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Anirudh Sharma: Ink made of air pollution
Anirudh Sharma: 用大气污染物制作的墨水
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如果我们可以捕获身边大气中的污染物，并且将它们变成有用的东西会怎么样？发明家Anirudh Sharma与我们分享了他是如何创造出 AIR-INK（大气墨水），一种由大气污染物PM 2.5制成的实用的黑色墨水。我们将学习到新型的碳基材料是如何能够颠覆如时装，印刷和包装等古老工业领域的生产流程的，在此过程中也能使这个世界变得更加洁净。
Anirudh Sharma - Engineer, inventor
Inventor Anirudh Sharma is the founder of Graviky Labs, an MIT Media Labs spinoff. Full bio
Inventor Anirudh Sharma is the founder of Graviky Labs, an MIT Media Labs spinoff. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Every year, more than four
to five million people die
to five million people die
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每年，全球有超过五百万人
因暴露于外界的大气污染中
00:15
due to exposure to outdoor air pollution
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而死亡。
00:18
around the world.
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00:20
This petri dish that you are looking at
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你们现在看到的这个有盖培养皿
00:23
contains approximately
20 minutes' worth of pollution
20 minutes' worth of pollution
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容纳着大约相当于在20分钟内
从一个热解装置内收集的污染物。
00:26
captured off a pyrolysis plant.
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00:29
This is PM 2.5.
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这就是PM2.5（可吸入颗粒物）。
虽然这些微粒现在肉眼可见，
00:31
These particles --
you can see it right now,
you can see it right now,
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00:33
but when they're out there
in the air, you won't see them.
in the air, you won't see them.
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但是当它们散布在
大气中时，几乎看不到。
大气中时，几乎看不到。
这些颗粒是如此之微小，
以至于我们的肺——
以至于我们的肺——
00:36
These are so tiny that our lungs --
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或者说我们的身体不能将它们滤除，
所以它们会滞留在体内——
所以它们会滞留在体内——
00:38
our bodies cannot filter them,
and they end up in our bodies --
and they end up in our bodies --
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如果没有得到及时的治疗，
将会让我们患上哮喘和肺癌。
将会让我们患上哮喘和肺癌。
00:43
give us asthma and lung cancer
if not treated in the right time.
if not treated in the right time.
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00:47
On a trip back to India,
when I was a student in 2012,
when I was a student in 2012,
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2012年，当我还是一个
学生的时候，有一次我回印度，
学生的时候，有一次我回印度，
我拍下了这张照片。
00:50
I took this picture.
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00:51
This picture stuck in my head.
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这个画面此后一直
盘踞在我的脑海中。
盘踞在我的脑海中。
00:53
On one side, you see this exhaust
of a diesel generator,
of a diesel generator,
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一方面，你们可以看到
一个柴油发电机排出的废气，
一个柴油发电机排出的废气，
正是这样的柴油发电机
标志着人类文明的进步，
标志着人类文明的进步，
00:57
the same generator
which is a sign of human progress,
which is a sign of human progress,
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标志着快速工业化，
01:00
which is a sign of rapid industrialization
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也标志着作为一个社会，我们在
过去的100年里为了聚获得能量，
过去的100年里为了聚获得能量，
01:03
and what we have become
as a society in the last 100 years,
as a society in the last 100 years,
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做出了怎样的努力。
01:06
generating energy.
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01:08
But on the other side,
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但是在另一方面，
你们也能看到这个非常
有趣的三角状黑色图案，
有趣的三角状黑色图案，
01:09
you see this very interesting
triangular, black-colored swatch,
triangular, black-colored swatch,
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它正是用与柴油发电机
排放的完全相同的
排放的完全相同的
01:12
that is produced by the same
residual particulate waste
residual particulate waste
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残留颗粒状废弃物创造出来的。
01:16
created by the emissions of the generator.
