Perhaps their capabilities would only be limited
也许他们的能力只会
by how much power they could harness and control.
受到所掌控能源多少的限制
And that could be far more than we might first imagine.
那有可能远远超出我们的预料
For example, it might be possible to collect the energy from an entire star.
比如,也不无可能从一整颗恒星上收集能量
To do that, they could deploy millions of mirrors in space,
为此,他们可以在太空中安置无数面镜子
encircling the whole sun and feeding the power to one single collection point.
环绕整座太阳,并将其能量汇集到一处
Such power might make it possible
如此惊人的能量也许能够
to walk the very fabric of space
改变时空结构
and create a portal called a wormhole.
并形成一个虫洞时空隧道
This portal would act like a shortcut,
这条通道会成为一条捷径
allowing them to travel huge distances in the blink of an eye.
让外星人能在瞬间穿越漫长的距离
Like us, they would probably have evolved from
像我们一样,他们也许也是从
a species used to exploiting whatever it can.
开采周围一切能源的物种进化而来
So, if aliens ever visit us, I think
如果外星人有朝一日前来拜访我们
the outcome would be much as when
我认为结局会非常类似
Christopher Columbus first landed in America,
克里斯多弗·哥伦布初次登陆美洲
which didn't turn out very well for the native americans.
众所周知,那对美洲原住民是一次灾难
So the journey that started with the search for water
始于寻找外天外水源的外太空之旅
has led us to far off worlds which I think could exist.
我们已经进入了一个可能存在的遥远世界
Worlds where the conditions and chemistry allow life to begin,
那些世界的环境和化学条件可以孕育生命
and then change into many different forms.
并演变出丰富多彩的形态
Even so, little green men are probably pretty rare.
即便如此,外星人依然很罕见
But in such a massive place as the cosmos,
而在如此浩瀚的宇宙中
we only have to look at ourselves for proof that
我们只要看看自己就足以证明
extremely unlikely things can and do happen all the time.
最不可能发生的事情随时都能发生
Let's just hope that if aliens do find us,
让我们祈祷,如若外星人找到我们
they'll come in peace.
他们是为和平共处而来