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If this star is what we think it is,
如果这恒星如我们所想
as it dies it will produce two tightly focused beams of radiation,
就会在消亡过程中产生两束聚焦辐射束
one from each pole.
两极各射出一束
The star destroys itself as it produces these beams
恒星在产生这两束辐射同时也在毁灭自己
which contain more energy
其中蕴含的能量
than our sun will produce in its entire life.
比太阳一生所产生的能量还要多
The brightest known phenomena in the entire universe.
这是已知的宇宙中最亮的现象
No one is sure if WR 104 will do this
没人知道WR 104是否会产生这现象
or if the beam would strike the Earth,
也不知道这辐射束是否会射往地球
but if so, we could be bathed in high intensity radiation
但要是这样，我们将沐浴于高强度的辐射中
with some devastating consequences.
导致毁灭性的后果
The beam would cause spectacular auroras,
辐射束将产生壮观的极光现象
striking the ozone from the atmosphere,
破坏大气层中的臭氧层
allowing deadly radiation from the sun to strike the Earth.
让致命辐射从太阳直射地球
It may sound like science fiction,
这听起来也许有些像科幻小说
but this could be the second time skies like these
但这将是我们所能看到的第二次
have been seen from our world.
像这样的天空
450 million years ago,
四亿五千年前
over half of all living creatures were wiped out in a great extinction.
过半生物在一次大灭绝中消失殆尽
One explanation is that a gamma ray burster irradiated the planet so badly
其中一个解释就是伽马射线暴辐射到地球
that Earth's ecosystem virtually collapsed.
导致地球的生态系统几乎崩溃
I don't want to worry anyone,
我并不是想耸人听闻
but I think it's definitely a good idea
但我认为，人类到外太空探险
for the human race to venture far beyond the Earth.
是个不错的主意
We would be wise to keep our eggs in as many baskets as possible.
我们应该把鸡蛋放到尽可能多的篮子里
Thankfully that process has already begun.
庆幸的是那个计划已经开始了
In my opinion, the launch of Apollo 11
在我看来，阿波罗11号的发射
is probably the most important moment in human history.
是人类历史上的一个重要时刻
It was a turning part for the universe too.
这也是宇宙的转折点
Life in the form of us escaped its home planet.
我们这样的生命飞离母星
And stepped on another surface.
并站在了另一个星球上
