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

Why you should listen

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

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

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

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

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

愛德華.威爾遜 (E.O. Wilson) 談論生物多樣性

Filmed:
1,596,443 views

身為07年TED大獎得主之一的愛德華.威爾遜(E.O. Wilson)代表所有生物,提出我們應當關注生物圈,並且宣佈要建立一個網路上的百科全書來記錄物種的多樣性。
- Biologist
Biologist E.O. Wilson explores the world of ants and other tiny creatures, and writes movingly about the way all creatures great and small are interdependent. Full bio

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

00:26
I have all my life wondered想知道 what "mind-boggling令人難以置信" meant意味著.
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我這一生都在思考,"Mind-boggling"(令人難以置信的)到底是指甚麼
00:31
After two days here, I declare宣布 myself boggled猛然一驚, and enormously巨大 impressed印象深刻,
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在這兩天後,我承認我已深深地被感動了
00:41
and feel that you are one of the great hopes希望 --
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我感覺到你們代表偉大的希望
00:47
not just for American美國 achievement成就 in science科學 and technology技術,
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不僅僅是美國在科學技術上取得進步的希望
00:54
but for the whole整個 world世界.
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更是整個世界的希望
00:56
I've come, however然而, on a special特別 mission任務 on behalf代表 of my constituency選民,
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我今天來到這裡,是代表著我的"選民"
01:04
which哪一個 are the 10-to-the--to-the-18th-powerTH-電源 -- that's a million百萬 trillion --
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牠們的數量多達10的18次方
01:13
insects昆蟲 and other small creatures生物, and to make a plea懇求 for them.
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牠們是昆蟲以及其它的小動物,我是為了牠們來申張正義的
01:27
If we were to wipe擦拭 out insects昆蟲 alone單獨, just that group alone單獨, on this planet行星 --
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假使我們想要把昆蟲從這個地球上毀滅掉,就只是單單這樣的族群
01:33
which哪一個 we are trying hard to do --
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而實際上我們也正在那樣做當中...
01:37
the rest休息 of life and humanity人性 with it would mostly大多 disappear消失 from the land土地.
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那麼剩下的生物,包括人類,也很可能從這個地球上消失
01:46
And within a few少數 months個月.
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這只需要幾個月的時間就可以達成了
01:48
Now, how did I come to this particular特定 position位置 of advocacy擁護?
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那我是怎麼成為一個為昆蟲辨護的鬥士的呢?
01:54
As a little boy男孩, and through通過 my teenage青少年 years年份,
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當我還是小孩子的時候
02:00
I became成為 increasingly日益 fascinated入迷 by the diversity多樣 of life.
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我就對生物之多樣性感到濃厚的興趣
02:03
I had a butterfly蝴蝶 period, a snake period, a bird period, a fish period, a cave洞穴 period
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我曾分別對蝴蝶、蛇、小鳥、魚、及洞穴感到濃厚興趣的時期
02:15
and finally最後 and definitively明確, an ant螞蟻 period.
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最後,我對螞蟻產生濃厚而長久的興趣
02:19
By my college學院 years年份, I was a devoted忠誠 myrmecologistmyrmecologist,
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讀大學的時候,我熱情於螞蟻的研究
02:24
a specialist專家 on the biology生物學 of ants螞蟻,
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我是一位研究螞蟻的專家
02:26
but my attention注意 and research研究 continued繼續 to make journeys旅程
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我的關注及研究都
02:31
across橫過 the great variety品種 of life on Earth地球 in general一般 --
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圍繞地球上巨大的生物多樣性而發展
02:35
including包含 all that it means手段 to us as a species種類, how little we understand理解 it
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包括所有這些對我們人類意味著的、我們對此所知甚少的、
02:43
and how pressing緊迫 a danger危險 that our activities活動 have created創建 for it.
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以及人類活動對於生物多樣性所構成的嚴重威脅
02:50
Out of that broader更廣泛 study研究 has emerged出現 a concern關心 and an ambition志向,
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長期的研究使我產生一種對生物的關切,並發了一個宏願
02:55
crystallized結晶 in the wish希望 that I'm about to make to you.
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待會我會在敘述願望的時候具體的說明
