How To Grow A Planet 3of3《种出个地球（3）》完整中英文对照剧本.docx

植物之歌♥第三集挑战者本系列完我一生大部时间vespentmostofmylife都用于探究塑造地球的力量tryingtounderstandtheforcesthatshapedourplanet,身为地质学家andasageologist,italwaysseemedtome伊安斯图瓦特教授按说研究岩石才是我的本份thatrockswererightattheheartofthings.但此刻我意识到Butnow,mdiscovering并非只有火山或板块撞击it'snotonlyvolcanoesandcollidingcontinents才造就了沧海桑田thathavedriventheEarth'sgreatestchanges,因为在地球史的重要时刻becauseatcrucialmomentsinitshistory,还有另一种力量孕育出我们的家园anotherforcehashelpedcreatetheplanetweliveon.这便是植物.plants.看看这粒种子Justlookatthisseed.身躯渺小色泽黯淡轻若无物It'ssmall,it'sbrown,itweighshardlyanything.看似平庸1.ooksprettyordinary.却绝非如此简单But,actually,nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth,因为它将长成参天大树becausewhatitwillbecomeistrulyextraordinary.这些是美洲巨杉Thesearegiantsequoias.有些树龄已逾3000年Someareover3,000yearsold.巨杉是地球孕育出的最大单体生命AndsequoiasarethelargestsinglelifeformonEarth.就来自这一粒渺小的种子Allfromatinyseed.但较之于地球发展史中Yet,eventhatpalesintoinsignificance植物王国的辉煌贡献whencomparedtowhatthewholeoftheplantkingdom'sdone这不过是沧海一粟throughoutthehistoryofourplanet.植物掀开了地球史上一页崭新篇章It,sawholenewstoryaboutourEarth.我将用这些前所未有的.toldthroughremarkableimages,一幕幕精彩画面及最新的科学发现capturedfortheveryfirsttime,来讲述植物的故事andthelatestscientificdiscoveries.我喜欢植物它们如此神奇Ilovethis.Thisisjustfantastic.本期节目只为大家呈现一类植物Thisprogrammeisaboutjustonetypeofplant,它们貌不惊人却可担万物之重themostunderratedbutperhapsthemostimportantofall.经过物竞天择的历练Onethat,bytakingonand它们终于一统植物王国的剩余疆土conqueringtherestoftheplantkingdom,塑造出地球的容貌shapedthefaceoftheplanet进而推动了人类文明的出现andwentontohelpcreatehumancivilisation.这是一部受压♥迫♥植物的奋斗史Thisisthestoryoftheriseofthatunderdog.曾经有几亿年时间Forhundredsofmillionsofyears,贯穿了整个恐龙时代throughoutthetimeofthedinosaurs,森林一直统治着陆地forestsruledtheland.当时气候非常温暖树木遍及地球各处Itwassowarm,treesextendedovermostoftheEarth.遥想当初南北两极ImaginetheArcticandantarctic尚未被冰层覆盖森林密布withoutice,carpetedwithforests.欢迎来到这个树木星球Welcometotheplanetofthetrees.如今当初林木扩张的遗迹依旧可见Today,isolatedremnantsofthoseexpansiveforestsstillexist东非这里就是令人赞叹的遗迹之一andhereinEastAfricaisoneofthemostimpressive.卡塔古雾林生长干燥的肯尼亚平原TheKatagoCloudForestrisesoutofthedryplainsofKenya.这里湿度很大与远古时期相近无几Cloakedinmoisture,it'smuchthesameasitwasthen.终于到了Ah!Oh,atlast!看那边1.ookatthat.然而几百万年前Butmillionsofyearsago,树木这一古老统治者遭遇挑战achallengertotheolddominanttreescameontothescene.找到这个挑战者的最好办法就是Andthebestwaytofinditistoclimbrightdown绳降至下面的密林深处intothedepthsoftheforest.