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with an invisible energy,
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無形的能量均勻的佔據，
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sort of like a uniform, invisible mist,
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就像一個均勻的，無形的迷霧，
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then the gravity generated by that mist
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那麼這個迷霧產生的引力
04:31
would be repulsive,
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將會是相斥的，
04:33
repulsive gravity,
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而相斥的引力
04:35
which is just what we need to explain the observations.
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恰恰可以提我們解釋這些觀察結果。
04:38
Because the repulsive gravity
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因為空間中一種無形的能量
04:40
of an invisible energy in space --
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產生的相斥的引力 -
04:42
we now call it dark energy,
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我們現在叫它暗能量，
04:44
but I've made it smokey white here so you can see it --
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但我在這裡將它變成煙霧般的白色讓你能看到 -
04:47
its repulsive gravity
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它的相斥的引力
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would cause each galaxy to push against every other,
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會導致每一個星系互相推動，
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driving expansion to speed up,
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將擴張速度變快，
04:53
not slow down.
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而不是變慢。
04:55
And this explanation
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而這個解釋
04:57
represents great progress.
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代表著很大的進展。
04:59
But I promised you a mystery
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但我答應了你在第一部份
05:02
here in part one.
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有一個謎團。
05:04
Here it is.
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謎題是如此的:
05:06
When the astronomers worked out
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當這些天文學家計算出
05:08
how much of this dark energy
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空間中需要
05:11
must be infusing space
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多少暗能量
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to account for the cosmic speed up,
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才能導致現在的宇宙擴張加速，
05:15
look at what they found.
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看看他們所發現的。
05:24
This number is small.
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這個數字很小。
05:26
Expressed in the relevant unit,
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以相應的單位时表示，
05:28
it is spectacularly small.
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它令人吃驚地小。
05:30
And the mystery is to explain this peculiar number.
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而謎團便是如何解釋這個古怪的數字。
05:33
We want this number
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我們想讓這個數字
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to emerge from the laws of physics,
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從物理定律中自然的浮現，
05:37
but so far no one has found a way to do that.
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但目前為止沒有人知道如何做。
05:40
Now you might wonder,
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現在你可能在想，
05:43
should you care?
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這是你應該關心的嗎？
05:45
Maybe explaining this number
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或許解釋這個數字
05:47
is just a technical issue,
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只是一個技術上的問題，
05:49
a technical detail of interest to experts,
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一個專家對之有興趣的技術細節，
05:52
but of no relevance to anybody else.
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但對其他人來說沒有任何意義。
05:54
Well it surely is a technical detail,
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它的確是一個技術細節，
05:57
but some details really matter.
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但有些細節真的狠重要。
05:59
Some details provide
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有些細節可以為
06:01
windows into uncharted realms of reality,
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探索未知的現實提供一扇窗。
06:03
and this peculiar number may be doing just that,
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而這個特殊的數字很有可能就是這扇窗，
06:06
as the only approach that's so far made headway to explain it
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因為到目前為止，唯一一個可以解釋它的方法
06:09
invokes the possibility of other universes --
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包括了其他宇宙的存在的可能 -
06:12
an idea that naturally emerges from string theory,
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一個從弦理論中自然而然浮現的理念，
06:15
which takes me to part two: string theory.
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而從這裡我開始講第二部份： 弦理論。
06:18
So hold the mystery of the dark energy
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請將神秘的暗能量
06:22
in the back of your mind
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暫時放在腦後，
06:24
as I now go on to tell you
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因為我將告訴你
06:26
three key things about string theory.
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關於弦理論的三個關鍵的事情。
06:29
First off, what is it?
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首先，弦理論是什麽？
06:31
Well it's an approach to realize Einstein's dream
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它是一個可以完成愛因斯坦的夢想，
06:34
of a unified theory of physics,
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一個統一的物理理論的方法，
06:37
a single overarching framework
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一個可以形容
06:39
that would be able to describe
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宇宙中所有運行的力的
06:41
all the forces at work in the universe.
