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♪♪
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Narrator: MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
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SHINE OUT
FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE,
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BRIGHTER THAN A TRILLION SUNS.
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THEY HAD TO BE
THE BRIGHTEST OBJECTS
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WE'VE EVER SEEN IN THE UNIVERSE,
PUTTING OUT AMOUNTS OF ENERGY
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THAT WE COULDN'T
POSSIBLY EXPLAIN.
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Narrator: SO POWERFUL,
THEY CAN INCINERATE PLANETS
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AND RIP STARS TO PIECES.
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THESE ARE AMONG
THE MOST MYSTERIOUS
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AND MOST ENERGETIC PHENOMENON
IN THE UNIVERSE.
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Narrator: THEY CAN DESTROY
GALAXIES,
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BUT MAY ALSO BE THE KEY
TO THEIR SURVIVAL.
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THESE OBJECTS ARE A HOTBED
OF ALL KINDS OF CRAZY PHYSICS.
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00:00:41,642 --> 00:00:45,243
Narrator: THESE CELESTIAL
POWERHOUSES ARE CALLED QUASARS,
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AND WE MAY OWE THEM
OUR VERY EXISTENCE.
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[ CRACKLING ]
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[ EXPLOSIONS ]
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-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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♪♪
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Narrator: FOR DECADES,
ASTRONOMERS HAVE OBSERVED
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BRILLIANT POINTS OF LIGHT
IN THE NIGHT SKY,
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BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING
STRANGE ABOUT THEM.
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THEY LOOKED LIKE A PINPRICK
OF LIGHT, LIKE A STAR,
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AND SO THEY WERE REALLY
MYSTERIOUS INITIALLY.
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Narrator: ARE THEY
A NEW TYPE OF STAR,
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OR SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY?
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♪♪
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ONE OF THESE STRANGE OBJECTS
IS HIDING WITHIN
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THE VIRGO GALAXY CLUSTER.
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FROM EARTH, OBJECT 3C 273
LOOKS JUST LIKE A NEARBY STAR,
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BUT SCIENTISTS STUDYING ITS
LIGHT MADE A STUNNING DISCOVERY.
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IT WAS TREMENDOUSLY FAR AWAY.
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IT NOT ONLY WAS NOT
IN OUR GALAXY,
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IT WASN'T EVEN IN ANY GALAXY
THAT THEY COULD SEE.
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IT WAS OVER A BILLION
LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
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IF IT'S THAT FAR AWAY
AND AS BRIGHT AS IT WAS,
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THIS MUST BE THE MOST LUMINOUS
KNOWN OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE.
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AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS
THESE WERE SO MYSTERIOUS
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FOR SO LONG.
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Narrator: THESE OBJECTS
ARE SO BRIGHT THAT,
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DESPITE THE INCREDIBLE DISTANCE,
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TO US, THEY LOOK
LIKE NEARBY STARS.
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THEY'RE CALLED QUASI-STELLAR
OBJECTS, QUASARS FOR SHORT.
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BUT WHAT ARE THEY?
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WITH MORE DETAILED
OBSERVATIONS OF QUASARS,
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WE FOUND THAT THEY DON'T
ORIGINATE FROM ANY RANDOM PLACE.
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THEY ALWAYS COME FROM
THE CORE OF A GALAXY.
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Narrator: A QUASAR
IS THE ULTRA-BRIGHT CORE
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OF AN EXTREMELY DISTANT GALAXY.
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THE REASON WE CAN SEE THEM
AT ALL
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IS THE RESULT OF
THEIR INCREDIBLE POWER.
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A SINGLE QUASAR OUTSHINES
AN ENTIRE GALAXY,
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HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF STARS'
WORTH OF ENERGETIC OUTPUT,
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ALL CONCENTRATED
INTO A SINGLE SOURCE.
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♪♪
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ONE OF THE MOST ENERGETIC EVENTS
THAT HUMAN BEINGS
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HAVE EVER BEEN
WITNESS TO ON EARTH
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IS THE BIGGEST ATOMIC BOMB
EVER EXPLODED.
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WE'RE AWARE OF QUASARS OUT THERE
THAT ARE PUTTING OUT MORE ENERGY
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THAN 1 TRILLION TRILLION
OF THOSE MASSIVE
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ATOMIC BOMB BLASTS PER SECOND.
