TED2015
Lucianne Walkowicz: Let's not use Mars as a backup planet
露西安娜．沃克維茲: 別拿火星當備胎
Filmed:
Readability: 5.2
2,273,259 views
露西安娜．沃克維茲是恆星天文學家及 TED 資深研究會員。她任職於美國太空總署所進行的開普勒 Kepler 任務，該任務主要是在宇宙中尋找能夠維持生命的地方，因此，當她邀請我們仔細想想火星這件事情時，這是值得一聽的談話。在這短短的演說中，她呼籲我們停止「當人類搞砸地球時，我們最終會搬到火星」的這個白日夢，並開始思考把星球探索和保護地球這兩件事視為同一目標。正如她所說的：「你越是想尋找類似地球的行星，你會越珍惜我們自己的地球。」
Lucianne Walkowicz - Stellar astronomer
Lucianne Walkowicz works on NASA's Kepler mission, studying starspots and "the tempestuous tantrums of stellar flares." Full bio
Lucianne Walkowicz works on NASA's Kepler mission, studying starspots and "the tempestuous tantrums of stellar flares." Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
我們正處在人類歷史上
的一個轉折點，
的一個轉折點，
00:12
We're at a tipping point in human history,
0
926
2490
00:15
a species poised between gaining the stars
and losing the planet we call home.
and losing the planet we call home.
1
3416
5527
人類正徘迴在「取得」其它星球及「失去」
我們稱之為家的地球之間。
我們稱之為家的地球之間。
00:21
Even in just the past few years,
we've greatly expanded
we've greatly expanded
2
9332
2730
即使在過去的幾年中，我們對於
地球如何在宇宙中生存的
知識已經有大幅度的擴展。
知識已經有大幅度的擴展。
00:24
our knowledge of how Earth fits
within the context of our universe.
within the context of our universe.
3
12062
4330
00:28
NASA's Kepler mission has discovered
4
16392
2738
美國太空總署(NASA)的Kepler任務
已經在銀河系發現
已經在銀河系發現
00:31
thousands of potential planets
around other stars,
around other stars,
5
19130
2949
成千上萬的潛在行星
圍繞著其它恆星，
圍繞著其它恆星，
00:34
indicating that Earth is but one
of billions of planets in our galaxy.
of billions of planets in our galaxy.
6
22079
4194
並指出地球在銀河系數十億行星裡
並非是唯一的行星。
並非是唯一的行星。
00:38
Kepler is a space telescope
7
26273
1870
Kepler是一個太空望遠鏡，
00:40
that measures the subtle dimming of stars
as planets pass in front of them,
as planets pass in front of them,
8
28143
4291
藉由行星從恆星前方掠過的「凌日現象」
00:44
blocking just a little bit
of that light from reaching us.
of that light from reaching us.
9
32434
2848
來鎖定觀察恆星
少許的亮度變化。
少許的亮度變化。
Kepler的數據揭示了行星的大小
00:47
Kepler's data reveals planets' sizes
10
35732
2600
00:50
as well as their distance
from their parent star.
from their parent star.
11
38332
2786
以及它們與直系恆星之間的距離。
00:53
Together, this helps us understand
whether these planets are small and rocky,
whether these planets are small and rocky,
12
41118
4040
總之，這有助於我們了解這些行星
是否像是我們太陽系裡的類地行星
具有小及岩石多樣性的特性。
具有小及岩石多樣性的特性。
00:57
like the terrestrial planets
in our own Solar System,
in our own Solar System,
13
45158
2555
00:59
and also how much light they receive
from their parent sun.
from their parent sun.
14
47713
3366
以及了解它們從它們的
直系太陽接收到多少光。
直系太陽接收到多少光。
01:03
In turn, this provides clues as to whether
these planets that we discover
these planets that we discover
15
51079
3878
因此這提供了我們
所發現的這些行星
所發現的這些行星
是否適合居住的線索。
01:06
might be habitable or not.
16
54957
2461
01:09
Unfortunately, at the same time
as we're discovering this treasure trove
as we're discovering this treasure trove
17
57418
4063
不幸的是，當我們在探索其他
適合人居的珍貴世界的同時，
01:13
of potentially habitable worlds,
18
61481
2113
01:15
our own planet is sagging
under the weight of humanity.
under the weight of humanity.
19
63594
3460
我們自己的地球也正在
急速地失去它的人性。
急速地失去它的人性。
01:19
2014 was the hottest year on record.