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01:20
Now, this picture gave me an idea
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这张照片让我产生了一个大胆的想法，
也让我开始重新考虑
关于污染物和墨水的事，
关于污染物和墨水的事，
01:22
and got me thinking about rethinking
both pollution and inks,
both pollution and inks,
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因为它留下了那样黑色的印记。
01:27
because it was making
that black-colored mark.
that black-colored mark.
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当下的现实是，我们通常
使用的大多数黑色墨水
使用的大多数黑色墨水
01:29
Now, the reality is that most of the black
ink that we use conventionally
ink that we use conventionally
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01:33
is traditionally produced
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是用传统工艺生产的，
01:34
by conventionally burning
fossil fuels in factories.
fossil fuels in factories.
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也就是照惯例在工厂内
焚烧化石燃料所得。
焚烧化石燃料所得。
世界上许多工厂靠焚烧化石燃料
01:38
There are factories around the world
that are burning fossil fuels
that are burning fossil fuels
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来生产碳黑，
01:41
to produce carbon black,
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进而制作出我们每天
都使用的黑墨水。
都使用的黑墨水。
01:43
to make black inks that we use
on an everyday basis.
on an everyday basis.
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01:46
But given that millions
of liters of fossil fuels
of liters of fossil fuels
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但是在数以百万计升的化石燃料
已经被我们的汽车，
01:49
are already being burned out there
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01:51
by our cars, our engines
and our exhaust out there,
and our exhaust out there,
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引擎和排气装置焚烧殆尽的前提下，
如果可以捕获那些污染物，
01:54
what if you could capture that pollution
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回收利用并做成墨水会怎么样呢？
01:57
and use it to recycle and make those inks?
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02:00
I decided to give this experiment a shot.
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我决定尝试一下这个实验。
02:03
I went back to my lab back in Boston
and conducted a small experiment.
and conducted a small experiment.
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我回到我在波士顿的实验室，
进行了一个小实验。
进行了一个小实验。
在波士顿，我找不到
那么多污染物来做实验，
那么多污染物来做实验，
02:07
In Boston, I couldn't find
much pollution to play with,
much pollution to play with,
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所以我转而使用了一根蜡烛。
02:10
so I resorted to using a candle.
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02:12
This was an experiment.
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就是这么个实验。
我点燃一根蜡烛，
02:14
I burnt a candle,
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制作了这个可以吸入蜡烛烟雾的装置，
02:15
built this contraption
that would suck in that candle soot,
that would suck in that candle soot,
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02:19
mixed it with some
vegetable oil and vodka,
vegetable oil and vodka,
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并把它与些许植物油和伏特加酒混合，
02:21
because to a DIY hacker,
these were really easily available.
these were really easily available.
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毕竟对一个DIY狂热分子来说，
这些是最唾手可得的材料了。
这些是最唾手可得的材料了。
（笑声）
02:25
(Laughter)
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将它们混合之后，
02:26
And after mixing them,
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02:27
you could churn out
a very rudimentary form of ink
a very rudimentary form of ink
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你就可以大量炮制
一种非常初级的墨水，
一种非常初级的墨水，
它以被储存在墨盒里，
02:30
that would go into a cartridge,
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而现在你们就可以用它打印了。
02:32
and now you could print with it.
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这就是我像“你好，世界！”般的第一次
02:34
This was my "Hello, World!"
of experimenting
of experimenting
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用污染物做成墨水的实验。
02:37
with printing with pollution.
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02:41
This is the same pollution
that I showed you in the petri dish,
that I showed you in the petri dish,
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这就是我刚向你们展示的
有盖培养皿中的污染物，
有盖培养皿中的污染物，
也是所有那些化石燃料
被焚烧后的产物。
被焚烧后的产物。
02:44
which is the result of any fossil fuel
that is being burned out there.
that is being burned out there.
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02:49
In 2015, I decided to take
this experimentation forward
this experimentation forward
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在2015年，我决定
将这个实验向前推进，
将这个实验向前推进，
并在印度成立了一个实验室，
02:52
and set up a lab in India
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来从事捕获和回收利用
大气污染物的工作。
大气污染物的工作。
02:54
to work on the capture and recycling
of air pollution.
of air pollution.
