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1
00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:04,500
Narrator:
OUR UNIVERSE IS VIOLENT, DEADLY.
2
00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:08,400
COSMIC BOMBS ARE EVERYWHERE.
3
00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,533
Dr. Krauss: AND THE MOST CRAZY,
INTENSE, VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS
4
00:00:11,533 --> 00:00:14,333
YOU CAN IMAGINE
ARE HAPPENING OUT THERE.
5
00:00:14,333 --> 00:00:19,433
Narrator: THE SUN SPITS FLARES
MILLIONS OF MILES HIGH.
6
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,700
MAGNETIC MONSTERS
RIP WORLDS APART.
7
00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:28,667
GALACTIC FLAMETHROWERS
8
00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:32,833
FIRE GAMMA RAYS
HALFWAY ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
9
00:00:32,833 --> 00:00:35,000
IT'S LIKE A COSMIC BLOWTORCH.
10
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,633
THE ENERGY OF THESE THINGS
IS UNIMAGINABLE.
11
00:00:38,633 --> 00:00:42,567
Narrator: MEGA-FLARES
LIGHT UP THE UNIVERSE.
12
00:00:42,567 --> 00:00:46,167
THEY ILLUMINATE HIDDEN SECRETS.
13
00:00:47,633 --> 00:00:50,033
THEY'RE ALSO A THREAT.
14
00:00:50,033 --> 00:00:53,467
IF YOU'RE IN THE LINE OF SIGHT,
WATCH OUT.
15
00:00:53,467 --> 00:00:56,333
Narrator:
OUR PLANET IS UNDER ATTACK
16
00:00:56,333 --> 00:01:00,233
FROM COLOSSAL, COSMIC
FIRESTORMS.
17
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:07,067
DO THESE DEADLY MEGA-FLARES
THREATEN LIFE ON EARTH?
18
00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:11,300
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
19
00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:14,300
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
20
00:01:32,267 --> 00:01:34,667
AN ORDINARY STAR FIELD,
21
00:01:34,667 --> 00:01:37,800
BUT HOME TO ONE OF
THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY STARS
22
00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,667
IN OUR GALAXY.
23
00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:44,900
8.7 LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH,
THIS IS UV CETI.
24
00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:51,600
THIS MYSTERIOUS OBJECT
25
00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,700
CAN GROW FIVE TIMES BRIGHTER
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.
26
00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:09,067
ANY PLANET CIRCLING THIS STAR
WOULD BE BLASTED BY THE HEAT,
27
00:02:09,067 --> 00:02:12,533
QUICKLY MELTING
ITS FROZEN SURFACE.
28
00:02:22,567 --> 00:02:27,400
THEN, JUST SECONDS LATER,
THE SUN DIMS.
29
00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:36,333
THE PLANET RETREATS
INTO ICY DARKNESS.
30
00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:44,633
BUT UV CETI IS ABOUT TO GO
WAY FURTHER.
31
00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:52,633
THE STAR BEGINS TO BRIGHTEN,
BUT THIS TIME, IT DOESN'T STOP.
32
00:02:54,233 --> 00:02:57,933
A RUNAWAY INFERNO,
IN JUST 20 SECONDS,
33
00:02:57,933 --> 00:03:02,800
IT GETS 75 TIMES BRIGHTER
THAN NORMAL.
34
00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:14,333
UV CETI HAS UNLEASHED
A MEGA-FLARE...
35
00:03:15,667 --> 00:03:20,600
...AN IMMENSE EXPLOSION
OF ENERGY ON THE STAR'S SURFACE.
36
00:03:26,433 --> 00:03:30,667
IF OUR SUN FIRED OFF
A MEGA-FLARE LIKE THIS...
37
00:03:32,233 --> 00:03:34,567
...WE'D BE TOAST.
38
00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:38,533
IF YOU WERE STANDING
ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH
39
00:03:38,533 --> 00:03:41,233
AND THE SUN WERE TO GET
75 TIMES BRIGHTER,
40
00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:43,333
EVEN FOR ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO,
41
00:03:43,333 --> 00:03:46,400
IT WOULD REALLY PROBABLY BE
THE LAST THING YOU'D EVER SEE.
42
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,833
THE TEMPERATURE ON THE EARTH
WOULD RISE UP.
43
00:03:48,833 --> 00:03:52,900
WE'D HAVE HUGE FIRES. IT WOULD
JUST BASICALLY COOK EVERYTHING.
44
00:04:00,933 --> 00:04:05,400
Narrator: EARTH IS A LONG WAY
FROM UV CETI.
45
00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,100
WE'RE SAFE
FROM THAT PARTICULAR STAR.
46
00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,100
BUT THE MORE STARS WE STUDY...
47
00:04:13,533 --> 00:04:16,233
...THE MORE FLARES WE FIND.
48
00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:30,167
THEY FIRE IN ALL DIRECTIONS...
49
00:04:32,267 --> 00:04:35,733
...SOMETIMES, DIRECTLY AT US.
50
00:04:52,367 --> 00:04:57,167
THE CLOSER A STAR IS TO EARTH,
THE GREATER THE DANGER.
51
00:04:57,167 --> 00:05:01,933
AND ONE STAR IS WAY CLOSER
THAN ALL THE OTHERS.
52
00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,267
OUR SUN LOOKS STABLE AND CALM.
53
00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,067
BUT BEHIND THE GLARE...
54
00:05:17,067 --> 00:05:19,933
...THE SUN IS A MONSTER.
55
00:05:24,433 --> 00:05:29,167
SOLAR OBSERVATORIES
CAPTURE THE VIOLENCE.
56
00:05:33,067 --> 00:05:36,367
FLARES ERUPT
ACROSS ITS SURFACE...
57
00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:45,833
...GIGANTIC EXPLOSIONS
ON AN UNIMAGINABLE SCALE.
58
00:05:45,833 --> 00:05:48,633
Dr. Batalha: ONE FLARE,
ONE OF THE MOST ENERGETIC FLARES
59
00:05:48,633 --> 00:05:50,633
ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN
WOULD BE EQUIVALENT
60
00:05:50,633 --> 00:05:54,233
TO OVER 200 MILLION
HYDROGEN ATOMIC BOMBS.
61
00:05:56,433 --> 00:05:58,167
IT'S ENOUGH ENERGY
62
00:05:58,167 --> 00:06:02,800
TO POWER THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE'S
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
63
00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,900
FOR SOMETHING LIKE
2 MILLION YEARS.
64
00:06:12,833 --> 00:06:15,067
Narrator:
EACH FLARE IS AS BRIGHT
65
00:06:15,067 --> 00:06:18,833
AS 400 BILLION TRILLION
LIGHT BULBS.
66
00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:22,200
BUT THE VISIBLE LIGHT
67
00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,600
IS JUST A FRACTION
OF THE ENERGY IT EMITS.
68
00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:30,633
RADIO WAVES...
