弗里曼:每个人都有一个起点. Freeman: Everyone has a beginning.
[ 婴儿哭声 ] [ Baby crying ]
什么时候才算这个起点的开始呢？ But when does that beginning begin？
是两个细胞融合的瞬间？ Is it the instant two cells fuse together？
还是我们出现在这个世界上的时候？ Or the moment we enter the world？
科学家和宗教领袖对于 Scientists and religious leaders don't agree
何时首次出现生命的火花仍有分歧. on when the first spark of life occurs.
生命是仅仅的生物学过程, Is life just biology
还是我们的意识感 or does our sense of consciousness
决定了我们是否实在的活着？ dictate whether we are truly alive？
如果我们能够创造意识, If we can create consciousness,
我们能否在非生命躯体内创造生命,来了解何时生命才算诞生？ can we build life out of nonlife and understand when life begins？
空间、时间、生命本身. Space,time,life itself.
宇宙的奥秘,尽在《穿越虫洞》 The secrets of the cosmos lie through the wormhole.
生命何时才算诞生
生命是一个奇迹. Life is a miracle.
这个词经常被用于让我们感动的时候, That's a word we use when we are moved by something
或是在我们不知道发生了什么的时候. and when we don't understand how it happens.
一个孩子出生前的九个月, Nine months before a child is born,
仅仅是少量的细胞, it's just a handful of cells,
很明显,并不比生活在 no more complex,apparently,
我们皮肤上的细菌复杂多少. than the bacteria that live on our skin.
这些细胞团都拥有基因, Both these clumps of cells have genes.
都可以增殖, They both reproduce.
只是一个变成了我们认为非常有价值的东西, One turns into something we value greatly.
另一个会让我们得病. The other just makes us sick.
但它们都是奇迹-- But they are both miracles --
擦出生命神秘火花的化学反应的集合. a collection of chemicals with a mysterious spark of life.
小时候你是否为自己做过午餐？ Did you ever make your own lunches growing up？
我一般都会做花生黄油三明治. I used to make peanut butter sandwiches.
有时候,我发现面包上有发霉的部分, Every once in a while,I'd find a moldy slice of bread.
我想,“这些绿色绒毛来自哪里呢？”, "Where did this green fuzz come from？" I wondered.
看起来似乎是从空气中来, Just seemed to have appeared from thin air.
我好奇如果我不管它的话会发生什么. I wondered what would happen if I left it alone.
这些霉会继续生长成为一个毛绒的霉菌怪兽吗？ Would the mold keep growing into a fuzzy mold monster？
但它不会. It didn't.
它是活的,但不是我幻想的那样. It was alive,but not in the way I was.
那我身体内有什么能让我成长为一个男孩？ What was it inside me that made me grow into a boy？
Maureen Condic是一名生物学家, Maureen Condic is a biologist
就职于犹他大学医学院. at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
她花了整个周末 She spends her weekends traversing
横跨犹他州瓦萨奇山脉, the Wasatch Mountains of Utah,
这里生命繁茂. where life springs up all around her.
Condic: 作为一名生物学家, Condic: As a biologist,
来到这些山脉中总是很吸引人, it's always fascinating to come to the mountains,
因为在你身边会有如此多样的生命, because there's such a diversity of life around you,
而它们又以完全不同的方式成长为现在这样. and it all comes into being in radically different ways.
弗里曼：所有的生物体都会繁殖, Freeman: All organisms reproduce,
但它们都以不同的方式繁殖. but they have different ways of doing it.
白杨树通过复制自身 The Aspen trees that pervade the mountains of Utah
遍布犹他山脉. clone themselves.
它们的后代从成熟树木的根部发出芽, Offspring grow as shoots from the roots of more mature trees,
接着长成同样的树木, creating growths that are really the same tree
这样不停的重复. grown over and over again.
另一方面,一些虫子, Some worms,on the other hand,
则以不同的方式创造它们的下一代. create their next generations in a different way.
Condic: 有一个完整的纲概括了所谓的涡虫【涡虫纲】, Condic: There's a whole class of worms known as planaria.
它们的繁殖是通过将身体背面贴在石头上, They reproduce by attaching the back of their body to a rock
把自己的身体伸长, and stretching themselves out
直到把自己撕裂成两个, until they literally tear themselves in two.
接着这两个一半就会发育成一个完整的虫子. And then each of the two halves produce a full worm.
弗里曼：大自然为生命的开始创造了无数种方式, Freeman: Nature offers myriad ways for life to begin.
但使Maureen着迷的是一种 But the one that fascinates Maureen
发生在你和我身上的繁殖方式. is the way it happens for you and me.
这当然不会涉及到鹳. And,no,it doesn't involve a stork.
Condic: 人类生命的存在 Condic: So,human life comes into existence
发生在短短的一瞬. in just a fraction of a second.
一个人类卵细胞和一个人类精子, You have a human egg and a human sperm,
它们存活的唯一目的就是找到对方并融合, and their sole purpose in life is to find each other and fuse.
它们结合到一起,就在这一瞬间, So,they come together,and in that one instant,
就诞生了一个新的细胞--一个单细胞的人类胚胎. you create a new kind of cell -- a one-celled human embryo.
弗里曼：这个新细胞拥有它自己的遗传信息,DNA, Freeman: This new cell has its own genetic code,its own DNA,
是卵细胞和精子组成的唯一的一个复合体. that is a unique mixture of the egg and the sperm.
Condic: 这个单个细胞, Condic: And within this single cell,
就有成长发育的完整计划. there's a complete plan for development.
成长过程并不创造新的遗传信息, Development doesn't create that information.
遗传信息的创造就在精卵结合的开始. It's there from the very beginning.
弗里曼: 从她对胚胎学的了解出发, Freeman: From her understanding of embryology,
Maureen认为一个人类个体的生命 Maureen concludes that the life of a unique human individual
出现在1/4秒内, begins within the 1/4 of a second
就是精子和卵细胞结合的时间. it takes the sperm and the egg to unite.
这个单细胞胚胎 That single-celled embryo
包含了一套复杂的发育指南, contains an elaborate instruction manual
即成长为一个人类所需的所有信息. with all of the information needed to create a human being.
你可以想象成 You can think of it like
一个可以自由组装的帐篷. a camping tent that builds itself.
那么我们的帐篷可以自我组装, So,our tent is self-assembling because it has
因为它的组成部分全放在这里了, all of the parts it needs to put itself together
而且还有一套说明书, and because it has a set of instructions built into it
能够将其组装成最终状态. that allow it to assemble into its final state.
弗里曼：生命就像这个帐篷, Freeman: Life is like this tent,
只是比它复杂十亿倍. only a billion times more complex.
在单细胞胚胎形成后, After the single-celled embryo is formed,
它就随着输卵管向下移动, it takes a journey down the fallopian tubes
进入子宫, to the uterus,
在这里它开始了细胞分裂, where it begins the process of cell division,
从2个细胞到4个,再到8个,到16个这样... from 2 cells to 4 to 8 to 16 and so on.
