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WILLIAM SHATNER:
World-shattering asteroids
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on a collision course
with our planet.
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Colossal supervolcanoes
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that will destroy
our atmosphere.
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And interstellar black holes
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capable of literally
swallowing the Earth.
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It seems that people
have been predicting
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how the world will end
almost since it began.
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And for some reason we can't
stop fixating on the notion
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that a massive cataclysm
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might suddenly erase us
from existence.
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But is there anything we can do
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to protect ourselves
and our planet?
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Or is an apocalypse
that will wipe out life on Earth
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simply inevitable?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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♪ ♪
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NASA scientists at the Kitt Peak
National Observatory
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- make a shocking announcement.
- (whirring)
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(shutter clicking)
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A massive asteroid
called Apophis
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is headed
directly towards Earth.
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And according to
their initial predictions,
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it is set to make impact
in April of 2029,
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on Friday the 13th.
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Apophis is approximately
300 meters in diameter.
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Put three football fields
end to end,
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and that would be roughly
the-the size of Apophis.
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All the objects
we had discovered previously
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were either too small
to represent much of a hazard,
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or far enough away
from the Earth
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to not represent
an impact threat.
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Apophis was different.
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As more and more observations
came in,
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the chances that it was going
to impact the Earth--
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it got to the point where we had
roughly a three percent chance.
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This was unprecedented
at the time
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as far as a impact threat.
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If Apophis were to hit,
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it would be capable of producing
an extinction-level event.
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SHATNER:
An extinction-level event?
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It's almost inconceivable
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that a chunk of space rock
less than a quarter mile long
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could wipe out all life on a
planet almost 8,000 miles wide.
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And yet,
according to scientists,
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the possibility is very real.
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But how?
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Apophis is so large.
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If it were to impact the Earth,
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it would be hundreds of times
more destructive
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than the largest nuclear device
we've ever built.
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We know from analysis
of these collisions
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that the collision takes place
in stages.
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First, upon impact,
you have a flash
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that travels
at the speed of light--
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infinitely fast--
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and that would blind
many animals in the area.
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The blast starts to then
level objects, crush them.
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(explosion)
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Then let's say
it lands near the ocean
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and causes a tsunami
that would then be perhaps,
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who knows,
tens of hundreds of feet tall,
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that would inundate
the entire area
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and cause a scale of
destruction not seen in history.
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SHATNER:
In March of 2021,
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NASA released revised orbital
calculations for Apophis.
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And as it turns out,
there's good news.
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It is now estimated
that Apophis has less than
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a one-in-380,000 chance
of hitting Earth.
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But could there be
other colossal asteroids
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making their way toward us
right now?
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The Earth has been hit
repeatedly
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throughout its history
by giant comets and asteroids.
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How do you prove it?
What evidence do we have?
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You see,
when a collision takes place,
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of course we have
the gigantic crater left over.
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Take a look at the one
in South Africa.
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That object is
about 200 miles across,
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clearly visible
from outer space.
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There have been
at least three world-killing
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extinction-level event asteroid
impacts that we know of.
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In South Africa,
there was the Vredefort impact.
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In Australia,
there was the Acraman impact.
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In the Gulf of Mexico,
there was the Chicxulub impact
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that destroyed the dinosaurs.
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Now, one might think that
these extinction-level events
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are a thing of the past,
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because these events happened
millions of years
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apart from each other.
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But that's just a blink
of an eye to the universe.
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We could have
an extinction-level event
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tomorrow or
a million years from now.
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SHATNER:
If it's true that
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a colossal asteroid strike
could happen at any moment,
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perhaps the question isn't
how soon it will hit Earth
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but rather whether there's
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anything we can do
to prevent it.
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The value of keeping an eye out
for potential global
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catastrophe-sized asteroids
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is having enough
advanced warning
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to do something about it.
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Congress directed NASA
to find 90%
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of all the asteroids
that were deemed capable
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of producing
an extinction-level event--
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a global catastrophe.
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NASA's Near-Earth Object
Observation Program
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funds astronomers
to find asteroids,
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but finding and tracking
near-Earth asteroids
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really is
an international effort.
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SHATNER: It's certainly
comforting to know
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that astronomers are on alert
for apocalyptic asteroids.
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But this concern for
the survival of the human race
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is not new.
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In fact,
humanity has been fixated
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on the threat of an apocalypse
since ancient times.
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We have been fascinated
with the end-times,
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the end of reality,
the end of the gods
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since we've been fascinated
with anything.
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For example,
Ragnarok in the Norse tales
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was the end of the world.
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In Buddhism,
the Lord Buddha gave
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a little sermon
on the end days.
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"And the rain shall cease,
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"and the oceans will dry up
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"until the Earth is baking
as if it were in an oven.
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And that will be
the end of all things."
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It's one of the things that
human beings have in common is,
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how are we gonna deal
with the future, particularly
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when there is no more future
and everything ends?
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Why would humans
even have predictions
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of apocalypses to begin with?
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Part of me thinks that
a lot of that has to do
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with a point in time
where we could have actually
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been listed as
an endangered species.
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Because there's been actually
key points in time
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where humans have nearly
gone extinct.
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One of them was
1.2 million years ago,
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but we don't know what happened
at that point in time.
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It could have been
the beginning of an ice age.
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It could have been changes
in environment.
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- (insects trilling)
- But within that time period,
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humans were down
to population numbers
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between maybe 6,000
and 26,000 individuals.
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The second point was
about 150,000 years ago.
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We are in the middle
of an ice age.
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Animals go extinct,
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and we're down
to nearly 600 individuals.
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The third close call
that we have for extinction
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is about 75,000 years ago.
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And during that time,
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we see this massive
volcanic eruption.
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It blows apart
the island of Sumatra.
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And expels ash and debris
into the atmosphere.
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It dims the sunlight,
and so we get down to roughly
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1,000 to maybe
10,000 individuals.
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And the near extinction
of humans could be
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why there are
these constant predictions
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of apocalypses
throughout the ancient world.
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In some sense
we have been lulled to sleep.
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You see, human history,
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recorded history,
only goes back 5,000 years.
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And before that period of time,
we have no direct experience
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with catastrophes
on a planetary scale
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that threaten the very existence
of human life.
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And that's why we have to change
our perspective.
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But the real reality is
there could be an apocalypse.
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So, perhaps history will
repeat itself one day,
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and humanity will meet its end
when a gigantic asteroid--
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that's hurtling towards us
at this very moment--
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finally reaches Earth.
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But while we wait for
that possible date with destiny,
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there's another
potential apocalypse
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looming much, much closer.
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In fact, it's lurking
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right beneath our feet.
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SHATNER:
At approximately 11:00 a.m., than earthquake, measuring 5.0
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on the Richter scale,
sends great shock waves
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through the island's
most active volcano:
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Mount Kilauea.
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The ground cracks open
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and 2,000-degree magma boils
to the surface.
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As residents who live in
the area flee for their lives,
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a torrent of molten lava gushes
from the broken earth,
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destroying everything
in its path.
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BENJAMIN McGEE:
It was a massive volcanic eruption.
