A lot can change over the course of a century.

一個世紀之間能發生很多改變

In the early 20th century, Einstein wrote his theory of relativity.

在二十世紀初期，愛因斯坦發表了《相對論》

In 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he had successfully created a polio vaccine.

在 1953 年，喬納斯索爾克醫生宣布他成功研發出小兒麻痺疫苗

And in 1990, the world wide web was invented.

在 1990 年，網際網路出現了

But what about changes over a longer period of time, like a few million years?

那若是更長的一段時間裡，比如幾百萬年，發生的改變呢？

Obviously, the Earth was a drastically different place, but it makes me wonder: could you,

顯然地球會變得完全不一樣，讓我不禁思考：你我

a modern human, survive on Earth 2.5 million years ago?

身為現代人類，能否生活在兩百五十萬年前的地球？

To start off, let’s talk about the environment.

首先我們來講講環境差異

You, my friend, would be living in the Pleistocene Epoch, which spanned from 2.6 millions years

我的朋友啊，你將會生活在洪積世時代，距今兩百六十萬年

ago to 11,700 years ago.

到一萬一千七百年前

This was the time period in which the most recent ice ages took place.

那是最近一次的冰河時期發生的時代

During the peak periods where most of the water on Earth was ice, the global average

在巔峰時期，幾乎全球的水都成了冰

temperatures were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius colder than they are today.

世界均溫比今日的要低上攝氏五到十度

This was a much cooler and drier Earth.

這是個冷上許多也乾了許多的地球

So already, unless you have an incredibly insulating jacket, your chances of survival

所以，要是你沒有一件超級保暖外套，你存活的機率

are looking pretty slim.

微乎其微

During this time, you may also have bumped into one of your earliest human ancestors

在這時期，你也可能遇到你最早的人類祖先

-- homo habilis.

能人（ homo habilis）

This species looked more like apes than humans, but were able to walk on their back legs and

這物種看起來比較像猿猴而非人類，但已經可以用雙腿直立行走

use their hands to make stone tools, hence its name, which means “handy man”.

並用手製作石器，因此「能人」（homo habilis）同時意味著「巧手之人」（handy man）

But, luckily for you, if you encountered one of them, scientists are unsure if it would

但要是你真遇上一位能人，科學家不確定他會不會

attack.

攻擊你

The general consensus is that homo habilis were vegetarians and did not hunt anything

普遍認知是：能人吃素而且只會獵捕

but small game.

小型獵物

So, in this sense, you may not be in direct harm.

照這道理，你應該不會遭殃

But what about diseases?

那麼疾病呢？

The prevailing idea on the origin of human diseases is that many of them arose once animals

廣為接受的說法是：人類疾病的起源始於動物開始

were domesticated.

受人圈養之時

However, with new data, it’s thought that diseases like tapeworms, mycobacterial infections,

然而根據新數據顯示：以下疾病例如條蟲、微生菌感染、

tuberculosis, and leprosy were around during the Pleistocene Epoch.

肺結核和痲瘋病起源於洪積世時代

And scientists believe that the bacteria B. bronchiseptica, which infected hominids 2.5

科學家也相信：在兩百五十萬年前感染原始人類的支氣管敗血性桿菌

million years ago, may have evolved into the bacteria that is now responsible for whooping

或許進化成了現今導致百日咳的

cough.

細菌

And even more, scientists have recently determined that the parasites that cause malaria were

更甚者，最近科學家已確信瘧疾帶原的寄生蟲始源於

around 2.5 million years ago.

大約兩百五十萬年前

The parasites were relatively benign at that time, and malaria only became a major disease

在那時候，這種寄生蟲還算良性，是直到後期農業發展與人口稠密以後

after agriculture and dense human populations arose.

瘧疾才變成了一種重大疾病

But if you were living 2.5 million years ago, without access to any of today’s medicine,

但要是你生活於兩百五十萬年前，沒有任何途徑取得現代醫藥

you would probably not make it too long.

你大概撐不久

Well that’s quite a sad note to end on.

說來真是一個悲慘的結局

To lighten the mood a bit, let me know what you would most want to see from 2.5 million

為了讓心情不那麼沉悶，在底下留言告訴我你最想看到兩百五十萬年前的

years ago.

什麼東西吧！

Make sure you come back every Monday for a brand new video.

記得每週一來收看我們最新的影片

As always, I’m Blocko and this has been Life Noggin.

一如往常，我是 Blocko，你正收看的是 Life Noggin

Don’t forget to keep on thinking!

別忘了隨時動腦思考！