Sending messages into deep space could be the best way for Earthlings to find extraterrestrial (地球以外的) intelligence, but it carries a risk: alerting unfriendly aliens to our presence. Game theory may provide a way to deal with this situation.
So far the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has mostly been restricted to listening for signs of technology elsewhere. Only a few attempts have been made to broadcast messages towards distant starts. Many scientists are against such “active” SETI for fear of revealing our presence. If all aliens feel the same way then no one will be broadcasting, and the chance of detecting each other is limited.
To weigh up the potential losses and gains, Harold de Vladar of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in Klosterneuburg turned to the prisoner’s dilemma, a game-theory problem in which two prisoners choose between admitting their shared crime or keeping quiet, with different sentences depending on what they say. An individual prisoner gets off scot free if he betrays (出卖) a partner who remains silent, with the silent partner getting a maximum sentence. If they both betray each other, each gets a medium sentence. By contrast, if both stay silent, both get minimum sentences---the best overall result.
De Vladar reasoned that the SETI dilemma is essentially the same, but reversed. Mutual betrayal for prisoners is equivalent to mutual silence for aliens. And while a selfish prisoner stops keeping silent, a selfish civilization is silent, waiting for someone else to take the risk of waving “Over here!” at the rest of the universe.
This led de Vladar to apply the mathematics of the prisoner’s dilemma to SETI. In the classic version of the prisoner’s dilemma, each selfishly betrays the other. But as we do not know the character of any aliens out there, and as it is difficult to put a value on the benefits to science, culture and technology of finding an advanced civilization, de Vladar varied the reward of finding aliens and the cost of unfriendly aliens finding us. The result was a range of best broadcasting strategies. “It’s not about whether to do it or not, but how often,” says Vladar.
One interesting idea was that as you increase the rewards placed on finding aliens, you can decrease the frequency of broadcasts, while keeping the expected benefit to Earthlings the same. Being able to keep broadcasts to a minimum is good news, because they come with costs--- equipping our planet with transmitters won’t come cheap---and risk terrible disasters, such as interstellar (星际的) wars.
【小题1】According to the passage, which of the following can be classified as “passive” SETI?A.Concealing our presence from aliens. | B.Listening for signs of technology elsewhere. |
C.Broadcasting to distant stars. | D.Detecting the existence of aliens. |
A.both civilizations sending messages | B.people on the earth sending messages |
C.both civilizations keeping silent | D.people on the earth keeping silent |
A.Equipping the earth with the most advanced transmitters. |
B.Preparing for the disasters such as interstellar wars. |
C.Sending to space as few messages as possible. |
D.Decreasing the rewards for finding aliens. |
A.Earthlings are likely to be attacked by extraterrestrial intelligence. |
B.Scientists are looking for better approaches to finding aliens. |
C.Earthlings should be more active in broadcasting to aliens. |
D.Decision to contact aliens is a game-theory dilemma. |
In the early 1960s Wilt Chamberlain was one of only three players in the National Basketball Association (NBA)listed at over seven feet. If he had played last season, however, he would have been one of 42. The bodies playing major professional sports have changed dramatically over the years, and managers have been more than willing to adjust team uniforms to fit the growing numbers of bigger, longer frames.
The trend in sports, though, may be obscuring an unrecognized reality: Americans have generally stopped growing. Though typically about two inches taller now than 140 years ago, today's people-especially those born to families who have lived in the U. S. for many generations-apparently reached their limit in the early 1960s. And they aren't likely to get any taller. "In the general population today, at this genetic, environmental level, we've pretty much gone as far as we can go," says anthropologist William Cameron Chum-lea of Wright State University. In the case of NBA players, their increase in height appears to result from the increasingly common practice of recruiting players from all over the world.
Growth, which rarely continues beyond the age of 20, demands calories and nutrients-notably, protein--to feed expanding tissues. At the start of the 20th century, under-nutrition and childhood infections got in the way. But as diet and health improved, children and adolescents have, on average, increased in height by about an inch and a half every 20 years, a pattern known as the secular trend in height. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, average height--5 '9" for men, 5'4" for women--hasn't really changed since 1960.
Genetic maximums can change, but don't expect this to happen soon. Claire C. Gordon, senior anthropologist at the Army Research Center in Natick, Mass ensures that 90 percent of the uniforms and workstations fit recruits without alteration. She says that, unlike those for basketball, the length of military uniforms has not changed for some time. And if you need to predict human height in the near future to design a piece of equipment, Gordon says that by and large, "you could use today's data and feel fairly confident."
【小题1】Wilt Chamberlain is cited as an example to_________.A.illustrate the change of height of NBA players. |
B.show the popularity of NBA players in the U.S.. |
C.compare different generations of NBA players. |
D.assess the achievements of famous NBA players. |
A.Genetic modification. | B.Living standards. |
C.Natural environment. | D.Daily exercise. |
A.the garment industry will reconsider the uniform size. |
B.the design of military uniforms will remain unchanged. |
C.genetic testing will be employed in selecting sportsmen. |
D.the existing data of human height will still be applicable. |
A.the change of human height follows a cyclic pattern. |
B.human height is becoming even more predictable. |
C.Americans have reached their genetic growth limit. |
D.the genetic pattern of Americans has altered. |
AL's friend Rachel invited him to go to the lake for the day with her family. Rachel really hoped he'd say yes.
AL turned Rachel down.
The truth about guys.
Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance.
Why is body image important?
Body image is a person's opinions, thoughts, and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance.
How does puberty (青春期)affect body image?
Although body image is just one part of our self-image, during the teen years, and especially during puberty, it can be easy for a guy's whole self-image to be based on how his body looks.
It could be in your genes (基因).
Lots of guys can have high expectations for puberty, thinking they'll develop quickly or in a certain way.
A.You may hear a lot about being a tough guy. |
B.He like Rachel, too, but was self-conscious about taking off his T-shirt. |
C.Having a positive body image means feeling pretty satisfied with the way you look. |
D.The good news is that self-image and body image can be changed. |
E.But the reality is that a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. |
F.The best way to approach your own growth is to look at everyone in your family. |
G.That's because our bodies are changing so much during this time that they can become the main focus of our attention. |
注意:请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。每个空格只填一个单词。
Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space instead of on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? With the wide spread of a species, human beings can get high chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential resources to be found. Even if we have no need of them right now, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spinoffs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even nonstick pans and mirrored sunglasses are byproducts of technological developments in the space.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
Space Exploration | |
Outline of the paragraphs | Detailed information |
Why should we explore space? Why should we invest so much with few visible benefits? Why should resources be spent on space | |
Reasons for exploring space | It is human The Human beings genetically tend to expand where possible. |
By exploring we can have the information and understanding that can help us identify and get | |
Human beings can have unexpected benefits by exploring space. We can find more minerals for future use even if we don't need them Besides physical possession, we can acquire knowledge or techniques through exploration, which results in | |
Faced with danger, human beings' | |
Conclusion | Space exploration may help us |
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