TEDGlobal 2013
Uri Alon: Why science demands a leap into the unknown
乌里·艾隆: 为什么真正创新的科学需要跳进未知世界
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当乌里·艾隆在读物理学博士时，他曾经觉得自己是一个失败者，因为他所有的研究方向都走向了死胡同。但是，在即兴表演的帮助下，他最终意识到在迷路的过程中也可以找到乐趣。这个演讲是告诉科学家们要放弃那种认为做研究就是从问题直接到答案的想法，而应该有更多的创造性。不管你来自哪个领域，都会对这个观点产生共鸣。
Uri Alon - Systems biologist
Uri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life. Full bio
Uri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
In the middle of my Ph.D.,
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在我读博士读到一半的时候，
00:14
I was hopelessly stuck.
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我陷入了令人绝望的困境。
00:17
Every research direction that I tried
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所有我尝试过的研究方向
00:19
led to a dead end.
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都走向了死胡同。
00:21
It seemed like my basic assumptions
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看起来我所有的基本假定
00:23
just stopped working.
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都出了问题。
00:25
I felt like a pilot flying through the mist,
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我感觉自己像一个正在驾驶飞机穿越迷雾的飞行员
00:28
and I lost all sense of direction.
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失去了所有的方向感。
00:30
I stopped shaving.
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我不再刮胡子。
00:32
I couldn't get out of bed in the morning.
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我早上无法起床。
00:35
I felt unworthy
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我觉得自己不配
00:36
of stepping across the gates of the university,
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跨过学校的大门，
00:39
because I wasn't like Einstein or Newton
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因为我不像爱因斯坦、牛顿
00:42
or any other scientist whose results
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或者其他那些我了解他们成果的科学家
00:44
I had learned about, because in science,
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一样取得成功，要知道在科学上，
00:45
we just learn about the results, not the process.
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我们只问结果，不问过程。
00:49
And so obviously, I couldn't be a scientist.
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很明显，我不能成为科学家。
00:53
But I had enough support
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但最终我获得了足够的支持
00:55
and I made it through
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并走出了困境
00:56
and discovered something new about nature.
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对于自然也有了一些新的发现
00:59
This is an amazing feeling of calmness,
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这是一种关于冷静的，
01:01
being the only person in the world
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成为世上唯一一个
01:03
who knows a new law of nature.
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知道一条新的自然规律的人的奇妙感觉。
01:05
And I started the second project in my Ph.D,
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之后我开始进行我读博期间的第二个项目，
01:08
and it happened again.
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然后历史重演。
01:09
I got stuck and I made it through.
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我再次陷入死胡同并又走了出来。
01:12
And I started thinking,
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然后我开始思考，
01:13
maybe there's a pattern here.
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也许这里有一种模式。
01:14
I asked the other graduate students, and they said,
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我问了其他的研究生，他们说
01:16
"Yeah, that's exactly what happened to us,
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“是的，那的确在我们身上发生过，
01:18
except nobody told us about it."
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只是没人告诉我们这一点罢了。“
01:20
We'd all studied science as if it's a series
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我们似乎都是通过基于问题和答案间
01:22
of logical steps between question and answer,
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的一系列逻辑步骤来学习科学 ，
01:26
but doing research is nothing like that.
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但是做研究完全不是那样的。
01:29
At the same time, I was also studying
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与此同时，我也在学习
01:31
to be an improvisation theater actor.
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做一个即兴表演的演员。
01:33
So physics by day,
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所以我白天研究物理，
01:35
and by night, laughing, jumping, singing,
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而到了晚上，则笑啊、跳啊、唱啊，
01:37
playing my guitar.
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以及弹奏我的吉它。
01:38
Improvisation theater,
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进行即兴表演，
01:39
just like science, goes into the unknown,
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就像研究科学一样，也是进入一种未知状态，
01:42
because you have to make a scene onstage
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因为你要在一个
01:44
without a director, without a script,
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没有导演，没有剧本，
01:46
without having any idea what you'll portray
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也不知道你将扮演什么角色
01:48
or what the other characters will do.
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以及其他演员将会表演什么的舞台上演出。
01:50
But unlike science,
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但即兴表演又不全像科学研究，
01:52
in improvisation theater, they tell you from day one
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在即兴表演中，他们从一开始就会告诉你
01:55
what's going to happen to
you when you get onstage.
you when you get onstage.