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全面的思想架構。
06:43
And the central idea of string theory
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而弦理論的中心思想
06:45
is quite straightforward.
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很直接明瞭。
06:47
It says that if you examine
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它說，如果你近乎無限仔細的考察
06:49
any piece of matter ever more finely,
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任何一個物質，
06:51
at first you'll find molecules
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一開始你會發現分子，
06:53
and then you'll find atoms and subatomic particles.
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然後你會發現原子和次原子微粒。
06:56
But the theory says that if you could probe smaller,
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但弦理論說，如果你能夠在探查的更細微一些，
06:58
much smaller than we can with existing technology,
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比任何我們現在擁有的科技可以做到的都細微，
07:01
you'd find something else inside these particles --
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你會發現在這些微粒中還有東西 --
07:04
a little tiny vibrating filament of energy,
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一個很小的，振動的能量絲，
07:07
a little tiny vibrating string.
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一個很小的，振動的弦。
07:10
And just like the strings on a violin,
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而就像一個小提琴的琴弦一樣，
07:12
they can vibrate in different patterns
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它們可以以不同的頻率振動，
07:14
producing different musical notes.
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產生不同的音調。
07:16
These little fundamental strings,
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這些小的基礎的弦們，
07:18
when they vibrate in different patterns,
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當它們以不同的頻率振動的時候，
07:20
they produce different kinds of particles --
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它們會產生不同的微粒，
07:22
so electrons, quarks, neutrinos, photons,
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比如電子，夸克，中微子，光子，
07:24
all other particles
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以及所有的其他的微粒
07:26
would be united into a single framework,
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都會被統一在一個體系之下，
07:28
as they would all arise from vibrating strings.
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因為他們都由振動的弦構成。
07:31
It's a compelling picture,
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這是一個非常扣人心弦的構想，
07:34
a kind of cosmic symphony,
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一種星雲交響曲，
07:36
where all the richness
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我們所看到周圍的
07:38
that we see in the world around us
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這個世界上的富饒的一切，
07:40
emerges from the music
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都在這些細小的弦的
07:42
that these little, tiny strings can play.
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演奏中形成。
07:45
But there's a cost
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但這個優美的統一理論
07:47
to this elegant unification,
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有著一個代價，
07:49
because years of research
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因為多年的研究
07:51
have shown that the math of string theory doesn't quite work.
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表明了弦理論的數學不怎麼貫通。
07:54
It has internal inconsistencies,
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它有著內在的矛盾，
07:56
unless we allow
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除非我們考慮
07:58
for something wholly unfamiliar --
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一個我們完全不熟悉的東西 --
08:01
extra dimensions of space.
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額外的空間維度。
08:04
That is, we all know about the usual three dimensions of space.
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我們每個人都知道常見的三個空間維度。
08:07
And you can think about those
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而你也可以將它們想成
08:09
as height, width and depth.
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高度，寬度，和長度。
08:12
But string theory says that, on fantastically small scales,
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但弦理論說，在極度小的比例上，
08:15
there are additional dimensions
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存在著額外的維度，
08:17
crumpled to a tiny size so small
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縮小到了我們還無法
08:19
that we have not detected them.
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測試到的地步。
08:21
But even though the dimensions are hidden,
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但雖然那些維度被隱藏著，
08:23
they would have an impact on things that we can observe
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它們對於我們可以觀察的東西有著一定的影響，
08:26
because the shape of the extra dimensions
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因為這些額外的維度的形狀
08:29
constrains how the strings can vibrate.
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決定了弦們如何振動。
08:32
And in string theory,
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而在弦理論中，
08:34
vibration determines everything.
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振動決定一切。
08:37
So particle masses, the strengths of forces,
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所以微粒質量，力的力度，
08:39
and most importantly, the amount of dark energy
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以及最重要的，暗能量的數量
08:42
would be determined
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都會由這些額外的維度的
08:44
by the shape of the extra dimensions.