大约一周之后, After about one week,
胚胎到达了子宫壁, the embryo arrives at the uterine wall
并将自己埋藏于其中. and implants itself.
一周后,胚胎中的细胞 A week later,the cells of the embryo
开始重排成为原始的身体. begin to reorganize themselves into a primitive body.
三周后, After three weeks,
神经系统开始出现, the beginning of the nervous system is in place.
随着时间的推移,细胞持续复制, As days go on,cells continue to multiply,
形成血管,心脏开始跳动, blood vessels form,the heart starts to beat,
脊椎骨开始成形, the backbone takes shape,
手臂和腿开始膨出. arms and legs begin to bulge out.
这个时候, During that time,
脑开始形成. the formation of the brain begins.
Condic: 胚胎的细胞和组织 Condic: The cells and tissues of the embryo
通过这些神奇的复杂细胞行为, undergo these amazingly complex cellular gymnastics
形成了不同结构和器官, to give rise to structures,organs,
它们之间的相互关系使得简单的胚胎 complex relationships that turn that flat embryo
变成了它形成的复杂的东西. into something that has form.
弗里曼：Maureen对人类胚胎的 Freeman: Maureen's biological understanding
生长发育的生物学见解, of the development of a human embryo
使得她确定什么时候才是 leaves her with little doubt
一个新的人类生命的产生. about when a new human life begins.
我们全都可以将自身的起源追溯到这个 We all trace our own origins back to this single cell
通过精卵融合产生的单细胞. that came into existence at sperm-egg fusion.
这正是我们应该尝试理解的 It's something we should try to understand
作为自我发现的过程, as a process of self-discovery,
认识我们本质的过程. as a process of understanding our natures.
这就是我们的开始. This is where we began.
弗里曼：但并不是所有的科学家都将个体起源 Freeman: But not all scientists trace an individual's origins
归于两个细胞的融合. back to just two cells.
事实上,一些科学家认为一个个体中, In fact,some scientists believe within one individual
可以存在多个生命的痕迹, there could be the ghosts of multiple lives,
这也是地球上生命一代到另一代的 that life on earth is an unbreakable chain of events
牢不可破的混合在一起的 where one generation and the next
一串事件. are blurred together.
Gammill: 还是孩子的时候,我会去看我的爷爷, Gammill: When I was a kid,I would go and visit my grandfather,
他经常下象棋,我就会过去看他下棋, and he used to play chess,and I would go and watch him,
我长大后就跟着他学习下棋... and I grew up learning to play with him...
走“卒”到G-4. Pawn to G-4.
...然后我父亲也教我儿子下棋, ...and then my father also taught my son,
现在我儿子和我在下棋. and now my son and I play.
[失真的声音] 将军. [ Distorted voice ] Checkmate.
我认为类似于象棋从一代传向另一代, I think there's an interesting parallel between chess
还有一些东西也可以传向下一代, that was passed from one generation to another,
我们现在知道是生物学上的 and what we know biologically now
两代人之间的细胞传递. is the passage of cells between generations.
弗里曼：Hilary Gammill医生 Freeman: Dr. Hilary Gammill
来自弗雷德·哈钦森癌症研究中心, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
她认为个体生命 believes individual lives
交织的东西比我们想象的还要多. are more interwoven than we ever imagined.
她在思考我们所有人体内 She wonders if inside all of us
是否会有我们亲人的痕迹, there are traces of our relatives,
甚至可以追溯到几代人之前. dating back generations.
Gammill: 我研究的领域集中在母亲在怀孕期 Gammill: My area of focus is on the exchange of cells
是否会和胎儿存在细胞交换. between a mother and fetus during pregnancy.
经典教科书中说 The classic textbooks used to state
胎儿血液和母体血液 that there was absolutely no contact
绝对不会存在相互接触-- between the fetal blood and the maternal blood --
两人的血液都只会分隔地保存在自己体内. they were just protected in separate compartments.
弗里曼：许多年来,科学家认为胎盘形成后, Freeman: For years,scientists thought when the placenta forms,
就形成了母亲和胎儿之间 it acts as an impenetrable barrier
不可逾越的屏障, between the mother and the fetus,
像携带有外来基因的 so nothing as large
外来细胞这么大的东西 as a foreign cell with foreign genes
是不可能穿过胎盘的-- could pass through --
婴儿的DNA就是他/她自己的DNA, baby's DNA stays within the baby,
母亲的DNA就是母亲自己的. and mom's DNA stays with the mom.
通过对母亲血流的观察, By peering into the bloodstreams of mothers,
Hilary和她的团队发现一些不可思议的东西. Hilary and her team have discovered something remarkable.
当他们从母亲的血液中 When they sampled just a teaspoon
提取一茶匙量的样品, of blood from the mothers,
他们发现了非常多的流动的外来细胞, they found dozens and dozens of foreign cells floating around,
这些细胞来自于她们体内的孩子. cells from the mothers' babies.
我们现在了解的是通过怀孕, So,we actually understand now that throughout pregnancy,
会在母体和胎儿之间存在 there is bidirectional exchange of information cells and DNA
细胞和DNA的双向信息交换. between the mother and the fetus.
弗里曼：Hilary的研究表明了胎盘并不是不可穿透的, Freeman: Hilary's work shows the placenta is not at all impenetrable.
它更像是个筛子, It's more like a sieve.
上面有很多微孔, There are miniscule holes
可以使细胞进出. that let cells out and let cells in.
这些外来细胞可以在我们体内存活数十年. These foreign cells can survive in our bodies for decades.
这种交换不仅仅 It's an exchange that happens
发生在母亲和胎儿之间, not only between mother and fetus.
来自其他亲人的细胞可能也会溜进去. Cells from other relatives may sneak in,too.
理论上我们可能拥有 It is theoretically possible that we could have cells
通过许多不同来源交换的细胞-- that are exchanged from multiple different sources --
比如哥哥或姐姐, you know,older siblings
当然还有母亲和胎儿的, and certainly mothers and fetuses,
甚至过去几代人的. but past generations,as well.
弗里曼：当一位母亲获得来自胎儿的细胞时, Freeman: When a mother acquires cells from a fetus,
她可以将这些细胞传递到她 she could pass on these baby cells
下一个孩子. to her next child.
弟弟或者妹妹就可能拥有 A younger sibling could have cells
来自哥哥或姐姐体内的细胞. from the body of an older sibling.
这些细胞不仅仅是因为好奇, These cells are more than just a curiosity.
它们可以成为体内的士兵, They can act as soldiers in the body
与疾病战斗... and combat disease...
这些细胞可以在接受者体内 Those cells can be active against cancer cells
激活来抵御癌症细胞. that develop in the recipient.
弗里曼：...但不是所有交换的细胞 Freeman: ...But not all of these exchanged cells
都可以保护防御机体. protect and defend.
当我们的免疫系统 When our immune system
检测到血液中这些外来细胞, detects these foreign cells in the bloodstream,
就可能会攻击它们. it may decide to attack them.
