尽管科学家们已经能够分裂原子、送人上月球、发现构建人类的DNA,却依然无法对10种人类行为之谜给出详解。 

    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，英国《新科学家》杂志整理出一张人类每日生活一览表，囊括了接吻，脸红甚至挖鼻孔等行为背后的动因。 

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

    同期社论写道："对于大多数人来说，没有什么比研究自身更有意思了。所以我们花大量精力试图弄清作为人类究竟意味着什么，这也毫不出奇。

    " 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.

    而令人惊奇的地方在于，人类有如此多莫名其妙的特质：既有像艺术、梦想或无私助人这些高尚的东西，也有如长耻毛、脸红、挖鼻孔等难登大雅之堂的行为。

     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.

    这看起来可能有点怪，然而其最佳解释往往能发人深省。 

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

    以下是一些人类行为的原理及谜题： Here are some theories on why we do those things we do and some of the problems:

    1- 脸红：达尔文曾绞尽脑汁也无法解释为何通过进化我们说谎时会面红，令人起疑。不过，也有人认为这相当于一种示弱，有助于化解敌意，增进亲密。

     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：当我们笑时，会释放改善情绪的安多酚，这个理由看似显而易见。但一项长达10年的研究发现，陈腔滥调比笑话更能引人发笑，这又让人糊涂了。 

    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：不是所有人类社会都这么做，而关于接吻的解释也倾向于这项技能并非与生俱来。有理论指出，这跟一些记忆有关，比如母乳喂养，比如分享唾液与快乐，古人在断奶时用口将食物哺给儿童，这强化了二者之间的关联。 

    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-做梦：佛洛依德关于梦的理论认为，梦表达了我们潜意识中的欲望。尽管人们认为这种说法不足信，不过也承认做梦有助于排解情绪--虽然我们为什么会有这些奇怪的梦境还不得而知。 

    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：这种奇怪的使人安心的习惯流传至今始终毫无长进，虽然远古人类因不会把狮子在草丛中的声响误听作风声而获益良多。宗教可能是契合了人渴求安心的先天冲动。 

    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：这个讨人嫌却又很普遍的行为并无任何益处，那么为什么近1/4的青少年要这么做呢？而且平均每天要挖四次。对此，一些人推测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：其他任何动物都没有经历过蛮横无常的青年阶段。一些推论说它有助于我们在成年以前的大脑重组，也有人说这是为几年后承担责任而做的行为实验。 

    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-利他行为：从进化角度上看，一味给予而不求回报是件怪事。这可能对团队融合有益或纯粹出于高兴。

     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-艺术：人类展示绘画、舞蹈、雕塑和音乐技能相当于孔雀开屏，以表明此人是个多么美好的未来伴侣。不过，它同样可以作为传播知识或分享经验的工具。 

    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-体毛：人类体毛细幼而性器官毛发粗厚，这与其他灵长类动物刚好相反。对该现象的解释尚无定论，现有的解释认为，这可能是耻毛有散发气味、保暖甚至防止皮肤因摩擦发炎的功效。 

    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.