69
00:06:30,633 --> 00:06:33,133
INFRARED HEAT...
70
00:06:33,133 --> 00:06:35,533
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT...
71
00:06:35,533 --> 00:06:38,567
EVEN X-RAYS...
72
00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,933
...UNLEASHED IN EVERY FLARE
AT INCREDIBLE INTENSITIES.
73
00:06:48,633 --> 00:06:52,100
THESE ARE THE BIGGEST EXPLOSIONS
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM...
74
00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:03,467
...YET THE FORCE BEHIND THEM
IS SIMPLE...
75
00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:09,633
...MAGNETISM.
76
00:07:15,133 --> 00:07:18,933
THE SUN HAS AN IMMENSE
MAGNETIC FIELD.
77
00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:25,600
THE ENERGY STORED IN THIS FIELD
POWERS SOLAR FLARES.
78
00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:36,867
VAST LOOPS OF MAGNETIC FORCE
PUSH TOWARD THE SURFACE.
79
00:07:41,233 --> 00:07:45,333
HUGE MAGNETIC ARCHES
RISE OUT INTO SPACE.
80
00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,067
WHEN TWO FIELD LINES CROSS,
81
00:08:01,067 --> 00:08:04,600
IT TRIGGERS A MAGNETIC
SHORT CIRCUIT.
82
00:08:06,700 --> 00:08:09,267
THIS IS A SOLAR FLARE.
83
00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,833
ALL THE ENERGY
TRAPPED IN THE MAGNETIC FIELD
84
00:08:13,833 --> 00:08:17,933
BLASTS OUT
AT 100 MILLION DEGREES.
85
00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:22,067
IT CAN HURL HOT GAS
86
00:08:22,067 --> 00:08:24,533
A BILLION MILES
OUT INTO SPACE...
87
00:08:30,067 --> 00:08:35,233
...AN ERUPTION 10 MILLION TIMES
MORE POWERFUL THAN A VOLCANO.
88
00:08:46,133 --> 00:08:51,867
MAGNETISM -- THE SAME FORCE
THAT POWERS A SIMPLE COMPASS
89
00:08:51,867 --> 00:08:55,700
FUELS THE BIGGEST EXPLOSIONS
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
90
00:08:58,967 --> 00:09:03,933
YET BY COSMIC STANDARDS,
OUR SUN IS PUNY.
91
00:09:06,633 --> 00:09:10,333
AS WE LOOK OUT INTO SPACE,
WE SEE EVEN MORE ACTIVE STARS,
92
00:09:10,333 --> 00:09:12,067
EVEN MORE INTENSE MAGNETISM,
93
00:09:12,067 --> 00:09:14,067
AND THEN THINGS
REALLY START TO GET WILD.
94
00:09:21,433 --> 00:09:23,300
Dr. Krauss:
THERE ARE STARS AND OBJECTS
95
00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:26,167
IN OUR GALAXY
AND IN OTHER GALAXIES
96
00:09:26,167 --> 00:09:28,633
THAT PRODUCE FLARES
OF GREAT INTENSITY --
97
00:09:28,633 --> 00:09:31,400
SO GREAT, THEY WOULD LITERALLY
DESTROY ALL LIFE ON EARTH
98
00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:32,800
IF THEY WERE NEARBY.
99
00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:39,367
Narrator:
OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
100
00:09:39,367 --> 00:09:43,300
TITANIC EXPLOSIONS
ROCK THE COSMOS
101
00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:46,900
ON A SCALE
WE CAN BARELY IMAGINE.
102
00:09:48,133 --> 00:09:53,267
FAR BEYOND THE SUN, WE ENTER
THE REALM OF MEGA-FLARES.
103
00:10:03,333 --> 00:10:06,300
Narrator:
OUR SUN IS VIOLENT.
104
00:10:08,133 --> 00:10:12,967
FLARES EXPLODE WITH THE FORCE
OF BILLIONS OF ATOMIC BOMBS.
105
00:10:17,467 --> 00:10:20,100
BUT TRAVEL OUT INTO THE COSMOS,
106
00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:23,967
AND THE EXPLOSIONS GET BIGGER.
107
00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:31,700
OTHER STARS HAVE FLARES SO HUGE,
THEY'RE PLANET KILLERS.
108
00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:49,200
EV LACERTAE
IS 16.5 LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH.
109
00:10:57,067 --> 00:11:01,900
EVERY DAY,
FLARES ERUPT ON ITS SURFACE.
110
00:11:01,900 --> 00:11:06,267
BUT ONE MEGA-FLARE
SMASHED EVERY RECORD.
111
00:11:12,233 --> 00:11:17,233
THE STAR BLASTED OUT
10,000 TIMES MORE X-RAYS
112
00:11:17,233 --> 00:11:21,067
THAN THE SUN'S
MOST POWERFUL FLARE.
113
00:11:21,067 --> 00:11:23,900
THE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
WAS SO INTENSE,
114
00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:26,567
THE STAR TURNED BLUE.
115
00:11:29,300 --> 00:11:33,967
THIS STELLAR FIRESTORM
100 TRILLION MILES AWAY
116
00:11:33,967 --> 00:11:37,633
WAS VISIBLE FROM EARTH
WITH THE NAKED EYE.
117
00:11:39,067 --> 00:11:41,467
[ RUMBLING ]
118
00:11:41,467 --> 00:11:46,533
IF OUR SUN FLARED LIKE THIS,
WE'D BE INCINERATED.
119
00:11:48,667 --> 00:11:52,567
BUT EV LACERTAE IS
A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF STAR.
120
00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,500
COMPARED TO OUR SUN, IT IS TINY.
121
00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,533
THIS IS A RED DWARF.
122
00:12:12,533 --> 00:12:15,733
RED DWARFS ARE STARS THAT HAVE
MUCH LESS MASS THAN THE SUN.
123
00:12:15,733 --> 00:12:19,067
THEY COULD BE A TENTH TO ABOUT
FOUR-TENTHS THE MASS OF THE SUN.
124
00:12:19,067 --> 00:12:22,733
THEY'RE SMALLER. THEY'RE COOLER.
THESE ARE DINKY STARS.
125
00:12:30,533 --> 00:12:33,600
Dr. Krauss: THEY BURN SO SLOWLY
THAT, UNLIKE OUR SUN,
126
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,233
WHICH WILL LAST
10 BILLION YEARS,
127
00:12:35,233 --> 00:12:37,600
SOME OF THEM
WILL LAST 10 TRILLION YEARS.
128
00:12:42,267 --> 00:12:45,500
Narrator:
THEY'RE ALSO RELATIVELY COLD.
129
00:12:45,500 --> 00:12:50,300
THEIR SURFACE IS JUST
5,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT --
130
00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:52,933
HALF THE TEMPERATURE
OF OUR SUN --
131
00:12:52,933 --> 00:12:56,233
AND 10,000 TIMES DIMMER.
