ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Seth Shostak - Astronomer
Seth Shostak is an astronomer, alien hunter and bulwark of good, exciting science.

Why you should listen

Seth Shostak is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. Inspired by a book about the solar system he read at the age of ten, he began his career with a degree in physics from Princeton University and a PhD in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology before working with radio telescopes in the US and the Netherlands to uncover how the universe will end. In 1999, he produced twelve 30-minute lectures on audio-tape and video titled "The Search for Intelligent Life in Space" for the Teaching Company and has hosted SETI’s Big Picture Science podcast since 2002. In 2010, he was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and is the Chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Study Group. He has published four books, nearly 300 popular articles on astronomy, technology, film and television and gives frequent talks to both young and adult audiences.

More profile about the speaker
Seth Shostak | Speaker | TED.com
TEDxSanJoseCA

Seth Shostak: ET is (probably) out there -- get ready

赛斯.肖斯塔克:外星人(可能)真的存在 -- 请准备好

Filmed:
935,283 views

SETI研究员赛斯.肖斯塔克打赌说我们会在接下来的24年里找到外星生物,否则他就免费请你喝杯咖啡。在TED的加州圣何塞拍摄点,他解释了新的科学技术和概率学规律是如何证明寻找外星人很可能有重大突破的-- 也预测了如果发现一个比我们先进很多的文明会对地球造成什么影响。(TED加州圣何塞拍摄)
- Astronomer
Seth Shostak is an astronomer, alien hunter and bulwark of good, exciting science. Full bio

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

00:12
Is E.T. out there?
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外星人真的存在吗?
00:13
Well, I work at the SETISETI Institute研究所.
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我在SETI机构工作
00:16
That's almost几乎 my name名称. SETISETI:
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SETI几乎成为了我的代名词
00:17
Search搜索 for Extraterrestrial外星人 Intelligence情报.
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它的意思是:搜寻地外文明计划
00:19
In other words, I look for aliens外星人,
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换句话说,我的工作是寻找外星人
00:21
and when I tell people that at a cocktail鸡尾酒 party派对, they usually平时
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当我在一个鸡尾酒聚会上跟人说起我的工作,他们通常
00:24
look at me with a mildly温和 incredulous怀疑的 look on their face面对.
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会带着一副友善却怀疑的样子看着我
00:27
I try to keep my own拥有 face面对 somewhat有些 dispassionate冷静.
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而我尽量让自己看起来很镇静
00:30
Now, a lot of people think that this is kind of idealistic理想主义,
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现在很多人都认为寻找外星人这件事太理想化
00:32
ridiculous荒谬, maybe even hopeless绝望,
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很可笑,甚至可能毫无希望
00:35
but I just want to talk to you a little bit about why I think
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但是我只想跟你们解释为什么我认为
00:38
that the job工作 I have is actually其实 a privilege特权, okay,
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我的工作事实上是一个特权,好吗?
00:42
and give you a little bit of the motivation动机 for my getting得到 into
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我还会告诉你们促使我走向
00:44
this line线 of work, if that's what you call it.
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"这条不归路"的动机 - 如果你们这样称呼它的话
00:47
This thing — whoops哎呦, can we go back?
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这件事 - 哦,能倒回去吗?
00:50
Hello你好, come in, Earth地球.
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拜托
00:52
There we go. All right.
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好了,我们继续
00:54
This is the Owens欧文斯 Valley Radio无线电 Observatory天文台
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这是奥文斯谷射电天文台
00:56
behind背后 the Sierra内华达 Nevadas内华达州, and in 1968,
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它坐落在内华达山脉后面,在1968年
00:59
I was working加工 there collecting搜集 data数据 for my thesis论文.
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我就在那里工作,为我的论文搜集数据
01:02
Now, it's kinda有点儿 lonely孤独, it's kinda有点儿 tedious乏味, just collecting搜集 data数据,
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因为只是收集数据难免会有些孤单,有些无聊
01:05
so I would amuse游玩 myself by taking服用 photos相片 at night
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所以我会在晚上为望远镜
01:08
of the telescopes望远镜 or even of myself,
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甚至给自己拍照作为娱乐
01:11
because, you know, at night, I would be the only hominid原始人
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因为在晚上,我是30英里内
01:16
within about 30 miles英里.
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唯一的原始人
01:18
So here are pictures图片 of myself.
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这里有些我自己的照片
01:20
The observatory天文台 had just acquired后天 a new book,
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天文台刚刚添置了一本新书
01:23
written书面 by a Russian俄语 cosmologist宇宙学家
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是一位俄国宇宙学家所著
01:25
by the name名称 of Joseph约瑟夫 Shklovsky什克洛夫斯基, and then expanded扩大
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他的名字是约瑟夫.什克洛夫斯基,这本书还被
01:28
and translated翻译 and edited编辑 by a little-known鲜为人知的
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一位鲜为人知的康奈尔天文学家卡尔.萨根
01:31
Cornell康奈尔 astronomer天文学家 by the name名称 of Carl卡尔 Sagan萨根.
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扩写,翻译并校订
01:34
And I remember记得 reading that book,
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我记得在读这本书的时候,
01:36
and at 3 in the morning早上 I was reading this book
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那是凌晨三点
01:38
and it was explaining说明 how the antennas天线 I was using运用
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我正好看到一段在写
01:40
to measure测量 the spins自旋 of galaxies星系 could also be used
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我用来测量旋转星系的天线还可以用来
01:45
to communicate通信, to send发送 bits of information信息
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进行通信,从一个星系发送信息
01:48
from one star system系统 to another另一个.
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去另外一个星系
01:50
Now, at 3 o'clock in the morning早上 when you're all alone单独,
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你想想,凌晨三点,你自己一个人
01:52
haven't没有 had much sleep睡觉, that was a very romantic浪漫 idea理念,
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没睡多少觉,而那又是一个非常浪漫的念头
01:55
but it was that idea理念 -- the fact事实 that you could in fact事实
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但正是因为“你也许真的可以
01:58
prove证明 that there's somebody out there
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证明有外星人
02:00
just using运用 this same相同 technology技术 --
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而且只需用到同样的科学技术”
02:03
that appealed上诉 to me so much that 20 years年份 later后来 I took a job工作
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这个念头的吸引力太大了,所以20年后
02:05
at the SETISETI Institute研究所. Now, I have to say
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我选择了SETI机构工作。现在,我必须要说
02:07
that my memory记忆 is notoriously臭名昭著 porous多孔, and I've often经常
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我的记忆力是众所周知的不可靠,甚至我自己经常
02:11
wondered想知道 whether是否 there was any truth真相 in this story故事,
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怀疑这个故事到底有没有真实性
02:13
or I was just, you know, misremembering记错 something,
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也许我只是记错了什么
02:15
but I recently最近 just blew自爆 up this old negative of mine,
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但是最近我刚刚赶走了这个消极的想法
02:17
and sure enough足够, there you can see
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并且我非常确定,你可以看到
02:19
the Shklovsky什克洛夫斯基 and Sagan萨根 book underneath that
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那本由什克洛夫斯基和赛根编写的书
02:21
analog类似物 calculating计算 device设备.
