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So, the next step on our alien hunt is
因此，我们寻找外星人的下一步
to find a place, or places,
是找一个地方，或几个地方
where organisms might find food and replicate and evolve.
上面的生物可以找到食物，繁衍进化
And as far as we know, that requires one thing.
我们都知道，这需要一点
Like most people, I find water both beautiful and fascinating.
和大多数人一样，我觉得水很美很神奇
But it's also the key to all known forms of life,
同时它也是所有已知的生命形式的关键
from bacteria to blue whales.
从细菌到蓝鲸
Find water elsewhere
如果在外星球上找到水
and aliens could exist nearby.
那附近就可能存在外星生命
The good news is that water is very common indeed out in space.
好消息是，水在外太空中确实很常见
Frozen water litters the universe,
固态水散布在整个宇宙中
from tiny, single crystals to icy comets the size of mountains.
从微小的单晶，到山那么大的冰态彗星
But to find liquid water, we need somewhere at the right temperature.
但是要想找到液态水，必须找到合适的温度
Around every star is a region where it's
每颗恒星周围都有一个区域
not too hot or too cold, but just right.
既不太冷也不太热，而是刚好合适
Like the porridge in the story of goldilocks and the three bears.
像《金发姑娘与三只熊》中的麦片粥一样
Around our sun, there are two planets
在我们太阳周围，有两颗行星
that lie in this "goldilocks" zone --
就位于这个"金发姑娘"地带
the earth and Mars,
地球和火星
which is why one day I'm sure we'll pay it a visit.
因此我确信我们迟早会去拜访火星
Robots have been exploring mars since the '70s,
从70年代开始就有机器人探索火星
but they have yet to find life.
但是它们还未发现生命
I don't think we should give up.
我不认为我们该放弃
Beneath the martian surface,
在火星表面之下
NASA's Spirit Rover discovered these white salts
美国国家宇航局的勇气号发现了这些白盐
which are formed in contact with liquid water.
它们的形成与液态水有关
Satellite images reveal drainage patterns
卫星照片显示出有水系构型
and erosion of the kinds caused by rivers and oceans.
以及由河流和海洋冲蚀后的痕迹
There may well still be moisture under Mars' surface --
火星表面以下很有可能仍有液态水
moisture that perhaps could support life.
这些液态水也许足以维持生命
I hope one day we will find the money to send men and women to Mars.
我希望有一天能有足够的资金送人们上火星
It would capture the public's imagination just as the
这足以吸引公众的眼球
Apollo moon missions captured mine back in the '60s.
就像60年代阿波罗登月吸引我眼球一样