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形狀決定。
08:46
So if we knew the shape of the extra dimensions,
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而如果我們知道了這些額外維度的形狀，
08:49
we should be able to calculate these features,
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我們應該可以計算這些特徵，
08:52
calculate the amount of dark energy.
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計算暗能量的數量。
08:55
The challenge
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我們的挑戰是，
08:57
is we don't know
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我們并不知道
08:59
the shape of the extra dimensions.
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這些額外維度的形狀。
09:02
All we have
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我們只知道
09:04
is a list of candidate shapes
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一些數學允許的
09:06
allowed by the math.
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候選形狀。
09:09
Now when these ideas were first developed,
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當這些想法第一次被發展出來的時候，
09:11
there were only about five different candidate shapes,
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候選的形狀只有五個左右，
09:13
so you can imagine
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所以你會覺得
09:15
analyzing them one-by-one
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將它們一個一個的分析
09:17
to determine if any yield
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來決定是否有一個可以產生
09:19
the physical features we observe.
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我們觀察到的物理特徵。
09:21
But over time the list grew
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但隨著研究人員不斷的找到其他的候選形狀
09:23
as researchers found other candidate shapes.
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數量不斷的在增加。
09:25
From five, the number grew into the hundreds and then the thousands --
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它的數字從五個增長到幾百個甚至幾千個 --
09:28
A large, but still manageable, collection to analyze,
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一個雖然龐大，但仍然可以處理和分析的數字，
09:31
since after all,
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因為不管如何，
09:33
graduate students need something to do.
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研究博士生們總需要些事情做。
09:36
But then the list continued to grow
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但這個清單繼續增長
09:38
into the millions and the billions, until today.
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到了百萬甚至今天的數十億。直到今天，
09:41
The list of candidate shapes
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候選形狀的清單
09:43
has soared to about 10 to the 500.
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百億從猛增到了萬億。
09:48
So, what to do?
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現在該怎麼辦？
09:51
Well some researchers lost heart,
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有一些研究人員失去了信心，
09:54
concluding that was so many candidate shapes for the extra dimensions,
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覺得因為額外維度有著如此之多的候選形狀，
09:57
each giving rise to different physical features,
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每一個又可能產生不同的物理特徵，
10:00
string theory would never make
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弦理論永遠也不可能做出
10:02
definitive, testable predictions.
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確定的，可測試的預測。
10:04
But others turned this issue on its head,
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但其他人決定從問題的源頭開始，
10:08
taking us to the possibility of a multiverse.
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回到一個多元宇宙的可能。
10:10
Here's the idea.
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想法是這樣的。
10:12
Maybe each of these shapes is on an equal footing with every other.
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或許這些形狀的每一個都是與其他的形狀平等的。
10:15
Each is as real as every other,
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每一個都是真實的，
10:17
in the sense
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這意味著
10:19
that there are many universes,
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有著很多的宇宙，
10:21
each with a different shape, for the extra dimensions.
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每一個都有著不同形狀的額外維度。
10:24
And this radical proposal
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這一個重大的提論
10:26
has a profound impact on this mystery:
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對於這個謎題有著深遠的影響：
10:29
the amount of dark energy revealed by the Nobel Prize-winning results.
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關於著那得了諾貝爾獎的暗能量的數量。
10:32
Because you see,
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因為
10:34
if there are other universes,
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如果有著其他的宇宙，
10:37
and if those universes
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以及如果那些宇宙每一個的額外維度
10:39
each have, say, a different shape for the extra dimensions,
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都有一個不同的形狀
10:43
then the physical features of each universe will be different,
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那麼每一個宇宙的物理特徵就會不同，
10:45
and in particular,
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而特別的，
10:47
the amount of dark energy in each universe
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每一個宇宙的暗能量的數量
10:49
will be different.
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就會不一樣。
10:51
Which means that the mystery
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這意味著解釋
10:53
of explaining the amount of dark energy we've now measured
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我們測量的暗能量的古怪數量
10:55
would take on a wholly different character.