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当你在舞台上时什么事情将会发生在你的身上。
01:57
You're going to fail miserably.
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你会遭遇令人痛苦的失败。
02:00
You're going to get stuck.
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你会陷入僵局。
02:01
And we would practice staying creative
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我们要练习在僵局中
02:03
inside that stuck place.
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保持创造性。
02:05
For example, we had an exercise
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例如，我们做过这样一个训练：
02:06
where we all stood in a circle,
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我们所有的人都站在一个圆圈里，
02:08
and each person had to do
the world's worst tap dance,
the world's worst tap dance,
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每个人都必须跳世界上最糟糕的踢踏舞，
02:11
and everybody else applauded
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并且每个人都鼓掌
02:12
and cheered you on,
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为你喝彩，
02:13
supporting you onstage.
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支持你上台。
02:16
When I became a professor
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当我成为一名教授
02:18
and had to guide my own students
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并且不得不指导我的学生
02:19
through their research projects,
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完成他们的研究项目时，
02:21
I realized again,
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我再次意识到，
02:23
I don't know what to do.
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我不知道该如何是好。
02:24
I'd studied thousands of hours of physics,
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我花了数千小时学习物理、
02:26
biology, chemistry,
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生物和化学，
02:28
but not one hour, not one concept
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但是这中间没有一个小时、一个概念
02:30
on how to mentor, how to guide someone
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是教我怎么成为一个导师，怎么指导他人
02:33
to go together into the unknown,
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共赴未知世界，
02:35
about motivation.
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以及如何激励别人的。
02:37
So I turned to improvisation theater,
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所以我回到即兴表演上，
02:39
and I told my students from day one
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从一开始就告诉我的学生
02:41
what's going to happen when you start research,
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当你开始做研究时你将遭遇什么，
02:44
and this has to do with our mental schema
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并且这也涉及到我们关于
02:45
of what research will be like.
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所做的研究将会是什么样子的认知心理模式。
02:47
Because you see, whenever people do anything,
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因为你知道，任何人做任何事都涉及到认知心理模式，
02:50
for example if I want to touch this blackboard,
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比如说如果我想触摸这块黑板，
02:52
my brain first builds up a schema,
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我的大脑首先会建立起一个模式，
02:54
a prediction of exactly what my muscles will do
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在我还没动手之前
02:56
before I even start moving my hand,
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就预测我的肌肉将会做什么，
02:58
and if I get blocked,
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并且如果我的行为被阻止了，
03:00
if my schema doesn't match reality,
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我的心理模式与实际不符，
03:02
that causes extra stress called cognitive dissonance.
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那就会导致被称为认知失调的额外压力。
03:04
That's why your schemas had better match reality.
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这就是为什么你的心理模式最好要与实际相符。
03:07
But if you believe the way science is taught,
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但是如果你相信教授科学的方式，
03:10
and if you believe textbooks, you're liable
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并且你相信教科书，
你可能倾向于以下的研究模式。
03:12
to have the following schema of research.
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03:18
If A is the question,
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如果A是问题，
03:22
and B is the answer,
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B是答案，
03:25
then research is a direct path.
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那么研究是一条直接途径。
03:30
The problem is that if an experiment doesn't work,
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问题是如果一个实验行不通，
03:33
or a student gets depressed,
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或者一个学生变得很沮丧，
03:36
it's perceived as something utterly wrong
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它会被视为完全错误
03:38
and causes tremendous stress.
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并导致巨大的压力。
03:42
And that's why I teach my students
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这也是为什么我要教我的学生
03:43
a more realistic schema.
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一个更现实的模式。
03:50
Here's an example
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这是一个与你的心理模式不相符的例子。
03:52
where things don't match your schema.
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03:58
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
04:01
(Applause)
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（掌声）
04:13
So I teach my students a different schema.
