经济学人512:宇宙学 揭秘宇宙的起源

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Cosmology
宇宙学
Man suddenly sees the start of the universe
揭秘宇宙的起源
The quest to understand reality takes a great leap backwards¹
科学新突破—探索宇宙诞生之初的真相
IN THE beginning was the word and the word was “inflation”.
宇宙初始皆起源于“膨胀”二字。
That is no blasphemy². It is, rather, a celebration of human curiosity, ingenuity³ and bloody-minded persistence⁴ in the quest to try to find out how the universe actually works.
与其说这是对神明的亵渎，不如说是人类对于宇宙奥秘求知若渴、精密巧思和坚持不懈的颂扬。
No one yet knows how the universe came into existence.
没有人能知晓宇宙是如何从无到有的。
宇宙学.jpg
Those who believe it was created by God are as free today as they were a week ago to continue in that belief, as are those who think the whole thing is the chance result of a quantum fluctuation⁵ in the nothingness beforehand.
相信神创世论的人们可以像一周前一样继续他们的信仰，而那些相信量子波动创世论的人也可以同样不改初衷。
But results of a study of the early universe using BICEP2, a telescope located near the South Pole, where the air is thin and isolation⁶ keeps equipment clean, suggest what happened very shortly afterwards.
然而，科学家们在空气稀薄纯净、能最大限度降低设备杂质的南极建立了 “BICEP2”大型望远镜，并据此研究揭开了宇宙创始后极短时间内发生的事情。
These findings, announced on March 17th, are of signs of primordial⁷ gravitational waves.
3月17号公布的最新发现显示了原始引力波存在的迹象。
They confirm the theory, debated among astrophysicists for three decades, that within a trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second of the moment it began the universe got bigger. Immensely bigger.
证实了一个在天体物理学界被争论了三十年的理论：宇宙在诞生之后的一万亿的一万亿的一万亿分之一秒内急速膨胀至超级大。
A volume of space that started off no larger than an atom in the pre-inflation universe would, after inflation, have been about the size of the solar system.
从膨胀前比原子还小的空间扩大至太阳系大小。
Apart from the sheer gobsmackingness of this claim, the BICEP2 team's discovery is important for three reasons.
除了让人感叹上帝创世的无穷威力之外，BICEP2研究团队的发现有三个重要意义。
By confirming inflation it explains why the universe still exists,since it was inflation which stopped it fluctuating back into the void.
首先，通过证实膨胀的发生解释了宇宙为什么依然存在,正是因为膨胀，才避免了宇宙波动回到之前的虚无状态。
By confirming the existence of gravitational waves, it bolsters⁹ Einstein's general theory of relativity, which predicts them.
其次，爱因斯坦广义相对论预测了宇宙膨胀的发生，而通过证实引力波的存在为这一理论的提供了支持证据。
And by linking gravitational waves with inflation it provides a chink through which physicists⁸ can peer to try to solve one of their field's biggest mysteries: why general relativity, which has passed every test applied¹⁰ to it, cannot be reconciled with quantum theory, which has also passed every test applied to it.
第三，通过把引力波和膨胀联系起来，物理学家们打开了一扇可以解决本领域内最大谜团之一的大门：为什么广义相对论和量子理论这两个已经被无数次证实了的真理始终无法共存。
Quantum theory is the theory of small things.
量子论是研究微观世界的理论。
It describes electromagnetism and two less-familiar forces that operate at the scale of atomic nuclei¹¹.
描述了电磁学和另外两个鲜为人知的作用力在原子核层面的相互联系。
Relativity theory is the theory of big things. It describes the force of gravity.
而相对论是研究宏观世界的理论，描述了引力的原理。
Since inflation is the way the universe made the transition from small to big, it is a good place to look for the missing link.
既然膨胀理论是宇宙从微观到宏观的过渡，这就为寻找两者之间尚未发现的联系提供了绝佳的机会。
Not quite as simple as an apple and a persuasive¹² serpent
这可比蛇诱夏娃吃禁果复杂多了
The gravitational waves detected by BICEP2 date from the beginning of the inflationary process and are thus a product of the small, quantum-scale version of the universe.
由BICEP2望远镜发现的引力波产生于膨胀过程的初始，因此这是一个微小的、处于量子层面的宇宙的产物。
This means they are quantum phenomena,the first known manifestations¹³ of quantum gravity.
这就表明它们是量子现象，第一个已知存在的量子引力。
That confirms the link between relativity and quantum theory.
也证明了相对论和量子论之间的关联性。
It also gives physicists investigating the link something real to play with in their search for how that link actually works.
同时这也让物理学家们有了进一步研究这种关联性的真实基础。
A little caution is called for. It can be dangerous, in science, to put too much faith in a single set of observations.
但值得警惕的是，在科学世界里，把过多的注意集中到某个单一的观察结果上是很危险的。
The gravity,wave signals that BICEP2 has found,slight fluctuations¹⁴ in the intensity¹⁵ of the cosmic microwave background, an all,pervading bath of radiation that preserves some features of the very early universe,are but a faded palimpsest.
BICEP2天文台发现了引力波信号，在宇宙微波背景强度下的一些轻微波动，但这个信号已经很大程度上被其他信号覆盖。
They have been overwritten time and again by other signals, and these have had to be scraped away to make the gravitational waves visible.
而为了得到最终的引力波，需要把那些干扰信号逐个去除。
Confirmation¹⁶ using other instruments is needed.
因此，我们需要其他设备对引力波的存在性进行再次核实。
Other teams of scientists will now try to find similar evidence; new researchers will get excited about the field.
其他科学家们将会致力于寻找相似的证据；也欢迎新研究者在此领域前赴后继。
This is welcome. The merging¹⁷ of particle physics and cosmology is one of the great intellectual achievements of the past 50 years.
新兴的粒子物理学和宇宙学是过去50年以来最大的科学进步之一。
And in showing that the deepest truths of the material universe are to be found by gazing out into the deepest, earliest recesses¹⁸ of space, it feeds not just the intellect, but the spirit.
凝望最遥远、最原始的空间深处。那里埋藏着关于宇宙物质的最终解答，对这个答案的求索不仅是人类关于知识的渴望，更是灵魂的满足。
1.find out 找出,发现
They conducted two studies to find out.
她们实施了两个研究去查明结果。
There is always more to find out.
还有很多东西要我们去探索发现。
2.try to 试图,设法
You need to try to find some common ground.
你需要设法找出你们之间的一些共同点。
Extreme political movements will try to exploit the unrest.
极端的政治运动将设法利用这种动荡局势。
3.apply to 适用于；运用
The same logic¹⁹ could well apply to the iphone.
同样的逻辑或许也完全适用于iphone。
The first two claims are rubbish; the third does not apply to london.
前两项声称都是废话；第三条也不适用于伦敦。
4.look for 寻找,寻求
Always look for ways to improve.
总是寻找不同的方法改进。
Look for computer programs which encourage reading.
找一些可以促进阅读的电脑程序。

