1 00:00:01,967 --> 00:00:03,667 Narrator: THE EARTH IS IN DANGER. 2 00:00:03,667 --> 00:00:06,867 FUTURE COSMIC EVENTS 3 00:00:06,867 --> 00:00:11,700 ARE GOING TO BLAST, BURN, OR RIP US TO SHREDS. 4 00:00:11,700 --> 00:00:13,733 THE UNIVERSE IS INCREDIBLY VIOLENT. 5 00:00:13,733 --> 00:00:15,800 THERE ARE HUGE EVENTS GOING ON ALL THE TIME. 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,033 Narrator: ONE DAY, LIFE ON EARTH WILL BECOME IMPOSSIBLE. 7 00:00:19,033 --> 00:00:21,767 Krauss: THERE WILL BE DISASTERS IN THE FUTURE, 8 00:00:21,767 --> 00:00:24,000 AND ONE OF THEM WILL DESTROY US. 9 00:00:25,433 --> 00:00:27,767 Narrator: TO SAVE MANKIND, 10 00:00:27,767 --> 00:00:30,400 WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OTHER PLACES TO CALL HOME. 11 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,700 IT REALLY HAS TO BE OUR DESTINY TO MOVE OFF THE EARTH 12 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:36,900 IF WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. 13 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:40,933 WE NEED AN INSURANCE POLICY. 14 00:00:40,933 --> 00:00:43,133 WE MUST DO IT, AND WE MUST GET STARTED NOW. 15 00:00:43,133 --> 00:00:49,133 Narrator: WE'LL NEED A LIFEBOAT AND NEW HOMES AMONGST THE STARS, 16 00:00:49,133 --> 00:00:51,467 AND THIS IS HOW WE CAN DO IT. 17 00:00:51,467 --> 00:00:54,467 -- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com 18 00:00:54,467 --> 00:00:57,500 CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS 19 00:01:06,533 --> 00:01:08,433 Narrator: THE EARTH. 20 00:01:08,433 --> 00:01:13,167 AS FAR AS WE KNOW, IT'S THE ONLY HOME TO LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. 21 00:01:13,167 --> 00:01:16,600 Thaller: EARTH IS SUCH AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR LIFE. 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,433 EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR BODIES -- OUR BIOLOGY, OUR CHEMISTRY -- 23 00:01:20,433 --> 00:01:22,600 EVOLVED HERE ON EARTH. 24 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,933 WE LITERALLY ARE ON THE PERFECT SPACESHIP. 25 00:01:28,967 --> 00:01:30,967 Narrator: BUT OUR PERFECT SPACESHIP 26 00:01:30,967 --> 00:01:35,600 IS CAREENING THROUGH A COSMIC MINEFIELD. 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,333 EVERY 30 MILLION YEARS OR SO, 28 00:01:38,333 --> 00:01:41,067 A NATURAL OR COSMIC DISASTER 29 00:01:41,067 --> 00:01:42,933 HITS THE EARTH SO HARD 30 00:01:42,933 --> 00:01:45,967 THAT MILLIONS OF CREATURES GO EXTINCT. 31 00:01:49,167 --> 00:01:52,733 EXTINCTION EVENTS TEND TO KILL OFF THE DOMINANT SPECIES. 32 00:01:52,733 --> 00:01:53,900 [ ROAR ] 33 00:01:55,467 --> 00:01:58,067 AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S US. 34 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:03,633 IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE THAT IN AN EXTINCTION EVENT, 35 00:02:03,633 --> 00:02:07,067 IT'S THE LARGE AND POWERFUL THAT GET WIPED OUT. THEY GO. 36 00:02:07,067 --> 00:02:10,433 SO YOU KNOW THAT IF THERE'S AN EXTINCTION EVENT ON EARTH, 37 00:02:10,433 --> 00:02:12,067 WE HUMANS ARE VULNERABLE. 38 00:02:12,067 --> 00:02:14,800 WE'RE IN THE CATEGORY OF LARGE AND POWERFUL. 39 00:02:18,433 --> 00:02:22,633 Narrator: THE ONLY WAY FOR HUMANKIND TO SURVIVE GLOBAL EXTINCTION 40 00:02:22,633 --> 00:02:25,433 IS TO SPREAD OUR GENES TO MORE THAN ONE PLANET. 41 00:02:25,433 --> 00:02:27,067 Kaku: WE HAVE NO CHOICE. 42 00:02:27,067 --> 00:02:31,500 IT'S A LAW OF EVOLUTION, GEOLOGY, AND PHYSICS. 43 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:35,067 THE ALTERNATIVE IS DEATH AND EXTINCTION. 44 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:39,067 Narrator: WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD A GIANT SPACECRAFT 45 00:02:39,067 --> 00:02:42,067 CAPABLE OF CROSSING INTERSTELLAR SPACE 46 00:02:42,067 --> 00:02:47,800 AND COLONIZING DISTANT WORLDS AROUND OTHER STARS. 47 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,867 Oluseyi: YOU WILL ESSENTIALLY NEED A NEW NOAH'S ARK. 48 00:02:51,867 --> 00:02:54,967 BUT IT'S GONNA BE A SPACE ARK, AND IT HAS TO ENCAPSULATE 49 00:02:54,967 --> 00:02:57,867 ALL OF THE DIVERSITY OF EARTH INSIDE THIS ONE SHIP. 50 00:03:01,300 --> 00:03:03,833 Narrator: THE SPACE ARK WILL HAVE TO BE HUGE, 51 00:03:03,833 --> 00:03:06,600 BIG ENOUGH TO HOUSE THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NEEDED 52 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,100 TO CREATE A HEALTHY GENE POOL ON THE NEW PLANETS. 53 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:13,667 TOO MASSIVE TO CONSTRUCT ON EARTH, 54 00:03:13,667 --> 00:03:16,967 THE GIANT CRAFT WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT IN SPACE, 55 00:03:16,967 --> 00:03:19,700 FAR FROM THE PULL OF EARTH'S GRAVITY. 56 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:24,533 BUT BUILDING A SHIPYARD IN THE SKY IS NO SMALL CHALLENGE. 57 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:28,500 NASA IS TACKLING IT HEAD-ON 58 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:31,700 WITH A NEW GENERATION OF HEAVY-LIFT ROCKETS 59 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:33,767 CALLED THE SLS. 60 00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:39,800 I SEE THE SLS AS A CAPABILITY THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US 61 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,067 TO PUT AN INDUSTRIAL BASE BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE MOON. 62 00:03:43,067 --> 00:03:44,267 AFTER WE DO THAT, 63 00:03:44,267 --> 00:03:46,933 AND WE'RE OUT THERE ROUTINELY WORKING IN SPACE, 64 00:03:46,933 --> 00:03:48,200 THAT'S WHEN WE'LL ASSEMBLE 65 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,233 THE CRAFT THAT'LL TAKE US TO THE STARS. 66 00:03:52,367 --> 00:03:57,467 Narrator: LES JOHNSON'S JOB IS TO PLAN THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION. 67 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:01,933 TODAY, HE'S OBSERVING A TEST-FIRING 68 00:04:01,933 --> 00:04:04,900 OF A 120-SCALE MODEL SLS. 69 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:08,500 WHEN THE REAL DEAL TAKES OFF IN 2032, 70 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:13,067 THE SLS WILL BECOME THE MOST POWERFUL ROCKET EVER LAUNCHED. 71 00:04:15,067 --> 00:04:16,133 Les: THE SLS IS BIG. 72 00:04:16,133 --> 00:04:18,067 IT'S GONNA GIVE US THE CAPABILITY 73 00:04:18,067 --> 00:04:20,400 TO TAKE LOTS OF STUFF UP WITH EACH LAUNCH, 74 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:21,767 AND IT CAN BE BIG VOLUME. 75 00:04:21,767 --> 00:04:24,900 AND YOU COULD POTENTIALLY LAUNCH THREE OF THESE BIG ROCKETS 76 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:26,167 VERSUS PERHAPS 15 OR 20 77 00:04:26,167 --> 00:04:28,600 OF THE OTHER ROCKETS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TODAY 78 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,300 TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF MATERIAL OUT INTO SPACE. 79 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:35,400 Narrator: LES ENVISIONS SLS ROCKETS 80 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,533 TAKING PREFABRICATED UNITS BEYOND EARTH'S ORBIT, 81 00:04:38,533 --> 00:04:41,200 WHERE SPACE ENGINEERS WILL ASSEMBLE THEM 82 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,067 INTO A COLOSSAL INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOP. 83 00:04:45,067 --> 00:04:46,400 MINERS WILL THEN FLY OUT 84 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,900 TO DIFFERENT BODIES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM 85 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:52,833 TO COLLECT THE RAW MATERIALS NEEDED TO BUILD THE SPACE ARK. 86 00:04:52,833 --> 00:04:55,667 WE'LL HAVE FACTORIES ON THE MOON, 87 00:04:55,667 --> 00:04:57,800 AND PERHAPS EVEN BEYOND THAT -- 88 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,733 ON GIANT ROCKS INSIDE THE ASTEROID BELT. 89 00:05:01,733 --> 00:05:05,233 ASTEROIDS HAVE A FRACTION OF EARTH'S GRAVITY. 90 00:05:05,233 --> 00:05:09,300 HERE, IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER TO BUILD MASSIVE SECTIONS 91 00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:13,233 AND LIFT THEM TO THE ARK AS IT BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE. 92 00:05:13,233 --> 00:05:17,200 THE INNER SOLAR SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE ALL WE NEED 93 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,400 TO MAKE THE GIANT SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE SPACE ARK. 94 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,733 BUT THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING. 95 00:05:23,733 --> 00:05:28,267 COLONIZING A DISTANT WORLD WILL REQUIRE A PROPULSION SYSTEM 96 00:05:28,267 --> 00:05:31,867 FASTER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE EVER BUILT BEFORE. 