Gammill: 另外这些少量的在个体内 Gammill: These small numbers of foreign cells
持续存在的外来细胞 that are persistent in an individual
还与疾病相关, are associated with disease states,
比如自身免疫病、系统性硬化病. like autoimmune diseases like systemic sclerosis.
细胞交换 The exchange of cells
对于个体的健康而言, may have both positive and negative consequences
既有好的一面,也会有不好的结果 for the health of the individuals involved.
弗里曼：来自我们亲人的细胞的存在, Freeman: The presence of cells from our relatives
会改变我们的整个生命, could change the course of our entire lives,
使我们之间的相互联系 making us all more interconnected
比我们曾经认为的还要密切. than we ever thought possible.
Gammill: 了解细胞在不同个体间的 Gammill: Understanding that cells are exchanged
一般交换, commonly between individuals,
我认为,使个体间的界线不再清晰, I think,blurs the borders between those individuals
这样一个生命的起始, so that the beginning of one life
与另一个生命的终结就不再那么清楚. and the end of another life are a little bit less clear.
弗里曼：我们身体的一些部分 Freeman: The life of some parts of our bodies
的确产生于精卵融合之前, actually begins before our sperm and egg have ever met,
但斯德哥尔摩的一位医生 but one doctor in Stockholm
想要将生命的起始 wants to push the beginning of life
推向另一个方向. in the other direction.
他认为在我们知道自己活着之前都不算活着. He believes we cannot be alive until we know we are alive.
那到底什么才算人类生命的开端？ When does human life begin？
在这个可以进行体外受精 In this age of in vitro fertilization
和围产医学的时代,【围产医学：在产前对孕妇和胎儿进行监护.】 and prenatal medicine,
这的确是科学家和医生 it's a question that scientists and doctors
每天都在努力解答的问题. struggle to answer every day.
也许有另一种方法可以解答这个问题. Perhaps there's another way to approach the question.
你如何知道是否有人在家呢？ How do you know if someone is home？
你会敲门,看是否会有人应门. You knock on the door,see if someone answers.
当Hugo Lagercrantz医生还是个年轻人时, When Dr. Hugo Lagercrantz was a younger man,
他的生活很有压力. his life was stressful.
[ Baby crying ] [ Baby crying ]
他是位于斯德哥尔摩的 He was the director of the neonatal intensive care unit
阿斯特丽德·林格伦儿童医院 at the Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital
新生儿重症监护室的主管, in Stockholm,
在这里他监护着胎儿和新生儿. where he monitored fetuses and newborn babies.
当时胎儿监护还是非常新的技术, Fetal monitoring was quite new at that time.
会有很多的误报, There were a lot of false alarms,
所以[笑]这很让人头疼. so [chuckles] it was distressing.
弗里曼：但是Hugo的病人遭受的是 Freeman: But Hugo's patients experienced far more stress
远比他多的压力-- than he ever did --
不是母亲,而是孩子. not the mothers,the babies.
Lagercrantz: 被生出来是一生中最困难的事件, Lagercrantz: Being born is the most stressful event in life,
尤其是以自然的方式生产出来. particularly if you're born in the natural way.
弗里曼：我们出生的时候, Freeman: When we are born,
会被从温暖安全的子宫中取出, we're taken from our warm,safe womb
扔进这个世界中. and thrown into the world.
这也是我们生命中最重要的一天, It's the most dramatic day of our lives,
但这天我们甚至都记不得. but it's a day we don't even remember.
这就让Hugo思考, This made Hugo wonder,
“婴儿什么时候才会意识到发生了什么呢？ "When do babies become aware of what's going on？
意识什么时候才会产生？” When does consciousness begin？"
他认为我们可以通过鱼类寻找线索. He thinks we can look for clues by looking at fish.
Lagercrantz: 现在瑞典出台了一项新法律, Lagercrantz: Now there is a new law in Sweden
规定人们钓鱼的时候不允许使用鱼钩. that you're not allowed to use hooks when you're fishing.
这可能是因为他们认为 The idea is that they think
鱼类也会有意识并感到痛苦, that the fish may be conscious and suffer,
当然它们也可以对痛觉产生反应, and certainly the fish reacts to pain,
但是我不觉得鱼类会有意识的感觉到痛苦, but I don't think the fish is conscious about pain.
这更像是一种反射. It's more kind of a reflex.
弗里曼：根据Hugo的说法, Freeman: According to Hugo,
鱼类无法体验到心理层面的痛苦, fish cannot experience the psychological aspect of pain
因为它们缺乏相关的脑部回路, because they lack the brain circuitry
这个回路被称作“丘脑皮层联结”. 【丘脑皮层联结：从皮层下结构(如丘脑(thalamus))到皮层的投射.】 called thalamocortical connections.
谢谢. Thank you.
丘脑皮层联结的运作方式 Thalamocortical connections
像是人脑内的交换机. operate like a switchboard in the human brain.
我们看、听、碰、闻或尝到东西, Whenever we see,hear,touch,smell,or taste something,
电信号就从感觉器官传到大脑皮层, electrical signals go from our sensory organs to the cortex
这样我们的脑就可以处理我们在这个世界里经历了什么. so our brains can process what we experience in the world.
这些丘脑皮层联结 These thalamocortical connections
对于意识是非常重要的, are crucial for consciousness
因为我们认为意识-- because we believe that consciousness --
至少是高等意识--就位于皮层中, at least high consciousness -- is localized in the cortex,
如果你看到、听到、感觉到的 and if what you see,what you hear,what you sense
无法到达皮层, doesn't reach the cortex,
那么你就意识不到它. then you cannot be conscious about it.
弗里曼：Hugo现在是一位新生儿研究员, Freeman: Hugo is now a neonatal researcher
研究人类的脑何时会发育出这些联结. and studies when human brains develop these connections.
什么时候产生了意识的第一簇火花？ When does the first spark of consciousness happen？
Donato是一个4天大的足月婴儿, Donato,a 4-day-old full-term baby,
他可以帮助Hugo发现答案. is here to help Hugo find out.
关于意识有几个标准, There are several criteria for consciousness.
一个是处于清醒状态, One is being awake
然后能够意识到自己的身体, and then to be aware of your body
再然后就是能够意识到你所看到、 and then,of course,to be aware what you see
听到和闻到的等等. and hear and smell,et cetera.
弗里曼：Hugo和他的研究小组将Donate与 Freeman: Hugo and his team connect Donato to an instrument
一个可以测量他脑中的血流的仪器相连. that measures blood flow in his brain.
[监视器哔哔声] [ Monitor beeping ]
当给予Donato特定的刺激时, When Donato is exposed to certain stimuli,
Hugo就能知道 Hugo can tell
这个婴儿的脑部是否接收到了 if the baby's brain is receiving signals
外部世界的信号并加以处理. and processing the outside world.
乳汁的气味是Donato熟悉的, Milk is a scent Donato is used to,
所以表现的是他少量的血液流动. which is why he shows little blood flow.