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就在那部模拟计算装置的下面
02:24
So it was true真正.
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所以这个故事是真实的
02:24
All right. Now, the idea理念 for doing this, it wasn't very old
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好了,用天线和外星人联络这一理念距离
02:27
at the time that I made制作 that photo照片.
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我照下那张照片的时间并不是很久
02:29
The idea理念 dates日期 from 1960, when a young年轻 astronomer天文学家
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这个理念可以追溯到1960年,当时一个年轻的天文学家
02:32
by the name名称 of Frank坦率 Drake used this antenna天线
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弗兰克.德雷克用西弗吉尼亚州的一根天线
02:35
in West西 Virginia弗吉尼亚州, pointed it at a couple一对 of nearby附近 stars明星
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指向了一些附近的星球
02:38
in the hopes希望 of eavesdropping窃听 on E.T.
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希望能偷听到外星人的谈话
02:42
Now, Frank坦率 didn't hear anything.
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但是,弗兰克并没有听到什么
02:43
Actually其实 he did, but it turned转身 out to be the U.S. Air空气 Force,
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事实上他听到了一些声音,但是那只来自美国空军
02:46
which哪一个 doesn't count计数 as extraterrestrial外星人 intelligence情报.
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并不是什么“外星文明”
02:48
But Drake's德雷克的 idea理念 here became成为 very popular流行
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但是德雷克的理念从此以后开始流行
02:51
because it was very appealing吸引人的 — and I'll get back to that —
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因为它很吸引人 - 等会儿我还会说到
02:54
and on the basis基础 of this experiment实验, which哪一个 didn't succeed成功,
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在这个并没有成功的实验基础上,
02:57
we have been doing SETISETI ever since以来,
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我们从此之后就开始做SETI了
02:59
not continuously一直, but ever since以来.
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有过间断,但是一直在做
03:01
We still haven't没有 heard听说 anything.
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我们还没听到任何东西
03:03
We still haven't没有 heard听说 anything.
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我们还没听到任何东西
03:05
In fact事实, we don't know about any life beyond Earth地球,
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事实上,我们还不知道任何除地球以外的生命
03:06
but I'm going to suggest建议 to you that that's going to change更改
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但是我认为这一切即将有变化
03:09
rather soon不久, and part部分 of the reason原因, in fact事实,
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一部分原因是,事实上
03:12
the majority多数 of the reason原因 why I think that's going to change更改
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大部分原因
03:14
is that the equipment's设备的 getting得到 better.
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是因为设备更加先进了
03:16
This is the Allen艾伦 Telescope望远镜 Array排列, about 350 miles英里
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这是艾伦望远镜系列,离你现在的位置
03:19
from whatever随你 seat座位 you're in right now.
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大约350英里远
03:21
This is something that we're using运用 today今天
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这是我们现在用来搜寻外星人的仪器
03:23
to search搜索 for E.T., and the electronics电子产品 have gotten得到
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其他的电子设备
03:25
very much better too.
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也比以前提高了很多
03:26
This is Frank坦率 Drake's德雷克的 electronics电子产品 in 1960.
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这是弗兰克.额雷克在1960年使用的电子设备
03:29
This is the Allen艾伦 Telescope望远镜 Array排列 electronics电子产品 today今天.
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这是如今的艾伦望远镜系列电子设备
03:31
Some pundit权威人士 with too much time on his hands
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有些闲的发慌的权威人士
03:34
has reckoned估摸 that the new experiments实验 are approximately
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认为新的实验几乎
03:37
100 trillion times better than they were in 1960,
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比1960年的要精准百万亿倍
03:42
100 trillion times better.
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百万亿倍啊
03:43
That's a degree of an improvement起色 that would look good
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如此大幅度的水平提升会
03:45
on your report报告 card, okay?
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在你的报告上看起来非常显著,对吗?
03:48
But something that's not appreciated赞赏 by the public上市 is,
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但是没有被大众赏识的一点是
03:50
in fact事实, that the experiment实验 continues继续 to get better,
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事实上,这个实验正在越做越好
03:53
and, consequently所以, tends趋向 to get faster更快.
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所以也会越来越快
03:56
This is a little plot情节, and every一切 time you show显示 a plot情节,
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这是一个示意图,每当你展示示意图的时候
03:57
you lose失去 10 percent百分 of the audience听众.
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你通常会损失百分之十的听众
03:59
I have 12 of these. (Laughter笑声)
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不幸的是我有12个(笑声)
04:01
But what I plotted绘制 here is just some metric
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但是我绘制的只是一些
04:06
that shows节目 how fast快速 we're searching搜索.
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会显示我们搜寻速度的度量标准
04:08
In other words, we're looking for a needle in a haystack草垛.
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换句话说,我们正在大海捞针
04:10
We know how big the haystack草垛 is. It's the galaxy星系.
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我们知道大海有多大,它代表整个银河系
04:13
But we're going through通过 the haystack草垛 no longer
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但是我们不再只用一个汤匙在捞
04:15
with a teaspoon茶匙 but with a skip跳跃 loader装载机,
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而是用一个翻斗车
04:18
because of this increase增加 in speed速度.
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这因为这样,我们的速度加快了
04:20
In fact事实, those of you who are still conscious意识
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事实上,你们其中有些仍然清醒
04:21
and mathematically数学 competent胜任,
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并有数学头脑的人
04:24
will note注意 that this is a semi-log半对数 plot情节.
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会注意到这是一个半对数图
04:26
In other words, the rate of increase增加 is exponential指数.
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换句话说,增长率是呈指数增长的
04:30
It's exponentially成倍 improving提高. Now, exponential指数 is an
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它是呈指数增长的。指数是
04:33
overworked word. You hear it on the media媒体 all the time.
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一个被过度消费的词语。你总是能在媒体上听到
04:35
They don't really know what exponential指数 means手段,
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他们根本不懂指数是什么意思
04:37
but this is exponential指数.