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會有著一個完全不同的意義。
10:58
In this context,
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在這種情況下，
11:00
the laws of physics can't explain one number for the dark energy
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物理定律不會能解釋暗能量的一個數字，
11:03
because there isn't just one number,
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因為不止有一個數字，
11:06
there are many numbers.
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反而有很多。
11:08
Which means
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這意味著
11:10
we have been asking the wrong question.
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我們一路以來都問錯了問題。
11:13
It's that the right question to ask is,
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對的問題應該是，
11:15
why do we humans find ourselves in a universe
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爲什麽我們人類會在
11:18
with a particular amount of dark energy we've measured
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一個有著特定的數量的暗能量的宇宙，
11:21
instead of any of the other possibilities
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而不再外面存在的無數的
11:24
that are out there?
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其他可能之中？
11:26
And that's a question on which we can make headway.
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而這個問題我們可以嘗試解決。
11:29
Because those universes
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因為在那些有著
11:31
that have much more dark energy than ours,
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比我們更多的暗能量的宇宙中，
11:33
whenever matter tries to clump into galaxies,
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每當物質試圖凝聚成星系的時候，
11:36
the repulsive push of the dark energy is so strong
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暗能量所產生的相斥力量會強大到
11:39
that it blows the clump apart
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將凝聚的物質爆開，
11:41
and galaxies don't form.
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以致星系無法形成。
11:43
And in those universes that have much less dark energy,
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而在那些有著比我們少的暗能量的宇宙中，
11:46
well they collapse back on themselves so quickly
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他們的崩塌的速度會快到
11:48
that, again, galaxies don't form.
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使星系無法形成。
11:51
And without galaxies, there are no stars, no planets
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而沒有星系的話，恒星和行星也不會形成，
11:54
and no chance
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也不可能會有
11:56
for our form of life
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像我們這樣的生命
11:58
to exist in those other universes.
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存在於那些宇宙當中。
12:00
So we find ourselves in a universe
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所以我們所在的宇宙有一個
12:02
with the particular amount of dark energy we've measured
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特定數量的暗能量
12:05
simply because our universe has conditions
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僅僅因為我們的宇宙有著可以讓
12:08
hospitable to our form of life.
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我們這種生命發展的條件。
12:12
And that would be that.
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就是這樣。
12:14
Mystery solved,
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秘密被揭開了。
12:16
multiverse found.
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多元宇宙也找到了。
12:18
Now some find this explanation unsatisfying.
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有些人對這種解釋很不滿意。
12:23
We're used to physics
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我們都習慣于物理
12:25
giving us definitive explanations for the features we observe.
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為我們觀察到的東西給予確定的解釋。
12:28
But the point is,
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但其實
12:30
if the feature you're observing
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如果一個你觀察到的特性
12:33
can and does take on
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可以或者的確
12:35
a wide variety of different values
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在不同的現實中有著
12:37
across the wider landscape of reality,
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很多不同的數值，
12:40
then thinking one explanation
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那麼只想著給予其中一個數值
12:42
for a particular value
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一種解釋
12:44
is simply misguided.
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未免誤入歧途了。
12:47
An early example
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一個早期的例子
12:49
comes from the great astronomer Johannes Kepler
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來自于偉大的天文學家約翰內斯。開普勒。
12:52
who was obsessed with understanding
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他癡迷于試圖瞭解
12:54
a different number --
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一個不同的數字 --
12:56
why the Sun is 93 million miles away from the Earth.
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爲什麽太陽離地球有九千三百萬英里？
13:00
And he worked for decades trying to explain this number,
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他花了幾十年來解釋這個數字，
13:03
but he never succeeded, and we know why.
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但他從未成功，而我們知道爲什麽。
13:06
Kepler was asking
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開普勒問了
13:08
the wrong question.
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一個錯的問題。
13:10
We now know that there are many planets
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我們現在知道宇宙中有很多行星
13:13
at a wide variety of different distances from their host stars.
