演講MP3+雙語文稿:恒星的壯麗死亡如何鍛造我們的身體

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【演講人及介紹】Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz

天體物理學(xué)家恩里科·拉米雷斯·魯伊斯（Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz）著眼于天空，而不是看著計算機模型，研究了自宇宙誕生以來最強大的爆炸。

【演講主題】我們的身體是在恒星的壯麗死亡中鍛造出來的

【演講文稿-中英文】

翻譯者 Wanting Zhong 校對 Jingdan Niu

00:01

We are all atomically connected.Fundamentally, universally. But what does that mean?

我們?nèi)加稍舆B接在一起。這是放之四海皆準的基本規(guī)律。但這是什么意思呢？

00:10

I'm an astrophysicist, and as such, it ismy responsibility to trace the cosmic history of every single one of youratoms. In fact, I would say that one of the greatest achievements of modernastronomy is the understanding of how our atoms were actually put together.While hydrogen and helium were made during the first two minutes of the bigbang, the origin of heavy elements, such as the iron in your blood, the oxygenwe're breathing, the silicone in your computers, lies in the life cycle ofstars.

作為一個天體物理學(xué)家，我的職責(zé)是，追溯構(gòu)成你的每一個原子的宇宙歷史。事實上，我應(yīng)該這么說：現(xiàn)代天文學(xué)最偉大的成就之一是理解我們的原子是怎樣組裝的。雖說氫和氦是在大爆炸的最初兩分鐘誕生的，重元素的起源，比如說血液中的鐵，呼吸出的氧，電腦里的硅，都棲身于恒星的整個生命周期之中。

00:53

Nuclear reactions take lighter elements andtransform them into heavier ones, and that causes stars to shine and ultimatelyexplode, therefore enriching the universe with these heavy elements. So withoutstellar death there would be no oxygen or other elements heavier than hydrogenand helium, and therefore, there would be no life. There are more atoms in ourbodies than stars in the universe. And these atoms are extremely durable. Theorigins of our atoms can be traceable to stars that manufactured them in theirinteriors and exploded them all across the Milky Way, billions of years ago.And I should know this, because I am indeed a certified stellar mortician.

核反應(yīng)將較輕的元素轉(zhuǎn)換成更重的元素，這使得星辰閃耀，最終爆發(fā)，從而讓宇宙充滿了重元素。如果沒有恒星的死亡，也就不會有氧，或者其他比氫和氦更重的元素，生命也就無從誕生。我們身體中原子的數(shù)量比宇宙中星星的數(shù)量還多。而這些原子極其耐久。我們的原子的起源可以追溯到數(shù)十億年前，它們在恒星的內(nèi)部被制造出來，隨后在爆炸中噴射到銀河的各個角落。而我理應(yīng)對此了如指掌，因為我是名副其實受認證的星星葬儀師。

01:52

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

01:54

And today, I want to take you on a journeythat starts in a supernova explosion and ends with the air that we're breathingright now. So what is our body made of? Ninety-six percent consists of onlyfour elements: hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Now the main character ofthis cosmic tale is oxygen. Not only is the vast majority of our bodies made ofoxygen, but oxygen is the one element fighting to protect life on earth. Thevast majority of oxygen in the universe was indeed produced over the entire historyof the universe in these supernova explosions. These supernova explosionssignal the demise of very massive stars. And for a brilliant month, onesupernova explosion can be brighter than an entire galaxy containing billionsof stars. That is truly remarkable.