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我教给了我的学生一个不同的模式。
04:17
If A is the question,
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如果A是问题，
04:19
B is the answer,
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B是答案，
04:25
stay creative in the cloud,
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在“乌云”中保持创造性，
04:26
and you start going,
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你开始做研究，
04:28
and experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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然后实验行不通，实验行不通，
04:31
experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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实验行不通，实验行不通，
04:33
until you reach a place linked
with negative emotions
with negative emotions
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直到你到达一个与消极情绪相连的地方
04:36
where it seems like your basic assumptions
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觉得你的基本假定似乎
04:38
have stopped making sense,
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不再有意义，
04:39
like somebody yanked the carpet beneath your feet.
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就像有人把你脚下的地毯猛然抽出一样。
04:42
And I call this place the cloud.
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我叫这个地方“乌云”。
04:59
Now you can be lost in the cloud
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你可能在“乌云”中迷路
05:02
for a day, a week, a month, a year,
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也许是一天、一星期，一个月，一年，
05:04
a whole career,
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甚至整个职业生涯，
05:06
but sometimes, if you're lucky enough
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但有时，如果你足够幸运
05:08
and you have enough support,
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并获得足够支持，
05:10
you can see in the materials at hand,
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你可以利用你手上的材料
05:12
or perhaps meditating on the shape of the cloud,
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或者通过深思“乌云”的形成过程，
05:15
a new answer,
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获得一个新的答案，
05:19
C, and you decide to go for it.
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C，然后你决定将它作为新的目标。
05:22
And experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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然后实验行不通，实验行不通，
05:25
but you get there,
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但是你取得了成功，
05:26
and then you tell everyone about it
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然后你通过发表一篇诠释由A指向C的论文
05:28
by publishing a paper that reads A arrow C,
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来告诉每一个人你的发现，
05:31
which is a great way to communicate,
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这是一个很好的传播方法，
05:33
but as long as you don't forget the path
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只要你没忘记
05:35
that brought you there.
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把你带到这里的那条路。
05:37
Now this cloud is an inherent part
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“乌云”是科学研究的必经之路，
05:39
of research, an inherent part of our craft,
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也是我们手艺的必经之路，
05:42
because the cloud stands guard at the boundary.
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因为“乌云”在边界设置了守卫。
05:49
It stands guard at the boundary
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它守卫着已知
05:51
between the known
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05:57
and the unknown,
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和未知之间的边界，
06:05
because in order to discover something truly new,
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因为为了获得真正的全新发现
06:07
at least one of your basic
assumptions has to change,
assumptions has to change,
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你得至少改变一个基本假定，
06:10
and that means that in science,
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那也就意味着在科学上，
06:12
we do something quite heroic.
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我们会做一些很壮烈的事情。
06:14
Every day, we try to bring ourselves
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每一天，我们都试着将自己带到
06:15
to the boundary between
the known and the unknown
the known and the unknown
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已知和未知之间的边界，
06:17
and face the cloud.
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并面对“乌云”。
06:19
Now notice that I put B
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现在请注意我把B放到
06:21
in the land of the known,
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已知这一边，
06:22
because we knew about it in the beginning,
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因为我们从一开始就知道它，
06:23
but C is always more interesting
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但是C总是比B更有趣
06:27
and more important than B.
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并且也更重要。
06:30
So B is essential in order to get going,
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所以B是开始研究的必要条件，
06:32
but C is much more profound,
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但C却更加深刻，
06:34
and that's the amazing thing about resesarch.
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这就是关于研究的奇妙之处。
06:38
Now just knowing that word, the cloud,
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我刚刚获悉“乌云”这个词，
06:40
has been transformational in my research group,
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就在我的研究团队中被使用了。
06:43
because students come to me and say,
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因为学生会过来对我说，
06:45
"Uri, I'm in the cloud,"
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“喔，我在‘乌云’中，”
06:46
and I say, "Great, you must be feeling miserable."
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然后我说，“很好，你一定觉得很痛苦。”
06:50
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
06:52
But I'm kind of happy,
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但是我很开心，
06:54
because we might be close to the boundary
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因为我们可能已经接近
06:55
between the known and the unknown,
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已知和未知的边界，
06:57
and we stand a chance of discovering
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并且我们有希望发现
06:59
something truly new,
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一些真正的全新的东西，
07:01
since the way our mind works,
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我们大脑的工作方式，
07:02
it's just knowing that the cloud
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使它明白“乌云”
07:05
is normal, it's essential,
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是正常的，是必要的，
07:10
and in fact beautiful,
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并且事实上很美丽。
07:11
we can join the Cloud Appreciation Society,
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我们可以加入“乌云协会”，
07:14
and it detoxifies the feeling that something
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它消除了我的那种觉得某些事情对我来说是
07:16
is deeply wrong with me.