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和他們的恒星有著完全不同的距離。
13:16
So hoping that the laws of physics
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所以希望物理定律
13:19
will explain one particular number, 93 million miles,
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能解釋一個特別的數字，九千三百萬英里，
13:22
well that is simply wrongheaded.
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也是誤入了歧途。
13:25
Instead the right question to ask is,
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反而，正確的問題應該是，
13:27
why do we humans find ourselves on a planet
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爲什麽我們人類存在在一個離恒星
13:30
at this particular distance,
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剛好這麼遠的一個距離上的行星中，
13:32
instead of any of the other possibilities?
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而不在任何其他一個可能中？
13:35
And again, that's a question we can answer.
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再一次，這個問題我們可以回答。
13:38
Those planets which are much closer to a star like the Sun
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那些離像太陽一樣的恒星太近的行星
13:41
would be so hot
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會熱的
13:43
that our form of life wouldn't exist.
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讓我們這種生命無法生存。
13:45
And those planets that are much farther away from the star,
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而那些離恒星太遠的行星
13:48
well they're so cold
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又冷到
13:50
that, again, our form of life would not take hold.
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讓我們這種生命無法形成。
13:52
So we find ourselves
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所以我們才會在一個
13:54
on a planet at this particular distance
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離恒星有著特定的距離的行星上，
13:56
simply because it yields conditions
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僅僅因為它製造出
13:58
vital to our form of life.
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對於我們這種生命必須的環境。
14:01
And when it comes to planets and their distances,
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而對於行星和距離來說，
14:04
this clearly is the right kind of reasoning.
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這明顯是一個對的邏輯。
14:08
The point is,
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我的意思是，
14:10
when it comes to universes and the dark energy that they contain,
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當說到宇宙和它所包含的暗能量，
14:13
it may also be the right kind of reasoning.
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這也有可能是對的邏輯。
14:17
One key difference, of course,
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當然，最重要的不同點在於
14:20
is we know that there are other planets out there,
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我們知道外面有著其他的星球，
14:22
but so far I've only speculated on the possibility
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但到目前為止我們只能猜測
14:25
that there might be other universes.
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有其他宇宙的可能性。
14:27
So to pull it all together,
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所以讓它合理化的話，
14:29
we need a mechanism
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我們需要一個
14:31
that can actually generate other universes.
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可以產生其他宇宙的機制。
14:34
And that takes me to my final part, part three.
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而這帶我們來到了第三也是最後一部份。
14:37
Because such a mechanism has been found
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因為這個機制被研究大爆炸的
14:40
by cosmologists trying to understand the Big Bang.
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宇宙學家發現了。
14:43
You see, when we speak of the Big Bang,
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你看，當我們講大爆炸的時候，
14:45
we often have an image
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我們經常會想到
14:47
of a kind of cosmic explosion
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一種類似于星雲爆裂
14:49
that created our universe
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而造成空間不停的擴張的
14:51
and set space rushing outward.
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產生宇宙的方法。
14:54
But there's a little secret.
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但這裡面哪有一個小小的秘密。
14:56
The Big Bang leaves out something pretty important,
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大爆炸理論沒有包括一個非常重要的東西，
14:59
the Bang.
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那就是爆炸的時候。
15:01
It tells us how the universe evolved after the Bang,
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它告訴我們宇宙是如何在爆炸以後產生的，
15:04
but gives us no insight
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但不告訴我們
15:06
into what would have powered the Bang itself.
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什麽東西產生了爆炸。
15:10
And this gap was finally filled
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而這個缺口終於被一個
15:12
by an enhanced version of the Big Bang theory.
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升級了的大爆炸理論填補了。
15:14
It's called inflationary cosmology,
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它叫暴脹宇宙論。
15:17
which identified a particular kind of fuel
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它識別了一種特別的能量，
15:21
that would naturally generate
369
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可以自然產生爆炸時的
15:23
an outward rush of space.