另一方面,香草的味道是一个令人愉悦的惊喜, Vanilla,on the other hand,is a pleasant surprise,
会引起脑部血流的剧增. causing the blood flow in the brain to spike.
[监视器哔哔声] [ Monitor beeping ]
Lagercrantz: 通过使用香草,这表明 Lagercrantz: With vanilla,it indicates
婴儿对这种味道的反应传入了皮层. that the baby reacted in the cortex to this smell.
弗里曼：当Hugo给Donato闻一阵有毒气味,比如丙酮, Freeman: When Hugo gives Donato a whiff of a toxic odor,like acetone,
他就会产生非常强的负面反应, he has a very negative reaction.
他脑部的血流开始减缓, His blood flow goes down,
甚至比他闻乳汁气味之前还要低. even below where he started before he smelled the milk.
这就告诉我们婴儿对于 It tells us that the baby seems to be conscious
好与坏的味道都有意识, of the good and bad smell,
而这个我认为 which,I think,is very important
从进化的角度来说非常重要, from an evolutionary point of view.
我的意思是,为了生存,你就必须能够 For survival,I mean,you must be able
辨别什么对你是好的, to differentiate between what is good for you
而什么是有毒或者对你不好的. and what is poisonous or not good for you.
弗里曼：Hugo的研究证明 Freeman: Hugo's study proves
一个4天大的婴儿已经拥有了意识, that even a 4-day-old baby is already conscious,
那么在足月之前呢？ but what about before we reach full-term？
若要检测胎儿的意识 Testing for consciousness in fetuses
使用现有的医疗技术显得过于唐突, is too invasive with current medical technology,
所以Hugo试图从通过 so Hugo tries to get clues
对22周大的早产儿的研究获得线索. by studying premature infants born as young as 22 weeks.
我可以说比25、26周大的婴儿 I would say that after 25,26 weeks
似乎都具有了某种程度的意识, that they seem to have some degree of consciousness,
但在这之前,几乎没有什么迹象 but before that,there are very few signs
表明他们拥有意识. that they are conscious.
弗里曼：Hugo的研究让他认为 Freeman: Hugo's research has led him to believe
一个婴儿直到25周大的时候才会具有意识. that a baby cannot be conscious until it is about 25 weeks old.
那么这就是生命开始的时刻吗？ So,is this when life begins？
我认为在意识产生之前, I think before consciousness has developed,
其实你不能算作一个人类. you are not a person,actually.
我认为这就是生命诞生的时刻了. I think this is the time when life begins.
弗里曼：但是一位儿童心理学家认为生命的开始 Freeman: But one child psychologist thinks the beginning of life
来的更晚一些... comes much later...
...晚到你不可想象. ...later than you could ever imagine.
马克吐温曾经写道, Mark Twain once wrote,
“人是唯一会脸红的动物, "Man is the only animal that blushes...
也是唯一需要脸红的动物.” or needs to."
脸红是人类独特的反应, Blushing is a uniquely human reaction,
这源自于 one that stems
我们高层次的自我意识, from our high level of self-awareness,
但是婴儿不会脸红, but babies don't blush.
脸红是他们需要学习的东西. It's something they have to learn.
那么人类生命真的仅开始于 我们拥有自我意识的时候吗？ Does human life only truly begin when we become self-conscious？
Philippe Rochat是一位儿童心理学家, Philippe Rochat is a child psychologist
就职于埃默里大学. at Emory University.
他的职业生涯就是 He has spent his career
以科学的名义来使自己难堪. embarrassing himself in the name of science.
如果我把一张标签纸贴在头上, So,if I have my sticker on the forehead
我看到别人看我, and I see people giving me looks,okay,
我就会坐立不安开始担忧, I'm gonna start to be unsettled and concerned.
我的意思是,这就说明我出了什么问题. I mean,something is wrong about myself.
我认为成为一个人类,就是要关心自己的名誉. I think that to be human is to be concerned about reputation.
在心理和文化层面上, At the psychological and cultural level,
人类的生命的确起始于 life begins,indeed,in humans
自我意识产生时-- with the emergence of self-consciousness --
脸红,尴尬和羞愧. blushing,embarrassment,and shame.
弗里曼：人类拥有发达的社会脑, Freeman: Humans have developed a social brain.
我们是唯一的 We are the only species
会穿衣、戴珠宝首饰的物种, that do things like wear clothes and jewelry.
猴子是不化妆的. Monkeys don't wear makeup.
我们也是唯一的 We are the only species
深刻关注这个世界如何看自己的物种. that is profoundly concerned with how the world sees us.
根据Philippe的说法, According to Philippe,
只有当儿童发育出了这种关注, only when a child develops this concern
才算是一个完全的人,在心理层面上活着. is he fully human and psychologically alive.
Rochat: OK. Rochat: Okay.
进来吧. Come in.
Philippe是埃默里婴幼儿实验室的领导, Philippe is the head of the Emory Infant and Child Lab,
在这里他尝试检测儿童何时 where he is trying to detect when children become aware
会意识到世界是如何看他们自己的. of how they are perceived by the world.
你可以坐在这儿. 好的. You can sit here. Okay.
他说第一个标志,就是当孩子 He says a first sign is when a child feels
在一大群人中会感到压力. the pressure to go along with a crowd.
来看看一岁大的Booker. Meet 1-year-old Booker.
嘿,Booker,我们来玩吧. Hey,Booker,we're gonna play.
Philippe和Booker的母亲 Philippe and Booker's mother
都在额头上贴着粉色标签纸. have pink stickers on their foreheads.
看--这是goo-goo. Look -- this is goo-goo.
Rochat: 我们创造了这样社会准则. Rochat: So,we create this social norm.
然后我们也偷偷的在孩子的头上 Then we place the mark on the kid's head
贴了一个标签纸, unbeknownst to him,surreptitiously,
然后我们观察当孩子看到 and we look at the child's reaction
自己的头上也有标签纸的反应. when he sees that he,too,has a mark on the forehead.
弗里曼：如果Booker的脑已经发育出了 Freeman: If Booker's brain has developed an awareness
其他人如何看自己的意识, of what other people think of him,
他会把标签纸继续贴在头上 he will leave the sticker on his head
来融入其他人... to fit in with the others...
...但是Booker更在意的是 ...but Booker is more concerned
把这个烦人的标签纸从头上拿下来, with getting the pesky sticker off his head
而不是贴着它融入其他人. than he is with fitting in.
好的,Kayden, Okay,Kayden,
在这儿还舒服吗？ are you comfortable there,huh？
但当Philippe在4岁大的Kayden身上 But when Philippe tries the same test
重复这个实验时, on 4-year-old Kayden,
他看到的是完全不同的反应. he gets a very different reaction.
Kayden基本上在他自己的图像前不动了, Kayden basically freezes in front of his own image.
他意识到了我们所有人的头上都有个标签纸, He noticed that we all have a sticker on the forehead,
于是他把标签纸留在头上. and he leaves the sticker on.
