太阳，人类的核电站。 THE SUN, OUR NUCLEAR POWERHOUSE.
恒星的光芒照耀着地球，为世界及人类带来温暖。 OUR STAR, ITS LIGHT POWERS OUR WORLD...AND US.
没有阳光，地球将一片死寂。 WITHOUT LIGHT, WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE.
让我们从太阳深处开始， STARTING DEEP INSIDE THE SUN,
追随一丝微小的光粒----光子 WE FOLLOW THE BRUTAL JOURNEY
踏上艰辛的旅程。 OF A SINGLE, TINY PACKAGE OF LIGHT -- A PHOTON.
随便一粒光子都能让我注目观瞧。 THE RIDE THAT ANY PHOTON TAKES TO GET TO MY EYES
仰望天空，让我们开始这趟来自太阳的神奇旅程吧。 WHEN I LOOK UP AT THE SUN IS AN AMAZING ONE.
光子诞生自古老的恒星核心。 FROM ITS ANCIENT BIRTH IN THE SUN'S CORE
挣脱太阳表面束缚，奔向太空。 TO ITS ESCAPE FROM THE SURFACE.
洒在我身上的阳光 THE LIGHT REACHING ME FROM THE SUN
源自人类文明诞生之前。 WAS PRODUCED BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN HUMAN CIVILIZATION.
这想法令人难以置信。 IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
追随光子， JOIN OUR PHOTON
让我们踏上不可思议的百万年之旅 ON ITS INCREDIBLE MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY
穿越太阳系最恶劣的环境 THROUGH THE MOST HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
给地球带来光明和生命。 TO BRING LIGHT AND LIFE TO EARTH.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
宇宙，数十亿个星系的家园。。。 THE UNIVERSE, HOME TO BILLIONS OF GALAXIES...
每个星系都孕育着数十亿颗恒星。 ...EACH MADE OF BILLIONS OF STARS.
在银河系一个不起眼的角落， AND, IN AN UNREMARKABLE CORNER OF OUR GALAXY, THE MILKY WAY,
太阳----与我们关系亲密的恒星，静静的躺在那里。 LIES THE SUN, OUR CLOSEST STAR...
一颗耀眼的星球，发出夺目的强光。 ...A DAZZLING SPHERE OF INTENSE LIGHT,
对人眼来说太亮了。 TOO BRIGHT FOR THE NAKED EYE.
但是，滤掉那炫目的光芒，太阳会变成另一幅模样 BUT STRIP AWAY THAT GLARE, AND THE SUN TRANSFORMS
一个巨大的超热气态球体 INTO A GIANT BALL
占据着我们星系舞台的中心 OF SUPER HEATED GAS DOMINATING OUR COSMIC STAGE.
当之无愧的明星。 THE SUN IS REALLY THE STAR OF THE SHOW.
它是太阳系的大家长。 THE SUN IS THE PARENT OF THE WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM.
供养了它的孩子们----行星。 IT PROVIDES ITS CHILDREN, THE PLANETS,
提供行星需要的一切。 WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
太阳为我们带来能量，带来光明，带来温暖。 WE DEPEND ON THE SUN FOR ENERGY, FOR LIGHT, FOR WARMTH.
没有它，我们就不复存在。 WE WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE SUN.
太阳发出光芒，带来温暖。 THE SUN GENERATES HEAT AND LIGHT,
它是地球上所有生命的能量源泉。 THE ENERGY SOURCE FOR ALL LIFE ON EARTH.
现在，我想告诉你， ALL OF THE ENERGY THAT MY BODY USES,
人体使用的所有能量， LITERALLY WHAT I'M DOING TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW,
都来自太阳。 CAME FROM THE SUN.
太阳真的是周围所有生命的缔造者。 THE SUN TRULY IS THE CREATOR OF ALL OF THE LIFE AROUND US.
一颗不断爆炸的核弹 THE SUN IS A CONSTANTLY EXPLODING
本性狂暴 NUCLEAR BOMB, VIOLENT AND ESSENTIAL.
使我们存在的能量，都由太阳中心 OUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE IS POWERED BY THE ENERGY
那些核反应驱动输出 EMITTED IN THOSE NUCLEAR REACTIONS IN THE SUN.
因为有阳光，人类得以在地球上生存。 WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT FROM THE SUN.
因为有那些核反应，我们生活在这里。 WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE NUCLEAR REACTIONS,
假如没有太阳， AND NO ASPECT OF OUR EXISTENCE COULD PERSIST
我们就无法活得持久。 IF IT WASN'T THERE.
光是构成宇宙的 LIGHT IS ONE OF THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS
基本元素之一。 OF THE UNIVERSE.
我发现光也许是宇宙中 I FIND LIGHT TO BE PROBABLY
最奇幻的东西。 THE MOST AMAZING THING IN THE UNIVERSE.
它对于任何事物都很重要 IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN EVERYTHING.
我是说，它每时每刻，无处不在。 I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING. IT'S EVERYWHERE.
因此，光是构成所有事物的基本。 SO, IT'S SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS.
原始而快速。 FUNDAMENTAL AND FAST.
它的速度冠绝宇宙 THE FASTEST THING IN THE COSMOS...
每秒飞驰186000英里。 ...TRAVELING AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND.
太阳与地球相距大约9300万英里。 THE SUN IS ABOUT 93 MILLION MILES AWAY FROM US.
一束光离开太阳奔向我们 SO, GOING AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND,
只需八分钟。 THAT'S ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES.
但是，这八分钟 BUT THOSE EIGHT MINUTES
只是它奇妙旅程的尾声。 ARE JUST THE BRIEF LAST LEG OF ITS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
这束光芒来自一百万前 IT MAY HAVE TAKEN THE LIGHT AS MUCH AS A MILLION YEARS
从太阳狂暴的内部逃离 TO ESCAPE FROM THE SUN'S RAGING INTERIOR...
也就是说，我们现在看到的光 ...WHICH MEANS THE LIGHT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW
来自上古。 WAS CREATED LONG BEFORE
那时先祖们刚刚踏上离开非洲大陆的旅程。 OUR ANCESTORS LEFT THE PLAINS OF AFRICA.
当我第一次知道这个事实的时候， WHEN I FIRST LEARNED THIS FACT,
已经是一位在职科学家了。 I WAS ALREADY A PRACTICING SCIENTIST.
什么心理准备都没有 I HAD NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT,
一下子就把我惊到了。 AND ON FIRST GLANCE, IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.
照在我身上的阳光 RIGHT NOW THE LIGHT REACHING ME FROM THE SUN
来自人类文明诞生之前。 WAS PRODUCED BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN HUMAN CIVILIZATION.
然而，当它到达太阳表面时 AND YET, THE MINUTE IT GETS TO THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
从那里跑到地球，只花了八分钟。 IT RACES AWAY AND IS HERE EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THAT.
这真的不可思议。 IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
仰望太阳的时候，任何进入我眼睛的光子 THE RIDE THAT ANY PHOTON TAKES TO GET TO MY EYES
都有一个令人惊奇的故事。 WHEN I LOOK UP AT THE SUN IS AN AMAZING ONE.
光子的旅程，从太阳核心开始 THAT RIDE STARTS DEEP IN THE BELLY OF OUR STAR.
如果我们剥开太阳， IF WE COULD OPEN UP THE SUN,
将看到一层层稠密的气体 WE'D SEE LAYERS OF DENSE HYDROGEN GAS
深达几十万英里。 HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES DEEP.
在恒星的中心，它的内核。。。 AND AT ITS CENTER, THE CORE, THE SUN GIVES BIRTH TO LIGHT...
。。。太阳以宇宙中 ...FORGED IN ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT REACTIONS
最剧烈地方式生产阳光----核聚变。 IN THE UNIVERSE, NUCLEAR FUSION.
太阳特殊的核反应是聚变， THE SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTION THAT POWERS THE SUN IS FUSION,
聚变使氢融合成氦。 FUSION OF HYDROGEN INTO HELIUM.
两个氢原子，撞在一起， YOU TAKE TWO HYDROGEN ATOMS, YOU RAM THEM TOGETHER,
将产生一个氦原子。 AND WHAT'S LEFT OVER IS A HELIUM ATOM.
