Have you ever wondered how things are built within our bodies?
你有没有想过我们身体内部是如何搭建的？
Why our bodies can regrow and repair themselves,
为什么我们的身体可以再生也可以自我修复，
and how we can pass on genes from one generation to the next?
我们又是如何把基因一代一代传下去的？
Yet, none of our man-made objects have these traits;
然而，没有一项人造的物品有这种特性；
they're simply thrown away when they break and they definitely can't reproduce.
它们坏掉时只会被丢掉，而且显然也没办法再生。
The answer lies in something called self assembly.
答案在于被称做“自组装”的性能。
Self assembly is a system where unordered parts come together in an organized structure, completely on their own.
自组装是一种系统，它可以让一堆混乱的元件单靠自己变成有组织的结构。
This means that a pile of parts on your desk should,
意思就是说你桌上的一堆东西，
in theory, be able to move around on their own, find one another, and build something useful.
理论上，可以自己移动，找到另一样，然后变成有用的东西。
This seems impossible, like Transformers or the Sandman, but it's exactly how our bodies are built,
这看起来不太可能，就像是变形金刚或是睡魔，但它正是我们身体组成的方式、
how our immune system works, and why we can reproduce.
免疫系统的运作方式以及我们能繁衍再生的原因
Self assembly is the factory and copy machines within our bodies that make proteins fold and DNA replicate.
自组装就像是我们体内的工厂或影印机，它可以制造蛋白质摺叠并复制DNA。
It's a process that not only happens in the biological and chemical world,
这个过程并不只在生物或化学世界中发生，
but is a phenomenon that can be seen from magnets to snowflakes, robotics, social networks,
这个现象可以常见于：磁铁、雪花、机器人学、社交网络
the formations of cities and galaxies, to name just a few.
以及城市与银河的形成，这还只是随口举出的例子。
In biology and chemistry, self assembly is everywhere,
在生物和化学中，自组装随处可见，
from atomic interactions, cellular replication to DNA, RNA, and protein folding.
从原子交互作用、细胞复制、到DNA、RNA、还有蛋白质折叠。
Proteins are like bicycle chains with sequences of amino acid links.
蛋白质就像是用胺基酸组成的脚踏车链条。
They self assemble into 3-D structures because of the interaction between the amino acids along the chain,
由于链条上各胺基酸的交互作用，它们可以自组装成3-D结构，
as well as the relationship between the chain and the environment.
此外还有胺基酸链与周围环境之间的关系的作用。
These forces make the flexible chain fold into a 3-D shape that governs the function in the protein.
这些力量让可弯曲的胺基酸链折叠成3-D的形状，决定了蛋白质的功能。
Viruses, on the other hand, are like soccer balls.
另一方面，病毒就像是足球。
They're made up of a series of sub-units with specific shapes.
它们由一系列特定形状的小单元组成。
Those shapes have attraction to one another, so they fit together in precise ways.
这些小单元会互相吸引，精准地相互结合。

Image you want to build a perfect sphere.
想像你想要造一个完美的球体。
It turns out that making a precise sphere through traditional means is actually quite difficult.
你会发现用传统的方法做一个精准的球相当地困难。
Alternatively, you could try to self assemble the sphere.
或者，你可以让这个球自组装。
One way would be to inflate the sphere like a bubble or a balloon.
其中一个办法是把一个球像泡泡或气球一样充气。
Another option would be to create many identical pieces that would come together to make a perfect sphere.
另一个办法则是制作许多一样的零件，并让它们互相吸引，变成一个完美的球。
You could try to put the pieces together one-by-one,
你可以试着一块一块装上去，
but it might take a long time and you would still have human errors.
但那会花很多时间，而且可能会有人为失误。
Instead you could design a connection between the components like magnets and dump them into a container.
相对地，你可以设计一种零件之间的键结，就像磁铁那样，然后把它们丢到一个容器里。
When you shook the container, all the parts would find one another and build the sphere for you.
当你摇晃这个容器，所有零件就会找到彼此，然后自己组成一个球。
Self assembly is being used as a new design, science, and engineering tool
自组装渐渐被用在新的设计、科学或是工程工具之中，
for making the next generation of technologies easier to build, more adaptive, and less reliant on fossil fuels.
好让下一代的科技更容易建造、更具适应性、同时减少对石化燃料的依赖。
Scientists are now making molecular microchips for computers
科学家们现在正在为电脑制作分子微芯片
where small, molecular elements are given the right conditions to form themselves into organized pathways.
其中，许多微小的分子状元件被赋与适当的限制，好让它们形成有系统的回路。
Similarly, we can now use self assembly as a way to make 3-D structures with DNA,
类似地，我们可以把自组装当做用DNA制造3-D结构的一种方式
like capsules that could deliver drugs inside the body, releasing them only if certain conditions are met.
就像胶囊可以把药送到体内，然后在适当的条件下才释放它们。
Soon, self assembly will be used for larger applications, where materials can repair themselves,
很快地，自组装会有更多应用，物质可以自我修复、
water pipes can reconfigure on demand, buildings can adapt on their own to environment or dynamic loading,
水管可以依要求重新配管、建筑物可以自我调整来适应外在环境或不断变动的使用者、
and space structures can self assemble without humans.
而太空设备可以在无人的状况下自组装。
Imagine if our factories were more like organisms or brains
想想看，如果我们的工厂像生物体或大脑一样
and our construction sites were like gardens that grow and adapt independently.
而建筑工地像花园一样可以独立生长并适应环境。
The possibilities are endless and it's now up to us to design a better world through self assembly.
这有无限的可能，而它只取决于我们用自组装来设计一个更好的世界。