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但这个的确是指数
04:39
In fact事实, it's doubling加倍 every一切 18 months个月, and, of course课程,
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事实上,这个速度每18个月都会翻倍,当然
04:42
every一切 card-carrying正牌 member会员 of the digerati数字文人 knows知道
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每个先知先觉的正牌会员都知道
04:44
that that's Moore's摩尔定律 Law.
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这个正是摩尔定律
04:45
So this means手段 that over the course课程 of the next下一个
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所以这代表着在接下来的
04:48
two dozen years年份, we'll be able能够 to look at a million百万 star systems系统,
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24年过程中,我们能看到一百万个星系
04:52
a million百万 star systems系统, looking for signals信号
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而在这一百万个星系里面,我们要寻找
04:54
that would prove证明 somebody's某人的 out there.
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能够证明有外星人存在的信号
04:55
Well, a million百万 star systems系统, is that interesting有趣?
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一百万个星系,听起来很有趣吧?
04:58
I mean, how many许多 of those star systems系统 have planets行星?
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我的意思是,在他们里面又有多少个星系有行星呢?
05:01
And the facts事实 are, we didn't know the answer回答 to that
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事实是我们在过去的15年里不知道答案
05:03
even as recently最近 as 15 years年份 ago, and in fact事实, we really
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事实上,我们
05:05
didn't know it even as recently最近 as six months个月 ago.
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在过去的六个月内也还是不知道答案
05:08
But now we do. Recent最近 results结果 suggest建议
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但现在我们知道了。最新的结果显示
05:11
that virtually实质上 every一切 star has planets行星, and more than one.
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几乎每个恒星都有行星,而且不止一个
05:15
They're like, you know, kittens小猫. You get a litter.
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星球就像是,你知道,小猫咪
05:18
You don't get one kitten小猫. You get a bunch.
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一个窝里面可能没有小猫咪,也可能有一堆小猫咪
05:20
So in fact事实, this is a pretty漂亮 accurate准确 estimate估计
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所以事实上,这个结果已经非常精确的估计了
05:23
of the number of planets行星 in our galaxy星系,
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银河系里行星的数量
05:27
just in our galaxy星系, by the way,
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顺便说一句,这个发现只限于我们的银河系
05:29
and I remind提醒 the non-astronomy非天文学 majors专业 among其中 you
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请允许我提醒在座的非天文专业听众
05:31
that our galaxy星系 is only one of 100 billion十亿
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我们的银河系只是
05:34
that we can see with our telescopes望远镜.
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我们能用望远镜看到的1000亿个星系之一
05:36
That's a lot of real真实 estate房地产, but of course课程,
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这个数量很惊人,但是当然
05:37
most of these planets行星 are going to be kind of worthless无用,
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大部分行星都是没有研究价值的
05:39
like, you know, Mercury, or Neptune海王星.
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比如说像是水星,或是海王星
05:41
Neptune's海王星的 probably大概 not very big in your life.
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你可能甚至没有听说过海王星
05:43
So the question is, what fraction分数 of these planets行星
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所以现在问题是,这些星球中有多少
05:48
are actually其实 suitable适当 for life?
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是适合生命存在的?
05:49
We don't know the answer回答 to that either,
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我们也不知道这个问题的答案
05:51
but we will learn学习 that answer回答 this year, thanks谢谢 to
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但是我们今年将会有答案
05:53
NASA's美国航空航天局 Kepler开普勒 Space空间 Telescope望远镜,
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这多亏美国航空航天局的开普勒太空望远镜
05:55
and in fact事实, the smart聪明 money, which哪一个 is to say the people who work on this project项目,
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而事实上,精英们,也就是那些为这个项目工作的人们
05:59
the smart聪明 money is suggesting提示 that the fraction分数 of planets行星
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他们认为可能有生命存在的星球比例
06:02
that might威力 be suitable适当 for life is maybe one in a thousand,
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可能是千分之一
06:06
one in a hundred, something like that.
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或百分之一之类
06:09
Well, even taking服用 the pessimistic悲观 estimate估计, that it's
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那么,就算是采用最悲观的预测
06:12
one in a thousand, that means手段 that there are
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千分之一的概率,这意味着
06:15
at least最小 a billion十亿 cousins表兄弟 of the Earth地球
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在我们的银河系中
06:17
just in our own拥有 galaxy星系.
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至少有十亿和地球的兄弟姐妹
06:19
Okay, now I've given特定 you a lot of numbers数字 here,
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好的,现在我已经给了你们很多数据
06:21
but they're mostly大多 big numbers数字, okay, so, you know,
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但他们大部分都是大数据,好的
06:25
keep that in mind心神. There's plenty丰富 of real真实 estate房地产,
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记住他们,宇宙中有很多很多房子
06:28
plenty丰富 of real真实 estate房地产 in the universe宇宙,
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很多很多
06:30
and if we're the only bit of real真实 estate房地产 in which哪一个 there's
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如果我们是少数房子里的唯一
06:33
some interesting有趣 occupants居住者, that makes品牌 you a miracle奇迹,
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居住者的话,这算得上是一个奇迹
06:36
and I know you like to think you're a miracle奇迹,
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我也知道你很希望自己是个奇迹
06:38
but if you do science科学, you learn学习 rather quickly很快 that
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但是如果你懂科学,你就会迅速理解
06:40
every一切 time you think you're a miracle奇迹, you're wrong错误,
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每当你认为自己是个奇迹的时候,你都是错的
06:42
so probably大概 not the case案件.
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所以这应该不是事实
06:45
All right, so the bottom底部 line线 is this:
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好了,我们的底线就是:
06:47
Because of the increase增加 in speed速度, and because of the
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由于速度的增长和
06:50
vast广大 amount of habitable可居住 real真实 estate房地产 in the cosmos宇宙, I figure数字
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宇宙拥有的大量可生存的房子,我认为
06:55
we're going to pick up a signal信号 within two dozen years年份.
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我们会在24年内找出一个信号
06:57
And I feel strongly非常 enough足够 about that to make a bet赌注 with you:
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而且我强烈认为我可以用它和你打个赌:
07:00
Either we're going to find E.T. in the next下一个 two dozen years年份,
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要么就是我们在接下来的24年内找到外星人
07:02
or I'll buy购买 you a cup杯子 of coffee咖啡.
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要么我就请你喝一杯咖啡
07:06
So that's not so bad. I mean, even with two dozen years年份,
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所以这样对谁都不坏,我的意思是,就算是24年
07:08
you open打开 up your browser浏览器 and there's news新闻 of a signal信号,
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你打开了你的浏览器,看到一则关于外星人信号的新闻
07:10
or you get a cup杯子 of coffee咖啡.