132
00:12:57,667 --> 00:13:02,433
YET SOMEHOW, THEY'RE CAPABLE
OF STAGGERING VIOLENCE.
133
00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,900
THAT'S BECAUSE RED DWARFS
ARE IMMENSELY MAGNETIC.
134
00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:19,133
THE FIELDS WHICH FORM
INSIDE THEM ARE ENORMOUS,
135
00:13:19,133 --> 00:13:21,567
MUCH MORE POWERFUL
THAN OUR SUNS.
136
00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,867
Dr. Krauss: THAT MEANS
THE MAGNETIC-FIELD ENERGY
137
00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:26,933
THAT CAN BE RELEASED
WHEN THOSE FIELDS GET TWISTED UP
138
00:13:26,933 --> 00:13:28,433
IS INCREDIBLY INTENSE.
139
00:13:28,433 --> 00:13:31,067
AND EVEN THOUGH THESE OBJECTS
ARE VERY DIM IN VISIBLE LIGHT,
140
00:13:31,067 --> 00:13:33,067
THEY CAN PRODUCE FLARES
141
00:13:33,067 --> 00:13:35,167
THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF TIMES
MORE ENERGETIC
142
00:13:35,167 --> 00:13:36,867
THAN THOSE RELEASED BY THE SUN.
143
00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:40,067
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE NEAR
ONE OF THOSE WHEN IT WENT OFF.
144
00:13:42,233 --> 00:13:47,067
Narrator:
ALL RED DWARFS FLARE VIOLENTLY,
145
00:13:47,067 --> 00:13:51,767
BUT EV LACERTAE'S FLARES
ARE OFF THE CHART.
146
00:13:51,767 --> 00:13:56,800
THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S YOUNG --
JUST 300 MILLION YEARS OLD...
147
00:13:58,767 --> 00:14:02,500
...15 TIMES YOUNGER
THAN OUR SUN.
148
00:14:03,867 --> 00:14:06,667
Dr. Plait: IN ONE WAY, STARS
ARE A LITTLE BIT LIKE PEOPLE.
149
00:14:06,667 --> 00:14:08,900
THEY'RE HOTHEADS
WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER.
150
00:14:08,900 --> 00:14:11,400
WHEN STARS ARE FIRST BORN,
THEY'RE SPINNING VERY RAPIDLY,
151
00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,567
AND THAT ACTUALLY HELPS GENERATE
MAGNETIC FIELDS, AS WELL.
152
00:14:16,833 --> 00:14:18,733
Narrator: THE RESULT --
153
00:14:18,733 --> 00:14:23,767
A STAR 100 TIMES MORE MAGNETIC
THAN THE SUN.
154
00:14:23,767 --> 00:14:29,233
WHEN ITS GIANT LOOPS CROSS,
THE MEGA-FLARE IS COLOSSAL...
155
00:14:33,733 --> 00:14:37,700
...A TORRENT OF RADIATION
LASTING 8 HOURS.
156
00:14:46,333 --> 00:14:48,400
BIG FLARES ON OUR SUN
157
00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:53,067
HAVE THE ENERGY
OF BILLIONS OF ATOMIC BOMBS.
158
00:14:54,300 --> 00:15:00,467
EV LACERTAE'S MONSTER FLARE
WAS 10,000 TIMES MORE POWERFUL.
159
00:15:09,333 --> 00:15:12,967
INCREDIBLY,
EVEN THESE MASSIVE FLARES
160
00:15:12,967 --> 00:15:16,167
ARE JUST A FLICKER
ON THE COSMIC SCALE.
161
00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:22,167
THERE ARE ERUPTIONS
MILLIONS OF TIMES BRIGHTER...
162
00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,267
...EXPLOSIONS THAT CAN LIGHT UP
A WHOLE GALAXY...
163
00:15:28,267 --> 00:15:32,633
FROM A TINY STAR
WITH UNIMAGINABLE POWER.
164
00:15:42,900 --> 00:15:46,967
Narrator: THIS IS THE AUSTRALIA
TELESCOPE COMPACT ARRAY --
165
00:15:46,967 --> 00:15:49,533
A NETWORK OF FIVE RADIO DISHES
166
00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:52,333
CONSTANTLY LISTENING
TO THE COSMOS.
167
00:15:55,933 --> 00:16:01,833
IN 2004, THEY WERE STRUCK
BY A MASSIVE BLAST OF ENERGY...
168
00:16:06,567 --> 00:16:09,467
...EVIDENCE OF A MEGA-FLARE.
169
00:16:12,167 --> 00:16:16,167
BUT THIS WAS BIGGER THAN ANY
WE HAD WITNESSED BEFORE...
170
00:16:19,067 --> 00:16:23,800
...THE LARGEST BURST OF POWER
EVER RECORDED FROM OUR GALAXY.
171
00:16:31,367 --> 00:16:35,967
THE OBJECT BEHIND IT
IS TRULY BIZARRE --
172
00:16:35,967 --> 00:16:39,567
A KIND OF STAR
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED
173
00:16:39,567 --> 00:16:42,700
UNTIL A MEGA-FLARE GAVE IT AWAY.
174
00:16:43,867 --> 00:16:46,867
I'VE STUDIED BLACK HOLES.
I'VE STUDIED STARS THAT EXPLODE.
175
00:16:46,867 --> 00:16:50,733
I'VE TALKED ABOUT ROGUE PLANETS
WANDERING THE GALAXY.
176
00:16:50,733 --> 00:16:55,167
FOR MY MONEY, THE SCARIEST
SINGLE OBJECT IN THE GALAXY
177
00:16:55,167 --> 00:16:56,633
IS A MAGNETAR.
178
00:17:02,633 --> 00:17:05,400
Narrator: MAGNETARS
ARE THE MOST MAGNETIC OBJECTS
179
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:06,800
IN THE UNIVERSE.
180
00:17:10,067 --> 00:17:12,967
AND THIS ONE BEATS THEM ALL.
181
00:17:20,967 --> 00:17:22,833
ITS MAGNETIC FIELD
182
00:17:22,833 --> 00:17:27,700
IS 1,000 TRILLION TIMES STRONGER
THAN OUR SUN'S.
183
00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:30,533
IF IT CAME NEAR
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM,
184
00:17:30,533 --> 00:17:33,733
THE EFFECTS
WOULD BE DEVASTATING.
185
00:17:33,733 --> 00:17:36,067
THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD NOTICE
IS ITS MAGNETISM
186
00:17:36,067 --> 00:17:38,233
WOULD WIPE EVERY CREDIT CARD
IN YOUR POCKET.
187
00:17:38,233 --> 00:17:39,567
AS YOU START TO GET CLOSER,
188
00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:41,300
ANYTHING METAL ON YOU
WOULD BE RIPPED AWAY --
189
00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:42,733
YOUR EARRINGS, YOUR JEWELRY.