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02:57
In the good times, the lab
used to look something like this.
used to look something like this.
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在情况尚佳的时候，
实验室通常看起来像这样。
实验室通常看起来像这样。
但是并不是每一次实验
都能被精准控制，
都能被精准控制，
03:00
But experimentations
were not always controlled,
were not always controlled,
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“灾难”时常发生。
03:02
and disasters happened.
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当实验失败的时候，
03:04
And while experimentation would happen,
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实验室就会变得一片狼藉。
03:06
the lab would end up
looking something like this.
looking something like this.
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03:09
Well, we knew where we wanted to go,
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虽然我们对最终目标都心知肚明，
但是却并不清楚具体怎样去实现。
03:11
but we were not sure
how exactly to reach there.
how exactly to reach there.
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03:14
The passersby who used to go
by that lab through that building
by that lab through that building
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那些经常穿过那栋楼，
路过我们实验室的过路人
路过我们实验室的过路人
时常暗想：“这些家伙
正在那儿制造炸弹呢吧。”
正在那儿制造炸弹呢吧。”
03:17
used to, at times, think,
"These guys are making bombs in there,"
"These guys are making bombs in there,"
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那是因为有太多火焰，
导线和浓烟聚集在一处了。
导线和浓烟聚集在一处了。
03:20
because there was too much fire,
wires and smoke in the same vicinity.
wires and smoke in the same vicinity.
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（笑声）
03:25
(Laughter)
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03:27
We decided, let's move to a garage
and take experiments forward.
and take experiments forward.
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我们决定，不如搬去
车库继续推进实验吧。
车库继续推进实验吧。
我们找到了一个车库，在初期阶段，
03:30
We took a garage,
and during the early stages,
and during the early stages,
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我们开车带着这样的装置
在班加罗尔四处转。
在班加罗尔四处转。
03:32
we were driving around Bangalore
with contraptions like these.
with contraptions like these.
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这就是一个初期的雏形。
03:35
This is an early-stage prototype.
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可以想象人们向我们投来的眼神，
03:37
Imagine the looks people gave us,
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“这些车四处兜转是在做什么？”
03:38
"What are these cars
driving around doing?"
driving around doing?"
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这是一个捕获大气
污染物的早期原型机，
污染物的早期原型机，
03:41
This is an early-stage prototype
of our system that would capture pollution
of our system that would capture pollution
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它捕获的是从传统
柴油汽车中排放的污染物。
柴油汽车中排放的污染物。
03:44
that is being released from
a conventional diesel-based car.
a conventional diesel-based car.
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这就是这项技术的早期阶段。
03:48
This is an early stage of the technology.
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我们后来改进了这项技术，
并创造出了这个
并创造出了这个
03:50
We advanced the technology
and created this into this version
and created this into this version
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能从静止污染源捕获污染物的版本，
03:55
that would capture pollution
from static sources of pollution,
from static sources of pollution,
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比如一个柴油发电机。
03:58
like a diesel generator.
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可以看到，所有烟气都在
我们刚启动这机器的时候消失了。
我们刚启动这机器的时候消失了。
03:59
If you see, all the fumes disappear
as soon as you turn this machine on.
as soon as you turn this machine on.
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04:04
Without affecting
the performance of the engine,
the performance of the engine,
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在没有影响到引擎性能的前提下，
我们可以捕获相当于95%
04:08
we are able to capture
95 percent worth of pollution
95 percent worth of pollution
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由柴油发电机排放的污染物。
04:11
released from the diesel generator.
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这正是我刚刚谈到的
我们要捕获的东西，
我们要捕获的东西，
04:13
This is the particulate matter
that we are talking about that we capture,
that we are talking about that we capture,
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在这个例子中，就是在发电机
工作3到4小时间所产生的污染物。
工作3到4小时间所产生的污染物。
04:17
in this case, within three to four hours
of operation of a generator.
of operation of a generator.
