1000年後的新人類：英語精讀講義

The ability to drink milk throughout our lifetime,

這種一生都能喝牛奶的能力，

known as lactose tolerance, 文法

稱為乳糖耐受性，

evolved about 10,000 years ago.

大約在1萬年前演化而來。

Over the last century and a half,

在過去一個半世紀裡，

the average height of a human being has increased by roughly 10 cm, 片語搭配

人類的平均身高增加了約10公分，

and within the last 6 and a half decades,

而在最近65年裡，

the global lifespan has shot up nearly 20 years, 片語動詞

全球平均壽命大幅增加了將近20年，

largely thanks to science. 片語搭配

這在很大程度上要歸功於科學。

Breakthroughs in science have propelled our species forward.

科學突破推動著人類不斷向前。

In fact, National Geographic and GE's new series Breakthrough

事實上，國家地理與GE推出的新系列節目《Breakthrough》

covers some cutting edge innovations that are happening today, 慣用語

聚焦於當今正在發生的一些尖端創新，

from biology and technology merging

從生物學與科技的融合，

to solutions for our water crisis.

到解決水資源危機的方案。

But, what will humanity look like in 1,000 years? 文法

但是，1000年後的人類會是什麼模樣？

It's already hard enough to remember a world without smartphones, 文法

如今，我們甚至已經很難記起沒有智慧型手機的世界，

but scientists predict that within the next few decades,

但科學家預測，在未來幾十年內，

computers will reach the computational speed of the human brain.

電腦的運算速度將達到人腦的水準。

Not only will they be able to speak and interact, 文法

它們不僅能夠說話並與人互動，

but listen and remember.

還能聆聽與記憶。

This also leads to a philosophy known as transhumanism. 文化背景

這也催生了一種名為「超人類主義」的哲學思想。

In the future, nanobots or tiny robots

未來，奈米機器人，也就是微型機器人，

will be subtly integrated into our bodies, 片語搭配

將悄悄融入我們的身體，

enhancing our own abilities. 文法

強化我們自身的能力。

No longer will we be limited by our own physiology, 文法

我們將不再受自身生理構造的限制，

but truly become a mixture of biology and machine on the inside.

而會真正從內部成為生物與機器的混合體。

Ever heard of utility fog? 講解

你聽過「實用霧」嗎？

Imagine a cloud of countless microscopic robots,

想像一團由無數微型機器人組成的雲霧，

which can be rearranged into virtually any configuration 用詞

它們幾乎可以重組成任何形態，

nearly instantaneously.

而且幾乎瞬間就能完成。

Buildings could be constructed as necessary 片語搭配

建築物可以視需求建造，

and disassembled when space was needed for something else.

當空間需要挪作他用時，又能拆解。

Picture your house disassembling when you leave in the morning, 文法

想像一下，你早上出門時，房子會自行拆解，

so that space can be used for something else. 文法

讓那塊空間能挪作他用。

With increased urbanization and globalization, 文法

隨著都市化與全球化不斷加速，

the 7,000 languages that are spoken globally today

如今全球使用的7000種語言

will likely dip under 100. 慣用語

很可能會減少到不到100種。

As we move even further into the future,

隨著我們邁向更遙遠的未來，

the world's rising temperature and accompanying deterioration

全球氣溫上升，以及隨之而來的

in the protective ozone layer will play a major role. 慣用語

具有保護作用的臭氧層劣化，都將產生重大影響。

Added UV radiation reaching the planet

到達地球的紫外線輻射增加，

may create a scenario where darker skin becomes an evolutionary advantage, 片語搭配

可能會讓較深的膚色成為一種演化優勢，

as it protects against UV damage.

因為它能抵禦紫外線傷害。

Increasing temperatures may also affect our size.

氣溫升高也可能影響我們的體型。

Taller and thinner bodies would be better at dissipating excess body heat 文法

更高、更瘦的身體更有利於散發多餘熱量，

as it creates the best body surface area to volume ratio.