03:00
My choice選擇 is the culmination大成 of a lifetime一生 commitment承諾
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我的這個選擇是整個研究生涯的著力點
03:05
that began開始 with growing生長 up on the Gulf海灣 Coast of Alabama阿拉巴馬, on the Florida佛羅里達 peninsula半島.
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我的小時候是在佛羅里達半島的阿拉巴馬灣度過
03:12
As far back as I can remember記得, I was enchanted入迷 by the natural自然 beauty美女 of that region地區
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從懂事起,我就深深陶醉於那片自然美景之中
03:21
and the almost幾乎 tropical熱帶 exuberance豐富 of the plants植物 and animals動物 that grow增長 there.
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包括該地繁盛成長而接近熱帶的動植物
03:27
One day when I was only seven years年份 old and fishing釣魚,
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七歲那一年,有一天我去釣魚
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I pulled a "pinfishpinfish," they're called, with sharp尖銳 dorsal spines, up too hard and fast快速,
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我捉到一條兔齒雕 (牠們有尖利的背棘) 猛然用力地拉上來
03:39
and I blinded失明 myself in one eye.
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因此而弄瞎了我一隻眼睛
03:41
I later後來 discovered發現 I was also hard of hearing聽力,
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另外,我後來還發現自己在聽力方面也不是很好
03:44
possibly或者 congenitally先天不足, in the upper registers寄存器.
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也許是天生就有的缺陷
03:47
So in planning規劃 to be a professional專業的 naturalist博物 --
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於是,為了成為一名職業的自然學家
03:52
I never considered考慮 anything else其他 in my entire整個 life --
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我就決定只做一件事
03:55
I found發現 that I was lousy糟糕 at bird watching觀看 and couldn't不能 track跟踪 frog青蛙 calls電話 either.
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要我觀察鳥,我不在行;要我追蹤青蛙,我也不擅長
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So I turned轉身 to the teeming豐富的 small creatures生物
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於是我決定做那些小動物研究
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that can be held保持 between之間 the thumb拇指 and forefinger食指:
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牠們大多是可以放在我姆指跟食指之間
04:12
the little things that compose撰寫 the foundation基礎 of our ecosystems生態系統,
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而正是牠們建構了我們整個生態圈的基礎
04:19
the little things, as I like to say, who run the world世界.
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牠們才是世界的主人
04:24
In so doing, I reached到達 a frontier邊境 of biology生物學 so strange奇怪, so rich豐富,
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通過這樣的方式,我來到一個非常怪卻又非常豐富的生物學領域
04:32
that it seemed似乎 as though雖然 it exists存在 on another另一個 planet行星.
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簡直就像是降臨到別的星球一樣
04:38
In fact事實, we live生活 on a mostly大多 unexplored未開發 planet行星.
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事實上我們就是生活在一個很多地方都尚未被研究的星球上
04:42
The great majority多數 of organisms生物 on Earth地球 remain unknown未知 to science科學.
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科學家對於地球上大多數的有機體都是一無所知的
04:47
In the last 30 years年份, thanks謝謝 to explorations探索 in remote遠程 parts部分 of the world世界
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過去30年人們去到了一些較為邊緣的區域
04:53
and advances進步 in technology技術,
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也得利於科技的進步
04:55
biologists生物學家 have, for example, added添加 a full充分 one-third三分之一 of the known已知 frog青蛙 and other amphibian兩棲動物 species種類,
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生物學家使得已知的青蛙及兩棲類物種數增加了三分之一
05:05
to bring帶來 the current當前 total to 5,400,
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現在兩棲類生物的物種總數為5400種
05:09
and more continue繼續 to pour in.
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並且還不斷有新物種被發現
05:11
Two new kinds of whales鯨魚 have been discovered發現, along沿 with two new antelopes羚羊,
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另有發現了兩種新的鯨魚種類,以及兩種新的羚羊
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dozens許多 of monkey species種類 and a new kind of elephant --
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還有幾十個猴子的種類以及一種新的大象種類
05:21
and even a distinct不同 kind of gorilla大猩猩.
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甚至還有一種新發現的大猩猩
05:24
At the extreme極端 opposite對面 end結束 of the size尺寸 scale規模, the class of marine海洋 bacteria,
