如果世界變成黃金會怎樣？——黃金末日：英語精讀講義

Here in the Kurzgesagt Labs,

在 Kurzgesagt 實驗室裡，

we only work on the most important scientific problems

我們只研究最重要的科學問題，

like what if we nuke stuff? 文法

像是『如果我們用核彈炸東西會怎樣？』

Or how about we make this elephant explode?

或者『我們讓這頭大象爆炸如何？』

Or who could forget?

又或者誰能忘記呢？

Look at this thing.

看看這玩意兒。

It's really big.

它真的非常大。

Continuing this proud tradition,

延續這項優良傳統，

let's explore the scientific mystery of what would happen to you

讓我們來探索一下發生在你身上的科學謎團：

if Earth suddenly turned into gold. 片語動詞

如果地球突然變成黃金。

The Midaspocalypse,

『邁達斯末日』（Midaspocalypse），

based on the ancient tale of King Midas, 文化背景

改編自邁達斯國王（King Midas）的古老傳說，

who was cursed so everything he touched turned into gold.

他受到詛咒，碰到的所有東西都會變成黃金。

Before we can explore this scenario with science, 表達脈絡

在我們用科學探討這個情境之前，

we'll first define the premise.

我們得先定義前提。

Midas's curse is a very special phenomenon called magic,

邁達斯的詛咒是一種非常特殊的現象，叫做『魔法』，

which allows us to modify physics. 文法

它允許我們修改物理法則。

So, what happens when Midas touches something and it turns to gold?

那麼，當邁達斯觸碰某物並使其變成黃金時，會發生什麼事？

An atom of gold has 79 protons and 118 neutrons in its nucleus.

一顆金原子的原子核有79個質子和118個中子。

The electric force of the protons on the electrons around them shapes the atom

質子對周圍電子的電力塑造了原子的形態，

and gives gold its chemical properties

並賦予黃金其化學性質，

like that it doesn't rust and that it's kind of shiny and bendy.

例如不生鏽、有光澤且具延展性。

So, to make not gold into gold,

因此，要把『非黃金』變成黃金，

we have to change atoms.

我們必須改變原子。

Let's say Midas touches a duck.

假設邁達斯摸了一隻鴨子。

All the light elements

所有的輕元素，

like hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen

像是氫、碳和氧，

gain electrons and protons

都獲得了電子和質子，

and neutrons to become gold.

以及中子，從而變成黃金。

Not only is the duck suddenly 33 times more massive, 文法

這隻鴨子不僅質量突然增加了33倍，

it's also much too dense.

它的密度也變得太高。

The gold atoms are far closer together than they like

金原子之間的距離遠小於它們所能容忍的程度，

and repel each other violently,

並強烈地互相排斥，

causing the golden duck to explode 文法

導致這隻金鴨子爆炸，

with the energy of half a ton of TNT,

釋放出相當於半噸TNT炸藥的能量，

leaving only gold dust and a very dead Midas.

只留下金粉和死透的邁達斯。

This is clearly not a very good way for Midas's power to work.

這顯然不是邁達斯能力運作的好方法。

So, what if instead Midas's power uses the atoms that are already present 表達脈絡

那麼，如果邁達斯的能力改為使用現有的原子，

and simply rearranges all particles in the matter he touches into gold?

單純將他所觸碰物質中的所有粒子重新排列成黃金呢？

No matter is created or destroyed, 用詞

沒有物質被創造或毀滅，

instead atoms dissolve

而是原子解體，

and the protons, neutrons, and electrons are reassembled to make gold.

然後質子、中子和電子被重新組裝成黃金。

However, gold is very dense,

然而，黃金的密度很高，

about 20 times denser than a duck.

大約是鴨子的20倍。

Without adding any matter, 文法

在不增加任何物質的情況下，

the gold duck would be a very awkward kind of foamy gold

這隻金鴨子會變成一種非常怪異的泡沫狀黃金，

with lots of tiny microscopic gaps.

裡面佈滿微小的微觀縫隙。

This is funky and doesn't explode,

這很滑稽，而且不會爆炸，

which is progress. 語氣意圖

算是個進步。

Now that we've established a sort of magic that works, 文法

既然我們已經確立了一種行得通的魔法，

what would happen if Midas stumbles?