190
00:17:42,733 --> 00:17:45,067
ONCE YOU GOT WITHIN A FEW
MILLION MILES OF THE MAGNETAR,
191
00:17:45,067 --> 00:17:46,567
ITS MAGNETISM
WOULD BE SO INTENSE,
192
00:17:46,567 --> 00:17:48,567
IT WOULD ACTUALLY DISRUPT
THE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS
193
00:17:48,567 --> 00:17:50,900
IN YOUR NERVES, AND YOUR HEART
WOULD STOP BEATING.
194
00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:53,467
GET EVEN CLOSER, AND THE
MAGNETISM WOULD BE SO INTENSE,
195
00:17:53,467 --> 00:17:56,200
IT WOULD RIP APART EVERY ATOM
IN YOUR BODY.
196
00:18:04,833 --> 00:18:08,167
Narrator: AMAZINGLY,
THIS VAST MAGNETIC FIELD
197
00:18:08,167 --> 00:18:12,233
COMES FROM AN OBJECT
NO BIGGER THAN AN ASTEROID.
198
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,500
OUR SUN IS CLOSE
TO A MILLION MILES ACROSS.
199
00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:23,933
THE MAGNETAR, JUST 10.
200
00:18:23,933 --> 00:18:26,667
BUT IT'S UNIMAGINABLY DENSE.
201
00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:37,700
IT WEIGHS MORE THAN THE SUN.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
202
00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:40,400
TAKE THE SUN AND SQUEEZE IT DOWN
203
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,533
NOT JUST TO THE SIZE
OF THE EARTH,
204
00:18:42,533 --> 00:18:44,667
BUT DOWN TO THE SIZE
OF MANHATTAN.
205
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,800
Narrator: THE ENTIRE MASS
OF A GIGANTIC STAR
206
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,833
PACKED INTO A SPACE
THE SIZE OF A CITY.
207
00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,467
Dr. Krauss: YOU COULD ALMOST
WALK AROUND THE STAR IN A DAY,
208
00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:02,667
EXCEPT YOU COULDN'T,
BECAUSE THE GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
209
00:19:02,667 --> 00:19:04,067
IS SO INTENSE,
210
00:19:04,067 --> 00:19:07,167
THE DENSITY OF MATERIAL
ON THESE STARS IS SO GREAT,
211
00:19:07,167 --> 00:19:09,567
THAT A TEASPOONFUL OF MATERIAL
212
00:19:09,567 --> 00:19:12,133
WEIGHS SEVERAL THOUSAND
BILLION TONS.
213
00:19:12,133 --> 00:19:15,567
YOU WOULD BE CRUSHED
BEYOND RECOGNITION IN A MOMENT.
214
00:19:20,467 --> 00:19:23,600
Narrator: DENSE AND COMPACTED,
THE IRON-RICH CRUST
215
00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,633
IS UNDER INCREDIBLE
MAGNETIC PRESSURE.
216
00:19:27,633 --> 00:19:30,700
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
217
00:19:35,267 --> 00:19:39,500
FISSURES RIP ACROSS THE SURFACE.
218
00:19:43,667 --> 00:19:46,967
THE CRUST SPLITS OPEN --
219
00:19:46,967 --> 00:19:49,467
A STARQUAKE.
220
00:19:51,467 --> 00:19:53,233
IT'S LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE
ON EARTH,
221
00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:55,600
EXCEPT THE CRUST LITERALLY MOVES
A HALF AN INCH.
222
00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,167
IT'S JUST A LITTLE, TINY SHIFT,
223
00:19:57,167 --> 00:19:59,067
BUT THAT IS A HUGE AMOUNT
OF ENERGY
224
00:19:59,067 --> 00:20:00,967
BECAUSE OF THIS INTENSE GRAVITY.
225
00:20:00,967 --> 00:20:03,533
IT'S LIKE
A MAGNITUDE-30 EARTHQUAKE.
226
00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:11,600
Narrator: A FLARE ERUPTS
FROM THE FRACTURE.
227
00:20:17,033 --> 00:20:20,267
A TRILLION-TON CLOUD
OF ULTRA-DENSE MATTER
228
00:20:20,267 --> 00:20:22,067
BLASTS INTO SPACE.
229
00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:29,167
IT LASTS
JUST A TENTH OF A SECOND.
230
00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:37,000
BUT IT UNLEASHES MORE ENERGY
231
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:41,967
THAN THE SUN EMITS
OVER 250,000 YEARS.
232
00:20:44,733 --> 00:20:47,867
Dr. Krauss: THE ENERGY EMITTED
WHEN ONE OF THESE FLARES
233
00:20:47,867 --> 00:20:49,633
FROM A MAGNETAR IS RELEASED --
234
00:20:49,633 --> 00:20:51,333
IN SOME CASES,
MORE THAN A BILLION TIMES
235
00:20:51,333 --> 00:20:52,567
THE ENERGY EMITTED BY THE SUN.
236
00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:02,167
Narrator:
MEGA-FLARES ARE TIME MACHINES.
237
00:21:02,167 --> 00:21:06,833
THEY SHOW US EVENTS
FROM LONG AGO.
238
00:21:06,833 --> 00:21:11,667
THIS MAGNETAR IS 50,000
LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH.
239
00:21:11,667 --> 00:21:14,867
THE FLARE WE OBSERVED IN 2004
240
00:21:14,867 --> 00:21:18,800
ACTUALLY HAPPENED
50,000 YEARS AGO.
241
00:21:22,467 --> 00:21:24,333
IT TOOK THAT LONG FOR THE LIGHT
242
00:21:24,333 --> 00:21:27,233
TO TRAVEL
HALFWAY ACROSS THE GALAXY
243
00:21:27,233 --> 00:21:30,667
AND SLAM INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE.
244
00:21:38,367 --> 00:21:42,467
IF A SIMILAR MEGA-FLARE
EXPLODED NEAR EARTH...
245
00:21:44,133 --> 00:21:46,900
...WE WOULDN'T
EVEN SEE IT COMING.
246
00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:48,733
Dr. Plait:
WE WOULD HAVE NO WARNING
247
00:21:48,733 --> 00:21:51,200
IF A MAGNETAR WERE TO HAVE
ANOTHER FLARE LIKE THIS.
248
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,133
THE EVENT IS SO SUDDEN
ON THE SURFACE
249
00:21:53,133 --> 00:21:54,600
AND IT CREATES SO MUCH ENERGY,
250
00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,500
IT BLASTS OUT
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT,
251
00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:58,633
AND NOTHING CAN TRAVEL FASTER
THAN LIGHT.
252
00:21:58,633 --> 00:22:02,900
SO, BASICALLY, THIS JUST
HAPPENS, AND THAT'S IT.
253
00:22:02,900 --> 00:22:06,833
Narrator: ANY LIFE WITHIN
10 LIGHT-YEARS OF THE BLAST
254
00:22:06,833 --> 00:22:09,367
WOULD BE VAPORIZED.
