Suppose you're ambitious enough to try to describe everything in the observable universe in one single mathematical equation.
假设你雄心满满,想要用一个数学方程来描述可观测宇宙中的一切。
DONE. OK, so that doesn't include gravity or a few other little things…
搞定。好了,所以这个公式不包含重力或其他一些小东西......
but the point is, this equation describes, with incredible precision, what the earth is made of, what keeps the sun burning,
但问题是,这个方程式非常精确,它描述了地球的构成,是什么让太阳持续燃烧,
what allows us to breath, taste, mow the lawn, blow things up, and watch internet videos… all in one equation.
是什么让我们能够呼吸、进食、修理草坪、扔炸弹以及看网络视频……这一切都在一个方程式里。
And it's humbly called 'The Standard Model' - because even when they discover the most accurate scientific theory known to man, physicists are modest.
这个方程式非常谦逊地被称为‘标准模型’——因为即便物理学家们发现了人类已知的最准确的科学理论,他们还是很谦虚。
Now, the universe is a pretty big place (maybe even infinitely big), so it's reasonable to think that
宇宙是一个相当大的地方(甚至可能是无限大),所以我们有理由认为
you might need a lot more than just one equation to describe it all - so why is the standard model so simple?
我们可能需要比一个方程更多的东西来描述它——那么,为什么标准模型如此简单呢?
For starters, it's more like a recipe - and just as a recipe for cake assumes you already know how to sift flour,
首先,这个方程式更像是一个配方——就像是蛋糕食谱假定,你知道如何筛面粉,
beat egg whites, build an oven and grow wheat, this equation assumes you already know about path integrals,
打蛋清、做烤箱和种小麦一样,这个方程假设你已经知道路径积分,
gauge theories and so on - so there's a lot more than meets the eye.
规范理论等等——所以其中所包含的不仅仅是我们所看到的。
As for why an incredibly small set of mathematical rules appear to govern the universe? Well, that's a deep and unanswered question.
至于为什么这样一组难以置信的数学小规则似乎统治着宇宙?嗯,这是一个深奥而又无法回答的问题。
But the data show that math is the language of the cosmos – pick a few elementary particles, set them on a high-energy collision course, and BAM!
但数据表明,数学是宇宙的语言——挑选一些基本粒子,让它们进入高能碰撞轨道,然后砰!
When the sparks fly, the standard model will describe the fireworks – to twelve-decimal places of precision!
当火花飞舞时,标准模型将精确地描述烟花——精确到12位小数!
Anyway, in the next few MinutePhysics videos we'll explain all sorts of the cool ingredients that make up the standard model,
在接下来的几期视频中,我们将解释各种构成标准模型的超酷成分,
like quantum fields, fundamental forces, quarks, gluons, ghost particles, and of course, the higgs field.
比如量子场、基本力、夸克,胶子、幽灵粒子,当然还有希格斯场。
It's an ambitious task, and I hope you're ready for it!
这可是个大任务,希望大家准备好啦!