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Plait: IT IS JUST A HUGE AMOUNT
OF ENERGY PACKED INTO
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A VERY,
VERY, VERY SMALL VOLUME,
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AND THAT IS ALMOST
LITERALLY UNBELIEVABLE.
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♪♪
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Narrator: BUT IF THEY'RE
SO SMALL, HOW CAN THEY PRODUCE
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SUCH VAST AMOUNTS OF ENERGY?
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HOW CAN YOU GENERATE SOMETHING
THAT'S SO BRIGHT, SO ENERGETIC,
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BUT NOT BE VERY LARGE?
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WHAT COULD POSSIBLY POWER
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
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Narrator:
HIDING WITHIN A QUASAR
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MUST BE
A VERY POWERFUL ENGINE.
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WHAT KIND OF OBJECT CAN GENERATE
THAT MUCH ENERGY,
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THAT KIND OF POWER
TO CREATE THESE THINGS?
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Narrator: THERE'S ONLY ONE THING
IN THE UNIVERSE
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THAT'S BOTH MASSIVE ENOUGH
AND DENSE ENOUGH --
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A BLACK HOLE.
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THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT
WE KNOW OF IN THE UNIVERSE
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THAT COULD POWER A QUASAR.
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♪♪
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Narrator: EVENTUALLY, STARS
25 TIMES MORE MASSIVE
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THAN OUR SUN LOSE THEIR
LIFELONG BATTLE AGAINST GRAVITY.
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THEY SUFFER
A CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE.
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♪♪
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ALL THEIR INCREDIBLE MASS
IS COMPRESSED
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INTO A SINGLE POINT...
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GIVING BIRTH TO A BLACK HOLE.
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BLACK HOLES ARE TOTALLY UNIQUE.
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THERE'S NOTHING ELSE
LIKE THEM IN THE UNIVERSE.
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THEY'RE EXTREMELY
MASSIVE AND DENSE.
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THEY HAVE SO MUCH MASS CRAMMED
IN SUCH A SMALL SPACE
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THAT THEY DISTORT SPACE
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.
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THEY CREATE REGIONS
CALLED EVENT HORIZONS.
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Narrator:
THE BOUNDARY OF THESE MONSTERS,
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THE EVENT HORIZON,
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IS A POINT OF NO RETURN.
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ANYTHING THAT CROSSES THAT LINE
IS NEVER COMING BACK,
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NOT EVEN LIGHT.
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SO AS LIGHT TRIES TO FREELY FLY
THROUGH SPACE AND TIME,
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THAT SPACE AND TIME
IS BENT BACK IN ON ITSELF,
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AND THAT MEANS LIGHT
CAN NEVER ESCAPE.
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♪♪
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Narrator: WE SEE BLACK HOLES
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
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THEY RANGE IN MASS FROM REGULAR,
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THREE TIMES MORE MASSIVE
THAN OUR SUN,
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TO SUPERSIZED --
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SUPERMASSIVE, IN FACT.
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SO WE THINK THAT QUASARS
REPRESENT
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THE LARGEST BLACK HOLES
THAT WE SEE IN THE UNIVERSE.
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WE'RE TALKING BILLIONS OF TIMES
MORE MASSIVE THAN OUR SUN.
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IT IS LITERALLY ALMOST
AT THE EDGE OF YOUR ABILITY
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TO PERCEIVE, RIGHT,
OUR ABILITY TO EVEN
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THINK ABOUT BLACK HOLES
BEING SO MASSIVE,
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THAT THEY'RE A BILLION TIMES
THE MASS OF OUR SUN.
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Narrator: IT'S THIS ENORMOUS
MASS THAT LEADS
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TO THEIR ENORMOUS GRAVITY.
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♪♪
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WE THINK THAT ONLY
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES
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COULD PROVIDE THE POWER,
122
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BUT QUASARS OUTSHINE
THEIR ENTIRE GALAXIES.
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BLACK HOLES SUCK THINGS DOWN.
THEY'RE BLACK.
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HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY BE BRIGHT?
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[ RUMBLING ]
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Narrator: BLACK HOLES ARE
VORACIOUS EATERS.
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THEY DRAG IN GAS AND DUST,
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WHICH BUILDS UP IN A RING OF
MATERIAL AROUND THE BLACK HOLE.