1 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

2 blasphemy   

n.亵渎，渎神

参考例句：

• His writings were branded as obscene and a blasphemy against God.他的著作被定为淫秽作品，是对上帝的亵渎。
• You have just heard his blasphemy!你刚刚听到他那番亵渎上帝的话了！

3 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

4 persistence   

n.坚持，持续，存留

参考例句：

• The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
• He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。

5 fluctuation   

n.(物价的)波动，涨落；周期性变动；脉动

参考例句：

• The erratic fluctuation of market prices are in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。
• Early and adequate drainage is essential if fluctuation occurs.有波动感时，应及早地充分引流。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 primordial   

adj.原始的；最初的

参考例句：

• It is the primordial force that propels us forward.它是推动我们前进的原始动力。
• The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.的尼安德特人是我们的原始祖先之一.

8 physicists   

物理学家( physicist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• For many particle physicists, however, it was a year of frustration. 对于许多粒子物理学家来说，这是受挫折的一年。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
• Physicists seek rules or patterns to provide a framework. 物理学家寻求用法则或图式来构成一个框架。

9 bolsters   

n.长枕( bolster的名词复数 )；垫子；衬垫；支持物v.支持( bolster的第三人称单数 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He used a couple of bolsters to elevate his head. 他用两个垫枕垫头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The double-row piles with both inclined and horizontal bolsters also analyzed in consideration of staged excavation. 本文亦分析了考虑开挖过程的安置斜撑与带支撑的双排桩支护结构。 来自互联网

10 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

11 nuclei   

n.核

参考例句：

• To free electrons, something has to make them whirl fast enough to break away from their nuclei. 为了释放电子，必须使电子高速旋转而足以摆脱原子核的束缚。
• Energy is released by the fission of atomic nuclei. 能量是由原子核分裂释放出来的。

12 persuasive   

adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的

参考例句：

• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
• The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。

13 manifestations   

n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• These were manifestations of the darker side of his character. 这些是他性格阴暗面的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• To be wordly-wise and play safe is one of the manifestations of liberalism. 明哲保身是自由主义的表现之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 fluctuations   

波动，涨落，起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table. 他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• There were so many unpredictable fluctuations on the Stock Exchange. 股票市场瞬息万变。

15 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

16 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

17 merging   

合并（分类）

参考例句：

• Many companies continued to grow by merging with or buying competing firms. 许多公司通过合并或收买竞争对手的公司而不断扩大。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• To sequence by repeated splitting and merging. 用反复分开和合并的方法进行的排序。

18 recesses   

n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭

参考例句：

• I could see the inmost recesses. 我能看见最深处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I had continually pushed my doubts to the darker recesses of my mind. 我一直把怀疑深深地隐藏在心中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。