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1、INSEARCHOFSERENDIPITY寻找偶遇Itmeansmorethanahappycoincidence.Andit'sunderthreatfromtheinternet.IanLeslieexplains...伊昂·莱斯利解释:偶遇不止是一种幸运的巧合,它正受到互联网的威胁……FromINTELLIGENTLIFEmagazine,January/February2012Onedayin1945,amannamedPercySpencerwastouringoneofthelaboratorieshemanagedatRaytheoninWaltham,Massa
2、chusetts,asupplierofradartechnologytotheAlliedforces.Hewasstandingbyamagnetron,avacuumtubewhichgeneratesmicrowaves,toboostthesensitivityofradar,whenhefeltastrangesensation.Checkinghispocket,hefoundhiscandybarhadmelted.Surprisedandintrigued,hesentforabagofpopcorn,andheldituptothemagnetron.The
3、popcornpopped.Withinayear,Raytheonmadeapatentapplicationforamicrowaveoven.1945年的一天,在马塞诸塞州沃尔瑟姆市雷神公司(一间为二战盟军提供雷达技术的供应商)所属的一个实验室里,一名叫培西·史宾赛的主管正在做例行检察。他当时站在一台磁控管旁边。磁控管是一种产生微波的真空管,用来提高雷达灵敏度。他突然有一种奇妙的感觉。在检查之后,他发现裤子口袋里的一块巧克力融化了。这件事让他感到很是惊奇,也激起了他的好奇心,他派人去买了一袋爆米花,把它放在磁控管旁边。结果这袋爆米花成功膨化了。一年之内,雷神公司就申请了微
4、波炉的专利。Thehistoryofscientificdiscoveryispepperedwithbreakthroughsthatcameaboutbyaccident.ThemostmomentouswasAlexanderFleming’sdiscoveryofpenicillinin1928,promptedwhenhenoticedhowamouldthatfloatedintohisPetridishkilledoffthesurroundingbacteria.SpencerandFlemingdidn’tjustgetlucky.Spencerhadthen
5、ousandtheknowledgetoturnhisobservationintoinnovation;onlyanexpertonbacteriawouldhavebeenreadytoseethesignificanceofFleming’sstrayspore.AsLouisPasteurwrote,“Inthefieldofobservation,chancefavoursonlythepreparedmind.”科学发现的历史充满了各种偶然的突破。其中影响最深远的要数1928年亚历山大·弗莱明发现青霉素。当时他注意到飘入培养皿内的霉菌杀死了周围的细菌。史班赛和弗莱明
6、并不只是运气好罢了。史班赛有把该意外观察转变为一项创新发明的知识和机敏,而只有细菌专家才能看出弗莱明那些不请自来的孢子的重要性。诚如路易斯·巴斯德说过“在观察领域内,机会只青睐有准备的头脑”。Thewordthatbestdescribesthissubtleblendofchanceandagencyis“serendipity”.ItwascoinedbyHoraceWalpole,manoflettersandaristocraticdilettante.Writingtoafriendin1754,Walpoleexplainedanunexpecteddiscover
7、yhehadjustmadebyreferencetoaPersianfairytale,“TheThreePrincesofSerendip”.Theprinces,hetoldhiscorrespondent,were“alwaysmakingdiscoveries,byaccidentsandsagacity,ofthingswhichtheywerenotinquestof…nowdoyouunderstandSerendipity?”Thesedays,wetendtoassoci