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04:22
And while our experiments
and our research was advancing,
and our research was advancing,
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当我们的实验和
研究正在取得进展时，
研究正在取得进展时，
一家非常大的公司，
一个很大的品牌找到我们说，
一个很大的品牌找到我们说，
04:26
a very big company, a very big brand,
approached us and said,
approached us and said,
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“我们想和你们一起推进这个想法，
04:29
"We want to take this idea
further with you guys,
further with you guys,
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并将它进一步发展成
一种非常知名的形式。“
一种非常知名的形式。“
04:32
and take this further
in a very big celebrated form."
in a very big celebrated form."
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他们说，“就用你们用污染物做的墨水，
04:36
They said, "Let's do a global art campaign
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举办一场全球性的艺术活动吧。”
04:38
with the inks that you are making
off this pollution."
off this pollution."
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04:41
I'll show you what the ink looks like.
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我来展示一下这个墨水是什么样子。
这支笔是通过对我们所谈论的
40到50分钟内收集的汽车废弃物
40到50分钟内收集的汽车废弃物
04:43
So, this pen is made by recycling
40 to 50 minutes of that car pollution
40 to 50 minutes of that car pollution
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回收利用制成的，
04:49
that we are talking about,
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跟那个有盖培养皿中的
污染物成分相同。
污染物成分相同。
04:51
the same pollution
that is in the petri dish.
that is in the petri dish.
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它有一种可以用来
书写的很明晰的黑色。
书写的很明晰的黑色。
04:53
And it's a very sharp black
that you can write with.
that you can write with.
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那么我要写下……
04:55
So I'm going to write ...
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05:00
PM 2.5, that's incorrect.
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PM 2.5，再划掉。
05:03
So this is a very sharp black
that is generated by the same pollution.
that is generated by the same pollution.
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所以这是一种用相同污染物
积聚而成的非常明晰的黑色。
积聚而成的非常明晰的黑色。
05:08
After much work on the lab-level research,
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在从事了许多实验室研究之后，
我们收到一个大公司的邀请，
来进行一次大尝试。
来进行一次大尝试。
05:10
we got an offer from a big corporation
to do a very big trial of this idea.
to do a very big trial of this idea.
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它正好也算是一个大品牌，
所以我们毫不犹豫的答应了。
所以我们毫不犹豫的答应了。
05:14
And it happened to be a brand,
and we didn't think twice.
and we didn't think twice.
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我们说，“那我们继续吧。”
05:17
We said, "Let's go ahead."
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然而在实验室进行发明创造是一回事，
05:19
Inventing in the lab is one thing
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将点子带到现实世界
实施却完全是另一回事。
实施却完全是另一回事。
05:21
and taking ideas and deploying them
in the real world is completely another.
in the real world is completely another.
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05:26
During early stages,
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在早期阶段，
我们不得不使用自己的家和厨房
05:27
we had to resort to using
our own houses and own kitchens
our own houses and own kitchens
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作为我们的墨水制造厂，
05:31
as our ink-making factories,
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也要把我们自己的卧室还有起居室，
05:33
and our own bedrooms and living rooms
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作为第一条制造这些墨水的流水线。
05:35
as the first assembly line
for making these inks.
for making these inks.
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05:38
This is my cofounder Nikhil's own bedroom,
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这是我的合伙人Nikhil自己的卧室，
已经被用来向遍布全球的
艺术家们提供墨水，
艺术家们提供墨水，
05:41
that is being used to supply inks
to artists all around the world,
to artists all around the world,
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他们会用AIR-INK（空气墨水）来作画。
05:45
who would paint with AIR-INK.
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那是他，正在将AIR-INK运送到码头，
05:46
And that's him, delivering
AIR-INKs to the ports
AIR-INKs to the ports
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这样全球的艺术家们就能用上了。
05:49
so that the artists
around the world can use it.
around the world can use it.
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05:52
Soon, we started seeing
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不久，我们开始看到
全球成千上万的艺术家们
开始使用AIR-INK，
开始使用AIR-INK，
05:53
that thousands of artists around the world
started using AIR-INK,
started using AIR-INK,
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像这样的艺术品也开始出现，
05:56
and artworks started emerging like this.
