在現今，進步的概念已隱含著很大程度上的含意，畢竟，人類對知識渴求的結果是的確令人印象深刻：我們飛到太空和下潛到馬里亞納海溝底部；我們可以在世界任何時候及任何地方和全球議題相互關聯；我們分裂原子、修改植物、動物和創新人類基因工程，但新發現是要付出代價，隨著我們越來越多的新發現，我們必須面對這些新發現對人類和環境帶來的巨大影響，我們在努力爭取的東西是永久的嗎？科學新發現預測未來科學的進步與帶動技術成就，透過本節目探討科學的進步與新發現及其帶來生態、經濟和道德的關鍵性影響。
To this day, the concept of progress has largely positive connotations. After all, the results of mankind's thirst for knowledge are indeed impressive: We fly into space and dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. We are globally interconnected and reachable at any time, anywhere in the world. We split atoms, modify plants, animals and people with the help of genetic engineering. But progress comes at a price, as we increasingly find ourselves confronting the dramatic effects of these advances on human beings and the environment. Does progress necessarily spell improvement? Is perpetual growth something we should strive for? Beyond Progress casts a critical light on the scientific and technological achievements of our time and discusses their ecological, economic and ethical impact.
♦ 太空旅行的研究
Manned Space Travel
長久以來人類對外太空相當著迷。上太空，對人類來說已經不是問題，不過也已耗費數十億研究經費，超過上百人在執行太空任務時喪生。我們不禁質疑，究竟太空能帶來甚麼研究成果？批評指出，和人類太空旅行高風險成本比起來，研究成果實在不成比例。由道德觀點來看，人類到火星的任務長期以來飽受爭議，所以科學家將希望寄託在機器人上。
Man has always been fascinated by outer space. Since it became technically possible to fly into space, billions have been invested in space research. Over a hundred people have lost their lives in spacecraft or in accidents within the framework of space programmes. But what progress has this brought? Critics point to the high risk and the vast expense compared with the scant concrete findings from manned space flight. They see the future more in robotics - because from an ethical standpoint long, manned missions to Mars, for example, are hardly justifiable.
♦ 增強肌力的基因興奮劑研究
Turbo-powered Muscles - Gene Doping for All ?
一般常聽到的禁藥如同化類固醇、睾丸激素已逐漸過時，未來都是基因興奮劑的天下。基因興奮劑會影響運動員的基因組織，提高運動員的肌肉力量、速度及耐力，而且檢驗不出來。科學家的目標是著手研究可以改良基因的新技術，他們針對現代醫學無法治療的遺傳疾病進行基因療法的研究，但這些基因療法卻被當成禁藥不當使用，若由非專業人士執行基因療法，對人體的基因組成會造成重大危害。
Conventional doping substances like anabolic steroids and testosterone are on the way out. The future belongs to gene doping. This involves manipulating an athlete's genotype to improve their strength, speed, or stamina without any trace of doping being detectable. The techniques of genetic change are being developed by scientists who are actually pursuing a totally different goal. They are searching for gene therapies to treat hereditary diseases which up to now have proved incurable. These therapies, however, can be misused for doping purposes. Unless performed by experts, such interference in human genetic material can be immensely dangerous.
♦ 基因複製新生命的研究
Mass Produced Meat - What are the Prospects for Cloning ?
自1996年複製羊出現後，科學家就不斷研究複製技術。自此之後，大量複製的哺乳動物問世。美國和南美的牧場主人現在也開始使用這項新科技，再造最佳品質的牲畜，創造最大獲利。透過國際間牲畜精液的交易，這些複製牲畜的後代遍佈全球。很多複製牲畜變成食用肉，在沒有註明出處的情況下，成了人類大快朵頤的盤中飧。
Since scientists managed to clone a sheep in 1996, they have continued researching the technology. Lots of mammals have since been cloned. Cattle farmers in the United States and South America are using the new technology to reproduce the best animals, thereby maximizing profits. The descendants of these clones are spreading across the whole planet via the international semen trade. Many of them end up in the food industry and on the plates of consumers, without being labelled for what they are.
♦ 天然氣 — 新能源代價的研究
The Race for Gas - What Price Fracking ?
