评论
打印
Alien life could range from simple,
外星生物可能还在进化初期
green slime that doesn't do much but drip
如一些沿石壁流下的绿色粘液
to more advanced animals something with a bit more bite.
也可能是相当高等的动物，例如啮齿类动物
But, of course, that's just the start of what could be out here.
但当然，这不过是最初的猜想
In such a massive universe,
在如此浩瀚的宇宙中
it's logical to wonder if there are intelligent beings,
我们自然会想，是否有智能生物存在
perhaps even civilizations like those in science-fiction TV shows and movies.
或许还有科幻片里描绘的外星文明
"Star Wars" and "Star Trek," two of my personal favorites,
《星球大战》与《星际迷航》这两部我最爱的电影
may be closer to reality than we think.
或许远比我们的想象更贴近现实
Similar scenarios are at least conceivable.
至少很可能拥有相似的情节
But think about it more, and even this is limiting the options.
但若深思，这其实也大大缩小了现实的可能
There could be life forms so strange
他们可能外表太过稀奇古怪
we wouldn't even recognize them as life.
以至我们都认不出那是生物
Perhaps there are really exotic creatures that live in center of stars
亦或许他们习性奇特，居然生存在恒星的内部
or even huge communities of microorganisms
他们甚至可能是像宇宙尘埃一般的
that look like clouds of cosmic dust.
庞大的微生物群落
Maybe aliens live and die so fast
也许外星生物的生命如此短暂
that they come and go in the blink of an eye.
由生到死，不过转瞬
So in such a vast universe with so many possibilities,
总之在如此浩瀚的宇宙中，存在着无尽可能
how do we know what to look for or,
我们如何知晓要寻找的究竟为何物
for that matter, where to look for it?
更何况，又该从何入手呢
The answer is right back where we began.
一切都要回到人类起源之处去探寻
The information we need is here at home,
我们所需的线索，都在地球之上
for the simple reason that home harbors the only known examples of life.
只因为唯有此地孕育着为人所知的生命
The laws of physics appear to be the same everywhere,
物理学法则似乎放之四海而皆准
So it follows that the laws of life should be universal, too.
以此类推，生命法则也应如是
Even if the detail is different,
即使细枝末节或有不同
We can use life on earth
我们可将地球上生物
as a kind of alien hunters' handbook.
作为一本了解外星生命的指南手册
A field guide to what life actually is, and how it works
来引导我们了解生命本质及其机理
no matter where it occurs.
无论它起源于何处