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而在生物體體型大小的另一端,我們發現了新的海洋細菌
05:34
the ProchlorococciProchlorococci -- that will be on the final最後 exam考試 --
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原綠球藻,也許在你的期末考試出現過
05:40
although雖然 discovered發現 only in 1988, are now recognized認可 as likely容易 the most abundant豐富 organisms生物 on Earth地球,
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雖然說是1988年發現的,現在則被認為是地球上最繁盛的生物
05:49
and moreover此外, responsible主管 for a large part部分 of the photosynthesis光合作用 that occurs發生 in the ocean海洋.
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這一個生物為海洋裡頭發生的光合作用起了最大的推動作用
05:56
These bacteria were not uncovered裸露 sooner
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我們沒能在更早的時候發現這些細菌
06:00
because they are also among其中 the smallest最少 of all Earth's地球 organisms生物 --
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是因為它們也是地球上體型最小的生物之一
06:05
so minute分鐘 that they cannot不能 be seen看到 with conventional常規 optical光纖 microscopy顯微鏡.
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你用普通的光學儀器是難以看到它們的
06:11
Yet然而 life in the sea may可能 depend依靠 on these tiny creatures生物.
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但海底的生物卻必須依賴牠們才能生存
06:15
These examples例子 are just the first glimpse一瞥 of our ignorance無知 of life on this planet行星.
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這些都不過是一些例子,顯示我們對於地球上的生物是多麼無知
06:20
Consider考慮 the fungi菌類 -- including包含 mushrooms蘑菇, rusts銹病, molds模具 and many許多 disease-causing致病 organisms生物.
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再看看真菌,包括蘑菇、銹菌、霉菌以及其它攜帶病原體的真菌
06:27
60,000 species種類 are known已知 to science科學,
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我們知道有六萬種的真菌
06:31
but more than 1.5 million百萬 have been estimated預計 to exist存在.
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但科學家估計,事實上有150萬真菌存活於地球上
06:35
Consider考慮 the nematode線蟲 roundworm蛔蟲, the most abundant豐富 of all animals動物.
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再看看線蟲,牠們是所有動物家族當中最為繁盛的
06:41
Four out of five animals動物 on Earth地球 are nematode線蟲 worms蠕蟲 --
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地球上80%的動物都是線蟲
06:49
if all solid固體 materials物料 except nematode線蟲 worms蠕蟲 were to be eliminated淘汰,
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假如地球上除了線蟲以外所有固態物質都消失
06:53
you could still see the ghostly幽靈的 outline大綱 of most of it in nematode線蟲 worms蠕蟲.
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你還是可以從線蟲的身上看出地球的痕跡
07:00
About 16,000 species種類 of nematode線蟲 worms蠕蟲
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大約16000種線蟲動物
07:05
have been discovered發現 and diagnosed確診 by scientists科學家們;
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已經被科學家發現並進行研究
07:08
there could be hundreds數以百計 of thousands數千 of them, even millions百萬, still unknown未知.
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而事實上,也許有數以千計甚至是數以百萬計的我們還未曾知道
07:13
This vast廣大 domain of hidden biodiversity生物多樣性 is increased增加 still further進一步
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還有另外一個生物群體
07:18
by the dark黑暗 matter of the biological生物 world世界 of bacteria,
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牠們通常不被關注,但其蘊含的生物多樣性卻更多
07:24
which哪一個 within just the last several一些 years年份
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單單過去幾年
07:30
still were known已知 from only about 6,000 species種類 of bacteria worldwide全世界.
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世界範圍內就發現了6000例新的細菌物種
07:37
But that number of bacteria species種類 can be found發現 in one gram公克 of soil,
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在一克的泥土裡,就可以找出這一數目的細菌出來
07:43
just a little handful少數 of soil, in the 10 billion十億 bacteria that would be there.
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一坨泥土內就有一百億個細菌
07:52
It's been estimated預計 that a single ton of soil -- fertile soil --
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有人估計過單單是一點土壤當中
07:57
contains包含 approximately four million百萬 species種類 of bacteria, all unknown未知.
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就包含了近四百萬種的細菌,並且我們對這些細菌一無所知
08:05
So the question is: what are they all doing?
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所以,我們要問:那些傢伙到底在幹嘛?
08:13
The fact事實 is, we don't know.
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答案是: 我們根本不知道答案
08:16