今天，我想帶領(lǐng)大家踏上一段旅程，由超新星爆炸開始，在我們此刻呼吸的空氣中結(jié)束。我們的身體是由什么構(gòu)成的？其中 96% 的組織僅由四種元素構(gòu)成：氫、碳、氧、氮。這個宇宙故事的主角是氧。氧不僅是我們身體的主要成分，也是在地球上努力保護生命的那個元素。宇宙中絕大部分的氧確實是在整個宇宙的歷史中，在這些超新星爆炸時制造出來的。這些超新星爆炸宣告著非常巨大的恒星的逝去。在這光輝炫目的一整個月中，一次超新星爆炸可能比包含了數(shù)十億星星的整個星系還要明亮。這真的令人嘆為觀止。

03:05

That is because massive stars burn brighterand have a spectacular death, compared to other stars. Nuclear fusion is reallythe lifeblood of all stars, including the sun, and as a result is the rootsource of all the energy on earth. You can think of stars as these fusionfactories which are powered by smashing atoms together in their hot and denseinteriors. Now, stars like our sun, which are relatively small, burn hydrogeninto helium, but heavier stars of about eight times the mass of the suncontinue this burning cycle even after they exhausted their helium in theircores.

那是因為比起其他星星，巨大的恒星燃燒得更加耀眼，死亡得也更加輝煌。核聚變可以說是所有恒星的命脈，包括太陽，因此也是地球上所有能源的根源。你可以把恒星想象成核聚變工廠，在它們灼熱而致密的內(nèi)部，互相沖撞的原子為工廠提供著動力。比較小的恒星，比如我們的太陽，燃燒氫形成氦，但質(zhì)量是太陽大約八倍的更重的恒星 即使在耗盡了內(nèi)核的氦之后，依然繼續(xù)這個燃燒的循環(huán)。

03:53

So at this point, the massive star is leftwith a carbon core, which, as you know, is the building block of life. Thiscarbon core continues to collapse and as a result, the temperature increases,which allows further nuclear reactions to take place, and carbon then burnsinto oxygen, into neon, silicon, sulphur and ultimately iron. And iron is theend. Why? Because iron is the most bound nuclei in the universe, which meansthat we cannot extract energy by burning iron. So when the entire core of themassive star is made of iron, it's run out of fuel. And that's an incrediblybad day for a star.

那么這時，巨大的恒星只剩下一個碳核心，我們都知道，碳也是生命的基石。這個碳核心繼續(xù)坍縮，造成溫度升高，進而導(dǎo)致更多核反應(yīng)發(fā)生，碳進一步燃燒成為氧，成為氖、硅、硫，最終形成鐵。鐵是整個過程的終點。為什么？因為鐵是宇宙中 結(jié)合得最穩(wěn)定的原子核，也就是說我們無法 通過燃燒鐵獲取能量。當大恒星的整個內(nèi)核充滿了鐵，它就耗盡了燃料。對于一顆恒星來說，那可是相當糟糕的一天。

04:44

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

04:48

Without fuel, it cannot generate heat, andtherefore gravity has won the battle. The iron core has no other choice but tocollapse, reaching incredibly high densities. Think of 300 million tons reducedto a space the size of a sugar cube. At these extreme high densities, the coreactually resists collapse, and as a result, all of this infalling materialbounces off the core. And this dramatic bounce, which happens in a fraction ofa second or so, is responsible for ejecting the rest of the star in alldirections, ultimately forming a supernova explosion. So, sadly, from theperspective of an astrophysicist, the conditions in the centers of theseexploding stars cannot be recreated in a laboratory.

沒有燃料，它就無法產(chǎn)生熱量，因此引力便在這場戰(zhàn)斗中勝出。鐵核心除了坍縮，達到異常高的密度之外別無選擇。想象一下三億噸的質(zhì)量壓縮成一塊方糖的大小。在這極高的密度下，核心其實會反抗坍縮，結(jié)果就是，所有這些墜落的物質(zhì)會從核心反彈。而這戲劇性的反彈，發(fā)生在不到一秒的彈指間，它導(dǎo)致恒星的其余部分朝所有方向噴射出去，最終形成了超新星爆炸。從一個天體物理學(xué)家的角度來說，遺憾的是，這些爆炸的星星的內(nèi)部條件無法在實驗室內(nèi)重現(xiàn)出來。

05:49

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

05:50

Now, thankfully for humanity, we're notable to do that.