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快速空間膨脹。
15:25
The fuel is based on something called a quantum field,
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那個能量基於一種叫做量子場的東西，
15:28
but the only detail that matters for us
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但對於我們而言唯一重要的細節就是
15:31
is that this fuel proves to be so efficient
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這種能量的效率高到
15:34
that it's virtually impossible
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不可能一次性
15:36
to use it all up,
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將它全部用完，
15:38
which means in the inflationary theory,
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而這意味著在暴脹理論中，
15:40
the Big Bang giving rise to our universe
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產生了我們的宇宙的大爆炸
15:43
is likely not a one-time event.
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很有可能不是一個一次性的事件。
15:46
Instead the fuel not only generated our Big Bang,
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反之，這個能量不僅僅造成了我們的大爆炸，
15:49
but it would also generate countless other Big Bangs,
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也會造成無數個其他的大爆炸，
15:55
each giving rise to its own separate universe
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每一個都會產生一個不同的宇宙，
15:58
with our universe becoming but one bubble
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而我們的宇宙只是一個巨大的星雲泡沫中的
16:00
in a grand cosmic bubble bath of universes.
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一個泡泡。
16:03
And now, when we meld this with string theory,
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而現在，當我們將它和弦理論融合一起的時候，
16:05
here's the picture we're led to.
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我們被領到一個特定的畫面。
16:07
Each of these universes has extra dimensions.
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每一個宇宙都有額外的維度。
16:09
The extra dimensions take on a wide variety of different shapes.
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這些額外的維度有著很多不同的形狀。
16:12
The different shapes yield different physical features.
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不同的形狀產生不同的物理特性。
16:15
And we find ourselves in one universe instead of another
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而我們發現我們存在於這一個宇宙而不在另外一個
16:18
simply because it's only in our universe
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僅僅因為這是唯一一個宇宙
16:21
that the physical features, like the amount of dark energy,
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有著可以讓我們這種生命形成的物理特性，
16:24
are right for our form of life to take hold.
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比如說暗能量的數量。
16:28
And this is the compelling but highly controversial picture
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這是一個很有說服力但又非常有爭議的
16:31
of the wider cosmos
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宇宙的畫面，
16:33
that cutting-edge observation and theory
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而最先進的觀察和理論正在指引我們
16:35
have now led us to seriously consider.
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嚴肅的去考慮它。
16:39
One big remaining question, of course, is,
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當然，一個剩下的很大的問題便是
16:43
could we ever confirm
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我們是否能證明
16:46
the existence of other universes?
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其他宇宙的存在？
16:49
Well let me describe
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讓我描述一種
16:51
one way that might one day happen.
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這有一天可能發生的方式。
16:54
The inflationary theory
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暴脹理論
16:56
already has strong observational support.
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已經有了很強大的觀測結果支持。
16:58
Because the theory predicts
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因為這個理論預測了
17:00
that the Big Bang would have been so intense
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大爆炸會強烈到
17:02
that as space rapidly expanded,
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當空間快速的膨脹的時候，
17:05
tiny quantum jitters from the micro world
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在微型世界中細小的量子暴動
17:07
would have been stretched out to the macro world,
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也會被拉扯到整個宏觀世界，
17:10
yielding a distinctive fingerprint,
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而產生一種特殊的印記 --
17:13
a pattern of slightly hotter spots and slightly colder spots,
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一種在空間中有著稍微熱些的地方
17:15
across space,
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和稍微冷些的地方的規律，
17:17
which powerful telescopes have now observed.
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而強大的望遠鏡可以觀察到它。
17:20
Going further, if there are other universes,
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更進一步，如果其他的宇宙的確存在，
17:23
the theory predicts that every so often
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那理論預測這些宇宙有些時候
17:25
those universes can collide.
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會和對方相撞，
17:27
And if our universe got hit by another,
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而如果我們的宇宙和另外一個相撞，
17:29
that collision
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撞擊的能量
17:31
would generate an additional subtle pattern
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會在空間中產生一種額外的
17:33
of temperature variations across space
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細微的溫差規律，
17:35
that we might one day
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而我們有一天可能可以
17:37
be able to detect.
