TED2019
Ella Al-Shamahi: The fascinating (and dangerous) places scientists aren't exploring
怡拉•艾夏曼妮: 科學尚未探索的有趣地點
Filmed:
Readability: 4.5
1,911,634 views
世界上有大片地區未經科學探索過，部分是因為地區性的衝突或爭議。 因為不探索，我們缺失了什麼？ 古人類學家怡拉•艾夏曼妮帶我們前往葉門的索科特拉島，那裡有豐富多樣的生物。來聆聽她這無畏、出人意表的有趣演講，和在不穩定地區可能有著令人難以置信的科學發現。
Ella Al-Shamahi - Paleoanthropologist, stand-up comic
Ella Al-Shamahi is a palaeoanthropologist specializing in fossil hunting in caves in unstable, hostile and disputed territories. In her spare time, she's a stand-up comic. Full bio
Ella Al-Shamahi is a palaeoanthropologist specializing in fossil hunting in caves in unstable, hostile and disputed territories. In her spare time, she's a stand-up comic. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So I've got something that I'm
slightly embarrassed to admit to.
slightly embarrassed to admit to.
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我不好意思承認某些事。
00:17
At the age of 17,
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17 歲的我因為相信創造論，
00:19
as a creationist,
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決定去大學學習進化論，
00:21
I decided to go to university
to study evolution
to study evolution
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00:24
so that I could destroy it.
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以便摧毀它。
00:26
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
00:28
I failed.
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我失敗了。
00:29
I failed so spectacularly
that I'm now an evolutionary biologist.
that I'm now an evolutionary biologist.
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我徹底地失敗，以至於
至今我仍是個進化生物學家。
至今我仍是個進化生物學家。
00:33
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
00:36
So I'm a paleoanthropologist,
I'm a National Geographic Explorer
I'm a National Geographic Explorer
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我是一個古人類學家
和國家地理探險家，
和國家地理探險家，
00:39
specializing in fossil hunting in caves
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專門找尋不穩定、敵對
和有爭議地區的
和有爭議地區的
00:42
in unstable, hostile
and disputed territories.
and disputed territories.
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洞穴中的化石。
00:45
And we all know that
if I was a guy and not a girl,
if I was a guy and not a girl,
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眾所週知，若我是男的，不是女的，
00:49
that wouldn't be a job description,
that would be a pick-up line.
that would be a pick-up line.
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那份工作描述會讓我
輕鬆與女孩子們搭訕。
輕鬆與女孩子們搭訕。
00:52
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
00:54
Now, here's the thing.
I do not have a death wish.
I do not have a death wish.
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就這樣，我不想死，
00:57
I'm not an adrenaline junkie.
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我不是追求刺激的人。
00:59
I just looked at a map.
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就只是某次看了張地圖。
01:02
See, frontline exploratory science
does not happen as much
does not happen as much
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政治不穩定的地區
沒有多少科學的探索。
沒有多少科學的探索。
01:06
in politically unstable territories.
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01:09
This is a map of all the places
which the British Foreign Office
which the British Foreign Office
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這是英國外交部發布的，
01:13
have declared contain
red zones, orange zones
red zones, orange zones
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包含所有的紅色警戒區、
橙色警戒區，
橙色警戒區，
01:16
or have raised some kind
of a threat warning about.
of a threat warning about.
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或者已提出某種
威脅警告地區的地圖。
威脅警告地區的地圖。
01:19
Now I'm going to go out on a limb here
and say that it is a tragedy
and say that it is a tragedy
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如果我們不去地球的大部分地區
進行前瞻的科學研究探索，
進行前瞻的科學研究探索，
01:23
if we're not doing frontline exploratory
science in a huge portion of the planet.
science in a huge portion of the planet.
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那麼我將說這是困境、是悲劇。
01:28
And so science has a geography problem.