这就是一致性的想法. So,there's this idea of conformity.
他们关注自身形象和自我展示, They care about their own image and self-presentation.
这些现象也会出现在两到三岁大的孩子身上. This is something that emerges by two to three years of age.
弗里曼：这是个意义重大的里程碑, Freeman: It's a big milestone,
Philippe的研究表明 but Philippe's research has shown
甚至3岁大的孩子也没有完全的自我意识. that even a 3-year-old is not yet fully self-aware.
什么？！ What？!
头上有张纸？ Paper on my head？
还有另一个 There is still another level
心理发展的层面需要试验. of psychological development to reach.
好的,看,我有一些杯子, Okay. Look. I have some cups here.
我觉得它们真好看. I think they are beautiful.
这是4岁大的Sidney. This is 4-year-old Sidney.
我要用它们建造一个东西. I'm gonna build something with them.
Sidney看着Philippe建造他所谓的 Sidney watches as Philippe builds what he is calling
世界上最美的雕塑. the most beautiful sculpture in the world.
哇！ Whoa!
但是它很脆弱,对吧？ But it's very fragile,huh？
我不确定这能不能撑得住, I'm not sure it's gonna hold,
我要去拿些胶水把被子黏在一起. but I'm gonna get some glue to put the cups together.
所以不要碰它,好么？ So,don't touch it,okay？
我马上就回来. I'll be right back.
当Sidney耐心等待Philippe拿着胶水回来 As Sidney patiently waits for Philippe to return with glue
加固这个珍贵的艺术作品时, to secure the precious work of art,
Philippe悄悄地拉动与杯子底部 Philippe secretly pulls a transparent fish wire
相连接的透明钓鱼线. that is connected to a bottom cup.
问题是,到什么程度 And the question is,is to what extent
孩子会表现出对 the child will show concern
他即将被发现要为 that he's gonna be seen as responsible
倒塌的雕塑负责的担忧. for the collapsing of the sculpture.
弗里曼：Sidney并不会对杯子神奇的倒塌感到担忧, Freeman: Sidney is not fazed by the tragic collapse
因为他并不关注自己是否看起来像“罪犯”. because he does not care if he looks like the culprit.
一切都还好么？ Everything okay？
哦！怎么啦？ Oh! What happened？
你碰它了么？ Did you touch it？
没有. No.
他不关心Philippe如何看他自己. He's not concerned with how Philippe will perceive him.
当Philippe在一个5岁大的Milo身上 When Philippe plays the same trick
重复这个实验... on 5-year-old Milo...
吓死我了. That was scary.
...他马上开始趁Philippe回来之前 ...he takes action and tries to rebuild the pyramid
复原这个杯子建成的金字塔. before Philippe returns.
Rochat: 我们看到的Milo的行为在其他5岁大的孩子身上 Rochat: And what we've seen with Milo and other 5-year-olds
同样也有体现... is the great concern...
...他们知道别人对自己的看法和评价, ...about how are they gonna be perceived and judged,
这是 which is a huge step
意识发展的一大步. in the development of consciousness.
弗里曼：Philippe的试验绘制出了 Freeman: Philippe's tests chart the development
一个具有完全意识的脑的发育图景. of a fully conscious brain.
就像胎儿分阶段发育一样, Just as a fetus develops in stages
从一个单细胞,到九个月后的婴儿, from a single cell to a baby over the course of nine months,
脑中意识的发育同样也是分阶段的. consciousness in the brain grows in stages,too.
Philippe认为意识的来源需要 Philippe believes consciousness comes to full-term
足月婴儿经历五年的发育... after about five years...
发生了什么？ What happened？
它自己就倒了. It just fell by itself.
这怎么可能呢？ How is that possible？
...对于他来说,这正是我们开始真正活着的标志. ...and to him,it's the mark of when we are truly alive.
为什么我们不重新盖起来呢？ Why don't we put it back together？
Rochat: 什么才意味着活着？ Rochat: What it means to be alive？
我觉得活着不是像机器人或机器那样能够运作. I think it's not to be a robot and not to be a machine.
活着不仅仅是能够感知世界, To be alive is more than sensing the world,
而是要体会世界. but to be alive is to feel the world.
说孩子的生命要直到具有自我意识 To say that a child's life does not begin
才算活着有着一个根本上的暗示, until he becomes self-conscious has radical implications.
一个4岁大的孩子并不算活着, A 4-year-old is not alive,
但是一个新生的机器也许就是活的... but a newborn piece of machinery might be...
如果它能够自我思考. If it can think on its own.
甚至是孩子都能判断这个蜘蛛是活的... Even a child can tell that a spider is alive...
...而石块不是... ...and a rock is not...
...但是如果让一个无生命的物体变成生物呢？ ...but what if a lifeless object became a life-form？
生命会产生于无生命的东西中吗？ Can life begin inside something that's dead？
下午好. 感谢你们的到来. Good afternoon. Thank you for coming.
我在这里将要对安娜贝拉项目做一个报告. I'm here to do a presentation on Project Annabelle.
弗里曼：Kate Izhikevich正在解决一系列的任务, Freeman: Kate Izhikevich is on a serious mission.
她计划制作第一个活着的机器. She has a plan to build the first ever living machine.
我一直想要一只吉娃娃,而且一直想做的是 I've always wanted a chihuahua,and I've always had a thing
把它命名为--安娜贝拉. that I wanted to name it -- Annabelle.
弗里曼：她面对的是最严厉的批评家-- Freeman: She is facing her toughest critic yet --
著名的计算机神经学家 renowned computational neuroscientist
Eugene Izhikevich,也是她的爸爸. Eugene Izhikevich,also known as dad.
我决定如果制作一只机器狗会怎么样？ I decided that,what if I could make a dog that was robotic？
Eugene: Kate从三岁的时候就开始 Eugene: Kate has been asking me for a real dog
向我要一只真正的狗, since she was three years old,
过去两年中, and for the last two years,
她则向我要一只机器狗. she has been asking me for a robotic dog.
所以,不易弄脏,它吃的和排泄出的都是电池. So,no mess. It eats and poops out batteries.
Kate认为安娜贝拉项目是可能实现的 Kate thinks that Project Annabelle is possible
因为我是做计算机神经科学的, because I do computational neuroscience
我已经给机器人制作了人工神经系统. and I build artificial nervous systems for robots.
Kate: 我希望安娜贝拉项目 Kate: I hope Project Annabelle
会是我爸爸的首要任务. will become my dad's first priority.
谢谢. Thank you.
弗里曼：Kate认为她爸爸是这项工作的最好人选. Freeman: Kate thinks her dad is the best man for the job.
Eugene制造了人脑的最详尽的 Eugene has built the most detailed computer model
计算机模型-- of the human brain --
一千亿个神经元 100 billion neurons
和几乎10的15次方个突触. and almost 1 quadrillion synapses.
他的终极目标是在 His ultimate goal is to create consciousness
人工神经系统中创造意识. in an artificial nervous system.