我这样子够傻的吧It,sneverreallyelegant,this.肾上腺素引发的紧张刺♥激♥即将袭来Thisiswhentheadrenalinethrillstartstocomein.说实话我还在犹豫是不是要跟你们去Tobehonest,mnotquitesureafteryougetto.只有个小沿就像垂直的悬崖There'salittlelip,justseemstogostraightdown.下面是非洲最古老的森林ThisistheoldestforestinAfricauphere.是森林统治地球那个时代的遗迹Arelic,really,ofthetimewhentreesdominatedtheplanet.所以还真有种感觉So,thisreallyhasa.像是踏入一个远古的桃花源afeelingOfdescendingintothatancientlostworld.那时是树的王国Backthen,treesruled因为树干能尽情向上伸展becausewoodgavethemthestrengthtogrowevertaller可以尽情享用植物赖以生存的阳光andtogorgeonthesunlightallplantsneed.随着不断下降Asyoudescend,你可以真切感受到yougetarealsenseofhow树木如何恃强凌弱雄霸一方treesbullyandovershadoweverythingbelow.现在进入树冠层已有大约十米We'vecomeabouttenmetresjustintothecanopy.利用摄影用测光表Andvenickedthecameraman'slightmetre,我想看看这里的光照水平justtoseewhatthelightlevelsaredoing.光照量下降了差不多三分之一Andalready,they'vedroppedbyaboutathird.总算到了Oh,God,finally.现在再看看光照是什么水平Now,let,ssee.seehowthatlight'sdoing.光照量下降了一半That'sgonedownbyahalf.这些参天古木遮蔽掉了一半的阳光Thesehugetreesherehavestolenhalfthelight.下面的树木阴森诡异Downhere,thetreesareintimidating.不过也不是一片漆黑Butit'snotcompletegloom.斑驳的阳光还是可以穿过重林Patchesofsunlightdobreakthroughtotheforestfloor.这一束束珍贵的日光Andthoseshaftsofpreciouslightofferthechance为一种新植物带来了契机foranewtypeofplant,它即将接替树木成为新的霸主onethatwouldcometotakeonthetrees.那科学家又是如何发现这个挑战者的呢So,howdidscientistsdiscovertheidentityofthechallenger?一切都归功于这项饶有趣味的研究It,sallthankstoaratherenchantingpieceofresearch秘密就在这个小盒子里involvingwhat'sinsidethislittlebox.你永远猜不出里面是什么You'llneverguesswhatitis.这是恐龙便便的化石ThisisapieceOffossiliseddinosaurpoo.臭臭的Itstinks.它来自蜥脚巨龙It'sfromatitanosaursauropodl类似于雷龙whichiskindoflikeabrontosaurus,我儿时最喜欢的恐龙myfavouritedinosaurasakid.蜥脚巨龙体重约有100吨♥Itweighedabout100tonnes,不禁令我猜想whichmakesmethinkthatthis这不过是便便化石的一小部分isjustafragmentofsomethingthesizeof.具体大小不知道但肯定很大Idon'tknow,really.Somethingbig,anyway.科学家喜欢便便化石我们称之为“粪石”ScientistsIovefossilpoo.Coprolites,wecallit.粪石可以告诉我们动物的饮食结构Theytellusaboutthedietofanimals,andparticularly,特别是恐龙时代那些常见的植物abouttheplantsthatwerearoundwhendinosaurswerehere.几年前科学家在研究这块化石时Andwhenscientistsanalysedthisoneafewyearsago,发现其中含有非常奇妙的成份theyfounditcontainedsomethingreallystrange.显微镜下科学家看到了某种植物的片段Underthemicroscope,thescientistssawafragmentofaplant.其结构非常独特这种“8"字形结节Ithadadistinctivepattern,thesefigure-of-eightnodules.这是某类植物的一种典型特征Theyturnedouttobethedefiningfeature科学家对这一发现深感震惊ofafamilyofplantstheywereastonishedtosee.