如果邁達斯跌倒了會怎樣？

What if he touches Earth itself?

如果他摸到了地球本身呢？

Let's freeze time for just a moment 慣用語

讓我們先暫停時間，

and rearrange all the matter in the Earth.

把地球上的所有物質重新排列。

Just like the duck, 表達脈絡

就像那隻鴨子一樣，

the Earth is now solid gold,

地球現在變成了純金，

but with many tiny atomic-scale gaps.

但帶有許多原子尺度的微小縫隙。

While these gaps weren't a huge deal for the duck, 慣用語

雖然這些縫隙對鴨子來說不是什麼大問題，

they're a big problem for the Earth.

但對地球來說卻是個大麻煩。

A spongy planet is not a thing that can exist

海綿狀的行星是無法存在的，

as gravity compresses Earth,

因為重力會壓縮地球，

squeezing it together to close up the gaps. 片語動詞

將其擠壓在一起以填補這些縫隙。

As a result, the Earth contracts, 表達脈絡

結果，地球收縮，

shrinking to two-thirds of its radius.

縮小到原來半徑的三分之二。

If you're standing on Earth's surface,

如果你站在地球表面，

you'll suddenly find yourself in free-fall, 文法

你會突然發現自己處於自由落體狀態，

like on a roller coaster,

就像坐雲霄飛車一樣，

as the ground sinks away beneath you.

因為你腳下的地面正在下沉。

But since the ground is falling too,

但由於地面也在墜落，

it doesn't move away from you.

它並沒有遠離你。

It feels like someone turned off gravity, 片語動詞

感覺就像有人關掉了重力，

and you and everything else would begin to float.

你和其他所有東西都會開始漂浮。

But the ride doesn't last forever. 慣用語

但這趟旅程不會永遠持續下去。

It takes only 10 minutes for everything to crash down, 文法

一切只需10分鐘就會崩塌墜落，

and a weird 10 minutes it is indeed. 文法

而這確實是非常詭異的10分鐘。

And then, as abruptly as it started, 文法

接著，就像它開始時那樣突然，

it stops.

一切停止了。

The collapsing Earth has reached its desired size

崩塌的地球已經達到了它應有的尺寸，

and gravity is suddenly turned back on for you.

而你的重力也突然恢復了。

Hopefully you enjoyed your minutes of floating

希望你享受了那幾分鐘的漂浮時光，

because the ground and you with it

因為地面以及跟著地面一起的你，

crash into the planet at 30,000 km/h,

正以時速3萬公里撞向這顆行星，

making your body spatter like a water balloon as it hits. 表達脈絡

在撞擊時讓你的身體像水球一樣飛濺開來。

In one instant,

在一瞬間，

basically all of humanity gets smashed into red puddles.

基本上全人類都會被砸成紅色的血泊。

This is only the start of our problems, though, 表達脈絡

不過，這只是我們問題的開始，

since Earth imploded supersonically.

因為地球發生了超音速的內爆。

The kinetic energy of the implosion

內爆的動能

is basically equivalent to detonating a planet made of TNT. 片語搭配

基本上等同於引爆一顆由TNT組成的行星。

Crushed together under incredible forces,

在驚人的力量擠壓下，

Earth's core reaches a million degrees Celsius,

地球核心達到了攝氏一百萬度，

a temperature closer to the core of a star 文法

這更接近恆星核心的溫度，

than anything we're used to finding on Earth.

而不是我們習慣在地球上看到的任何事物。

As the Earth crashes into itself,

當地球向內撞擊自己時，

it generates an enormously powerful shockwave,

它會產生一股極其強大的震波，

which plows upwards,

這股震波向上推進，

catapulting the atmosphere up and off.

將大氣層向上拋射出去。

The Earth's surface temperature reaches hundreds of thousands of degrees,

地球表面溫度達到數十萬度，

and everything on it is instantly vaporized

上面的一切都會在瞬間蒸發，

to a fluffy plasma cloud that starts to expand,

變成一團開始膨脹的蓬鬆電漿雲，

but not by much.