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WE CALL THIS
THE ACCRETION DISK.
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YOU COULD THINK OF IT
AS A GIANT WHIRLPOOL OF MATTER
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THAT'S TRYING TO FALL ONTO
THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
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WELL, IT CAN'T ALL
FALL IN AT ONCE,
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AND SO THERE'S A LOT
OF FRICTION IN THIS DISK.
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Narrator:
THIS FRICTION INCREASES
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AS THE MOTION OF THE GAS
AND DUST SPEEDS UP.
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THAT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
FRACTION OF THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
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00:07:02,555 --> 00:07:04,890
IF YOU RUB YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
AT A SIGNIFICANT FRACTION
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OF THE SPEED OF LIGHT,
THEY WILL VAPORIZE.
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THEY WILL GET VERY HOT.
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00:07:08,695 --> 00:07:10,295
AND SO THE MATERIAL
IN THIS ACCRETION DISK
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CAN ACTUALLY GET HEATED
TO MILLIONS OF DEGREES.
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[ RUMBLING ]
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♪♪
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Narrator: WHEN MATTER HEATS UP,
IT PRODUCES RADIATION,
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WHICH WE SEE AS LIGHT.
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THE CENTER OF THE GALAXY SHINES,
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VISIBLE BILLIONS
OF LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
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♪♪
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THAT'S WHERE STUFF
GETS DENSE AND HOT,
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AND THERE, YOU HAVE A QUASAR.
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SO EVEN THOUGH BLACK HOLES ARE
THE DARKEST OBJECTS
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IN THE UNIVERSE,
THEY, IN TURN,
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POWER THE BRIGHTEST OBJECTS
IN THE UNIVERSE.
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♪♪
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Narrator:
QUASARS ARE SO BRIGHT,
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SOME ARE VISIBLE
FROM THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE,
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OR 13 BILLION LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
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♪♪
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THAT MEANS THEY BURST INTO LIFE
LESS THAN A BILLION YEARS
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AFTER THE BIG BANG.
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[ RUMBLING ]
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HOW COULD SUCH MONSTERS EXIST
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SO SOON AFTER THE BIRTH
OF THE UNIVERSE?
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[ EXPLOSION ]
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♪♪
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Narrator:
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE,
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WE HAVE DISCOVERED
STUNNINGLY LUMINOUS QUASARS.
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THEY'RE POWERFUL, BRIGHTER
THAN THEIR WHOLE GALAXIES,
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AND THAT LIGHT HAS BEEN
TRAVELING TOWARDS US
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FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS.
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AS FAST AS LIGHT GOES,
186,000 MILES PER SECOND,
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IT TAKES TIME TO COVER THE VAST
DISTANCES BETWEEN THE GALAXIES,
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SO IF YOU LOOK OUT INTO SPACE,
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YOU SEE QUASARS AS THEY
WERE MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO
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OR BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,
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AND THE LIGHT HAS JUST ARRIVED
AT YOUR EYES TONIGHT.
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Narrator: 2017, CHILE --
178
00:09:04,211 --> 00:09:07,012
SCIENTISTS AT
THE LOS CAMPANAS OBSERVATORY
179
00:09:07,014 --> 00:09:08,479
FOCUS THEIR TELESCOPES
180
00:09:08,481 --> 00:09:12,216
ON THE MOST ANCIENT PART
OF THE UNIVERSE.
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THEY GET A HUGE SURPRISE.
182
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THIS QUASAR IS ONLY ABOUT 600,
183
00:09:17,490 --> 00:09:20,625
700 MILLION YEARS
AFTER THE BIG BANG,
184
00:09:20,627 --> 00:09:23,962
AND THIS BLACK HOLE WEIGHS
ABOUT 800 MILLION TIMES
185
00:09:23,964 --> 00:09:26,898
AS MUCH AS THE SUN.
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Narrator: IT'S THE OLDEST
QUASAR EVER FOUND.
187
00:09:30,504 --> 00:09:33,638
IT BURST INTO LIFE
AROUND 700 MILLION YEARS
188
00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,506
AFTER THE BIG BANG.
189
00:09:35,508 --> 00:09:39,377
BACK THEN, THE UNIVERSE
WAS MOSTLY A SOUP OF HYDROGEN
190
00:09:39,379 --> 00:09:41,045
AND HELIUM GAS.