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We're used to looking at
volcanoes that look dormant
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and assuming that
there's no threat.
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But if there's one thing
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that the geologic history
of the Earth warns us about,
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over and over and over again,
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it's that there's
unintended consequences
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of the Earth being alive,
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and Kilauea proved that in 2018.
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Kilauea is a large volcano
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that sits in the middle
of the Pacific Ocean.
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And it is generally known
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for these lava flows
that it puts out,
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that unfortunately got
into a populated area.
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And this very large eruption
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unfortunately destroyed
over 700 homes.
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Destroyed some really pristine
areas of the island.
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McGEE:
You have very kind of soupy, watery lava
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that was racing
at incredible speeds.
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And the problem is,
Hawaii is populous.
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We have folks, many of them,
who live there,
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and there is nowhere to run.
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I think the Kilauea eruption is
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one of nature's great warnings.
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So long as the Earth is alive,
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we will face the threat
of major volcanic eruptions.
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SHATNER:
In 2018, Mount Kilauea topped
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the U.S. Geological Survey's
ranking
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of the most dangerous volcanoes
in the United States.
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00:12:27,414 --> 00:12:28,872
But according to experts,
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00:12:28,999 --> 00:12:31,532
even Kilauea's cataclysmic power
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pales in comparison to others
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that could potentially
pose great threats
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00:12:37,007 --> 00:12:41,426
to not only cities
but the entire world.
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00:12:41,511 --> 00:12:45,013
They're simply known
as supervolcanoes.
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Nuclear weapons, yeah,
we track them.
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00:12:48,852 --> 00:12:50,059
We know who has them.
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00:12:50,187 --> 00:12:52,395
Global warming,
we have computer programs
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that simulate global warming.
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And meteors from outer space,
we track asteroids.
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But when it comes
to supervolcanoes,
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we know almost nothing.
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A supervolcano could be
1,000 times more deadly,
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00:13:07,329 --> 00:13:09,070
leaving destruction on a scale
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that we haven't seen
in modern civilization.
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POLAND:
A super eruption is meant to describe
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00:13:15,754 --> 00:13:18,713
a truly extraordinary
explosive eruption
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that's about 1,000 cubic
kilometers in volume.
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That's how much material
gets ejected.
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00:13:26,306 --> 00:13:28,723
SHATNER:
According to volcanologists, there are--
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00:13:28,809 --> 00:13:31,425
at this very moment--
between 12 and 20
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00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,271
active supervolcanoes scattered
across the Earth.
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00:13:36,191 --> 00:13:38,733
We've all seen
the devastation of volcanoes.
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00:13:38,819 --> 00:13:42,603
We see this catastrophe
with all the gas coming out
239
00:13:42,697 --> 00:13:46,950
of the volcano, with all
the debris and all the dirt.
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00:13:47,994 --> 00:13:52,539
But supervolcano eruptions can
disrupt the atmosphere itself,
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00:13:52,624 --> 00:13:56,584
sufficient to affect the weather
of the entire planet.
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00:13:57,712 --> 00:13:59,838
You've got sulfur dioxide,
you've got particles
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00:13:59,923 --> 00:14:01,589
which are reflecting sunlight
244
00:14:01,675 --> 00:14:04,843
and that bounce or trap sunlight
and thermal radiation.
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00:14:04,928 --> 00:14:08,555
- (wind whistling)
- And that completely changes the planet's heat balance.
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00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,599
You can cripple ecosystems
from the bottom up
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00:14:11,685 --> 00:14:13,268
by darkening the world.
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00:14:14,271 --> 00:14:17,272
POLAND:
These gases can also poison agriculture,
249
00:14:17,357 --> 00:14:19,732
poison plants,
and that of course will have
250
00:14:19,818 --> 00:14:22,193
a chain reaction
down the food web.
251
00:14:23,238 --> 00:14:25,655
So, these eruptions
can really cause
252
00:14:25,782 --> 00:14:28,032
a huge impact,
even if the lava only affects
253
00:14:28,118 --> 00:14:30,785
one small area,
they can have a global impact.
254
00:14:30,871 --> 00:14:33,454
Even thousands
and thousands of miles away
255
00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:34,989
from where
the eruption occurred.
256
00:14:35,083 --> 00:14:36,657
SHATNER:
It's hard to imagine
257
00:14:36,751 --> 00:14:39,827
a supervolcano causing
a worldwide cataclysm.
258
00:14:39,921 --> 00:14:43,497
But one such event is believed
to have already occurred
259
00:14:43,592 --> 00:14:46,000
long before humans walked
the Earth.
260
00:14:46,094 --> 00:14:50,972
An apocalypse that is referred
to as the Great Dying.
261
00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:55,560
The Great Dying was a mass
extinction of plants and animals
262
00:14:55,645 --> 00:14:57,511
that occurred
about 250 million years ago.
263
00:14:57,606 --> 00:15:00,348
The largest that occurred
in the history of Earth.
264
00:15:01,318 --> 00:15:04,777
McGEE:
Geologists call it the Permian-Triassic extinction.
265
00:15:04,863 --> 00:15:07,906
It's the largest mass extinction
in the geologic record
266
00:15:07,991 --> 00:15:11,525
across all time,
and this is related
267
00:15:11,620 --> 00:15:14,329
to a major volcanic eruption
in northern Siberia
268
00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:16,864
that injected so much CO2
into the atmosphere
269
00:15:16,958 --> 00:15:20,126
that we lost 80%
of all marine life.
270
00:15:20,211 --> 00:15:23,463
We lost 70%
of all vertebrate land animals.
271
00:15:23,548 --> 00:15:26,007
This was so bad,
even the bugs got taken out.
272
00:15:26,927 --> 00:15:31,596
So, the Great Dying is
one of geologic history's
273
00:15:31,681 --> 00:15:35,383
great warnings,
that large volcanism can pose
274
00:15:35,477 --> 00:15:39,187
a true existential threat
to all life on Earth.
275
00:15:48,657 --> 00:15:50,531
SHATNER:
This body of water is one of
276
00:15:50,617 --> 00:15:52,733
the most popular tourist
destinations in the country
277
00:15:52,827 --> 00:15:55,736
due to its natural beauty.
278
00:15:55,830 --> 00:15:58,706
But deep below
the lake's surface lies
279
00:15:58,792 --> 00:16:01,084
an active supervolcano.
280
00:16:02,212 --> 00:16:03,077
Taupo's a beautiful place.
281
00:16:03,171 --> 00:16:04,921
It's serene,
it's got a lovely lake,
282
00:16:05,048 --> 00:16:07,799
mountains, geysers
and hot springs.
283
00:16:07,884 --> 00:16:08,925
Absolutely gorgeous.
284
00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:13,054
McGEE:
These nice low-lying areas that tend to fill up
285
00:16:13,139 --> 00:16:17,016
with water and be very beautiful
often indicate
286
00:16:17,102 --> 00:16:19,394
lurking underneath you is
287
00:16:19,479 --> 00:16:22,271
an emptied former
super eruption.