草本植物Thegrasses.这是6600万年之前出现的Itwasfrom66millionyearsago,译注:疑为Manglietis木莲属的一种首批草本植物的唯一证据称作Matleitisevidencefortheearliestgrasseverfound,calledMatleitis.草本植物悄然地诞生Fromitshumblebirth,grasswouldeventually最终却进化为统治这颗星球的物种之一becomeoneofthemostdominantforcesonourplanet.其崛起过程堪称一曲蛾蜉撼大树的战歌♥ButitsrisewouldbeaDavid-and-Goliathbattlewiththetrees.如今仍可以见到那些早期挑战者的后裔Youcanstillfinddescendantsofthoseearlychallengerstoday.就是这种植物Plantslikethis.我们认为它们Andwethinkthesearesimilar与草本植物始祖的外观基本近似towhatthefirstgrassesmusthavelookedlike.让我们展开想象小草在大树王国奋起抗争Youcanjustimagine'emstrugglingawayontheforestfloor,其给养仅仅是justfeedingofflittle密林中透下的些许小小光斑scrapsoflightmakingitthroughthecanopy.更令人赞叹的是It'swonderfultothinkthatdinosaurs身形硕大的恐龙还在林中肆意践踏thesizeofhousesweretramplingthroughforestslikethis,啃食着为数不多的几块小草皮justgrazingonlittlepatchesofgrass.然而恐龙的食草大餐即将被终结Butthedinosaurs'daysofgrazingwereabouttoendabruptly.6500万年前65millionyearsago,一颗直径十公里的小行星将其彻底灭绝anasteroidtenkilometresacrosskilledthemoff.草本植物存活了下来Thegrassessurvived.但福祸相依它们也遇到了自身的危机关头Butinturn,theywouldfacetheirowncrisis.这场浩劫并非来自Whatwascoininghadnothingtodo地球上的动物或植物withtheplantsandanimalsthatlivedonEarth.一切都归咎于大气Itwasalltodowiththeatmosphere,由于种种不可思议的原因大气发生了变化andthatwaschangingforthemostsurprisingofreasons.大气中含有的二氧化碳Ouraircontainscarbondioxide.是植物呼吸作用必需的一种气体It'sthegasthatplantsneedtobreathetostayalive.但在3000至5000万年之前Butbetween50and30millionyearsago,这种气体开始消失thisgasbegantodisappear.植物王国面临灭顶之灾.threateningallplants.此次危机始于Thecrisisstartedwith诸如喜马拉雅这样宏伟山脉的形成thecreationofhugemountainrangesliketheHimalayas.即地球史上最大一次造山运动.thebiggestperiodofmountainbuildinginEarth,shistory.新形成的岩石被冲入海洋Thefreshlyexposedrockwaswashedaway.某些矿物质最终进入大海Someofthemineralsendedupinthesea.它们吸收大气中的二氧化碳Andheretheysuckedthecarbondioxidegasoutoftheair,与之化合形成一种全新的岩石combiningwithittoformanentirelynewtypeofrock.石灰岩1.imestone.我可以向大家证明石灰岩中含有二氧化碳Icanshowyouthatlimestone'sgotcarbondioxideinit,因为如果我在其表面滴上少许酸液becauseifIputalittlebitofacidonit,将产生大量泡沫itshouldfizzlikemad.这就是一个释放二氧化碳的过程Whatthisisdoingisit'sliberatingcarbondioxide它们曾存在于远古的大气中thathadbeenintheancientatmosphere如今历经数百万年之后andhasnowforthelastfewmillionyears由这块岩石中释放出来beenlockedawayinthisrock.3000万年前随着山脉不断形成By30millionyearsago,asthemountainshadrisen,大气中二氧化碳含量越来越低thelevelofcarbondioxidefell.