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Russia is considering a temporary disconnect from the world wide web to test cybersecurity
俄罗斯正在考虑暂时退出万维网来测试该网络是否安全，
and possibly move towards an autonomous Russian internet infrastructure.
可能还准备建设自主的俄罗斯互联网基础设施。
But can they even do that, just up and leave the internet?
但他们真的能做到这一点吗?
Will they be able to watch cat videos?
退出后俄罗斯人还能在网上撸猫吗?
Is there some owner of the internet who can stop them?
有没有个互联网所有者之类的人能阻止他们呢?
As you may have noticed, the internet is huge.
你可能已经注意到了，互联网的体量是非常非常大的。
It’s a global network that connects computers around the entire world;
它是连接世界各地计算机的一个全球性网络；
I can be in Barcelona and theoretically access the exact same websites that I do in Los Angeles.
我在洛杉矶访问的网站在巴塞罗那也能访问，
You know, so long as local laws and Digital Rights Management permit.
只要当地法律和数字版权管理机构允许就行。
Something this huge can’t be owned by any one entity.
这么大的东西是不可能归任何一个实体所有的。
Instead, it’s a hierarchy of structures with lots of smaller owners along the way.
相反，它是一个有很多层级的结构，其间有很多小型所有者。
It starts with you.
最小型的所有者就是你。
When your computer or smart device is connected to the internet, you become a teeny tiny part of it.
你的电脑或智能设备连接到互联网以后，你就成了互联网的一小小小部分。
You rely on an Internet Service Provider, or ISP, to physically connect you to everyone else.
你要依靠互联网服务提供商(ISP)对你和其他人进行物理连接
Actually, you rely on multiple ISPs, which form tiers of networks.
实际上，你依赖的是多个ISP，就是这些ISP构成了各个网络层。
The tiers are determined by network size,
这些网络层都是由网络规模决定的，
which also dictates whether they transfer data by paying for the transit across larger networks
后者同时还决定了这些网络层传输数据时是付费获取在更大规模的网络之间交换数据的权限，
or share it with other similarly sized networks for mutually agreed upon benefits.
还是和其他同等规模，利益共享的网络共享数据。
At the lowest level is a Tier 3 ISP.
最底层的是三级ISP。
These are companies like Comcast or Verizon Communications,
这些公司包括美国的康卡斯特和威瑞森通信公司等，
and they strictly operate by paying to send their data using bigger, more well-connected networks.
他们要严格按照付费使用规模更大、连接更好的网络发送数据这种方式运行。
They’re also known as Last Mile Providers
他们也被称为“最后一英里供应商”，
because, well, they’re responsible for the last miles of cable that connects your access point to the overall network.
因为，他们负责的就是连接你的接入点和整个网络的那最后几英里电缆。
Above that is a Tier 2 ISP,
位于他们上面的是二级ISP，
which can either pay to send data across larger networks like Tier 3 ISPs
这一级别的供应商既可以像三级ISP那样付费使用规模更大的网络，
or they share data with networks of a similar size for mutual benefits, what’s known as “peering” without charge.
也可以和同等规模的网络共享数据，互惠互利，也就是所谓的“对等互联”，还不用付费。
Nowadays they can also provide last mile service like Tier 3 ISPs, and they’re companies like British telekom and Vodafone.
现在，他们也能像三级ISP那样提供“最后一英里”服务，英国电信和沃达丰等公司就属于这一级别的供应商。
And finally, above that are the Tier 1 ISPs, the huge networks that own the cables connecting entire continents.
他们上面还有一级ISP，也就是那些拥有连接整个大陆的电缆的巨型网络。
These companies are also known as backbone internet providers.
这些公司也被称为“互联网骨干网”。
They connect to other Tier 1 ISPs to exchange traffic through peering agreements,
它们通过对等协议和其他一级ISP连接在一起，以交换数据流，
and just like that, you have a global network of computers.
就这样，一个覆盖全球的计算机网络就形成了。
Considering how huge and complex it is, it’s pretty incredible the thing works at all.
它那么庞大，那么复杂都能运行，简直是不可思议！
That’s all thanks to several organizations, many of which are nonprofit, that standardize how the internet works globally.
这都要感谢一些组织，而且这些组织中有许多都是非营利性的机构，因为是他们将全球互联网的运作方式变得标准化的。
They each have their own responsibilities, like setting standards, maintaining architecture and stability,
他们都有自己的责任，比如制定标准，维护架构和稳定性，
and assigning each domain name with a unique IP address.
或者为每个域名分配独一无二的IP地址。
These organizations don’t own the internet, but have a profound effect on how the whole thing works.
这些组织并不是互联网的所有者，但它们对整个互联网的运作方式有着深远的影响。
Likewise, the internet can be regulated in specific places based on the local government’s rules,
同样，特定地方的互联网也能按照当地政府的规定，
like China’s censorship laws or the U. S.'s rules on net neutrality.