288
00:16:22,399 --> 00:16:26,434
The irony is, the beauty of
a lake often goes hand in hand
289
00:16:26,528 --> 00:16:30,604
with the lurking threat
of volcanic systems ready to go.
290
00:16:31,574 --> 00:16:34,492
POLAND:
The last super eruption of the Taupo volcano
291
00:16:34,577 --> 00:16:36,995
occurred about 26,500 years ago.
292
00:16:37,998 --> 00:16:40,540
We know Taupo is restless.
293
00:16:40,625 --> 00:16:43,284
It has lots of seismicity.
The ground goes up and down.
294
00:16:43,378 --> 00:16:46,462
And scientists in New Zealand
have tied that
295
00:16:46,589 --> 00:16:48,673
to magma moving
in the subsurface.
296
00:16:50,552 --> 00:16:51,959
There's geothermal activity
in the region,
297
00:16:52,053 --> 00:16:54,795
which indicates that
the system's not dead.
298
00:16:54,889 --> 00:16:55,763
It's alive.
299
00:16:55,849 --> 00:16:59,467
It's on an active
tectonic plate boundary.
300
00:16:59,561 --> 00:17:02,186
So there are massive earthquakes
that can be caused
301
00:17:02,272 --> 00:17:04,972
by a supervolcano getting
ready to blow
302
00:17:05,066 --> 00:17:09,110
on a scale that we've never seen
before or since in geology.
303
00:17:09,195 --> 00:17:11,312
Where Taupo is,
304
00:17:11,406 --> 00:17:15,316
large eruptions will
eventually happen.
305
00:17:15,410 --> 00:17:17,785
Volcanoes are something
that humanity has always
306
00:17:17,871 --> 00:17:19,871
had to live with and
always will have to live with.
307
00:17:20,915 --> 00:17:23,657
We can study these things,
try to understand
308
00:17:23,752 --> 00:17:25,793
how an eruption might occur.
309
00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:28,171
But we don't have a way
to stop a volcanic eruption.
310
00:17:28,298 --> 00:17:29,172
We're not going to stop
311
00:17:29,299 --> 00:17:31,674
something that
the Earth wants to do.
312
00:17:32,594 --> 00:17:35,344
Is it possible that
the Earth itself
313
00:17:35,472 --> 00:17:37,430
will bring about the apocalypse?
314
00:17:37,515 --> 00:17:38,681
(groans)
315
00:17:38,808 --> 00:17:41,434
It's a terrifying notion,
316
00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:44,729
but not so terrifying as
another primal force of nature.
317
00:17:44,814 --> 00:17:48,015
One that has the power
to end our existence
318
00:17:48,109 --> 00:17:50,860
by swallowing the Earth whole.
319
00:17:54,532 --> 00:17:56,532
- (whirring)
- (indistinct chatter over radio)
320
00:17:59,788 --> 00:18:02,288
SHATNER:
In collaboration with NASA,
321
00:18:02,373 --> 00:18:05,333
an international team
of astronomers accomplishes
322
00:18:05,418 --> 00:18:08,503
something once thought
to be impossible.
323
00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:11,038
They capture
the first ever image
324
00:18:11,132 --> 00:18:13,874
of a region of space
where gravity is so strong
325
00:18:13,968 --> 00:18:16,803
that not even light can escape
from it.
326
00:18:16,888 --> 00:18:21,599
These mysterious areas are
more commonly known as...
327
00:18:21,684 --> 00:18:23,384
black holes.
328
00:18:23,478 --> 00:18:25,386
McGEE:
Imaging a black hole for the first time
329
00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,721
answers a challenge that seems
like it has no answer.
330
00:18:27,816 --> 00:18:29,723
How can you possibly take
a picture of something
331
00:18:29,818 --> 00:18:31,442
that swallows up all light?
332
00:18:31,528 --> 00:18:35,029
What they did was network
radio telescopes together
333
00:18:35,115 --> 00:18:37,865
all across the Earth,
making an effective telescope
334
00:18:37,951 --> 00:18:39,367
the size of our planet.
335
00:18:41,579 --> 00:18:44,405
It was called
the Event Horizon Telescope.
336
00:18:44,499 --> 00:18:46,740
And using that,
they were able to peer
337
00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:50,503
into the heart
of nearby galaxy M87.
338
00:18:50,588 --> 00:18:53,297
And there's
a supermassive black hole
339
00:18:53,383 --> 00:18:57,260
25 billion miles across
at its core.
340
00:18:59,681 --> 00:19:01,681
DAVIES:
The problem about black holes is that they're black
341
00:19:01,766 --> 00:19:02,590
and they're very small.
342
00:19:02,684 --> 00:19:04,559
And so you can't
directly see them.
343
00:19:04,644 --> 00:19:05,643
You have to infer
their existence
344
00:19:05,728 --> 00:19:09,689
from what they do
to their, uh, surroundings.
345
00:19:10,608 --> 00:19:13,943
And so,
it was an image constructed
346
00:19:14,070 --> 00:19:17,363
from many, many observations
around the world,
347
00:19:17,448 --> 00:19:19,440
put together in a clever way
348
00:19:19,534 --> 00:19:21,442
with a lot of sort of
computer enhancement.
349
00:19:21,536 --> 00:19:22,451
And so you see this...
350
00:19:22,579 --> 00:19:24,829
(electrical whirring)
351
00:19:24,914 --> 00:19:27,582
...black object against
a glowing background.
352
00:19:30,420 --> 00:19:33,171
SHATNER:
Since 1915, when Albert Einstein's
353
00:19:33,256 --> 00:19:37,925
famous theory of relativity
first proposed their existence,
354
00:19:38,011 --> 00:19:41,137
black holes have sparked
intense fascination.
355
00:19:41,264 --> 00:19:45,141
But just what are
these mysterious cosmic forces?
356
00:19:46,269 --> 00:19:49,312
DAVIES:
Black hole is an object where gravity is so intense
357
00:19:49,439 --> 00:19:51,138
that even light can't escape.
358
00:19:51,232 --> 00:19:53,357
And seeing as nothing can go
faster than light,
359
00:19:53,443 --> 00:19:55,359
it means anything that
falls into a black hole
360
00:19:55,445 --> 00:19:56,810
can't get out again.
361
00:19:56,905 --> 00:19:59,238
McGEE:
A black hole is formed
362
00:19:59,324 --> 00:20:03,868
- under intense pressure
of a collapsing star. - (explosion)
363
00:20:03,953 --> 00:20:05,319
And the pressure is so intense
364
00:20:05,413 --> 00:20:09,165
that it pushes the atoms
inside each other
365
00:20:09,292 --> 00:20:11,250
until the whole thing is
collapsed down to a point.
366
00:20:11,336 --> 00:20:12,835
And they call that
a singularity.
367
00:20:12,962 --> 00:20:15,296
And if you get too close to it,
368
00:20:15,381 --> 00:20:17,298
it'll trap you with its gravity,
and then you're stuck.
369
00:20:18,301 --> 00:20:21,510
DAVIES:
As you get closer and closer to the black hole,
370
00:20:21,638 --> 00:20:23,554
the gravity gets
more and more intense.