We are living活的 on a planet行星 with a lot of activities活動, with reference參考 to our living活的 environment環境,
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我們對於地球上所發生的許多現象
08:25
doneDONE by faith信仰 and guess猜測 alone單獨.
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都只是通過信念或猜測來認知
08:29
Our lives生活 depend依靠 upon these creatures生物.
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我們的生命依賴於這些生物
08:33
To take an example close to home: there are over 500 species種類 of bacteria now known已知 --
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舉一個身邊的例子:已知有500多種的細菌
08:41
friendly友善 bacteria -- living活的 symbiotically共生 in your mouth and throat
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友好的細菌-正生活在你的口腔裡
08:46
probably大概 necessary必要 to your health健康 for holding保持 off pathogenic bacteria.
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也許牠們正在為你抵抗來自病細菌的進攻
08:53
At this point I think we have a little impressionistic寫意 film電影
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說到這裡,我想給大家播一個片子
08:57
that was made製作 especially特別 for this occasion場合.
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就是為了這次演講而準備的
08:59
And I'd like to show顯示 it.
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現在請看螢幕
09:02
Assisted輔助 in this by Billie比莉 Holiday假日.
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我們得到了Billie Holiday的幫助
09:05
(Video視頻)
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(影片)
11:07
And that may可能 be just the beginning開始!
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這也許還只是開始
11:10
The viruses病毒, those quasi-organisms準有機體 among其中 which哪一個 are the prophages原噬菌體,
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病毒也就是那些帶有有機體特性的"準"生物,prophasias就是其中一種
11:16
the gene基因 weavers織工 that promote促進 the continued繼續 evolution演化 in the lives生活 of the bacteria,
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它是基因編織師,正是它使得細菌的持續進化成為可能
11:23
are a virtually實質上 unknown未知 frontier邊境 of modern現代 biology生物學, a world世界 unto themselves他們自己.
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這一世界是現代生物學的一個待開發的處女地,也是一個自我的世界
11:32
What constitutes構成 a viral病毒 species種類 is still unresolved未解決,
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是甚麼構成了病毒還尚未定論
11:36
although雖然 they're obviously明顯 of enormous巨大 importance重要性 to us.
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雖然這對人類而言意義重大
11:40
But this much we can say: the variety品種 of genes基因 on the planet行星 in viruses病毒
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但是有一點可以肯定,病毒世界的基因是多樣性的
11:46
exceeds超過, or is likely容易 to exceed超過, that in all of the rest休息 of life combined結合.
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遠遠大於所有其他生物的基因多樣性之總和--至少科學家是這麼認為的
11:54
Nowadays如今, in addressing解決 microbial微生物 biodiversity生物多樣性,
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今天,那些研究微生物多樣性的科學家
11:58
scientists科學家們 are like explorers探險 in a rowboat划艇 launched推出 onto the Pacific和平的 Ocean海洋.
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就如同乘著木船駛進太平洋的探索者
12:04
But that is changing改變 rapidly急速 with the aid援助 of new genomic基因組 technology技術.
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但是,隨著新的基因技術的發展,這一情況正得到改善
12:09
Already已經 it is possible可能 to sequence序列 the entire整個 genetic遺傳 code of a bacterium細菌 in under four hours小時.
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現在我們已經可以用四個小時的時間完成對一個細菌進行基因的測序了
12:16
Soon不久 we will be in a position位置 to go forth向前 in the field領域 with sequencers on our backs --
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不久的將來,我們還將可以通過攜帶式的測序機完成這樣的操作
12:22
to hunt打獵 bacteria in tiny crevices裂縫 of the habitat's棲息地的 surface表面
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直接尋找到那些隱藏在細小的縫隙內的細菌
12:28
in the way you go watching觀看 for birds鳥類 with binoculars望遠鏡.
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就像你用雙眼望遠鏡來觀察鳥一樣
12:32
What will we find as we map地圖 the living活的 world世界, as, finally最後, we get this underway進行 seriously認真地?
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那麼,假如我們真的去對現實世界中的生物進行測序,將會帶來甚麼?
12:40
As we move移動 past過去 the relatively相對 gigantic巨大 mammals哺乳動物, birds鳥類, frogs青蛙 and plants植物
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從大型哺乳類動物到鳥類及青蛙及植物
12:45
to the more elusive難以捉摸 insects昆蟲 and other small invertebrates無脊椎動物 and then beyond