255
00:22:19,767 --> 00:22:22,767
THANKFULLY,
EVEN THE CLOSEST MAGNETAR
256
00:22:22,767 --> 00:22:25,900
IS TOO DISTANT TO THREATEN US.
257
00:22:25,900 --> 00:22:27,667
WE CAN'T SEE THEM,
258
00:22:27,667 --> 00:22:30,867
EVEN WITH
THE STRONGEST TELESCOPE.
259
00:22:30,867 --> 00:22:35,767
WE'VE ONLY DETECTED THESE STARS
IN THE FLASH OF A MEGA-FLARE.
260
00:22:35,767 --> 00:22:38,467
YET THESE EXPLOSIONS ARE DWARFED
261
00:22:38,467 --> 00:22:42,100
BY AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL
MONSTER.
262
00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,600
SECOND ONLY TO THE BIG BANG
IN SCALE,
263
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,600
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE MEGA-FLARE.
264
00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,800
Narrator:
7.5 BILLION YEARS AGO,
265
00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,700
MANY GALAXIES AWAY...
266
00:23:27,133 --> 00:23:30,333
...A SUPERGIANT STAR
IS IN TROUBLE.
267
00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:41,233
ITS NUCLEAR CORE
HAS RUN OUT OF ENERGY.
268
00:23:43,133 --> 00:23:45,867
IT'S ABOUT TO IMPLODE.
269
00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,467
FOR A FEW SECONDS,
THE COLOSSAL BLAST SHINES
270
00:24:01,467 --> 00:24:06,467
A MILLION TIMES BRIGHTER
THAN OUR ENTIRE GALAXY.
271
00:24:22,867 --> 00:24:27,067
THIS IS THE MOST EXTREME
EXPLOSION IN THE UNIVERSE...
272
00:24:29,833 --> 00:24:32,433
...A GAMMA-RAY BURSTER.
273
00:24:34,633 --> 00:24:36,900
GAMMA-RAY BURSTERS
ARE SO POWERFUL
274
00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:41,133
THAT THEY CAN BE SEEN
ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE,
275
00:24:41,133 --> 00:24:44,267
SECOND ONLY TO CREATION ITSELF.
276
00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,200
Narrator: TWO INTENSE JETS
OF ENERGY SHOOT OUT.
277
00:24:58,633 --> 00:25:03,867
THESE TWO BEAMS OF GAMMA RAYS
ARE THE ULTIMATE MEGA-FLARE.
278
00:25:03,867 --> 00:25:07,100
Dr. Plait: THE ENERGY OF THESE
THINGS IS JUST UNIMAGINABLE.
279
00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:08,700
IT'S THE ENTIRE POWER
280
00:25:08,700 --> 00:25:12,100
THAT THE SUN PUTS OUT OVER ITS
ENTIRE 10-BILLION-YEAR LIFETIME,
281
00:25:12,100 --> 00:25:14,167
FOCUSED INTO
JUST THESE TWO THINGS
282
00:25:14,167 --> 00:25:16,267
THAT LAST FOR MAYBE
A FEW SECONDS.
283
00:25:16,267 --> 00:25:19,500
IT'S LIKE A COSMIC BLOWTORCH
OF GAMMA RAYS AND MATTER
284
00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:21,367
THAT MARCH ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
285
00:25:23,067 --> 00:25:25,400
Dr. Thaller: THE MOST
HIGH-ENERGY, INTENSE LIGHT
286
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:26,900
IS GAMMA RAYS.
287
00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:28,500
GAMMA RAYS
ARE NATURALLY PRODUCED
288
00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:30,833
BY THINGS THAT ARE BILLIONS
OF DEGREES HOT.
289
00:25:33,667 --> 00:25:35,867
THERE WILL NEVER BE
A HOTTER TYPE OF FLARE.
290
00:25:35,867 --> 00:25:38,267
THIS IS WHERE IT STOPS.
GAMMA RAYS IS IT.
291
00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:47,733
Narrator:
7.5 BILLION YEARS
292
00:25:47,733 --> 00:25:51,900
AFTER THE EXPLOSION
ACTUALLY HAPPENED,
293
00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:55,667
WE SEE IT IN OUR SKIES...
294
00:25:55,667 --> 00:25:59,133
MARCH 2008.
295
00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:07,067
A FLARE FROM HALFWAY ACROSS
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
296
00:26:07,067 --> 00:26:11,067
SHINES EVEN MORE BRIGHTLY
THAN THE CLOSEST STAR.
297
00:26:13,167 --> 00:26:16,500
SOMETHING BLEW UP
7 BILLION LIGHT-YEARS AWAY
298
00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:19,733
THAT YOU COULD SEE WITH YOUR
UNAIDED EYE ON A DARK NIGHT.
299
00:26:19,733 --> 00:26:21,267
THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING.
300
00:26:27,133 --> 00:26:30,900
Narrator: IT IS THE BIGGEST
FLARE EVER WITNESSED.
301
00:26:32,833 --> 00:26:37,200
BUT IT IS ALSO A SIGN...
302
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,367
OF THE BIRTH
OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE ENTITY
303
00:26:40,367 --> 00:26:41,867
IN THE UNIVERSE.
304
00:26:50,167 --> 00:26:52,167
A BLACK HOLE HAS FORMED
305
00:26:52,167 --> 00:26:56,100
IN THE CORE
OF THE COLLAPSING STAR.
306
00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,933
IT CONSUMES THE STAR
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
307
00:27:11,733 --> 00:27:17,333
WHEN THE STAR FINALLY EXPLODES
IN A CATASTROPHIC SUPERNOVA,
308
00:27:17,333 --> 00:27:21,767
ALL THAT REMAINS
IS A NEWBORN BLACK HOLE.
309
00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:28,367
USUALLY WHEN WE LOOK
IN OUTER SPACE,
310
00:27:28,367 --> 00:27:29,867
WE SEE OLD BLACK HOLES --
311
00:27:29,867 --> 00:27:32,800
BLACK HOLES THAT HAVE BEEN
AROUND FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.
312
00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,167
BUT TO SEE A BABY BLACK HOLE
BEING BORN --
313
00:27:36,167 --> 00:27:38,467
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE EVENT,
314
00:27:38,467 --> 00:27:40,900
AND THAT'S WHAT WE THINK
IS A GAMMA-RAY BURSTER.
315
00:27:43,733 --> 00:27:48,767
Narrator: AMAZINGLY, THESE
GIGANTIC EXPLOSIONS ARE COMMON.
316
00:27:54,367 --> 00:27:58,367
WE SEE MORE THAN 350 A YEAR.
317
00:27:59,567 --> 00:28:02,167
Kaku:
WE SEE THEM EVERY DAY.