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科學存在著地理的問題。
01:32
Also, as a paleoanthropologist,
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此外，身為古人類學家，
01:35
guys, this is basically a map
of some of the most important places
of some of the most important places
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這基本上是人類旅程中
一些最重要地區的地圖。
一些最重要地區的地圖。
01:38
in the human journey.
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01:40
There are almost definitely
fascinating fossils to be found here.
fascinating fossils to be found here.
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幾乎可以確定能在這些地方
找到令人著迷的化石。
找到令人著迷的化石。
01:44
But are we looking for them?
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但我們有去找嗎？
01:47
And so as an undergraduate,
I was repeatedly told
I was repeatedly told
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大學時我一再被告知
01:50
that humans, be they ourselves,
homo sapiens, or earlier species,
homo sapiens, or earlier species,
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我們智人，或早期的人類物種
01:55
that we left Africa
via the Sinai of Egypt.
via the Sinai of Egypt.
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經過埃及的西奈離開了非洲。
02:00
I'm English, as you can
probably tell from my accent,
probably tell from my accent,
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可以從我的口音中判斷我是英國人，
02:03
but I am actually of Arab heritage,
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但實際上我是阿拉伯裔。
02:05
and I always say that I'm
very, very Arab on the outside.
very, very Arab on the outside.
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我總是說我的外表很阿拉伯。
02:08
You know, I can really be passionate.
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我真的能非常熱情。
會說「你太棒了！我愛你！」之類。
02:10
Like, "You're amazing! I love you!"
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02:12
But on the inside, I'm really English,
so everybody irritates me.
so everybody irritates me.
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但在內心裡，我真的是英國人，
人人都能激怒我。
人人都能激怒我。
02:15
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
02:20
It's true.
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這是真的。
02:21
And the thing is,
my family are Arab from Yemen,
my family are Arab from Yemen,
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情況是，我的家人
是來自葉門的阿拉伯人，
是來自葉門的阿拉伯人，
02:25
and I knew that that channel,
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我知道
跨越曼德海峽不容易。
02:28
Bab-el-Mandeb,
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02:30
is not that much of a feat to cross.
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02:32
And I kept asking myself
this really simple question:
this really simple question:
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我一直在問自己這個簡單的問題：
02:36
if the ancestors to New World monkeys
could somehow cross the Atlantic Ocean,
could somehow cross the Atlantic Ocean,
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如果新世界猴子的祖先
能夠以某種方式穿越大西洋，
能夠以某種方式穿越大西洋，
02:42
why couldn't humans cross
that tiny stretch of water?
that tiny stretch of water?
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那為什麼人類越不過那一小段水域？
02:46
But the thing is, Yemen,
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但問題是，
02:48
compared to, let's say, Europe,
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與歐洲相比，
02:50
was so understudied
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葉門未被充分探索，
02:52
that it was something akin
to near virgin territory.
to near virgin territory.
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以至於它幾近處女地。
02:56
But that, along with its location,
made the sheer potential for discovery
made the sheer potential for discovery
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連同它的地理位置，
使得探索它的絕對潛力
03:03
so exciting,
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如此令人興奮。
03:05
and I had so many questions.
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我有很多問題。
03:08
When did we first
start using Bab-el-Mandeb?
start using Bab-el-Mandeb?
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人類什麼時候首次越過曼德海峽？
03:11
But also, which species of human
besides ourselves made it to Yemen?
besides ourselves made it to Yemen?
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除了我們自己以外的
哪種人類來到了葉門？
哪種人類來到了葉門？
03:16
Might we find a species
as yet unknown to science?
as yet unknown to science?
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我們能發現科學尚且未知的物種嗎？
03:20
And it turned out, I wasn't the only one
who had noticed Yemen's potential.
who had noticed Yemen's potential.
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事實證明，我並不是
唯一注意到葉門潛力的人。
唯一注意到葉門潛力的人。
03:24
There was actually
a few other academics out there.
a few other academics out there.
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實際上還有其他的學者。
03:27
But sadly, due to political instability,
they moved out, and so I moved in.
they moved out, and so I moved in.