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一直到昆蟲以及其他非脊椎動物
12:51
to the countless無數 millions百萬 of organisms生物 in the invisible無形 living活的 world世界
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再到無數的肉眼不可見的生物
12:56
enveloped籠罩 and living活的 within humanity人性?
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它們就在人體內發展及生存
13:00
Already已經 what were thought to be bacteria for generations
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過去科學家曾確定是細菌生物
13:06
have been found發現 to compose撰寫, instead代替, two great domains of microorganisms微生物:
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現在的發現則顯示,它們實際上是由兩種微生物所組成的
13:12
true真正 bacteria and one-celled單細胞 organisms生物 the archaea,
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即真菌及單細胞的古細菌
13:16
which哪一個 are closer接近 than other bacteria to the eukaryota真核生物, the group that we belong屬於 to.
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它比其它的細菌更接近真核生物,人也是真核生物
13:23
Some serious嚴重 biologists生物學家, and I count計數 myself among其中 them,
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一些認真的科學家,包括我
13:28
have begun開始 to wonder奇蹟 that among其中 the enormous巨大 and still unknown未知 diversity多樣 of microorganisms微生物,
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就開始懷疑,在多元與未知的微生物世界之中
13:37
one might威力 -- just might威力 -- find aliens外星人 among其中 them.
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也許還能找到外星生物的存在
13:42
True真正 aliens外星人, stocks個股 that arrived到達 from outer space空間.
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我說的是真正的外星生物,來自外太空的生物
13:47
They've他們已經 had billions數十億 of years年份 to do it,
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它們在數十億年的時間到達地球來
13:49
but especially特別 during the earliest最早 period of biological生物 evolution演化 on this planet行星.
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特別是地球上出現生物進化的原始階段
13:56
We do know that some bacterial細菌 species種類 that have earthly俗世的 origin起源
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我們知道,有些發源自地球的細菌
14:00
are capable of almost幾乎 unimaginable不可思議 extremes極端 of temperature溫度
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竟然可以在極端的溫度下生存
14:08
and other harsh苛刻 changes變化 in environment環境,
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也能適應非常惡劣的環境變化
14:11
including包含 hard radiation輻射 strong強大 enough足夠 and maintained保持 long enough足夠 to crack裂紋 the Pyrex耐熱玻璃 vessels船隻
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包括受足以穿透Pyrex玻璃箱的強輻射的作用
14:19
around the growing生長 population人口 of bacteria.
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這個在細菌的家族內很常見
14:22
There may可能 be a temptation誘惑 to treat對待 the biosphere生物圈 holistically從整體上
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也許有些人會走捷徑,用一種整體的視角來看待整個生物圈
14:28
and the species種類 that compose撰寫 it as a great flux通量 of entities實體
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將其中的物種看成是個體的流動
14:34
hardly幾乎不 worth價值 distinguishing區別 one from the other.
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無須區分出它們之間的細微差別
14:38
But each of these species種類, even the tiniest最小的 ProchlorococciProchlorococci,
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但是每一個這樣的物種,即使是最細小的原綠球菌
14:43
are masterpieces名作 of evolution演化.
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都是進化的傑作
14:45
Each has persisted堅持 for thousands數千 to millions百萬 of years年份.
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它們都在地球上存活了千百萬年
14:51
Each is exquisitely玲瓏 adapted適應 to the environment環境 in which哪一個 it lives生活,
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都能很好的融入到其生活環境當中
14:55
interlocked互鎖 with other species種類 to form形成 ecosystems生態系統 upon which哪一個 our own擁有 lives生活 depend依靠
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並且與其他的物種相互作用,構成我們賴以生存的生態系統
15:02
in ways方法 we have not begun開始 even to imagine想像.
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而這些我們十年前還未曾想像的到
15:06
We will destroy破壞 these ecosystems生態系統 and the species種類 composing構成 them
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假如我們破壞這些生態系統以及生活於其間的物種
15:10
at the peril of our own擁有 existence存在 --
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我們終將自食其果
15:13
and unfortunately不幸 we are destroying銷毀 them with ingenuity創造力 and ceaseless不斷 energy能源.
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可悲的是我們枉若無知而肆無忌憚的繼續這樣的行為
15:22
My own擁有 epiphany頓悟 as a conservationist保護主義者 came來了 in 1953, while a Harvard哈佛 graduate畢業 student學生,