他认为这会是一种新型生物的开端, He thinks it could be the beginning
而这种生物在地球上从未出现过. of a new life-form,one never before seen on earth.
我不认为意识只是 I don't believe that consciousness is something
人脑中特有的部分. that only has to be part of a human brain.
我认为我们能够为机器人创造计算机程序 I think we can create computer programs for robots
来赋予其人类意识的性质. that possess this property.
弗里曼：Eugene和他的团队 Freeman: Eugene and his team
认为他们已经发现了一种实现方法. think they have found a way to do this.
不是通过给机器人编程 Instead of giving robots step-by-step instructions
一步一步地指导它们运动, with a program to make them move,
而是让他们的机器人自己指导如何行动, they want their robots to figure out how to move
并进行学习, and learn on their own,
就像活着的有意识的生物. just like living,conscious beings.
他们正在通过模仿生物学脑 They are building their robots' electronic brains
来制造机器人的电子脑. modeled on biological ones.
有些人会说,“什么才是脑中最重要的概念？” Somebody says,"What's the most important concept in the brain？"
我会说就是神经元. I would say it's the neuron.
弗里曼：神经元是脑部的细胞, Freeman: Neurons are the brain cells
可以帮助有意识的生物体学习, that help conscious,biological beings,
就像这些狗. like these dogs,learn.
我们认为狗学习的关键是狗狗饼干, We may think biscuits are the key to a dog's learning,
实际上是它脑中的神经元. but it's actually the neurons in his brain.
当一条狗学习如何把东西捡回来,它脑内的神经元 When a dog learns how to fetch,the neurons in his brain
就会迸发出电流创造出一条通路. fire spikes of electricity that create pathways.
当它不断加以练习, As he practices more and more,
神经元联系就越来越快, his neurons fire faster and faster
电流传送到新通路 and electricity flows more efficiently
就更有效率. down the new pathway.
[狗喘气] [ Dog panting ]
[狗吠] [ Dog barks ]
Eugene和他的机器人学家小组 Eugene and his team of roboticists
正在搭建人工神经元网络, are building artificial networks of neurons
同样可以传送电流并创造其喜欢的通路, that fire spikes of electricity and create favored pathways
就像生物学脑中的神经元一样. just like the neurons in a biological brain.
他们想看如果在机器人身体内 They wanted to see what would happen
将这些神经元的活动连接 if they wired these spiking neurons
会发生什么. to a robotic body.
一个机器人能否全靠自己学习如何移动 Could a robot learn how to move and become aware of its body
并意识到自己的身体和周围的环境？ and its environment all by itself？
机器人会变得有意识吗？ Could a robot become conscious？
Eugene: 我们的机器人学方法 Eugene: Our approach to robotics
和标准方法有很大的不同. is quite different from the standard approach.
我们不为机器人编程, We don't program robots.
我们赋予它们人工神经系统 We endow them with artificial nervous systems
和它们自己的体验. and their own experiences.
比如说,一个机器人开始时会移动它的手, For example,a robot starts by moving their hands
移动它的脖子, and moving their necks
就这样探索自己的身体. and just exploring their own body,
在这之后,使用者--人类--可以教给机器人 and after that,users -- people -- can teach the robots
就像人们通过不同方式教小狗或者小猫一样-- the same way as they teach dogs and cats different tricks --
有奖励,也有惩罚. with reward and punishment.
弗里曼：Eugene和他的小组使用不同形状的身体 Freeman: Eugene and his team use different body shapes
来看机器人可以学习多少种运动方式. to see how many kinds of movements a robot can learn.
这个机器人在尝试学习如何站起来. This robot is trying to learn how to stand up.
它的人工脑正在告诉它的身体如何运动. Its artificial brain is telling its body how to move.
Eugene: 它们看起来就像活的一样, Eugene: They look alive,
我把一些测试作品拿给我女儿看, and some of the demos that I show to my daughter
她说它们看起来很惊悚, look so creepy that she's said
说我们是在折磨小机器人. that we're torturing a baby robot.
弗里曼: 通过给Eugene的人工脑一个身体 Freeman: By endowing Eugene's artificial brains with a body
让它们探索世界, and letting them explore the world,
这些机器人就能够获得经验... these robots acquire experience...
它们发展出了许多行为. They development behaviors.
那它们活了吗？ Are they becoming alive？
你可以想象这样的场景,当你有一些机器人 You can imagine a situation when you have a set of robots
能够获得组成自身的原材料, having access to raw materials.
就可以假设它们能够使用这些材料 You can even hypothesize that it's possible for these robots
在某种程度上创造自己的复制品, to kind of create copies of themselves,
然后这样的一个机器人社会团体, and then such a community of robots
就可以像生物系统一样运行. would act as a life system.
弗里曼：也许会到这一天, Freeman: Perhaps the day will come
当Eugene的某个机器人产生情感, when one of Eugene's robots will feel emotion,
甚至会脸红的时候. maybe even blush.
人工生命之后会被 Artificial life will then be indistinguishable
和我们区别开... from our own...
...但是建造机器人可能并不是唯一的 ...but building robots may not be the only way
在地球上创造生命的方法. to create new life on earth.
丹麦的一位科学家 One scientist in Denmark
正在寻找完美的方法. is searching for the perfect recipe.
他认为产生新生物的条件 He thinks the ingredients to produce new life-forms
就近在眼前. are right under our noses.
如果我们制造的机器人可以产生自我意识, If we build robots that become self-aware,
那么人类就创造了一个完全崭新的生命形式. then humanity will have created an entirely new form of life.
这会是几十亿年里第一次 It will be the first time in billions of years
让无生命的东西活了过来, that something nonliving became living,
但或许有其他方法可以创造新型生命形式, but there might be another way to create brand-new life-forms,
不是在机器人中,而是在培养皿中. not in a robot,but in a petri dish.
Martin Hanczyc Martin Hanczyc
来自南丹麦大学, from the University of Southern Denmark
他试图阐明生命的起点, is trying to figure out when life begins
通过回溯到生命更为简单的时刻. by going back to a time when life was simpler.
作为一名生物化学家,他知道若要了解生命, As a biochemist,he knows that in order to understand life,
就需要观察很久很久之前 he has to look at the simplest form
地球上出现最简单的生命形式的时刻. that appeared on earth a very long time ago.
Hanczyc: 当我们思考生命的起源时, Hanczyc: When we think about the origin of life,
肯定会有一个非常有趣的转变, there must've been a very interesting transition
将我们不认为是活着的物质材料 from material that we wouldn't consider living
转变成有机体, that gave rise to organize
就是我们现在称作的生命或生物学. what we would call life or biology.
这是个很大的谜团,非常有趣的谜题. So,it's a big mystery,and it's a fascinating mystery.
弗里曼：无生命的物质如何产生生命？ Freeman: How can inanimate objects become animate？
从非生命到生命的转变发生了什么？ What sparked the transition from nonliving to living？
Martin作为生物化学家的工作鼓舞他 Martin's work as a biochemist inspires him
在他所到之处都问这个问题. to ask that question wherever he looks.