比如中国的审查法律或美国的网络中立性规则进行监管。
So if Russia’s government wanted to disconnect from the rest of the world wide web, ultimately that’s up to them.
所以，如果俄罗斯政府想退出万维网，最终的决定权确实是在他们手上。
If you wanted to be a bigger part of the internet, you could make a website.
如果你想成为互联网影响更大的一员，那你可以做一个网站。
You’d need a specialized computer called a server,
这时候，你就需要一台专门的电脑，也就是“服务器”，
which is like a beefy computer with a lot of storage space that’s designed to communicate with other computers.
差不多就是一台非常结实，有很大的存储空间，专门用来连接其他电脑的电脑。
There are actually lots of server types, like email and Domain Name System servers,
实际上，服务器有很多种类型，比如电子邮件服务器和域名系统服务器，
but your website would be stored on a web server at a data center somewhere.
但你的网站会被存放在某个数据中心的网页服务器上。
Now imagine your website is awesome because it’s got the best pictures of cats ever on it.
现在，想象一下，你的网站做得特别棒，因为上面有有史以来最好玩儿的猫咪照片。
It’s so popular someone on the other side of the world wants to access it.
所以特别受欢迎，以至于位于地球另一端的人也想访问。
Then the entire pipeline looks like this:
那么，连通你的电脑和他的电脑之间的整个网络通道就是这个样子的:
you pay a web host, which owns web servers, to use one or part of their servers to store your data. Or in this case “cata. ”
你付费给某个拥有很多网页服务器的网页主机，购买用其中一个或部分服务器存储你的数据，在本例中你的数据就是“猫咪数据”的机会。
Let’s say your particular web server is connected to a Tier 2 ISP,
假设你使用的这个网页服务器连接的是二级ISP，
so the data is sent to a Tier 1 ISP, which shares that data with another Tier 1 ISP,
那么，你的数据就会被传输给某个一级ISP，这个一级ISP就会将这一数据共享给另一个一级ISP，
which distributes it to lower tier ISPs until eventually it winds up at your number 1 fan’s computer on the other side of the globe.
后者又将其分配给低一级的ISP，直到最终将你的数据传输到地球另一端你的头号粉丝的电脑上。
I made that sound pretty linear, but actually the data is broken up into smaller chunks called packets,
我说得可能比较像线性传输哈，但实际上，你的数据会被分解成很多小块，也即所谓的“数据包”，
which are routed from a server using many paths through the networks until they’re reassembled at a person’s computer.
这些数据包就从一个服务器上经由许多通道进行传输，直到到达那个人的电脑进行重组。
Unless that person was, say, in Russia during the temporary disconnect.
除非那个人在，比如说，在暂时中断联系期间的俄罗斯。
That user could still access cat memes on web servers that are in Russia somewhere and connected to Russia’s ISPs,
但那名用户还是可以访问位于俄罗斯某个地方，连接了俄罗斯的ISP的网络服务器上的猫咪表情包，
but if those ISPs don’t exchange data with anyone outside the country,
但是，如果那些ISP不与国外任何ISP交换数据的话，
then effectively there’s a virtual wall between them and the outside world.
那就相当于他们和外部世界之间出现了一堵无形的墙。
Likewise, you would miss out on any Russian cat videos you wanted to see outside the country.
同样，你也会错过任何你想在国外看的俄罗斯的猫咪视频。
Everywhere along the way, someone owns a part of the internet.
沿途的每一个环节的那部分互联网都是“名花有主”的。
It’s your website but a web host’s server.
如果那部分是你的网站，那这个主人就是某个网页主机的服务器。
It’s their server, but an ISP’s network.
如果那部分是他们的服务器，那这个主人就是某个ISP的网络。
It’s their network, but they need to connect to an even bigger network.
如果是他们的网络，那主人就是他们需要连接的一个更大规模的网络。
And there are other equally big networks they need to connect to to make the whole thing global.
而且，要建设一个全球性的网络，他们还要连接到其他地方的同等规模的网络。
So everyone connected to it owns the internet, and nobody does.
总而言之，每个连接到互联网的人都拥有互联网的一部分，但互联网也不属于任何一个人。
Pretty cool.
很酷哈。
Do you think you can go without global internet?
你觉得你能离开互联网吗？
Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more science in your day.
欢迎在评论中告诉我们，还有，不要忘记订阅我们的节目，了解更多的科学知识。
If you like internet news like this,
如果你喜欢类似的网络新闻，
check out Maren’s video about how we can possibly make internet faster with twisted light.
那你可以看看莫伦做的这期关于我们如何用扭曲的光提高网速的视频。
Thanks for watching fellow internet consumers and I’ll see you next time on Seeker.
感谢收看本期《科学探索之旅》节目，我们下期再见。