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很大的错误的感觉。
07:19
And as a mentor, I know what to do,
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作为一个导师，我知道我该做的，
07:21
which is to step up my support for the student,
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就是增加对学生的支持，
07:24
because research in psychology shows
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因为心理学研究表明
07:25
that if you're feeling fear and despair,
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如果你感到害怕和失去信心，
07:29
your mind narrows down
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你的大脑就会被限制在
07:30
to very safe and conservative ways of thinking.
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用非常安全和保守的方法去思考。
07:32
If you'd like to explore the risky paths
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如果你想探索“乌云”之外的
07:34
needed to get out of the cloud,
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其它危险路径，
07:35
you need other emotions --
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你需要其他的情感——
07:37
solidarity, support, hope —
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团结，支持，希望——
07:39
that come with your connection from somebody else,
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这些都随着你与他人的联系而产生，
07:41
so like in improvisation theater,
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所以就像在即兴表演中一样，
07:43
in science, it's best to walk into the unknown
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在科学研究上，最好大家一起
07:45
together.
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走进未知。
07:47
So knowing about the cloud,
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所以不仅要了解“乌云”，
07:49
you also learn from improvisation theater
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你还要从即兴表演中学会
07:53
a very effective way to have conversations
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如何在“乌云”中
07:55
inside the cloud.
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有效地交流。
07:57
It's based on the central principle
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它以即兴表演的
07:59
of improvisation theater,
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核心原则为基础，
08:01
so here improvisation theater
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所以即兴表演
08:02
came to my help again.
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再一次帮了我的忙。
08:03
It's called saying "Yes, and"
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它被称之为对其他演员的提议
08:05
to the offers made by other actors.
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说“是的，然后”。
08:16
That means accepting the offers
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那也就是说接受那些提议
08:19
and building on them, saying, "Yes, and."
191
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并且依靠它们，说“是的，然后。"
08:21
For example, if one actor says,
192
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1239
例如，如果一个演员说：
08:22
"Here is a pool of water,"
193
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“这里有一池水，”
08:24
and the other actor says,
194
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然后另一个演员说：
08:25
"No, that's just a stage,"
195
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“不，那只是一个舞台，“
08:27
the improvisation is over.
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那么这场即兴表演就进行不下去了。
08:28
It's dead, and everybody feels frustrated.
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它就这样结束了，每都会觉得泄气。
08:32
That's called blocking.
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那被称之为阻塞。
08:33
If you're not mindful of communications,
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如果你在沟通时漫不经心，
08:35
scientific conversations can have a lot of blocking.
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那么在科学对话中就会产生很多阻塞。
08:38
Saying "Yes, and" sounds like this.
201
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说“是的，然后”听起来就像这样：
08:40
"Here is a pool of water."
"Yeah, let's jump in."
"Yeah, let's jump in."
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“这里有一池水” “是的，我们一起跳进去吧。“
08:43
"Look, there's a whale! Let's grab it by its tail.
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“瞧，那里有一头鲸鱼！我们来抓住它的尾巴。
08:46
It's pulling us to the moon!"
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它正把我们拖向月球！“
08:48
So saying "Yes, and" bypasses our inner critic.
205
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所以绕过我们的内在批评说“是的，然后”。
08:51
We all have an inner critic
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我们都有一种看守我们言行的
08:52
that kind of guards what we say,
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内在批评，
08:54
so people don't think that we're obscene
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所以人们不会认为我们是下流的、
08:56
or crazy or unoriginal,
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疯狂的或者非原创的，
08:57
and science is full of the fear
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在科学界充满着被认为是非原创的恐惧。
08:58
of appearing unoriginal.
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09:00
Saying "Yes, and" bypasses the critic
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绕过内在批评说“是的，然后”
绕开批评
09:02
and unlocks hidden voices of creativity
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并且开启你所拥有的连自己都没注意到的
09:04
you didn't even know that you had,
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隐藏的创造力之声，
09:06
and they often carry the answer
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他们经常蕴藏着关于“乌云”的答案。
09:08
about the cloud.