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我的靈光一現於1953年,那時我是哈佛大學的一位研究生
15:32
searching搜索 for rare罕見 ants螞蟻 found發現 in the mountain forests森林 of Cuba古巴,
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我去古巴的大山和森林裡尋找罕見的螞蟻種類
15:36
ants螞蟻 that shine閃耀 in the sunlight陽光 --
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這些螞蟻在陽光照射之下會發光
15:38
metallic金屬的 green綠色 or metallic金屬的 blue藍色, according根據 to species種類, and one species種類, I discovered發現, metallic金屬的 gold.
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金屬綠、金屬藍,甚至是黃金的顏色
15:46
I found發現 my magical神奇 ants螞蟻, but only after a tough強硬 climb into the mountains
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經過一段艱難的山地跋涉後,我終於找到了我的神奇螞蟻
15:51
where the last of the native本地人 Cuban古巴 forests森林 hung on,
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那裡也是古巴裡僅存的一塊原始森林地帶
15:55
and were then -- and still are -- being存在 cut back.
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但後來,直到現在,那片森林不斷的遭受砍伐
16:01
I realized實現 then that these species種類
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我意識到
16:04
and a large part部分 of the other unique獨特, marvelous奇妙 animals動物 and plants植物 on that island --
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像這些螞蟻以及那個島上生活的其他獨特且多彩多姿的動植物
16:10
and this is true真正 of practically幾乎 every一切 part部分 of the world世界 --
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這對於世界任何一個地方都是一樣的
16:15
which哪一個 took millions百萬 of years年份 to evolve發展, are in the process處理 of disappearing消失 forever永遠.
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經過數百萬年的進化才有今天,但它們一旦消失就有可能永遠不會再次出現了
16:20
And so it is everywhere到處 one looks容貌.
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這一個現象在世界各地都在發生著
16:25
The human人的 juggernaut劍聖 is permanently永久 eroding侵蝕 Earth's地球 ancient biosphere生物圈 by a combination組合 of forces軍隊
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人類正在以不可抗拒的力量,持續破壞著那些億萬年而來演化而成的生物系統
16:33
that can be summarized總結 by the acronym縮寫 "HIPPO河馬," the animal動物 hippo河馬.
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這些力量可以總結為"HIPPO"原意是河馬
16:38
H is for habitat棲息地 destruction毀壞, including包含 climate氣候 change更改 forced被迫 by greenhouse溫室 gases氣體.
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H是代表棲息地破壞,這包括因為大量排放溫室氣體而產生的氣候變化
16:45
I is for the invasive侵入的 species種類 like the fire ants螞蟻, the zebra斑馬 mussels青口貝, broom掃帚 grasses
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I是代表入侵物種,包括紅火蟻、斑馬河蚌、金雀花
16:53
and pathogenic bacteria and viruses病毒 that are flooding洪水 every一切 country國家, and at an exponential指數 rate -- that's the I.
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以及那些正在以驚人速度在各個國家蔓延的病毒何致命病菌
17:04
The P, the first one in "HIPPO河馬," is for pollution污染.
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P,第一個P是代表污染
17:08
The second第二 is for continued繼續 population人口, human人的 population人口 expansion擴張.
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第二個是指持續的人口增長
17:14
And the final最後 letter is O, for over-harvesting過度採伐 --
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而O則是代表過度補獲
17:17
driving主動 species種類 into extinction滅絕 by excessive過多 hunting狩獵 and fishing釣魚.
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過度的狩獵和捕撈正使許多物種走向消亡
17:21
The HIPPO河馬 juggernaut劍聖 we have created創建, if unabated不減, is destined注定 --
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人類如果不減弱這些力量(HIPPO)
17:27
according根據 to the best最好 estimates估計 of ongoing不斷的 biodiversity生物多樣性 research研究 --
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根據一直在進行的生物多樣性研究的最樂觀估計
17:31
to reduce減少 half of Earth's地球 still surviving倖存 animal動物 and plant species種類
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也將使得地球現存的動植物種類中有一半
17:36
to extinction滅絕 or critical危急 endangerment危害 by the end結束 of the century世紀.
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走向滅絕或走到瀕危的境地,也許就發生在本世紀末
17:41
Human-forced人強制 climate氣候 change更改 alone單獨 -- again, if unabated不減 --
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單單是人為引起的氣候變化,假如不加以抑制
17:46
could eliminate消除 a quarter25美分硬幣 of surviving倖存 species種類 during the next下一個 five decades幾十年.
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就將會在未來的半個世紀使得現存物種數目減少四分之一
17:52
What will we and all future未來 generations lose失去