不過對于人類來說，這是值得慶幸的事。

05:54

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

05:55

But what does that mean? That means that asastrophysicists, we have to rely on sophisticated computer simulations in orderto understand these complex phenomena. These simulations can be used to reallyunderstand how gas behaves under such extreme conditions. And can be used toanswer fundamental questions like, "What ultimately disrupted the massivestar?" "How is it that this implosion can be reversed into anexplosion?" There's a huge amount of debate in the field, but we all agreethat neutrinos, which are these elusive elementary particles, play a crucialrole.

但這意味著什么？這意味著作為天體物理學(xué)家，我們不得不依賴復(fù)雜的計算機模擬，以理解這些復(fù)雜的現(xiàn)象。我們可以通過這些模擬理解在這種極端條件下氣體的表現(xiàn)如何。我們也可以通過模擬，回答一些基本的問題，比如說，“歸根結(jié)底，大恒星是怎么被瓦解的？”“這樣的向心爆炸是怎樣被逆轉(zhuǎn)變成向外爆炸的？”這個領(lǐng)域中有大量爭論，但我們達成的共識是，中微子，也就是某種難以捉摸的基本粒子，在其中扮演了至關(guān)重要的角色。

06:46

So neutrinos are produced in huge numbersonce the core collapses. And in fact, they are responsible for transferring theenergy in this core. Like thermal radiation in a heater, neutrinos pump energyinto the core, increasing the possibility of disrupting the star. In fact, forabout a fraction of a second, neutrinos pump so much energy that the pressureincreases high enough that a shock wave is produced and the shock wave goes anddisrupts the entire star. And it is in that shock wave where elements are produced.So thank you, neutrinos.

中微子是在恒星內(nèi)核坍縮時大量產(chǎn)生的。事實上，它們擔(dān)負著在內(nèi)核中傳遞能量的職責(zé)。就像暖氣機中的熱輻射一樣，中微子將能量朝內(nèi)核中泵送，增加了恒星被破壞的可能。事實上，在幾分之一秒的時間內(nèi)，中微子輸送的能量如此龐大，使得壓力升高到足以產(chǎn)生沖擊波，而沖擊波進一步將整顆恒星破壞。正是在這個沖擊波之中，各種元素誕生了。中微子，謝謝你們。

07:29

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

07:33

Supernovas shine bright, and for a briefperiod of time, they radiate more energy than the sun will in its entirelifetime. In a galaxy like our own MilkyWay, we estimate that about once every 50 years, a massive star dies. Thisimplies that somewhere in the universe, there's a supernova explosion everysecond or so. And thankfully for astronomers, some of them are actually foundrelatively close to earth.

超新星非常耀眼，在一段短暫的時間里，它們輻射出的能量比太陽在生命周期內(nèi)釋放的還多。在一個像我們的銀河系一樣的星系里，我們估計大約每 50 年就有一顆大恒星死亡。這意味著大約每一秒鐘，宇宙中的某處就有一次超新星爆發(fā)。對于天文學(xué)家來說，謝天謝地的是，其中一些的發(fā)生位置離地球相對比較近。

08:24

Various civilizations recorded thesesupernova explosions long before the telescope was invented. The most famous ofall of them is probably the supernova explosion that gave rise to the CrabNebula. Yeah? Korean and Chinese astronomers recorded this supernova in 1054,as did, almost certainly, Native Americans. This supernova happened about 5,600light-years away from earth. And it was so incredibly bright that astronomerscould see it during the day. And it was visible to the naked eye for about twoyears in the night sky.

早在天文望遠鏡被發(fā)明之前，許多文明已經(jīng)對這些超新星爆炸有所記載。其中最著名的當屬誕生了蟹狀星云的那場超新星爆炸。對吧？韓國和中國的天文學(xué)家在 1054 年記錄了這顆超新星，基本可以肯定美國原住民也對此進行了記錄。這次超新星爆炸發(fā)生在距離地球約 5600 光年的地方。它如此明亮，天文學(xué)家們在白晝也能看到它。在大約兩年的時間里，它在夜空中裸眼可見。

09:13

Fast forward 1,000 years or so later, andwhat do we see? We see these filaments that were blasted by the explosion,moving at 300 miles per second. These filaments are essential for us tounderstand how massive stars die.

