(Circus music) [Ted N' Ed's Carnival] [John Lloyd's Inventory of the Invisible] [Adapted from a TEDTalk given by John Lloyd in 2009] June Cohen: Our next speaker has spent his whole career eliciting that sense of wonder. Please welcome John Lloyd. (Applause) [Hall of Mirrors] The question is, "What is invisible?" There's more of it than you think, actually. Everything, I would say -- everything that matters -- Except every thing, and except matter. We can see matter but we can't see what's the matter. We can see the stars and the planets but we can't see what holds them apart, or what draws them together. With matter as with people, we see only the skin of things, we can't see into the engine room, we can't see what makes people tick, at least not without difficulty, and the closer we look at anything, the more it disappears. In fact, if you look really closely at stuff, if you look at the basic substructure of matter, there isn't anything there. Electrons disappear in a kind of fuzz, and there is only energy. One of the interesting things about invisibility is, the things that we can's see, we also can't understand. Gravity is one thing that we can't see, and which we don't understand. It's the least understood of all the four fundamental forces, and the weakest, and nobody really knows what it is or why it's there. For what it's worth, Sir Isaac Newton, the greatest scientist who ever lived, he thought Jesus came to Earth specifically to operate the levers of gravity. That's what he thought he was there for. So, bright guy, could be wrong on that one, I don't know. (Laughter) Consciousness. I see all your faces; I've no idea what any of you are thinking. Isn't that amazing? Isn't it incredible that we can't read each other's minds, when we can touch each other, taste each other, perhaps, if we get close enough, but we can't read each other's minds. I find that quite astonishing. In the Sufi faith, this great Middle Eastern religion which some claim is the root of all religions, Sufi masters are all telepaths, so they say, but their main exercise of telepathy is to send out powerful signals to the rest of us that it doesn't exist. So that's why we don't think it exists; the Sufi masters working on us. In the question of consciousness and artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence has really, like the study of consciousness, gotten nowhere, we have no idea how consciousness works. Not only have they not created artificial intelligence, they haven't yet created artificial stupidity. (Laughter) The laws of physics: invisible, eternal, omnipresent, all powerful. Remind you of anyone? Interesting. I'm, as you can guess, not a materialist, I'm an immaterialist. And I've found a very useful new word -- ignostic. Okay? I'm an ignostic. [God?] I refuse to be drawn on the question on whether God exists until somebody properly defines the terms. Another thing we can't see is the human genome. And this is increasingly peculiar, because about 20 years ago when they started delving into the genome, they thought it would probably contain around 100 thousand genes. Every year since, it's been revised downwards. We now think there are likely to be just over 20 thousand genes in the human genome. This is extraordinary, because rice -- get this -- rice is known to have 38 thousand genes. Potatoes have 48 chromosomes, two more than people, and the same as a gorilla. (Laughter) You can't see these things, but they are very strange. The stars by day, I always think that's fascinating. The universe disappears. The more light there is, the less you can see. Time. Nobody can see time. I don't know if you know this. There's a big movement in modern physics to decide that time doesn't really