97 00:05:31,867 --> 00:05:34,067 Krauss: SPACE IS HUGE. OUR SOLAR SYSTEM IS HUGE. 98 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:36,333 I MEAN, EVEN TO GET TO MARS WOULD TAKE ALMOST A YEAR. 99 00:05:36,333 --> 00:05:37,767 BUT THAT'S NOTHING 100 00:05:37,767 --> 00:05:41,333 COMPARED TO EXPLORING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS. 101 00:05:41,333 --> 00:05:45,533 THE NEAREST STARS TO OUR SUN ARE SEVERAL LIGHT-YEARS AWAY. 102 00:05:45,533 --> 00:05:48,067 EVEN LIGHT, THE FASTEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE, 103 00:05:48,067 --> 00:05:50,067 TAKES SEVERAL YEARS TO GET THERE. 104 00:05:50,067 --> 00:05:51,967 Narrator: THE SUN'S CLOSEST NEIGHBOR 105 00:05:51,967 --> 00:05:56,667 IS A TRIPLE-STAR SYSTEM CALLED ALPHA CENTAURI. 106 00:05:56,667 --> 00:06:00,367 A SPACESHIP BURNING CONVENTIONAL FUEL 107 00:06:00,367 --> 00:06:02,933 WOULD TAKE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO GET THERE. 108 00:06:02,933 --> 00:06:08,100 THE CREW WOULD DIE OF OLD AGE LONG BEFORE THE SHIP ARRIVED. 109 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:10,933 SO WHAT FUEL TO USE? 110 00:06:14,433 --> 00:06:17,267 SCIENCE FICTION APPEARS TO HAVE THE SOLUTION, 111 00:06:17,267 --> 00:06:19,533 BUT IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. 112 00:06:19,533 --> 00:06:22,133 EVERY TREKKIE IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS 113 00:06:22,133 --> 00:06:23,900 KNOWS THAT IT'S ANTIMATTER. 114 00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:27,100 ANTIMATTER IS THE FUEL FOR AN INTERSTELLAR SHIP. 115 00:06:30,933 --> 00:06:34,133 Narrator: ANTIMATTER IS REAL. 116 00:06:34,133 --> 00:06:37,400 WE CREATE A FEW ATOMS OF ANTIMATTER EVERY YEAR 117 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,933 IN HIGH-ENERGY PARTICLE COLLIDERS. 118 00:06:39,933 --> 00:06:44,133 IT'S THE MIRROR IMAGE OF ALL THE MATTER THAT WE SEE AROUND US, 119 00:06:44,133 --> 00:06:47,967 AND IT HAS AN EXPLOSIVE PROPERTY THAT WOULD MAKE IT 120 00:06:47,967 --> 00:06:51,333 THE MOST EFFICIENT ROCKET FUEL EVER CREATED. 121 00:06:51,333 --> 00:06:53,667 HERE'S THE COOL THING ABOUT ANTIMATTER. 122 00:06:53,667 --> 00:06:58,867 WHEN ANTIMATTER AND MATTER MEET, THEY ANNIHILATE EACH OTHER. 123 00:06:58,867 --> 00:07:02,167 THAT MEANS THAT THE MATTER CEASES TO EXIST. 124 00:07:04,833 --> 00:07:07,867 THEY CONVERT INTO PURE ENERGY. 125 00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:10,467 IT'S A 100% EFFICIENT PROCESS. 126 00:07:12,967 --> 00:07:15,067 Narrator: SCIENTISTS HAVE CALCULATED 127 00:07:15,067 --> 00:07:16,967 THAT A ROCKET POWERED BY ANTIMATTER 128 00:07:16,967 --> 00:07:20,667 COULD REACH 15% OF THE SPEED OF LIGHT. 129 00:07:20,667 --> 00:07:25,700 THAT'S FAST ENOUGH TO GET TO THE MOON IN 8 1/2 SECONDS. 130 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:27,533 WE WILL HAVE ALMOST UNLIMITED POWER. 131 00:07:27,533 --> 00:07:30,167 WE COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE WE WANTED TO. 132 00:07:32,533 --> 00:07:35,433 Narrator: OUR SPACE ARK COULD REACH ALPHA CENTAURI 133 00:07:35,433 --> 00:07:38,633 IN JUST OVER 28 YEARS, 134 00:07:38,633 --> 00:07:41,267 WELL WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF ITS HUMAN PAYLOAD. 135 00:07:41,267 --> 00:07:43,600 NOW, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA, RIGHT? 136 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,767 LET'S GET TOGETHER A LOT OF ANTIMATTER. 137 00:07:45,767 --> 00:07:47,333 LET'S CREATE SOME ANTIMATTER, 138 00:07:47,333 --> 00:07:49,233 AND LET'S COMBINE IT WITH REGULAR MATTER, 139 00:07:49,233 --> 00:07:51,233 AND WE HAVE THIS OUTSTANDING ENERGY SOURCE. 140 00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:53,500 BUT ANTIMATTER HAS A HUGE PROBLEM, 141 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:57,133 AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT ITS ADVANTAGE IS -- 142 00:07:57,133 --> 00:08:00,733 WHEN IT MEETS MATTER, IT'S GOING TO ANNIHILATE AND CREATE ENERGY. 143 00:08:00,733 --> 00:08:03,100 Narrator: FILL A CONVENTIONAL FUEL TANK 144 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:05,967 WITH A SINGLE POUND OF ANTIMATTER, 145 00:08:05,967 --> 00:08:08,067 AND YOU'LL GET AN EXPLOSION 146 00:08:08,067 --> 00:08:11,433 MORE POWERFUL THAN 1,000 HIROSHIMA BOMBS. 147 00:08:13,233 --> 00:08:17,833 ANTIMATTER IS JUST TOO HOT TO HANDLE. 148 00:08:17,833 --> 00:08:19,900 WE NEED A RELIABLE ENERGY SOURCE 149 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:23,133 THAT CAN POWER OUR STARSHIPS FOR YEARS AT A TIME. 150 00:08:23,133 --> 00:08:26,600 AND THERE ARE ONLY A FEW CANDIDATES THAT CAN DO THIS. 151 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,367 AMONG THEM, FUSION POWER -- 152 00:08:28,367 --> 00:08:32,333 HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN ITSELF. 153 00:08:36,467 --> 00:08:41,100 Narrator: IN THE SUN'S HOT, DENSE CORE, HYDROGEN ATOMS COLLIDE... 154 00:08:43,300 --> 00:08:46,467 ...SMASHING INTO EACH OTHER WITH SUCH FORCE 155 00:08:46,467 --> 00:08:49,300 THEY FUSE, RELEASING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY. 156 00:08:51,767 --> 00:08:53,933 THIS IS NUCLEAR FUSION. 157 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:59,200 Les: WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN SPACE TRAVEL 158 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,067 IS MINIATURIZE IT AND PUT IT IN A SPACECRAFT 159 00:09:02,067 --> 00:09:04,233 AND USE THAT AS YOUR POWER SYSTEM 160 00:09:04,233 --> 00:09:07,733 AND AS YOUR PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR DEEP-SPACE EXPLORATION. 161 00:09:11,533 --> 00:09:13,067 Narrator: A FUSION ROCKET 162 00:09:13,067 --> 00:09:16,400 IS STILL TWO-THIRDS THE SPEED OF ONE POWERED BY ANTIMATTER. 163 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:20,333 AND BEST OF ALL, ITS FUEL, HYDROGEN GAS, 164 00:09:20,333 --> 00:09:25,667 CAN BE FOUND IN VAST CLOUDS IN THE SPACE BETWEEN STARS. 165 00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:29,733 IT WOULD SIMPLY AUTOMATICALLY FIRE IN OUTER SPACE 166 00:09:29,733 --> 00:09:31,700 USING INTERSTELLAR GAS. 167 00:09:31,700 --> 00:09:35,600 AND, IN PRINCIPLE, IT WOULD NEVER REQUIRE REFUELING. 168 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:40,633 Narrator: OUR FUSION-POWERED SPACE ARK HEADS FOR ITS FIRST TARGET, 169 00:09:40,633 --> 00:09:44,600 ALPHA CENTAURI, AT 10% THE SPEED OF LIGHT. 170 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,333 IT WILL TAKE 42 YEARS TO COMPLETE THE JOURNEY, 171 00:09:48,333 --> 00:09:51,600 AND ITS PRECIOUS LOAD OF HUMAN PIONEERS 172 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,133 MUST BE DELIVERED SAFE AND WELL. 173 00:09:54,133 --> 00:09:56,333 BUT THE CROSSING MAY BE DEADLY. 174 00:09:56,333 --> 00:10:01,233 OUR VIOLENT COSMOS HAS A MILLION WAYS TO KILL. 175 00:10:14,533 --> 00:10:18,433 Narrator: A GIANT SPACE ARK FIRES ITS FUSION ROCKETS. 176 00:10:18,433 --> 00:10:23,533 INSIDE THE SHIP ARE THOUSANDS OF HUMAN VOLUNTEERS. 177 00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:29,333 THEY'RE ON A ONE-WAY MISSION TO COLONIZE A DISTANT PLANET. 178 00:10:29,333 --> 00:10:33,833 ONE DAY, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY. 179 00:10:33,833 --> 00:10:35,700 IT'S INEVITABLE THAT WE GO OFF-PLANET. 180 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:38,367 I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT TO SURVIVE AS A SPECIES. 181 00:10:38,367 --> 00:10:39,933 Narrator: THE ARK'S FIRST TARGET 182 00:10:39,933 --> 00:10:45,733 IS THE CLOSEST STAR SYSTEM TO THE SUN, ALPHA CENTAURI. 183 00:10:45,733 --> 00:10:50,967 AND THE JOURNEY WILL BE LONG -- AROUND 40 YEARS. 184 00:10:50,967 --> 00:10:54,367 KEEPING THE CREW FIT AND HEALTHY IS IMPERATIVE, 185 00:10:54,367 --> 00:10:56,400 BUT IT WON'T BE EASY. 186 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,300 A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN TO THE HUMAN BODY 187 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:00,400 WHEN YOU GO INTO SPACE. 188 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,600 THE MOMENT YOU BECOME WEIGHTLESS, 189 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,600 YOU INSTANTLY GET KIND OF A FULL-HEADED FEELING. 