318
00:28:02,167 --> 00:28:04,300
OUR SATELLITES
DETECT THEM EVERY FEW HOURS
319
00:28:04,300 --> 00:28:08,533
IN ALL DIRECTIONS
OUTSIDE THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
320
00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,933
Narrator:
GAMMA-RAY MEGA-FLARES REVEAL
321
00:28:13,933 --> 00:28:17,167
ONE OF THE UNIVERSE'S
MOST AWESOME SECRETS --
322
00:28:17,167 --> 00:28:22,933
A NEW BLACK HOLE IS BORN
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
323
00:28:26,067 --> 00:28:30,067
MOST OF THESE EXPLOSIONS
HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO,
324
00:28:30,067 --> 00:28:31,767
FAR AWAY FROM EARTH.
325
00:28:38,633 --> 00:28:42,833
BUT IF ONE WENT OFF
INSIDE OUR GALAXY...
326
00:28:47,067 --> 00:28:50,067
...IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
327
00:28:52,067 --> 00:28:53,567
IF YOU WERE TO PUT
A GAMMA-RAY BURST
328
00:28:53,567 --> 00:28:55,067
100 LIGHT-YEARS
FROM THE EARTH...
329
00:28:59,533 --> 00:29:02,967
...IT WOULD BE LIKE IGNITING
A ONE-MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB
330
00:29:02,967 --> 00:29:05,433
OVER EVERY SQUARE MILE
OF THE SURFACE
331
00:29:05,433 --> 00:29:07,133
OF THE EARTH FACING THAT EVENT.
332
00:29:15,567 --> 00:29:18,600
YOU WOULD BE BLOWING UP MILLIONS
AND MILLIONS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
333
00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,133
OVER THE PLANET.
334
00:29:20,133 --> 00:29:24,300
IT WOULD BE THE END OF ALL LIFE
ON EARTH AS WE KNOW IT FOREVER.
335
00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:30,533
Narrator: GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
336
00:29:30,533 --> 00:29:34,700
ARE THE MOST POWERFUL
MEGA-FLARES IN EXISTENCE,
337
00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:37,800
BUT NOT THE MOST DANGEROUS
FOR US.
338
00:29:39,367 --> 00:29:43,800
THE GREATEST THREAT TO EARTH
SITS TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE,
339
00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:48,533
RIGHT AT THE HEART
OF OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM.
340
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,333
Narrator: WE WERE ONCE
BLISSFULLY IGNORANT,
341
00:30:07,333 --> 00:30:10,333
SAFE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
342
00:30:13,467 --> 00:30:17,500
NOW WE KNOW EARTH SITS
IN A COSMIC FIRING RANGE.
343
00:30:22,833 --> 00:30:26,633
MONSTER MEGA-FLARES
ARE EVERYWHERE WE LOOK.
344
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,500
BUT THE DEADLIEST COSMIC WEAPON
OF ALL
345
00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:36,533
IS RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP...
346
00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,633
...OUR SUN.
347
00:30:47,167 --> 00:30:50,533
WE'RE LULLED INTO THINKING
THAT THE SUN IS STATIC,
348
00:30:50,533 --> 00:30:52,933
IT'S BENEVOLENT,
AND IS OUR FRIEND.
349
00:30:52,933 --> 00:30:54,067
WRONG.
350
00:30:59,267 --> 00:31:01,067
THE SUN IS DYNAMIC.
351
00:31:01,067 --> 00:31:03,833
IN SOME SENSE, IT'S ALIVE.
352
00:31:03,833 --> 00:31:05,600
IT CREATES MAGNETISM ON A SCALE
353
00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,133
THAT WE CAN ONLY BEGIN
TO COMPREHEND.
354
00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:15,433
Narrator: AND ITS MOST POWERFUL
WEAPON IS THIS --
355
00:31:15,433 --> 00:31:20,067
A CORONAL MASS EJECTION, OR CME.
356
00:31:21,467 --> 00:31:26,367
A COLOSSAL SOLAR EXPLOSION
RIPS A CHUNK OF THE STAR AWAY
357
00:31:26,367 --> 00:31:29,600
AND TORPEDOES IT OUT INTO SPACE.
358
00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:33,467
CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
ARE RELATED TO FLARES,
359
00:31:33,467 --> 00:31:35,067
BUT THEY'RE EVEN LARGER.
360
00:31:35,067 --> 00:31:36,567
YOU CAN SORT OF THINK OF IT
361
00:31:36,567 --> 00:31:38,900
AS A SOLAR FLARE
BEING LIKE A TORNADO --
362
00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:41,333
VERY POWERFUL, VERY INTENSE,
VERY SHORT-LIVED.
363
00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,967
AND A CORONAL MASS EJECTION
IS LIKE A HURRICANE --
364
00:31:43,967 --> 00:31:47,100
MUCH MORE ENERGY, MUCH BIGGER,
AND CAN LAST FOR DAYS AND DAYS.
365
00:31:52,133 --> 00:31:56,500
Narrator: CMEs START
WITH A MAGNETIC SHORT CIRCUIT.
366
00:31:56,500 --> 00:32:00,900
MAGNETIC ARCS EMERGE
FROM THE SURFACE...
367
00:32:02,733 --> 00:32:06,700
...GLOWING WITH
TRAPPED SOLAR MATTER.
368
00:32:07,933 --> 00:32:12,433
THE LOOPS CROSS, TRIGGERING
A FIRESTORM OF ENERGY.
369
00:32:12,433 --> 00:32:15,867
THE SUN ERUPTS.
370
00:32:15,867 --> 00:32:20,600
SOLAR MATTER EXPLODES FROM
THE SURFACE OUT INTO SPACE...
371
00:32:21,833 --> 00:32:23,433
...A MONSTROUS CLOUD
372
00:32:23,433 --> 00:32:27,500
OF SUPER-HOT GAS
AND ELECTRIC PARTICLES.
373
00:32:28,633 --> 00:32:32,533
Dr. Krauss: WHEN ONE OF THESE
HUGE PROMINENCES IS SHOT OUT,
374
00:32:32,533 --> 00:32:34,933
AN ENERGY EQUIVALENT
OF ABOUT 10%
375
00:32:34,933 --> 00:32:37,767
OF THE ENTIRE LUMINOSITY
OF THE SUN FOR A SECOND
376
00:32:37,767 --> 00:32:40,067
IS RELEASED TOWARDS THE EARTH.
377
00:32:44,933 --> 00:32:48,533
OVER 10 BILLION TONS OF MATERIAL
IS SHOT OUT
378
00:32:48,533 --> 00:32:51,133
AT A SPEED
OF OVER A MILLION MILES AN HOUR.
379
00:32:57,100 --> 00:32:59,267
Dr. Plait: THE POWER
OF A CORONAL MASS EJECTION
380
00:32:59,267 --> 00:33:01,233
IS SORT OF MIND-NUMBING.
381
00:33:01,233 --> 00:33:04,067
IT TAKES OUR PROBES YEARS TO GET
FROM THE EARTH TO THE SUN.
