I was hopelessly stuck.

我曾經絕望地被困住了，

Every research direction that I tried

我所嘗試的每一個研究方向，

led to a dead end.

都帶我進了死胡同，

It seemed like my basic assumptions

那看起來像是我的數個基本假設

just stopped working.

就是不管用的。

I felt like a pilot flying through the mist,

我覺得我像是個飛行員要穿越雲霧，

and I lost all sense of direction.

我完全不知道要往哪兒去；

I stopped shaving.

我不再刮鬍子、

I couldn't get out of bed in the morning.

早上都離不開床了，

I felt unworthy

我感到沒有資格

of stepping across the gates of the university,

踏進大學的大門，

because I wasn't like Einstein or Newton

因為我不像愛恩斯坦、牛頓

or any other scientist whose results

或者是其他的科學家們， 他們的研究成果

I had learned about, because in science,

我都曾經學習過的，在科學界

we just learn about the results, not the process.

我們就是學習結果而不是過程，

And so obviously, I couldn't be a scientist.

所以很顯然地， 我不能成為一個科學家！

But I had enough support

但是我有足夠的支持、助力，

and I made it through

我走過來了，

and discovered something new about nature.

還發現了一些有關天性的新東西。

This is an amazing feeling of calmness,

這有一種不可思議的平靜，

being the only person in the world

身為這世上唯一一個人

who knows a new law of nature.

知道一條天性的新規則來說，

And I started the second project in my Ph.D,

接著我啟動我攻讀博士學位 的第二個研究計畫，

and it happened again.

又來了！

I got stuck and I made it through.

我又卡住了、我還是走過來了，

And I started thinking,

我開始思考，

maybe there's a pattern here.

也許有一個規律在這裡面，

I asked the other graduate students, and they said,

我問了其他的研究生們，而他們跟我說：

"Yeah, that's exactly what happened to us,

「對耶！那就是發生在我們身上的情形，

except nobody told us about it."

只是沒人跟我們談過這些」。

We'd all studied science as if it's a series

我們全都學過，科學就好像是一連串

of logical steps between question and answer,

合邏輯的步驟連結在問題與答案之間，

but doing research is nothing like that.

但是做研究就不是這麼一回事的。

At the same time, I was also studying

相同時間，我也在學習

to be an improvisation theater actor.

要成為即興演出劇場的表演者，

So physics by day,

白天是物理，

and by night, laughing, jumping, singing,

到了晚上大笑、大跳、演唱、

playing my guitar.

演奏吉他，

Improvisation theater,

即興演出劇場

just like science, goes into the unknown,

就像是科學一樣 要進入未知的領域，

because you have to make a scene onstage

因為你必須在舞台上表演

without a director, without a script,

而沒有導演、劇本，

without having any idea what you'll portray

你完全沒有頭緒要去描繪什麼，

or what the other characters will do.

或是其他角色會做些甚麼。

But unlike science,

不過不像是科學，

in improvisation theater, they tell you from day one

在即興演出劇場 他們從第一天就告訴你

what's going to happen to you when you get onstage.

當你上了舞台會發生甚麼事，

You're going to fail miserably.

你將會很悲慘地失敗、

You're going to get stuck.

你會被卡住。

And we would practice staying creative

而我們會練習保持有創造力

inside that stuck place.

在這個被卡住的地方。

For example, we had an exercise

例如我們有一個練習，

where we all stood in a circle,

我們站著圍出圓圈，

and each person had to do the world's worst tap dance,

而每一個人都要跳出 世界上最糟糕的踢踏舞，

and everybody else applauded

然後每一個人都會鼓掌、

and cheered you on,

為你打氣、

supporting you onstage.

支持你上舞台。

When I became a professor

當我變成了一個教授後，

and had to guide my own students

必須指導我自己的學生，

through their research projects,

通過他們的研究專案，

I realized again,

我又明白到了，

I don't know what to do.

我不知道要怎麼做，

I'd studied thousands of hours of physics,

我已經學習了上千個鐘頭的物理學、

biology, chemistry,

生物學、化學等，

but not one hour, not one concept

但是卻沒有一個鐘頭、一個概念，

on how to mentor, how to guide someone

在如何指導、帶領其他人

to go together into the unknown,

一起進入未知的領域，

about motivation.