191
00:09:41,047 --> 00:09:44,382
♪♪
192
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WE KNOW QUASARS ARE POWERED
BY SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES,
193
00:09:48,922 --> 00:09:52,324
BUT DISCOVERING A BLACK HOLE
THIS BIG SO EARLY
194
00:09:52,326 --> 00:09:57,662
IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE COSMOS,
THAT'S A HUGE MYSTERY.
195
00:09:57,664 --> 00:10:00,131
ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS
WE HAVE IN ASTRONOMY IS,
196
00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:02,733
HOW DID THESE SUPERMASSIVE
BLACK HOLES FORM?
197
00:10:02,735 --> 00:10:07,138
HOW DID THEY FORM SO EARLY
IN THE UNIVERSE?
198
00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:08,472
Krauss:
THIS IS AN INTERESTING MYSTERY.
199
00:10:08,474 --> 00:10:11,810
WE SEE QUASARS ABOUT
AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE.
200
00:10:11,812 --> 00:10:15,213
THAT MEANS THESE OBJECTS EXISTED
IN THE VERY EARLIEST GALAXY.
201
00:10:15,215 --> 00:10:17,682
THAT MEANS A MILLION OR BILLION
SOLAR MASS OBJECTS
202
00:10:17,684 --> 00:10:19,484
WERE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE.
203
00:10:19,486 --> 00:10:21,185
I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HAVE
A GOOD PICTURE
204
00:10:21,187 --> 00:10:22,420
OF HOW THAT CAN HAPPEN.
205
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♪♪
206
00:10:26,292 --> 00:10:31,162
Narrator: THE MYSTERY LIES
IN HOW FAST BLACK HOLES GROW.
207
00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:37,102
THEY GROW BY EATING
AT AN ASTONISHING RATE.
208
00:10:37,104 --> 00:10:38,970
WHEN YOU EAT, EVENTUALLY,
YOU GET FULL.
209
00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:40,237
YOU'VE HAD YOUR LAST BITE.
210
00:10:40,239 --> 00:10:44,775
BUT BLACK HOLES, THEY ARE
NEVER DONE BEING HUNGRY.
211
00:10:44,777 --> 00:10:46,845
THEY ARE INSATIABLE.
212
00:10:46,847 --> 00:10:49,514
♪♪
213
00:10:49,516 --> 00:10:54,319
Narrator: A BLACK HOLE EATS
EVERYTHING THAT GETS TOO CLOSE,
214
00:10:54,321 --> 00:10:57,789
GROWING LARGER AND LARGER.
215
00:10:57,791 --> 00:11:01,192
BUT THERE'S A LIMIT
TO HOW FAST THEY CAN GROW.
216
00:11:01,194 --> 00:11:02,927
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME,
217
00:11:02,929 --> 00:11:05,596
A BILLION YEARS AFTER
THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED,
218
00:11:05,598 --> 00:11:08,933
FOR THEM TO GET TO A BILLION
SOLAR MASSES IN...
219
00:11:08,935 --> 00:11:10,402
IT'S JUST TOO SHORT A TIME,
220
00:11:10,404 --> 00:11:12,070
SO THERE HAD TO BE
ANOTHER PROCESS,
221
00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:16,474
IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS EATING,
THAT CAUSED THE SEED TO FORM.
222
00:11:16,476 --> 00:11:20,945
♪♪
223
00:11:20,947 --> 00:11:24,082
Narrator: TO BULK UP
TO A BILLION SOLAR MASSES,
224
00:11:24,084 --> 00:11:29,354
WE NOW THINK THESE GIANTS GREW
FROM SMALLER SEED BLACK HOLES.
225
00:11:29,356 --> 00:11:34,092
♪♪
226
00:11:34,094 --> 00:11:35,960
[ EXPLOSION ]
227
00:11:35,962 --> 00:11:40,031
WE KNOW THAT BLACK HOLES USUALLY
FORM FROM EXPLODING STARS
228
00:11:40,033 --> 00:11:43,234
OF AROUND 25 SOLAR MASSES
OR MORE.
229
00:11:43,236 --> 00:11:46,104
THAT'S PRETTY SMALL.