382
00:33:04,067 --> 00:33:05,600
A CORONAL MASS EJECTION
383
00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,733
CAN CROSS THAT DISTANCE
IN A COUPLE OF DAYS,
384
00:33:07,733 --> 00:33:10,933
SOMETIMES IN ONLY A COUPLE OF
HOURS OR EVEN FASTER THAN THAT.
385
00:33:10,933 --> 00:33:14,067
SO THESE ARE TREMENDOUSLY
POWERFUL EVENTS.
386
00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:22,867
Narrator:
POWERFUL, BUT ALSO DEADLY.
387
00:33:22,867 --> 00:33:26,100
BECAUSE SOMETIMES,
THE SUN SHOOTS A CME
388
00:33:26,100 --> 00:33:28,967
STRAIGHT TOWARD THE EARTH.
389
00:33:28,967 --> 00:33:32,100
THE CRACKLING, CHARGED CLOUD
390
00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:34,867
PLAYS HAVOC
WITH OUR ELECTRONICS.
391
00:33:34,867 --> 00:33:38,333
IT MELTS POWER GRIDS,
BLOWS FUSES,
392
00:33:38,333 --> 00:33:41,133
AND DISRUPTS COMMUNICATIONS.
393
00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:46,633
BUT THAT'S NOTHING
COMPARED TO THE DAMAGE
394
00:33:46,633 --> 00:33:49,900
THAT A REALLY BIG CME COULD DO.
395
00:34:00,233 --> 00:34:03,667
Kaku: THEY CAN WIPE OUT
SATELLITES, GPS, THE INTERNET.
396
00:34:03,667 --> 00:34:06,067
ALL SORTS OF HAVOC
CAN TAKE PLACE
397
00:34:06,067 --> 00:34:10,533
WHEN THIS HUGE TSUNAMI
HITS THE EARTH.
398
00:34:15,833 --> 00:34:18,400
Narrator:
THE DAMAGE TO SATELLITES ALONE
399
00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,700
WOULD TOTAL $100 BILLION.
400
00:34:24,067 --> 00:34:27,433
Kaku: THINK OF A BLACKOUT
THAT HITS NOT JUST ONE CITY,
401
00:34:27,433 --> 00:34:32,533
BUT HUNDREDS OF CITIES
AROUND THE PLANET EARTH.
402
00:34:37,233 --> 00:34:41,067
PROPERTY DAMAGE
WOULD BE ABOUT $2 TRILLION.
403
00:34:41,067 --> 00:34:42,833
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERHAPS
404
00:34:42,833 --> 00:34:45,900
A COLLAPSE
OF MODERN-DAY CIVILIZATION.
405
00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:49,900
WE CAN BE THROWN BACK PERHAPS
50, 100 YEARS INTO THE PAST
406
00:34:49,900 --> 00:34:52,700
INTO A WORLD
WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
407
00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,200
Narrator:
BIG SOLAR STORMS ARE RARE.
408
00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:06,067
ON AVERAGE,
A MASSIVE CME STRIKES EARTH
409
00:35:06,067 --> 00:35:08,567
EVERY 500 YEARS.
410
00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,333
BUT IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE...
411
00:35:12,333 --> 00:35:15,633
AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
412
00:35:17,633 --> 00:35:20,600
IN 2003,
WE HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST
413
00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:24,333
CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
EVER RECORDED,
414
00:35:24,333 --> 00:35:28,067
BUT FORTUNATELY,
IT MISSED THE EARTH.
415
00:35:28,067 --> 00:35:30,600
ONE OF THESE DAYS,
IT'S GONNA HIT THE EARTH.
416
00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,667
ONE OF THESE DAYS,
ONE OF THESE RIFLE BULLETS
417
00:35:32,667 --> 00:35:35,067
WILL BE AIMED
RIGHT AT THE EARTH,
418
00:35:35,067 --> 00:35:37,200
AND AT THAT POINT, WATCH OUT.
419
00:35:56,067 --> 00:35:58,633
Narrator:
OUR PLANET IS UNDER ATTACK...
420
00:36:01,300 --> 00:36:04,400
...NOT JUST FROM MEGA-FLARES
IN DEEP SPACE...
421
00:36:06,067 --> 00:36:08,833
...BUT FROM OUR OWN STAR.
422
00:36:13,367 --> 00:36:15,733
THE SUN FIRES BILLIONS OF TONS
423
00:36:15,733 --> 00:36:18,067
OF HOT GAS
AND ELECTRIC PARTICLES
424
00:36:18,067 --> 00:36:20,933
INTO SPACE EVERY DAY...
425
00:36:26,767 --> 00:36:30,100
...DEADLY SOLAR WEAPONS...
426
00:36:32,067 --> 00:36:36,233
...SOMETIMES POINTING
STRAIGHT AT US.
427
00:36:37,467 --> 00:36:39,600
WHAT I FIND AMAZING IS THE FACT
428
00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:42,567
THAT THE EARTH IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF A SHOOTING GALLERY.
429
00:36:45,833 --> 00:36:49,767
Narrator: BUT WE HAVE SURVIVED
THIS ONSLAUGHT.
430
00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:54,200
WE ARE PROTECTED.
431
00:36:55,433 --> 00:36:58,367
THE EARTH HAS A MAGNETIC FIELD.
432
00:37:01,533 --> 00:37:06,200
IT'S INCREDIBLY WEAK,
BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP US SAFE.
433
00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:10,967
Kaku:
THINK OF AN ORDINARY MAGNET
434
00:37:10,967 --> 00:37:12,933
THAT YOU USE
ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR.
435
00:37:12,933 --> 00:37:16,767
THAT HAS MORE MAGNETISM
THAN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD.
436
00:37:25,100 --> 00:37:27,733
Narrator:
WITHOUT OUR MAGNETIC SHIELD,
437
00:37:27,733 --> 00:37:33,300
EVERY CME WOULD STRIP AWAY
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE,
438
00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:37,967
AND WE'D BE FRIED
BY SOLAR RADIATION.
439
00:37:40,133 --> 00:37:43,167
HOW DO WE KNOW?
440
00:37:43,167 --> 00:37:46,867
BECAUSE IT HAPPENED
TO ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
441
00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:48,700
Kaku: LOOK AT MARS.
442
00:37:48,700 --> 00:37:51,067
MARS IS AN EXAMPLE
OF WHAT HAPPENS
443
00:37:51,067 --> 00:37:53,900
TO A PLANET
WITHOUT A MAGNETIC FIELD.
444
00:37:57,233 --> 00:38:00,300
MARS IS A FROZEN DESERT
445
00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:02,067
WITH AN ATMOSPHERE
446
00:38:02,067 --> 00:38:05,800
ONLY 1% THE ATMOSPHERIC DENSITY
OF THE EARTH.
447
00:38:08,867 --> 00:38:11,567
IT'S BECAUSE
IT LACKS A MAGNETIC FIELD.