听上去很简单。 IT SOUNDS SIMPLE ENOUGH,
实际上没那么容易。 BUT IT'S NOT.
两个氢原子很难融合 IT'S ACTUALLY HARD TO GET TWO ATOMS TO FUSE.
它们拥有相同的电荷。 TWO PHOTONS HAVE THE SAME CHARGE.
都带有正电荷，相互排斥。 THEY'RE BOTH POSITIVELY CHARGED. THEY WANT TO REPEL EACH OTHER.
原子不喜欢挤挤挨挨。 PROTONS DON'T LIKE TO GET CLOSE TOGETHER.
必须有巨大的能量或超快的速度 THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITH A HUGE AMOUNT
才能使它们聚集在一起。 OF ENERGY OR VELOCITY
接近到足以开始融合 TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO BEGIN TO FUSE,
在现实中非常非常的罕见。 AND THAT'S VERY, VERY RARE.
看不见的重力之手 TO FORCE PROTONS TOGETHER
迫使原子紧挨在一起 TAKES IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF HEAT AND PRESSURE...
承受着巨大的热量和压力。 ...GENERATED BY THE INVISIBLE HAND OF GRAVITY.
太阳系99.8%的物质 THE SUN CONTAINS 99.8% OF ALL THE MATTER
被太阳占据。 IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
那是非常大的一团。 THAT'S A LOT OF MASS.
太阳用超乎想象的引力 ALL THAT MASS PULLS THE SUN TOGETHER
把所有的物质结合在一起。 WITH UNIMAGINABLE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE.
重力积压物质， WITH GRAVITY CRUSHING THINGS DOWN,
使其变得足够紧密，接着核聚变发生了。 THINGS GET CLOSE ENOUGH TOGETHER AND NUCLEAR FUSION HAPPENS.
在这个核压缩机里， IN THIS NUCLEAR COMPACTOR,
氢原子嘭的一下，聚在一起 HYDROGEN ATOMS SLAM TOGETHER
每秒钟发生1亿万亿次碰撞。 100 MILLION QUADRILLION QUADRILLION TIMES EACH SECOND.
有些碰撞如此的强烈，导致原子融合， SOME OF THESE COLLISIONS ARE SO POWERFUL THAT ATOMS FUSE,
释放巨大的能量。 RELEASING ENERGY.
当原子结合在一起， WHEN THE PROTONS COME TOGETHER TO BIND TOGETHER,
它们会失去一点点质量。 THEY LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF MASS,
这些质量会转化为能量。 AND THAT MASS GETS CONVERTED INTO ENERGY.
在每一天中的每一秒， AND EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY,
约有500万吨的物质正在转化为能源 ABOUT FIVE MILLION TONS OF STUFF IS BEING CONVERTED TO ENERGY.
这太疯狂了。 IT'S AMAZING.
每次碰撞都会带来一部分能量爆发， EACH COLLISION CREATES A TINY BURST OF ENERGY,
产生一团极其微小，但又能量强大的光。 A PACKET OF LIGHT IMPOSSIBLY SMALL AND INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
不知怎么地，我们的光将能量送到地球， SOMEHOW, OUR PHOTON WILL DELIVER ITS ENERGY TO EARTH
为地球提供动力，使生命成为可能。 WHERE IT WILL POWER THE PLANET AND MAKE LIFE POSSIBLE.
但是，在诞生之初，它完全不像我们看到的光。 BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S NOTHING LIKE THE LIGHT WE SEE.
有许多能量，而且致命。 IT HAS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY, AND IT'S DEADLY.
我们从太阳看到光是早就存在的 THE LIGHT WE SEE FROM OUR STAR IS OLD...
远比从太阳到地球的 MUCH OLDER THAN THE EIGHT MINUTES IT TAKES
8分钟还要早。 TO GET FROM THE SUN TO EARTH.
穿越太空的短暂飞行，是其漫长而艰辛旅程的结束 THAT SHORT LEAP ACROSS SPACE IS THE END OF A LONG, HARD JOURNEY
这征途始于太阳的深处。 THAT STARTS DEEP INSIDE OUR SUN.
我们望向太阳 WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SUN,
不禁感慨，它是如此壮丽，那么优雅，独一无二 WE SAY, "HOW BEAUTIFUL, HOW ELEGANT, AND HOW SIMPLE."
光在太阳内核形成 LIGHT IS FORMED IN THE SUN,
照亮了我们的世界。 AND IT SHINES AND LIGHTS UP OUR WORLD.
好吧，只是没有那么快。 WELL, NOT SO FAST.
过程非常的复杂。 IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COMPLEX.
旅程始于 THE JOURNEY STARTS
太阳炙热的核心。 IN THE IMMENSE HEAT OF THE SUN'S CORE.
受太阳巨大引力的压制， CRUSHED TOGETHER BY THE SUN'S ENORMOUS GRAVITY,
原子相互碰撞，相互融合 ATOMS SMASH INTO EACH OTHER AND FUSE...
释放一小撮能量，亮闪闪的光子 ...RELEASING A TINY PACKET OF ENERGY, PHOTON OF LIGHT...
没有质量，远小于原子。 ...FAR SMALLER THAN AN ATOM WITH NO MASS.
它的速度比其他任何物质都快， PHOTONS TRAVEL FASTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
并且从不停止运动。 AND THEY NEVER STOP MOVING.
光子不仅仅来自太阳的核心。 PHOTONS DON'T JUST COME FROM THE CORE OF STARS.
那么，它从那里来？ SO, WHERE DOES LIGHT COME FROM?
简短解说，就是物质造就了光。 THE SHORT ANSWER IS, MATTER MAKES IT,
物质产生的光亮， AND THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT IT CREATES
取决于它的温度。 DEPENDS ON ITS TEMPERATURE.
宇宙中所有的物质 EVERY PIECE OF MATTER IN THE UNIVERSE
只要自身温度超过绝对零度 ABOVE ABSOLUTE ZERO DEGREES
就会产生光，包括人体。 PRODUCES LIGHT, INCLUDING HUMANS.
我们的身体一直在发光 WE HUMANS ARE EMITTING LIGHT ALL THE TIME
因为，我们有生命，我们温暖，我们的体温都在绝对零度以上。 BECAUSE WE'RE ALIVE, WE'RE WARM, WE'RE NOT AT A ZERO TEMPERATURE.
实际上，我们正在发射红外线， SO, IN FACT WE ARE EMITTING INFRARED RADIATION,
通常称之为热辐射。 OFTEN CALLED HEAT RADIATION.
所有的物质都会发光。 BUT ALL MATTER EMITS LIGHT.
即便如我这般酷拽的人，现在也在创造光明。 EVEN SOMEONE AS COOL AS ME, I'M CREATING LIGHT RIGHT NOW.
可见光 THE LIGHT WE SEE
可以分成彩虹的颜色。 CAN BE SPLIT INTO THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW.
每种颜色的光 EACH COLOR IS PHOTONS OF LIGHT
具有的能量，稍有不同。 WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.
而且，可见光 AND WHAT WE CAN SEE
仅仅占据光谱中的一小部分。 IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE LIGHT SPECTRUM.
人类的眼睛其实并不是完美的探测器。 OUR EYES ARE ACTUALLY IMPERFECT DETECTORS.
我们的眼睛对可见光 WE KNOW ABOUT VISIBLE LIGHT,
十分敏感， THE TYPE OF LIGHT THAT OUR EYES ARE SENSITIVE TO,
但是，那只占光谱的一小部分。 BUT THAT'S ONLY A SMALL RANGE OF ENERGIES.
高能光和低能光，人眼都无法探测到。 LIGHT COMES AT HIGHER AND LOWER ENERGIES THAN WE CAN DETECT.
通过特制的相机， USING SPECIAL CAMERAS,
我们看到人体发出的红外线。 WE CAN SEE THE INFRARED LIGHT THAT HUMANS EMIT.
红外线的能量 THIS INFRARED LIGHT
低于可见光。 HAS LESS ENERGY THAN THE VISIBLE LIGHT WE SEE.