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不然你免费喝到一杯咖啡
07:12
Now, let me tell you about some aspect方面 of this that
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现在,让我告诉你一些
07:16
people don't think about, and that is,
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人们还没想到的方面,就是发现外星人之后
07:18
what happens发生? Suppose假设 that what I say is true真正.
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会发生什么?假设我说的都是真的
07:22
I mean, who knows知道, but suppose假设 it happens发生.
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谁知道呢?但请假设它会发生
07:24
Suppose假设 some time in the next下一个 two dozen years年份
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假设在接下来的24年里的某个时间
07:25
we pick up a faint line线 that tells告诉 us
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我们接受到一个微弱的信号
07:28
we have some cosmic宇宙的 company公司.
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它意味着我们在宇宙里找到了同类
07:29
What is the effect影响? What's the consequence后果?
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这会带来什么影响?会有什么后果?
07:32
Now, I might威力 be at ground地面 zero for this.
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我可能对这些一无所知
07:34
I happen发生 to know what the consequence后果 for me would be,
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但我知道对于我来说后果是什么
07:35
because we've我们已经 had false alarms警报. This is 1997,
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因为我们曾经有过一场虚惊。那是1997年
07:38
and this is a photo照片 I made制作 at about 3 o'clock in the morning早上
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这是我在凌晨三点拍下的一张照片
07:41
in Mountain View视图 here, when we were watching观看
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在这儿,山景城 (加州城市),我们正在看
07:43
the computer电脑 monitors显示器 because we had picked采摘的 up a signal信号
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电脑屏幕,因为我们刚刚接收到了一个信号
07:45
that we thought, "This is the real真实 deal合同." All right?
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我们在想:“这是另一座房子。”明白了吗?
07:48
And I kept不停 waiting等候 for the Men男人 in Black黑色 to show显示 up. Right?
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而我一直在等待黑衣人的出现
07:51
I kept不停 waiting等候 for -- I kept不停 waiting等候 for my mom妈妈 to call,
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我一直等一直等 - 等我妈打电话来
07:56
somebody to call, the government政府 to call. Nobody没有人 called.
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其他人打电话来,政府打电话来。但没有人打来
07:59
Nobody没有人 called. I was so nervous紧张
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没有人。我非常紧张
08:02
that I couldn't不能 sit down. I just wandered逛到 around
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坐立不安。我只是走来走去
08:04
taking服用 photos相片 like this one, just for something to do.
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拍些相似的照片,纯粹为了找些事情干
08:07
Well, at 9:30 in the morning早上, with my head down
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到了早上9:30,我的头撞在了书桌上
08:09
on my desk because I obviously明显 hadn't有没有 slept all night,
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因为显然我整晚都没睡
08:11
the phone电话 rings戒指 and it's The New York纽约 Times.
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电话响了,是纽约时报
08:13
And I think there's a lesson in that, and that lesson is
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我认为我学到了一课,就是
08:16
that if we pick up a signal信号, the media媒体, the media媒体 will be on it
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如果我们接收到了一个信号,媒体一定会收到风
08:19
faster更快 than a weasel黄鼠狼 on ball bearings轴承. It's going to be fast快速.
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媒体的速度是任何其他事物都无法比拟的
08:23
You can be sure of that. No secrecy保密.
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相信我,这已经不是一个秘密了
08:25
That's what happens发生 to me. It kind of ruins废墟 my whole整个 week,
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它就发生在我身上。这件事几乎毁了我整整一周
08:28
because whatever随你 I've got planned计划 that week is kind of out the window窗口.
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因为我所有的计划都泡汤了
08:30
But what about you? What's it going to do to you?
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但是你呢?在你身上会发生什么?
08:33
And the answer回答 is that we don't know the answer回答.
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答案就是我们也不知道会发生什么
08:35
We don't know what that's going to do to you,
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我们不知道在你身上会发生什么
08:35
not in the long term术语, and not even very much in the short term术语.
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长期来说不知道,短期来说也不知道
08:39
I mean, that would be a bit like
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这就像是
08:41
asking Chris克里斯 Columbus哥伦布 in 1491, "Hey Chris克里斯,
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在1491年问克里斯.哥伦布:“嘿,克里斯
08:45
you know, what happens发生 if it turns out that there's a
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2014
如果你发现这儿和日本之间
08:47
continent大陆 between之间 here and Japan日本, where you're sailing帆船 to,
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还有一块大陆,就在你航行的方向
08:50
what will be the consequences后果 for humanity人性
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如果是真的,那你觉得这对整个人类来说
08:53
if that turns out to be the case案件?"
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究竟意味着什么?
08:55
And I think Chris克里斯 would probably大概 offer提供 you some answer回答
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我想克里斯估计会以
08:57
that you might威力 not have understood了解, but it probably大概
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你不会理解的方式回答你,但是
09:00
wouldn't不会 have been right, and I think that to predict预测
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答案不一定正确,所以我认为去预测
09:02
what finding发现 E.T.'s going to mean,
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找到外星人意味着什么
09:04
we can't predict预测 that either.
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是我们也无法猜测的
09:05
But here are a couple一对 things I can say.
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但是有些事情我能猜测到
09:07
To begin开始 with, it's going to be a society社会 that's way in advance提前 of our own拥有.
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首先,一定存在一个比我们的社会先进很多的另一个社会
09:11
You're not going to hear from alien外侨 Neanderthals尼安德特人.
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你不会收到外星人的祖先的来信
09:13
They're not building建造 transmitters变送器.
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他们不会有发报机
09:14
They're going to be ahead of us, maybe by a few少数 thousand
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他们比我们先进很多,也许几千年
09:16
years年份, maybe by a few少数 millions百万 years年份, but substantially基本上
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也许几百万年,但总之是
09:19
ahead of us, and that means手段, if you can understand理解
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比我们先进,这就意味着如果你能理解
09:21
anything that they're going to say, then you might威力 be able能够
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他们说的任何事情,你就可能有能力
09:25
to short-circuit短路 history历史 by getting得到 information信息 from a society社会
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缩短历史进程,因为你从一个先进得多的社会
09:28
that's way beyond our own拥有.
