Foreword
by Lu Yongxiang

Since the birth of modern science, and in particular throughout the 20 th century, we have continuously deepened our understanding of Nature, and developed more means and methods to make use of natural resources. Technological innovation and industrial progress have become decisive factors in promoting unprecedented development of productive forces and the progress of society, and have greatly improved the mode of production and the way we live.

The 20 th century witnessed many revolutions in science. The establishment and development of quantum theory and the theory of relativity have changed our concept of time and space, and have given us a unified understanding of matter and energy. They served as a theoretical foundation upon which a series of major scientific discoveries and technological inventions were made. The discovery of the structure of DNA transformed our understanding of heredity and helped to unify our vision of the biological world. As a corner-stone in biology, DNA research has exerted a far-reaching influence on modern agriculture and medicine. The development of information science has provided a theoretical basis for computer science, communication technology, intelligent manufacturing, understanding of human cognition, and even economic and social studies. The theory of continental drift and plate tectonics has had important implications for seismology, geology of ore deposits, palaeontology, and palaeoclimatology. New understandings about the cosmos have enabled us to know in general terms, and also in many details, how elementary particles and chemical elements were formed, and how this led to the formation of molecules and the appearance of life, and even the origin and evolution of the entire universe.

The 20 th century also witnessed revolutions in technology. Breakthroughs in fundamental research, coupled to the stimulus of market forces, have led to unparalleled technological achievements. Energy, materials, information, aviation and aeronautics, and biological medicine have undergone dramatic changes. Specifically, new energy technologies have helped to promote social development; new materials technologies promote the growth of manufacturing and industrial prosperity; information technology has ushered in the Internet and the pervasive role of computing; aviation and aeronautical technology has broadened our vision and mobility, and has ultimately led to the exploration of the universe beyond our planet; and improvements in medical and biological technology have enabled people to live much better, healthier lives.

Outstanding achievements in science and technology made in China during its long history have contributed to the survival, development and continuation of the Chinese nation. The country remained ahead of Europe for several hundred years before the 15 th century. As Joseph Needham's studies demonstrated, a great many discoveries and innovations in understanding or practical capability—from the shape of snowflakes to the art of cartography, the circulation of the blood, the invention of paper and sericulture and, most famously, of compasses and gunpowder—were first made in China. The Four Great Inventions in ancient China have influenced the development process of the world. Ancient Chinese astronomical records are still used today by astronomers seeking to understand astrophysical phenomena. Thus Chinese as well as other long-standing civilizations in the world deserve to be credited as important sources of modern science and technology.

Scientific and technological revolutions in 17 th and 18 th century Europe, the First and Second Industrial Revolutions in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, and the spread of modern science education and knowledge sped up the modernization process of the West. During these centuries, China lagged behind.

Defeat in the Opium War (1840-1842) served as strong warning to the ancient Chinese empire. Around and after the time of the launch of Nature in 1869, elite intellectuals in China had come to see the importance that science and technology had towards the country's development. Many scholars went to study in Western higher education and research institutions, and some made outstanding contributions to science. Many students who had completed their studies and research in the West returned to China, and their work, together with that of home colleagues, laid the foundation for the development of modern science and technology in the country.

In the six decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made a series of achievements in science and technology. Chinese scientists independently developed the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb and artificial satellite within a short period of time. The continental oil generation theory led to the discovery of the Daqing oil field in the northeast. Chinese scientists also succeeded in synthesizing bovine insulin, the first protein to be made by synthetic chemical methods. The development and popularization of hybrid rice strains have significantly increased the yields from rice cultivation, benefiting hundreds of millions of people across the world. Breakthroughs in many other fields, such as materials science, aeronautics and life science, all represent China's progress in modern science and technology.

As the Chinese economy continues to enjoy rapid growth, scientific research is also producing increasing results. Many of these important results have been published in first-class international science journals such as Nature . This has expanded the influence of Chinese science research, and promoted exchange and cooperation between Chinese scientists with colleagues in other countries. All these indicate that China has become a significant global force in science and technology and that greater progress is expected in the future.

Science journals, which developed alongside modern science, play an essential role in faithfully recording the path of science, as well as spreading and promoting modern science. Such journals report academic development in a timely manner, provide a platform for scientists to exchange ideas and methods, explore the future direction of science, stimulate academic debates, promote academic prosperity, and help the public to better understand science. While promoting science and technology, China should place greater emphasis on the betterment of science journals. We should draw on the philosophies and methods of leading science journals such as Nature , improve the standards of digital access, and enable some of our own science journals to extend their impact beyond China in the not too distant future so that they can serve as an advanced platform for the development of science and technology in our country.