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05:59
Soon, thousands of black-and-white,
pollution-made artworks
pollution-made artworks
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不久，成千上万由污染物
制成的黑白艺术品
制成的黑白艺术品
开始在全球范围内出现。
06:02
started emerging on a global scale.
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相信我，对于一群科学家，
工程师和发明家来说，
工程师和发明家来说，
06:04
And believe me, for a group
of scientists and engineers and inventors,
of scientists and engineers and inventors,
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没有什么比他们的工作成果
06:08
there was nothing more satisfying
than that the product of their work
than that the product of their work
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正被全球最富盛名的艺术家
使用更让人心满意足的了。
使用更让人心满意足的了。
06:11
is now being used by some
of the finest artists around the world.
of the finest artists around the world.
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这是去年《Contagious》杂志的封面，
06:14
This is the cover of "Contagious"
magazine last year,
magazine last year,
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它是由我们在实验室制成的
那种墨水制作而成的，
那种墨水制作而成的，
06:17
that was done by using the same ink
that we made back in our labs.
that we made back in our labs.
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06:22
This is a famous painting
by the British artist, Christian Furr,
by the British artist, Christian Furr,
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这是一幅英国画家
Christian Furr所作的著名画作，
Christian Furr所作的著名画作，
是为滚石乐队的歌曲
《Paint It Black》所画的。
《Paint It Black》所画的。
06:25
who painted it for the song
"Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones.
"Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones.
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06:30
Now, there's more to this pen and this ink
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除了那些流行和通俗文化的作品之外，
还有更多有关这支笔和墨水的故事。
06:33
than just the popular
and pop-culture artworks.
and pop-culture artworks.
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而现在我们的目标是成立一家公司，
06:36
And now our goal is to create a company
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能够多赚些“黑”钱，
我是说，多挣钱——
我是说，多挣钱——
06:38
that can actually make some black money --
I mean, just money --
I mean, just money --
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（笑声）
06:42
(Laughter)
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生产高质量的印刷流程和墨水，
06:43
and high-quality printing
processes and inks
processes and inks
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06:45
that can replace
the conventional black inks
the conventional black inks
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甚至可以取代传统意义上的黑色墨水，
尽管它们已经在
全世界被生产了上千年。
全世界被生产了上千年。
06:48
that have been produced for the last
thousands of years around the world.
thousands of years around the world.
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我们的作品在世界各地
越来越受欢迎，不久后，
越来越受欢迎，不久后，
06:52
Soon after our growing popularity
and artworks around the world,
and artworks around the world,
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我们开始面对一个非常不一样的问题。
06:56
we started facing a very different
kind of a problem.
kind of a problem.
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很多污染企业的邮包接踵而至，
06:59
We started getting spammed by polluters,
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07:02
who would send us bags full of pollution
to our office address,
to our office address,
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这些企业会把成包的污染物
寄到我们的办公室，
寄到我们的办公室，
然后问我们：“你们能用
这些污染物做什么？”
这些污染物做什么？”
07:05
asking us, "What can we do
with this pollution?"
with this pollution?"
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我们在孟买的实验室
目前拥有的污染物样品
目前拥有的污染物样品
07:08
Our lab back in Bombay right now
has pollution samples
has pollution samples
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是从伦敦，印度，中国，
还有其它你们能想到的地方寄来的。
还有其它你们能想到的地方寄来的。
07:11
that have come from London,
from India, from China, you name it.
from India, from China, you name it.
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而这仅仅是一个开始。
07:15
And this is just the beginning.
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07:17
This polluter sent us
this specific image, asking us
this specific image, asking us
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这个污染企业发给了我们
这些图片，向我们询问，
这些图片，向我们询问，
这些全是装满了PM2.5的袋子，
07:21
that these are all bags
filled with PM 2.5,
filled with PM 2.5,
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我们是否可以付他们一些钱
来为他们回收这些东西。
来为他们回收这些东西。
07:24
and can we recycle it for him
if we paid him some money.
if we paid him some money.