以及有關激勵學生？

So I turned to improvisation theater,

所以我改用即興演出劇院的經驗，

and I told my students from day one

打從第一天我就告訴學生，

what's going to happen when you start research,

當他們開始做研究後 將會發生甚麼事情，

and this has to do with our mental schema

這有關於我們的心裡的圖表：

of what research will be like.

做研究應該像是甚麼樣子。

Because you see, whenever people do anything,

因為你也知道的， 任何時候在我們做任何事情時，

for example if I want to touch this blackboard,

好比是我想要碰這塊黑板，

my brain first builds up a schema,

我的大腦裡會先建構出一張圖表，

a prediction of exactly what my muscles will do

精確地預期我的肌肉將會如何運作，

before I even start moving my hand,

甚至早在我動起我的手之前。

and if I get blocked,

如果過程中間我被卡住了、

if my schema doesn't match reality,

如果我心裡那張圖表跟現況不符，

that causes extra stress called cognitive dissonance.

那引發過多的焦慮稱做「認知失調」，

That's why your schemas had better match reality.

那就是為什麼你的心裡圖表 最好是要跟現況相符。

But if you believe the way science is taught,

不過如果你相信科學被教的方法、

and if you believe textbooks, you're liable

如果你相信教科書， 相信你

to have the following schema of research.

會有接下來這張研究的心裡圖表，

If A is the question,

如果A是問題、

and B is the answer,

B是答案，

then research is a direct path.

然後「研究」就是一條筆直的路徑。

The problem is that if an experiment doesn't work,

問題是如果一個實驗不成功、

or a student gets depressed,

或是學生心情低落了，

it's perceived as something utterly wrong

那被認為如同某些事情徹底地錯誤，

and causes tremendous stress.

而造成極大的焦慮。

And that's why I teach my students

那就是為什麼我教給我的學生

a more realistic schema.

一張比較真實的圖表，

Here's an example

這邊是一個例子

where things don't match your schema.

實際情形跟你的圖表不一致。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

(Applause)

(鼓掌)

So I teach my students a different schema.

所以我教給我的學生們 一張不同的圖表，

If A is the question,

如果A是問題、

B is the answer,

B是答案，

stay creative in the cloud,

在「雲層」中時保持有創意的，

and you start going,

而你開始往前進，

and experiments don't work, experiments don't work,

然後實驗不成功、接著實驗又不成功、

experiments don't work, experiments don't work,

繼續實驗還是不成功、實驗繼續不成功，

until you reach a place linked with negative emotions

直到你來到與負面情緒連結的地步，

where it seems like your basic assumptions

那看起來像是你的數個基本假設

have stopped making sense,

都不再有道理了，

like somebody yanked the carpet beneath your feet.

就像是有人抽走在你腳下 的地毯一樣，

And I call this place the cloud.

我把這個地步叫做「雲層」。

Now you can be lost in the cloud

你可以在「雲層」裡迷失了

for a day, a week, a month, a year,

一天、一個星期、一個月、一年、

a whole career,

整個職涯；

but sometimes, if you're lucky enough

不過有些時候如果你夠幸運、

and you have enough support,

有足夠的助力、後援，

you can see in the materials at hand,

你可以看清楚手上握有的資訊，

or perhaps meditating on the shape of the cloud,

或者是冥想出「雲層」的形狀，

a new answer,

出現一個新答案：C

C, and you decide to go for it.

而你決定要去得到這答案，

And experiments don't work, experiments don't work,

然後實驗不成功、接著實驗又不成功，

but you get there,

不過最後你走到答案那邊了，

and then you tell everyone about it

之後你告訴每一個人關於這件事，

by publishing a paper that reads A arrow C,

你透過發表論文，那寫著A箭頭到C，

which is a great way to communicate,

這是很棒的方式用來交流訊息，

but as long as you don't forget the path

不過前提是你也不要忘記

that brought you there.

帶你到達答案的路徑。

Now this cloud is an inherent part

「雲層」是研究既有的部分、

of research, an inherent part of our craft,

我們技術上既有的部分，

because the cloud stands guard at the boundary.