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但可悲的是，由於政治不穩定，
他們撤離了，所以我進駐了。
03:32
And I was looking for caves:
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我尋找洞穴，
03:35
caves because caves
are the original prime real estate.
are the original prime real estate.
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因為洞穴是初民的主要居所。
03:40
But also because if you're looking
for fossils in that kind of heat,
for fossils in that kind of heat,
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如果你在那麼炎熱的地方尋找化石，
03:44
your best bet for fossil preservation
is always going to be caves.
is always going to be caves.
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保存狀態最佳的化石總會在洞穴裡。
03:48
But then, Yemen took
a really sad turn for the worse,
a really sad turn for the worse,
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但葉門真讓人悲傷。
03:53
and just a few days
before I was due to fly out to Yemen,
before I was due to fly out to Yemen,
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就在我要飛往葉門前幾天，
03:57
the civil war escalated
into a regional conflict,
into a regional conflict,
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地區衝突升級為內戰，
04:01
the capital's airport was bombed
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首都機場遭到轟炸，
04:03
and Yemen became a no-fly zone.
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葉門成為禁飛區。
04:08
Now, my parents made this decision
before I was born:
before I was born:
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在我出生前父母決定把我生在英國。
04:12
that I would be born British.
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04:16
I had nothing to do
with the best decision of my life.
with the best decision of my life.
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我沒參與這命中最棒的決定。
04:21
And now ...
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而現在...
04:23
Now the lucky ones
in my family have escaped,
in my family have escaped,
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我家族裡幸運的人逃脫了；
04:28
and the others, the others
are being been bombed
are being been bombed
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其他人被轟炸，
04:31
and send you WhatsApp messages
that make you detest your very existence.
that make you detest your very existence.
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發送 WhatsApp 訊息給你，
讓你愧疚自己的幸運。
讓你愧疚自己的幸運。
04:39
This war's been going on for four years.
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這場戰爭持續了四年，
04:42
It's been going on for over four years,
and it has led to a humanitarian crisis.
and it has led to a humanitarian crisis.
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已經持續了四年多，
導致人道主義危機。
導致人道主義危機。
04:48
There is a famine there,
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那裡有飢荒，人為的飢荒。
04:50
a man-made famine.
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04:52
That's a man-made famine,
so not a natural famine,
so not a natural famine,
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那是人為的飢荒，
不是自然的飢荒，
04:55
an entirely man-made famine
that the UN has warned
that the UN has warned
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完全人為的飢荒。
聯合國警告說，
04:59
could be the worst famine
the world has seen in a hundred years.
the world has seen in a hundred years.
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這可能是世上百年來最嚴重的飢荒。
05:04
This war has made it
clear to me more than ever
clear to me more than ever
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這場戰爭比以往任何時候
都更清楚地表明
都更清楚地表明
05:07
that no place, no people
deserve to get left behind.
deserve to get left behind.
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沒有任何地方、任何人
應該被留在後面。
應該被留在後面。
05:13
And so I was joining these other teams,
and I was forming new collaborations
and I was forming new collaborations
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所以我加入了其他的團隊，
與其他不穩定的地方
建立新的合作關係。
建立新的合作關係。
05:16
in other unstable places.
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05:18
But I was desperate
to get back into Yemen,
to get back into Yemen,
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我迫不及待地想回到葉門。
05:22
because for me, Yemen's really personal.
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對我來說，葉門真的與我切身相關。
05:27
And so I kept trying to think
of a project I could do in Yemen
of a project I could do in Yemen
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我一直努力在思考
能在葉門做的專案，
能在葉門做的專案，
05:32
that would help highlight
what was going on there.
what was going on there.
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能夠有助於顯現那裡景況的專案。
05:35
And every idea I had just kept failing,
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我的主意一個接著一個失敗了，
05:39
or it was just too high-risk,
because let's be honest,
because let's be honest,
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或者說，風險太大了。
說實話，葉門大部分地區對
西方團隊來說太危險了。
西方團隊來說太危險了。
05:42
most of Yemen is just too dangerous
for a Western team.
for a Western team.