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07:28
Well, what would he have done
if we did not take that pollution?
if we did not take that pollution?
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不过，如果我们不要这些污染物，
他又会拿去做什么呢？
他又会拿去做什么呢？
他或许会找一条附近的河流
或垃圾堆，将它们丢弃在那里。
或垃圾堆，将它们丢弃在那里。
07:32
He would probably find a nearby river
or a landfill and dump it over there.
or a landfill and dump it over there.
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07:36
But now, because we had the economics
of AIR-INK figured out on the other side,
of AIR-INK figured out on the other side,
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但是现在，正因为我们有了
横空出世的AIR-INK经济，
横空出世的AIR-INK经济，
我们可以激励他给我们提供
污染物并用它制成墨水，
污染物并用它制成墨水，
07:39
we could incentivize him to give us
this pollution and make inks from it,
this pollution and make inks from it,
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再把它进一步变废为宝。
07:45
and turn it into even
more valuable products.
more valuable products.
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07:49
Now, pollution, as we all know,
is a global killer.
is a global killer.
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众所周知，大气污染物
是全球环境杀手。
是全球环境杀手。
07:52
We can't claim that our ink
will solve the world's pollution problem.
will solve the world's pollution problem.
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我们不能断言我们的墨水
能解决全球污染问题。
能解决全球污染问题。
但是它确实为我们展示了
07:56
But it does show what can be done
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如果从一个稍微不同的角度看问题，
我们可以做成怎样的事业。
我们可以做成怎样的事业。
07:57
if you look at this problem
slightly differently.
slightly differently.
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08:00
Look at this T-shirt
I'm holding right now.
I'm holding right now.
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看一下我拿着的这件T恤，
08:04
This is made from the same
AIR-INK I'm talking about.
AIR-INK I'm talking about.
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它就是由我所谈到的
那种AIR-INK做成的。
那种AIR-INK做成的。
08:08
It's made from the same pollution
that is inside this petri dish.
that is inside this petri dish.
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这种墨水由有盖培养皿里的污染物制成，
也与我们在户外散步
所吸入的污染物相同。
所吸入的污染物相同。
08:11
And the same pollution we are all
breathing in when we are walking outdoors.
breathing in when we are walking outdoors.
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而我们正沿着不断改进的道路前行。
08:15
And we are on our way
to do better than this.
to do better than this.
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非常感谢你们的聆听。
08:17
Thank you very much.
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（掌声）
08:19
(Applause)
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Translated by Melody Chen
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Anirudh Sharma - Engineer, inventorInventor Anirudh Sharma is the founder of Graviky Labs, an MIT Media Labs spinoff.
Why you should listen
Anirudh Sharma's interest lies in deep-tech, science-based social entrepreneurship. He fuses cutting-edge sensor, wearable and man-machine interface technology. In 2010, Sharma invented a haptic shoe called "Lechal" to guide the blind. Lechal was the earliest wearable innovation designed for the visually challenged. During his tenure at Fluid Interfaces Group at the MIT Media Lab, Sharma worked on future fabrication and augmented reality with futuristic displays. After returning from MIT, he co-led the nonprofit consortium MIT Media Lab India Initiative with the goal of remodeling and perpetuating self-organized, design-led innovation into the grassroots in India.
Sharma also cofounded Graviky Labs to evolve his side project KAALINK, a retrofit technology which captures particulate carbon emissions from chimneys or diesel engines (without affecting the performance of the engine) before they enter the atmosphere. The captured pollutants are then recycled into inks, called AIR-INK. Forty-five minutes of automotive emissions is equivalent to produce 30 milliliters of black AIR-INK. The company has found its niche globally, replacing conventional black inks applied to arts, printing and fashion industry as a means to offset carbon. To date, Graviky has recycled roughly 250 kilograms of PM2.5 air pollution waste, which has produced 1,200 liters of AIR-INK. Sharma also loves folk, magic and indie artforms.
Anirudh Sharma | Speaker | TED.com