20
67054
4412
2014年是紀錄中最熱的一年，
01:23
Glaciers and sea ice that have
been with us for millennia
been with us for millennia
21
71466
3343
與我們相處好幾千年的冰川和海冰
01:26
are now disappearing
in a matter of decades.
in a matter of decades.
22
74809
3135
在近幾十年裡，
一直在消失中...
一直在消失中...
01:29
These planetary-scale environmental
changes that we have set in motion
changes that we have set in motion
23
77944
5111
這些由我們造成
行星級規模的環境變化
行星級規模的環境變化
01:35
are rapidly outpacing our ability
to alter their course.
to alter their course.
24
83055
3472
正將快速地超越我們扭轉
它們既定方向的能力。
它們既定方向的能力。
01:39
But I'm not a climate scientist,
I'm an astronomer.
I'm an astronomer.
25
87347
3715
但我不是一個氣候學家，
我是一個天文學家。
我是一個天文學家。
01:43
I study planetary habitability
as influenced by stars
as influenced by stars
26
91062
3370
我研究行星受恆星影響的適居性，
01:46
with the hopes of finding
the places in the universe
the places in the universe
27
94432
2458
在宇宙中尋找一個可能有
非地球生命地方的希望之地。
非地球生命地方的希望之地。
01:48
where we might discover
life beyond our own planet.
life beyond our own planet.
28
96890
2972
你可以這樣說，我期待選擇
「外星人不動產仲介」...
「外星人不動產仲介」...
01:51
You could say that I look for
choice alien real estate.
choice alien real estate.
29
99862
3540
01:55
Now, as somebody who is deeply embedded
in the search for life in the universe,
in the search for life in the universe,
30
103902
4342
身為一個大量投入
在宇宙中尋找生命的人，
在宇宙中尋找生命的人，
02:00
I can tell you that the more
you look for planets like Earth,
you look for planets like Earth,
31
108244
3367
我可以告訴各位，
你越是想尋找像地球的行星
你越是想尋找像地球的行星
02:03
the more you appreciate
our own planet itself.
our own planet itself.
32
111611
3646
你會越珍惜我們的地球。
02:07
Each one of these new worlds
invites a comparison
invites a comparison
33
115257
2693
每一個新發現的世界
都會被拿來做比較，
都會被拿來做比較，
02:09
between the newly discovered planet
and the planets we know best:
and the planets we know best:
34
117950
3622
比較新發現的行星與我們最孰悉的
02:13
those of our own Solar System.
35
121572
2090
太陽系行星之間有甚麼差別。
02:15
Consider our neighbor, Mars.
36
123662
1962
想想我們的鄰居，火星...
02:17
Mars is small and rocky,
and though it's a bit far from the Sun,
and though it's a bit far from the Sun,
37
125624
3785
火星，既小又具岩石多樣性，
雖然離太陽有點遠，
雖然離太陽有點遠，
它如果被Kepler任務發現的話，
02:21
it might be considered
a potentially habitable world
a potentially habitable world
38
129409
2525
02:23
if found by a mission like Kepler.
39
131934
2002
可能也會被認為是一個
潛在的可居住世界，
潛在的可居住世界，
02:25
Indeed, it's possible that Mars
was habitable in the past,
was habitable in the past,
40
133936
3367
的確，過去火星可能具有可居住性，
雖只有某些部分，
雖只有某些部分，
02:29
and in part, this is why
we study Mars so much.
we study Mars so much.
41
137303
3437
但這也是為什麼
我們會研究火星的原因。
我們會研究火星的原因。
02:32
Our rovers, like Curiosity,
crawl across its surface,
crawl across its surface,
42
140740
3390
我們的火星車「好奇心號」
爬行過火星的表面，
爬行過火星的表面，
02:36
scratching for clues as to the origins
of life as we know it.
of life as we know it.
43
144130
3250
找到了我們認知的原始生命跡象。
02:39
Orbiters like the MAVEN mission
sample the Martian atmosphere,
sample the Martian atmosphere,
44
147380
3506
MAVEN任務的軌道飛行器
採集了火星上的大氣層樣本，
採集了火星上的大氣層樣本，
02:42
trying to understand how Mars
might have lost its past habitability.
might have lost its past habitability.
45
150886
3692
試著了解火星過去
是如何失去它的可居住性。
是如何失去它的可居住性。
02:46
Private spaceflight companies now offer
not just a short trip to near space
not just a short trip to near space
46
154578
4565
私人太空飛行公司現在
不只提供短暫的近太空旅行
不只提供短暫的近太空旅行
02:51
but the tantalizing possibility
of living our lives on Mars.
of living our lives on Mars.