向前快進約 1000 年，我們看到了什么？我們看到這些因爆炸迸發(fā)的光絲，以每秒 300 英里的速度移動。這些光絲對于我們理解大恒星如何死亡 至關(guān)重要。

09:37

So studying supernova remnants, like theCrab Nebula, allowed astronomers to firmly conclude that the vast majority ofoxygen on earth was produced by supernova explosions over the history of theuniverse. And we can estimate that in order to assemble all the atoms of oxygenin our body, it took on the order of a 100 million supernova. So every bit ofyou, or at least the majority of it, came from one of these supernovaexplosions.

因此，研究像蟹狀星云那樣的 超新星的殘留物，能讓天文學(xué)家得出堅定的結(jié)論： 地球上絕大部分氧元素 都是在宇宙的歷史長河中 由超新星爆炸產(chǎn)生的。我們可以估算，為了組裝我們身體里 所有的氧原子，需要上億的超新星。因此大家的全身上下，至少是其中的絕大部分，都來自這些超新星爆炸中的一個。

10:35

So now you may be wondering, how is it thatthese atoms that were generated in such extreme conditions ultimately tookresidence in our body? So I want you to follow the thought experiment. Imaginethat we're in the Milky Way, and a supernova happens. It blasted tons and tonsof oxygen atoms almost into empty space. A few of them were able to beassembled in a cloud. Now, 4.5 billion years ago, something unsettled thatcloud and caused it to collapse, forming the sun in its center and the solarsystem. So the sun, the planets and life on earth depend on this beautifulcycle of stellar birth, stellar death and stellar rebirth. And this continuesthe recycling of atoms in the universe. And as a result, astronomy andchemistry are intimately connected.

那么現(xiàn)在各位可能會納悶，這些在如此極端條件下產(chǎn)生的原子，最終是怎樣在我們的身體里定居的？我想讓各位進行一個思想實驗。想象一下我們在銀河里，一場超新星爆炸開始了。它將無數(shù)氧原子轟進了空空如也的太空。其中少數(shù)被聚集成為星云。45 億年前，某種東西擾亂了那片星云，使其土崩瓦解，在它的中心形成了太陽和太陽系。因此太陽、行星，和地球上的生命都仰賴這個美麗的循環(huán)：恒星誕生、恒星死亡、恒星重生。這個過程循環(huán)往復(fù)，將宇宙中的原子回收再利用。因此，天文學(xué)和化學(xué)是緊密聯(lián)系的。

11:41

We are life forms that have evolved toinhale the waste products of plants. But now you know that we also inhale thewaste products of supernova explosions.

我們這種生命形態(tài)，演化到要依靠植物的廢棄產(chǎn)物來呼吸。不過現(xiàn)在大家也了解了，我們同時也呼吸著超新星爆炸的廢棄產(chǎn)物。

11:53

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

11:56

So take a moment, inhale. An oxygen atomhas just gone into your body. It is certain that that oxygen [atom] remembersthat it was in the interior of a star and it was probably manufactured by asupernova explosion. This atom may have traveled the entire solar system untilit splashed on earth, long before reaching you. When we breathe, we usehundreds of liters of oxygen every day. So I'm incredibly lucky to be standingin front of this beautiful audience, but I'm actually stealing your oxygenatoms.