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获取了信息
09:30
Now, you might威力 find that a bit hyperbolic夸张的, and maybe it is,
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好吧,你也许觉得有些夸张,也是的确是夸张了一点
09:33
but nonetheless尽管如此,, it's conceivable可以想象 that this will happen发生,
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但是无论如何,我们可以想象这是有可能发生的
09:35
and, you know, you could consider考虑 this like, I don't know,
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而且你知道,你可以认为就如同
09:38
giving Julius朱利叶斯 Caesar凯撒 English英语 lessons教训 and the key
224
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2469
给朱利叶斯·凯撒上英文课,给他
09:40
to the library图书馆 of Congress国会.
225
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议会图书馆的钥匙
09:41
It would change更改 his day, all right?
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这会改变他的时代,对吗?
09:44
That's one thing. Another另一个 thing that's for sure
227
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1995
这是一方面。另一方面肯定会发生的就是
09:46
going to happen发生 is that it will calibrate校准 us.
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这件事会重新校正我们的认知
09:49
We will know that we're not that miracle奇迹, right,
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我们会知道我们不是奇迹,是的
09:53
that we're just another另一个 duck in a row,
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我们只是队列里的另一只鸭子
09:55
we're not the only kids孩子 on the block, and I think that that's
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1995
我们不是小区里仅有的小孩,而我认为
09:57
philosophically哲学 a very profound深刻 thing to learn学习.
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这是哲学上一个非常深刻的问题
10:00
We're not a miracle奇迹, okay?
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我们不是奇迹,好吗?
10:03
The third第三 thing that it might威力 tell you is somewhat有些 vague模糊,
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3299
第三点有些模糊
10:06
but I think interesting有趣 and important重要,
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2123
但我认识很有趣也很重要
10:08
and that is, if you find a signal信号 coming未来 from a more
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那就是如果你找到一个信号,它来自
10:10
advanced高级 society社会, because they will be,
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一个更为先进的社会,因为他们一定是
10:12
that will tell you something about our own拥有 possibilities可能性,
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你可能会被告知一些我们自己社会发展的可能性
10:15
that we're not inevitably必将 doomed注定 to self-destruction自我毁灭.
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我们并不是不可避免的走向自我毁灭
10:20
Because they survived幸存 their technology技术,
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因为他们在自己的技术中存活了下来
10:22
we could do it too.
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我们一定也可以做到
10:23
Normally一般 when you look out into the universe宇宙,
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通常当你仰望星空
10:25
you're looking back in time. All right?
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你是在看向过去,对吗?
10:27
That's interesting有趣 to cosmologists宇宙学家.
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这对于宇宙学家来说非常有意思
10:29
But in this sense, you actually其实 can look into the future未来,
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但如果你找到外星人,你会看见未来
10:33
hazily朦胧地, but you can look into the future未来.
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2015
或许有些朦胧,但是会看见未来
10:35
So those are all the sorts排序 of things that would come from a detection发现.
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所以这些所有的事情都会因为你的发现接踵而来
10:40
Now, let me talk a little bit about something that happens发生
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现在,让我告诉你们一些
10:43
even in the meantime与此同时, and that is,
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正在发生的事情,那就是
10:47
SETISETI, I think, is important重要, because it's exploration勘探, and
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SETI,我认为它很重要,因为它在探险
10:52
it's not only exploration勘探, it's comprehensible理解 exploration勘探.
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而且不仅仅是探索,它是在合理的探险
10:54
Now, I gotta总得 tell you, I'm always reading books图书 about
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好了,我必须告诉你们,我总是在读一些
10:57
explorers探险. I find exploration勘探 very interesting有趣,
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关于探险者的书籍,我认为探险非常有趣
11:00
Arctic北极 exploration勘探, you know, people like Magellan麦哲伦,
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北极探险,或者是探险家麦哲伦
11:03
Amundsen阿蒙森, Shackleton沙克尔顿, you see Franklin富兰克林 down there,
255
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阿蒙森,沙克尔顿,还有富兰克林
11:06
Scott斯科特, all these guys. It's really nifty俏皮的, exploration勘探.
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斯科特,所有的这些人都在探险,探险是件很俏皮的事情
11:09
And they're just doing it because they want to explore探索,
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2239
他们探险只是因为他们想要做这件事
11:11
and you might威力 say, "Oh, that's kind of a frivolous轻浮 opportunity机会,"
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你可能会说:”哦,这是一个疯狂的机遇。“
11:13
but that's not frivolous轻浮. That's not a frivolous轻浮 activity活动,
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但它不是,探险不是一个疯狂的行为
11:17
because, I mean, think of ants蚂蚁.
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2031
想想蚂蚁
11:19
You know, most ants蚂蚁 are programmed程序 to follow跟随 one another另一个
261
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1997
大部分蚂蚁都是老老实实跟着前一只
11:21
along沿 in a long line线, but there are a couple一对 of ants蚂蚁,
262
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排成一条长队,但是总有一些蚂蚁
11:23
maybe one percent百分 of those ants蚂蚁, that are what they call
263
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可能只是百分之一的蚂蚁,就是那些
11:26
pioneer先锋 ants蚂蚁, and they're the ones那些 that wander漫步 off.
264
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2175
被称为先锋蚁的那些,它们到处游荡
11:28
They're the ones那些 you find on the kitchen厨房 countertop台面.
265
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1901
你会在厨房的台面上发现它们
11:30
You gotta总得 get them with your thumb拇指 before they
266
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1998
你必须要用你的大拇指拦住它们
11:32
find the sugar or something.
267
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1584
以防它们找到糖之类的东西
11:33
But those ants蚂蚁, even though虽然 most of them get wiped out,
268
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2405
但是正是这些蚂蚁,虽然它们大部分都被消灭了
11:36
those ants蚂蚁 are the ones那些 that are essential必要 to the survival生存
269
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但是它们对于整个蚁群的生存有巨大的作用
11:39
of the hive蜂巢. So exploration勘探 is important重要.
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所以探险也是同样重要
11:42
I also think that exploration勘探 is important重要 in terms条款 of
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我认为探险重要还因为
11:46
being存在 able能够 to address地址 what I think is a critical危急
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它能够阐述一个我认为社会上普遍存在的
11:51
lack缺乏 in our society社会, and that is the lack缺乏 of science科学 literacy读写能力,
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科学素养缺失问题
11:54
the lack缺乏 of the ability能力 to even understand理解 science科学.
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3643
就是说人们缺乏理解科学的能力
11:58
Now, look, a lot has been written书面 about the
275
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2042
好的,让我们看看
12:00
deplorable可悲 state of science科学 literacy读写能力 in this country国家.
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许多关于我们国家可悲的科学素养的文章
12:03
You've heard听说 about it.