一些光的能量远高于可见光，肉眼同样无法察觉， SOME LIGHT IS TOO ENERGETIC TO SEE,
如：紫外线，X射线，伽马射线。 LIKE ULTRAVIOLETS, X-RAYS, AND GAMMA RAYS.
巨大的，炽热的太阳产生各式各样的光。 THE VAST, HOT SUN GENERATES ALL FORMS OF LIGHT.
在太阳中心的核熔炉里， BUT IN THE NUCLEAR FURNACE OF THE SUN'S CORE,
每束光都以伽马射线的形态开始。 EVERY PHOTON STARTS OUT AS A GAMMA RAY,
这是宇宙中最有能量的光。 THE MOST ENERGETIC FORM OF LIGHT IN THE UNIVERSE.
核反应发生时， AND WHEN A NUCLEAR REACTION HAPPENS,
会散发出具有惊人能量的光， IT EMITS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF ENERGY,
能量之巨，远超可见光， THE ENERGY MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN VISIBLE LIGHT --
我们称之为伽马射线。 GAMMA RAYS, WE CALL THEM.
它的能量 LITERALLY ALMOST A MILLION TIMES
几乎是可见光的一万至一百万倍。 OR AT LEAST 10,000 TIMES THE ENERGY OF THE LIGHT WE SEE.
伽马射线能穿透并杀死我们。 GAMMA RAYS CAN TRANSFORM AND EVEN KILL.
伽马射线把布鲁斯·班纳变成绿巨人， THERE'S A REASON WHY GAMMA RAYS
自有其因。 TURNED BRUCE BANNER INTO THE HULK.
伽马射线是一种非常危险的光。 GAMMA RAYS ARE A VERY DANGEROUS FORM OF LIGHT.
它们能穿透你的身体 THEY CAN TRAVEL INTO YOUR BODY
并与体内的物质发生作用， AND WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH THE MATTER,
分解原子。 THEY CAN BREAK APART ATOMS.
幸运的是， FORTUNATELY FOR US,
伽马射线不能直接离开太阳。 OUR GAMMA-RAY PHOTON CAN'T HEAD STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SUN.
假如太阳不是一颗炽热的气态星球， IF THE SUN WERE NOT THIS HOT BALL OF GAS,
光一产生 THEN UPON BEING CREATED,
就会立即逃离 A PHOTON WOULD IMMEDIATELY ESCAPE FROM THE SUN
那将是一束伽马射线， AND IT WOULD BE A GAMMA-RAY PHOTON,
这束高能射线，会危害地球上的生命。 A VERY ENERGETIC PHOTON, NOT VERY GOOD FOR LIFE ON EARTH.
伽马射线诞生之后 AFTER ITS BIRTH AS A GAMMA RAY,
我们的光子就以光速 OUR PHOTON STARTS TO RACE OUT FROM THE SUN'S CORE
从太阳核心向外逃逸。 AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
它遇到一个巨大的障碍。 BUT IT ENCOUNTERS AN OBSTACLE COURSE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
以光速奔向宇宙，这段旅程，本来只需耗时几秒钟 A JOURNEY THAT SHOULD TAKE SECONDS
现在却慢如龟爬。 SLOWS TO A COSMIC CRAWL.
太阳核心诞生的每个光子 IT TAKES ON AVERAGE ABOUT 100,000 YEARS
跑到太阳边缘 FOR A PHOTON TO MAKE IT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SUN,
大约需要100000年 WHERE IT WAS CREATED, TO THE OUTERMOST EDGE,
它被发射到太空需要100000年。 WHERE IT GETS EMITTED INTO SPACE -- 100,000 YEARS.
假如光不受阻碍的直行， IF IT HAD TRAVELED IN A STRAIGHT LINE UNIMPEDED,
完成这段旅程，只需两秒钟。 IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TWO SECONDS.
什么减缓了 WHAT COULD POSSIBLY SLOW A PHOTON
以光速运动的光子？ MOVING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT?
有些东西迫使它踩了刹车：巨大的重力，炽热的环境，致密的材质 SOMETHING SLAMS ON THE BRAKES -- HUGE, HOT, DENSE.
这些力量，不仅减慢光速， SO POWERFUL, IT DOESN'T JUST SLOW LIGHT,
还会使它发生改变。 IT TRANSFORMS IT.
在太阳核心， IN THE SUN'S CORE,
核聚变释放出一小撮能量， NUCLEAR FUSION RELEASES A TINY BUNDLE OF ENERGY...
一束光。 ...A PHOTON OF LIGHT.
以每秒186000英里的速度向太空逃逸。 IT RACES OUTWARDS AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND.
按照这个速度，它只需两秒 AT THAT SPEED, IT SHOULD TAKE TWO SECONDS
就能从太阳内部跑到其表面。 TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE SUN'S INTERIOR TO THE SURFACE.
然而，有些能量，使秒完的旅程变成永恒。 BUT SOMETHING TURNS SECONDS INTO AN ETERNITY.
太阳非常的致密 THE SUN IS SO DENSE
光需要穿越，所有密度不同的气体层， THAT TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF GAS,
一束微弱的光，完成整个过程，需要几十万年， THIS POOR LITTLE PIECE OF LIGHT TAKES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS,
如过没有一百万年，它是无法跑到太阳表面的。 IF NOT A MILLION YEARS, TO GET TO THE SURFACE.
因此，当你望向太阳， SO, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SUN,
所看到的光 YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE LIGHT
都来自百万年前的一次核聚变。 EMITTED FROM REACTIONS A MILLION YEARS AGO.
初生的光子 OUR NEWBORN PHOTON
以光速逃离核心 LEAVES THE CORE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
却一头撞进由稠密的氢原子 ONLY TO RUN SMACK INTO A DENSE SOUP
熬制的浓汤，那是光子的噩梦。 OF HYDROGEN ATOMS, A PHOTON'S NIGHTMARE,
它需要在这类环境中行进40多万英里。 THAT STRETCHES FOR OVER 400,000 MILES.
假如你是诞生在太阳中心的光子， IF YOU'RE A PHOTON BORN IN THE CENTER OF THE SUN,
奔向宇宙前，还有一段很酷的旅程要走。 YOU HAVE A HECK OF A JOURNEY AHEAD OF YOU.
实际上，这段路异常艰辛 IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY HARD
因为，光从太阳核心逃出 FOR LIGHT GENERATED IN THE CORE OF THE SUN TO GET OUT
需要在其内部不断折返， BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SUN IN THE WAY,
而且那里非常致密。 AND IT'S EXTREMELY DENSE.
辐射区环绕着太阳核心。 THE RADIATION ZONE SURROUNDS THE CORE OF THE SUN.
这里由氢气构成， THE ZONE IS MADE OF HYDROGEN GAS,
但是，这里的气体非你所想。 BUT NOT A GAS AS WE THINK OF IT.
在辐射区，每一处物质 THE SHEER WEIGHT OF ALL THE MATERIAL ABOVE
都被压缩的比铅还密。 COMPRESSES THE RADIATION ZONE UNTIL IT'S DENSER THAN LEAD
光几乎无法通过。 AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS THROUGH.
然而，在太阳核心，光子诞生之初 A PHOTON PRODUCED IN THE CENTER OF THE SUN
就知道自己将往何处。 KNOWS WHERE IT WANTS TO GO.
它将奔向最酷炫的空间， IT WANTS TO GO TO THE EDGE WHERE IT'S COOL,
它向往自由。 AND IT WANTS TO GET OUT.
但是，有40万英里不透明的气体， BUT IT'S GOT 400,000 MILES
阻挡了它的征途。 OF ALL THESE OPAQUE GASES BLOCKING ITS WAY.
这些气体不仅致密，而且酷热 THESE GASES AREN'T JUST DENSE -- THEY'RE HOT,
温度超过1250万华氏度。 SUPERHEATED TO OVER 12 1/2 MILLION DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
辐射区的气体被转化为其它形态， THE GAS IN THE RADIATION ZONE
科学家称之为等离子体。 IS TRANSFORMED INTO WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL PLASMA.
等离子体是物质的第四种状态。 PLASMA IS THE FOURTH STATE OF MATTER.