因為「雲層」守護著疆界，

It stands guard at the boundary

它護守著

between the known

介於已知

and the unknown,

跟未知之間的疆界，

because in order to discover something truly new,

為了要找到一些確實是新的東西，

at least one of your basic assumptions has to change,

至少你的多個基本假設中的一個 必須要做改變，

and that means that in science,

那代表在科學上

we do something quite heroic.

我們相當英勇的做著一些事情。

Every day, we try to bring ourselves

每一天我們試著帶我們自己

to the boundary between the known and the unknown

來到已知跟未知之間的疆界，

and face the cloud.

來面對雲層。

Now notice that I put B

注意這邊我把B放在

in the land of the known,

已知的地方，

because we knew about it in the beginning,

因為我們從一開始就知道有B了，

but C is always more interesting

但是C總是更有趣、

and more important than B.

更重要過於B，

So B is essential in order to get going,

所以為了向前進B是不可少的，

but C is much more profound,

但是C是更有深意的。

and that's the amazing thing about resesarch.

那就是研究不可思議的地方。

Now just knowing that word, the cloud,

只是知道「雲層」這個字眼，

has been transformational in my research group,

已經在我的研究團隊裡起了變化，

because students come to me and say,

因為學生會過來跟我說：

"Uri, I'm in the cloud,"

「烏禮！我在雲層裡了！」

and I say, "Great, you must be feeling miserable."

而我說： 「很好，你一定感覺很淒慘吧！」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But I'm kind of happy,

不過我是有一點高興，

because we might be close to the boundary

因為我們可能是接近了那條疆界，

between the known and the unknown,

介於已知與未知之間，

and we stand a chance of discovering

我們握有機會發現

something truly new,

一些確實存在的新事物。

since the way our mind works,

自從我們思緒是這種方式運作

it's just knowing that the cloud

只要知道「雲層」

is normal, it's essential,

是正常的、不可少的，

and in fact beautiful,

還有事實上是美麗的。

we can join the Cloud Appreciation Society,

我們就能加入「理解雲層社會」，

and it detoxifies the feeling that something

這會解去「我真的有些地方完全錯掉」

is deeply wrong with me.

這種感覺的毒。

And as a mentor, I know what to do,

身為指導者我知道該做些甚麼，

which is to step up my support for the student,

就是要增加我的支持給學生們，

because research in psychology shows

因為心理學的研究指出，

that if you're feeling fear and despair,

如果你感覺恐懼和絕望，

your mind narrows down

你的思路就會窄化到

to very safe and conservative ways of thinking.

非常安全跟保守的思考方式。

If you'd like to explore the risky paths

如果你想要探索有風險的路徑，

needed to get out of the cloud,

那是帶你離開雲層所必要的，

you need other emotions --

你需要其他的情緒：

solidarity, support, hope —

踏實、靠山、希望，

that come with your connection from somebody else,

那來自與你跟你以外的人產生的關連，

so like in improvisation theater,

就像在即興演出劇場裡，

in science, it's best to walk into the unknown

科學裡面最棒的事是

together.

一起進入未知。

So knowing about the cloud,

所以清楚明白了「雲層」，

you also learn from improvisation theater

你也從即興演出劇場學到了

a very effective way to have conversations

非常有效的的方法

inside the cloud.

在「雲層」裡交談，

It's based on the central principle

那是基於即興演出劇場

of improvisation theater,

的中心準則。

so here improvisation theater

所以在這邊即興演出劇場

came to my help again.

又再次成為了我的幫助。

It's called saying "Yes, and"

就是說：「沒錯！然後..」，

to the offers made by other actors.

由其他演員做球來給你，

That means accepting the offers

那意味著接受做球，

and building on them, saying, "Yes, and."

然後從這句話去建設。說「沒錯！然後..」

For example, if one actor says,

舉例來說如果一個演員說：

"Here is a pool of water,"

「這裡有一個水池。」

and the other actor says,

而其他演員說：

"No, that's just a stage,"

「不是啦！這裡是舞台。」

the improvisation is over.

這一場即興演出就結束了，

It's dead, and everybody feels frustrated.

它完蛋了，每一個人都感覺受到挫折了，

That's called blocking.

那叫做「堵塞」。

If you're not mindful of communications,

如果你的交談不是體貼的，

scientific conversations can have a lot of blocking.

科學的對話就有很多的「堵塞」。

Saying "Yes, and" sounds like this.