exist, because it's too inconvenient for the figures. It's much easier if it's not really there. You can't see the future, obviously, and you can't see the past, except in your memory. One of the interesting things about the past is you particularly can't see -- my son asked me this the other day, "Dad, can you remember what I was like when I was two? And I said, "Yes." He said, "Why can't I?" Isn't that extraordinary? You cannot remember what happened to you earlier than the age of two or three. Which is great news for psychoanalysts, because otherwise they'd be out of a job. Because that's where all the stuff happens (Laughter) that makes you who you are. Another thing you can't see is the grid on which we hang. This is fascinating. You probably know, some of you, that cells are continually renewed. Skin flakes off, hairs grow, nails, that kind of stuff -- but every cell in your body is replaced at some point. Taste buds, every ten days or so. Livers and internal organs take a bit longer. Spine takes several years. But at the end of seven years, not one cell in your body remains from what was there seven years ago. The question is: who then are we? What are we? What is this thing that we hang on? That is actually us? Atoms, can't see them. Nobody ever will. They're smaller than the wavelength of light. Gas, can't see that. Interesting, somebody mentioned 1600 recently. Gas was invented in 1600 by a Dutch chemist called van Helmont. It's said to be the most successful ever invention of a word by a known individual. Quite good. He also invented a word called "blas," meaning astral radiation. Didn't catch on, unfortunately. (Laughter) But well done, him. Light -- you can't see light. When it's dark, in a vacuum, if a person shines a beam of light straight across your eyes, you won't see it. Slightly technical, some physicists will disagree with this. But it's odd that you can't see the beam of light, you can only see what it hits. Electricity, can't see that. Don't let anyone tell you they understand electricity, they don't. Nobody knows what it is. (Laughter) You probably think the electrons in an electric wire move instantaneously down a wire, don't you, at the speed of light, when you turn the light on, they don't. Electrons bumble down the wire, about the speed of spreading honey, they say. Galaxies -- hundred billion of them, estimated in the universe. Hundred billion. How many can we see? Five. Five, out of a hundred billion galaxies, with the naked eye. And one of them is quite difficult to see, unless you've got very good eyesight. Radio waves. There's another thing. Heinrich Hertz, when he discovered radio waves, in 1887, he called them radio waves because they radiated. Somebody said to him, "What's the point of these, Heinrich? What's the point of these radio waves that you've found?" And he said, "Well, I've no idea, but I guess somebody will find a use for them someday. The biggest thing that's invisible to us is what we don't know. It is incredible how little we know. Thomas Edison once said, "We don't know one percent of one millionth about anything." And I've come to the conclusion -- because you ask this other question: "What's another thing we can't see?" The point, most of us. What's the point? The point -- what I've got it down to is there are only two questions really worth asking. "Why are we here?", and "What should we do about it while we are?" To help you, I've got two things to leave you with, from two great philosophers, perhaps two of the greatest philosopher thinkers of the 20th century. One a mathematician and engineer, and the other a poet. The first is Ludwig Wittgenstein, who said, "I don't know why we are here, but I am pretty sure it's not in order to enjoy ourselves." (Laughter) He was a cheerful bastard, wasn't he? (Laughter) And secondly, and lastly, W.H. Auden, one of my favorite poets, who said, "We are here on Earth to help others. What the others are here for, I've no idea." (Laughter) (Applause) (Circus music) [Get your souvenir photo here!] [Continue your journey into the unknown!] (Circus music)