正常情况下物质中原子的原子核，都有一个围绕其运转的电子。 ATOMS IN NORMAL MATTER HAVE A NUCLEUS WITH ORBITING ELECTRONS.
等离子体内，原子被撕裂。 IN PLASMA, THE ATOMS HAVE BEEN TORN APART
电子被剥离。 AND THE ELECTRONS RIPPED AWAY.
地球上，我们经常见到学校里 HERE ON EARTH, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE THREE MAIN STATES
教的三种主要物质状态 OF MATTER THAT WE'RE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL --
固体，液体，气体。 SOLIDS, LIQUIDS, AND GASES.
大家都知道，我们的大气是气态，海洋是液态， YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ATMOSPHERE AS A GAS, THE OCEANS ARE WATER,
我站立的地面是固态的。 THE GROUND THAT I STAND ON IS SOLID.
实际上，宇宙中的绝大部分地方， BUT IN FACT, MOST OF THE UNIVERSE,
所有的恒星，都由等离子体构成。 INCLUDING STARS, CONSISTS OF PLASMA.
同宇宙其他部分相比， COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE,
地球如此的平和。 EARTH IS A CALM PLACE.
在多数时间里， MOST OF THE TIME,
这里的温度和狂暴程度，都不足以产生等离子体。 IT'S NOT HOT OR VIOLENT ENOUGH HERE TO CREATE PLASMA.
地球上能找到它的最好的地点 THE BEST PLACE TO WITNESS THE POWER OF PLASMA ON EARTH
就在雷电中心。 IS INSIDE A LIGHTNING STRIKE.
在那里温度达到53000华氏度， TEMPERATURES INSIDE A BOLT CAN REACH 53,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
雷电划过天际的一瞬间，足以撕裂少许原子。 ENOUGH TO MOMENTARILY RIP A FEW ATOMS APART.
等离子体瞬间显现。 THE PLASMA LASTS AN INSTANT.
当电子再与原子结合，它便消失了。 THEN THE ELECTRONS REBIND AND IT'S GONE.
然而，在巨大的太阳内部， BUT IN OUR MASSIVE SUN,
等离子体存在了数十亿年。 THE PLASMA LASTS FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS
补充一下 AND MAKES UP
整个20万英里深的辐射区都是等离子体 THE ENTIRE 200,000-MILE-DEEP RADIATION ZONE.
对光子来说这状况太糟了。 WORSE FOR OUR PHOTON,
等离子体是带电的，它就是一个通往宇宙的陷阱。 THE PLASMA IS ELECTRICALLY CHARGED, FORMING A COSMIC TRAP.
对热辐射来说等离子体不透明。 AND A PLASMA IS OPAQUE TO RADIATION
因为光与带电物体的相互作用， BECAUSE LIGHT INTERACTS MUCH MORE STRONGLY
远强于同中性物质的 WITH ELECTRONICALLY CHARGED OBJECTS
相互作用。 THAN WITH NEUTRAL OBJECTS.
因此，当你有一个中性原子， SO, WHEN YOU HAVE A NEUTRAL ATOM,
光可以顺利通过。 LIGHT IN GENERAL CAN PASS BY.
但是，当原子被撕裂时 BUT WHEN YOU SEPARATED THE CHARGES
就拥有的正电场或负电场 AND YOU HAVE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHARGES
这类原子在等离子体内到处都是，光无法通过。 LOCATED EVERYWHERE, THE LIGHT CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.
我们的光，以伽马射线的方式， OUR PHOTON, IN THE FORM OF A GAMMA RAY,
进入辐射区 HAS ENTERED THE RADIATION ZONE
那里有被打碎的带电粒子。 AND SMASHED INTO A CHARGED PLASMA PARTICLE.
一秒之内， FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
粒子吸收光子，然后再吐出来， THE PARTICLE ABSORBS THE PHOTON, THEN SPITS IT BACK OUT,
光子与另一个粒子发生碰撞。 AND THE PHOTON COLLIDES WITH ANOTHER PARTICLE.
每次都前进一点点距离， EVERY TIME IT GOES A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTANCE,
基本都会撞上原子， IT BASICALLY SLAMS INTO AN ATOM,
被其吸引，并重新投向某个随机的方向。 IS ABSORBED AND READMITTED IN SOME RANDOM DIRECTION.
所以，与其说光是在飞， SO, INSTEAD OF JUST FLYING OUT,
不如说它在无数的地方弹跳，不停地，不停地， IT'S BOUNCING AROUND COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS TIMES
直到最后，它到达恒星的边缘。 UNTIL FINALLY, IT REACHES THE EDGE OF THE STAR.
这就像一场原子篮球赛 IT'S AN ATOMIC GAME OF BASKETBALL
有代表辐射区的球场。 WITH A COURT REPRESENTING THE RADIATION ZONE.
运动员就是带电粒子，站在等离子体中间， THE PLAYERS STAND IN FOR THE PARTICLES AND THE PLASMA
光子就是篮球。 AND THE BALL IS THE PHOTON.
然后，篮球 SO, THE BASKETBALL
从一个运动员，扔向另一个随机的运动员。 IS BEING THROWN FROM ONE PLAYER TO ANOTHER SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY.
在球场上几乎没有取得进展， IT'S NOT MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS DOWN THE COURT,
但它依然砥砺向前。 BUT IT IS GRADUALLY MAKING PROGRESS.
随着时间的推移，它从核心 GRADUALLY OVER TIME, IT IS GOING
较热的部分向外移动 FROM THE HOTTER PARTS OF THE CORE OUTWARD
到温度较低的区域。 TOWARD COOLER TEMPERATURES.
那就是它追求的目标。 THAT'S WHERE IT WANTS TO GET.
这是一个随机的过程， IT'S A RANDOM-LOOKING PROCESS,
但是随着时间的推移，它会朝某一方向发展。 BUT IT'S DIRECTED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION WITH TIME.
光子想直接上篮 THE PHOTON WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT UP THE COURT --
走最快的路线 ITS QUICKEST ROUTE --
但是，它被弹起，抛到辐射区内， BUT IS BOUNCED AND THROWN AROUND THE RADIATION ZONE,
重新慢下来龟速爬行。 SLOWING TO A CRAWL.
这次激烈的拼搏改变了光子。 THIS BRUISING PROCESS TRANSFORMS THE PHOTON.
当一个光子，一小束光， WHEN A PHOTON, A LITTLE PACKET OF LIGHT,
源自恒星的中心， IS CREATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STAR,
实际上，它是伽马射线，一种超高能量的光。 IT'S ACTUALLY A GAMMA RAY, SUPER HIGH ENERGY BIT OF LIGHT.
它无法走的很远，因为一旦起跑， AND IT CAN'T GO VERY FAR BECAUSE AS SOON AS IT DOES,
砰，它击中另一个原子，并被吸收。 BOOM, IT HITS ANOTHER ATOM AND GETS ABSORBED.
每经历一次， EVERY TIME IT DOES THIS,
光都会失去一小撮能量。 IT LOSES A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ENERGY.
经过几十万年， OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS,
甚至是一百万年，光子不断地 SOMETIMES EVEN A MILLION, THE PHOTON KEEPS BOUNCING
在致密的辐射区弹跳。 THROUGH THE DENSE RADIATION ZONE.
每次碰撞都会释放出一丝能量， EACH COLLISION SAPS A TINY BIT OF ENERGY,
把它从致命的伽马射线 TRANSFORMING IT FROM A LETHAL GAMMA-RAY PHOTON
转化成能量较低的X射线。 TO A LOWER ENERGY X-RAY.
自它在核心诞生近百万年后， NEARLY A MILLION YEARS AFTER ITS CREATION IN THE CORE,
光已经穿过了辐射区， THE PHOTON HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE RADIATION ZONE,
然而他的逃亡还没有结束。 BUT ITS QUEST TO ESCAPE IS NOT OVER YET.
它即将搭上便车 IT'S ABOUT TO HITCH A WILD RIDE
在凶猛的太阳内部，如坐在过山车上横冲直撞。。。 ON THE SUN'S FEROCIOUS INTERNAL ROLLER COASTER...
一个如此狂暴的地方，它让太阳咆哮。 ...A PLACE SO VIOLENT, IT MAKES THE SUN ROAR.