事实上二氧化碳的含量Infact,carbondioxidelevels骤减至此前的六分之一droppedtoasixthofwhattheywerebeforehand,极度锐减whichisanenormousfall,植物王国处于生死存亡的危机关头andfortheplantkingdomitmeantcrisis.汲取不到足够的二氧化碳Withoutenoughvitalcarbondioxide,许多植物包括小草都只能苦苦挣扎manyplants,includingthegrasses,werestrugglingtosurvive.要想知道这对植物有多大的影响Onewaytorevealtheimpactthishadonplants我们需要先来看看一台精妙的机械istolookatacleverbitofhumanmachinery.那就是汽车引擎Thecarengine.因为引擎的工作原理Becausewhat'sunderthebonnet与植物的生理机能惊人相似sharessurprisingsimilaritieswithplants.汽车引擎的正常工作有赖于两样物质Thecarenginereliesontwothingstowork.一是汽油二是氧气Itneedspetrolanditneedsoxygenfromtheair.这两样物质在引擎中相互作用Insidetheengine,thesetwoarecombined从而产生能量驱动汽车toreleasetheenergytopowerthecar.这叫作燃烧反应lt,scalledcombustion.与引擎一样植物也需要空气1.iketheengine,plantsalsoneedagasfromtheairtowork,但它们需要的是其中的二氧化碳intheircasethecarbondioxide.也就是说植物要是So,forplants.吸收不到足够的二氧化碳thecollapseofcarbondioxidelevels就如引擎吸收不到足够的氧气一-样weresimilartoacarenginestarvedofoxygen.每当我堵住引擎的进气管IfIblocktheairintake,引擎似乎就变得上气不接下气了youcanfeeltheenginestutteringaway,因为它要竭尽全力去吸收所需的氧气becauseit'sstrugglingtogettheoxygenthatitneedstowork.同理当大气中的二氧化碳含量减少时Withlesscarbondioxideintheatmosphere,植物也会变得上气不接下气plantsalsobegantostutter.但这难不倒小草Butthegrasseswereevolving它们又进化出了崭新的妙招anewandingeniousinvention.我们依然可以用引擎来作个类比Again,theengineprovidesaparallel.每个车迷一眼就能认出There'sapieceofshinymachineryhere这亮闪闪的零部件是什么thatanypetrol-headwillrecognise.它起到的作用并非阻塞空气的进入Whatthatdoesistheoppositeofmyhand.相反它可以将大量的氧气压入引擎Itforcesmoreoxygenintotheengine.它的学名叫作涡轮增压器It,scalledaturbocharger.汽油若接触到更多氧气便可更充分地燃烧Moreoxygenmeansthatthepetrolburnsmorefiercely马力也便更强劲足以跟别人飙车了andthatmeansmorepower,powerenoughtodothis.每当某种生物身处绝境便会通过进化Evolutionoftencomesupwithourcleverestsolutions用极为巧妙的方法绝处逢生duringdesperatetimes.而植物王国中的草类Andonegroupofplants,thegrasses,竟将这一危机转化为了机遇turnedthiscrisisintoanopportunity.这种草Grasseslikethis.叫作象草Thisiselephantgrass,它们是生长速度最快的草类之一whichisoneofthefastest-growingplantsintheworld.三个月就能生长到四米高Inthreemonths,right,thisstuffgrowsfourmetres.也就是说每天它们都能长高这么多That'sthatmucheveryday.它们之所以能够如此神速地生长Thisphenomenalgrowthratewasonlypossible多亏了3000万年前进化出的一种特殊机能becauseofatechnologythatevolved30millionyearsago,这一机能是如此精妙与高效adesignsoeffectivethat,如果你是位技工你简直会为之而折服ifyouwereamechanic,you'dbeblownaway.进化后的草类叶片中Thenewgrassescameup拥有了与涡轮增压器同等功效的结构withtheequivalentofaturbochargerinsidetheleaves.