190 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,533 YOU GET DIZZY. THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL NAUSEOUS. 191 00:11:09,533 --> 00:11:12,067 Narrator: LEROY CHIAO SPENT SIX MONTHS 192 00:11:12,067 --> 00:11:14,433 ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, 193 00:11:14,433 --> 00:11:15,700 LONG ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE 194 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:19,433 THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF ZERO GRAVITY. 195 00:11:19,433 --> 00:11:21,600 Chiao: YOUR BONES AREN'T FEELING ANY IMPACT, 196 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,533 SO YOUR BODY DECIDES IT DOESN'T NEED BONES ANYMORE, 197 00:11:24,533 --> 00:11:27,533 AND IT'LL BEGIN TO DE-MINERALIZE YOUR BONES. 198 00:11:27,533 --> 00:11:29,800 AND THEN, YOUR MUSCLES, THROUGH DISUSE -- 199 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,500 OF COURSE, THEY'LL NATURALLY ATROPHY VERY QUICKLY. 200 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,100 Narrator: THE HUMAN BODY EVOLVED TO LIVE WITH EARTH'S GRAVITY. 201 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,067 WITHOUT IT, 202 00:11:41,067 --> 00:11:45,333 BONES LOSE 2% OF THEIR MASS FOR EVERY MONTH SPENT IN SPACE. 203 00:11:47,633 --> 00:11:51,100 THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM SUFFERS, TOO. 204 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:52,700 BODY FLUIDS POOL. 205 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:56,633 HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE RISE. 206 00:11:56,633 --> 00:12:00,367 RESISTANCE TRAINING HELPS REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS. 207 00:12:00,367 --> 00:12:04,133 Chiao: WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR TWO HOURS OF EXERCISE A DAY 208 00:12:04,133 --> 00:12:07,733 ON THE SPACE STATION TO KEEP OUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM FIT, 209 00:12:07,733 --> 00:12:09,633 TO KEEP OUR MUSCLES AND OUR BONES FIT. 210 00:12:09,633 --> 00:12:14,267 Narrator: EXERCISING CAN HOLD OFF THE DANGEROUS WASTING PROCESS. 211 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,567 BUT A 42-YEAR JOURNEY TO ALPHA CENTAURI 212 00:12:19,567 --> 00:12:23,333 WITHOUT GRAVITY WOULD BE FATAL. 213 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:27,067 OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO WEIGHTLESSNESS. 214 00:12:27,067 --> 00:12:30,967 THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT US, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, 215 00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:34,567 FROM CREATING ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY. 216 00:12:37,267 --> 00:12:40,233 Narrator: THE ANSWER IS CENTRIFUGAL FORCE. 217 00:12:44,333 --> 00:12:45,600 IT'S THE FORCE 218 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,667 THAT STICKS DAREDEVIL BIKERS TO VERTICAL WALLS 219 00:12:48,667 --> 00:12:53,933 AND KEEPS THRILL-SEEKERS GLUED TO THEIR SEATS IN THEME PARKS. 220 00:12:53,933 --> 00:12:56,567 ROTATION PRODUCES THIS OUTWARD FORCE, 221 00:12:56,567 --> 00:13:02,767 AND CREATING IT IN A SPACESHIP WOULD BE RELATIVELY SIMPLE. 222 00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,967 BY ROTATING A SPACE CAPSULE, 223 00:13:04,967 --> 00:13:07,400 IT MEANS THAT THE ASTRONAUTS INSIDE 224 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,867 WILL EXPERIENCE ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY. 225 00:13:12,833 --> 00:13:16,133 Narrator: SPINNING THE LIVING QUARTERS AT JUST THE RIGHT SPEED 226 00:13:16,133 --> 00:13:18,300 WILL HOLD OFF BONE AND MUSCLE WASTING. 227 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:20,867 BUT AS THEY JOURNEY DEEP INTO SPACE, 228 00:13:20,867 --> 00:13:27,067 LOW GRAVITY IS THE LEAST OF THE DANGERS OUR PIONEERS WILL FACE. 229 00:13:27,067 --> 00:13:30,433 Chiao: RADIATION IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE. 230 00:13:30,433 --> 00:13:32,733 WE'RE GONNA BE EXPOSED TO MUCH HARSHER LEVELS, 231 00:13:32,733 --> 00:13:34,767 MUCH HIGHER LEVELS, OF RADIATION. 232 00:13:34,767 --> 00:13:38,233 Narrator: THE SUN'S SURFACE SHOOTS OUT 233 00:13:38,233 --> 00:13:42,500 A CONSTANT STREAM OF DANGEROUS CHARGED PARTICLES, 234 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:44,300 PROTONS AND ELECTRONS 235 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:47,100 TRAVELING AT CLOSE TO A MILLION MILES AN HOUR. 236 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:49,700 Oluseyi: THESE THINGS WILL BREAK YOUR DNA. 237 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:53,533 THEY'LL CAUSE CANCER, AND THEY WILL KILL YOU. 238 00:13:53,533 --> 00:13:55,700 Narrator: THE EARTH'S MAGNETOSPHERE 239 00:13:55,700 --> 00:13:57,833 AND THE ATMOSPHERE ABOVE OUR HEADS 240 00:13:57,833 --> 00:14:01,067 PROTECTS US FROM THE WORST OF THIS RADIATION. 241 00:14:01,067 --> 00:14:03,167 BUT FAR FROM THE EARTH, 242 00:14:03,167 --> 00:14:07,233 THE PIONEERS WILL FACE RADIATION HEAD-ON. 243 00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:09,833 THAT REALLY IS THE BIGGEST TECHNICAL BARRIER 244 00:14:09,833 --> 00:14:13,567 TO MANKIND SENDING PEOPLE OUT FARTHER AND DEEPER INTO SPACE. 245 00:14:13,567 --> 00:14:16,967 IT'S NOT PROPULSION. IT'S NOT COMPUTERS OR NAVIGATION. 246 00:14:16,967 --> 00:14:19,367 IT'S HOW DO WE KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY? 247 00:14:19,367 --> 00:14:22,467 Narrator: BEYOND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, 248 00:14:22,467 --> 00:14:25,300 THE RADIATION THREAT GETS WORSE. 249 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:29,533 CHARGED PARTICLES COME AT YOU EVEN FASTER. 250 00:14:29,533 --> 00:14:32,267 Thaller: IN SOME CASES, THERE ARE SINGLE PROTONS 251 00:14:32,267 --> 00:14:34,967 THAT ACTUALLY PACK AS MUCH OF A PUNCH 252 00:14:34,967 --> 00:14:37,967 AS A 100-MILE-AN-HOUR FASTBALL. 253 00:14:37,967 --> 00:14:41,533 Narrator: THESE COSMIC RAYS ARE JOINED BY AN EVEN DEADLIER FORCE -- 254 00:14:41,533 --> 00:14:46,533 GAMMA RAYS, BLASTED OUT BY VIOLENT, COSMIC EVENTS. 255 00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:51,233 ALL OF THE COSMIC PHENOMENA, FROM STARS EXPLODING... 256 00:14:54,133 --> 00:14:57,833 ...TO BLACK HOLES EATING UP LARGE PARTS OF GALAXIES... 257 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,300 ...PRODUCE RADIATION 258 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:04,300 AND PARTICLES THAT ARE INCREDIBLY ENERGETIC. 259 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:07,167 YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THESE PARTICLES BEFORE. 260 00:15:07,167 --> 00:15:08,833 YOU BODY'S NOT ADAPTED TO THEM. 261 00:15:08,833 --> 00:15:12,133 AND THEY COME AT YOU ALL THE TIME, 262 00:15:12,133 --> 00:15:14,300 AND THEY'RE VERY HIGH-ENERGY. 263 00:15:16,967 --> 00:15:18,933 Narrator: GALACTIC, COSMIC RADIATION 264 00:15:18,933 --> 00:15:22,333 WILL RIP THROUGH THE CELLS OF OUR HUMAN CARGO... 265 00:15:24,233 --> 00:15:27,200 ...LIQUEFYING THEIR BODIES. 266 00:15:30,367 --> 00:15:34,100 THE ONLY HOPE IS TO SOMEHOW SHIELD THE SPACECRAFT. 267 00:15:36,067 --> 00:15:37,333 IN SCIENCE FICTION, 268 00:15:37,333 --> 00:15:40,133 STARSHIPS CREATE A PROTECTIVE MAGNETIC BUBBLE 269 00:15:40,133 --> 00:15:43,433 SIMILAR TO THE MAGNETIC FIELD THAT PROTECTS THE EARTH. 270 00:15:43,433 --> 00:15:44,867 BUT A DEFLECTOR SHIELD 271 00:15:44,867 --> 00:15:47,733 WOULD TAKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO SUSTAIN. 272 00:15:47,733 --> 00:15:52,867 AND LIKE ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE, IT WOULD BE PRONE TO FAILURE. 273 00:15:52,867 --> 00:15:55,267 THE SAFEST OPTION IS TO GO LOW-TECH, 274 00:15:55,267 --> 00:15:58,633 COATING THE SHIP WITH A THICK LAYER OF PHYSICAL SHIELDING. 275 00:15:58,633 --> 00:16:01,233 Chiao: SHIELDING IS NOT A SIMPLE PROBLEM. 276 00:16:01,233 --> 00:16:02,533 IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER 277 00:16:02,533 --> 00:16:05,167 OF BRINGING A BUNCH OF LEAD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 278 00:16:05,167 --> 00:16:08,267 IN FACT, WHAT YOU FIND IS THAT IF YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 279 00:16:08,267 --> 00:16:10,067 IT ABSORBS THE RADIATION, 280 00:16:10,067 --> 00:16:12,767 AND THEN IT RE-EMITS IT IN A MORE DANGEROUS FORM. 281 00:16:15,633 --> 00:16:17,167 Narrator: METALS WON'T WORK. 282 00:16:17,167 --> 00:16:21,267 BUT SCIENTISTS HAVE COME UP WITH A BRILLIANT ALTERNATIVE. 283 00:16:23,733 --> 00:16:26,900 Thaller: IN FACT, ONE OF THE BEST SHIELDS FROM COSMIC RAYS 284 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:28,867 IS SOMETHING SIMPLE -- WATER. 