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05:47
But then I was told that Socotra,
a Yemeni island,
a Yemeni island,
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但後來我獲知索科特拉島
這個葉門島嶼——
這個葉門島嶼——
05:53
was safe once you got there.
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一旦到達那裡就會很安全。
05:56
In fact, it turned out there was a few
local and international academics
local and international academics
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事實上，有些當地和國際的學者
仍在那裡工作。
06:01
that were still working there.
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06:03
And that got me really excited,
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這讓我非常興奮，
06:06
because look at Socotra's
proximity to Africa.
proximity to Africa.
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因為看看索科特拉島與非洲的距離。
06:12
And yet we have no idea
when humans arrived on that island.
when humans arrived on that island.
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我們仍不知道人類
什麼時候到達那個島嶼。
什麼時候到達那個島嶼。
06:18
But Socotra, for those of you who know it,
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那些知道索科特拉島的人，
06:21
well, let's just say you probably know it
for a completely different reason.
for a completely different reason.
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知道的原因可能完全不同。
06:25
You probably know it
as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,
as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,
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你可能知道它是印度洋的
加拉帕戈斯群島，
加拉帕戈斯群島，
06:28
because it is one of the most
biodiverse places on this earth.
biodiverse places on this earth.
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因為它是地球上
生物最多樣的地方之一。
生物最多樣的地方之一。
06:33
But we were also getting information
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我們還得知
06:35
that this incredibly delicate
environment and its people
environment and its people
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這個令人難以置信的微妙環境
和其人民受到威脅，
和其人民受到威脅，
06:39
were under threat
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06:40
because they were at the frontline
of both Middle Eastern politics
of both Middle Eastern politics
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因為他們處於中東政治
和氣候變化的前沿。
和氣候變化的前沿。
06:44
and climate change.
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06:46
And it slowly dawned on me
that Socotra was my Yemen project.
that Socotra was my Yemen project.
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我逐漸意識到
索科特拉島是我的葉門專案。
06:52
And so I wanted to put together
a huge multidisciplinary team.
a huge multidisciplinary team.
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我想組建一個龐大的跨學科團隊。
06:57
We wanted to cross the archipelago
on foot, camel and dhow boat
on foot, camel and dhow boat
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我們想步行、
騎駱駝和搭單桅帆船穿過群島，
07:01
to conduct a health check of this place.
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來對這個地方做個健檢。
07:04
This has only been attempted
once before, and it was in 1999.
once before, and it was in 1999.
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僅在 1999 年曾有人嘗試過一次。
07:07
But the thing is, that is not
an easy thing to pull off.
an easy thing to pull off.
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但要實現這一目標並非易事，
07:12
And so we desperately needed a recce,
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因此迫切需要「recce」。
07:14
and for those of you who aren't
familiar with British English,
familiar with British English,
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對那些不熟悉英國英語的人來說，
recce 就像是探險的斥候偵察，
07:17
a recce is like a scouting expedition.
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07:19
It's like a reconnaissance.
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這就像是一次偵察。
07:20
And I often say that a really big
expedition without a recce
expedition without a recce
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我常說沒有先偵查的大型探險
07:27
is a bit like a first date
without a Facebook stalk.
without a Facebook stalk.
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有點像沒先用臉書查查的首次約會。
07:31
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
07:32
Like, it's doable, but is it wise?
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它可行，但明智嗎？
07:35
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
07:39
There's a few too many
knowing laughs in this room.
knowing laughs in this room.
