to one of the most amazing scientists

這世界上

who have ever lived.

最令人讚嘆的科學家之一

So famous, that more places on Earth

他的名聲響亮，以致於世界各地

have been named after him than any human being.

以他的名字為紀念的地名多於任何人

So famous, that President Thomas Jefferson

美國前總統湯瑪斯．傑弗遜

said he was the most important scientist he ever met.

曾說他是他見過最有名望的科學家

And Simon Bolivar called him the true discoverer of South America.

西蒙．玻利瓦格稱他為真正發現南美洲的人 （譯註：南美獨立革命先驅）

On the 100th anniversary of his birth,

他百年冥誕時

every story on the front page of The New York Times

紐約時報頭版上

was written about him.

每一則都是關於他的報導

Who is this scientist

這位科學家到底是誰？

and what did he do that was so extraordinary?

他為什麼如此令人讚賞？

His name is Alexander Von Humboldt.

他的名字是亞歷山大．凡．洪堡德 (Alexander Van Humboldt)

Never heard of him?

沒聽過他名字?

Most people haven't.

大部分的人都沒聽過

His name has been lost in history,

他的名字已不幸遭歷史吞噬

but here is what he did.

以下是他的所作所為

Alexander Von Humboldt started as a practicing geologist,

洪堡德一開始是位地質學家

but when an inheritance allowed him the freedom to travel,

當他獲得遺產能夠到處旅行時

he began an incredible, five-year scientific journey

他踏上一個長達五年的科學之旅

through South America,

探險南美大陸、

Mexico,

墨西哥、

and Cuba.

以及古巴

From 1799 to 1804,

自 1799 至 1804 年

Von Humboldt and his botanist partner, Aime Bonpland,

洪堡德和他的夥伴，植物學家埃梅．邦普蘭

traveled through the jungles of Venezuela,

踏遍委內瑞拉的叢林

made detailed drawings of Inca ruins

在祕魯的山區中

while exploring the mountains of Peru,

詳細地畫圖紀錄古印加遺跡

and traversed the breadth of Mexico and Cuba.

並橫越墨西哥及古巴

He explored the length of the Orinoco River in Venezuela.

他探索委內瑞拉的俄里諾柯河全程

This 1700 mile portion of the trip

這段長達 1700 英里的冒險

was filled with danger, disease, and fantastic new discoveries.

充滿著危機、疾病和令人驚奇的新發現

For example, Von Humboldt was the first explorer

例如，洪堡德是第一位冒險家

to witness the preparation of the curare plant for poison arrows.

目睹原住民利用箭毒馬鞍子準備毒箭

He recognized the importance of the cinchona tree,

他發現金雞納樹的重要性

whose bark contains quinine,

其樹皮含有奎寧

which is a malaria cure,

能夠治療瘧疾

and discovered the ocean current,

他還發現限制秘魯沿岸雨量的洋流

which limits rainfall on the coast of Peru,

他還發現限制秘魯沿岸雨量的洋流

later named the Humboldt Current.

之後被命名為洪堡德洋流

He discovered and described many new species of plants and animals,

他發現並描述許多新物種

including the electric eel.

像是電鰻

In Ecuador, he climbed the one of the highest volcanoes, Chimborazo,

在厄瓜多爾，他攀登最高的火山之一 欽伯拉索山

so that he could record air pressure,

以測量大氣壓力

something no one had ever done at this altitude.

當時從未有人在如此高海拔測量氣壓

The entire journey covered over 24,000 miles,

他整趟旅程長達二萬四千英里

the same distance as the circumference of the Earth.

等同於繞地球一圈的距離

Along the way, he took measurements

途中，他測量並記錄

about the shape of the land,

地形的變化

its temperature,

溫度

the air pressure,

氣壓

and the strength of magnetic fields.

和地球磁場強度

By connecting places of identical temperatures,

他將擁有相同溫度的地點在地圖上連線

he created contour maps with lines of similar temperatures,

創造了世界地一幅有等溫曲線的地圖

which he called "isotherms".

他將之命名為 " 等溫線 "

Because Humboldt invented these maps,

多虧洪堡發明這種地圖

scientists began to see patterns

科學家開始發現

in the life

生物的分佈模式

and the types of life

世界上生命及各種生物

present in certain places,

都出現在特定的區域

and he became a pioneer

洪堡德成為

in the visual presentation of scientific data.

將科學數據視覺表現的先驅

These discoveries and measurements were critical

他所測量的數據和發明

to what made him such an important scientist.

證明為何他是如此重要的科學家

Until Humboldt, scientists who described new plants and animals

在洪堡德之前的時代，發現新物種的科學家們

did not clearly see the crucial connection

並無法了解各式生物

between living things

以及其所居地帶

and the places in which they lived,

也就是棲地

called habitats.

之間的重要關連性

They did not appreciate the role of the environment

他們並不重視環境 對於生物多樣性的影響

on the diversity of life.

他們並不重視環境 對於生物多樣性的影響

Humboldt discovered and understood the importance

洪堡德發現並且了解

of these connections.

這些連結的重要性

Because of this,

因此

he is considered the founder of biogeography.

他被視為生物地裡學之父

He also developed a theory called the "Unity of Nature,"

他更提出名為 " 自然的統一性 " 的理論

which shows the interconnectedness of all nature.

描述自然界萬物的環環相扣

This knowledge plays a vital role

這個理論大大影響

in the preservation and protection of our habitat.

現今保育及棲地保護工作

His book, Cosmos, describes this theory

他所著的《宇宙》敘述這個理論

and is still in print today.

如今仍舊出版中

As celebrated a scientist as he was,

他雖然是有名的科學家

Von Humboldt was also generous,

洪堡德仍非常慷慨大方

thus serving another role in the world.

於扮演其他角色

He was the mentor and teacher to younger scientists.

他指導了許多年輕科學家

In fact, just recently it was discovered

最近更有人發現

the crucial role that Humboldt played in the work

洪堡德的思想大大影響

of his most famous pen-pal,

他最有名的筆友：

Charles Darwin.

查理斯．達爾文

A young Darwin read Humboldt extensively

達爾文年輕時時常閱讀洪堡德的著作

and wrote in his diary while on the Beagle,

他曾在小獵犬號上於日記中寫道

"I am at present fit only to read Humboldt.

" 我現在只能研讀洪堡德

He, like another sun, illuminates everything I behold."

他如太陽一般照亮我所見 "

Today, although Humboldt is known and revered

現今，洪堡德仍被

by a small community of scientists,

小小的科學社群所景仰

he is almost totally forgotten by many of us.

但卻已被多數大眾所遺忘

Alexander Von Humboldt's influence is apparent

洪堡德的影響

everywhere and in every scientific discipline.

顯明於所有的科學領域

He is, perhaps, the most important forgotten man of science.

他也許是被遺忘的科學家中最重要的

But he doesn't have to be,

但他並不需仍舊如此

because if you remember him,

因為如果你記得他

perhaps his influence will be celebrated.

也許他的影響就會被慶祝