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觀察到它。
17:39
And so exotic as this picture is,
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而無論這個理論是如何的奇異，
17:42
it may one day be grounded
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有一天它有可能會被
17:44
in observations,
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觀察證實
17:46
establishing the existence of other universes.
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其他宇宙的存在。
17:49
I'll conclude
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讓我以由這些
17:51
with a striking implication
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想法產生的一個在遙遠的未來有著
17:54
of all these ideas
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驚人的後果
17:56
for the very far future.
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來結尾。
17:58
You see, we learned
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你看，我們學到了
18:00
that our universe is not static,
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我們的宇宙并不是靜止的，
18:02
that space is expanding,
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空間正在擴張，
18:04
that that expansion is speeding up
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而擴張的速度也在加快，
18:06
and that there might be other universes
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還有其他的宇宙的確有可能存在。
18:08
all by carefully examining
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這些都是由小心的調查
18:10
faint pinpoints of starlight
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由遙遠的星系傳來的
18:12
coming to us from distant galaxies.
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微弱的星光。
18:15
But because the expansion is speeding up,
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但因為擴張的速度在加快，
18:18
in the very far future,
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在很遙遠的未來，
18:20
those galaxies will rush away so far and so fast
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那些星系便會加速遠離到
18:23
that we won't be able to see them --
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我們再也無法看到它們 --
18:26
not because of technological limitations,
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不是因為技術上的限制，
18:28
but because of the laws of physics.
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而是因為物理定律。
18:30
The light those galaxies emit,
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那些星系發射的光線，
18:32
even traveling at the fastest speed, the speed of light,
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就算以最快的速度，光速來移動，
18:35
will not be able to overcome
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也不能比超越我們之間的
18:37
the ever-widening gulf between us.
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不停的在加大的距離。
18:40
So astronomers in the far future
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所以當未來的天文學家
18:42
looking out into deep space
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往太空深處查看的時候，
18:44
will see nothing but an endless stretch
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除了無盡的靜止的漆黑，
18:47
of static, inky, black stillness.
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什麽也看不到。
18:51
And they will conclude
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而他們會認為
18:53
that the universe is static and unchanging
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宇宙是靜止和不變的，
18:55
and populated by a single central oasis of matter
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而其中只有一個他們居住的
18:58
that they inhabit --
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中心的樂土 --
19:00
a picture of the cosmos
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一個我們確定的知道是錯誤的
19:02
that we definitively know to be wrong.
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宇宙觀。
19:05
Now maybe those future astronomers will have records
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或許這些未來的天文學家會有從前一個紀元
19:08
handed down from an earlier era,
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留下的記錄，
19:10
like ours,
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像我們的一樣，
19:12
attesting to an expanding cosmos
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陳述著一個有無數的星雲點綴的
19:14
teeming with galaxies.
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不停的擴張的宇宙。
19:16
But would those future astronomers
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但這些未來的天文學家們
19:18
believe such ancient knowledge?
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會否相信這些古老的知識？
19:21
Or would they believe
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又或者他們會相信
19:23
in the black, static empty universe
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他們自己的先進的觀察帶來的
19:26
that their own state-of-the-art observations reveal?
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那個漆黑，寧靜并空虛的宇宙？
19:30
I suspect the latter.
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我覺得會是後者。
19:32
Which means that we are living
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這意味著我們正活在一個
19:34
through a remarkably privileged era
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有著特殊的榮幸的紀元，
19:37
when certain deep truths about the cosmos
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當宇宙最深奧的真相
19:39
are still within reach
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仍然存在在人類探索精神
19:41
of the human spirit of exploration.
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能夠到達的地方。
19:43
It appears that it may not always be that way.
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但這並不永遠如此。
19:48
Because today's astronomers,
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因為當今天的天文學家
19:50
by turning powerful telescopes to the sky,
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用強大的望遠鏡對準夜空時，
19:53
have captured a handful of starkly informative photons --
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他們發現了一些分明的帶著信息的光子 --
19:56
a kind of cosmic telegram
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一種經歷了上億年的
19:59
billions of years in transit.