(Cirka mūzika) [Ted&Ed karnevāls] [Džona Loida visa neredzamā krātuve] [Džona Loida 2009. gada TED runas adaptējums] Džūna Koena: Nākamais runātājs pavadījis visu savu karjeru, izvilinot šo brīnuma sajūtu. Lūdzu sagaidiet Džonu Loidu! (Aplausi) [Greizo spoguļu zāle] Jautājums: kas ir neredzams? Patiesībā neredzamā ir daudz vairāk, nekā jūs domājat. It viss, es teiktu, it viss, kas ir svarīgs, izņemot visu, kam nav svars. Mēs redzam lietu, bet mēs neredzam, kas par lietu. Mēs redzam zvaigznes un planētas, bet mēs neredzam, kas notur tās atstatus vai pievelk vienu pie otras. Lietām tāpat kā cilvēkiem mēs redzam tikai ārējo čaulu, mēs neredzam, kas lācītim vēderā, mēs neredzam, kas darās cilvēku galvās, vismaz ne bez grūtībām, un, jo ciešāk mēs kaut ko pētām, jo vairāk tas izzūd. Patiesībā, ja patiešām ieskatāmies lietās, ja ieskatāmies lietu pamata daļiņās, tur nekā nav. Elektroni izgaist tādā kā migliņā, un paliek tikai enerģija. Viena no interesantākajām neredzamības iezīmēm ir, ka to, ko neredzam, mēs nevaram arī izprast. Gravitācija ir viena no lietām, ko neredzam un arī neizprotam. Tas ir vismazāk izprastais no četriem pamatspēkiem un arī vājākais, un neviens īsti nezina, kas tas ir vai kāpēc tas pastāv. Lai vai kā, Sers Īzaks Ņūtons, dižākais zinātnieks, kāds jelkad dzīvojis, domāja, ka Jēzus ieradās uz Zemes, tikai lai darbinātu gravitācijas sviras. Tāpēc, viņaprāt, Jēzus ieradās. Gaišs prāts, bet par šo varbūt kļūdījās, nezinu. (Smiekli) Apziņa. Es redzu visu jūsu sejas; man nav ne jausmas, ko katrs no jums domā. Vai nav apbrīnojami? Vai nav neticami, ka nespējam lasīt viens otra domas, kaut arī varam viens otram pieskarties, pat nogaršot, ja tiekam pietiekami tuvu, bet mēs nespējam lasīt otra domas. Man tas šķiet gaužām apbrīnojami. Sūfiju ticībā, šajā lieliskajā Tuvo Austrumu reliģijā, kuru daži uzskata par visu reliģiju sakni, visi sūfiju meistari ir telepāti, vismaz tā viņi apgalvo, bet viņu galvenais telepātijas uzdevums ir izsūtīt spēcīgus signālus mums pārējiem, ka tā nepastāv. Tāpēc arī mēs domājam, ka tās nav; sūfiju meistari mūs apstrādā. Jautājumā par apziņu un mākslīgo saprātu mākslīgais saprāts tāpat kā apziņas pētījumi nekur tālu nav tikuši — mums nav ne jausmas, kā darbojas apziņa. Viņi ne vien nav radījuši mākslīgo saprātu, viņi nav pat radījuši mākslīgo stulbumu. (Smiekli) Fizikas likumi — neredzami, mūžīgi, visuresoši, visvareni. Kādu neatgādina? Interesanti. Es, kā nojaušat, neesmu materiālists, es esmu nemateriālists, un esmu atradis ļoti noderīgu jaunu vārdu — ignostiķis. Es esmu ignostiķis. Es atsakos pievērsties jautājumam par to, vai Dievs pastāv, līdz kāds atbilstoši definēs terminus. Vēl kas, ko neredzam, ir cilvēka genoms. Tas ir ārkārtīgi dīvaini, jo apmēram pirms 20 gadiem, kad pievērsās genoma izpētei, uzskatīja, ka tajā varētu būt ap 100 tūkstošiem gēnu. Kopš tā laika katru gadu to precizē uz leju. Nu mēs domājam, ka cilvēka genomā ir drusku vairāk nekā 20 tūkstoši gēnu. Tas ir ārkārtīgi neparasti, jo rīsos — uzminiet nu! — rīsos ir atklāti 38 tūkstoši gēnu. Kartupeļiem ir 48 hromosomas — par divām vairāk nekā cilvēkiem un tikpat, cik gorillai. (Smiekli) Jūs tās neredzat, bet tās ir ļoti dīvainas. Zvaigznes dienas laikā — man tas vienmēr šķiet apbrīnojami. Visums pazūd. Jo vairāk ir gaismas, jo mazāk mēs redzam. Laiks. Neviens neredz laiku. Nezinu, vai zinājāt. Mūsdienu fizikā ir liela kustība, kas