Interactive transcript · 132 lines
Good morning and a very warm welcome to TalkCast, your premier early morning science and technology digest.
早上好，非常欢迎收听 TalkCast，您最首选的早间科技文摘。
I am Caleb.
我是凯莱布。
And I am Chloe.
我是克洛伊。
Good morning, everyone.
大家早上好。
It is September 14th, 2026, and we are absolutely thrilled to have you with us as you start your day.
今天是2026年9月14日，在您开始新的一天之际，能有您的陪伴我们感到非常激动。
We have got an incredible intellectual feast lined up for you this morning.
今天早上我们为您准备了一场不可思议的智力盛宴。
Indeed we do, Chloe.
确实如此，克洛伊。
Today, we are diving deep into the mysteries of cosmic expansion, examining the rapid physical
今天，我们将深入探讨宇宙膨胀的奥秘，审视快速的物理
changes of our closest planetary neighbors, and exploring how life at the microscopic level can
我们最近行星邻居的变化，并探索微观层面的生命如何能
perform computations without even possessing a brain.
在甚至不拥有大脑的情况下进行计算。
And as always, a heartfelt thank you to our global community of TalkCast members and subscribers.
一如既往，衷心感谢我们 TalkCast 全球会员和订阅者社区。
Your enthusiasm and support are what allow us to bring these fascinating scientific breakthroughs to
正是您的热情与支持，让我们能够将这些引人入胜的科学突破带给
English learners worldwide.
全世界的英语学习者。
If you enjoy our content, do not forget to share it with your fellow language enthusiasts. Absolutely.
如果您喜欢我们的内容，别忘了分享给您的语言爱好者同伴。那是当然。
Now, let us tease today's primary headlines.
现在，让我们来预告一下今天的主要头条新闻。
We begin in deep space, where a monumental study of nearly 3 ,000 supernovas has challenged a century
我们从外太空开始，一项针对近3000颗超新星的重大研究对一个世纪
-old cosmological assumption about dark energy.
以来的暗能量宇宙学假设提出了挑战。
Following that, we examine Mercury, which appears to be shrinking at a pace that has left geologists astonished.
在此之后，我们将观察水星，它似乎正在以一种让地质学家感到吃惊的速度萎缩。
And that's not all.
这还不仅如此。
We'll also look at how single -celled bacteria are mimicking artificial neural networks to store memories.
我们还将看看单细胞细菌是如何模仿人工神经网络来存储记忆的。
And finally, we'll share an inspiring story of a 14 -year -old student whose origami experiment could
最后，我们将分享一个励志故事，一名14岁学生的折纸实验可能
revolutionize disaster relief engineering.
彻底改变救灾工程学。
Let us commence with our lead story.
让我们从头条新闻开始。
For nearly three decades, the standard model of cosmology has treated dark energy as a cosmological constant.
近三十年来，标准宇宙学模型一直将暗能量视为宇宙学常数。
This is a static, unchanging force that accelerates the expansion of the universe, originally
这是一种静态的、不变的力量，能够加速宇宙的膨胀，最初
conceptualized by Albert Einstein. Right.
由阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦构想出来。对。
The famous cosmological constant, often symbolized by the Greek letter lambda.
著名的宇宙学常数，通常用希腊字母 lambda 来象征。
It has basically been treated as a permanent feature of the fabric of space -time, right?
它基本上被视为时空结构的一个永久特征，对吧？
Like a cosmic cruise control. Precisely.
就像宇宙巡航定速一样。确切如此。
However, a major paradigm shift may be underway.
然而，一场重大的范式转变可能正在进行中。
An international team of astrophysicists has analyzed a massive dataset of 2 ,884 supernovas,
一个由天体物理学家组成的国际团队分析了包含 2884 颗超新星的海量数据集，
combining it with maps of galaxies and the Big Bang's afterglow.
将其与星系图和大爆炸的余辉结合起来。
What they discovered is that dark energy might not be constant after all.
他们的发现是，暗能量可能根本就不是恒定的。
Instead, it seems to be evolving, changing its strength over cosmic time.
相反，它似乎在演化，在漫长的宇宙岁月中改变其强度。
Wait, Caleb, this is absolutely mind -bending.
等等，凯莱布，这绝对是令人震撼的。
If dark energy is dynamic rather than constant, what does that mean for our understanding of the universe?
如果暗能量是动态的而非恒定的，那对我们理解宇宙意味着什么？
It's like realizing our cosmic cruise control has a driver who is slowly stepping on the gas pedal,
这就好比意识到我们宇宙的巡航定速系统中有一个正在慢慢踩下油门踏板的司机，
or perhaps releasing it.
或者可能正在松开它。
That is an excellent metaphor, Chloe.
那是一个极好的比喻，克洛伊。
If dark energy is indeed evolving, it means the ultimate fate of our universe is much more complex.
如果暗能量确实在演化，这意味着我们宇宙的最终命运要复杂得多。
Rather than expanding forever into a cold, dark void, the universe could eventually slow its
宇宙最终可能会放缓其膨胀步伐，而不是永远膨胀进寒冷而黑暗的虚空，
expansion, or even collapse in on itself in a big crunch billions of years from now.