但膨脹得不多。

Many of the atoms that may have been you

許多原本可能屬於你的原子，

get mixed into this cloud,

被混合進了這團雲中，

while others boil off, 片語動詞

而其他的則沸騰蒸發，

escaping from the atmosphere.

逃離了大氣層。

The golden plasma outshines the sun,

金色的電漿比太陽還要耀眼，

while the enormous radiation lifts tons of material off into space.

同時巨大的輻射將成噸的物質推升到太空中。

Over the coming days, 表達脈絡

在接下來的幾天裡，

the plasma cloud cools

電漿雲會冷卻，

and eventually freezes into a shiny little golden ball.

最終凝固成一顆閃亮的小金球。

Okay, maybe this type of magic doesn't work.

好吧，或許這種魔法行不通。

So, if replacing atoms made the Earth so overdense that it exploded 文法

那麼，如果替換原子會讓地球密度過高而爆炸，

and disassembling and reassembling atoms made the Earth so underdense that it imploded,

而拆解並重組原子會讓地球密度過低而內爆，

there must be a sweet spot where the Earth does neither. 慣用語

一定有一個地球既不爆炸也不內爆的完美平衡點。

What if Midas's power is such that an object is suddenly replaced 文法

如果邁達斯的能力是讓一個物體突然被替換，

by an object with the same volume made from solid gold?

換成一個體積相同且由純金製成的物體呢？

That magic is a little bit more magic

這個魔法稍微更『魔法』了一點，

and cuts a few extra corners, 慣用語

也多抄了一些捷徑，

but let's see where this leads us. 慣用語

但讓我們看看這會帶來什麼結果。

So, Midas stumbles again.

於是，邁達斯又跌倒了。

Even though our new pure gold Earth is not expanding or contracting, 文法

儘管我們新的純金地球既沒有膨脹也沒有收縮，

it's suddenly much more massive.

它的質量卻突然大得多。

The density of gold is three and a half times greater than the Earth, 文法

黃金的密度比地球大三倍半，

meaning the Earth is going to get three and a half times more massive.

這意味著地球的質量將增加三倍半。

For starters, everyone now has to contend 講解

首先，現在每個人都必須應對

with surface gravity that is more than three times stronger.

超過三倍強的地表重力。

So, if you're not a champion weightlifter

所以，如果你不是冠軍舉重選手，

who's used to carrying around a few times your body weight on your shoulders, 文法

不習慣把幾倍於自己體重的重量扛在肩上，

you're probably going to be slammed to the ground by your own weight.

你很可能會被自己的體重壓垮在地上。

Depending on where you were when Earth turned into gold, 文法

取決於地球變成黃金時你身在何處，

this alone could seriously hurt or even kill you.

單憑這一點就可能讓你受重傷甚至喪命。

Trees and artificial structures collapse under stress 片語搭配

樹木和人造建築會在壓力下倒塌，

they were never meant to sustain,

這是它們從未設計來承受的壓力，

while birds and planes and all things that were able to fly or float

而鳥類、飛機和所有能飛行或漂浮的東西，

splash to the ground all around you.

都會在你周圍摔落到地面上。

And you're not the only thing weighed down by the greater gravity. 片語動詞

而且你不是唯一被巨大重力壓垮的東西。

The weight of the atmosphere and also atmospheric pressure nearly quadruples,

大氣的重量以及大氣壓力也將增加近四倍，

which is a bad thing if you like living. 語氣意圖

如果你還想活命的話，這可不是件好事。

On its own, this won't kill you. 片語搭配

單憑這一點，還不足以致命。

Scuba divers can comfortably breathe air at these pressures for a while,

水肺潛水員可以在這種壓力下舒適地呼吸一段時間，

but unfortunately squeezing the atmosphere this much

但遺憾的是，如此大幅度地擠壓大氣，

raises its temperature to 150 degrees Celsius,

會使其溫度上升到攝氏150度，

which is like the insides of an oven.

這就像是烤箱的內部一樣。

The entire Earth's surface bakes,

整個地球表面都被烘烤，

roasting anything and everything. 片語搭配

烤焦了所有的東西。

There is no escape.