Hanczyc: 这里我们看到的是一座古老的风车, Hanczyc: So,what we're looking at here is an old windmill.
它建造于,我认为是十九世纪三十年代,我们就在考虑 It's from,I think,the 1830s,and we are considering
像这样的人工建筑是否 whether an artificial construction like this
具有生命系统的类似特征. has any similarity to living systems.
生命系统需要有身体,可以新陈代谢, Living systems have a body,they have a metabolism,
并且具有一些遗传信息. and they have some sort of inheritable information.
弗里曼：显然,这座风车有身体, Freeman: Clearly,this windmill has a body.
也有代谢作用 It has a metabolism
将来自外界的风能 that takes wind energy from the outside
转化为自身能量, and uses it as power,
它也有遗传信息. and it has inheritable information.
Hanczyc: 这是风车的蓝图,上面的信息告诉我们 Hanczyc: There is a blueprint for this that has information
如何将不同的部分组装起来 about how to put the parts together
建成一个可以工作的风车. to make a functional windmill.
弗里曼：人类可以使用这些蓝图建造现代风车. Freeman: Humans can use these blueprints and create modern windmills.
某种意义上,你可以说 In a sense,you could say
风车也可以进化和复制. that windmills have evolved and multiplied.
但是缺少了某些重要的东西. However,something important is missing.
风车不能自我成长. Windmills cannot grow all by themselves.
他们要靠人类组装, They rely on humans to assemble them,
但第一种生命形式肯定是自我组装的. but the first forms of life must've assembled themselves.
Martin想要知道 Martin wanted to see
他能否发现一种方法,用无生命的材料 if he could find a recipe made of nonliving materials
让它们自己组装然后活过来. that could build itself a body and become alive.
我们认为生命起源中关键一步 We think one of the key steps in the origin of life
就是不同分子自我组装到一起. is actually the self-assembly of molecules together.
弗里曼：Martin在想什么类型的化学物质 Freeman: Martin wondered what kind of chemicals
会具有此类行为. might behave like this.
他意识到没必要比厨房储物柜 He realized he had to look no further
看得更远,那就是--油. than the kitchen pantry -- oil.
众所周知,当你混合油和水, As we all know,when you combine oil and water,
他们不能互溶, they don't mix,
但油分子之间的结合力 but the combination forces the oil molecules
可以自组装形成大油滴. to self-assemble and form big droplets.
[油分子欢呼] [ Oil molecules cheering ]
这些油滴就是Martin决定 These are the bodies Martin decided to use
创造实验室生命的身体. for his lab-made life.
[油分子尖叫] [ Oil molecules scream ]
Hanczyc: 当我们在培养皿中制造一个油滴,什么都不会发生. Hanczyc: So,when we make an oil droplet in a dish,nothing happens.
你得到的只是一个漂亮的球形油滴 You just get a nice,spherical oil drop
停留在培养皿之中. that just sits there in the dish,
关键就是,接下来如何 but the key was how to,then,
驱使系统内物质的运动. power some sort of movement of the system.
我们想在其中加个新陈代谢作用. We wanted to put in a metabolism.
弗里曼：Martin在油滴中加入了 Freeman: Martin injected his oil droplets with molecules
遇到水后可将油滴降解为 that break down into soap bubbles
肥皂泡的分子. when they encounter water.
这些泡泡从油滴中心扩散到边缘, The bubbles spread from the middle of the droplets
像马达一样推动着油滴. to the edge,pushing them around like a motor.
这就是个正起作用的新陈代谢, It's a working metabolism.
你可以说它几乎是活的. You could say it's almost alive.
Hanczyc: 我们看到这个现象很激动, Hanczyc: We were very excited when we saw this
不仅仅这的确起作用,而且作用发挥得很迅速. because not only does it work,but it worked rather quickly.
弗里曼：Martin成功地创造了一个自组装体, Freeman: Martin has successfully created a self-assembling body
还能凭借自身进行代谢作用和移动. that can metabolize and move on its own.
接下来,他安排了一个小油滴聚会. Next,he arranged for a little oil-droplet soiree.
这能够模拟繁殖过程吗？ Could he mimic the process of reproduction？
Hanczyc: 有个非常有趣的现象, Hanczyc: And it's interesting
当我们一个实验中加入很多滴油滴, that when we put more than one droplet into an experiment,
它们倾向于一个贴着另一个,就像跳舞一样. they tend to follow one another,almost like a dance.
弗里曼：油滴变得像个社会, Freeman: The oil droplets are being social,
我们都知道一个小小的混合和 and we all know what a little mingling
一些良好的化学反应都可以出现这种现象. and some good chemistry can lead to.
每个油滴给出一个化学信号, Each droplet is giving out a chemical signal,
这样油滴之间 and therefore the droplets
就能够互相联系 are able to communicate with each other
通过这类化学语言. through this kind of chemical language.
弗里曼：但是即使Martin的油滴遇到另一个可以融合, Freeman: But even if one of Martin's droplets meets "the one,"
那么遗传信息呢？ what about inheritable information？
它们有遗传蓝图吗？ Do they have a genetic blueprint？
我们还在思考如何解决这个 We are thinking of how to address this question
遗传行为和遗传信息的问题. of inheritance and genetic information.
一种方法是借鉴生物学的东西, One way to do it is to take some lessons from biology
加入一些像RNA或者DNA的东西, and put something in like RNA or DNA,
不过我们思考的是更原始简单的东西, but we're thinking of more primitive ways
来了解遗传信息是如何产生的. of understanding the emergence of information.
弗里曼：Martin还在研究 Freeman: Martin is still working
产生遗传信息的方法, on recipes for inheritable information,
他正站在创造 and he's on the brink
活的有机体和无生命材料的边缘. of creating a living organism from nonliving materials.
如果有条界线, If there is a line
划分生命和非生命系统, between the living and nonliving systems,
这个这条界线肯定是很模糊的. then it must be a very blurry line.
弗里曼：从人工细胞到人工神经元, Freeman: From artificial cells to artificial neurons,
科学家们正在用他们的双手创造新生命, scientists are creating new life with their own hands,
但一位前物理学家 but one former physicist
认为另一种版本的生命正在形成, thinks there could be another version of life arising,
生长于全人类的 growing out of the collective experience
集体经验之中. of all of humanity.
地球生命起始于 Life on earth began
原始生物池中一个泡泡的 as a simple cycle of chemical reactions
化学反应的简单循环. in a bubbling,primordial pond.
四十亿年后, Four billion years later,
这些化学反应散布到了整个星球, those chemical reactions have spread across the planet
而且变得如此复杂, and have become so complex
复杂到可以思考交谈,就像我, that they can think and talk,like me,
但有些新东西正在萌发. but something new is happening.