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在這裡聽到了一些會意的笑聲。
07:42
Anyway, so then our recce team thankfully
were no strangers to unstable places,
were no strangers to unstable places,
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無論如何，
幸運的是我們的偵察隊
對不穩定的地方並不陌生。
對不穩定的地方並不陌生。
07:48
which, let's be honest,
is kind of important
is kind of important
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說實話，這很重要，
因為我們試圖去葉門
和索馬里的中間地帶。
和索馬里的中間地帶。
07:50
because we were trying to get
to a place between Yemen and Somalia,
to a place between Yemen and Somalia,
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07:54
And after calling in
what felt like a million favors,
what felt like a million favors,
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感覺像是打了百萬通
請求幫忙的電話後——
請求幫忙的電話後——
07:58
including to the deputy governor,
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求助的對象包括副總督——
08:01
we finally found ourselves on the move,
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我們終於動起來了，
08:05
albeit on a wooden cement cargo ship
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儘管只是乘坐一艘木質的水泥貨船
08:08
sailing through pirate waters
in the Indian Ocean
in the Indian Ocean
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航行穿過印度洋的海盜水域。
08:12
with this as a toilet.
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這是廁所。
08:14
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
08:15
Can you guys see this?
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看到了嗎？
08:19
You know how everybody has
their worst toilet story?
their worst toilet story?
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知道每個人都有最噁的廁所故事嗎？
08:23
Well, I've never swam
with dolphins before.
with dolphins before.
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好，我未曾和海豚一起游泳過...
08:28
I just went straight to pooping on them.
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我只是對著牠們解大便。
08:30
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
08:35
And also, I genuinely discovered
that I am genuinely less stressed
that I am genuinely less stressed
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還有，我真的發現
在海盜肆虐的海域裡，
比起蟑螂的侵襲，
08:42
by pirate waters
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08:43
than I am with a cockroach infestation
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海盜真的不算什麼。
08:47
that was so intense
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我緊張地
08:49
that at one point I went belowdeck,
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一直走到甲板下面，
08:51
and the floor was black and it was moving.
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那裡的地板是黑色的，在動。
08:54
(Audience moans)
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（觀眾呻吟）
08:55
Yeah, and at night there was
three raised platforms to sleep on,
three raised platforms to sleep on,
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沒錯。
有三個凸起的平台可供晚上睡覺，
09:00
but there was only --
let's say there was four team members,
let's say there was four team members,
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但是有四個隊員。
09:03
and the thing is, if you got
a raised platform to sleep on,
a raised platform to sleep on,
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如果你睡在凸起的平台上，
09:06
you only had to contend
with a few cockroaches during the night,
with a few cockroaches during the night,
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晚上就只需與幾隻蟑螂競爭床位；
09:09
whereas if you got the floor,
good luck to you.
good luck to you.
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而如果你睡在地板，那麼祝你好運。
09:12
And so I was the only girl in the team
and the whole ship,
and the whole ship,
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我是團隊和整艘船中唯一的女孩，
09:16
so I got away without
sleeping on the floor.
sleeping on the floor.
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所以我沒睡地板。
09:19
And then, on, like,
the fourth or fifth night,
the fourth or fifth night,
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在第四或第五個晚上，
09:22
Martin Edström looks at me and goes,
"Ella, Ella I really believe in equality."
"Ella, Ella I really believe in equality."
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馬丁•艾斯闖對我說：
「怡拉，我真的相信男女平等。」
「怡拉，我真的相信男女平等。」
09:27
(Laughter)
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（笑聲）
09:31
So we were sailing on that
cement cargo ship for three days,
cement cargo ship for three days,
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我們在那艘水泥貨船上航行了三天，
09:36
and then we slowly started seeing land.
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慢慢看得到陸地了。
09:41
And after three years of failing,
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在失敗了三年之後，
09:44
I was finally seeing Yemen.
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我終於看到了葉門。
09:46
And there is no feeling on earth
like that start of an expedition.
like that start of an expedition.
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地球上沒有任何感覺
可與開始探險的心情比擬。
可與開始探險的心情比擬。
09:51
It's this moment where
you jump out of a jeep
you jump out of a jeep
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跳出吉普車的當下，
09:54
or you look up from a boat
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或從船上抬起頭來的那一刻。
09:57
and you know that
there's this possibility,
there's this possibility,
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你確知，
可能性雖小，但仍然有可能，
09:59
it's small but it's still there,
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10:02
that you're about to find something
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你所尋找的，
10:04
that could add to or change our knowledge
of who we are and where we come from.
of who we are and where we come from.