光子，大自然的能量邮差， A PHOTON, NATURE'S ENERGY-DELIVERY SYSTEM,
在通往地球的旅程中 HAS SPENT UP TO A MILLION YEARS
在太阳内部的迷宫里 IN THE MAZE OF THE SUN'S INTERIOR
耗费了一百万年。 ON ITS JOURNEY TOWARD THE EARTH.
光子已经穿过太阳半径的四分之三。 THE PHOTON HAS FOUGHT ITS WAY THROUGH 3/4 OF THE SUN'S RADIUS.
不断的转换，消耗能量， BATTERED AND SAPPED OF ENERGY,
从致命的伽马射线转变为X射线。 IT IS MORPHED FROM A DEADLY GAMMA RAY TO AN X-RAY.
现在它进入太阳神秘的沸腾区域， BUT NOW IT ENTERS THE MYSTERIOUS BOILING LAYER OF THE SUN,
对流层。 THE CONVECTION ZONE.
对流层位于辐射区 THE CONVECTION ZONE LIES BETWEEN THE RADIATION ZONE
与太阳表面之间，纵深达125000英里。 AND THE SUN'S SURFACE AND IS 125,000 MILES DEEP.
我们无法直接观测对流层。 WE CAN'T SEE THE CONVECTION ZONE DIRECTLY.
太阳的这块区域，让望远镜无可奈何， THIS REGION OF THE SUN IS STILL OPAQUE TO OUR TELESCOPES,
但是，我们可以聆听它。 BUT WE CAN HEAR IT.
美国宇航局的太阳动力学天文台就在收听太阳。 NASA'S SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY LISTENS TO THE SUN.
收到声音波长太长，人耳无法识别， THE SOUND IT PICKS UP IS TOO DEEP FOR HUMANS TO HEAR,
假如你将40天的录音快放 BUT IF YOU SPEED UP 40 DAYS' RECORDING
几秒钟后，你就会有所收获。 INTO A FEW SECONDS, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.
像是混乱的噪音。 IT'S THE SOUND OF CHAOS.
我们看不见太阳的内部情况， SINCE WE CAN'T SEE INTO THE SUN,
它发出的声音对科学家来说至关重要。 ITS SOUND IS VITAL TO SCIENTISTS.
枪开火后，子弹冲出枪膛，射向空气， WHEN A GUN FIRES, THE BULLET RUSHES OUT AND SMASHES INTO AIR,
产生湍流波。 CREATING WAVES OF TURBULENCE.
声波震动我们的耳膜， WHEN WE HEAR THE GUN FIRING,
使我们听到枪声。 THESE WAVES VIBRATE OUR EARDRUMS.
在这里，我们能看到，声音传播的方式。 WHAT WE SEE HERE IS SOUND.
太阳在更大的尺度上，以同样的方式工作。 THE SUN WORKS THE SAME WAY ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.
当我们看到这些气体的波动穿过太空， WHEN WE SEE THESE WAVES MOVING ACROSS,
就是物质上升 WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WHEN MATERIAL MOVES UP
在太阳内部制造的噪音。 FROM INSIDE THE SUN AND IT MAKES NOISE.
如同波涛撞上了峭壁。 IT JUST, LIKE, RAN INTO A SURFACE.
冲击墙面，发出声音。 IT JUST RAN INTO A WALL, AND IT GENERATES SOUND.
我们能看到声音在太阳表面移动。 AND WE SEE THAT SOUND MOVING ALL AROUND THE SUN.
声波穿过等离子体 SOUND WAVES CRASHING THROUGH THE PLASMA
在太阳表面激起涟漪。 CREATE RIPPLES IN THE SUN'S SURFACE.
我们看到的就是这些涟漪。 AND ALL WE SEE ARE THESE RIPPLES.
实际上这都是太阳的声波， THOSE ARE THE ACTUAL SOUND WAVES OF THE SUN,
它们环绕整个太阳移动。 AND THEY MOVE AROUND THE ENTIRE SUN.
冲入太阳内部。 THEY MOVE DOWN INSIDE THE SUN.
再回到它的表面。 THEY MOVE BACK UP TO THE SURFACE.
通过对声波的追踪， BY TRACKING THE SOUND,
科学家能发现隐藏的情况。 SCIENTISTS CAN SEE THE INVISIBLE.
他们分析 THEY PICK UP SOUND WAVES
在太阳表面激荡的声波 SMASHING AGAINST THE SUN'S SURFACE
发现它们使整个太阳产生共振 AND RESONATING THROUGHOUT THE SOLAR INTERIOR...
揭示了一个剧烈沸腾的对流区。 ...REVEALING A VIOLENT, BOILING CONVECTION ZONE.
就是说太阳内的物质正上升至表面。 THE SUN CAN BE SAID TO BE RINGING.
热气上升。 YOU HAVE THIS HOT GAS RISING.
冷气下降。 YOU HAVE COOL GAS FALLING.
有这么多的湍流。 YOU HAVE ALL THIS TURBULENCE.
科学家们发现太阳有非常多的活动，使自己发出轰鸣。 YOU HAVE SO MUCH ACTION GOING ON THAT IT CAUSES THE SUN TO RING.
运送物质升降的气体柱， COLUMNS OF GASES RISE AND FALL,
底部正接受酷热的烘烤 CHURNED BY HEAT FROM BELOW.
观察沸腾的水， IF YOU LOOK AT WATER BOILING,
它正被加热，升起水蒸气和气泡。 BUBBLES OF GAS OR WATER ARE RISING UP BECAUSE THEY'RE HOT.
冷却后的水，会沉到壶底。 AND THEN THEY COOL OFF, AND THEN THEY SINK BACK DOWN.
假设你把这壶热水 AND IF YOU LOOK AT A POT OF BOILING WATER,
和太阳上的现象联系起来， THAT'S THE SAME PHENOMENA THAT'S GOING ON THE SUN,
用等离子体取代水。 BUT WITH HOT PLASMA INSTEAD OF WATER.
在对流区的底部， AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONVECTION ZONE,
光子轰击等离子体中的原子， PHOTONS SMASH INTO ATOMS IN THE PLASMA,
释放能量，把它们加热到沸腾。 HEATING THEM TO A BOIL.
但是，在这期间光子会被原子吸收。 BUT THIS TIME, THE PHOTONS ARE ABSORBED BY THE ATOMS.
原子驾着沸腾的热流奔向气体柱的顶部， THE HOT ATOMS RIDE THE BOILING CURRENT TO THE TOP,
它们搭载着光子。 DRAGGING THE PHOTONS WITH THEM.
就像物料传送带。 SO, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS CONVEYOR BELT OF MATERIAL.
实际上，光子是在搭原子的便车 PHOTONS ARE ACTUALLY HITCHHIKING A RIDE ON THE ATOMS
它们通过这种热传导向上移动。 THAT ARE TRAVELING UPWARD THROUGH THIS HEAT TRANSFER.
因此，对流层的搭乘便车， SO, IT'S A MUCH EASIER RIDE IN THE CONVECTION LAYER
比辐射区容易的多。 THAN IT IS IN THE RADIATION ZONE.
光子如同掌握在一位明星球员手中 IT'S AS IF OUR PHOTON WERE NOW IN THE HANDS
快速移动。 OF A SINGLE PLAYER MAKING A FAST BREAK.
在对流层，踏上一条阳光大道。 IN THE CONVECTION LAYER, IT'S A DIRECT PATH.
这位巨星手持篮球， ONE PLAYER CAN ACTUALLY HOLD ON TO THIS BASKETBALL OR PHOTON
在这条大道上持续推进。 FOR A LOT LONGER IN A DIRECT PATH.
不传递， BY NOT PASSING,
迅速的把球，带过球场。 THE ATOM TAKES THE BALL QUICKLY UP THE COURT.
只需一个星期的时间 THE PHOTON'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE CONVECTION ZONE
光子就能穿过对流层。 TAKES JUST ONE WEEK.
然而，在这段时间，光子被再次转化。 BUT IN THAT TIME, THE PHOTON IS TRANSFORMED.