285 00:16:28,867 --> 00:16:32,600 AND IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU 286 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,600 AS YOU VENTURE INTO INTERSTELLAR SPACE. 287 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,700 Narrator: THE HYDROGEN ATOMS IN WATER ABSORB HIGH-ENERGY PARTICLES. 288 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:43,900 AND, IN SUFFICIENT VOLUME, WATER CAN ALSO BLOCK GAMMA RAYS. 289 00:16:46,933 --> 00:16:48,867 THE LIVING QUARTERS OF THE ARK 290 00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:52,467 WILL HAVE A THICK OUTER SKIN FILLED WITH THE SHIP'S WATER 291 00:16:52,467 --> 00:16:55,100 AND, OUTSIDE THAT, A SECOND SKIN 292 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:59,200 FILLED WITH THE SHIP'S HYDROGEN SUPPLY FOR ITS FUSION ENGINES. 293 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:04,200 OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE NOW SAFE FROM RADIATION SICKNESS. 294 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,967 AND WITH ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY, THEIR BODIES WILL STAY STRONG. 295 00:17:08,967 --> 00:17:11,600 THE DEADLIEST THREAT NOW... 296 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:12,933 EACH OTHER. 297 00:17:24,933 --> 00:17:27,367 Narrator: A COSMIC CATASTROPHE 298 00:17:27,367 --> 00:17:31,300 WILL ONE DAY WIPE US FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. 299 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:34,633 TO SAVE MANKIND, WE'LL NEED TO ESCAPE TO THE STARS 300 00:17:34,633 --> 00:17:39,667 IN A GIANT SPACE ARK IN SEARCH OF A NEW HOME. 301 00:17:39,667 --> 00:17:43,100 ITS PRECIOUS HUMAN CARGO WILL BE KEPT IN TOP PHYSICAL CONDITION 302 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:47,600 WITH ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY AND HYDROGEN-RICH SHIELDING. 303 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,667 BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH? 304 00:17:49,667 --> 00:17:52,500 ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE IN SPACE 305 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:53,567 ARE THE PEOPLE. 306 00:17:53,567 --> 00:17:55,900 TAKING PEOPLE, PUTTING THEM IN A TIN CAN 307 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:58,200 IN AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT, 308 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,400 HAVING THEM GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER FOR MONTHS OR YEARS 309 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,433 AND STAY ALIVE THROUGH THE JOURNEY 310 00:18:04,433 --> 00:18:07,267 IS GOING TO BE AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE. 311 00:18:07,267 --> 00:18:09,500 Krauss: WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE GO ON SUBMARINES, 312 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:11,633 THAT THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFULLY TESTED. 313 00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:14,433 AND THOSE SUBMARINES GO OUT FOR MISSIONS 314 00:18:14,433 --> 00:18:16,533 THAT CERTAINLY DON'T LAST YEARS. 315 00:18:16,533 --> 00:18:18,933 Narrator: WE CAN'T START A NEW CIVILIZATION 316 00:18:18,933 --> 00:18:23,333 WITH A CREW RAVAGED BY COSMIC BOREDOM, INFIGHTING, 317 00:18:23,333 --> 00:18:24,867 AND MENTAL ILLNESS. 318 00:18:24,867 --> 00:18:26,367 IT WOULD BE BETTER 319 00:18:26,367 --> 00:18:30,733 IF THE ENTIRE CREW WERE UNCONSCIOUS. 320 00:18:30,733 --> 00:18:34,200 Krauss: ONE POSSIBILITY -- WHICH, OF COURSE, AGAIN, 321 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,633 IS A POSSIBILITY IN SCIENCE FICTION -- 322 00:18:36,633 --> 00:18:39,467 IS TO HAVE PEOPLE BE ASLEEP DURING MOST OF IT. 323 00:18:39,467 --> 00:18:42,400 Thaller: COULD YOU PUT PEOPLE INTO AN INDUCED COMA 324 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,733 AND THEN WAKE THEM UP IN TIME TO GO DO THEIR SCIENCE MISSION? 325 00:18:45,733 --> 00:18:47,700 IT MIGHT BE AN EASIER THING TO DO 326 00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:50,133 THAN TO SAY, "WELL, NOW YOU JUST SIT STILL 327 00:18:50,133 --> 00:18:51,467 FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS." 328 00:18:51,467 --> 00:18:54,933 Narrator: THE CLOSEST WE'VE COME TO SUSPENDED ANIMATION 329 00:18:54,933 --> 00:18:56,067 IN TODAY'S WORLD 330 00:18:56,067 --> 00:18:58,967 IS STORING HUMAN EMBRYOS IN LIQUID NITROGEN. 331 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:03,967 BUT COULD WE REALLY SAVE THE HUMAN RACE 332 00:19:03,967 --> 00:19:06,567 WITH TEST-TUBE BABIES? 333 00:19:06,567 --> 00:19:09,733 BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS HURDLES FACING SPACE TRAVEL, 334 00:19:09,733 --> 00:19:12,067 SOME PEOPLE HAVE ADVANCED THE IDEA, 335 00:19:12,067 --> 00:19:15,300 "WELL, WHY DO WE HAVE TO SEND HUMANS INTO OUTER SPACE? 336 00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:19,267 WHY NOT SEND EMBRYOS OR SPERM AND EGG CELLS?" 337 00:19:19,267 --> 00:19:22,533 Narrator: IN THEORY, WE COULD TRANSPORT FROZEN EMBRYOS 338 00:19:22,533 --> 00:19:25,867 ACROSS VAST DISTANCES OF SPACE, 339 00:19:25,867 --> 00:19:27,900 SIDE-STEPPING THE NEED FOR FOOD 340 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:30,533 OR COMPLICATED LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS. 341 00:19:30,533 --> 00:19:32,100 Kaku: THEY COULD WITHSTAND 342 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:34,567 THE RIGORS OF SPACE TRAVEL AND WEIGHTLESSNESS, 343 00:19:34,567 --> 00:19:37,067 BUT HOW WILL THEY BE SOCIALIZED? 344 00:19:37,067 --> 00:19:39,267 Krauss: YOU PUT A BABY IN A SINGLE PLACE ALONE, 345 00:19:39,267 --> 00:19:42,133 THEY DON'T LEARN HOW TO READ. THEY WOULDN'T SURVIVE, IN FACT. 346 00:19:42,133 --> 00:19:44,233 WE'RE VERY DEPENDENT. WE ARE SOCIAL BEINGS. 347 00:19:44,233 --> 00:19:48,167 Narrator: WE WOULD HAVE TO DEVELOP INTELLIGENT ROBOTS 348 00:19:48,167 --> 00:19:50,067 TO HATCH THE EMBRYOS 349 00:19:50,067 --> 00:19:54,267 AND THEN TEACH THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN. 350 00:19:54,267 --> 00:19:58,067 IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT PERHAPS 100 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, 351 00:19:58,067 --> 00:19:59,900 WE WILL HAVE ROBOT NANNIES 352 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:03,467 THAT CAN INCORPORATE THE LAWS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION. 353 00:20:03,467 --> 00:20:07,033 Narrator: COULD A ROBOT REALLY RAISE A CHILD? 354 00:20:07,033 --> 00:20:09,800 OR, IN OUR RUSH TO SAVE HUMANITY, 355 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,900 WILL WE WIND UP FORGETTING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN? 356 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,700 RAISING HUMAN EMBRYOS MAY BE TOO MUCH OF A GAMBLE. 357 00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:22,633 SO COULD WE FREEZE ADULTS INSTEAD 358 00:20:22,633 --> 00:20:24,633 WITHOUT AFFECTING THEIR HEALTH? 359 00:20:24,633 --> 00:20:30,100 IT'S A MUCH BIGGER CHALLENGE, BUT NATURE HAS ALMOST SOLVED IT. 360 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:31,733 Plait: A LOT OF ANIMALS ON EARTH 361 00:20:31,733 --> 00:20:33,967 WILL GO INTO SUSPENDED ANIMATION OR HIBERNATION 362 00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:35,500 WHEN CONDITIONS GET BAD. 363 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:39,067 AND IN SOME CASES, THEY CAN STAY THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME. 364 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:42,767 Narrator: THE ALASKAN WOOD FROG 365 00:20:42,767 --> 00:20:46,367 SURVIVES WHOLE WINTERS FROZEN IN ICE. 366 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,133 AT SUBZERO TEMPERATURES, 367 00:20:51,133 --> 00:20:55,267 ITS METABOLISM SLOWS AND EFFECTIVELY SHUTS DOWN. 368 00:21:01,367 --> 00:21:05,200 WHEN THE ICE THAWS, THE FROGS REANIMATE... 369 00:21:06,933 --> 00:21:10,067 ...AND HOP OFF AS THOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED. 370 00:21:10,067 --> 00:21:13,767 COULD HUMANS EVER DO THE SAME THING? 371 00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:16,267 WHEN YOU FREEZE SOMEBODY ALIVE, 372 00:21:16,267 --> 00:21:18,667 THERE ARE ICE CRYSTALS WHICH FORM 373 00:21:18,667 --> 00:21:22,633 WHICH BEGIN TO EXPAND, RUPTURING THE CELLS, 374 00:21:22,633 --> 00:21:25,567 AND TURN CELLS INTO MUSH. 375 00:21:25,567 --> 00:21:31,100 Narrator: SO HOW DO THE FROGS SURVIVE THE DEEP FREEZE? 