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09:10
So you see, knowing about the cloud
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所以你看，了解“乌云”
09:13
and about saying "Yes, and"
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和说“是的，然后”
09:14
made my lab very creative.
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使我的实验室变得非常有创造力。
09:17
Students started playing off of each others' ideas,
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学生们开始互相揭露彼此观点中的缺点，
09:20
and we made surprising discoveries
221
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然后我们在物理学和生物学的交叉地带
09:22
in the interface between physics and biology.
222
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获得了一些令人惊奇的发现。
09:25
For example, we were stuck for a year
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例如，我们曾在试图理解
09:28
trying to understand the intricate
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我们细胞里那些复杂的生物化学网络时
09:29
biochemical networks inside our cells,
225
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停滞了一年之久，
09:31
and we said, "We are deeply in the cloud,"
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2457
然后我们说：“我们深陷‘乌云’，”
09:34
and we had a playful conversation
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1980
之后我们进行了一场好玩的谈话，
09:36
where my student Shai Shen Orr said,
228
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1788
我的学生沙伊·沈·奥尔说：
09:38
"Let's just draw this on a
piece of paper, this network,"
piece of paper, this network,"
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2843
“让我们把这张网络画在一张纸上，”
09:41
and instead of saying,
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而不是光说：
09:42
"But we've done that so many times
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“但是我们已经画过很多次了，
09:44
and it doesn't work,"
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它不起作用，“
09:45
I said, "Yes, and
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我说，“好吧，那我们
09:48
let's use a very big piece of paper,"
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就用一张很大的纸来画吧，“
09:50
and then Ron Milo said,
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然后罗恩·麦洛说：
09:51
"Let's use a gigantic architect's
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2220
“我们用一张像建筑师用的
09:53
blueprint kind of paper, and I know where to print it,"
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设计图那么大的纸来画吧，并且我知道去哪里打印它，“
09:55
and we printed out the network and looked at it,
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然后我们把这张网络打印了出来并看着它，
09:58
and that's where we made
our most important discovery,
our most important discovery,
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2509
然后我们获得了最重要的发现，
10:00
that this complicated network is just made
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那就是这张复杂的网络只是由
10:02
of a handful of simple, repeating interaction patterns
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少数的像彩色玻璃上的图案
10:06
like motifs in a stained glass window.
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那样简单、重复地相互作用的形态所构成。
10:09
We call them network motifs,
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我们叫它们网络图案，
10:11
and they're the elementary circuits
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它们也是
10:13
that help us understand
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帮助我们理解
10:15
the logic of the way cells make decisions
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所有的生物体，也包括我们的身体中的细胞是如何做决定的
10:17
in all organisms, including our body.
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这一逻辑的的基本路径。
10:20
Soon enough, after this,
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很快，在这之后，
10:22
I started being invited to give talks
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我开始被邀请
10:24
to thousands of scientists across the world,
250
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去给世界各地数以千计的科学家们做演讲，
10:27
but the knowledge about the cloud
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但是关于“乌云”
10:29
and saying "Yes, and"
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1132
和说“是的，然后”的知识
10:30
just stayed within my own lab,
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只是待在我自己的实验室里，
10:32
because you see, in science,
we don't talk about the process,
we don't talk about the process,
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2131
因为你知道，在科学上，我们不谈过程
10:34
anything subjective or emotional.
255
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2433
以及任何主观或感性的东西。
10:36
We talk about the results.
256
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1863
我们只谈结果。
10:38
So there was no way to talk about it in conferences.
257
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2069
所以决不可能在会上谈到它。
10:40
That was unthinkable.
258
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1924
那是不可想象的。
10:42
And I saw scientists in other groups get stuck
259
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2076
我也看到过其他的科学家团队在陷入停滞时
10:44
without even having a word to describe
260
632606
1774
甚至都无法描述
10:46
what they're seeing,
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1321
他们看到了什么，
10:47
and their ways of thinking
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1355
并且他们的思考方式
10:49
narrowed down to very safe paths,
263
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1528
也局限到了那些非常安全的路径，
10:50
their science didn't reach its full potential,
264
638584
1660
他们的科学不能充分发挥潜力，
10:52
and they were miserable.