对流层底部的温度 THE BOTTOM OF THE CONVECTION ZONE
约有36万华氏度。 IS AROUND 360,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
在顶部，仅仅有1万华氏度。 THE TOP -- JUST 10,000.
因此，随着光子的上升，它失去能量，冷却下来， SO, AS THE PHOTON RISES UP, IT COOLS, LOSING ENERGY,
从能量较高的X射线，转变为可见光。 CHANGING FROM AN ENERGETIC X-RAY TO VISIBLE LIGHT.
从对流层底部开始， SO, IT STARTS AS A HIGH-ENERGY X-RAY
光子以X射线的形式向上移动， AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONVECTION ZONE, MOVES ITS WAY UP,
它失去了一小撮能量。 IT LOSES A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ENERGY.
当光子离开那里的时候， BY THE TIME IT LEAVES THERE,
它更像那种我们看到的光。 IT'S CLOSER TO THE KIND OF LIGHT THAT WE SEE,
可见光。 WHICH IS VISIBLE LIGHT.
在对流区的顶部， AT THE TOP OF THE CONVECTION ZONE,
原子释放光子， THE ATOM RELEASES THE PHOTON,
以可见光的形态射出。 WHICH SHOOTS OUT AS VISIBLE LIGHT.
这一过程使得原子冷却下来， THIS COOLS THE ATOMS,
它再次降到对流层的底部，吸收更多的光子， WHICH FALL BACK DOWN TO ABSORB MORE PHOTONS,
被加热后，再次升起。 HEAT UP, AND RISE AGAIN.
如今，光子就在太阳表面之下。 THE PHOTON IS NOW JUST BELOW THE SUN'S SURFACE.
释放光子需要另一种力量搅动对流层， BUT THE CHURNING CONVECTION ZONE UNLEASHES ANOTHER FORCE --
一股强劲的风暴， A FORCE THAT POWERS HUGE STORMS,
引起太阳物质的暴喷，扫荡一切阻止光子逃逸的障碍。 DETONATES BOMBS, AND THREATENS TO STOP LIGHT'S ESCAPE.
在太阳的核心， IN THE SUN'S CORE,
核聚变产生了一个光子，一束光。 NUCLEAR FUSION HAS CREATED A PHOTON, A PACKET OF LIGHT.
它已经冲出辐射区， IT HAS BATTLED THROUGH THE RADIATION ZONE,
穿越对流层 BEEN DRAGGED UP THROUGH THE CONVECTION ZONE
乘上等离子体热柱，跑到太阳表面。 ON COLUMNS OF HOT PLASMA, HURDLING TOWARDS ITS ESCAPE.
在光子百万年的旅程中， ON THIS MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY,
它从一种看不见的光，致命的伽马射线 THE PHOTON HAS CHANGED FROM AN INVISIBLE DEADLY GAMMA RAY
转变成我们在地球上肉眼可辨，照耀生灵的光。 TO THE KIND OF LIFE-GIVING LIGHT WE SEE HERE ON EARTH.
最终，它已到达太阳表面-- FINALLY, IT HAS REACHED THE SURFACE --
日常所见的太阳外层，光球层。 THE VISIBLE SHELL OF THE SUN, THE PHOTOSPHERE.
光球层， THE PHOTOSPHERE,
我们仰望太阳，看见的那部分， WHICH IS BASICALLY THE VISIBLE PART OF THE SUN,
就是这层表面。 OR THE SURFACE, IS WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK UP AT THE SUN.
射出的可见光的太阳表层。 WE'RE SEEING VISIBLE LIGHT COMING FROM THAT VERY LAYER,
就是光球层 THE PHOTOSPHERE.
耀眼的光球隐藏着 THE BALL OF BLINDING LIGHT WE PERCEIVE
一个壮观而野蛮的世界。 HIDES A SPECTACULAR AND SAVAGE WORLD.
远处的太阳看起来，宁静祥和， THE SUN FROM A DISTANCE LOOKS QUIET AND SERENE,
但是，如果近距离观察太阳的表面， BUT IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE-UP OF THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
你会发现，有股力量，在搅动它。 YOU SEE THAT IT'S CHURNING WITH ACTIVITY.
这现象，既美丽又恐怖-- IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIFYING AT THE SAME TIME --
巨大的物质风暴，在沸腾，在爆裂， HUGE STORMS OF MATERIAL BUBBLING AND BOILING.
看上去就像一杯啤酒， IT LOOKS LIKE A WITCH'S BREW,
只是这啤酒的气泡 EXCEPT THE BUBBLES IN THE WITCH'S BREW
比地球都大。 ARE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF THE EARTH.
太阳表层如同一道湍流屏障。 THE SURFACE OF THE SUN IS A TURBULENT BARRIER.
光子再次被劫持。 AND ONCE AGAIN, OUR PHOTON GETS TAKEN HOSTAGE.
在亚利桑那州的凯特峰天文台。 AT KITT PEAK OBSERVATORY IN ARIZONA,
太阳天文学家马特潘恩，对太阳表面展开研究 SOLAR ASTRONOMER MATT PENN STUDIES THIS SOLAR SURFACE
探索如何捕获光子。 TO DISCOVER HOW PHOTONS OF LIGHT GET TRAPPED.
今天，我们发现一团气体产生卷曲， THERE'S A BUNCH OF CIRRUS TODAY,
希望能有一些收获。 BUT HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET SOME DATA.
通过麦克马斯皮尔斯望远镜 USING THE McMATH-PIERCE TELESCOPE,
他收聚阳光，详细扫描获得细节。 HE FOCUSES THE SUN'S LIGHT TO SCAN THE PHOTOSPHERE IN DETAIL.
你看，在我们的太阳的圆盘上 SO, WHAT WE'VE GOT ARE A FEW SMALL SUN SPOTS
有几个小点。 ON A DISC OF THE SUN.
我们发现两个太阳黑子，两个大的。 WE'VE GOT TWO SUN SPOTS, TWO LARGE ONES.
正移向太阳的边缘， THEY'RE HEADING OFF TO THE EDGE OF THE SUN,
在太阳的边缘。 TO THE LIMB OF THE SUN.
有较小的黑子与它们相伴， BUT THEY'RE ALL ACCOMPANIED BY A SMALLER SUN SPOTS,
一组小不点，跟随着它们。 GROUPS OF SMALLER ONES, FOLLOWING THEM.
太阳黑斑，预示着光线被困在这个区域。 SUN SPOTS MARK AREAS WHERE LIGHT IS TRAPPED.
太阳的能量被从这里带走， SO, A SUN SPOT FORMS A DARK SPOT
形成了一个黑点。 BY REMOVING ENERGY FROM THAT PART OF THE SUN.
传输热量的对流运动受到阻挡 IT'S BLOCKING THE CONVECTIVE FLOWS THAT TRANSPORT THE HEAT
使光无法从太阳内部射向太空。 AND THE LIGHT FROM INSIDE THE SUN TO SPACE.
因此，我们看到的这部分较冷的区域 SO, WHAT WE SEE THEN IS A COOLER REGION
比太阳其它地方暗。 THAT APPEARS DARK TO US.
强大的力量阻止光子，把它们终结在路上， A POWERFUL FORCE STOPS OUR PHOTON DEAD IN ITS TRACKS,
防止它们带着光和能量逃离太阳。 PREVENTING ITS LIGHT AND ENERGY FROM LEAVING THE SUN'S SURFACE.
力量源自磁场。 THAT FORCE IS MAGNETISM.
来自太阳深处的强烈磁场， SUN SPOTS TAKE SHAPE WHERE INTENSE MAGNETISM
穿过光球层形成太阳黑子 FROM DEEP INSIDE THE SUN BLASTS UP THROUGH THE PHOTOSPHERE.
实际上，太阳磁场如此强大， THE MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE SO STRONG THAT IT ACTUALLY
以至于太阳内部与表面的 STOPS THE CONVECTIVE MOTION OF HOT INNER MATERIAL
对流活动都停止了。 FROM FLOWING TO THE SURFACE.
如今，你发现太阳表面 SO, YOU ACTUALLY GET WHAT LOOKS LIKE A COOL SPOT
看起来很酷的地方。 ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
它们非常巨大， THEY CAN BE HUGE,
为地球面积的10倍以上。 THE LARGEST OVER 10 TIMES THE SIZE OF EARTH.