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相信你一定听说过
12:06
Well, here's这里的 one example, in fact事实.
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这儿就有一个例子,事实上
12:08
Polls民意调查 taken采取, this poll轮询 was taken采取 10 years年份 ago.
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是一个投票,这个投票是10年前做的
12:10
It shows节目 like roughly大致 one third第三 of the public上市 thinks
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它大致说明了三分之一的人们认为
12:12
that aliens外星人 are not only out there, we're looking for them
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1964
外星人不是只存在于外太空的
12:14
out there, but they're here, right?
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有可能我们在外太空寻找他们,但是他们却在这里,对吗?
12:16
Sailing帆船 the skies天空 in their saucers飞碟 and occasionally偶尔
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乘坐他们的小飞碟在太空遨游,时不时的
12:18
abducting绑架 people for experiments实验 their parents父母 wouldn't不会 approve批准 of.
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绑架一些地球人去做即使是外星人的父母也不会赞同的实验
12:21
Well, that would be interesting有趣 if it was true真正,
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如果这都是真的,那实在很有趣
12:24
and job工作 security安全 for me, but I don't think the evidence证据 is
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即使我会担心我的职业安全, 但我不认为它们会是事实
12:26
very good. That's more, you know, sad伤心 than significant重大.
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这固然令人沮丧,但是并不重要
12:30
But there are other things that people believe
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然而有些事情是人们确信不疑而且
12:32
that are significant重大, like the efficacy功效 of homeopathy同种疗法,
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很重要的,比如说顺势疗法的疗效
12:35
or that evolution演化 is just, you know, sort分类 of a crazy idea理念
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或是进化论可能只是失去双腿的科学家
12:39
by scientists科学家们 without any legs, or, you know, evolution演化,
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的一个疯狂的念头,或者说进化论
12:42
all that sort分类 of thing, or global全球 warming变暖.
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那一类东西,例如全球变暖之类
12:44
These sorts排序 of ideas思路 don't really have any validity合法性,
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这类想法并没有事实根据
12:48
that you can't trust相信 the scientists科学家们.
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你不能轻易相信科学家们
12:50
Now, we've我们已经 got to solve解决 that problem问题, because that's
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现在,我们就要解决这个问题,因为这是
12:52
a critically危重 important重要 problem问题, and you might威力 say,
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一个至关重要的问题,你可能会说
12:56
"Well, okay, how are we gonna solve解决 that problem问题 with SETISETI?"
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“那好啊,我们怎样用SETI来解决这个问题呢?”
12:59
Well, let me suggest建议 to you that SETISETI obviously明显 can't
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让我告诉你,SETI显然是不能
13:01
solve解决 the problem问题, but it can address地址 the problem问题.
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解决这个问题的,但是它可以阐述这个问题
13:03
It can address地址 the problem问题 by getting得到 young年轻 people
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它可以通过唤起年轻人对科学的热情
13:06
interested有兴趣 in science科学. Look, science科学 is hard, it
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来阐述这个问题。科学并不简单
13:09
has a reputation声誉 of being存在 hard, and the facts事实 are, it is hard,
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它总是被描述的很难,事实上,它的确很困难
13:12
and that's the result结果 of 400 years年份 of science科学, right?
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而且他们是400年来积累下来的,对吧?
13:17
I mean, in the 18th century世纪, in the 18th century世纪
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在18世纪,
13:19
you could become成为 an expert专家 on any field领域 of science科学
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你可能下午去过一趟图书馆,就有可能
13:22
in an afternoon下午 by going to a library图书馆,
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2914
成为某一个领域的专家
13:25
if you could find the library图书馆, right?
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2021
如果你找得到图书馆的话
13:27
In the 19th century世纪, if you had a basement地下室 lab实验室,
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3616
而在19世纪,如果你有一个地下实验室
13:30
you could make major重大的 scientific科学 discoveries发现
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2747
你可能在家里就能
13:33
in your own拥有 home. Right? Because there was all this
310
801388
2225
作出重大的科学发现。对吗?因为那时还有很多
13:35
science科学 just lying说谎 around waiting等候 for somebody to pick it up.
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科学观点就躺在那儿等待被人发觉
13:38
Now, that's not true真正 anymore.
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而现在,这些都不复存在
13:40
Today今天, you've got to spend years年份 in grad毕业 school学校
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如今,你必须作为研究生或是博士后
13:42
and post-doc博士后 positions位置 just to figure数字 out what
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在研究领域花上数年,只是为了找出
13:46
the important重要 questions问题 are.
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什么才是重要的研究课题
13:48
It's hard. There's no doubt怀疑 about it.
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1995
这当然是毋庸置疑的困难
13:50
And in fact事实, here's这里的 an example: the Higgs希格斯 boson玻色子,
317
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2309
事实上,这就有一个例子:
13:52
finding发现 the Higgs希格斯 boson玻色子.
318
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1909
证明希格斯玻色子的存在
13:54
Ask the next下一个 10 people you see on the streets街道,
319
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1800
如果你去问在街上见到的10个人
13:56
"Hey, do you think it's worthwhile合算 to spend billions数十亿
320
824076
2338
“嘿,你觉得花费几十亿瑞士法郎去
13:58
of Swiss瑞士人 francs法郎 looking for the Higgs希格斯 boson玻色子?"
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2641
研究希格斯玻色子值得吗?”
14:01
And I bet赌注 the answer回答 you're going to get, is,
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2321
我打赌你会得到这样的回答
14:03
"Well, I don't know what the Higgs希格斯 boson玻色子 is,
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1657
“呃,我不知道什么是希格斯玻色子
14:05
and I don't know if it's important重要."
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1232
我也不知道它重不重要。”
14:06
And probably大概 most of the people wouldn't不会 even know
325
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1799
甚至可能大部分人们根本不知道
14:08
the value of a Swiss瑞士人 franc法郎, okay?
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836064
2447
瑞士法郎值多少美元!
14:10
And yet然而 we're spending开支 billions数十亿 of Swiss瑞士人 francs法郎 on this problem问题.
327
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2530
直到如今我们依然在花费数十亿瑞士法郎去研究它
14:13
Okay? So that doesn't get people interested有兴趣 in science科学
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2153
明白了吗?这个课题不会引起人们对科学的兴趣
14:15
because they can't comprehend理解 what it's about.
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1876
是因为他们根本不理解它在研究什么
14:17
SETISETI, on the other hand, is really simple简单.