230
00:11:46,106 --> 00:11:50,708
TO BE BORN SUPERMASSIVE,
YOU'D NEED A SUPERMASSIVE STAR,
231
00:11:50,710 --> 00:11:54,311
A STELLAR GIANT BORN
FROM THE PRIMORDIAL GASES
232
00:11:54,313 --> 00:11:57,182
OF THE EARLY UNIVERSE.
233
00:11:57,184 --> 00:12:00,585
Isler: AND SO YOU HAD THESE
HUGE CLOUDS OF MOSTLY HYDROGEN,
234
00:12:00,587 --> 00:12:01,853
A LITTLE BIT OF HELIUM,
235
00:12:01,855 --> 00:12:03,721
AND THAT'S BASICALLY
ALL THAT WAS THERE,
236
00:12:03,723 --> 00:12:07,325
AND AS MATERIAL COOLED,
237
00:12:07,327 --> 00:12:09,527
IT WOULD COLLAPSE
INTO THESE BIG,
238
00:12:09,529 --> 00:12:12,930
BIG STARS OF JUST BALLS
OF HYDROGEN IN SPACE.
239
00:12:12,932 --> 00:12:15,200
♪♪
240
00:12:15,202 --> 00:12:20,070
Narrator: THESE SUPER-GIANT
STARS LIVED FAST AND DIED YOUNG.
241
00:12:20,072 --> 00:12:23,541
Isler: WHEN THEY DIED, THEY
FORMED THESE SEED BLACK HOLES.
242
00:12:23,543 --> 00:12:26,411
SO THAT'S ONE WAY YOU
COULD GET A MASSIVE SEED,
243
00:12:26,413 --> 00:12:29,013
IS THAT YOU JUST HAVE
THE EARLIEST STARS
244
00:12:29,015 --> 00:12:31,950
COLLAPSING INTO A BLACK HOLE
WHEN THEY DIE.
245
00:12:31,952 --> 00:12:34,685
♪♪
246
00:12:34,687 --> 00:12:36,554
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
247
00:12:36,556 --> 00:12:41,292
SEEMS EVEN THESE SUPERMASSIVE
STARS COULDN'T HAVE PRODUCED
248
00:12:41,294 --> 00:12:44,763
BIG ENOUGH SEED BLACK HOLES.
249
00:12:44,765 --> 00:12:48,032
THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY
TO GENERATE A BILLION-SOLAR-MASS
250
00:12:48,034 --> 00:12:51,702
BLACK HOLE
IN LESS THAN A BILLION YEARS.
251
00:12:51,704 --> 00:12:53,905
Narrator: HOW ELSE
COULD THE UNIVERSE CREATE
252
00:12:53,907 --> 00:12:56,307
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES
253
00:12:56,309 --> 00:12:58,976
FROM JUST THICK CLOUDS OF GAS?
254
00:12:58,978 --> 00:13:02,646
Isler: ONE THEORY OF HOW YOU GET
THESE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES
255
00:13:02,648 --> 00:13:06,184
IS THAT YOU JUST HAVE
ONE BIG COLLAPSE EVENT.
256
00:13:06,186 --> 00:13:07,919
WE CALL IT DIRECT COLLAPSE.
257
00:13:07,921 --> 00:13:09,654
[ RUMBLING ]
258
00:13:09,656 --> 00:13:11,122
Narrator: IT'S ONLY A THEORY,
259
00:13:11,124 --> 00:13:15,993
BUT WE THINK THIS IS
HOW DIRECT COLLAPSE WOULD WORK.
260
00:13:15,995 --> 00:13:21,666
HUGE, SUPER-DENSE CLOUDS
OF HYDROGEN GAS CLUMP TOGETHER.
261
00:13:21,668 --> 00:13:24,668
GRAVITY BUILDS UP,
DRAGGING IN MORE GAS,
262
00:13:24,670 --> 00:13:26,804
BECOMING MORE AND MORE DENSE
263
00:13:26,806 --> 00:13:31,342
UNTIL THE GAS COLLAPSES
UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT.
264
00:13:31,344 --> 00:13:35,013
INSTEAD OF FORMING A STAR,
IT CRUSHES DOWN STRAIGHT
265
00:13:35,015 --> 00:13:37,415
TO A SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
266
00:13:37,417 --> 00:13:40,685
♪♪
267
00:13:40,687 --> 00:13:44,488
A GALAXY STARTS TO FORM
AROUND THE GIANT.