265
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1753
然后他们很痛苦。
10:53
I thought, that's the way it is.
266
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1939
我想，它就是这么回事。
10:55
I'll try to make my lab as creative as possible,
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2021
我会努力使我的实验室尽可能的有创造力，
10:57
and if everybody else does the same,
268
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1680
并且如果每个人都这样做，
10:59
science will eventually become
269
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2190
科学最终就会变得
11:01
more and more better and better.
270
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2214
越来越好。
11:04
That way of thinking got turned on its head
271
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2920
当有一次偶然听到伊夫林·福克斯·凯勒的
11:06
when by chance I went to hear Evelyn Fox Keller
272
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2339
一个讲述她作为一位女性科学研究者的经历的演讲后，
11:09
give a talk about her experiences
273
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1358
11:10
as a woman in science.
274
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1691
我的那套思考方式被彻底转变了。
11:12
And she asked,
275
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1823
她问道：
11:14
"Why is it that we don't talk about the subjective
276
662172
1948
“为什么我们不去谈论科学研究中的
11:16
and emotional aspects of doing science?
277
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2186
主观和感性方面的问题？
11:18
It's not by chance. It's a matter of values."
278
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3992
这不是偶然，这是一个价值观的问题。“
11:22
You see, science seeks knowledge
279
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2178
你看，科学研究探索
11:24
that's objective and rational.
280
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1795
那些客观和理性的知识。
11:26
That's the beautiful thing about science.
281
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2198
那是科学中最美丽的东西。
11:28
But we also have a cultural myth
282
676469
1956
我们不仅在做科学研究时
11:30
that the doing of science,
283
678425
1254
有一种文化迷思，
11:31
what we do every day to get that knowledge,
284
679679
2300
即使我们每天想要去获取的那些知识
11:33
is also only objective and rational,
285
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2440
也都是客观和理性的，
11:36
like Mr. Spock.
286
684419
2432
就像斯波克先生一样。
11:38
And when you label something
287
686851
1414
当你把什么东西帖上
11:40
as objective and rational,
288
688265
1813
客观和理性的标签时，
11:42
automatically, the other side,
289
690078
1642
自然而然地，另一边，
11:43
the subjective and emotional,
290
691720
1457
主观和感性的，
11:45
become labeled as non-science
291
693177
2102
就会被贴上非科学、
11:47
or anti-science or threatening to science,
292
695279
1971
反科学甚至对科学构成威胁的标签，
11:49
and we just don't talk about it.
293
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1811
只是我们不去谈论这一点罢了。
11:51
And when I heard that,
294
699061
1954
当我听到
11:53
that science has a culture,
295
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2167
科学中有一种文化，
11:55
everything clicked into place for me,
296
703182
1547
我豁然开朗，
11:56
because if science has a culture,
297
704729
1664
因为如果科学中有一种文化，
11:58
culture can be changed,
298
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1256
而文化是可以被改变的，
11:59
and I can be a change agent
299
707649
1593
那么我就可以尽我所能成为一名
12:01
working to change the culture
of science wherever I could.
of science wherever I could.
300
709242
2712
改变科学的文化的推动者。
12:03
And so the very next lecture I gave in a conference,
301
711954
3069
所以紧接着我在一个大会上做的演讲中，
12:07
I talked about my science,
302
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1612
谈了我的科学研究，
12:08
and then I talked about the importance
303
716635
1512
然后我谈到了
12:10
of the subjective and emotional
aspects of doing science
aspects of doing science
304
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2182
主观和感性在科学研究中的重要性，
12:12
and how we should talk about them,
305
720329
1120
以及我们该如何谈论它们，
12:13
and I looked at the audience,
306
721449
1234
然后我望向观众，
12:14
and they were cold.
307
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2360
他们无动于衷。
12:17
They couldn't hear what I was saying
308
725043
3291
在这场由10张连续的PPT演示
12:20
in the context of a 10 back-to-back
309
728334
1251
所构成的会议的背景下
12:21
PowerPoint presentation conference.
310
729585
1839
他们听不到我在说什么。
12:23
And I tried again and again,
conference after conference,
conference after conference,
311
731424
2482
我试了一次又一次，一场会议又一场会议，
12:25
but I wasn't getting through.