330
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1617
SETI就不一样了,它的概念很简单
14:18
We're going to use these big antennas天线 and we're going to
331
846687
1616
我们会用到很大的天线,我们也会
14:20
try to eavesdrop窃听 on signals信号. Everybody每个人 can understand理解 that.
332
848303
2752
尝试收听各种信号。每个人都能理解我们在做什么
14:23
Yes, technologically技术, it's very sophisticated复杂的,
333
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2009
没错,技术上来说它还是很复杂
14:25
but everybody每个人 gets得到 the idea理念.
334
853064
2006
但是每个人都能明白
14:27
So that's one thing. The other thing is, it's exciting扣人心弦 science科学.
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3938
这是一方面,另一方面则是因为它的研究方向令人兴奋
14:31
It's exciting扣人心弦 because we're naturally自然 interested有兴趣
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2414
我说它令人兴奋是因为我们天生就对
14:33
in other intelligent智能 beings众生, and I think that's
337
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2225
其他智能生物感兴趣,而且我认为这正是
14:35
part部分 of our hardwiring硬线.
338
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1424
我们人类的天性
14:37
I mean, we're hardwired硬线 to be interested有兴趣
339
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1560
我是说,我们天生会对
14:38
in beings众生 that might威力 be, if you will, competitors竞争对手,
340
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2801
那些你也许会说是对手
14:41
or if you're the romantic浪漫 sort分类, possibly或者 even mates队友. Okay?
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3583
浪漫一点也可以说是伙伴感兴趣
14:45
I mean, this is analogous类似 to our interest利益 in things that
342
873015
2011
我是说这和我们对有巨大牙齿的生物
14:47
have big teeth. Right?
343
875026
2021
感兴趣是类似的,对吗?
14:49
We're interested有兴趣 in things that have big teeth, and you
344
877047
1474
我们对有着巨大牙齿的生物感兴趣,而你
14:50
can see the evolutionary发展的 value of that, and you can also see
345
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2545
能看得到进化的价值,你还能通过
14:53
the practical实际的 consequences后果 by watching观看 Animal动物 Planet行星.
346
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3688
观看动物星球节目了解进化的结果
14:56
You notice注意 they make very few少数 programs程式 about gerbils沙鼠.
347
884754
2334
你发现了吗?他们可没有为长爪沙鼠做多少节目
14:59
It's mostly大多 about things that have big teeth.
348
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2056
而节目中更多的是有巨大牙齿的动物
15:01
Okay, so we're interested有兴趣 in these sorts排序 of things.
349
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2947
好了,所以说我们对这些东西感兴趣
15:04
And not just us. It's also kids孩子.
350
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3935
而且不仅仅是我们,小孩也是一样
15:08
This allows允许 you to pay工资 it forward前锋 by using运用 this subject学科 as a
351
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3427
我们可以利用这个话题来
15:11
hook to science科学, because SETISETI involves涉及 all kinds of science科学,
352
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3232
与科学挂钩,因为SETI显然和
15:14
obviously明显 biology生物学, obviously明显 astronomy天文学,
353
902685
1990
生物学和天文学密切相关
15:16
but also geology地质学, also chemistry化学, various各个 scientific科学
354
904675
3334
还有地理学,化学,各种科学学科
15:20
disciplines学科 all can be presented呈现 in the guise伪装 of,
355
908009
4000
都能被用于这个课题
15:24
"We're looking for E.T."
356
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1329
“我们在寻找外星人。”
15:25
So to me this is interesting有趣 and important重要, and in fact事实,
357
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4457
因此对于我来说,这既有趣又重要,而事实上
15:29
it's my policy政策, even though虽然 I give a lot of talks会谈 to adults成年人,
358
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3238
我的原则就是即使我对成年人演讲比较多
15:33
you give talks会谈 to adults成年人, and two days later后来 they're back where they were.
359
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2668
如果给成年人演讲,两天之后他们就恢复原样
15:35
But if you give talks会谈 to kids孩子, you know,
360
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2922
但如果是对孩子们,那么
15:38
one in 50 of them, some light bulb灯泡 goes off, and they think,
361
926623
4152
50个中会有那么一个会在结束之后想
15:42
"Gee啧啧, I'd never thought of that," and then they go,
362
930775
1801
“天啊,我从没想过这个问题。”然后他们就
15:44
you know, read a book or a magazine杂志 or whatever随你.
363
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1792
去读一本书或杂志或其他东西作进一步了解
15:46
They get interested有兴趣 in something.
364
934368
1682
他们会开始对某些事情感兴趣
15:48
Now it's my theory理论, supported支持的 only by anecdotal传闻,
365
936050
4974
这只是我的理论,只有一些传闻
15:53
personal个人 anecdotal传闻 evidence证据, but nonetheless尽管如此,,
366
941024
2023
能够证明,但尽管如此
15:55
that kids孩子 get interested有兴趣 in something between之间 the ages年龄
367
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2473
孩子们在8到11岁的时候的确很容易对事物感兴趣
15:57
of eight and 11. You've got to get them there.
368
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2536
你一定要把握这一点
16:00
So, all right, I give talks会谈 to adults成年人, that's fine, but I try
369
948056
2620
好了,我举办成人讲座,这也很好,但是我有试着
16:02
and make 10 percent百分 of the talks会谈 that I give,
370
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2325
把百分之十的讲座
16:05
I try and make those for kids孩子.
371
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2077
留给孩子们
16:07
I remember记得 when a guy came来了 to our high school学校, actually其实,
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2976
我还记得某天一个人来到我们的高中
16:10
it was actually其实 my junior初级 high school学校. I was in sixth第六 grade年级.
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2976
那时我还没上高中,我在上六年级
16:13
And he gave some talk. All I remember记得 from it
374
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2480
然后他给我们演讲。我唯一记得的内容
16:15
was one word: electronics电子产品.
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1575
就只有一个词:电子
16:17
It was like Dustin达斯汀 Hoffman霍夫曼 in "The Graduate毕业," right,
376
965085
2561
就和达斯汀.霍夫曼在电影“毕业生”里一样
16:19
when he said "plastics塑料," whatever随你 that means手段, plastics塑料.
377
967646
2398
当他说“塑料”,无论这个词还有什么别的意思都不重要
16:22
All right, so the guy said electronics电子产品. I don't remember记得
378
970044
1995
说回来,那个人说了电子,我不记得
16:24
anything else其他. In fact事实, I don't remember记得 anything
379
972039
2004
其他的了,事实上,我也不记得
16:26
that my sixth第六 grade年级 teacher老师 said all year,
380
974043
2010
我六年级老师一整年说了什么
16:28
but I remember记得 electronics电子产品.
