I have a trivia question for you, Don.
唐,我有個小問題想問你,
What do the Ebola virus,anthrax, and the avian flu have in common?
埃博拉病毒、炭疽熱和禽流感這些疾病有哪些共同的特點?
After all, they're some of the most dangerous, deadly diseases around.
歸根到底,它們是最危險、最致命的疾病。
On today's A Moment ofScience, we're looking at a less expected link among these types of disease: the risk that's involvedin researching them.
在今天的科學一刻節目里,我們將探索與這些疾病有關但很少被關注的聯系:即研究它們所產生的風險。
You see, scientific research into how dangerous diseases work is an inherently risky business.
眾所周知,關于高危疾病的科學研究總是非常危險的。
Byincreasing the amount of information that's available about lethal organisms such as anthrax,research also increases the risk of those pathogens being used for nefarious purposes bybioterrorists.
通過研究炭疽熱等致命微生物,我們可以加深對這類病毒的認知,但是與此同時,這種研究也增提高了風險,因為這些致命病毒有可能被生化恐怖分子利用。

On the other hand, though, the more we know about these pathogens, the better equipped weare to predict the risks associated with them, develop vaccines that can prevent their spread, orto treat illness quickly in the case of an outbreak.
換句話說,我們對這些病原體了解得越多,我們就可以更好地應對與這些疾病相關的風險,并可以研發疫苗以預防它們的傳播,或者一旦疫病大規模爆發我們可以迅速控制疫情。
Any research that has the potential to be used toward both beneficial and destructive purposeshas a special classification.
如果某類研究可以同時被用于有益或者有害目的,那么這種研究有一個特殊的分類。
It's called Dual Use Research of Concern, or, DURC for short.
這種類別被稱為雙重用途研究,或簡稱為DURC。
DURC is highly regulated.
雙重用途研究的監管很嚴格。
Scientists need special security clearance if their work has dual useconcern.
如果科學家的工作中有被定義為雙重用途的,那么他們需要經過特殊的安全檢查。
They must have specialized training, they use top notch safety equipment, and theirwork is carefully and constantly reviewed.
他們必須受到特殊的訓練,他們使用的是最高級別的安全設備,并且他們的工作也要接受持續細致的審查。
Most importantly, though, projects stamped with theDURC classification have to demonstrate that the potential benefits of the knowledge they willgenerate outweigh their risks.
最重要的是,被定義為雙重用途研究的項目需要證明其產生的收益會超過所帶來的風險。
DURC made a lot of headlines in 2012, thanks to a group of scientists who study the avian flu.
2012年,雙重用途研究制造了相當多的頭條新聞,這要感謝那些研究禽流感的科學家團隊。
Formore details about that risky research, tune in next time.
更多關于風險研究的資訊,請關注下期節目。