376 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:34,700 THE ANSWER IS THEY HAVE AN ANTIFREEZE IN THEIR BLOOD, 377 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:36,167 AND THAT IS GLUCOSE. 378 00:21:36,167 --> 00:21:40,533 SO EVEN THOUGH THEIR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT IS SOLID ICE, 379 00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:44,767 INSIDE, THEIR CELLS ARE LIQUID. 380 00:21:44,767 --> 00:21:46,800 THE PROBLEM WITH HUMANS IS, 381 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,333 THAT AMOUNT OF ANTIFREEZE WOULD KILL US. 382 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:54,800 [ MONITOR BEEPING ] 383 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,333 Narrator: DEEP-FREEZING HUMANS ISN'T GOING TO WORK. 384 00:21:58,333 --> 00:22:02,967 BUT TO HIBERNATE, WE MAY NOT HAVE TO CHILL THAT LOW. 385 00:22:02,967 --> 00:22:04,967 IN PITTSBURGH, 386 00:22:04,967 --> 00:22:08,600 SURGEONS HAVE DEVELOPED A GROUNDBREAKING TECHNIQUE 387 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:10,833 USING CHILLED SALINE SOLUTION 388 00:22:10,833 --> 00:22:14,300 TO RAPIDLY LOWER THEIR PATIENTS' BODY TEMPERATURE 389 00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:17,733 TO JUST A FEW DEGREES ABOVE FREEZING. 390 00:22:17,733 --> 00:22:21,067 AT THIS TEMPERATURE, CELLULAR ACTIVITY STOPS. 391 00:22:24,133 --> 00:22:26,267 JUST LIKE THE WOOD FROGS, 392 00:22:26,267 --> 00:22:30,667 THE PATIENTS ARE EFFECTIVELY IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION. 393 00:22:34,633 --> 00:22:37,200 Krauss: IN OPERATING ROOMS, WE CAN COOL PEOPLE DOWN 394 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,433 AND PUT THEM IN AN ARTIFICIAL COMA FOR A WHILE. 395 00:22:39,433 --> 00:22:41,567 SO, IT SOUNDS GOOD, 396 00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:44,367 AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S WORTH EXPLORING. 397 00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:46,633 [ MONITOR BEEPING ] 398 00:22:46,633 --> 00:22:48,200 Narrator: WHETHER THROUGH FREEZING EMBRYOS 399 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,967 OR PUTTING ADULTS INTO A COLD, DEEP SLEEP, 400 00:22:50,967 --> 00:22:53,533 SUSPENDED ANIMATION MAY BE THE BEST BET 401 00:22:53,533 --> 00:22:56,300 FOR KEEPING OUR PRECIOUS HUMAN CARGO ALIVE 402 00:22:56,300 --> 00:23:00,067 ON THE LONG TRIP TO ALPHA CENTAURI. 403 00:23:00,067 --> 00:23:06,067 BUT WHAT IF THEY GET THERE AND FIND THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME? 404 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,467 Narrator: A SPACESHIP FILLED WITH HUMAN VOLUNTEERS 405 00:23:18,467 --> 00:23:22,167 APPROACHES THE TRIPLE-STAR SYSTEM, ALPHA CENTAURI. 406 00:23:25,167 --> 00:23:28,633 THE CREW HOPES TO FIND THE FIRST OF MANY NEW WORLDS 407 00:23:28,633 --> 00:23:30,367 FOR MANKIND TO CALL HOME. 408 00:23:30,367 --> 00:23:33,167 BUT WHICH, IF ANY, OF THESE STARS 409 00:23:33,167 --> 00:23:36,167 WILL HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF PLANETS? 410 00:23:36,167 --> 00:23:37,433 WE WANT TO FIND A HOME 411 00:23:37,433 --> 00:23:40,200 THAT'S AS SIMILAR TO EARTH AS WE CAN POSSIBLY FIND, 412 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,600 BECAUSE WE'RE FINE-TUNED FOR THIS PLANET. 413 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,567 WE'RE JUST FINE-TUNED FOR THIS SURFACE GRAVITY. 414 00:23:44,567 --> 00:23:46,200 WE'RE FINE-TUNED FOR THIS ATMOSPHERE, 415 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,167 THIS RADIATION ENVIRONMENT. 416 00:23:48,167 --> 00:23:52,400 Narrator: THE STARS FILL THE SPACECRAFT'S DISPLAYS, 417 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,800 AND SOON, THE OUTLINE OF PLANETS WILL BE VISIBLE. 418 00:23:58,833 --> 00:24:02,733 THE BRIGHTEST OF THE TRIO IS ALPHA CENTAURI "A." 419 00:24:02,733 --> 00:24:07,100 IT'S SLIGHTLY BIGGER AND SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER THAN OUR SUN, 420 00:24:07,100 --> 00:24:10,833 THROWING MORE HEAT INTO THE SPACE AROUND IT. 421 00:24:14,500 --> 00:24:18,233 ITS SMALLER, COOLER NEIGHBOR, ALPHA CENTAURI "B," 422 00:24:18,233 --> 00:24:21,533 LIES SO CLOSE, GRAVITY PULLS THE TWO STARS 423 00:24:21,533 --> 00:24:24,967 INTO A WIDE, SLOW BINARY ORBIT... 424 00:24:26,167 --> 00:24:30,233 ...ROTATING ONCE EVERY 80 YEARS. 425 00:24:30,233 --> 00:24:32,800 THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR OUR PIONEERS. 426 00:24:36,433 --> 00:24:39,400 PLANETS RARELY FORM STABLE ORBITS 427 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,067 AROUND WIDE BINARY SYSTEMS, 428 00:24:42,067 --> 00:24:45,467 SO THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE OF FINDING A PLACE TO SETTLE HERE. 429 00:24:49,333 --> 00:24:53,467 BUT THE THIRD STAR IN THE TRIO OFFERS HOPE. 430 00:24:55,533 --> 00:25:00,733 PROXIMA CENTAURI IS A RED DWARF OR "M" DWARF STAR, 431 00:25:00,733 --> 00:25:05,233 TOO SMALL AND DIM TO BE SEEN FROM EARTH WITH THE NAKED EYE. 432 00:25:05,233 --> 00:25:08,400 YET ASTRONOMERS HAVE FOUND EARTH-LIKE PLANETS 433 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:13,667 AROUND THIS TYPE OF STAR THROUGHOUT THE MILKY WAY GALAXY. 434 00:25:13,667 --> 00:25:17,600 WE'RE FINDING THAT RED DWARFS ARE IDEAL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. 435 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,933 IN PARTICULAR, THEY SEEM TO BE ABSOLUTELY TEEMING 436 00:25:20,933 --> 00:25:22,633 WITH EARTH-SIZED PLANETS. 437 00:25:22,633 --> 00:25:24,967 Narrator: ASTRONOMERS HAVE ALREADY DISCOVERED 438 00:25:24,967 --> 00:25:28,367 ONE EARTH-SIZED PLANET AROUND PROXIMA CENTAURI. 439 00:25:28,367 --> 00:25:32,167 IT ORBITS TOO CLOSE TO THE STAR TO SUSTAIN HUMAN LIFE, 440 00:25:32,167 --> 00:25:34,067 BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE 441 00:25:34,067 --> 00:25:36,467 IT MAY HAVE SISTER PLANETS THAT CAN. 442 00:25:36,467 --> 00:25:39,467 John: IF WE WERE TO LOOK UP INTO THE NIGHT SKY 443 00:25:39,467 --> 00:25:42,200 AND LOOK AT THE NEAREST "M" DWARF STAR -- 444 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:43,800 SAY, PROXIMA CENTAURI -- 445 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,833 I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE 446 00:25:45,833 --> 00:25:49,867 A SYSTEM OF THREE TO SIX VERY SMALL PLANETS 447 00:25:49,867 --> 00:25:51,667 IN EXTREMELY COMPACT ORBITS, 448 00:25:51,667 --> 00:25:54,567 MEANING ORBITAL PERIODS OF ONLY A FEW DAYS. 449 00:25:57,967 --> 00:26:00,467 Narrator: PROXIMA CENTAURI MAY WELL BE HOME 450 00:26:00,467 --> 00:26:03,500 TO A ROCKY PLANET IDEAL FOR LIFE, 451 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:07,400 WITH A THICK ATMOSPHERE, WARM, LIQUID OCEANS, 452 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,767 AND A STRONG MAGNETOSPHERE TO PROTECT IT -- 453 00:26:11,767 --> 00:26:17,600 THE PERFECT REFUGE FOR MANKIND TO SET UP OUR FIRST NEW HOME. 454 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,700 BUT WHAT IF WE FIND A PLANET 455 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:22,600 THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN PERFECT -- 456 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:27,667 TOO COLD, PERHAPS, WITH TOO MUCH GRAVITY... 457 00:26:27,667 --> 00:26:30,400 OR MAYBE THE WRONG KIND OF ATMOSPHERE? 458 00:26:32,367 --> 00:26:35,833 Kaku: WE ARE GENETICALLY PROGRAMMED TO THRIVE ON THE PLANET EARTH 459 00:26:35,833 --> 00:26:37,867 WITH A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF OXYGEN, 460 00:26:37,867 --> 00:26:40,067 A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF CARBON DIOXIDE, 461 00:26:40,067 --> 00:26:42,067 AND A CERTAIN WEIGHT. 462 00:26:42,067 --> 00:26:44,567 HOWEVER, ONCE WE LAND ON A DISTANT PLANET, 463 00:26:44,567 --> 00:26:47,067 WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE OUR BODIES 464 00:26:47,067 --> 00:26:50,067 SO THAT WE CAN THRIVE IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS. 465 00:26:50,067 --> 00:26:53,333 Oluseyi: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ENGINEER OURSELVES. 466 00:26:53,333 --> 00:26:56,067 WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EVOLVE OURSELVES RAPIDLY. 467 00:26:56,067 --> 00:26:58,633 THAT MAY MEAN TAKING GENES FROM OTHER LIFE FORMS 468 00:26:58,633 --> 00:27:01,133 TO GIVE OURSELVES SOME PROPERTY THAT WE NEED. 469 00:27:01,133 --> 00:27:04,067 THAT MIGHT JUST BE THE BEST SOLUTION. 