381
976053
2014
但我记得电子这个词
16:30
And so I got interested有兴趣 in electronics电子产品, and you know,
382
978067
2652
所以我开始对电子感兴趣
16:32
I studied研究 to get my ham火腿 license执照. I was wiring接线 up stuff东东.
383
980719
2325
我甚至努力学习拿到了业余执照。看,我在连接电路
16:35
Here I am at about 15 or something, doing that sort分类 of stuff东东.
384
983044
2978
那时我15岁左右,一直在做这些事情
16:38
Okay? That had a big effect影响 on me.
385
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1583
那次演讲对我影响非常大
16:39
So that's my point, that you can have a big effect影响
386
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1712
我的重点是说,你们也同样可以对
16:41
on these kids孩子.
387
989317
2716
这些孩子产生重大影响
16:44
In fact事实, this reminds提醒 me, I don't know, a couple一对 years年份 ago
388
992033
3661
事实上,说到这里我想起几年前
16:47
I gave a talk at a school学校 in Palo帕洛阿尔托 Alto奥拓
389
995694
3326
我去帕洛阿尔托(加州城市)一所学校演讲
16:51
where there were about a dozen 11-year-olds- 年的孩子
390
999020
2013
来听演讲的是一群11岁左右
16:53
that had come to this talk.
391
1001033
972
的孩子们
16:54
I had been brought in to talk to these kids孩子 for an hour小时.
392
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2516
我准备对他们做一小时的演讲
16:56
Eleven-year-olds十一岁的孩子, they're all sitting坐在 in a little semi-circle半圆
393
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2274
这群11岁的孩子们坐在一起围成一个半圆
16:58
looking up at me with big eyes眼睛, and I started开始,
394
1006795
2244
睁大眼睛看着我,然后我就开始演讲
17:01
there was a white白色 board behind背后 me, and I started开始 off
395
1009039
1656
我身后以一张白板,我在上面
17:02
by writing写作 a one with 22 zeroes after it, and I said,
396
1010695
2838
写下一个1和22个0,我说
17:05
"All right, now look, this is the number of stars明星
397
1013533
2363
“看吧,这就是我们能在宇宙里看见
17:07
in the visible可见 universe宇宙, and this number is so big
398
1015896
2872
的星星数量,这个数字太大了
17:10
there's not even a name名称 for it."
399
1018768
3348
我们都不知道怎样表达它。”
17:14
And one of these kids孩子 shot射击 up his hand, and he said,
400
1022116
2465
然后其中一个孩子举起手来,说
17:16
"Well, actually其实 there is a name名称 for it.
401
1024581
1505
“事实上他是有名字的,
17:18
It's a sextra-quadra-hexa-somethingsextra-四角六东西 or other." Right?
402
1026086
2934
他是十的6次方加4次方加16次方。”对吗?
17:21
Now, that kid孩子 was wrong错误 by four orders命令 of magnitude大小,
403
1029020
3996
虽然这个孩子多说了4个数量级
17:25
but there was no doubt怀疑 about it, these kids孩子 were smart聪明.
404
1033016
2472
但是毫无疑问,这些孩子们非常聪明
17:27
Okay? So I stopped停止 giving the lecture演讲.
405
1035488
1968
所以我停止了我的演讲
17:29
All they wanted to do was ask questions问题.
406
1037456
2583
因为他们真正想做的是提问
17:32
In fact事实, my last comments注释 to these kids孩子, at the end结束 I said,
407
1040039
3992
事实上,我最后对这些孩子们有些评价,我说
17:36
"You know, you kids孩子 are smarter聪明
408
1044031
2032
“你知道吗,你们这些孩子甚至
17:38
than the people I work with." Now — (Laughter笑声)
409
1046063
4942
比和我一起工作的人们还要聪明。”但是 — (笑声)
17:43
They didn't even care关心 about that.
410
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1329
他们根本不在乎这个评价
17:44
What they wanted was my email电子邮件 address地址
411
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2694
他们只想要知道我的邮箱地址
17:47
so they could ask me more questions问题. (Laughter笑声)
412
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3985
来问我更多问题。(笑声)
17:51
Let me just say, look, my job工作 is a privilege特权
413
1059013
3159
我们只能说,我的工作算是一种特权
17:54
because we're in a special特别 time.
414
1062172
1623
因为我们生活在一个特殊的时代
17:55
Previous以前 generations couldn't不能 do this experiment实验 at all.
415
1063795
2785
以前的人们根本不能做这种实验
17:58
In another另一个 generation down the line线,
416
1066580
1825
但是在我们的下一代中
18:00
I think we will have succeeded成功.
417
1068405
1616
我想我们会成功的
18:02
So to me, it is a privilege特权, and when I look in the mirror镜子,
418
1070021
3481
所以对我来说,我的工作是个特权,而当我照镜子的时候
18:05
the facts事实 are that I really don't see myself.
419
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我根本看不到我自己
18:08
What I see is the generation behind背后 me.
420
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我只看得到我身后的这一代人
18:10
These are some kids孩子 from the Huff愤怒 School学校, fourth第四 graders平地机.
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这是一些来自于Huff小学4年级的学生
18:12
I talked there, what, two weeks ago, something like that.
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大概两周之前我在那里演讲
18:15
I think that if you can instill灌输 some interest利益 in science科学
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我认为如果你能喜爱科学
18:19
and how it works作品, well, that's a payoff付清
424
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以及它的运作方式,那么它带来的回报
18:22
beyond easy简单 measure测量. Thank you very much.
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是无法简单估量的。谢谢大家
18:25
(Applause掌声)
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(鼓掌)
Translated by Lin Jiang
Reviewed by Duoduo Qu

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Seth Shostak - Astronomer
Seth Shostak is an astronomer, alien hunter and bulwark of good, exciting science.

Why you should listen

Seth Shostak is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. Inspired by a book about the solar system he read at the age of ten, he began his career with a degree in physics from Princeton University and a PhD in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology before working with radio telescopes in the US and the Netherlands to uncover how the universe will end. In 1999, he produced twelve 30-minute lectures on audio-tape and video titled "The Search for Intelligent Life in Space" for the Teaching Company and has hosted SETI’s Big Picture Science podcast since 2002. In 2010, he was elected as a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and is the Chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Permanent Study Group. He has published four books, nearly 300 popular articles on astronomy, technology, film and television and gives frequent talks to both young and adult audiences.

More profile about the speaker
Seth Shostak | Speaker | TED.com

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