nolēmusi, ka laiks patiesībā nepastāv, jo tas pārāk apgrūtina aprēķinus. Daudz vieglāk ir, ja laika tur īsti nav. Jūs, protams, nevarat redzēt nākotni un neredzat arī pagātni, izņemot savās atmiņās. Interesanta pagātnes iezīme ir tā, ka jūs jo īpaši nevarat ieraudzīt... Dēls viendien man jautāja: „Tēt, vai atceries, kāds es biju 2 gados?” „Jā,” es atbildēju. Viņš: „Kāpēc tad es neatceros?” Vai nav neparasti? Jūs neatceraties, kas ar jums notika pirms 2—3 gadu vecuma. Kas ir laba ziņa psihoanalītiķiem, jo citādi viņi paliktu bez darba, jo tieši tad notiek viss, (Smiekli) (Aplausi) kas tevi padara par to, kas esi. Vēl viena lieta, ko neredzam, ir režģis, uz kā balstāmies. Tas ir apbrīnojami. Daži no jums gan jau zina, ka šūnas nepārtraukti atjaunojas. Āda nolobās, aug mati, nagi un tamlīdzīgi, bet katra šūna tavā ķermenī kādā brīdī tiek aizstāta ar jaunu. Garšas kārpiņas ik pēc aptuveni 10 dienām. Aknām un iekšējiem orgāniem vajag nedaudz vairāk laika. Mugurkaulam vajadzīgi vairāk gadi. Taču pēc septiņiem gadiem neviena šūna tavā ķermenī nav tā pati, kas pirms septiņiem gadiem. Jautājums ir — kas tad mēs esam? No kā esam veidoti? Kas ir tas, uz kā mēs turamies, kas mēs esam? Atomi — neredzam tos un arī neredzēsim. Tie ir mazāki nekā gaismas viļņa garums. Gāzes — neredzam arī tās. Interesanti, kāds nesen minēja 1600. gadu. Gāzi 1600. gadā izdomāja nīderlandiešu ķīmiķis vārdā van Helmonts. To uzskata par visveiksmīgāko vārda jaunradi, ko paveikusi zināma persona. Diezgan labi! Viņš izdomāja arī vārdu „blāze”, ar to domājot zvaigžņu starojumu. Diemžēl neiegājās tautā. (Smiekli) Bet malacis! Gaisma — jūs neredzat gaismu. Kad vakuumā ir tumšs, ja kāds spīdina gaismas staru tieši gar tavām acīm, tu to neredzēsi. Tīri tehniski daži fiziķi nepiekritīs, bet tas, ka neredzam gaismas staru, ir dīvaini. Mēs redzam tikai to, pret ko tā atduras. Elektrība — arī to mēs neredzam. Neļauj nevienam tev iestāstīt, ka viņi izprot elektrību, tā nav. Neviens nezina, kas tas ir. (Smiekli) Jūs droši vien domājat, ka, tiklīdz ieslēdzat gaismu, elektroni vados uzreiz sāk kustēties gaismas ātrumā, Tā nav. Saka, ka elektroni pa vadu virzās apmēram plūstoša medus ātrumā. Galaktikas... lēš, ka Visumā ir simts miljardi galaktiku, simts miljardi! Cik daudzas mēs redzam? Piecas. Ar neapbruņotu aci redzam piecas no simts miljardiem galaktiku, un vienu no tām ir pagrūti saskatīt, ja vien nav ļoti laba redze. Radioviļņi. Tas ir vēl kas. Henrihs Hercs tos atklāja 1887. gadā un nosauca par radioviļņiem, jo tie tika radiēti. Kāds jautāja: „Un kāda no tiem ir jēga, Heinrih? Kāda jēga no tiem tevis atklātajiem radioviļņiem?” „Nu, man nav ne jausmas,” viņš atbildēja: „bet gan kādudien tie kādam noderēs.” Vislielākais neredzamais ir tas, ko mēs nezinām. Tas ir neticami, cik maz mēs zinām. Tomass Edisons reiz teica: „Nav nekā, par ko mēs zinātu kaut 1 procentu no vienas miljonās daļas.” Es esmu nonācis pie secinājuma... jo jūs atkal jautājat: „Ko vēl mēs neredzam?” Lielākā daļa no mums — jēgu. Kāda jēga? Jēga. Esmu sapratis, ka ir tikai divi uzdošanas vērti jautājumi. Kāpēc esam šeit? Un kas būtu jādara, kamēr šeit esam? Lai palīdzētu, man jums ir divas lietas no diviem dižiem filosofiem, iespējams, diviem dižākajiem 20. gadsimta domātājiem — matemātiķa inženiera un dzejnieka. Pirmais ir Ludvigs Vitgenšteins, kurš teica: „Es nezinu, kāpēc esam šeit, bet esmu diezgan drošs, ka ne jau lai izklaidētos.” Viņš bija visai jautrs zellis, ne tā? (Smiekli) Un, otrkārt un visbeidzot, V. H. Audens, viens no maniem mīļākajiem dzejniekiem, kurš teica: „Mēs esam šeit, uz Zemes, lai palīdzētu pārējiem. Kāpēc šeit ir pārējie, man nav ne jausmas.” (Smiekli) (Aplausi) (Cirka mūzika) [Saņem šeit savu suvenīrfoto! Turpini savu ceļojumu nezināmajā!]