因為這樣的體表面積與體積比最為理想。

Of course, these types of changes take tens or hundreds of thousands of years 文法

當然，這類變化需要數萬甚至數十萬年，

and will depend on our ability to avoid or protect ourselves from nature. 片語搭配

而且還取決於我們能否避開大自然，或保護自己不受其傷害。

New traits from mutations may also arise,

突變也可能帶來新的特徵，

perhaps a new eye color or unique abilities.

例如新的眼睛顏色或獨特能力。

Even today, one man has been documented 用詞

即使在今天，也已有紀錄顯示，有一名男子

with the ability to consume and digest nearly anything,

幾乎什麼都能吃下並消化，

including metal, glass, and even toxic chemicals,

包括金屬、玻璃，甚至有毒化學物質，

due to a genetic mutation.

這是由基因突變造成的。

Others live with a condition called tetrachromacy, 片語搭配

還有一些人具有一種名為「四色視覺」的特徵，

where they can see 100 times more colors than the rest of us. 文法

他們能看到的顏色數量是其他人的100倍。

But these traits are only likely to persist 文法

但這些特徵只有在

if they have some selective advantage.

具備某種選擇優勢時，才可能延續下去。

So, don't expect a mutant-like school for the gifted anytime soon. 講解

所以，短期內別指望會出現一所專收變種天才的學校。

But artificial selection or human influenced changes 用詞

但人工選擇或人為造成的改變

will likely drive most of our evolution.

很可能會主導我們大部分的演化。

We'll modify our babies' genes before birth

我們會在嬰兒出生前修改他們的基因，

to eliminate diseases they may carry

消除他們可能帶有的疾病，

or include desirable traits for our offspring.

或為後代加入我們想要的特徵。

But while it may make us smarter, stronger, and better looking, 文法

但即使這能讓我們更聰明、更強壯、更好看，

such genetic similarity or lack of human diversity

這種基因上的相似性，或者說人類多樣性的缺失，

leaves room for a single new disease 慣用語

仍會讓某一種新的疾病有機可乘，

of the future to wipe out the entire human race.

讓它在未來消滅全人類。

In the words of Stephen Hawking, 表達脈絡

用史蒂芬·霍金的話來說，

sooner or later disasters such as an asteroid collision

遲早有一天，小行星撞擊之類的災難

or nuclear war could wipe us all out. 片語動詞

或核戰爭可能會把我們全部消滅。

But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, 文法

但一旦我們走向太空並建立獨立的殖民地，

our future should be safe.

人類的未來應該就安全了。

Space colonization, it seems, 語氣意圖

看來，太空殖民

is an inevitable part of our future.

是我們未來無可避免的一部分。

At the end of it all, we may even conquer death 慣用語

最終，我們甚至可能戰勝死亡，

by scanning our brains atom by atom 片語搭配

方法是逐一掃描大腦中的每個原子，

and transferring that information into computers.

再將這些資訊傳入電腦。

In this way, we could travel at the speed of light as information patterns, 表達脈絡

這麼一來，我們就能化為資訊模式，以光速旅行，

unrestricted by our bodies and requiring no food.

不受身體束縛，也不需要食物。

Where our current human generational cycle takes around 20 years, 文法

如今，人類一個世代的更替週期大約是20年，

a digital individual could replicate themselves in seconds or minutes. 文法

而數位個體幾秒或幾分鐘內就能複製自己。

It's a brave new world out there, 文化背景

那將是一個前所未有的全新世界，

and yet you may be surprised by some of the incredible science 表達脈絡

然而，當今正在發生的一些不可思議的科學進展，

that is happening today.

也許同樣會令你大吃一驚。

That's what the show Breakthrough,

而這正是《Breakthrough》這個節目

which airs on November 1st at 9:00 p.m., 用詞

——於11月1日晚間9點播出——

attempts to highlight the science of today

力圖聚焦的當代科學成果，

that tomorrow's future will be based upon. 片語搭配

未來世界將建立在這些成果之上。

It's a really fantastic series of six episodes

這是一部非常精彩的六集系列節目，

on the National Geographic Channel.

在國家地理頻道播出。

Be sure to check it out

一定要去看看，

and let us know what you think.

再告訴我們你的想法。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也別忘了訂閱，收看每週更新的科學影片。