覆盖太阳表面的磁力线 THE MAGNETISM THAT GENERATES THESE SUN SPOTS
来自其磁场，产生太阳黑点。 FORMS FIELD LINES COVERING THE SUN.
这些磁力线 ON OUR SOLID EARTH, THE WHOLE PLANET
会随着磁场一起旋转。 ROTATES TOGETHER, INCLUDING ITS MAGNETIC FIELD.
太阳是一个巨大的气态星球， BUT THE SUN IS A BIG BALL OF GAS,
地球上的规则，在这并不适用。 AND THE SAME RULES DON'T APPLY.
太阳表面除了气体什么都没有。 YOU SEE, THERE'S NOTHING SOLID ABOUT THE SUN.
就是一个巨大的气态星球。 IT'S A BIG BALL OF GAS.
沿自转轴转动， IT TURNS ON ITS AXIS,
赤道的转速比两极快得多。 BUT THE EQUATOR ROTATES FASTER THAN THE POLES.
太阳转动起来 THE SUN TWISTS ITSELF UP,
磁力线随之扭曲。 AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD TWISTS WITH IT.
磁场在两极比赤道旋转的快。 IT ROTATES FASTER AT THE EQUATOR THAN AT THE POLES,
每次转动，都会扭曲 TWISTING AND TANGLING ITS MAGNETIC FIELD
和纠缠它的磁力线。 WITH EACH ROTATION.
结果导致磁暴。 THE RESULT -- MAGNETIC MAYHEM.
因此，当这些黑斑在太阳表面出现时， SO, WHEN THESE FIELDS EMERGE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
它们的体内正在储备能量。 THEY HAVE ALL THIS STORED ENERGY IN THEM.
所有的能量，扭曲纠结在一起， THEY'RE, LIKE, ALL TWISTED AND KNOTTED,
如同橡皮筋，你扭转它 LIKE RUBBER BANDS YOU JUST TWIST AND KNOT
为其储存了很多能量。 WITH ALL THIS ENERGY IN IT.
假如你不停地，不停地，不停地扭转 IF YOU EVER TWIST AND TWIST AND TWIST A RUBBER BAND
并把它拉直， AND PULL IT STRAIGHT,
你将看到，并感到它是紧绷的。 YOU CAN TELL, YOU CAN FEEL THAT TENSION IN IT.
磁力线扭曲的地方， WHERE THE MAGNETIC LINES TWIST,
光子包裹在这股等离子流中， FLOWS OF PLASMA CONTAINING OUR PHOTON
无法冲出表面。 CAN'T REACH THE SURFACE.
因此，当这些气体到达太阳表面 SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE THESE PACKETS OF GAS
受到磁场束缚 WHICH REACH THE SURFACE, COOL OFF,
最终冷却。 BUT ARE TRAPPED RIGHT THERE BY THE MAGNETISM.
这片太阳表面一片黑暗， A PATCH OF THE SUN GOES DARK
光线无法逃脱。 WHERE LIGHT CAN'T ESCAPE.
诞生了一个太阳黑子。 A SUN SPOT IS BORN.
然而，盘绕的磁力线， BUT IN THAT TANGLE OF MAGNETIC LINES,
最终会发生崩溃。 SOMETHING EVENTUALLY HAS TO SNAP.
磁场受到束缚，很不爽。 THE MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE VERY UNHAPPY.
它们不喜欢受到压制， THEY DON'T LIKE THE STATE THAT THEY'RE IN,
想要冲脱羁绊。 AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS UNRAVEL.
巨大的磁能 HUGE LOOPS OF MAGNETIC ENERGY
盘旋在太阳的上方。 ARCH OUT OVER THE SUN SPOTS.
扭曲且不稳定，最终孤注一掷，喷出积压的能量。 TWISTED AND UNSTABLE, DESPERATE TO SPEW THEIR ENERGY,
这些能量交织在一起，创造了一颗磁力炸弹。 THEY CREATE A MAGNETIC BOMB PRIMED TO EXPLODE.
假如磁场储存了一定的能量 AND SO, IF ONE MAGNETIC FIELD WITH STORED ENERGY
并找到另一磁场，它们两两相望 SEES ANOTHER MAGNETIC FIELD, THOSE TWO LOOK AT EACH OTHER
然后说，“嘿，如果我们结合，就可以喷射更多能量。” AND SAY, "HEY, IF WE CONNECT, WE CAN GET RID OF A LOT OF ENERGY."
它们照做，它们联结。 THEY DO SO, THEY RECONNECT.
砰！ BADDOW!
一场巨大的爆炸，我们称之为太阳耀斑。 IT'S A HUGE EXPLOSION, AND WE CALL IT A SOLAR FLARE.
相当于数百万枚核武器 AND THIS CAN BE EQUIVALENT TO MILLIONS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
同时爆炸。 EXPLODING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
太阳耀斑以每小时 SOLAR FLARES ERUPT OUTWARDS INTO SPACE
450万英里的速度向太空 AT UP TO 4 1/2 MILLION MILES AN HOUR...
喷射巨大的能量 ...RELEASING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.
磁场将等离子物质 MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE THROWING PLASMA
从太阳表面抛出。 FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
突然间，爆发出大量的光。 SUDDENLY, THERE'S A LARGE OUTPOURING OF LIGHT.
经过近一百万年， AFTER NEARLY A MILLION YEARS,
这束光终于解脱了。 OUR PACKET OF LIGHT FINALLY MAKES ITS ESCAPE.
奔向自由， IT'S FREE,
与数亿个其它光子一起爆发， CATAPULTING OUT ALONG WITH TRILLIONS OF OTHER PHOTONS,
但是，它们的旅程远未结束。 BUT THEIR JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER.
更大的障碍，随之延伸到宇宙深处。 MOST HURDLE ONWARDS TO THE FAR REACHES OF THE COSMOS,
一个陌生的新世界。 TO STRANGE, NEW WORLDS.
经过近百万年的旅程 AFTER A NEARLY MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY
在太阳系最恶劣的环境中， THROUGH THE MOST HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
一束弱小的光-- TINY PARCELS OF LIGHT --
光子--终于迎来了太阳的爆发。 PHOTONS -- FINALLY BURST FROM THE SUN'S SURFACE.
它们奔向自由。 THEY'RE FREE.
光子经过艰苦的跋涉，终于可以自由的离开了。 THEY BASICALLY ARE FREE TO LEAVE THIS ARDUOUS JOURNEY
它们一直在太阳的内部。 THAT THEY'VE BEEN ON IN THE SUN.
然后，以光速飞出去。 AND THEN THEY FLY OUT AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
因此，对那些可怜的光子来说， SO, IT'S KIND OF A "BREAKING OUT OF PRISON" TYPE OF FEELING
这就如同“越狱”一样。 FOR THOSE POOR PHOTONS.
它们加速到每秒钟186000英里 THEY SPEED OUT INTO EMPTY SPACE
奔向太空。 AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND.
在离开太阳8.3分钟后， AND JUST 8.3 MINUTES AFTER IT LEAVES THE SUN,
光子飞到地球。 OUR PHOTON REACHES EARTH.
下次你看着天上的星辰， THE NEXT TIME YOU LOOK AT A STAR IN THE SKY,
当星光飞入眼帘， YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THE AMAZING JOURNEY
你可能会想起这次惊人的旅程。 THE PHOTONS HAVE TAKEN ON THEIR WAY TO REACHING YOUR EYE.
它们来自恒星核心的深处， THEY WERE CREATED BY NUCLEAR REACTIONS
始于核反应，经过四处弹跳， DEEP IN THE CORE OF THE STARS, AND THEN THEY BOUNCED AROUND
消耗过盛的能量，降成低能光束。 AND GOT DEGRADED INTO LOWER ENERGY PHOTONS.
然后在对流区， AND THEN IN THE CONVECTIVE ZONE,
它们借助等离子体的热量运动 THEY WERE CARRIED BY MASS MOTIONS OF GAS.
最终抵达太阳表面，被喷发出去。 AND FINALLY, AT THE EDGE, THEY WERE SET FREE.