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將會增加或改變我們對自身是誰
和我們來自何方的知識。
10:09
There is no feeling like it on earth,
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地球上沒有任何感覺可以比擬。
10:12
and it's a feeling
that so many scientists have
that so many scientists have
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許多科學家有這種感覺，
10:16
but rarely in politically unstable places.
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但很少是在政治不穩定的地方，
10:20
Because Western scientists
are discouraged or all-out barred
are discouraged or all-out barred
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因為西方不鼓勵
或全力禁止科學家
去不穩定的地方工作。
去不穩定的地方工作。
10:25
from working in unstable places.
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10:28
But here's the thing:
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但情況就是這樣：
10:30
scientists specialize in the jungle.
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科學家專長在叢林，
10:33
Scientists work in deep cave systems.
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科學家們在洞穴裡工作，
10:37
Scientists attach themselves to rockets
and blow themselves into outer space.
and blow themselves into outer space.
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科學家用火箭將自己送上外太空。
10:42
But apparently,
working in an unstable place
working in an unstable place
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顯然，在不穩定的地方工作
被認為風險太大。
被認為風險太大。
10:44
is deemed too high-risk.
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10:47
It is completely arbitrary.
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這根本是武斷的。
10:49
Who here in this room
wasn't brought up on adventure stories?
wasn't brought up on adventure stories?
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在這個房間裡有誰不曾冒險過？
10:55
And most of our heroes
were actually scientists and academics.
were actually scientists and academics.
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大多數的英雄
實際上是科學家和學者。
實際上是科學家和學者。
11:00
Science was about going out
into the unknown.
into the unknown.
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科學是走向未知。
11:03
It was about truly global exploration,
even if there were risks.
even if there were risks.
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是真正的全球勘探，
即使存有風險。
11:09
And so when did it become acceptable
to make it difficult for science to happen
to make it difficult for science to happen
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自什麼時候起
變成這樣——
科學家要去不穩定的地方
變得困難重重？
變得困難重重？
11:14
in unstable places?
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11:17
And look, I'm not saying
that all scientists should go off
that all scientists should go off
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我並不是說所有的科學家
都該去不穩定的地方工作。
11:20
and start working in unstable places.
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11:22
This isn't some gung-ho call.
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這不是沒頭沒腦的呼喊。
11:24
But here's the thing:
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但事情就是這樣：
11:27
for those who have done the research,
understand security protocol
understand security protocol
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對於那些已經研究過，
理解安全協議並接受過培訓的人，
11:32
and are trained,
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11:34
stop stopping those who want to.
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不要再阻止那些想要去做的人。
11:37
Plus,
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此外，
11:39
just because one part of a country
is an active war zone
is an active war zone
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僅僅因為某個國家的一部分是戰區
11:43
doesn't mean the whole country is.
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並不意味著整個國家都是戰區。
11:45
I'm not saying we should go
into active war zones.
into active war zones.
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我不是說我們應該進入戰區。
11:48
But Iraqi Kurdistan looks
very different from Fallujah.
very different from Fallujah.
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但伊拉克的庫爾德斯坦
與費盧杰截然不同。
與費盧杰截然不同。
11:52
And actually, a few months
after I couldn't get into Yemen,
after I couldn't get into Yemen,
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實際上，在我無法
進入葉門幾個月後，
進入葉門幾個月後，
11:56
another team adopted me.
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另一支隊伍接納了我。
11:58
So Professor Graeme Barker's team
were actually working in Iraqi Kurdistan,
were actually working in Iraqi Kurdistan,
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格雷姆•百克教授的團隊
實際上在伊拉克庫爾德斯坦工作，
實際上在伊拉克庫爾德斯坦工作，
12:04
and they were digging up Shanidar Cave.