光合作用就发生在这些叶片的细胞中It'sinthecellsoftheleavesthatphotosynthesisoccurs,二氧化碳在这里与水发生反应形成糖类wherecarbondioxideiscombinedwithwatertomakesugar.但通过进化它们拥有了另一重结构Butthenewgrassescreatedanadd-on,这一圈圈具有特殊功能的细胞学名维管束ringsOfspecialistcellsknownasbundles.它们像小型的气泵可将植物赖以生存的Itallactsasaminiaturepump,二氧化碳吸进植物体内并聚积起来suckinginandconcentratingvitalcarbondioxide.因此当空气中的二氧化碳含量变少时So,althoughtherewaslesscarbondioxideintheair,草类便在植物界中略胜一筹thegrasseshadtheedgeoverotherplants.作为一位研究地球的学者Youknow,whenyoustudytheplanet,我对那些天翻地覆的演变早已司空见惯you'resousedtoseeingthebigevents,比如冰原的融化火山的喷发like,Idon'tknow,icesheetsmeltingandvolcanoeserupting.而草类进化山”涡轮增压器”Butwiththeriseofturbochargegrasses,却是一件非常不起眼的小事you'vegotsomethingthat'sthetiniestofevents.这项演变深藏于植物叶片之内It'ssomethingalmostinvisibletuckedaway并不易为人所知insidetheIeafofaplant.而这也恰恰是植物的迷人之处It'swhatmakesthestoryofplantsjustsofascinating.草类找到了应对危机的好办法Thegrasseshadfoundawaytosurvivethecrisis.可主宰世界的依然是森林Butforestsstillruledtheworld.这些庞然大树也渡过了那场危机Thehugetreeshadalsosurvived.于是饱受压♥迫♥的草类投放了Thentheunderdogunleashed一项极具破坏性的新型武器adevastatingnewweapon.800万年前地球上的气候急转直下Eightmillionyearsago,bynowtheclimatehadaltered.大部分地区变得比以往干旱得多Muchoftheearthwasdryerthaneverbefore.而这正是草类企盼已久的良机Itwasthemomentgrasseshadbeenwaitingfor.草类经过不断的进化它们身上的特性Thegrasseshadevolveduniqueproperties使得它们极度易燃thatmadethemespeciallyflammable.枯黄的草简直就是易燃的火绒匣Whendry,theybecamelikeatinderbox.只需星星之火便可燎原Alltheyneededwasthespark.有一个理想的地方Todaythere'sanidealplace可以让我们一睹800万年前的奇观toseewhathappenedeightmillionyearsago.这里是南非国家公园HereinthenationalparksofSouthAfrica,护林员们要人为制♥造♥一场大火以清理土地rangersdeliberatelystarthugefirestomanagetheland.而对我来说我可以利用这绝佳的机会Andformeit'stheperfectopportunity来看一看那时候草类是怎样利用大火的toseehowbackthengrassesexploitedfire.架直升机沿着这条线飞过So,we'vegotachoppercomingrightdownthisline并沿途撒卜.燃♥烧♥弹♥丸droppingincendiariesallthewayalonghere.克里斯奥斯汀是防火行动队的长官Chieffire-starterisChrisAustin.他负责在投掷燃&hearts烧♥弹♥丸期间Hecoordinatesthehelicoptercrew对直升机飞行员进行协调与调度astheydroppelletsontothegrass.这就相当于是人造的闪电Artificiallightningstrikes.燃&hearts烧♥弹♥丸就这样被投掷到地上What'llhappenisthattheyjustsitthere,外壳破裂燃烧起来theyjustopenup,ignite,而后火苗就窜出来了andthenyoujustseethemerupt.还要46秒钟弹丸才能全部燃烧起来Next46seconds,whichisquitealongtime.46秒吗很好很精确啊46seconds?That'sniceandprecise.那里烧着了在那里Therewego.There'sone.那里好像也有处着起来了就是这里了Yeah,there,sprobablyanotheronethere.Thereitis.弹丸应该可以引燃枯草了Itshouldignitenow.好了烧着了Thereshegoes.There.看这边又有一片枯草燃起来了Andthenoverherewe,vegotourselvesanotherone.