甚至在数十亿年后自行坍缩成一场大挤压。
It forces us to entirely re -evaluate our fundamental equations of physics.
它迫使我们重新评估物理学中最基础的方程。
Never have I heard a more compelling reason to keep looking at the stars.
我从未听过比这更令人信服的继续仰望星空的理由。
It just goes to show that even our most cherished scientific principles are always subject to
这恰恰表明，即使是我们最珍视的科学原理也总是取决于
revision when new, high -quality data arrives. Exactly.
在新高质量数据到来时的修订。一点没错。
Now, turning our gaze from the grand scale of the cosmos to our own solar system, let us talk about Mercury.
现在，将我们的目光从宏大的宇宙尺度转向我们自己的太阳系，让我们谈谈水星。
Our innermost planetary neighbor is experiencing some dramatic structural changes.
我们最内部的行星邻居正在经历一些剧烈的结构变化。
Ah, yes, Mercury, the scorched cratered rock closest to the sun.
啊，是的，水星，那块离太阳最近的被灼烧的满是陨石坑的岩石。
I understand it as shrinking, but is this not a process that has been happening for billions of
我知道它正在萎缩，但这难道不是一个已经持续了数十亿年的过程吗？
years as its core cools down? Yes.
随着其核心冷却的岁月？是的。
Planetary contraction is a known phenomenon.
行星收缩是一种已知现象。
As Mercury's massive iron core cools, the planet's volume decreases, causing its rocky crust to
随着水星巨大的铁核冷却，该行星的体积减少，导致其岩石地壳
buckle and wrinkle, forming giant cliffs known as lobate scarps.
弯曲和褶皱，形成被称为舌状断崖的巨大悬崖。
However, new geological analyses indicate that this shrinking is happening much faster and more
然而，新的地质分析表明，这种收缩发生得更快、更
extensively than scientists previously calculated. Fascinating.
相比于科学家先前计算的要更为广泛。太吸引人了。
So what are these new clues that geologists have uncovered to prove this accelerated contraction?
那么地质学家揭开了什么新线索来证明这种加速收缩呢？
Scientists have identified smaller, secondary fractures called grabenz.
科学家们识别出了被称为地堑的较小的次生断裂。
These grabenz form when the crust is stretched as it wrinkles.
这些地堑是在地壳褶皱时被拉伸而形成的。
Because these features are incredibly delicate and small, they should be easily obliterated by
因为这些特征非常精细且微小，它们本应很容易被抹去
meteorite impacts over time, yet we see them in pristine condition.
随着时间的推移受到陨石撞击，然而我们却看到它们处于完好如初的状态。
This suggests that these grabenz are geologically young, meaning Mercury is actively and rapidly
这表明这些地堑在地质上很年轻，意味着水星正活跃地且快速地
shrinking as we speak.
在讲话之际收缩。
So it's like a grape dehydrating and turning into a wrinkly raisin, but on a planetary scale, and at
所以这就像一颗葡萄脱水变成有褶皱的葡萄干，但这是在行星尺度上，并且以
a surprisingly rapid clip.
令人惊讶的迅速速度。
It makes you realize that even planets we think of as dead and inactive are still dynamically changing. Indeed.
这让你意识到，即使是我们认为死寂且不活跃的行星也在动态地变化着。确实如此。
Now, let us shrink our focus down to the microscopic level.
现在，让我们把焦点缩小到微观层面。
Our next story explores how simple bacteria can learn and store memories, operating in a remarkably
我们的下一个故事探索了简单的细菌如何学习和存储记忆，以一种显著地
similar to artificial neural networks.
类似于人工神经网络的方式运行。
Hold on a moment, Caleb.
稍等片刻，凯莱布。
Learning and memory without a brain?
没有大脑的学习和记忆？
Surely memory requires a complex nervous system with synaptic connections, doesn't it?
记忆当然需要带有突触连接的复杂神经系统，不是吗？
That was the traditional scientific consensus.
那是传统的科学共识。
But researchers have discovered that single -celled bacteria can store memories of past events by
但研究人员发现单细胞细菌可以通过
utilizing analog chemical processes.
利用模拟化学过程储存对过去事件的记忆。
They do not use digital signals like a modern computer, but rather rely on continuous shifts in
它们不像现代计算机那样使用数字信号，而是依赖于连续的变化，即
protein concentrations and chemical states.
蛋白质浓度和化学状态的变化。
Ah, analog computing.
啊，模拟计算。
Let us unpack that term for our listeners.
让我们为听众解读一下那个术语。
While digital computing is binary, operating on strict ones and zeros, analog computing uses
虽然数字计算是二进制的，在严格的1和0上运行，但模拟计算使用
continuous values.
连续的数值。
It is like the difference between a simple light switch that is either on or off, and a dimmer
这就像是一个简单的非开即关的电灯开关，与一个调光
switch that can adjust the light to any level in between.
能够将光线调节到介于两者之间任何水平的开关之间的区别。
That is a perfect explanation, Chloe.