所以花點時間，深吸一口氣吧。一個氧原子剛剛進入了你的身體。可以肯定的是，那個氧原子記得它曾身處某顆恒星的內(nèi)部，也記得它很可能是在一場超新星爆炸中被制造出來的。這個原子或許歷經(jīng)了跨過整個太陽系的跋涉，才濺落在地球上，又過了很久很久才和你相遇。我們呼吸時，每天都消耗掉數(shù)百升氧。所以我今天非常幸運能站在這群美妙的觀眾面前，但我其實是在偷你們的氧原子。

12:39

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

12:42

And because I'm speaking to you, I'm givingyou some of them back, that once resided in me. So breathing, yeah,participates in this beautiful exchange of atoms. And you can then ask,"Well, how many atoms in our body once belonged to Frida Kahlo?"

而因為我在和你們交談，我會歸還給你們一些曾經(jīng)住在我體內(nèi)的氧原子。所以沒錯，通過呼吸，參與到這場美麗的原子交換之中。接下來你就可以發(fā)問，“那么，我們體內(nèi)有多少原子曾經(jīng)屬于弗里達·卡羅【注：墨西哥女畫家】？”

13:11

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

13:13

About 100,000 of them. 100,000 moreprobably belonged to Marie Curie, 100,000 more to Sally Ride, or whoever youwant to think of. So breathing is not only filling our lungs with cosmichistory, but with human history.

大約有 10 萬個。還有 10 萬個或許曾屬于居里夫人，另外 10 萬個曾屬于薩莉·萊德，【注：第一位進入太空的美國女性】或者任何一位你想起的人。所以呼吸為我們的肺部充滿的不僅是宇宙的歷史，也是人類的歷史。

13:37

I would like to end my talk by sharing amyth that is very close to my heart. A myth from the Chichimeca culture, whichis a very powerful Mesoamerican culture. And the Chichimecas believe that ouressence was assembled in the heavens. And on its journey towards us, itactually fragmented into tons of different pieces. So my abuelo used to say,"One of the reasons you feel incomplete is because you are missing yourpieces."

我想分享一個藏在我內(nèi)心的傳說，以此結(jié)束這次演講。一個來自奇奇梅克文化的傳說，【注：墨西哥北部的游牧民族】這是一種非常強大的中美洲文化。奇奇梅克人相信我們的本質(zhì)是在天上組裝的。而在朝我們前進的路途上，它破裂成了無數(shù)不同的碎片。我的祖父曾經(jīng)說過，“你感到自己不完整的原因之一是因為你確實確實了一些東西?！?/p>

14:08

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

14:09

"But don't be fooled by that. You'vebeen given an incredible opportunity of growth. Why? Because it's not likethose pieces were scattered on earth and you have to go and pick them up. No,those pieces fell into other people. And only by sharing them you will becomemore complete. Yes, during your life, there's going to be individuals that havethese huge pieces that make you feel whole. But in your quest of beingcomplete, you have to treasure and share every single one of thosepieces."

“但不要為此所欺騙。你獲得了難以置信的成長機會。為什么？因為那些碎片并不是散落在地球各處，你要去把它們撿起來。不，那些碎片落在了別人身上。只有通過分享碎片，你才會變得更加完整。沒錯，在一生之中，你會遇見擁有巨大碎片的人，他們會讓你感到完整。但在你追尋完整的旅途中，你必須珍視并分享每一片碎片?！?/p>

14:45

Sounds a lot like the story of oxygen tome.

我覺得這聽起來很像氧原子的故事。

14:48

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

14:49

Which started in the heavens in a supernovaexplosion, and continues today, within the confines of our humanity. Our atomsin our body have embarked on an epic odyssey, with time spans from billions ofyears to mere centuries, all leading to you, all of you, witnesses of theuniverse.

氧原子的故事在天空中伴隨著超新星爆炸開始，并持續(xù)至今，在人類的界限之內(nèi)繼續(xù)書寫。我們身體里的原子踏上了一場史詩般的長途冒險，歷時橫跨數(shù)十億年到僅僅幾個世紀，全都指引向你的身邊，你們所有人身邊，你們是宇宙的見證人。

15:16

Thank you.

謝謝大家。

15:17

(Applause)

（掌聲）