312
733906
2373
但是我无法打破僵局。
12:28
I was in the cloud.
313
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2906
我陷入了“乌云”中。
12:31
And eventually I managed to get out the cloud
314
739185
3514
最终我借助即兴表演和音乐
12:34
using improvisation and music.
315
742699
2811
走出了“乌云”。
12:37
Since then, every conference I go to,
316
745510
2739
从那以后，在每一个我去的会场，
12:40
I give a science talk and a second, special talk
317
748249
2862
我除了做一个关于科学的演讲，还会做另外一个
12:43
called "Love and fear in the lab,"
318
751111
1993
叫做“实验室里的爱和恐惧”的特别演讲，
12:45
and I start it off by doing a song
319
753104
2217
我是通过创作一首
12:47
about scientists' greatest fear,
320
755321
2572
关于科学家们最恐惧的事情的歌开始的，
12:49
which is that we work hard,
321
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2912
科学家们最恐惧的是我们努力工作，
12:52
we discover something new,
322
760805
2342
然后有了一些新发现，
12:55
and somebody else publishes it before we do.
323
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3357
但是却有人赶在我们之前把这些成果发表了。
12:58
We call it being scooped,
324
766504
2616
我们称它为“被抢发”，
13:01
and being scooped feels horrible.
325
769120
3214
“被抢发”让人觉得可怕。
13:04
It makes us afraid to talk to each other,
326
772334
2213
它使得我们害怕互相交谈，
13:06
which is no fun,
327
774547
833
这一点都不好玩，
13:07
because we came to science to share our ideas
328
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2760
因为我们研究科学就是要分享我们的观点
13:10
and to learn from each other,
329
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1311
以及互相学习，
13:11
and so I do a blues song,
330
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3489
因此我写了一首布鲁斯歌曲，
13:17
which — (Applause) —
331
785040
5504
歌名——（掌声）——
13:22
called "Scooped Again,"
332
790544
3223
叫做“又被抢发了，”
13:25
and I ask the audience to be my backup singers,
333
793767
2658
我邀请现场观众为我伴奏，
13:28
and I tell them, "Your text is 'Scoop, Scoop.'"
334
796425
3980
然后我告诉他们，“你们的歌词就是‘抢发，抢发，”
13:32
It sounds like this: "Scoop, scoop!"
335
800405
2645
它听起来像这样：“抢发，抢发！”
13:35
Sounds like this.
336
803050
963
听起来像这样
13:36
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
337
804013
2219
我又被抢发了
13:38
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
338
806232
1743
抢发！抢发
13:39
And then we go for it.
339
807975
1278
然后我们继续
13:41
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
340
809253
2045
我又被抢发了
13:43
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
341
811298
1286
抢发！抢发
13:44
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
342
812584
1895
我又被抢发了
13:46
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
343
814479
1306
抢发！抢发！
13:47
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
344
815785
1783
我又被抢发了
13:49
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
345
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1639
抢发！抢发！
13:51
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
346
819207
1668
我又被抢发了
13:52
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
347
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1762
抢发！抢发！
13:54
♪ Oh mama, can't you feel my pain ♪
348
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3275
哦妈妈，你能感觉到我的痛苦吗
13:57
♪ Heavens help me, I've been scooped again ♪
349
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3786
老天爷帮帮我，我又被抢发了。
14:02
(Applause)
350
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6391
（掌声）
14:09
Thank you.
351
837735
1230
谢谢。
14:10
Thank you for your backup singing.
352
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1499
谢谢你们的伴奏。
14:12
So everybody starts laughing, starts breathing,
353
840464
2084
大家都开始笑，开始喘气了，
14:14
notices that there's other scientists around them
354
842548
2012
请注意这里还有其他一些
14:16
with shared issues,
355
844560
1307
被这些共同的问题包围的科学家，
14:17
and we start talking about the emotional
356
845867
1805
而我们却开始谈论感性
14:19
and subjective things that go on in research.
357
847672
1850
和主观这类会继续在研究中出现的东西。
14:21
It feels like a huge taboo has been lifted.
358
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2184
感觉就像巨大的禁忌被打破。
14:23
Finally, we can talk about
this in a scientific conference.
this in a scientific conference.