371
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,508
So, supposing I'm falling
into a black hole feet first,
372
00:20:27,602 --> 00:20:30,228
imagine this,
then my feet are a bit closer
373
00:20:30,313 --> 00:20:31,604
to the black hole than my head.
374
00:20:31,689 --> 00:20:35,483
And so gravity's a bit stronger
on my feet than my head.
375
00:20:35,568 --> 00:20:37,026
So I'm gonna be stretched
this way,
376
00:20:37,153 --> 00:20:39,487
but my shoulders,
each shoulder's trying
377
00:20:39,572 --> 00:20:40,947
to fall to the center
of the black hole,
378
00:20:41,032 --> 00:20:42,949
so I'm gonna be squeezed
this way.
379
00:20:43,034 --> 00:20:45,326
If it's a star, for example,
380
00:20:45,411 --> 00:20:47,528
it wouldn't just sort of
go straight down the black hole.
381
00:20:47,622 --> 00:20:50,498
It would spiral around
and get ripped to pieces.
382
00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,961
SHATNER:
Ripped to pieces?
383
00:20:55,046 --> 00:20:57,538
Since a black hole has
the power to destroy
384
00:20:57,632 --> 00:21:01,300
anything that comes near it,
then it begs the question...
385
00:21:02,136 --> 00:21:05,972
What if the unimaginable
happened,
386
00:21:06,057 --> 00:21:10,718
and a black hole crossed paths
with Earth?
387
00:21:11,771 --> 00:21:14,522
DAVIES:
If a black hole enters the solar system,
388
00:21:14,607 --> 00:21:17,441
the gravitational field is
so intense that
389
00:21:17,527 --> 00:21:20,987
Earth will be ripped to shreds
when it came close enough.
390
00:21:21,072 --> 00:21:25,116
It would spiral around
as the material was shredded,
391
00:21:25,201 --> 00:21:27,401
whirling down and down
faster and faster and faster,
392
00:21:27,495 --> 00:21:29,069
as the Earth
and all the people on it
393
00:21:29,163 --> 00:21:31,372
eventually go down
the black hole.
394
00:21:31,457 --> 00:21:33,457
A truly apocalyptic event.
395
00:21:33,543 --> 00:21:37,244
I'm reassured by the fact that
our solar system has been around
396
00:21:37,338 --> 00:21:39,088
for four and a half
billion years
397
00:21:39,215 --> 00:21:43,551
and no black hole has ventured
this way before.
398
00:21:43,636 --> 00:21:45,303
But of course that doesn't
mean it couldn't happen.
399
00:21:47,181 --> 00:21:49,390
SHATNER:
Fortunately, the nearest black hole is
400
00:21:49,475 --> 00:21:53,936
1,500 light-years away,
but that may be about to change.
401
00:21:54,063 --> 00:21:55,929
Because there are those
who believe that
402
00:21:56,024 --> 00:21:59,817
black holes could be created
right here on Earth.
403
00:21:59,902 --> 00:22:02,194
And as evidence,
they point to a series
404
00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,105
of experiments being conducted
by physicists
405
00:22:05,199 --> 00:22:07,575
at the largest particle
accelerator on Earth:
406
00:22:07,660 --> 00:22:10,944
the Large Hadron Collider.
407
00:22:11,039 --> 00:22:13,289
McGEE:
The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland
408
00:22:13,416 --> 00:22:15,616
is the largest
particle accelerator
409
00:22:15,710 --> 00:22:17,284
humanity has ever constructed.
410
00:22:17,378 --> 00:22:19,754
16 miles in diameter.
411
00:22:19,839 --> 00:22:23,457
A particle accelerator is
a machine designed
412
00:22:23,551 --> 00:22:27,470
to make subatomic particles
go near to the speed of light
413
00:22:27,597 --> 00:22:28,804
to break matter down
414
00:22:28,931 --> 00:22:31,131
into its fundamental
building blocks
415
00:22:31,225 --> 00:22:32,475
and see what they are.
416
00:22:33,436 --> 00:22:37,104
DAVIES:
The LHC takes protons and whirls them around
417
00:22:37,190 --> 00:22:38,972
inside a ring-shaped tube,
418
00:22:39,067 --> 00:22:42,318
and then they smash them
together at enormous energies,
419
00:22:42,445 --> 00:22:44,153
recreating the conditions
420
00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,647
just a trillionth of a second
after the big bang.
421
00:22:46,741 --> 00:22:48,991
So some people have conjectured
422
00:22:49,118 --> 00:22:51,702
that maybe the LHCs could create
423
00:22:51,788 --> 00:22:54,822
a microscopic black hole
at energies far in excess
424
00:22:54,916 --> 00:22:55,989
of anything that
had been reached before.
425
00:22:56,084 --> 00:23:00,160
Now, our best understanding
of black holes is
426
00:23:00,254 --> 00:23:03,923
that if you make one
by colliding particles,
427
00:23:04,008 --> 00:23:06,500
then it would disappear
almost immediately,
428
00:23:06,594 --> 00:23:08,344
so it really wouldn't pose
a threat.
429
00:23:09,347 --> 00:23:12,515
McGEE:
Some physicists actually raised legal battles
430
00:23:12,642 --> 00:23:14,975
trying to shut down the LHC
431
00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:17,845
over fear that they might
accidentally create
432
00:23:17,939 --> 00:23:21,148
one of these black holes,
and it would start to swallow up
433
00:23:21,234 --> 00:23:24,351
everything around it and maybe
doom the Earth in the process.
434
00:23:24,445 --> 00:23:27,187
Ultimately those objections
were tossed out,
435
00:23:27,281 --> 00:23:28,864
and the LHC is still running.
436
00:23:29,784 --> 00:23:32,526
But as we probe farther
and farther
437
00:23:32,620 --> 00:23:34,862
into the deepest reaches
of the laws of physics,
438
00:23:34,956 --> 00:23:38,198
and we use the largest tools
we have in our toolbox to do it,
439
00:23:38,292 --> 00:23:40,709
there's the chance
that we will get
440
00:23:40,837 --> 00:23:42,795
into territory we didn't expect,
441
00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,873
and that could pose a threat
of a scale that would pose
442
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:47,174
a threat to humanity.
443
00:23:51,305 --> 00:23:53,213
While black holes may be
444
00:23:53,307 --> 00:23:55,558
the most destructive force
in the universe,
445
00:23:55,685 --> 00:23:57,643
there are those
who believe that there's
446
00:23:57,728 --> 00:23:59,887
a different threat
from outer space
447
00:23:59,981 --> 00:24:02,723
that we should be
even more concerned about.
448
00:24:02,817 --> 00:24:05,401
One that even
our best telescopes
449
00:24:05,528 --> 00:24:07,236
may not be able to see coming.
450
00:24:08,823 --> 00:24:11,490
Because there's
a very good chance
451
00:24:11,576 --> 00:24:13,826
it's already here.
452
00:24:19,584 --> 00:24:22,585
SHATNER:
Astronomers at the Carl Sagan Institute
453
00:24:22,712 --> 00:24:25,579
release the findings
of a groundbreaking study.