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宇宙電報。
20:01
and the message echoing across the ages is clear.
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而從亙古傳來的信息很清楚。
20:05
Sometimes nature guards her secrets
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有些時候自然用不可違背的
20:08
with the unbreakable grip
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物理定律來
20:10
of physical law.
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守護她的秘密。
20:12
Sometimes the true nature of reality beckons
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有些時候現實真正的面貌就在
20:16
from just beyond the horizon.
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地平線的遠端。
20:19
Thank you very much.
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謝謝。
20:21
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
20:25
Chris Anderson: Brian, thank you.
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Chris Anderson: Brian，謝謝。
20:27
The range of ideas you've just spoken about
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你剛剛所講的思想範圍
20:29
are dizzying, exhilarating, incredible.
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使人有些頭暈但興奮。
20:32
How do you think
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你覺得
20:34
of where cosmology is now,
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現在的天文學
20:36
in a sort of historical side?
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在歷史中佔有什麽樣的位置？
20:38
Are we in the middle of something unusual historically in your opinion?
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在你的意見來說，我們是否正在經歷著一個特別的歷史片段？
20:41
BG: Well it's hard to say.
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BG：這有些難說。
20:43
When we learn that astronomers of the far future
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當我們瞭解到未來的天文學家
20:46
may not have enough information to figure things out,
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有可能沒有足夠的信息來瞭解一切，
20:49
the natural question is, maybe we're already in that position
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一個自然的問題便是，我們有可能已經在這樣的一個位置，
20:52
and certain deep, critical features of the universe
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而一些深奧的，重要的宇宙特性
20:55
already have escaped our ability to understand
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已經逃出了我們可以理解的範圍，
20:58
because of how cosmology evolves.
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僅僅因為天文學的發展。
21:00
So from that perspective,
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所以從這個觀點來看，
21:02
maybe we will always be asking questions
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可能我們已經處於無法回答
21:04
and never be able to fully answer them.
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我們問的問題的局面。
21:06
On the other hand, we now can understand
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但換個角度來說，我們現在可以理解
21:08
how old the universe is.
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宇宙到底有多老。
21:10
We can understand
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我們可以理解
21:12
how to understand the data from the microwave background radiation
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十四億年前留下的宇宙微波背景輻射
21:15
that was set down 13.72 billion years ago --
509
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所傳達的信息 --
21:18
and yet, we can do calculations today to predict how it will look
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甚至於，今天我們可以計算以及預測它的樣貌
21:20
and it matches.
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并與觀察符合。
21:22
Holy cow! That's just amazing.
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天啊！這太棒了。
21:24
So on the one hand, it's just incredible where we've gotten,
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所以換個角度來說的話，我們到達今天已經很不可思議，
21:27
but who knows what sort of blocks we may find in the future.
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但誰知道我們將來會遇到什麽樣的障礙。
21:31
CA: You're going to be around for the next few days.
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CA：你會停留幾天。
21:34
Maybe some of these conversations can continue.
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或許可以繼續討論這些話題。
21:36
Thank you. Thank you, Brian. (BG: My pleasure.)
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謝謝你。謝謝你，Brian。（BG：我的榮幸。）
21:38
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Brian Greene - PhysicistBrian Greene is perhaps the best-known proponent of superstring theory, the idea that minuscule strands of energy vibrating in a higher dimensional space-time create every particle and force in the universe.
Why you should listen
Greene, a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, has focused on unified theories for more than 25 years, and has written several best-selling and non-technical books on the subject including The Elegant Universe, a Pulitzer finalist, and The Fabric of the Cosmos — each of which has been adapted into a NOVA mini-series. His latest book, The Hidden Reality, explores the possibility that our universe is not the only universe.
Greene believes science must be brought to general audiences in new and compelling ways, such as his live stage odyssey, Icarus at the Edge of Time, with original orchestral score by Philip Glass, and the annual World Science Festival, which he co-founded in 2008 with journalist Tracy Day.
Brian Greene | Speaker | TED.com