47
159143
3701
也提供生活在火星上誘人的可能性。
02:54
But though these Martian vistas
48
162844
1950
但是儘管這些火星景觀
02:56
resemble the deserts
of our own home world,
of our own home world,
49
164794
2555
類似於我們地球上的沙漠--
02:59
places that are tied in our imagination
to ideas about pioneering and frontiers,
to ideas about pioneering and frontiers,
50
167349
5572
一些被我們的既有想像所限制
而不會想去開發的地方，
而不會想去開發的地方，
03:04
compared to Earth
51
172921
1672
相對於地球，
03:06
Mars is a pretty terrible place to live.
52
174593
3297
火星根本是一個糟糕到
無法住人的地方。
無法住人的地方。
03:09
Consider the extent to which
we have not colonized
we have not colonized
53
177890
3274
比起火星，
我們地球上還沒有開墾的沙漠地
03:13
the deserts of our own planet,
54
181164
1904
相對火星而言還是很奢侈的。
03:15
places that are lush
by comparison with Mars.
by comparison with Mars.
55
183068
2833
03:17
Even in the driest,
highest places on Earth,
highest places on Earth,
56
185901
2786
即是在地球最乾、最高的地方，
03:20
the air is sweet and thick with oxygen
57
188687
2600
從千里遠的雨林釋放出來
的氧氣仍是香甜而豐盛的。
的氧氣仍是香甜而豐盛的。
03:23
exhaled from thousands of miles away
by our rainforests.
by our rainforests.
58
191287
4087
我擔心-- 我擔心這種關於
火星和其他行星的殖民熱潮
火星和其他行星的殖民熱潮
03:27
I worry -- I worry that this excitement
about colonizing Mars and other planets
about colonizing Mars and other planets
59
195374
5944
03:33
carries with it a long, dark shadow:
60
201318
3111
會帶來漫長而黑暗的陰影：
03:36
the implication and belief by some
61
204429
2020
一些人對火星有如此的隱喻和信仰--
03:38
that Mars will be there to save us
from the self-inflicted destruction
from the self-inflicted destruction
62
206449
3553
「當人類在我們唯一
真正能居住的地球上
真正能居住的地球上
03:42
of the only truly habitable planet
we know of, the Earth.
we know of, the Earth.
63
210002
4133
發生自我毀滅衝突時，
火星會在那解救我們。」
火星會在那解救我們。」
03:46
As much as I love
interplanetary exploration,
interplanetary exploration,
64
214135
2438
我不同意這種想法的程度
就如我熱愛的星際探索一樣深，
就如我熱愛的星際探索一樣深，
03:48
I deeply disagree with this idea.
65
216573
2345
是有很多完美的因素要去火星，
03:50
There are many excellent reasons
to go to Mars,
to go to Mars,
66
218918
2693
03:53
but for anyone to tell you that Mars
will be there to back up humanity
will be there to back up humanity
67
221611
3414
但要是哪一個人告訴你，
火星會在那裡拯救人類時...
火星會在那裡拯救人類時...
03:57
is like the captain of the Titanic
telling you that the real party
telling you that the real party
68
225025
3108
他就像鐵達尼號上的船長告訴你
04:00
is happening later on the lifeboats.
69
228133
2371
「等一下會有人開救生船來救你 」
一樣的胡扯。
一樣的胡扯。
04:02
(Laughter)
70
230504
2949
04:05
(Applause)
71
233453
2902
( 笑聲 )
( 掌聲 )
04:08
Thank you.
72
236355
2787
謝謝你
04:11
But the goals of interplanetary
exploration and planetary preservation
exploration and planetary preservation
73
239142
3786
但星球探索與星球維護
這二件事的目標互不衝突，
這二件事的目標互不衝突，
04:14
are not opposed to one another.
74
242928
2181
雖然是二碼事，
但有共同目標 :
但有共同目標 :
04:17
No, they're in fact two sides
of the same goal:
of the same goal:
75
245109
2531
04:19
to understand, preserve
and improve life into the future.
and improve life into the future.
76
247640
4342
在未來共同了解、
維護、改善生活。
維護、改善生活。
04:23
The extreme environments
of our own world are alien vistas.
of our own world are alien vistas.
77
251982
4063
我們地球上極端的環境
是外星人眼裡的美景。
是外星人眼裡的美景。
04:28
They're just closer to home.