454
00:24:25,673 --> 00:24:30,342
By using a highly-detailed
3D map of the Milky Way galaxy,
455
00:24:30,428 --> 00:24:32,136
they conduct observations
456
00:24:32,221 --> 00:24:35,181
of more than
2,000 nearby star systems.
457
00:24:36,225 --> 00:24:37,016
After analyzing the data,
458
00:24:37,101 --> 00:24:40,093
they come to
a shocking conclusion:
459
00:24:40,188 --> 00:24:43,898
we may not be alone
in the universe.
460
00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:47,067
The findings show that
there are potentially
461
00:24:47,153 --> 00:24:50,938
29 advanced
extraterrestrial civilizations
462
00:24:51,032 --> 00:24:53,774
located within
50 light-years of Earth,
463
00:24:53,868 --> 00:24:57,945
and it's possible
they've been observing us.
464
00:24:58,956 --> 00:25:04,543
The idea that there might be
other life out there is
465
00:25:04,629 --> 00:25:06,337
as old as recorded history.
466
00:25:06,422 --> 00:25:09,173
And also, of course,
there has always been
467
00:25:09,258 --> 00:25:12,843
this idea that if there are
other life-forms out there,
468
00:25:12,929 --> 00:25:17,464
that extraterrestrials may take
the view that it is logical
469
00:25:17,558 --> 00:25:21,393
to eliminate any potential
threat to their own existence,
470
00:25:21,479 --> 00:25:26,106
and emerging civilizations like
humanity might be that threat.
471
00:25:26,192 --> 00:25:27,775
And there's the idea that
472
00:25:27,860 --> 00:25:30,310
these super predator
civilizations would
473
00:25:30,404 --> 00:25:33,572
comb the universe
looking for the first signs
474
00:25:33,658 --> 00:25:36,650
of emerging
spacefaring civilizations
475
00:25:36,744 --> 00:25:38,819
and then exterminating them.
476
00:25:39,789 --> 00:25:41,914
KAKU:
Some scientists want to reach out
477
00:25:41,999 --> 00:25:45,668
and advertise our existence
and say, "Here we are.
478
00:25:45,795 --> 00:25:46,827
"This is our location.
479
00:25:46,921 --> 00:25:50,464
This is our state of technology.
Come visit us."
480
00:25:50,550 --> 00:25:54,001
I think that's
a catastrophically bad idea.
481
00:25:54,095 --> 00:25:56,178
History shows that
482
00:25:56,305 --> 00:25:59,181
when civilizations encounter
each other,
483
00:25:59,308 --> 00:26:01,308
the outcome is often tragic.
484
00:26:02,228 --> 00:26:06,063
I think we should keep
our identity a secret for now.
485
00:26:07,108 --> 00:26:10,526
TAYLOR:
It's a mathematical likelihood
486
00:26:10,653 --> 00:26:13,696
that we will encounter
other life-forms,
487
00:26:13,823 --> 00:26:18,200
other intelligences, within
this universe at some time.
488
00:26:18,327 --> 00:26:19,785
It's not a matter of if.
489
00:26:19,870 --> 00:26:22,162
It really is just
a matter of when.
490
00:26:22,248 --> 00:26:26,166
It's just as likely that
any interaction with aliens
491
00:26:26,252 --> 00:26:30,504
might end the world in
a huge apocalyptic-type event.
492
00:26:31,340 --> 00:26:34,133
So, while we're prepared to know
493
00:26:34,218 --> 00:26:37,044
that aliens are there
and want to talk to them,
494
00:26:37,138 --> 00:26:39,221
I don't think we are prepared
for an invasion.
495
00:26:40,224 --> 00:26:42,683
SHATNER:
For some, the idea that extraterrestrials
496
00:26:42,768 --> 00:26:46,604
would travel across the galaxy
to wipe out humanity
497
00:26:46,689 --> 00:26:49,732
may sound like something
out of science fiction.
498
00:26:50,818 --> 00:26:55,395
But there are others who believe
that this doomsday scenario
499
00:26:55,489 --> 00:26:59,199
is well within the realm
of possibility,
500
00:26:59,285 --> 00:27:04,705
because they claim there is
evidence which suggests
501
00:27:04,790 --> 00:27:09,209
that extraterrestrials are
already here.
502
00:27:12,548 --> 00:27:15,716
After decades
of public speculation,
503
00:27:15,801 --> 00:27:19,803
the Pentagon finally releases
a report corroborating
504
00:27:19,889 --> 00:27:22,181
what many have long suspected:
505
00:27:22,266 --> 00:27:25,976
unidentified aerial phenomena--
otherwise known as UAPs--
506
00:27:26,062 --> 00:27:29,930
do, in fact, exist.
507
00:27:30,024 --> 00:27:33,600
The government has
a track record of saying
508
00:27:33,694 --> 00:27:36,612
as little as possible
about UFOs.
509
00:27:36,739 --> 00:27:40,407
The Office of the Director
of National Intelligence
510
00:27:40,493 --> 00:27:44,995
delivered a report
to Congress about UFOs.
511
00:27:45,081 --> 00:27:47,373
It was a preliminary assessment,
512
00:27:47,458 --> 00:27:52,452
and it essentially says
that this phenomenon is real.
513
00:27:53,422 --> 00:27:56,957
What it said basically was,
a lot of events happened
514
00:27:57,051 --> 00:28:00,886
and many of them have
no explanation as of yet.
515
00:28:00,971 --> 00:28:04,431
And that is very interesting
that the government is
516
00:28:04,517 --> 00:28:07,467
actually telling
the general public that
517
00:28:07,561 --> 00:28:09,469
"Hey, there's something
in our skies
518
00:28:09,563 --> 00:28:11,972
that we don't what they are."
519
00:28:12,066 --> 00:28:16,026
POPE:
UFOs are an existential threat.
520
00:28:16,112 --> 00:28:20,313
Those sorts of civilizations
with maybe millions of years'
521
00:28:20,408 --> 00:28:22,866
head start on us in terms of
522
00:28:22,952 --> 00:28:25,318
their scientific understanding,
their technology.
523
00:28:25,413 --> 00:28:27,830
They could wipe up us out
in an instant.
524
00:28:27,957 --> 00:28:30,157
They probably have technology
525
00:28:30,251 --> 00:28:31,992
that could crack
this planet open
526
00:28:32,086 --> 00:28:34,086
like a nut, if they wanted to.
527
00:28:35,089 --> 00:28:37,664
SHATNER:
The Department of Defense has also confirmed
528
00:28:37,758 --> 00:28:40,167
that a classified program
known as AATIP
529
00:28:40,261 --> 00:28:43,003
had obtained
actual video evidence
530
00:28:43,097 --> 00:28:47,007
of encounters with
unidentified aerial phenomena.
531
00:28:47,101 --> 00:28:49,393
And according to experts
who have seen the tapes,
532
00:28:49,478 --> 00:28:54,231
we have every reason to be
very, very worried.
533
00:28:55,234 --> 00:28:59,853
AATIP was a Pentagon program
looking at UFOs,
534
00:28:59,947 --> 00:29:02,740
and they were studying
the technologies
535
00:29:02,825 --> 00:29:05,701
that UFOs would need
to travel here.
