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Alien struggles of life and death are probably happening right now,
由于进化的普遍作用
thanks to the universal power of evolution.
外星人现在或许正在生死搏斗
But in my opinion, evolution is so remarkable,
但在我看来，进化是如此的非同寻常
we can't really be sure of its ultimate limits.
我们并不能真正地确定它的极限
Life-forms on earthlike planets or in hidden oceans
类似地球的行星或秘密的海洋
are not the only options.
并非生命存在形式的唯一可能
We can go even further into the depths of the universe
我们可以更进一步地进入宇宙深处
in search of other kinds of aliens,
来寻找其他种类的外星人
extraterrestrials that are totally unlike us,
与我们完全不同的外星人
life but not as we know it.
我们所不了解的生命形式
I like to think of myself as an optimist,
我认为我是个乐观主义者
and so in our vast, ancient universe,
对我们广阔古老而又拥有无数星系的宇宙
with its countless galaxies.
也同样乐观
Almost any life-form that is physically possible
几乎任何物理上可能的生命形式
is likely to exist somewhere.
都可能在某处存在着
So they could be, perhaps should be really bizarre aliens
所以它们可能，或许更应该是非常怪异的
that followed a different evolutionary path.
遵循着不同的进化途径
aliens that don't depend on water,
这便是依赖于其他化学物质
but on other chemicals instead.
而不依赖水的外星人
Nitrogen is one possibility.
氮气是一种可能
It's a gas on earth,
在地球上这是一种气体
but it can exist as a liquid when it's very, very cold,
但当温度极低时，它便能以液态形式存在
minus 320 degrees fahrenheit.
华氏零下三百二十度时
So, is there a world of nitrogen oceans,
是否会存在一个被冰封海岸所包围的
lapping frozen shores,
液态氮海洋世界呢
where aliens have evolved in temperatures that would kill a human instantly?
那里的外星人在人类无法生存的温度下进化
Life here would need chemistry very different than our own
这里生物需要的化学物质与我们完全不同
a cold-weather remix of the ingredients that make us.
一种构成我们身体的，寒冷天气的混合成分
Ingredient number one, of course, is water.
第一种成分，当然是水
The average male holds 8 gallons.
男性身体平均拥有八加仑的水
So, let's swap water for liquid nitrogen.
所以，让我们来将水换成液氮
There's also about 2 pounds of phosphorus,
另外还有两磅的磷
half a pound of salt,
半磅的盐
enough iron to make a nail,
足以打出一颗钉子来的铁
3 pounds of lime,
三磅的石灰
15 trace elements,
十五种也许同样会在
which might also work in alien biology,
外星人体内起作用的微量元素
And then, this. Carbon, 45 pounds of it.
接着是这个，四十五磅的碳
But what if carbon was switched with something else?
但如果碳被其他的物质换掉了又会怎样呢