78
256045
1881
它們只是離家較近。
04:29
If we can understand how to create
and maintain habitable spaces
and maintain habitable spaces
79
257926
4179
如果我們可以在自己的地球上
了解如何創造並維護友善的、
親切的可居住環境，
親切的可居住環境，
04:34
out of hostile, inhospitable
spaces here on Earth,
spaces here on Earth,
80
262105
3390
04:37
perhaps we can meet the needs
of both preserving our own environment
of both preserving our own environment
81
265495
3437
也許我們可以滿足
既保護我們的環境
既保護我們的環境
04:40
and moving beyond it.
82
268932
2229
又可以搬到外星球的需求。
04:43
I leave you with a final
thought experiment:
thought experiment:
83
271161
2310
最後我告訴各位一個
思維實驗論述 :「費米謬論」。
思維實驗論述 :「費米謬論」。
04:45
Fermi's paradox.
84
273471
1695
04:47
Many years ago, the physicist Enrico Fermi
asked that, given the fact
asked that, given the fact
85
275166
4862
許多年前，物理學家
恩里科．費米提出了一個問題 :
恩里科．費米提出了一個問題 :
我們的宇宙已經
存在很久是個事實，
存在很久是個事實，
04:52
that our universe has been around
for a very long time
for a very long time
86
280028
2847
04:54
and we expect that there
are many planets within it,
are many planets within it,
87
282875
2670
而我們也了解
有很多的行星在宇宙之中，
有很多的行星在宇宙之中，
04:57
we should have found evidence
for alien life by now.
for alien life by now.
88
285545
3088
所以我們現在應該早就該
找到外星生命的證據...
找到外星生命的證據...
05:00
So where are they?
89
288633
2043
但他們在哪?
05:02
Well, one possible solution
to Fermi's paradox
to Fermi's paradox
90
290676
3367
「費米謬論」的
其中一種可能就是 :
其中一種可能就是 :
05:06
is that, as civilizations become
technologically advanced enough
technologically advanced enough
91
294043
3483
一個存在於星際之間
科技相當先進的文明物種，
科技相當先進的文明物種，
05:09
to consider living amongst the stars,
92
297526
2322
05:11
they lose sight of how important it is
93
299848
2484
他們一開始就忽視了如何
保護家園及培養進步的重要性。
保護家園及培養進步的重要性。
05:14
to safeguard the home worlds that fostered
that advancement to begin with.
that advancement to begin with.
94
302332
4528
所以去相信只靠星際殖民可以
解救我們的這件事是狂妄自大的。
解救我們的這件事是狂妄自大的。
05:18
It is hubris to believe
that interplanetary colonization alone
that interplanetary colonization alone
95
306860
4388
05:23
will save us from ourselves,
96
311248
1881
05:25
but planetary preservation
and interplanetary exploration
and interplanetary exploration
97
313129
3529
星球維護與星際探索
05:28
can work together.
98
316658
1894
可以一起進行。
05:30
If we truly believe in our ability
99
318552
2123
如果我們真的相信我們有能力
05:32
to bend the hostile environments of Mars
for human habitation,
for human habitation,
100
320675
3506
可以去扭轉火星的
惡劣環境來讓人類居住，
惡劣環境來讓人類居住，
05:36
then we should be able to surmount
the far easier task of preserving
the far easier task of preserving
101
324181
3586
那麼我們應該可輕而易舉地克服
05:39
the habitability of the Earth.
102
327767
2173
維護地球可居住性的
這項簡單任務。
這項簡單任務。
05:41
Thank you.
103
329940
1046
謝謝你。
05:42
(Applause)
104
330996
6520
( 掌聲 )
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lucianne Walkowicz - Stellar astronomerLucianne Walkowicz works on NASA's Kepler mission, studying starspots and "the tempestuous tantrums of stellar flares."
Why you should listen
Lucianne Walkowicz is an Astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. She studies stellar magnetic activity and how stars influence a planet's suitability as a host for alien life. She is also an artist and works in a variety of media, from oil paint to sound. She got her taste for astronomy as an undergrad at Johns Hopkins, testing detectors for the Hubble Space Telescope’s new camera (installed in 2002). She also learned to love the dark stellar denizens of our galaxy, the red dwarfs, which became the topic of her PhD dissertation at University of Washington. Nowadays, she works on NASA’s Kepler mission, studying starspots and the tempestuous tantrums of stellar flares to understand stellar magnetic fields. She is particularly interested in how the high energy radiation from stars influences the habitability of planets around alien suns. Lucianne is also a leader in the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, a new project that will scan the sky every night for 10 years to create a huge cosmic movie of our Universe.
Lucianne Walkowicz | Speaker | TED.com