536
00:29:07,163 --> 00:29:10,372
They revealed that
there had been videos taken
537
00:29:10,499 --> 00:29:13,533
through forward-looking
infrared cameras
538
00:29:13,627 --> 00:29:17,204
mounted on F-18 Super Hornets,
539
00:29:17,298 --> 00:29:21,341
and they show
the pilots tracking
540
00:29:21,427 --> 00:29:24,878
and in some cases getting
hugely interested,
541
00:29:24,972 --> 00:29:28,056
concerned,
excited about the speeds,
542
00:29:28,184 --> 00:29:30,601
the maneuvers, the acceleration.
543
00:29:35,191 --> 00:29:36,356
(chuckles)
544
00:29:36,442 --> 00:29:40,778
Sometimes they can evade
our air defenses altogether.
545
00:29:40,863 --> 00:29:45,032
Sometimes they show up on radar
but other times not.
546
00:29:45,117 --> 00:29:49,569
The best aircraft we have are
left standing by these things.
547
00:29:49,663 --> 00:29:53,499
The technology is greater
than anything we have.
548
00:29:53,584 --> 00:29:56,794
And therefore, you have to say,
"Yeah, this is a threat."
549
00:29:57,755 --> 00:29:59,913
SHATNER:
In an interview with the Washington Post
550
00:30:00,007 --> 00:30:01,581
conducted shortly
before the release
551
00:30:01,675 --> 00:30:03,634
of the Pentagon's UFO report,
552
00:30:03,719 --> 00:30:05,427
the former director of AATIP,
553
00:30:05,554 --> 00:30:08,055
U.S. Army Special Agent
Luis Elizondo,
554
00:30:08,140 --> 00:30:11,258
made an unsettling claim.
555
00:30:11,352 --> 00:30:13,560
Unidentified flying objects
have been seen
556
00:30:13,646 --> 00:30:17,430
observing U.S. nuclear
launch sites around the world.
557
00:30:18,609 --> 00:30:22,602
TAYLOR:
Lou Elizondo has suggested that a lot of sightings occur
558
00:30:22,696 --> 00:30:25,605
near nuclear power plants,
nuclear missile sites,
559
00:30:25,699 --> 00:30:29,076
nuclear submarines,
nuclear ships.
560
00:30:29,161 --> 00:30:32,454
The question is, if that's true,
why are they doing that?
561
00:30:32,581 --> 00:30:35,374
What is the motivation to
look at the nuclear locations?
562
00:30:36,252 --> 00:30:38,502
These UFOs,
for whatever reason,
563
00:30:38,587 --> 00:30:40,787
are interested in nuclear sites.
564
00:30:40,881 --> 00:30:44,124
There are few things
about this whole UFO mystery
565
00:30:44,218 --> 00:30:48,178
more potentially dangerous
than this.
566
00:30:48,264 --> 00:30:50,797
There have been briefings
to the president
567
00:30:50,891 --> 00:30:53,133
at top secret level.
568
00:30:53,227 --> 00:30:55,635
And a fuller assessment will be
569
00:30:55,729 --> 00:30:57,855
delivered to Congress
in due course.
570
00:30:58,899 --> 00:31:02,734
There's a great logic
that governments need
571
00:31:02,820 --> 00:31:05,645
a plan on first contact--
572
00:31:05,739 --> 00:31:09,316
what to do if aliens arrive
and are hostile.
573
00:31:09,410 --> 00:31:11,285
Because the point is,
574
00:31:11,370 --> 00:31:14,154
this is going to be
an existential threat.
575
00:31:14,248 --> 00:31:18,292
It's far better in any situation
576
00:31:18,377 --> 00:31:21,661
to have a contingency plan
and not need it,
577
00:31:21,755 --> 00:31:24,381
than to need it and not have it.
578
00:31:26,427 --> 00:31:31,305
Are the AATIP videos evidence
of extraterrestrials spying
579
00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:33,840
on us and
our defense installations
580
00:31:33,934 --> 00:31:36,435
in order to plan an attack?
581
00:31:37,479 --> 00:31:39,521
We simply don't know.
582
00:31:39,648 --> 00:31:41,348
But if they are,
583
00:31:41,442 --> 00:31:44,151
it could spell humanity's
certain doom.
584
00:31:44,236 --> 00:31:47,520
Just like
another potential apocalypse.
585
00:31:47,615 --> 00:31:50,857
One that could pull
the plug on our existence...
586
00:31:50,951 --> 00:31:52,659
like that.
587
00:31:55,414 --> 00:31:57,289
SHATNER:
According to researchers,
588
00:31:57,374 --> 00:31:59,458
recent advancements
in computer graphics
589
00:31:59,543 --> 00:32:01,368
may soon give us the ability
590
00:32:01,462 --> 00:32:04,671
to create simulations
so lifelike
591
00:32:04,757 --> 00:32:06,539
that they're
nearly indistinguishable
592
00:32:06,634 --> 00:32:08,375
from reality itself.
593
00:32:08,469 --> 00:32:11,544
And such realism has
actually caused many experts
594
00:32:11,639 --> 00:32:16,049
to ponder a profound
and disturbing possibility:
595
00:32:16,143 --> 00:32:21,271
what if we're actually
living in a simulation
596
00:32:21,357 --> 00:32:22,889
right now?
597
00:32:23,901 --> 00:32:28,895
Simulation theory is the idea
that we live in a video game.
598
00:32:28,989 --> 00:32:31,531
That the reality
that we see around us,
599
00:32:31,617 --> 00:32:34,910
the reality that
we think is real and hard,
600
00:32:35,037 --> 00:32:36,536
is actually a fake.
601
00:32:37,623 --> 00:32:41,124
It's a software program
running in virtual reality.
602
00:32:41,210 --> 00:32:42,334
(electrical whirring)
603
00:32:42,419 --> 00:32:46,088
And concocted perhaps
by a more advanced civilization
604
00:32:46,215 --> 00:32:48,548
that's running us
as a video game.
605
00:32:49,718 --> 00:32:52,928
VIRK:
The biggest argument against simulation theory is
606
00:32:53,055 --> 00:32:55,138
that the idea just seems absurd.
607
00:32:55,224 --> 00:32:57,590
But if you were
inside a video game,
608
00:32:57,685 --> 00:33:01,478
the walls and the objects
would appear to be real.
609
00:33:01,563 --> 00:33:04,264
And if there was
a good enough physics engine,
610
00:33:04,358 --> 00:33:07,317
pretty soon we would be unable
611
00:33:07,403 --> 00:33:11,571
to distinguish between physical
reality and virtual reality.
612
00:33:11,657 --> 00:33:15,108
KAKU:
If we live in a simulation, that we're just puppets,
613
00:33:15,202 --> 00:33:18,161
dancing according
to somebody's PC screen,
614
00:33:18,247 --> 00:33:21,832
then the question is,
who's watching the screen?
615
00:33:22,626 --> 00:33:24,710
Who is in charge of this thing?