那是一个完美的解释，克洛伊。
By adjusting these chemical levels in response to external stimuli, like light or nutrients, a
通过根据外部刺激（如光线或营养物质）调节这些化学水平，一个
single bacteria can adjust its future behavior based on its past experiences.
单个细菌可以根据过去的经验调整其未来的行为。
It essentially creates a physical record of the past, allowing it to adapt without needing a single neuron.
它本质上建立了过去的物理记录，使其无需单个神经元即可适应。
That is absolutely revolutionary.
这绝对是革命性的。
It suggests that consciousness and intelligence might not be an all -or -nothing phenomenon, but
这表明意识和智力可能不是非全即无的现象，而是
rather a spectrum that begins at the single -cell level.
一个始于单细胞层面的连续体。
If bacteria can run neural network -like processes, it might completely change how we design
如果细菌可以运行类似神经网络的过程，它可能会完全改变我们如何设计
biological computing systems in the future.
未来的生物计算系统。
It is a highly promising field of research.
这是一个非常有前景的研究领域。
Now, let us pivot to our final story for this morning, which is a wonderful example of how simple
现在，让我们转向今天早晨的最后一个故事，这是一个展现简单的
concepts can lead to extraordinary engineering breakthroughs.
概念如何导致非凡工程突破的极佳例子。
It concerns a 14 -year -old student from New York.
这涉及一名来自纽约的14岁学生。
A teenager?
一个青少年？
What has she accomplished?
她取得了什么成就？
She has designed an incredibly resilient structure based on origami, the traditional art of paper
基于折纸这种传统纸张艺术，她设计了一个具有惊人韧性的结构，
folding, that can support more than 9 ,000 times its own weight before collapsing.
折叠结构在坍塌前可以承受超过其自身重量9000倍的重量。
9 ,000 times its own weight?
是它自身重量的9000倍？
That is astronomical.
那真是天文数字般的庞大。
To put that in perspective, that is like a normal -sized human being supporting the weight of a fully
为了更直观地对比，这就像一个普通体型的人承受着一架
loaded passenger airplane?
满载的客机重量？
How did she test this?
她是怎样测试这一点的？
She systematically folded 54 variations of a single crease pattern, then stacked heavy dumbbells on
她有系统地折叠了同一种折痕图案的54种变体，然后在
top of them to observe their mechanical limits.
它们上方堆叠重型哑铃，以观察它们的机械极限。
Her objective was to design a lightweight, flat -packed structure that can be easily transported and
她的目标是设计一种轻量级、扁平化包装的结构，方便运输，并且
instantly popped open to serve as a sturdy disaster relief shelter.
能瞬间展开，充当坚固的救灾避难所。
What an elegant fusion of art, mathematics, and humanitarian engineering.
这真是艺术、数学和人道主义工程学的优雅融合。
It proves that you don't need millions of dollars in laboratory funding to make a meaningful
这证明了你不需要数百万美元的实验室资金就能做出有意义的
scientific contribution.
科学贡献。
Sometimes, all you need is a pack of paper, some dumbbells, and a brilliant curious mind.
有时，你只需要一包纸、几个哑铃和一个聪颖的好奇心。
I could not agree more, Chloe.
我 完全同意，克洛伊。
It is a deeply inspiring note to end our morning broadcast on.
用这样一个令人深受鼓舞的故事来结束我们的早间广播真是太棒了。
It certainly is.
确实如此。
Today, we have journeyed to the edge of the universe to see dark energy evolve, peered at the
今天，我们旅程来到了宇宙边缘看暗能量演化，凝视了
shrinking crust of mercury, looked inside the analog memory of a bacterium, and marveled at a
水星萎缩的地壳，探究了细菌的模拟记忆，并惊叹于一位
teenager's origami engineering.
青少年发明的折纸工程学。
And now we leave our listeners with a thought -provoking question for today's comment section.
现在我们给听众留下一道引发深思的问题，欢迎在今天的评论区讨论。
If you could design a temporary disaster shelter using origami principles, what shape or feature
如果你能利用折纸原理设计一个临时的灾害避难所，你会优先考量什么形状或功能
would you prioritize to make it safe and comfortable?
来优先确保它的安全与舒适？
That is a fantastic question.
那真是个绝妙的问题。
Listeners, please write down your thoughts in the comment section below, or take a look at what
听众朋友们，请在下方评论区写下你们的想法，或者看看
others have suggested.
其他人提出了什么建议。
We love seeing your creative ideas.
我们非常乐意看到大家富有创意的想法。
And as a final reminder, the complete English transcript and audio for this episode are regularly
最后提醒一下，本期节目的完整英文文稿和音频会定期
published on our website, www .talkcast .top, as well as on our official WeChat public account, Talkcast.
发布在我们的网站 www.talkcast.top 以及我们的微信公众号 Talkcast 上。
They are wonderful tools for refining your listening and reading comprehension.
它们是提升你听力和阅读理解能力的绝佳工具。
Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
非常感谢大家今天早晨加入我们。
Stay curious, have a wonderful day ahead, and we will see you in our next episode.
保持好奇，祝您度过美好的一天，我们下期节目再见。
Goodbye, everyone.
再见，大家。