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假如地球環境真的這樣惡化下去,
17:56
if much of the living活的 environment環境 is thus從而 degraded降級?
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那麼我們與我們的後代將承受怎麼樣的後果
18:02
Huge巨大 potential潛在 sources來源 of scientific科學 information信息 yet然而 to be gathered雲集,
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有大量的科學數據就藏在大自然當中等帶我們去發掘
18:06
much of our environmental環境的 stability穩定性
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環境的穩定性
18:10
and new kinds of pharmaceuticals藥品 and new products製品 of unimaginable不可思議 strength強度 and value --
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還有許多價值非凡的新藥物新產品
18:17
all thrown拋出 away.
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都會因此而被遺棄
18:20
The loss失利 will inflict造成 a heavy price價錢
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這樣的損失也將
18:23
in wealth財富, security安全 and yes, spirituality靈性 for all time to come,
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給我們的財富、安全以及精神生活帶來巨大的衝擊
18:30
because previous以前 cataclysms災難 of this kind --
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我們知道,歷史上曾經出現過類似的災難性事件
18:32
the last one, that ended結束 the age年齡 of dinosaurs恐龍 --
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對上一次是數百萬年前,使得恐龍走向滅絕
18:35
took, normally一般, five to 10 million百萬 years年份 to repair修理.
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必需經過一千萬年才能得到恢復
18:41
Sadly可悲的是, our knowledge知識 of biodiversity生物多樣性 is so incomplete殘缺
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可悲的是我們關於生物多樣性的瞭解是如此之少
18:45
that we are at risk風險 of losing失去 a great deal合同 of it before it is even discovered發現.
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也許有許多知識未待我們發現就已經不復存在
18:50
For example, even in the United聯合的 States狀態, the 200,000 species種類 known已知 currently目前
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比方說,在美國我們知道有20萬種物種
18:59
actually其實 has been found發現 to be only partial局部 in coverage覆蓋;
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但我們發現這其實只是很小的一個部份
19:06
it is mostly大多 unknown未知 to us in basic基本 biology生物學.
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而我們學基礎生物學的時候是沒有學到這個
19:11
Only about 15 percent百分 of the known已知 species種類 have been studied研究 well enough足夠 to evaluate評估 their status狀態.
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只有15%的已知物種是有過深入研究,使得我們可以評估它們的近況
19:18
Of the 15 percent百分 evaluated評價, 20 percent百分 are classified分類 as "in peril,"
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在這15%的物種裡,有20%是被列為"處於危險狀態"
19:24
that is, in danger危險 of extinction滅絕.
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換言之,它們就在滅絕的邊緣
19:26
That's in the United聯合的 States狀態.
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這只是美國的故事
19:28
We are, in short, flying飛行 blind into our environmental環境的 future未來.
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總而言之,我們就像盲人一樣去迎接這樣的未來環境
19:35
We urgently迫切 need to change更改 this.
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我們必須盡快的改變這一個現況
19:37
We need to have the biosphere生物圈 properly正確 explored探討
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我們需要對生物圈正確的進行探測
19:41
so that we can understand理解 and competently勝任 manage管理 it.
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唯有如此,我們才能把握其秘密並更好的加以保護
19:45
We need to settle解決 down before we wreck破壞 the planet行星.
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我們要知道我的處境,而後才能對未來採取應對措施
19:49
And we need that knowledge知識.
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我們需要這樣的知識
19:50
This should be a big science科學 project項目 equivalent當量 to the Human人的 Genome基因組 Project項目.
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這會是一個相當龐大的科學項目,堪與人類基因組的計劃相比
19:55
It should be thought of as a biological生物 moonshot大膽創新計劃 with a timetable時間表.
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或者說,這是一次時間概念更強烈的生物學阿波羅計劃
20:00
So this brings帶來 me to my wish希望 for TEDstersTEDsters,
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於是,接下來,我就要宣布我的TED願望
20:04
and to anyone任何人 else其他 around the world世界 who hears就听 this talk.
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世界各地熱愛科學的朋友,歡迎您們的一起聽聽
20:07
I wish希望 we will work together一起 to help create創建 the key tools工具
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我希望我們可以攜手合作,創建一些工具
20:13
that we need to inspire啟發 preservation保存 of Earth's地球 biodiversity生物多樣性.