616
00:33:24,795 --> 00:33:29,089
Who set up the ground rules to
create this fantastic universe
617
00:33:29,174 --> 00:33:31,958
that we think is reality
but actually
618
00:33:32,052 --> 00:33:34,461
it's a figment of
somebody else's imagination?
619
00:33:34,555 --> 00:33:37,848
Well, your guess is
as good as mine.
620
00:33:38,767 --> 00:33:41,768
SHATNER:
Could we actually be living
621
00:33:41,854 --> 00:33:45,480
within a sophisticated
computer simulation?
622
00:33:45,607 --> 00:33:49,976
And if so, perhaps
the more important question is,
623
00:33:50,070 --> 00:33:53,447
what happens if
whoever's running the simulation
624
00:33:53,532 --> 00:33:56,324
decides to shut it off?
625
00:33:57,453 --> 00:33:58,985
VIRK:
The biggest threat is
626
00:33:59,079 --> 00:34:02,789
that the simulation
will have to be shut down.
627
00:34:02,875 --> 00:34:04,991
Uh, which means that
it would be the end
628
00:34:05,085 --> 00:34:07,827
of our simulation and that
it has served its purpose.
629
00:34:08,881 --> 00:34:12,883
To us, it would basically mean
the end of the world.
630
00:34:12,968 --> 00:34:15,168
In other words, it's game over.
631
00:34:15,262 --> 00:34:20,006
Somebody has pulled the plug
on what we call "reality."
632
00:34:20,100 --> 00:34:23,518
An intelligence that advanced
633
00:34:23,645 --> 00:34:25,896
that can simulate
reality itself,
634
00:34:25,981 --> 00:34:29,399
make it indistinguishable
from reality,
635
00:34:29,485 --> 00:34:33,779
would be extremely advanced,
almost godlike in their powers.
636
00:34:35,115 --> 00:34:39,025
SHATNER:
A simulation controlled by godlike beings?
637
00:34:39,119 --> 00:34:40,193
(electrical whirring)
638
00:34:40,287 --> 00:34:42,996
While the idea may seem
far-fetched to some,
639
00:34:43,082 --> 00:34:45,198
religious traditions
from around the world
640
00:34:45,292 --> 00:34:48,368
have long held that
our reality is controlled
641
00:34:48,462 --> 00:34:52,872
by a higher power
that we don't fully understand.
642
00:34:52,966 --> 00:34:54,883
YOUNG:
Since the beginning of shamanism,
643
00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:57,677
spiritual teachers of all kinds
have been telling us
644
00:34:57,763 --> 00:35:02,057
there is more to reality
than what we see or think.
645
00:35:03,143 --> 00:35:05,102
The simulation theory is
646
00:35:05,187 --> 00:35:07,646
the very real statistical
possibility that
647
00:35:07,731 --> 00:35:11,558
- somebody greater than us
has invented all this. - (praying in foreign language)
648
00:35:11,652 --> 00:35:13,059
We wouldn't know, would we?
649
00:35:13,153 --> 00:35:15,728
Unless the gods--
that is, the programmers--
650
00:35:15,823 --> 00:35:17,531
decided to let us in on it.
651
00:35:18,534 --> 00:35:20,951
Of course, that's what
religions tell us anyway.
652
00:35:21,036 --> 00:35:22,902
They tell us there are
more realities,
653
00:35:22,996 --> 00:35:23,954
greater realities,
654
00:35:24,039 --> 00:35:26,706
and that there are powers
greater than ours
655
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:31,244
- who have made things
that we walk around in. - (indistinct chatter)
656
00:35:31,338 --> 00:35:32,212
I think the simulation theory is
657
00:35:32,297 --> 00:35:34,714
just science catching up
to religion.
658
00:35:35,676 --> 00:35:37,917
One thing we don't know
about is,
659
00:35:38,011 --> 00:35:41,087
who were the programmers
and why did they do it?
660
00:35:41,181 --> 00:35:43,256
One particular reason is
661
00:35:43,350 --> 00:35:45,425
to see how civilizations
rise and fall.
662
00:35:45,519 --> 00:35:47,435
That would be quite apocalyptic
663
00:35:47,563 --> 00:35:50,930
and could lead to bad events
for us.
664
00:35:51,859 --> 00:35:54,067
SHATNER:
Could we actually be test subjects
665
00:35:54,153 --> 00:35:56,027
in a computer simulation?
666
00:35:56,113 --> 00:35:58,271
Like rats in a virtual maze?
667
00:35:58,365 --> 00:36:01,274
There are many who believe
that to be the case.
668
00:36:01,368 --> 00:36:03,109
And as evidence
they point to the fact
669
00:36:03,203 --> 00:36:05,945
that we're using advanced
computer simulations right now
670
00:36:06,039 --> 00:36:10,709
to prepare for earthquakes
and other catastrophic threats.
671
00:36:17,384 --> 00:36:21,178
Scientists at the Earthquake
Research Institute
672
00:36:21,263 --> 00:36:23,054
conduct an unusual experiment.
673
00:36:23,140 --> 00:36:25,798
Using the powerful
microprocessor
674
00:36:25,893 --> 00:36:28,134
known as the K supercomputer...
675
00:36:28,228 --> 00:36:32,397
- (beep)
- they build an incredibly detailed virtual simulation
676
00:36:32,482 --> 00:36:35,975
of the city of Tokyo,
down to the last detail.
677
00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:37,310
And then...
678
00:36:37,404 --> 00:36:40,113
- (beep)
- ...they destroy it.
679
00:36:42,618 --> 00:36:46,244
The K supercomputer was
one of the,
680
00:36:46,330 --> 00:36:48,821
if not the fastest,
supercomputer on Earth.
681
00:36:48,916 --> 00:36:52,325
And a team of scientists
in Japan
682
00:36:52,419 --> 00:36:55,253
used it to try to simulate
what would happen
683
00:36:55,339 --> 00:36:59,049
to Tokyo if there was
a major earthquake.
684
00:36:59,134 --> 00:37:02,552
Then we're able to simulate
the routes people might take
685
00:37:02,638 --> 00:37:05,672
through the city to try
to escape the devastation
686
00:37:05,766 --> 00:37:07,599
that could be caused
by the earthquake.
687
00:37:07,684 --> 00:37:11,010
We create simulations
in order to mimic
688
00:37:11,104 --> 00:37:12,845
these disasters taking place,
689
00:37:12,940 --> 00:37:16,849
and so perhaps that's why
this advanced civilization,
690
00:37:16,944 --> 00:37:20,153
playing this cosmic video game,
created humanity--
691
00:37:20,239 --> 00:37:22,364
to see what happens
during an apocalypse.
692
00:37:23,659 --> 00:37:26,326
VIRK:
Some people say that the problem they have with simulation theory
693
00:37:26,411 --> 00:37:29,788
is that we cannot prove
we're not in a simulation.
694
00:37:29,873 --> 00:37:31,998
But of course
humans have been pondering
695
00:37:32,084 --> 00:37:35,702
the nature of reality
for many thousands of years.
696
00:37:35,796 --> 00:37:39,172
So, I think it's an innate
part of who we are,
697
00:37:39,258 --> 00:37:42,217
to try to figure out
the world around us.