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他們在挖掘沙尼達爾洞穴。
12:07
Now, Shanidar Cave a few decades earlier
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幾十年前，沙尼達爾洞穴
12:10
had unveiled a Neanderthal
known as Shanidar 1.
known as Shanidar 1.
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出土的尼安德塔人
名為沙尼達爾一號。
名為沙尼達爾一號。
12:16
Now, for a BBC/PBS TV series
we actually brought Shanidar 1 to life,
we actually brought Shanidar 1 to life,
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在 BBC / PBS 的電視節目裡
我們真讓沙尼達爾一號栩栩如生。
12:20
and I want you guys to meet Ned,
Ned the Neanderthal.
Ned the Neanderthal.
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介紹尼安德塔人奈德給你們。
12:25
Now here's the coolest thing about Ned.
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奈德最酷的是...
12:28
Ned, this guy,
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你看到的是受傷之前的奈德。
12:30
you're meeting him before his injuries.
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12:33
See, it turned out
that Ned was severely disabled.
that Ned was severely disabled.
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事實上奈德有嚴重殘疾。
12:38
He was in fact so disabled that
there is no way he could have survived
there is no way he could have survived
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事實上他殘疾到，
倘若其他的尼安德塔人沒幫他，
他根本活不下去。
他根本活不下去。
12:42
without the help of other Neanderthals.
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這證明了
12:45
And so this was proof that,
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至少對於這群尼安德塔人來說，
12:47
at least for this population
of Neanderthals at this time,
of Neanderthals at this time,
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那時尼安德塔人就像我們一樣，
12:51
Neanderthals were like us,
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有時會照顧那些無法照顧自己的人。
12:52
and they sometimes looked after
those who couldn't look after themselves.
those who couldn't look after themselves.
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奈德是個伊拉克尼安德塔人。
12:58
Ned's an Iraqi Neanderthal.
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13:01
So what else are we missing?
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我們還少了什麼？
13:03
What incredible scientific discoveries
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因為我們不探索而錯失了多少
無與倫比的科學發現呢？
無與倫比的科學發現呢？
13:05
are we not making
because we're not looking?
because we're not looking?
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13:10
And by the way, these places,
they deserve narratives of hope,
they deserve narratives of hope,
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順便提一下，
這些地方應得希望的故事，
13:13
and science and exploration
can be a part of that.
can be a part of that.
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科學和探索可以成為其中的一部分。
13:17
In fact, I would argue
that it can tangibly aid development,
that it can tangibly aid development,
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事實上，我認為那將會
切實地幫助那裡發展。
切實地幫助那裡發展。
13:20
and these discoveries
become a huge source of local pride.
become a huge source of local pride.
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這些發現成為
當地自豪感的巨大源泉。
當地自豪感的巨大源泉。
13:25
And that brings me to the second reason
why science has a geography problem.
why science has a geography problem.
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這讓我想到了
科學存在地理問題的第二個原因。
13:31
See, we don't empower
local academics, do we?
local academics, do we?
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我們不授權當地學者，對嗎？
13:35
Like, it's not lost on me
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我注意到
13:37
that in my particular field
of paleoanthropology
of paleoanthropology
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在我的古人類學領域，
我們研究人類起源，
13:42
we study human origins,
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13:43
but we have so few diverse scientists.
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但我們欠缺多元化的科學家。
13:48
And the thing is, these places
are full of students and academics
are full of students and academics
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而這些地方到處都是學生和學者，
13:52
who are desperate to collaborate,
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他們迫切希望合作。
13:54
and the truth is
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事實是，
13:56
that for them,
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他們的安全問題比我們少。
13:57
they have fewer security issues than us.
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14:02
I think we constantly forget that for them
it's not a hostile environment;
it's not a hostile environment;
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我認為我們經常忘記對他們而言，
這不是個充滿敵意的環境；
14:06
for them it's home.