說：「沒錯！然後…」，聽起來像是

"Here is a pool of water." "Yeah, let's jump in."

「這裡有一個水池！」； 「耶！讓我們跳進水池裡吧！」

"Look, there's a whale! Let's grab it by its tail.

「看，那裡有一隻鯨魚！」； 「讓我們從尾巴抓住牠！」

It's pulling us to the moon!"

「牠將會把我們拉上月球去的！」

So saying "Yes, and" bypasses our inner critic.

所以說「沒錯！然後」 來繞過我們內在的批判，

We all have an inner critic

我們都會有一個內在的批判，

that kind of guards what we say,

那有點像是我們說話時的防衛，

so people don't think that we're obscene

所以大家不會認為我們說漏了甚麼、

or crazy or unoriginal,

或是發瘋了的、沒新意的，

and science is full of the fear

而科學是充滿

of appearing unoriginal.

表現沒新意的恐懼。

Saying "Yes, and" bypasses the critic

說「沒錯！然後」 來繞過我們內在的批判，

and unlocks hidden voices of creativity

解放創意被藏起來的聲音,

you didn't even know that you had,

你甚至不知道你已經有的創意，

and they often carry the answer

那些聲音經常會帶來答案，

about the cloud.

有關於「雲層」的。

So you see, knowing about the cloud

你也清楚，知道有關「雲層」、

and about saying "Yes, and"

和說「沒錯！然後」，

made my lab very creative.

使我的實驗室變得非常有創意，

Students started playing off of each others' ideas,

學生們開始挑動彼此的想法，

and we made surprising discoveries

而且我們做出數個令人驚喜的發現，

in the interface between physics and biology.

在物理學和生物學交疊的區域，

For example, we were stuck for a year

例如我們以前被卡住了一年，

trying to understand the intricate

努力嘗試想要了解在我們細胞中

biochemical networks inside our cells,

複雜精細的生物化學網絡，

and we said, "We are deeply in the cloud,"

我們說：「我們在雲層裡的深處」。

and we had a playful conversation

以及我們有一個好玩的交談，

where my student Shai Shen Orr said,

我的學生歐俠伸說：

"Let's just draw this on a piece of paper, this network,"

「讓我們把這個網絡給畫在一張紙上。」，

and instead of saying,

取代會說出

"But we've done that so many times

「但是我們已經做過那麼多遍了

and it doesn't work,"

都行不通的。」

I said, "Yes, and

我說：「沒錯！

let's use a very big piece of paper,"

讓我們用一張非常大的紙。」

and then Ron Milo said,

接著朗．米羅說了：

"Let's use a gigantic architect's

「讓我們用一張巨大的建築師用的

blueprint kind of paper, and I know where to print it,"

底稿籃圖那樣的紙， 我知道要去哪裡影印。」

and we printed out the network and looked at it,

我們印出那個網絡、盯著它看，

and that's where we made our most important discovery,

那裡是我們做出最重要發現的地方。

that this complicated network is just made

這一個複雜精細的網路

of a handful of simple, repeating interaction patterns

只是由幾個簡單的、重複的 互動模式所組成的，

like motifs in a stained glass window.

就像是彩色玻璃窗戶的圖案一樣，

We call them network motifs,

我們叫它網路圖案。

and they're the elementary circuits

它們是基本的迴路，

that help us understand

它幫我們了解

the logic of the way cells make decisions

體內所有器官、包括身體的

in all organisms, including our body.

細胞做決定的邏輯。

Soon enough, after this,

此後很快地，

I started being invited to give talks

我開始受到邀請去演講

to thousands of scientists across the world,

給上千位世界各地的科學家聽。

but the knowledge about the cloud

但是有關「雲層」的知識、

and saying "Yes, and"

說「沒錯！然後..」等，

just stayed within my own lab,

都還只留在我自己的實驗室裡，

because you see, in science, we don't talk about the process,

因為你也知道的 在科學界我們並不談論研究過程、

anything subjective or emotional.

任何主觀還是情緒上的東西，

We talk about the results.

我們談的就是結果。

So there was no way to talk about it in conferences.

所以沒有辦法在研討會裡談到 過程、主觀上、情緒上

That was unthinkable.

那是無法想像的。

And I saw scientists in other groups get stuck

還有我知道其他團隊的 科學人員們被卡住了，