698
00:37:42,344 --> 00:37:44,344
So that we can survive.
699
00:37:45,305 --> 00:37:49,307
Could our existence really end
with the flip of a switch?
700
00:37:50,477 --> 00:37:52,385
Your guess is as good as mine.
701
00:37:52,479 --> 00:37:54,887
But if the fate of our world
702
00:37:54,982 --> 00:37:59,058
really does lie at the mercy
of forces beyond our control,
703
00:37:59,152 --> 00:38:02,445
what, if anything,
can we do about it?
704
00:38:03,573 --> 00:38:08,326
Well, there are those
who are taking steps right now
705
00:38:08,412 --> 00:38:13,039
that just might allow us
to escape.
706
00:38:17,546 --> 00:38:19,504
SHATNER:
The threat of a sudden apocalypse
707
00:38:19,589 --> 00:38:23,049
that wipes out life on Earth
is certainly concerning.
708
00:38:23,135 --> 00:38:26,011
But on the other hand,
we know that change
709
00:38:26,096 --> 00:38:28,263
is inevitable on our planet.
710
00:38:28,390 --> 00:38:31,433
And the prospect of
a potential doomsday
711
00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:34,093
is inspiring scientists
and engineers
712
00:38:34,187 --> 00:38:36,104
to develop new technologies
713
00:38:36,231 --> 00:38:40,692
and plans that will ensure
humanity's survival.
714
00:38:45,782 --> 00:38:47,699
It is a law of physics
practically
715
00:38:47,784 --> 00:38:51,119
that one day we will have
to leave the planet Earth.
716
00:38:52,039 --> 00:38:54,497
There are a number
of catastrophes
717
00:38:54,583 --> 00:38:58,710
that could definitely collapse
civilization as we know it.
718
00:38:58,795 --> 00:39:03,840
Faced with these planetary
threats, we have to have plan B.
719
00:39:03,925 --> 00:39:07,460
We have to have a way
to save humanity itself.
720
00:39:08,472 --> 00:39:12,307
The way to ensure
the survivability of humanity is
721
00:39:12,434 --> 00:39:14,517
by spreading out
to the planets and the stars.
722
00:39:15,562 --> 00:39:19,972
If we move humanity to
another planet location,
723
00:39:20,067 --> 00:39:21,941
an extinction-level event
is not going to occur
724
00:39:22,027 --> 00:39:24,444
on both of those
at the same time.
725
00:39:25,614 --> 00:39:28,031
KAKU:
How come there are no dinosaurs in this room?
726
00:39:28,116 --> 00:39:29,148
How come there are no dinosaurs
727
00:39:29,242 --> 00:39:32,243
witnessing all these great shots
into outer space?
728
00:39:32,329 --> 00:39:35,321
Because the dinosaurs
did not have a space program.
729
00:39:35,415 --> 00:39:37,749
We have to make sure
that we don't go
730
00:39:37,834 --> 00:39:39,084
the way of the dinosaurs.
731
00:39:40,629 --> 00:39:44,923
SHATNER:
Is it possible that we might one day escape an apocalypse
732
00:39:45,008 --> 00:39:47,092
by moving to another planet?
733
00:39:47,177 --> 00:39:48,718
Perhaps.
734
00:39:48,804 --> 00:39:51,504
But even if catastrophe strikes
735
00:39:51,598 --> 00:39:53,890
before humans can escape
to another world,
736
00:39:53,975 --> 00:39:59,562
history suggests we will find
a way to endure.
737
00:39:59,648 --> 00:40:03,525
MICHAEL DENNIN:
When we think about the luck of avoiding mass extinction,
738
00:40:03,652 --> 00:40:07,353
or apocalypses,
I think, for humans,
739
00:40:07,447 --> 00:40:09,864
we've shown
an amazing resilience
740
00:40:09,991 --> 00:40:11,408
and ability to respond.
741
00:40:11,493 --> 00:40:14,077
So things that could have been
local apocalypses,
742
00:40:14,162 --> 00:40:16,413
we've already been able
to mitigate in our history.
743
00:40:16,498 --> 00:40:19,866
And the hope is,
these other larger ones,
744
00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:24,537
as tragic as they'll be
for large segments of society,
745
00:40:24,631 --> 00:40:28,383
hopefully society as a whole
will be able to navigate.
746
00:40:29,553 --> 00:40:31,544
THOLEN:
Some people estimate Homo sapiens have been around
747
00:40:31,638 --> 00:40:34,213
for perhaps as long
as 200,000 years.
748
00:40:34,307 --> 00:40:36,716
And over that course of time,
749
00:40:36,810 --> 00:40:38,935
the species has managed
to survive.
750
00:40:39,020 --> 00:40:43,055
And that gives me
some confidence that
751
00:40:43,150 --> 00:40:47,560
the species will continue
to adapt to the environment.
752
00:40:48,655 --> 00:40:52,115
PAUL J. SPRINGER:
Extinction-level events, apocalyptic catastrophes,
753
00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,492
they're interesting
to think about.
754
00:40:54,578 --> 00:40:56,736
But the likelihood
of them occurring
755
00:40:56,830 --> 00:40:58,830
is astronomically small.
756
00:40:58,915 --> 00:41:02,074
Humans are programmed
to continue.
757
00:41:02,169 --> 00:41:03,626
And so you don't want
to give them
758
00:41:03,712 --> 00:41:05,578
outsized influence in your mind.
759
00:41:05,672 --> 00:41:07,747
You don't want
to constantly worry
760
00:41:07,841 --> 00:41:10,008
about the worst
possible scenarios...
761
00:41:10,093 --> 00:41:13,344
- (cheering)
- because they're so unlikely to occur,
762
00:41:13,430 --> 00:41:15,972
that you'll really miss out
on a lot of life
763
00:41:16,057 --> 00:41:18,591
and the day-to-day affairs
that make being human
764
00:41:18,685 --> 00:41:19,851
such a special thing.
765
00:41:21,396 --> 00:41:23,771
Well, what do you think?
766
00:41:24,691 --> 00:41:27,358
Just like other species
before us,
767
00:41:27,444 --> 00:41:29,569
are we facing
the threat of extinction
768
00:41:29,654 --> 00:41:31,771
with the next apocalypse?
769
00:41:31,865 --> 00:41:35,441
Or is humanity
actually resilient enough
770
00:41:35,535 --> 00:41:40,121
that no matter what comes at us,
or explodes beneath us,
771
00:41:40,248 --> 00:41:42,081
or attempts to push our buttons,
772
00:41:42,167 --> 00:41:44,501
we'll survive and evolve
and prepare
773
00:41:44,586 --> 00:41:47,620
for the next cataclysmic event?
774
00:41:47,714 --> 00:41:50,289
Only time will tell.
775
00:41:50,383 --> 00:41:52,091
But until it does,
776
00:41:52,177 --> 00:41:57,296
the question of what fate
may hold for us remains...
777
00:41:57,390 --> 00:41:59,298
unexplained.
778
00:41:59,392 --> 00:42:01,017
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