这条线整个一条线So,thisline,thiswholelinenow,过一会儿将成为一道火墙isjustgonnagoupintoawallofflames.那里也燃烧起来啦Anotheronethere.我们待在这里安全吗Isitsafenowhere?大火是不是会向山坡上蔓延啊She'sgonnagoupslope,yeah?会离我们越来越远吧She'sgonnagoawayfromus?当然在大风吹拂下火会越烧越旺的Ofcourse,ifthewind'spushingit,it'llaccelerate.你能够看到它紧贴这山坡向上燃烧呢Youcanseeit'sbeingpulledbytheslope.我觉得脸上火烧火燎的Oh,Icanfeelitburningmyfacealready.看看哪多么壮丽1.ookatthat.That'samazing.这就是一堵由烟与火筑成的壁垒It'sjustawallofsmokeandflame.简直难以置信Unbelievable.我遇到过的最来势汹汹的大火Themostaggressivefirethatveseen速度可达一秒钟前进三米多这movedatmorethanthreemetresasecond,whichis.一秒钟前进三米真是太惊人了Threemetresasecond,that'sphenomenal.的确非常快你是跑不过它的It'sreallyquick.Youcan'toutrunit草原上发生的火灾是最易造成人员伤亡的Thefiresthatkillpeoplearegrasslandfires,因为它们的速度实在是太快了becausethey*resofast-moving.而且它们不仅仅是速度快Andthat'snotall.草:类的燃烧十分特殊Grassburnsinaspecialway,一旦燃烧起来将给予敌人毁灭性的打击awaythatwasdevastatingtoitsenemies.我简直就是掉进这裤子里的vekindoffallenintoit.为了更全面地了解草类燃烧的特性Todiscovermoreaboutitsproperties,我自告奋勇去烈火深处一探究竟vevolunteeredtoenterintotheheartofthefire.现在塞进去的温度计不是用来测我的体温的Thisstuffthat'sgoinginnowisnotkindofmedicalmonitoring.而是用来测量火场里面的温度的Thisisactuallyformonitoringthetemperaturesofthefire.它叫做热电偶丝It,sathermocouplewire.它将向下延伸沿着我的腿向下延伸It'sgonnagorunningdown.inthiscasedownmyleg.这还是第一次有人这样对我呢It,sprobablythefirsttimethishasbeendone.我也是第一次在一个男人腿上摸摸索索Firsttimeveeverdonethiswithaguy!这是你第一次把手伸进一个男人的裤子里吧Firsttimeyou'veputyourhanddownaman'strousers.如果你的手卡住出不来了Ifyougetstuck,那我们就算是喜结连理了that'susvirtuallymarried.我进入火场之后我们打算将Onceintheflames,wehopetocombinereadings防火服上热传感器的读数fromtheheatsensorsonmysuit,传送至热成像摄影机withathermal-imagingcamera好解开草丛燃烧的秘密torevealthesecretsofagrassfire.火势越来越猛Thefireispickingupspeed.我简直不敢相信眼前这一切Ican'tbelievemseeingthis.大火朝我们烧过来了It'sstartingtocometowardsus.这算是我做过的最蠢的事情之一了Thisjustseemslikeoneofthedaftestthingsvedone.看看这火苗啊1.ookattheflames!草的燃烧与其他物质的燃烧有着天壤之别Grassfiresareverydifferentfromotherfires.热传感器读数显示火场中最热的部分Thereadingsshowthatthehottestareaofthefire,也就是热成像中白色的部分thewhitepartsonthisimage,位于正在燃烧的枯草上方一米处isnotintheburninggrassbutametreaboveit.那里的温度超过360度Thetemperaturehereisover360degrees.与其他植物相比草更易点燃Grassignitesmoreeasilythanotherplants并可转化为一种可挥发的气体andit'stransformedintoavolatilegas.这种气体会向上升Thisgasrises且燃烧的温度比枯草燃烧时的温度更高andburnsevenhotterthanthegrassitself所以草类的燃烧是自然界最迅猛的火灾makingitoneofthefiercestandfastestfiresinnature.我知道这话听起来很奇怪