470 00:27:04,067 --> 00:27:07,067 Narrator: SCIENTISTS HAVE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW 471 00:27:07,067 --> 00:27:10,067 TO FIND THE ULTIMATE GENES FOR SURVIVAL IN SPACE, 472 00:27:10,067 --> 00:27:12,700 AND THEY MAY HAVE FOUND THEM 473 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:16,967 IN A CREATURE NO BIGGER THAN A GRAIN OF SAND. 474 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:21,900 RIGHT NOW AT NASA, WE'RE DOING EXPERIMENTS 475 00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:24,267 ON TINY, LITTLE ANIMALS CALLED TARDIGRADES. 476 00:27:24,267 --> 00:27:27,133 Narrator: TARDIGRADES ARE TOUGH. 477 00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:30,567 THEY CAN SURVIVE A RANGE OF TEMPERATURES 478 00:27:30,567 --> 00:27:32,533 FROM FREEZING TO BOILING POINT. 479 00:27:32,533 --> 00:27:36,100 THEY CAN LIVE WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER FOR A DECADE OR MORE. 480 00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:39,567 AND, CRUCIALLY, WHEN THEIR DNA GETS DAMAGED BY RADIATION, 481 00:27:39,567 --> 00:27:42,933 IT REPAIRS ITSELF. 482 00:27:42,933 --> 00:27:45,833 A TINY, LITTLE, MICROSCOPIC THING CAN SURVIVE MORE RADIATION 483 00:27:45,833 --> 00:27:47,700 THAN WOULD KILL A HERD OF ELEPHANTS. 484 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:51,700 SOMEHOW, THE DNA KNOWS HOW TO REPAIR ITSELF. 485 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:53,267 WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT 486 00:27:53,267 --> 00:27:56,267 HOW WE COULD MODIFY HUMAN DNA TO DO THE SAME THING. 487 00:27:56,267 --> 00:27:59,833 Narrator: ONE DAY, DNA FROM THESE TINY CREATURES 488 00:27:59,833 --> 00:28:03,233 MAY ALLOW US TO SET FOOT ON A PLANET 489 00:28:03,233 --> 00:28:06,333 BATTERED BY RADIATION FROM ITS PARENT STAR. 490 00:28:06,333 --> 00:28:10,633 AND GENETIC TINKERING MAY HOLD THE KEY TO MUCH MORE, 491 00:28:10,633 --> 00:28:12,600 ALLOWING US TO COLONIZE 492 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,700 A MULTITUDE OF HOSTILE, ALIEN WORLDS. 493 00:28:18,667 --> 00:28:21,300 Kaku: IF THE PLANET HAS A LARGER GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, 494 00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:24,067 WE MAY HAVE TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF OUR BONES 495 00:28:24,067 --> 00:28:26,933 AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR MUSCLES SO WE DON'T COLLAPSE 496 00:28:26,933 --> 00:28:29,833 EVERY TIME WE WALK ON THE SURFACE OF A LARGE PLANET. 497 00:28:34,867 --> 00:28:38,833 Narrator: WE COULD EVEN ADAPT TO DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERES. 498 00:28:38,833 --> 00:28:40,867 Kaku: IF WE WERE TO ARRIVE ON A PLANET 499 00:28:40,867 --> 00:28:42,700 THAT HAS A DIFFERENT OXYGEN LEVEL, 500 00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:44,267 DIFFERENT CARBON DIOXIDE LEVEL, 501 00:28:44,267 --> 00:28:46,900 WE MAY HAVE TO ALTER OUR METABOLISM RATE. 502 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:51,500 Thaller: WE ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN EVOLUTION. 503 00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:53,333 WE ARE DESIGNING GENE THERAPIES. 504 00:28:53,333 --> 00:28:55,867 WE ARE FINDING WAYS TO MODIFY OUR BIOLOGY. 505 00:28:55,867 --> 00:28:57,633 THERE'S A WONDERFUL CHANCE HERE 506 00:28:57,633 --> 00:29:01,067 TO REALLY TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY 507 00:29:01,067 --> 00:29:03,633 AND DRIVE OURSELVES TO THE STARS. 508 00:29:03,633 --> 00:29:07,267 Krauss: WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE ASTRONAUT WILL LOOK LIKE? 509 00:29:07,267 --> 00:29:10,533 BUT I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THEY WON'T LOOK LIKE YOU OR ME. 510 00:29:13,867 --> 00:29:17,600 Narrator: IF WE FIND HABITABLE WORLDS AROUND PROXIMA CENTAURI, 511 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,533 A SHUTTLE FULL OF GENETICALLY ALTERED PIONEERS 512 00:29:20,533 --> 00:29:22,733 WILL BE DISPATCHED TO THE SURFACE 513 00:29:22,733 --> 00:29:28,367 IN ORDER TO START A NEW HUMAN CIVILIZATION. 514 00:29:28,367 --> 00:29:32,533 BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STAGE OF A MUCH BIGGER PLAN. 515 00:29:32,533 --> 00:29:35,933 WE MUST CONTINUE TO SEARCH OUT MORE WORLDS, 516 00:29:35,933 --> 00:29:40,333 TRAVELING EVER DEEPER AND FASTER INTO THE MILKY WAY. 517 00:29:56,700 --> 00:29:58,867 Narrator: ONE DAY, A COSMIC EVENT 518 00:29:58,867 --> 00:30:01,067 IS GOING TO HIT THE EARTH SO HARD, 519 00:30:01,067 --> 00:30:04,967 IT WILL WIPE OUT EVERY HUMAN ON THE PLANET. 520 00:30:04,967 --> 00:30:06,300 [ RUMBLING ] 521 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:09,467 IF WE'RE GONNA LIVE ON INDEFINITELY INTO THE FUTURE, 522 00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:11,767 HUMAN BEINGS ARE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE PLANET EARTH. 523 00:30:11,767 --> 00:30:15,067 Narrator: OUR ONLY HOPE IS TO BUILD A SPACE ARK 524 00:30:15,067 --> 00:30:19,133 THAT WILL TAKE US TO NEW WORLDS AROUND DISTANT STARS. 525 00:30:19,133 --> 00:30:21,333 Kaku: LIFE IS FRAGILE, 526 00:30:21,333 --> 00:30:23,133 AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE 527 00:30:23,133 --> 00:30:26,433 WE SHOULD BE AT LEAST A TWO-PLANET SPECIES. 528 00:30:29,433 --> 00:30:32,700 Narrator: THE FIRST TARGET WAS BY FAR THE EASIEST. 529 00:30:36,433 --> 00:30:40,567 IT TOOK 42 YEARS FOR OUR SPACE ARK TO REACH PROXIMA CENTAURI 530 00:30:40,567 --> 00:30:43,700 USING FUSION-POWERED ENGINES. 531 00:30:43,700 --> 00:30:49,633 BUT NOW THE ARK MUST MOVE ON TO FIND EVEN MORE DISTANT WORLDS. 532 00:30:49,633 --> 00:30:52,567 THE CREW CAN BE HELD IN SUSPENDED ANIMATION, 533 00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:57,767 BUT THEY'LL STILL DETERIORATE WITH EACH PASSING YEAR. 534 00:30:57,767 --> 00:31:02,600 WE NEED TO GO FASTER, CLOSER TO THE SPEED OF LIGHT. 535 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,933 BUT THERE'S A SMALL PROBLEM -- THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. 536 00:31:06,933 --> 00:31:08,600 WHAT ALBERT EINSTEIN FIGURED OUT 537 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,467 IS THAT IF YOU START TRAVELING NEAR THE SPEED OF LIGHT, 538 00:31:11,467 --> 00:31:13,067 THINGS GET A LITTLE BIZARRE. 539 00:31:14,367 --> 00:31:18,067 AS YOU GET NEAR THE SPEED OF LIGHT, YOUR MASS INCREASES, 540 00:31:18,067 --> 00:31:21,833 MEANING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE ENERGY TO KEEP YOU GOING. 541 00:31:21,833 --> 00:31:24,500 Krauss: BY THE TIME YOU GET TO NEAR THE SPEED OF LIGHT, 542 00:31:24,500 --> 00:31:26,733 ALL THE FUEL TURNS INTO INCREASING THE MASS. 543 00:31:26,733 --> 00:31:28,067 SO ALL THE FUEL 544 00:31:28,067 --> 00:31:30,333 THAT, BEFORE, WOULD'VE INCREASED THE SPEED A LOT, 545 00:31:30,333 --> 00:31:32,067 DOESN'T INCREASE THE SPEED AT ALL. 546 00:31:32,067 --> 00:31:33,367 IT JUST INCREASES THE MASS. 547 00:31:33,367 --> 00:31:35,233 EVENTUALLY, YOU DON'T SPEED UP AT ALL. 548 00:31:35,233 --> 00:31:38,067 YOU JUST GET HEAVIER AND HEAVIER AS YOU SHOOT OUT PROPELLANT. 549 00:31:38,067 --> 00:31:40,733 Narrator: PHYSICS WON'T ALLOW US 550 00:31:40,733 --> 00:31:44,833 TO TRAVEL THROUGH SPACE AT THE KIND OF SPEEDS WE NEED. 551 00:31:44,833 --> 00:31:46,333 BUT THERE'S A LOOPHOLE 552 00:31:46,333 --> 00:31:49,233 THAT MAY ALLOW US TO CUT THROUGH HYPERSPACE 553 00:31:49,233 --> 00:31:52,233 AND REACH DISTANT PLANETS A WHOLE LOT FASTER. 554 00:31:52,233 --> 00:31:55,267 Thaller: EINSTEIN SHOWED US THAT SPACE ITSELF 555 00:31:55,267 --> 00:31:58,100 CAN EXPAND FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT. 556 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:00,900 SPACE AND TIME IS NOT NOTHING. 557 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:03,700 THERE'S A SUBSTANCE TO IT -- A FABRIC, IF YOU WILL. 558 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:06,200 AND YOU CAN STRETCH IT, AND YOU CAN BEND IT. 559 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,833 Narrator: IN SCIENCE FICTION, GALACTIC TRAVELERS 560 00:32:09,833 --> 00:32:13,833 MANIPULATE THE FABRIC OF SPACE-TIME USING WARP DRIVES, 561 00:32:13,833 --> 00:32:19,200 CROSSING THE COSMOS IN MINUTES, NOT MILLENNIA. 562 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,800 IMAGINE YOU'RE IN A ROOM, AND THERE'S A CARPET. 563 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,533 AND YOU NEED TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. 564 00:32:24,533 --> 00:32:27,833 ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN TAKE THE CARPET AND FOLD IT UP 565 00:32:27,833 --> 00:32:29,800 AND BRING ALL OF IT CLOSE TO YOU, 566 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:31,500 THEN STEP OVER THE FOLDED CARPET 567 00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:33,500 AND THEN LET IT UNFOLD BEHIND YOU. 568 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:36,333 AND NOW YOU'VE MOVED ACROSS THE ROOM REALLY QUICKLY. 