448
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:19,067
Dr. Krauss: OVER BILLIONS
OF YEARS, THESE PARTICLES
449
00:38:19,067 --> 00:38:21,733
HAVE ACTUALLY STRIPPED AWAY
MARS' AIR,
450
00:38:21,733 --> 00:38:25,633
AND THAT'S WHY IT HAS
A VERY THIN ATMOSPHERE NOW.
451
00:38:26,767 --> 00:38:30,300
HERE ON EARTH, WE HAVE A
MAGNETIC FIELD, AND WE HAVE AIR.
452
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:32,200
THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.
453
00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:36,400
SO WE CAN BREATHE
BECAUSE OF OUR MAGNETIC FIELD.
454
00:38:39,767 --> 00:38:42,067
Narrator:
FROM EARTH'S SURFACE,
455
00:38:42,067 --> 00:38:46,367
SAFE BENEATH
OUR MAGNETIC UMBRELLA,
456
00:38:46,367 --> 00:38:49,233
WE SEE THE POWER
OF OUR VIOLENT SUN
457
00:38:49,233 --> 00:38:52,500
IN THE NORTHERN
AND SOUTHERN LIGHTS.
458
00:38:58,467 --> 00:39:02,967
TRILLIONS UPON TRILLIONS
OF ELECTRIC PARTICLES
459
00:39:02,967 --> 00:39:05,933
STRIKE THE EARTH EVERY SECOND.
460
00:39:05,933 --> 00:39:10,200
THE MAGNETIC SHIELD FUNNELS THEM
TO THE POLES.
461
00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:16,267
THEY ENERGIZE GAS MOLECULES
IN OUR ATMOSPHERE,
462
00:39:16,267 --> 00:39:19,667
MAKING THEM GLOW --
463
00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:22,900
A CHEMICAL LIGHT SHOW.
464
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:28,433
OXYGEN SHINES GREEN.
465
00:39:28,433 --> 00:39:32,167
NITROGEN, BLUE OR RED.
466
00:39:35,533 --> 00:39:40,467
THE AURORAE ARE EVIDENCE OF A
BATTLE BETWEEN MAGNETIC FIELDS.
467
00:39:41,567 --> 00:39:45,133
THE SUN'S FIELD CREATES CMEs.
468
00:39:45,133 --> 00:39:48,267
EARTH'S FIELD SHIELDS US
FROM THEM.
469
00:39:54,267 --> 00:39:58,367
MAGNETISM IS NATURE'S
MOST MYSTERIOUS FORCE.
470
00:40:01,500 --> 00:40:04,033
ONLY NOW ARE WE BEGINNING
TO UNDERSTAND
471
00:40:04,033 --> 00:40:06,833
HOW IT SHAPES THE COSMOS.
472
00:40:10,767 --> 00:40:14,967
MEGA-FLARES
MAKE MAGNETISM VISIBLE.
473
00:40:14,967 --> 00:40:16,367
THEY SHINE A LIGHT
474
00:40:16,367 --> 00:40:19,967
ON THE INCREDIBLE POWER
OF MAGNETIC FIELDS...
475
00:40:22,567 --> 00:40:24,967
...FIELDS THAT PLAY
A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE
476
00:40:24,967 --> 00:40:26,833
IN THE UNIVERSE.
477
00:40:26,833 --> 00:40:29,567
THEY IMPOSE ORDER ON CHAOS.
478
00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:35,867
THEY WEAVE THEIR WAY
479
00:40:35,867 --> 00:40:39,567
THROUGH THE SPIRAL SHAPES
OF GALAXIES...
480
00:40:42,967 --> 00:40:46,967
...FIELDS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF LIGHT-YEARS ACROSS,
481
00:40:46,967 --> 00:40:51,867
YET 100,000 TIMES WEAKER
THAN EARTH'S.
482
00:40:53,567 --> 00:40:58,100
SMALLER MAGNETIC FIELDS EXIST
INSIDE GALAXIES.
483
00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:04,567
THEY ORGANIZE MATTER
INTO CLOUDS OF MOLECULES --
484
00:41:04,567 --> 00:41:07,633
SPECTACULAR NEBULAE.
485
00:41:10,533 --> 00:41:15,200
THESE STELLAR NURSERIES
ARE WHERE NEW STARS ARE BORN.
486
00:41:17,533 --> 00:41:20,433
NOW WE'VE DISCOVERED
MAGNETIC FIELDS
487
00:41:20,433 --> 00:41:23,967
EVEN PERMEATE EMPTY SPACE...
488
00:41:26,867 --> 00:41:29,400
...FIELDS CREATED
IN THE BIG BANG
489
00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:33,767
WITH JUST ONE QUADRILLIONTH
THE STRENGTH OF EARTH'S.
490
00:41:34,867 --> 00:41:38,667
THIS IS A MAGNETIC UNIVERSE.
491
00:41:40,333 --> 00:41:42,133
Dr. Krauss:
WHAT'S AMAZING IS THIS THING
492
00:41:42,133 --> 00:41:44,467
THAT'S INVISIBLE --
MAGNETIC FIELDS --
493
00:41:44,467 --> 00:41:48,067
PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE UNIVERSE,
494
00:41:48,067 --> 00:41:51,067
PROTECTING US FROM THE RADIATION
FROM THE SUN
495
00:41:51,067 --> 00:41:53,200
TO EXPLOSIONS AND RED DWARFS,
TO MAGNETARS,
496
00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,700
AND TO THE MOST ENERGETIC,
VIOLENT PROCESSES
497
00:41:56,700 --> 00:41:59,200
IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE --
GAMMA-RAY BURSTS.
498
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,700
MAGNETISM PLAYS A ROLE
ON EVERY SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE,
499
00:42:02,700 --> 00:42:05,100
CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF OBJECTS
500
00:42:05,100 --> 00:42:09,067
AND MAKING THE UNIVERSE
A VIOLENT AND INTERESTING PLACE.
501
00:42:11,167 --> 00:42:14,933
Narrator:
MEGA-FLARES LIGHT UP THE COSMOS.
502
00:42:14,933 --> 00:42:19,133
THEY SHOW US THINGS
WE CAN'T OTHERWISE SEE
503
00:42:19,133 --> 00:42:22,200
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE UNIVERSE...
504
00:42:24,100 --> 00:42:27,567
...OR FROM BILLIONS OF YEARS
IN THE PAST.
505
00:42:27,567 --> 00:42:31,233
A BLACK HOLE IS BORN.
506
00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:36,100
A STAR DIES.
507
00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:44,800
DISTANT EVENTS
AND HIDDEN MYSTERIES.
508
00:42:48,633 --> 00:42:53,133
IN A FLASH,
FLARES REVEAL THEM...
509
00:42:55,600 --> 00:43:00,767
...ILLUMINATING THE AWESOME
SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE.
40145
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