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來鼓勵保護地球的生物多樣性
20:17
And let us call it the "Encyclopedia百科全書 of Life."
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不妨將此項目稱為"生命百科"
20:21
What is the "Encyclopedia百科全書 of Life?" A concept概念 that has already已經 taken採取 hold保持
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"生命百科"的概念已經得到人們的認同
20:25
and is beginning開始 to spread傳播 and be looked看著 at seriously認真地?
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並且正在不斷的傳播與普及
20:29
It is an encyclopedia百科全書 that lives生活 on the Internet互聯網
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這將會是一本網路上的百科全書
20:32
and is contributed貢獻 to by thousands數千 of scientists科學家們 around the world世界.
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世界各地的科學家都將參與其中
20:37
Amateurs業餘 can do it also.
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業餘的科學家也能夠參與
20:40
It has an indefinitely無限期 expandable擴張 page for each species種類.
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對於每個物種,都可能為其添加盡可能多的數據
20:45
It makes品牌 all key information信息 about life on Earth地球 accessible無障礙 to anyone任何人,
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使地球上所有生物資訊向世人公開
20:51
on demand需求, anywhere隨地 in the world世界.
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何時何地都可以查閱的到
20:53
I've written書面 about this idea理念 before,
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我曾為此寫過文章
20:57
and I know there are people in this room房間 who have expended花費 significant重大 effort功夫 on it in the past過去.
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我知道這裡也有人曾為同樣的計劃作出巨大貢獻
21:04
But what excites的激勵 me is that since以來 I first put forward前鋒 this particular特定 idea理念 in that form形成,
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但最讓我興奮的是,自從我產生這個想法之後
21:12
science科學 has advanced高級.
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科學有了長足的發展
21:14
Technology技術 has moved移動 forward前鋒.
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技術也有長足的發展
21:17
Today今天, the practicalities實用性 of making製造 such這樣 an encyclopedia百科全書,
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今天,從技術上來說我們完全有能力
21:21
regardless而不管 of the magnitude大小 of the information信息 put into it, are within reach達到.
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去編輯這樣的一部百科全書,不管當中所包含的數據量有多大
21:27
Indeed確實, in the past過去 year, a group of influential有影響 scientific科學 institutions機構
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事實上過去一年有多家具有影響力的科研機構
21:31
have begun開始 mobilizing動員 to realize實現 this dream夢想.
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就已經著手將此設想變為現實
21:35
I wish希望 you would help them.
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我希望你們能幫助他們
21:38
Working加工 together一起, we can make this real真實.
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攜手合作,我們就可以實現目標
21:42
The encyclopedia百科全書 will quickly很快 pay工資 for itself本身 in practical實際的 applications應用.
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計劃的本身很快就會得到回報,因為會有很多實際的用途
21:47
It will address地址 transcendent超然 qualities氣質 in the human人的 consciousness意識, and sense of human人的 need.
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它也將為人類意識帶來更深層次的精神境界,重新定義人類的需求
21:53
It will transform轉變 the science科學 of biology生物學 in ways方法 of obvious明顯 benefit效益 to humanity人性.
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它將改變生物學的面貌,這樣的改變也將為人類帶來顯著的效益
21:59
And most of all, it can inspire啟發 a new generation of biologists生物學家
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最重要的是,它將啟發年輕一代的生物學家
22:04
to continue繼續 the quest尋求 that started開始, for me personally親自, 60 years年份 ago:
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去繼續我60年前開始的征途
22:09
to search搜索 for life, to understand理解 it and finally最後, above以上 all, to preserve保留 it.
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去尋找生命,理解生命,最終守護生命
22:14
That is my wish希望. Thank you.
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這就是我的願望,謝謝大家
Translated by Chih-Yuan Huang
Reviewed by Geoff Chen

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

Why you should listen

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

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

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

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

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