無處可逃。

Gold may be a metal,

黃金也許是一種金屬，

but it's about three times weaker than steel

但它的強度比鋼鐵弱約三倍，

and also very malleable,

而且非常具有延展性，

which makes it very bad mountain material. 文法

這使得它非常不適合用來構成山脈。

The tallest mountains that can be supported are now only about 2 km high,

現在所能支撐的最高山脈大約只有2公里高，

so whole ranges compress as their own weight basically crushes their base.

因此整個山脈都會被壓縮，因為它們自身的重量基本上壓碎了它們的地基。

It's hard to say what happens here.

很難說這裡會發生什麼事。

We're probably in for giant earthquakes and landslides 片語搭配

我們可能將面臨巨大的地震和山崩，

as the planet is squeezed into a new shape.

因為這顆行星被擠壓成新的形狀。

And it's not just mountain ranges,

而且不僅僅是山脈，

the differences between the continents and the ocean floor level out, 片語動詞

大陸與洋底之間的高低差被夷平，

causing the ocean basins to overflow,

導致洋盆溢出，

sending massive tidal waves over the Earth's surface.

向地球表面掀起巨大的海嘯。

What remains is a planet made of gold, 文法

剩下的將是一顆由黃金製成的行星，

entirely covered by an ocean 3 km deep,

完全被3公里深的海洋覆蓋，

a super hot atmosphere,

有著超高溫的大氣層，

and a lot of dead people.

以及大量的死人。

Hmm, okay.

嗯，好吧。

There may be a lesson to take away here, 片語搭配

也許這裡有個教訓可以記取，

but we're not sure what it is.

但我們不確定是什麼。

We did all the math, though. 片語搭配

不過我們做了所有的計算。

It's in our sources document

它在我們的參考資料檔案裡，

if you want to take a look. 片語搭配

如果你想看一看的話。

If you learned anything in this video,

如果你從這部影片中學到了什麼，

let us know what it was.

請讓我們知道是什麼。

So, as you might know, 表達脈絡

那麼，如同你可能知道的，

the things we sell in our shop

我們商店裡販售的商品，

are the reason we're able to publish videos for free.

是我們能夠免費發布影片的原因。

But it's way more than that for us. 用詞

但對我們來說，這意義遠不止於此。

Here's a short story and a making-of. 用詞

這是一個小故事和幕後花絮。

A while ago, we posted this image on social media

不久前，我們在社群媒體上發布了這張圖片，

just to post something nice-looking.

只是為了發一些好看的東西。

Immediately, a lot of people were quite upset about it

立刻就有許多人對此感到非常不滿，

because it was wrong

因為它是錯的，

and you guys take what we put out that seriously. 片語動詞

而你們真的如此認真看待我們發布的內容。

So, we deleted it

所以，我們刪除了它，

and contacted experts to make something new and better.

並聯繫了專家來製作一個全新且更好的版本。

We spent hundreds of hours on research and illustration 片語搭配

我們花了數百小時進行研究和繪圖，

and created this new extensive map of evolution,

並創造了這張全新的、內容詳盡的演化地圖，

a new visualization of the relationships between living things

這是一種關於生物之間關係的新視覺化圖表，

that didn't exist before.

這是以前從未有過的。

And while this was obviously a lot of work and stress,

雖然這顯然是一項充滿壓力的龐大工作，

it sort of exemplifies why working on this channel is so satisfying, 語氣意圖

但它某種程度上證明了為什麼經營這個頻道如此令人滿足，

because you people care

因為你們在乎，

and this makes us work harder and learn things we didn't know before.

這讓我們更努力工作，並學到了以前不知道的事情。

So, thank you for supporting our crazy ideas

所以，感謝你們支持我們瘋狂的想法，

and our sometimes crazy merch.

以及我們有時很瘋狂的周邊商品。

Because of you,

因為有你們，

we can continue to release our videos for free for everyone

我們才能繼續為大家免費發布影片，

and drop hundreds of hours into new concepts. 片語搭配

並投入數百小時去構思新概念。

We are super grateful for that.

我們對此超級感激。

You can check out the new evolution poster,

你可以去看看這張新的演化海報，

among many other things,

還有許多其他的商品，

made with love in our shop. 片語搭配

全都是在我們商店裡用心製作的。