电脑之间的联系已经扩散到全世界, Connections between computers have spread worldwide,
形成了一个致密的电子网络, forming a dense electronic web,
现在这些全球网络-- 一个是电子的,一个是化学的-- and now these global networks -- one electronic,one chemical --
正在相互影响. are interacting.
一个新生命即将出现, A new life could be about to begin
它不像我们知道的地球上的任何尺度的东西. on a scale unlike anything earth has ever known.
进化控制论学家Francis Heylighen Evolutionary cyberneticist Francis Heylighen
就职于布鲁塞尔自由大学, at the free University of Brussels
他认为人类正在酝酿一个孩子,这个孩子非常巨大. thinks humanity is giving birth,and this baby is big.
Heylighen: 如果我们来看全球社会, Heylighen: If we look at global society,
这颗星球上的七十亿人, at all the seven billion people on this planet,
人们越来越紧密的联系成为了一个连贯的整体. people become more and more connected into a coherent being.
互联网可立即为你提供 The Internet gives you immediate access
所有的重要想法. to all the important ideas.
今日,许多想法可以横跨大洋, Nowadays,ideas travel the ocean.
它们可以近乎光速传递. They can do that with almost the speed of light.
这意味着思想传递的速度 That means the speed is comparable
相当于我们互相交谈时 to the speed that the neurons in our brain use
脑中神经传递的速度. to talk to each other.
弗里曼：全球网络联系了我们所有人, Freeman: The global network that connects all of us
促使了大量的信息共享, facilitates massive amounts of information sharing,
揭开解释 information that has unveiled secrets
我们宇宙如何工作奥秘的信息. that explain how our universe works.
比如,CERN的大型强子对撞机, The Large Hadron Collider at Cern,for example,
发现了行踪不明的希格斯玻色子, could not have detected the elusive Higgs boson
而这一发现需要以极快的速度在全球传递 without the ability to share tremendous amounts of data
分享大量数据信息的能力. across the globe at great speeds.
Heylighen: 如果伽利略可以直接 Heylighen: If Galileo could immediately have talked
和他所有的同行交流, with all his colleagues,
我确信科学的发展会更为迅速. I'm sure that science would've developed much more quickly.
弗里曼：Francis和他的计算机科学家团队 Freeman: Francis and his team of computer scientists
发明了一个数学模型 have invented a mathematical model
可以测量互联网在做什么. to measure what the Internet is doing.
他们的目标就是要找出 Their goal is to find out
网络是否形成了一个全球脑. whether it is becoming a global brain.
Heylighen: 在数学模型中,就像所有的科学模型, Heylighen: In the mathematical model,like in all scientific models,
你将实际情况简化, you make a kind of simplification of reality.
你不需要一个真人, Instead of having a real person,
只需要一个小的电脑程序 you will have a small computer program
在某种方式上表现得像一个真人. that in some way behaves like a real person.
弗里曼：Francis的模型像是全球规模的功能磁共振成像, Freeman: Francis' models are like global fMRIs,
这里人们的行为就像一个巨型脑中的神经元. where people act like the neurons in a giant brain.
就像神经元通过不断被刺激进行学习, Just as neurons learn by firing back and forth,
人们通过电子手段激起信息的传递. people fire information to one another electronically.
Francis认为随着人们之间联接的 Francis believes as connections between people
增加与加强, increase in number and strength,
我们全球脑会越来越智能. our global brain will become more intelligent.
嗯. Hmm.
Heylighen: 你可以看到连接网络-- Heylighen: You see that the network of connections --
它需要做什么时就会做得更好. it's getting better at what it needs to do.
新的连接被创造, New connections are created,
没用的旧连接消失, old connections that are no longer useful disappear,
所有的东西都是在不断地自组织. and the whole thing is constantly self-organizing.
弗里曼：Francis的工作显示 Freeman: Francis' work has shown him
我们的全球脑正在适应、学习. that our global brain is adapting,learning.
人类和网络正在融合, Humanity and the Internet are merging
成为一个巨大的活的东西. to become a giant,living being.
他把这个全球生命的开始和 He compares this beginning of global life
她9岁大的女儿-- to the beginning of life
Nia生命的开始做了比较. for his 9-year-old daughter,Nia.
这是Nia还在子宫中的图片. This is a picture of Nia in the womb.
她有最基本的脑, She had a rudimentary brain,
但是这个脑基本上只是一堆细胞, but the brain was basically a bunch of cells.
它们之间没有联系-- There was no interconnection --
经年累月的学习和经验 learning and experiencing over the months and the years
最后形成了正确的联接. to find what are the right connections.
她开始只是一堆细胞, She started out as this bunch of cells,
但后来她逐渐发育成一个聪明智慧 but then she gradually developed into a smart,intelligent,
喜欢冒险的小女孩,比如喜欢爬树. adventurous little girl that likes to climb in trees.
弗里曼：Nia身体中的单个细胞 Freeman: A single cell in Nia's body
并不知道它自己要干嘛. doesn't know what to do on its own.
这是她脑中 It is the coordinated effort
亿万个神经元协调工作的结果, of the billions of neurons in her brain
告诉她的腿部肌肉如何稳定在树干上, that tells her leg muscles how to climb a tree trunk
并告诉她的手臂肌肉 and tells her arm muscles
如何让她从一个树枝到另一个树枝. how to propel herself from branch to branch.
Francis认为人类和网络 Francis believes humans and the web
也以相同的方式共同工作. are working together in the same way.
如果生命起始于脑, If life begins with a brain,
那么人类刚刚爬到意识的一个新层次. then humanity has just climbed to a new level of awareness.
Heylighen: 这是全球水平 Heylighen: It is the beginning of consciousness
意识的开始, at the global level
我们看到它从互联网中产生, that we see with the emergence of the Internet.
这也算是一类生命的起始. So,it is a kind of a beginning of life.
弗里曼：一个活着的人类不能失去脑, Freeman: A human being cannot survive without a brain,
一个脑也不能没有躯体而存活, a brain cannot survive without a body,
现在人类这个躯体和网络这个脑 and now the body of humanity and the brain of the web
也许正在产生一个超智能生物体. may be evolving into a superintelligent organism.
这会是新的生命形式的产生吗？ Could it be the beginning of a new form of life？
生命何时才算开始？ When does life begin？
我们现在已经知道了 We now know there are several answers
这个问题的几个答案. to this question.
当精卵细胞融合时, When sperm and egg meet,
它们创造了新的独特的遗传蓝图. they create a new and unique genetic blueprint.
当生物变得有意识时,生命又往前跨了一步, Life takes another leap forward when creatures become conscious,
他们可能是婴儿、小孩,或机器人. be they babies,toddlers,or robots.
当所有的这些生命个体融合到一起, And when all those individual life-forms merge,
成为了全球超个体的一部分, becoming part of a global superorganism,
地球上的生命则又向前迈了一步, life on earth will advance one more step,
也许有一天, and perhaps,one day,
这个新型生命会问：生命从哪里开始, that new life-form will ask where its life began
还会有什么样的生命奇迹尚未诞生. and what miracles are yet to be born.