In the 20 th century, Nature published many remarkable discoveries in disciplines such as biology, geoscience, environmental science, materials science, and physics. The selection and publication of the best of the more than 100,000 articles in Nature over the past 150 years or so in English-Chinese bilingual format is a highly meaningful joint undertaking by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Macmillan Publishers Limited and the Nature Publishing Group. I believe that Nature: the Living Record of Science will help bridge cultural differences, promote international cooperation in science and technology, prove to be high-standard readings for its intended large audience, and play a positive role in improving scientific and technological research in our country. I fully endorse and support the project.

The volumes offer a picture of the course of science for nearly 150 years, from which we can explore how science develops, draw inspiration for new ideas and wisdom, and learn from the unremitting spirit of scientists in research. Reading these articles is like vicariously experiencing the great discoveries by scientific giants in the past, which will enable us to see wider, think deeper, work better, and aim higher. I believe this collection will also help interested readers from other walks of life to gain a better understanding of and care more about science, thus increasing their respect for and confidence in science.

I should like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the vision and joint efforts of Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Macmillan Publishers Limited and the Nature Publishing Group in bringing forth this monumental work, and my thanks to all the translators, reviewers and editors for their exertions in maintaining its high quality.

President of Chinese Academy of Sciences yK2/+sFgLPKAkFSjiCFl6EUagKUx73hXvmggG3vnstv93sRKyjvW8MPf2PuF0mxd

路甬祥序

自近代科学诞生以来，特别是20世纪以来，随着人类对自然的认识不断加深，随着人类利用自然资源的手段与方法不断丰富，技术创新、产业进步已成为推动生产力空前发展和人类社会进步的决定性因素，极大地改变了人类的生产与生活方式，使人类社会发生了显著的变化。

20世纪是科学革命的世纪。量子理论和相对论的创立与发展，改变了人类的时空观和对物质与能量统一性的认识，成为了20世纪一系列重大科学发现和技术发明的理论基石；DNA双螺旋结构模型的建立，标志着人类在揭示生命遗传奥秘方面迈出了具有里程碑意义的一步，奠定了生物技术的基础，对现代农业和医学的发展产生了深远影响；信息科学的发展为计算机科学、通信技术、智能制造提供了知识源泉，并为人类认知、经济学和社会学研究等提供了理论基础；大陆漂移学说和板块构造理论，对地震学、矿床学、古生物地质学、古气候学具有重要的指导作用；新的宇宙演化观念的建立为人们勾画出了基本粒子和化学元素的产生、分子的形成和生命的出现，乃至整个宇宙的起源和演化的图景。

20世纪也是技术革命的世纪。基础研究的重大突破和市场的强劲拉动，使人类在技术领域获得了前所未有的成就，能源、材料、信息、航空航天、生物医学等领域发生了全新变化。新能源技术为人类社会发展提供了多元化的动力；新材料技术为人类生活和科技进步提供了丰富的物质材料基础，推动了制造业的发展和工业的繁荣；信息技术使人类迈入了信息和网络时代；航空航天技术拓展了人类的活动空间和视野；医学与生物技术的进展极大地提高了人类的生活质量和健康水平。

历史上，中国曾经创造出辉煌的科学技术，支撑了中华民族的生存、发展和延续。在15世纪之前的数百年里，中国的科技水平曾遥遥领先于欧洲。李约瑟博士曾经指出，从雪花的形状到绘图的艺术、血液循环、造纸、养蚕，包括更有名的指南针和火药，都是首先由中国人发现或发明的。中国的“四大发明”影响了世界的发展进程，古代中国的天文记录至今仍为天文学家在研究天体物理现象时所使用。中华文明同其他悠久的人类文明一样，成为了近代科学技术的重要源泉。

但我们也要清醒地看到，发生在17~18世纪欧洲的科学革命、18~19世纪的第一次和第二次工业革命，以及现代科学教育与知识的传播，加快了西方现代化的进程，同时也拉大了中国与西方的差距。

鸦片战争的失败给古老的中华帝国敲响了警钟。就在《自然》创刊前后，中国的一批精英分子看到了科学技术对于国家发展的重要性，一批批中国学子到西方高校及研究机构学习，其中一些人在科学领域作出了杰出的贡献。同时，一大批留学生回国，同国内的知识分子一道，为现代科学技术在中国的发展奠定了基础。

新中国成立60年来，中国在科学技术方面取得了一系列成就。在很短的时间里，独立自主地研制出“两弹一星”；在陆相生油理论指导下，发现了大庆油田；成功合成了牛胰岛素，这是世界上第一个通过化学方法人工合成的蛋白质；杂交水稻研发及其品种的普及，显著提高了水稻产量，造福了全世界几亿人。中国人在材料科学、航天、生命科学等许多领域，也取得了一批重要成果。这些都展现了中国在现代科技领域所取得的巨大进步。

当前，中国经济持续快速增长，科研产出日益增加，中国的许多重要成果已经发表在像《自然》这样的世界一流的科技期刊上，扩大了中国科学研究的影响，推动了中国科学家和国外同行的交流与合作。现在，中国已成为世界重要的科技力量。可以预见，在未来，中国将在科学和技术方面取得更大的进步。