一路畅通无阻，终于到达了你的眼睛。 AND THEY TRAVELED UNIMPEDED AND FINALLY REACHED YOUR EYES.
我们的光子终于飞来了， OUR PHOTON FINALLY ARRIVES,
照射在一片叶子上，传递它的能量。 SMASHES INTO A LEAF, AND PASSES ON ITS ENERGY.
这就是光和作用， THIS IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS,
食物链中的基本环节。 THE FUNDAMENTAL LINK IN OUR FOOD CHAIN.
最终，它带着来自太阳的能量，为植物的生长助力， FINALLY, CARRYING ENERGY BORN INSIDE THE SUN'S CORE,
我们的光子和它的数十亿同伴一起 OUR PHOTON AND BILLIONS LIKE IT
点燃地球上最原始的生命之火 IGNITE THE PRIMAL FIRES OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET.
阳光创造我们的燃料，影响我们的天气， THE SUN'S LIGHT CREATES OUR FUEL, DRIVES OUR WEATHER,
扰动我们的海洋。 CHURNS OUR SEAS.
每天，充足的光子冲入地球 EVERY SINGLE DAY, ENOUGH PHOTONS HIT THE EARTH
为地球文明提供能量，达27年之久。 TO POWER OUR CIVILIZATION FOR 27 YEARS.
阳光不仅带来温暖和热量。 THE SUN'S LIGHT IS MORE THAN JUST WARMTH AND HEAT.
还提供了我们生存所需的一切。 IT PROVIDES EVERYTHING WE NEED TO SURVIVE.
没有阳光，就没有我们。 WITHOUT LIGHT, WE ARE NOTHING.
它是我们生命的能量源泉， ALL OF THE ENERGY THAT POWERS OUR BIOLOGY,
温暖我们的星球，使生命可以存活。 THE THING THAT MAKES OUR PLANET WARM, THAT MAKES LIFE POSSIBLE,
一切都来自太阳。 THAT ALL COMES FROM THE SUN.
每秒有数万亿个光子撞击地球， TRILLIONS OF PHOTONS HIT THE EARTH EVERY SECOND,
每个都为生命提供能量。 EACH DELIVERING LIFE-GIVING ENERGY.
然而，对于那些同我们擦肩而过的光子来说， BUT FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE NUMBER WHO PASS US BY,
旅程远没有结束。 THE JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER.
离开太阳八十分钟后， AROUND 80 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE SUN,
它们到达土星。 THEY REACH SATURN.
四个小时后到达海王星。 AFTER FOUR HOURS, NEPTUNE.
一旦光子离开太阳表面， ONCE A PHOTON LEAVES THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
就可以自由的飞翔， IT'S FREE TO TRAVEL AS FAR AS IT CAN,
凭其本事，能横跨宇宙， AND AS FAR AS IT CAN CAN BE LITERALLY ACROSS THE UNIVERSE,
飞到数十亿光年之外。 BILLIONS OF LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
仅仅18个小时之后， THEY SHOOT PAST THE OUTER REACHES
它们就飞到太阳系之外。 OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM IN JUST 18 HOURS.
在那里，太阳就是远处一个昏暗的光斑。 HERE, THE SUN IS A DIM SPECK IN THE DISTANCE.
但是，光子继续它的旅程，飞入太空的深处。 BUT THE PHOTONS KEEP ON GOING, OUT INTO DEEP SPACE.
在1200年后，一部分光子 IN 1,200 YEARS, SOME OF THE PHOTONS
抵达开普勒-62的红矮星系。 REACH THE RED DWARF STAR SYSTEM KEPLER-62,
一个具有可能适宜居住的类地行星的恒星系。 A SOLAR SYSTEM WITH POTENTIALLY HABITABLE EARTH-LIKE PLANETS.
在我们的银河系， IN OUR GALAXY,
有数十亿颗类似地球的行星。 THERE ARE BILLIONS OF EARTH-LIKE PLANETS.
如果那里有生命，它能看到来自我们太阳的光吗？ IF THERE IS LIFE OUT THERE, CAN IT SEE THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN?
如果存在外星人， IF ALIENS EXIST OUT THERE,
它们很容易就能看到太阳的光。 THEY COULD EASILY SEE THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN.
假如它们离我们足够近， IF THEY'RE SUFFICIENTLY NEARBY,
在它们的夜空中，太阳可能是一颗用肉眼或望远镜 THE SUN MIGHT BE A NAKED-EYE STAR IN THEIR SKY
就能看到的星星， OR WITH TELESCOPES,
即使从很远的距离， THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DETECT THE SUN
外星人也能观测太阳。 EVEN FROM VASTLY GREATER DISTANCES.
所以，显而易见的是 SO, THERE'S A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY
外星人正在研究太阳，而我们却不知道 THAT ALIENS ARE STUDYING OUR SUN RIGHT NOW WITHOUT REALIZING
其实，我们研究宇宙，它们同样也不知道。 THAT WE'RE HERE TRYING TO STUDY THE UNIVERSE, AS WELL.
继续旅程 HURDLING ON,
在1500年内，光子将通过马头星云 THE PHOTONS PASS THE HORSEHEAD NEBULA IN 1,500 YEARS
在7000年后，飞跃创世之柱。 AND THE PILLARS OF CREATION IN 7,000.
在那里，我们恒星发出的光 AT THESE DISTANCES, THE LIGHT FROM OUR STAR
太过微弱，无法用肉眼观测， IS TOO SMALL TO BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE,
但是，通过强大的望远镜，仍然能看到它。 BUT IT WOULD BE VISIBLE WITH A POWERFUL TELESCOPE.
我们可以在地球或太空 AND WITH THE BIGGEST TELESCOPES
建造更大的望远镜， THAT WE CAN CREATE HERE ON EARTH OR IN SPACE,
使我们在宇宙的另一端， WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE LIGHT FROM STARS
百亿光年之外， AT THE OTHER END OF THE UNIVERSE,
看到恒星发出的光 OVER 10 BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
这时，太阳的光正横穿宇宙。 AND SO THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN IS TRAVELING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
我们的阳光， SO, THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN,
与地球擦肩而过，开启永恒的旅行。 THE LIGHT FROM THE EARTH, TRAVELS ESSENTIALLY FOREVER.
下一次，你站在晴朗的夜空下， THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE OUT UNDER A CLEAR SKY
昂首眺望， AND YOU LOOK UP,
可能你想挥舞手臂， YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAVE BECAUSE SOMEBODY OUT THERE
因为外星人可能会看到你，并向你挥手致意。 MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE YOU AND WAVE BACK.
说不定某个文明正穿越宇宙， OUR TINY STAR IS VISIBLE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
看到我们小小的太阳。 IF SOMEONE IS LOOKING.
在可见宇宙中，每一处地方， THERE ISN'T A SINGLE PLACE IN OUR VISIBLE UNIVERSE
都可以看到我们的太阳， THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE SUN FROM,
这多么令人振奋。 AND MAYBE THAT'S HEARTENING.
在宇宙的另一端，也许有一些证据 MAYBE THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE OF OUR EXISTENCE
能够证明我们的存在。 AT THE OTHER END OF THE UNIVERSE.
几十亿年内，人类都不会到达那里， WON'T GET THERE FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS,
但是，我们不会被遗忘。 BUT AT LEAST MAYBE WE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN.
始于太阳核心深处的旅程 A JOURNEY THAT STARTED DEEP INSIDE THE CORE OF THE SUN
一粒光子经历百万年的奋斗 WITH A PHOTON, A MILLION-YEAR STRUGGLE
逃脱太阳的束缚。 TO FINALLY ESCAPE THE SUN'S GRIP.
一旦获得自由， ONCE FREE, OUR PHOTON
光子就把能量，温暖，以及生命带到我们的世界。 BROUGHT ENERGY, HEAT, AND LIFE TO OUR WORLD.
来自太阳的光芒与数万亿颗恒星的光芒交织在一起 LIGHT FROM OUR SUN JOINS LIGHT FROM TRILLIONS OF OTHER STARS
开启穿越宇宙的旅程， JOURNEYING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE,
把能量洒向整个宇宙。 SPREADING ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE COSMOS.