盡管科學家們已經能夠分裂原子、送人上月球、發現構建人類的DNA,卻依然無法對10種人類行為之謎給出詳解。 

    Scientists have split the atom, put men on the moon and discovered the DNA of which we are made, but there are 10 key mysteries of human behaviour which they have failed to fully explain.

    不久前，英國《新科學家》雜志整理出一張人類每日生活一覽表，囊括了接吻，臉紅甚至挖鼻孔等行為背后的動因。 

    The New Scientist magazine compiled a list of the everyday aspects of life, including the reasons behind kissing, blushing and even picking your nose.

    同期社論寫道："對于大多數人來說，沒有什么比研究自身更有意思了。所以我們花大量精力試圖弄清作為人類究竟意味著什么，這也毫不出奇。

    " An editorial in the publication said: "There is nothing more fascinating to most of us than ourselves. So it is hardly surprising that we have expended large amounts of effort trying to get to the bottom of what it means to be human.

    而令人驚奇的地方在于，人類有如此多莫名其妙的特質：既有像藝術、夢想或無私助人這些高尚的東西，也有如長恥毛、臉紅、挖鼻孔等難登大雅之堂的行為。

     What is surprising is that there are so many traits that remain enigmatic. These range from the sublime, such as art, dreaming and altruism, to the ridiculous, think pubic hair, blushing and nose-picking.

    這看起來可能有點怪，然而其最佳解釋往往能發人深省。 

    They may seem quirky but the best explanations for them often have profound implications."

    以下是一些人類行為的原理及謎題： Here are some theories on why we do those things we do and some of the problems:

    1- 臉紅：達爾文曾絞盡腦汁也無法解釋為何通過進化我們說謊時會面紅，令人起疑。不過，也有人認為這相當于一種示弱，有助于化解敵意，增進親密。

     1 - Blushing: Charles Darwin struggled to explain why evolution made us turn red when we lie, which alerts others. However, some think it may help diffuse confrontation or foster intimacy by revealing weakness.

    2-笑：當我們笑時，會釋放改善情緒的安多酚，這個理由看似顯而易見。但一項長達10年的研究發現，陳腔濫調比笑話更能引人發笑，這又讓人糊涂了。 

    2 - Laughter: mood-improving endorphins are released when we laugh, which seems an obvious reason to do it but a 10-year study muddied the waters when it found more laughter is produced by banal comments than jokes.

    3. 接吻：不是所有人類社會都這么做，而關于接吻的解釋也傾向于這項技能并非與生俱來。有理論指出，這跟一些記憶有關，比如母乳喂養，比如分享唾液與快樂，古人在斷奶時用口將食物哺給兒童，這強化了二者之間的關聯。 

    3 - Kissing: the explanation for kissing is unlikely to be genetic as not all human societies do it. There are theories that it is associated with memories of breastfeeding and that ancient humans weaned their children by feeding them from their mouths, which reinforced the link between sharing saliva and pleasure.

    4-做夢：佛洛依德關于夢的理論認為，夢表達了我們潛意識中的欲望。盡管人們認為這種說法不足信，不過也承認做夢有助于排解情緒--雖然我們為什么會有這些奇怪的夢境還不得而知。 

    4 - Dreaming: Sigmund Freud's theory of dreams expressing our subconscious desires have been generally discredited and it is recognised that they help us process emotions, but the reason why we see such strange visions has not been properly explained.

    5-迷信：這種奇怪的使人安心的習慣流傳至今始終毫無長進，雖然遠古人類因不會把獅子在草叢中的聲響誤聽作風聲而獲益良多。宗教可能是契合了人渴求安心的先天沖動。 

    5 - Superstition: unusual but reassuring habits make no evolutionary sense; however, ancient humans would have benefited from not dismissing a lion's rustle in the grass as a gust of wind. Religion seems to tap into this impulse.

    6-挖鼻孔：這個討人嫌卻又很普遍的行為并無任何益處，那么為什么近1/4的青少年要這么做呢？而且平均每天要挖四次。對此，一些人推測它可以提高人的免疫力。 

    6 - Picking your nose: the unappealing but common habit of ingesting 'nasal detritus' offers almost no nutritional benefit, so why do a quarter of teenagers do it, on average four times a day? Some think it boosts the immune system.

    7-青春期：其他任何動物都沒有經歷過蠻橫無常的青年階段。一些推論說它有助于我們在成年以前的大腦重組，也有人說這是為幾年后承擔責任而做的行為實驗。 

    7 - Adolescence: no other animal undergoes the stroppy, unpredictable teenage years. Some suggest it helps our large brain reorganise itself before adulthood or that it allows experimentation in behaviour before the responsibility of later years.

    8-利他行為：從進化角度上看，一味給予而不求回報是件怪事。這可能對團隊融合有益或純粹出于高興。

     8 - Altruism: giving things away with no certain return is odd behaviour in evolutionary terms. It may help with group bonding or simply give pleasure.

    9-藝術：人類展示繪畫、舞蹈、雕塑和音樂技能相當于孔雀開屏，以表明此人是個多么美好的未來伴侶。不過，它同樣可以作為傳播知識或分享經驗的工具。 

    9 - Art: painting, dance, sculpture and music could all be the human equivalent of a peacock's tail in showing what a good potential mate someone is. However, it could also be a tool for spreading knowledge or sharing experience.

    10-體毛：人類體毛細幼而性器官毛發粗厚，這與其他靈長類動物剛好相反。對該現象的解釋尚無定論，現有的解釋認為，這可能是恥毛有散發氣味、保暖甚至防止皮膚因摩擦發炎的功效。 

    10 - Body hair: fine hair on the body and thick hair on the genitals is the opposite of what occurs in primates, our close animal relatives. Suggested reasons for pubic hair include a role in radiating scent, providing warmth or even protecting from chafing.