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This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. From websites and online stores to marketing tools and analytics,
本期节目由Squarespace赞助播出。从网站到在线商店再到市场工具和分析，
Squarespace is the all-in-one platform to build a beautiful online presence and run your business.
Squarespace是集创建美丽的在线形象和运营业务于一体的平台。
The appendix gets a bad rap.
阑尾的名声不怎么好。
You probably never think about it unless it's the reason you're doubled over in abdominal pain.
要不是腹部疼痛，你可能根本想不起它。
And for the most part, it gets written off as a useless organ left over from our evolutionary past.
很大程度上，它被认为是我们进化史中遗留下来的无用器官。
But even though you can usually ignore it, you've got to give your appendix some credit,
但即便你经常忽视它，还是得给你的阑尾一些赞誉，
because it might not be as useless as you thought.
因为它可能并没有大家想的那么毫无用处。
The appendix has evolved in mammals at least twenty-nine times, which is a pretty good sign that it does something.
哺乳动物的阑尾至少进化了29次，这是它有某些益处的一个很好迹象。
And back in 2016, an international team of researchers set out to understand why it appears so many times.
回到2016年，一直国际研究人员团队开始研究其进化多次的原因。
They started by looking at what kinds of things animals with appendixes have in common.
他们先观察有阑尾的动物有哪些共同之处。
But first, they had to define what an appendix even is,
但首先，他们必须定义阑尾是什么，
since the thing we call an appendix comes in all shapes and sizes across mammals.
因为被我们称为阑尾的器官，在动物身上形态大小各异。
As a starting point, the researchers defined it as a section of tissue extending from the cecum,
先开始，研究人员将其定义为从盲肠延伸出的一段组织，
the beginning of the large intestine. Then they used computer models to analyze data on hundreds of mammals.
盲肠是大肠的开端。然后他们用计算机模型分析了数百种哺乳动物的数据。
They gathered information about their habitats and social behavior and, of course, whether or not they had an appendix.
他们收集了有关这些动物栖息地以及社会习惯的信息，当然还是有它们是否有阑尾的信息。
They concluded two things. The first was that the appendix has evolved more times than it's been lost,
他们总结了两件事。第一，阑尾进化的次数比它消失的次数要多
so it must have some kind of evolutionary advantage.
所以阑尾一定有某种进化优势。
And second, after finding high concentrations of lymph tissue, which protects the body against foreign invaders,
第二，在发现高浓度的淋巴组织（保护身体对抗外来入侵者）后，
they concluded that the appendix is involved in immunity across mammals.
他们总结道，阑尾涉及哺乳动物的免疫功能。
And that seems to be the case for humans as well.
人类似乎也是如此。
Within the inner layers of the appendix, we find all kinds of densely packed immune cells,
在阑尾内层，我们发现了各种密集的免疫细胞，
including T and B cells and natural killer cells, which are all important parts of your body's immune response.
包括T和B细胞以及自然杀手细胞，这些都是人类身体免疫反应的重要部分。
But we also find a reservoir of good gut bacteria hanging out in there.
但我们也在那里发现了大量有益的肠道细菌。
It's the same type of bacteria that line the insides of the intestine, creating a protective barrier against invaders.
这和排列在大肠内部，创造对抗入侵者保护屏障的细菌属于同一类型。
Given its prime position just off the colon,
鉴于阑尾主要位于结肠附近，
researchers think the appendix might dish out emergency rations of gut bacteria in times of crisis,
研究人员认为阑尾可能会在危急时刻分发肠道细菌的应急口粮，
like during cases of extreme diarrhea. Diarrhea can flush out your intestines,
就像是在严重腹泻时那样。腹泻会冲出你的肠道
but the appendix may be able to provide a fresh population of the gut bacteria that keeps your digestion on track.
但是阑尾或许能够提供一群新鲜的肠道细菌，让你的消化系统保持正轨。
They say you don't know what you have until it's gone and it's true.
大家都说直到失去才懂得曾经拥有，这是真的。
One way to appreciate the immune function of the appendix is to see what happens when it comes out.
了解阑尾免疫功能的一个方法就是看它被切除时会发生什么。
A study published in 2015 found that patients who contracted a particular bacterial infection, called Clostridium difficile,
2015年发表的一项研究发现患有某种细菌（艰难梭菌）感染的病人
were twice as likely to develop a severe infection if they didn't have an appendix.
如果他们没有阑尾，那么发展成严重感染的几率是常人的两倍。
That study alone doesn't prove that the appendix prevents infection,
仅靠该研究无法证明阑尾预防感染，
but it does raise questions about whether or not surgeons should remove the appendix when they don't need to,
但它确实引发了关于外科医生是否应该在不必要时切除阑尾的问题
since that might actually cause trouble rather than prevent it.
因为这样真的可能会造成问题而不是解决麻烦。
That said, appendicitis can be deadly, so if your appendix needs to come out, it's coming out.
也就是说，阑尾炎是致命的，所以如果你的阑尾需要切除，就切除。
But otherwise, maybe we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss this organ that's usually just trying to be a pal.
但除此之外，也许我们不应该这么快就忽视这个器官，它通常只是想成为我们的朋友。
And speaking of making your life easier, Squarespace makes it painless to design your own website.
说到让你的生活变得更加轻松，Squarespace会让设计自己的网站变得轻松。
You don't even have to know how to code!
你甚至不需要知道如何编码！
We actually designed the SciShow website in Squarespace because it was easy to use and update.
我们就是在Squarespace设计的Scishow网站，因为这样使用和更新都很方便。
You can customize the layout of your content, drag and drop images, and integrate apps like PayPal and Venmo.
你可以自定义内容的布局，拖放图片，整合PayPal和Venmo等应用。
Squarespace also gives you access to real-time analytics to help you refine your email strategy
Squarespace还可以让你访问实时分析，帮助你完善你的电子邮件策略
or learn what content brings people to your page. And you can get started with a free trial at Squarespace.com.
或是了解什么内容吸引别人来到你的主页。你可以从Squarespace.com网站免费试用开始。
When you're ready to launch, save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at squarespace.com/SCISHOW.
当你准备好启动时，在squarespace.com/SCISHOW购买网站或域名时享九折优惠。
