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Alien life could range from simple,
外星生物可能還在進化初期
green slime that doesn't do much but drip
如一些沿石壁流下的綠色粘液
to more advanced animals something with a bit more bite.
也可能是相當高等的動物，例如嚙齒類動物
But, of course, that's just the start of what could be out here.
但當然，這不過是最初的猜想
In such a massive universe,
在如此浩瀚的宇宙中
it's logical to wonder if there are intelligent beings,
我們自然會想，是否有智能生物存在
perhaps even civilizations like those in science-fiction TV shows and movies.
或許還有科幻片里描繪的外星文明
"Star Wars" and "Star Trek," two of my personal favorites,
《星球大戰》與《星際迷航》這兩部我最愛的電影
may be closer to reality than we think.
或許遠比我們的想象更貼近現實
Similar scenarios are at least conceivable.
至少很可能擁有相似的情節
But think about it more, and even this is limiting the options.
但若深思，這其實也大大縮小了現實的可能
There could be life forms so strange
他們可能外表太過稀奇古怪
we wouldn't even recognize them as life.
以至我們都認不出那是生物
Perhaps there are really exotic creatures that live in center of stars
亦或許他們習性奇特，居然生存在恒星的內部
or even huge communities of microorganisms
他們甚至可能是像宇宙塵埃一般的
that look like clouds of cosmic dust.
龐大的微生物群落
Maybe aliens live and die so fast
也許外星生物的生命如此短暫
that they come and go in the blink of an eye.
由生到死，不過轉瞬
So in such a vast universe with so many possibilities,
總之在如此浩瀚的宇宙中，存在著無盡可能
how do we know what to look for or,
我們如何知曉要尋找的究竟為何物
for that matter, where to look for it?
更何況，又該從何入手呢
The answer is right back where we began.
一切都要回到人類起源之處去探尋
The information we need is here at home,
我們所需的線索，都在地球之上
for the simple reason that home harbors the only known examples of life.
只因為唯有此地孕育著為人所知的生命
The laws of physics appear to be the same everywhere,
物理學法則似乎放之四海而皆準
So it follows that the laws of life should be universal, too.
以此類推，生命法則也應如是
Even if the detail is different,
即使細枝末節或有不同
We can use life on earth
我們可將地球上生物
as a kind of alien hunters' handbook.
作為一本了解外星生命的指南手冊
A field guide to what life actually is, and how it works
來引導我們了解生命本質及其機理
no matter where it occurs.
無論它起源于何處