569 00:32:36,333 --> 00:32:38,900 Narrator: IT WOULD TAKE A COLOSSAL AMOUNT OF ENERGY 570 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:42,567 TO WARP ALL THE SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DESTINATION, 571 00:32:42,567 --> 00:32:45,433 FAR MORE THAN WE COULD EVER HOPE TO GENERATE. 572 00:32:45,433 --> 00:32:49,333 BUT MODERN PHYSICS SAYS THE WARP DRIVE IS POSSIBLE, 573 00:32:49,333 --> 00:32:53,067 IF YOU ONLY WARP THE SPACE SURROUNDING THE SHIP. 574 00:32:53,067 --> 00:32:56,600 SO, WE KNOW THAT SPACE EXPANDS, AND SPACE CAN ALSO CONTRACT. 575 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:58,067 SO, IF YOU HAVE A SHIP, 576 00:32:58,067 --> 00:33:00,533 AND YOU CONTRACT SPACE IN FRONT OF YOU 577 00:33:00,533 --> 00:33:04,067 AND EXPAND SPACE BEHIND YOU, YOU COULD CREATE A WARP BUBBLE. 578 00:33:04,067 --> 00:33:06,200 AND IT'S BEEN THEORETICALLY SHOWN 579 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,633 THAT YOU COULD MOVE TO UP TO 10 TIMES THE SPEED OF LIGHT. 580 00:33:12,067 --> 00:33:16,400 Narrator: THIS NEW-GENERATION WARP DRIVE CREATES A WAVE IN SPACE-TIME 581 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,267 THAT TRAVELS FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT, 582 00:33:19,267 --> 00:33:24,900 CARRYING THE SHIP ALONG WITH IT LIKE A SURFER RIDING A WAVE. 583 00:33:24,900 --> 00:33:27,433 MATHEMATICIANS HAVE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, 584 00:33:27,433 --> 00:33:30,467 AND A NEW-GENERATION WARP DRIVE WOULD WORK ON PAPER. 585 00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:34,467 NOW NASA WANTS TO GET IT TO WORK IN THE LAB. 586 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:39,700 White: IS IT IMPOSSIBLE, OR IS IT PLAUSIBLE? 587 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:42,767 I THINK WE'RE IN THAT CATEGORY OF STARTING TO THINK ABOUT, 588 00:33:42,767 --> 00:33:44,833 "WE'VE GOT SOME PLAUSIBILITIES HERE. 589 00:33:44,833 --> 00:33:47,633 "LET'S GO SEE IF WE CAN'T DO SOME SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS 590 00:33:47,633 --> 00:33:51,333 AND SEE VALIDATION OF THE MATH AND PHYSICS." 591 00:33:51,333 --> 00:33:55,067 Narrator: HAROLD WHITE IS PLANNING A FUTURE EXPERIMENT 592 00:33:55,067 --> 00:33:58,467 TO SEE IF HE CAN WARP SPACE ON A MICROSCOPIC SCALE. 593 00:33:58,467 --> 00:34:03,067 HE HOPES TO CONCENTRATE ENERGY INTO A SINGLE POINT IN SPACE 594 00:34:03,067 --> 00:34:08,267 AND THEN MEASURE THE PROGRESS OF LASER LIGHT CROSSING IT. 595 00:34:08,267 --> 00:34:12,067 IF THE LIGHT COMPLETES THE JOURNEY FASTER THAN NORMAL, 596 00:34:12,067 --> 00:34:15,067 HE'LL HAVE SUCCEEDED IN WARPING SPACE-TIME. 597 00:34:15,067 --> 00:34:17,100 EVERYBODY ALWAYS ASKS ME ABOUT, 598 00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:19,600 "WHEN'S THIS GONNA BE READY TO BOLT ONTO A SPACECRAFT?" 599 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,433 AND THERE'S A LOT OF SCIENCE WE NEED TO DO FIRST. 600 00:34:22,433 --> 00:34:25,133 Plait: WE'RE ONLY JUST NOW STARTING TO LOOK INTO THIS. 601 00:34:25,133 --> 00:34:26,833 WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA WORK OR NOT. 602 00:34:26,833 --> 00:34:28,933 WE MIGHT AS WELL FIGURE IT OUT. IF IT DOES -- BOOM. 603 00:34:28,933 --> 00:34:31,400 AND IF IT DOESN'T -- WELL, WE'VE LEARNED SOMETHING INTERESTING 604 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,600 ABOUT MATH AND SCIENCE AND THE WAY THE UNIVERSE WORKS. 605 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,333 Narrator: A WARP-DRIVE WOULD FIRE US 606 00:34:36,333 --> 00:34:40,633 TO PROXIMA CENTAURI IN JUST FIVE MONTHS... 607 00:34:40,633 --> 00:34:45,400 AND TO THE 50 STARS BEYOND IN JUST A FEW YEARS. 608 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:50,767 BUT THAT'S STILL JUST OUR GALACTIC BACKYARD. 609 00:34:50,767 --> 00:34:53,900 A WARP TRIP TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE MILKY WAY 610 00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:55,633 WOULD TAKE 10,000 YEARS, 611 00:34:55,633 --> 00:34:59,367 AND A TRIP BEYOND IT TO THE CLOSEST GALAXIES, 612 00:34:59,367 --> 00:35:01,800 HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS. 613 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,067 ON THE SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE, 614 00:35:04,067 --> 00:35:08,600 EVEN A WARP-DRIVE SEEMS PATHETICALLY SLOW. 615 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:11,267 BUT THERE IS ONE LAST HOPE. 616 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:17,067 ANOTHER WAY TO GO FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT 617 00:35:17,067 --> 00:35:20,533 IS TO DRILL A HOLE IN THE FABRIC OF SPACE AND TIME. 618 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,633 THIS IS CALLED A WORMHOLE. 619 00:35:29,667 --> 00:35:32,900 Narrator: A WORMHOLE IS A THEORETICAL TUNNEL, 620 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:35,800 A RIP THROUGH THE FABRIC OF SPACE-TIME, 621 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:37,900 CONNECTING TWO DISTANT POINTS. 622 00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:39,200 IT'S CREATED 623 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:43,800 BY HUGE CONCENTRATIONS OF MASS WARPING SPACE-TIME. 624 00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:47,333 THINK OF ALICE'S LOOKING GLASS. 625 00:35:47,333 --> 00:35:49,967 YOU PUT YOUR HAND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, 626 00:35:49,967 --> 00:35:53,600 AND YOUR HAND WINDS UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GALAXY. 627 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:57,833 Narrator: IF OUR SPACECRAFT COULD ENTER THIS COSMIC SHORTCUT, 628 00:35:57,833 --> 00:36:02,367 WE COULD JUMP THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN AN INSTANT. 629 00:36:02,367 --> 00:36:06,067 THE ONLY TROUBLE IS ASTRONOMERS HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE, 630 00:36:06,067 --> 00:36:10,800 AND ATTEMPTING TO CREATE ONE WOULD BE FATAL. 631 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,567 TO BEND SPACE AT EITHER MOUTH OF THE WORMHOLE TO MAKE A TUNNEL, 632 00:36:14,567 --> 00:36:17,167 YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MASS. 633 00:36:17,167 --> 00:36:18,633 BUT MASS IS ATTRACTIVE. 634 00:36:18,633 --> 00:36:22,867 AND WE CAN PROVE THAT IF NORMAL MASS IS ALL YOU HAVE, 635 00:36:22,867 --> 00:36:25,333 THAT EITHER END OF THE WORMHOLE 636 00:36:25,333 --> 00:36:27,867 WILL COLLAPSE TO FORM A BLACK HOLE IN A TIME-SCALE 637 00:36:27,867 --> 00:36:30,767 SHORTER THAN IT WOULD TAKE YOU TO GO THROUGH THE WORMHOLE. 638 00:36:34,433 --> 00:36:36,633 I DON'T THINK WORMHOLES ARE EVER GONNA WORK 639 00:36:36,633 --> 00:36:38,133 AS A WAY OF TRANSPORTATION. 640 00:36:38,133 --> 00:36:40,933 BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? TYPICALLY, THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAID 641 00:36:40,933 --> 00:36:43,267 THAT SOMETHING COULDN'T HAPPEN IN SCIENCE 642 00:36:43,267 --> 00:36:45,733 TURNED OUT TO BE WRONG. SO I TAKE THAT BACK. 643 00:36:45,733 --> 00:36:48,100 I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY, BUT IT MAY HAPPEN. 644 00:36:50,267 --> 00:36:54,467 Narrator: WARP DRIVES AND WORMHOLES ARE DISTANT DREAMS. 645 00:36:54,467 --> 00:36:58,433 FOR NOW, FUSION IS THE LIKELY FUEL TO TAKE US TO THE STARS. 646 00:36:58,433 --> 00:37:02,233 BUT IT MAY TAKE MILLIONS OF YEARS FOR A GIANT SPACE ARK 647 00:37:02,233 --> 00:37:05,833 TO COLONIZE ENOUGH PLANETS TO GUARANTEE OUR SURVIVAL. 648 00:37:05,833 --> 00:37:08,633 THE ONLY WAY TO GO FASTER WITH FUSION 649 00:37:08,633 --> 00:37:12,567 IS TO MAKE OUR SPACE ARK MUCH SMALLER -- 650 00:37:12,567 --> 00:37:17,200 SO SMALL, IN FACT, THERE'D BE NO ROOM FOR PEOPLE INSIDE. 651 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,533 SO IS THIS REALLY GAME OVER, 652 00:37:19,533 --> 00:37:25,333 OR COULD WE SAVE HUMANITY WITHOUT HUMANS? 653 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:34,533 Narrator: NOT SO LONG AGO, ASTRONOMERS WEREN'T SURE 654 00:37:34,533 --> 00:37:37,133 IF THE STARS THEY SAW IN THE NIGHT SKY 655 00:37:37,133 --> 00:37:39,433 HAD PLANETS ORBITING THEM. 656 00:37:39,433 --> 00:37:42,133 PERHAPS THE SUN WAS UNIQUE, 657 00:37:42,133 --> 00:37:47,200 AND THE EARTH ALONE IN THE MILKY WAY. 658 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,433 BUT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, 659 00:37:49,433 --> 00:37:52,567 WE'VE REVEALED A MIND-BLOWING TRUTH. 