359
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2799
最终，我们可以在科学会议上谈论这些。
14:26
And scientists have gone on to form peer groups
360
854505
2186
科学家们已经倾心于组成同龄群体，
14:28
where they meet regularly
361
856691
1610
他们定期会面
14:30
and create a space to talk about the emotional
362
858301
1629
并创造了一个谈论他们
14:31
and subjective things that
happen as they're mentoring,
happen as they're mentoring,
363
859930
2301
在指导学生的过程中，
14:34
as they're going into the unknown,
364
862231
1363
在进入未知世界的过程中遇到的感性和主观方面的事情的空间，
14:35
and even started courses
365
863594
1570
他们甚至开设了
14:37
about the process of doing science,
366
865164
1675
关于科学研究的课程，
14:38
about going into the unknown together,
367
866839
1895
关于共赴未知世界，
14:40
and many other things.
368
868734
1416
以及关于其它许多事情的课程。
14:42
So my vision is that,
369
870150
1334
所以我的设想是这样的，
14:43
just like every scientist knows the word "atom,"
370
871484
3462
就像每个科学家都知道“原子”这个词，
14:46
that matter is made out of atoms,
371
874946
1967
物质是由原子构成的，
14:48
every scientist would know the words
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每个科学家也都会知道
14:50
like "the cloud," saying "Yes, and,"
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像“乌云”这样的词，并说“是的，然后，”
14:52
and science will become much more creative,
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而且科学也将会变得更有创造力，
14:55
make many, many more unexpected discoveries
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获得更多的意外发现，
14:58
for the benefit of us all,
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对我们都有益，
15:01
and would also be much more playful.
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并且会变得更有趣。
15:03
And what I might ask you to remember from this talk
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所以我希望你们能通过今天的谈话记住一点
15:06
is that next time you face
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那就是下次
15:08
a problem you can't solve
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当你不管是在工作上或是生活上
15:10
in work or in life,
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遇到不能解决的问题时，
15:13
there's a word for what you're going to see:
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你会看到这么一个词：
15:15
the cloud.
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“乌云”。
15:16
And you can go through the cloud
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你最终会走出“乌云”
15:17
not alone but together
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并且不是一个人，而是与那些
15:19
with someone who is your source of support
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通过对你的观点说“是的，然后”
15:21
to say "Yes, and" to your ideas,
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来支持你的人一起，
15:23
to help you say "Yes, and" to your own ideas,
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与那些帮助你肯定自己的观点的人一起，
15:25
to increase the chance that,
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与那些帮你创造更多走出“乌云”机会的人在一起
15:27
through the wisps of the cloud,
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15:29
you'll find that moment of calmness
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你会发现当你
15:30
where you get your first glimpse
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第一眼看到
15:32
of your unexpected discovery,
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你的意外发现，
15:35
your C.
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也就是你的答案C的时候，你会很淡定。
15:38
Thank you.
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谢谢。
15:40
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Uri Alon - Systems biologistUri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life.
Why you should listen
First trained as a physicist, Uri Alon found a passion for biological systems. At the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, he and his lab investigate the protein circuits within a cell (they focus on E. coli), looking for basic interaction patterns that recur throughout biological networks. It's a field full of cross-disciplinary thinking habits and interesting problems. And in fact, Alon is the author of a classic paper on lab behavior called "How to Choose a Good Scientific Problem," which takes a step back from the rush to get grants and publish papers to ask: How can a good lab foster growth and self-motivated research?
In Alon's lab, students use tools from physics, neurobiology and computer science -- and concepts from improv theatre -- to study basic principles of interactions. Using a theater practice called the "mirror game," they showed that two people can create complex novel motion together without a designated leader or follower. He also works on an addicting site called BioNumbers -- all the measurements you need to know about biology. The characteristic heart rate of a pond mussel? Why it's 4-6 beats per minute.
More profile about the speakerIn Alon's lab, students use tools from physics, neurobiology and computer science -- and concepts from improv theatre -- to study basic principles of interactions. Using a theater practice called the "mirror game," they showed that two people can create complex novel motion together without a designated leader or follower. He also works on an addicting site called BioNumbers -- all the measurements you need to know about biology. The characteristic heart rate of a pond mussel? Why it's 4-6 beats per minute.
Uri Alon | Speaker | TED.com