伴随着现代科学产生的科技期刊，忠实地记录了科学发展的轨迹，在传播和促进现代科学的发展方面发挥了重要的作用。科技期刊及时地报道学术进展，交流科学思想和方法，探讨未来发展方向，以带动学术争鸣与繁荣，促进公众对科学的理解。中国在推动科技进步的同时，应更加重视科技期刊的发展，学习包括《自然》在内的世界先进科技期刊的办刊理念和方法，提高期刊的数字化水平，使中国的一些科技期刊早日具备世界影响力，为中国科学技术的发展创建高水平的平台。

20世纪的生物学、地球科学、环境科学、材料科学和物理学等领域的许多重大发现，都被记录在《自然》上。外语教学与研究出版社、麦克米伦出版集团和自然出版集团携手合作，从《自然》创刊近一百五十年来发表过的十万余篇论文中撷取精华，并译成中文，以双语的形式呈现，纂为《〈自然〉百年科学经典》丛书。我认为这是一项很有意义的工作，并相信本套丛书的出版将跨越不同的文化，促进国际间的科技交流，向广大中国读者提供高水平的科学技术知识文献，为提升我国科学技术研发水平发挥积极的作用。我赞成并积极支持此项工作。

丛书将带领我们回顾近一百五十年来科学的发展历程，从中探索科学发展的规律，寻求思想和智慧的启迪，感受科学家们百折不挠的钻研精神。阅读这套丛书，读者可以重温科学史上一些科学巨匠作出重大科学发现的历程，拓宽视野，拓展思路，提升科研能力，提高科学道德。我相信，这套丛书一定能成为社会各界的良师益友，增强他们对科学的了解与热情，加深他们对科学的尊重与信心。

借此机会向外语教学与研究出版社、麦克米伦出版集团、自然出版集团策划出版本丛书的眼光和魄力表示赞赏，对翻译者、审校者和编辑者为保证丛书质量付出的辛苦劳动表示感谢。

是为序。

中国科学院院长 yK2/+sFgLPKAkFSjiCFl6EUagKUx73hXvmggG3vnstv93sRKyjvW8MPf2PuF0mxd

Foreword
by Tsung Dao Lee

We can appreciate the significance of natural science to human life in two aspects. Materially, natural science has achieved many breakthroughs, particularly in the past hundred years or so, which have brought about revolutionary changes to human life. At the same time, the spirit of science has taken an ever-deepening root in the hearts of the people. Instead of alleging that science is omnipotent, the spirit of science emphasizes down-to-earth and scrupulous research, and critical and creative courage. More importantly, it stands for the dedication to working for the wellbeing of humankind. This is perhaps more meaningful than scientific and technological achievements themselves, which may be closely related to specific backgrounds of the times. The spirit of science, on the other hand, constitutes a most valuable and constant component of humankind's spiritual civilization.

In this sense, Nature: the Living Record of Science presents not only the historical paths of the various fields of natural science for almost a century and a half, but also the unremitting spirit of numerous scientists in their pursuit of truth. One of the most influential science journals in the whole world, Nature , reflects a general picture of different branches of science in different stages of development. It has also reported many of the most important discoveries in modern science. The collection of papers in this series includes breakthroughs such as the special theory of relativity, the maturing of quantum mechanics and the mapping of the human genome sequence. In addition, the editors have not shunned papers which were proved to be wrong after publication. Included also are the academic debates over the relevant topics. This speaks volumes of their vision and broadmindedness. Arduous is the road of science; behind any success are countless failures unknown to outsiders. But such failures have laid the foundation for success in later times and thus should not be forgotten. The comprehensive and thoughtful coverage of these volumes will enable readers to gain a better understanding of the achievements that have tremendously promoted the progress of science and technology, the evolution of key and cutting-edge issues of the relevant fields, the inspiration brought about by academic controversies, the efforts and hardships behind these achievements, and the true meaning of the spirit of science.

China now enjoys unprecedented opportunities for the development of science and technology. At the policy level, the state has created a fine environment for scientific research by formulating medium- and long-term development programs. As for science and technology, development in the past decades has built up a solid foundation of research and a rich pool of talent. Some major topics at present include how to introduce the cream of academic research from abroad, to promote Sino-foreign exchange in science and technology, to further promote the spirit of science, and to raise China's development in this respect to the advanced international level. The co-publication of Nature: the Living Record of Science by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Macmillan Publishers Limited and the Nature Publishing Group will prove to be a huge contribution to the country's relevant endeavors. I sincerely wish for its success.

Science is a cause that does not have a finishing line, which is exactly the eternal charm of science and the source of inspiration for scientists to explore new frontiers. It is a cause worthy of our uttermost exertion.

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