660 00:37:52,567 --> 00:37:55,867 IT SEEMS THAT A LARGE FRACTION OF STARS IN THE GALAXY 661 00:37:55,867 --> 00:37:57,267 HAVE PLANETS. 662 00:37:57,267 --> 00:38:01,233 AND, IN FACT, MANY OF THOSE STARS HAVE MULTIPLE PLANETS. 663 00:38:01,233 --> 00:38:04,633 Narrator: THESE EXOPLANETS RANGE IN SIZE 664 00:38:04,633 --> 00:38:08,167 FROM GAS-GIANT PLANETS BIGGER THAN JUPITER 665 00:38:08,167 --> 00:38:10,467 TO ROCKY WORLDS LIKE THE EARTH. 666 00:38:10,467 --> 00:38:12,800 AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE WE LOOK. 667 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:15,800 Marcy: OUR PLANET EARTH IS NOT UNIQUE. 668 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,767 IT'S NOT EVEN RARE. 669 00:38:17,767 --> 00:38:21,333 THERE ARE TONS, HOARDS, FLOCKS, IF YOU WILL, 670 00:38:21,333 --> 00:38:24,433 OF OTHER EARTH-LIKE PLANETS OUT THERE 671 00:38:24,433 --> 00:38:27,333 FLUTTERING AROUND THE OTHER STARS. 672 00:38:27,333 --> 00:38:30,833 SOME STARS PROBABLY HAVE MULTIPLE EARTHS ORBITING THEM. 673 00:38:30,833 --> 00:38:33,567 THAT'S HOW COMMON EARTH-LIKE PLANETS ARE. 674 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:38,233 Thaller: LOOK INTO THE NIGHT SKY AND COUNT FIVE STARS. 675 00:38:38,233 --> 00:38:41,700 ONE OF THOSE STARS HAS AN EARTH-SIZED PLANET AROUND IT, 676 00:38:41,700 --> 00:38:43,133 MAYBE OUR NEXT HOME. 677 00:38:43,133 --> 00:38:47,400 Narrator: APPLY WHAT WE'VE FOUND TO THE REST OF THE MILKY WAY, 678 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:51,167 AND THE RESULTS ARE STAGGERING... 679 00:38:51,167 --> 00:38:57,600 AROUND SUN-LIKE STARS, UP TO 11 BILLION WARM, WET EARTHS -- 680 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:03,167 AROUND RED DWARF STARS, ANOTHER 22 BILLION, 681 00:39:03,167 --> 00:39:06,133 AND GAS-GIANT EXOPLANETS MAY BE HOME 682 00:39:06,133 --> 00:39:09,467 TO TENS OF BILLIONS MORE POTENTIAL EARTHS 683 00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:12,300 IN THE FORM OF HABITABLE EXOMOONS. 684 00:39:12,300 --> 00:39:14,400 THERE ARE MANY EARTH-LIKE PLANETS 685 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,267 THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE AS OPTIONS OF PLACES TO GO, 686 00:39:17,267 --> 00:39:20,100 ALMOST SORT OF A MENU SPREAD OUT IN FRONT OF US. 687 00:39:20,100 --> 00:39:23,667 Narrator: CLEARLY, FINDING NEW EARTHS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. 688 00:39:23,667 --> 00:39:25,500 THE PROBLEM IS GETTING THERE. 689 00:39:25,500 --> 00:39:28,233 Thaller: THE UNIVERSE IS ACTUALLY KIND OF TANTALIZING US. 690 00:39:28,233 --> 00:39:31,067 EARTH-LIKE PLANETS ARE COMMON. THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE. 691 00:39:31,067 --> 00:39:34,100 BUT THEY'RE SO FAR AWAY THAT WITH OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY, 692 00:39:34,100 --> 00:39:36,133 WE CANNOT IMAGINE HOW TO GET THERE. 693 00:39:36,133 --> 00:39:40,567 Narrator: A GIANT SPACE ARK, POWERED BY FUSION ENGINES 694 00:39:40,567 --> 00:39:44,500 AND FILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF HUMAN VOLUNTEERS, 695 00:39:44,500 --> 00:39:49,267 SHOULD ALLOW US TO COLONIZE HABITABLE WORLDS NEAR OUR SUN. 696 00:39:49,267 --> 00:39:53,767 BUT TO GO BEYOND THAT, TO THE FAR REACHES OF THE MILKY WAY, 697 00:39:53,767 --> 00:39:56,900 WE NEED PLAN "B." 698 00:39:56,900 --> 00:39:59,767 ONE RADICAL SOLUTION WOULD BE 699 00:39:59,767 --> 00:40:03,200 TO SEND MINIATURE ROBOTS TO DISTANT PLANETS 700 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:04,600 INSTEAD OF HUMANS. 701 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,500 Thaller: WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE LEARNING 702 00:40:07,500 --> 00:40:09,433 ABOUT THE HUMAN BRAIN AND HOW IT WORKS -- 703 00:40:09,433 --> 00:40:11,200 AND THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO -- 704 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:13,467 IT DOES SEEM TO ME FAIRLY INEVITABLE THAT SOMEDAY, 705 00:40:13,467 --> 00:40:17,200 WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT ALL OF OURSELVES INTO A ROBOT. 706 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:19,700 Krauss: NOW, YOU MIGHT SAY, "THAT'S SO SAD, 707 00:40:19,700 --> 00:40:21,933 BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET HUMANS ON THOSE PLANETS." 708 00:40:21,933 --> 00:40:24,433 WELL, ONE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO THINK SCIENCE FICTION, 709 00:40:24,433 --> 00:40:26,200 WHY NOT ULTIMATELY TAKE A MACHINE 710 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,600 THAT CAN BUILD A HUMAN AT THE OTHER END? 711 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,333 Narrator: PLANTS SPREAD THEIR GENES 712 00:40:31,333 --> 00:40:36,833 BY SOWING HUGE NUMBERS OF TINY, MOBILE SEEDS INTO THE WIND. 713 00:40:36,833 --> 00:40:40,567 MANY SEEDS WILL BE LOST TO THE ELEMENTS, 714 00:40:40,567 --> 00:40:45,400 BUT THOSE THAT FIND WARM, WET EARTH COME TO LIFE. 715 00:40:47,233 --> 00:40:51,867 IMAGINE FIRING TINY NANO-ROBOTS INTO SPACE LIKE SEEDS, 716 00:40:51,867 --> 00:40:56,167 WITH HUMAN GENOMES BURNED ONTO THEIR HARD DRIVES. 717 00:40:58,533 --> 00:41:01,567 IF THEY FALL THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE 718 00:41:01,567 --> 00:41:04,967 OF A WET, WARM PLANET SUITABLE FOR HUMANS, 719 00:41:04,967 --> 00:41:06,900 THEY SPRING INTO ACTION. 720 00:41:06,900 --> 00:41:09,200 THEY'LL LAND AND MAKE SHELTERS 721 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,733 FROM THE MATERIALS THEY FIND ON THE PLANET. 722 00:41:11,733 --> 00:41:13,067 AND, SOMEHOW, 723 00:41:13,067 --> 00:41:16,333 THEY'LL ALSO MAKE THE HUMANS THAT LIVE INSIDE THEM. 724 00:41:16,333 --> 00:41:18,600 Kaku: MAYBE WE'LL SEND THOUSANDS 725 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,300 OF THESE NANOSHIPS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, 726 00:41:21,300 --> 00:41:24,867 MAYBE MILLIONS OF THEM, LIKE SEEDS, TO A NEARBY STAR, 727 00:41:24,867 --> 00:41:28,567 HOPING THAT JUST A FEW OF THEM -- A FEW OF THEM, 728 00:41:28,567 --> 00:41:31,300 ACTUALLY REACH THEIR DESTINATION. 729 00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:34,233 Narrator: THE TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A HUMAN FROM SCRATCH 730 00:41:34,233 --> 00:41:36,533 IS CLEARLY A LONG WAY OFF. 731 00:41:36,533 --> 00:41:41,167 BUT IT DOES RAISE INTRIGUING PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS. 732 00:41:41,167 --> 00:41:43,867 WHY SHOULD WE ONLY SAVE HUMANS? 733 00:41:43,867 --> 00:41:46,800 THERE ARE 8.7 MILLION SPECIES ON EARTH. 734 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:49,733 ARE WE THE ONLY ONES WORTH SAVING? 735 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,400 AND IF WE CAN'T SEND THE FULL GAMUT OF LIFE ON EARTH, 736 00:41:56,400 --> 00:42:00,667 WHY NOT SIMPLY SEND BACTERIA TO DISTANT WORLDS 737 00:42:00,667 --> 00:42:03,100 AND LET EVOLUTION DO THE REST? 738 00:42:03,100 --> 00:42:04,533 AND WHO KNOWS? 739 00:42:04,533 --> 00:42:08,667 MAYBE AN ALIEN SPECIES HAS ALREADY DONE THAT ON THE EARTH. 740 00:42:08,667 --> 00:42:10,400 MAYBE IN YOUR BACKYARD, 741 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,800 THERE'S A NANOSHIP FROM A DISTANT STAR SYSTEM, 742 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:15,667 AND YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW. 743 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:19,300 Narrator: WHEREVER WE WIND UP 744 00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:21,700 AND WHATEVER WE ULTIMATELY BECOME, 745 00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:26,800 THE TIME TO START PLANNING FOR OUR SURVIVAL IS RIGHT NOW. 746 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:31,233 Thaller: THE HUMAN IMAGINATION IS TAKING US ON SOME TRULY AMAZING PATHS, 747 00:42:31,233 --> 00:42:33,667 AND THEY MAY LEAD US TO FIND A WAY 748 00:42:33,667 --> 00:42:36,500 WHERE INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL COULD REALLY WORK. 749 00:42:38,267 --> 00:42:42,200 Plait: OUR FATE IS, IN MANY WAYS, IN OUR OWN HANDS. 750 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:43,833 WE'RE NOT DINOSAURS. 751 00:42:43,833 --> 00:42:46,833 WE HAVE A SPACE PROGRAM. WE'RE SMART. 752 00:42:46,833 --> 00:42:49,333 IF WE HAVE COLONIES ON OTHER PLANETS, 753 00:42:49,333 --> 00:42:52,533 THE EARTH CAN BE WIPED OUT, AND HUMANITY WON'T BE. 754 00:42:52,533 --> 00:42:55,733 IN THAT SENSE, OUR FUTURE, OUR LONG-TERM FUTURE -- 755 00:42:55,733 --> 00:42:58,467 THAT'S IN OUR OWN HANDS.