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對他們來說，這是家。
14:09
I'm telling you,
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我告訴你，
14:11
research done in unstable places
with local collaborators
with local collaborators
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在不穩定的地方與當地人合作研究
能帶來無與倫比的發現。
14:15
can lead to incredible discoveries,
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14:18
and that is what we are
hoping upon hope to do in Socotra.
hoping upon hope to do in Socotra.
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這就是我們希望在索科特拉島做的。
14:24
They call Socotra
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他們稱索科特拉島
14:27
the most alien-looking place on earth,
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是地球上最不像地球的地方。
14:30
and myself, Leon McCarron, Martin Edström
and Rhys Thwaites-Jones could see why.
and Rhys Thwaites-Jones could see why.
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858375
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我自己、里翁•麥卡榮、
馬丁•艾斯闖和瑞斯•偉斯-瓊斯
能理解為什麼。
14:36
I mean, look at this place.
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我的意思是，看看這個地方。
14:37
These places, they're not hellholes,
they're not write-offs,
they're not write-offs,
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這些地方不糟糕、沒被報廢，
它們是未來科學和探索的前沿。
14:41
they're the future frontline
of science and exploration.
of science and exploration.
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14:46
90 percent of the reptiles on this island,
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住在這島上 90％ 的爬行動物
14:49
37 percent of the plant species
exist here and nowhere else on earth,
exist here and nowhere else on earth,
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和 37％ 的植物物種，
不住在地球的其他地方，
14:55
and that includes this species
of dragon's blood tree,
of dragon's blood tree,
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包括這種龍血樹
14:57
which actually bleeds this red resin.
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實際上樹脂是红色的。
15:01
And there's something else.
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還有別的東西。
15:02
People on Socotra,
some of them still live in caves,
some of them still live in caves,
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有些索科特拉島上的人仍住在洞穴裡，
15:07
and that is really exciting,
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這真的令人興奮，
15:09
because it means if a cave
is prime real estate this century,
is prime real estate this century,
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因為這意味著洞穴是
本世紀主要的住所，
本世紀主要的住所，
15:12
maybe it was a few thousand years ago.
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也許幾千年前也是。
15:14
But we need the data to prove it,
the fossils, the stone tools,
the fossils, the stone tools,
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但我們需要數據、
化石、石器來證明。
化石、石器來證明。
15:18
and so our scouting team
have teamed up with other scientists,
have teamed up with other scientists,
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因此，我們的偵察團隊
與國際和本地的其他科學家、
人類學家和講故事者合作，
人類學家和講故事者合作，
15:22
anthropologists and storytellers,
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15:24
international as well as local,
like Ahmed Alarqbi,
like Ahmed Alarqbi,
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像是阿美德•阿拉爾比。
15:27
and we are desperate
to shed a light on this place
to shed a light on this place
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我們迫不及待要揭開它的面紗，
15:30
before it's too late.
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以免來不及。
15:34
And now, now we just somehow
need to get back
need to get back
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現在我們只需要回到那個大探險，
15:38
for that really big expedition,
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15:40
because science,
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因為科學有地理問題。
15:42
science has a geography problem.
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15:45
You guys have been
a really lovely audience.
a really lovely audience.
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你們真是可愛的觀眾。
15:47
Thank you.
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謝謝。
15:49
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ella Al-Shamahi - Paleoanthropologist, stand-up comicElla Al-Shamahi is a palaeoanthropologist specializing in fossil hunting in caves in unstable, hostile and disputed territories. In her spare time, she's a stand-up comic.
Why you should listen
Ella Al-Shamahi sometimes calls herself an "adventure-scientist" -- but to her, it's less about the adventure of working in places like Yemen, Iraq, the Nagorno-Karabakh and northern Cyprus. She believes in using expeditions to shed light on some of the most misunderstood and disadvantaged people and places on earth.
Al-Shamahi is a TV presenter and stand-up comic, partly because she realized that it was an incredible way to communicate science. She performs stand-up and nerdy-science stand-up in the UK and internationally. She was named a 2015 National Geographic Emerging Explorer.
Ella Al-Shamahi | Speaker | TED.com