隨著傳統能源不斷減少和消耗量增加，科學家開始尋找更多樣的新能源。近年來美國技術人員都把更多重心放在頁岩氣的開採上，這種天然氣蘊藏在頁岩夾層中。美國希望藉由開採頁岩氣，使能源自給自足，不再仰賴進口，就像俄羅斯一樣。但頁岩氣的開採過程複雜，成本高，還有不少疑慮，主要問題在開採技術上，無論是水力壓碎法或壓裂法，都會對環境造成重大汙染。
With conventional energy resources steadily dwindling and consumption rising, science is searching for newer and newer sources of energy. In recent years engineers in the United States have been focusing more and more on drilling for shale gas: natural gas which is located deep in rock. The big hope there is that shale gas will make the US independent of energy imports from other countries, like Russia. But producing shale gas is a complicated, expensive, and questionable business. That is because the technology applied - hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking', as it is generally known - can result in massive environmental pollution.
♦ 爭奪海底資源的探索
The Hunt for Underwater Resources
深海和海底是地球上最大也是未開發的處女地。長期以來，七百公尺以下的地區被視為無生命的沙漠地帶。不過今天，科學家竟意外在幾千公尺下發現令人屏息的美麗景象和無數豐富的新生物，每每潛進深海都會發現新面孔。此外，深海底下蘊藏著大量的原物料礦產。不過社會大眾並不曉得海底爭奪戰早已展開，除了有更多的科學家探索這些未知有機生物外，許多企業也對海洋進行更多的開採。這些企業砸下百億鉅資，以最新技術探勘海底所蘊藏的珍貴礦產、天然氣和原油，卻對許多未知的海底生物造成威脅。難道深海只是未來取得石油、金屬原料貯藏的寶庫嗎？深海是否為海洋生物賴以為生的基本要素，遭到破壞是否攸關牠們的存亡？對深海珍貴資源的掠奪會讓人類付出什麼代價？
The deep ocean and the seabed are the biggest and least explored habitat on Earth. For a long time the zone below seven hundred metres was regarded as a lifeless desert. But today researchers have discovered landscapes of breathtaking beauty and countless new creatures several thousand metres below the surface. Nearly every dive into the depths of the oceans results in the discovery of animal species which no-one has ever seen before. But also located in the deep sea are the world's biggest deposits of raw materials. Below the surface a race has begun which up to now the general public have known little about. On the one hand more and more researchers are frantically striving to study the unknown organisms. On the other, industrial concerns are advancing further and further into the oceans. In their search for precious minerals, gases, and oil, they are conquering the seabed with technology costing billions - and thus posing a threat to a diversity of species that has been virtually unexplored. Is the deep sea merely a store for the fossil and metallic raw materials of the future? Or does it represent the most important basis for marine life, with fatal consequences if this were impaired? What price can mankind afford to pay for the treasures of the deep?
♦ 戰爭機器人的研究
Robot Wars       
武器科技的發展已經開創了新的里程碑。全世界越來越多的軍事武力開始使用機器人，這些機器人可以獨立行動，而且可以遠距離消滅敵人。乍看之下這個優點非常明顯：機器人不僅比士兵便宜，而且更有效率。甚至，假如人類部隊在戰爭中被消滅，政府，尤其是民主國家的政府，會承受很大的壓力來讓軍事行動正當化。
Progress in weapons technology has set a new milestone. Armed forces world-wide are using more and more robots which act independently and are able to eliminate enemy targets from a distance. At first glance the advantages are obvious: not only are robots cheaper than soldiers, they are also more effective. What is more, when their own troops are killed in battle, governments - especially in democratic countries - come under increased pressure to justify military action.
♦ 探索未來世界的加速運轉
Accelerating the World
科技的發明主要是為了節省時間，科技與自然科學正持續加快進步的腳步。許多研究證明日常生活的步調不斷變快，現存的系統需要的速度與成長愈來愈快，然而新的科技產品真能省下我們更多的時間？還是我們陷入了速度的陷阱？但確定的是：我們愈想控制時間，它就從我們手中愈快的溜走，想逃脫這樣的困境也變得愈來愈難。
Most technical innovations are designed to save time. The unremitting advances in technology and the natural sciences are speeding up the rate at which they appear. Numerous studies prove that the pace of everyday life is increasing. The existing system demands high and higher speeds and more and more growth. But do the new technical possibilities really give us more time? Or are we caught in a speed trap? One thing is certain: the more we try to control time, the faster it slips away from us - and the more difficult it becomes to escape from this dilemma.

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