268
00:13:44,490 --> 00:13:48,893
GAS STREAMS TOWARD THE CENTER,
GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER,
269
00:13:48,895 --> 00:13:53,497
UNTIL A QUASAR
EXPLODES INTO LIFE.
270
00:13:53,499 --> 00:13:56,634
THEY'RE SO BRIGHT,
WE CAN SEE THEM TODAY,
271
00:13:56,636 --> 00:14:00,572
13 BILLION LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.
272
00:14:00,574 --> 00:14:03,107
ALL OF THESE ARE IDEAS
RIGHT NOW.
273
00:14:03,109 --> 00:14:06,977
THEORISTS ARE WORKING REALLY
HARD TO MAKE THESE MODELS WORK.
274
00:14:06,979 --> 00:14:08,579
FINDING MORE AND MORE
DISTANT QUASARS
275
00:14:08,581 --> 00:14:12,383
WILL TEACH US WHAT THOSE SEEDS
ARE THAT FORM INTO THE QUASARS.
276
00:14:12,385 --> 00:14:14,051
IT MIGHT TEACH US
SOME NEW PHYSICS
277
00:14:14,053 --> 00:14:17,789
TO CREATE THESE BIG
BLACK HOLES THAT QUICKLY.
278
00:14:17,791 --> 00:14:19,991
Narrator: THE MORE
WE INVESTIGATE THE QUASARS,
279
00:14:19,993 --> 00:14:22,927
THE MORE WE DISCOVER
ABOUT THE EARLY UNIVERSE,
280
00:14:22,929 --> 00:14:26,798
BUT THEY'RE ALSO REVEALING
THEIR DESTRUCTIVE NATURE.
281
00:14:28,935 --> 00:14:31,335
RECENTLY, WE'VE
DISCOVERED GALAXIES
282
00:14:31,337 --> 00:14:34,806
WITH HOLES TORN
OUT OF THEM.
283
00:14:34,808 --> 00:14:37,274
THE CULPRIT?
284
00:14:37,276 --> 00:14:39,610
DEATH RAYS
285
00:14:39,612 --> 00:14:43,081
BLASTING AT CLOSE
TO THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
286
00:14:51,624 --> 00:14:55,860
[ EXPLOSION ]
287
00:14:57,564 --> 00:14:59,630
♪♪
288
00:14:59,632 --> 00:15:02,033
Narrator: THE UNIVERSE IS
FULL OF GALAXIES.
289
00:15:02,035 --> 00:15:06,037
FROM A DISTANCE,
THEY LOOK CALM AND PEACEFUL.
290
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:10,107
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER, AND YOU'LL
SEE EVIDENCE OF EXTREME VIOLENCE
291
00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:11,476
AND DESTRUCTION...
292
00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:16,947
SCARS EXTENDING
FROM THEIR CENTERS
293
00:15:16,949 --> 00:15:20,651
OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF LIGHT-YEARS.
294
00:15:20,653 --> 00:15:24,521
WHAT COULD'VE CAUSED
SUCH DEVASTATION?
295
00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:28,993
THIS IS GALAXY CLUSTER HYDRA A.
296
00:15:28,995 --> 00:15:33,865
HERE ARE THE SCARS, BUT VIEWING
IT IN MULTIPLE WAVELENGTHS
297
00:15:33,867 --> 00:15:37,468
REVEALS THE CULPRIT.
298
00:15:37,470 --> 00:15:40,071
TWO COLOSSAL JETS OF ENERGY
299
00:15:40,073 --> 00:15:42,273
BLASTING OUT FROM
THE GALACTIC CORE,
300
00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:45,276
SHOOTING OUT FROM
THE HEART OF A QUASAR.
301
00:15:45,278 --> 00:15:48,479
THEY TEAR THROUGH THE GALAXY
AND OUT INTO SPACE,
302
00:15:48,481 --> 00:15:51,682
CREATING VOIDS
IN THE SURROUNDING GAS.
303
00:15:51,684 --> 00:15:54,152
♪♪
304
00:15:54,154 --> 00:15:57,021
THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IN THESE
JETS IS STAGGERING,
305
00:15:57,023 --> 00:15:59,557
SOUL CRUSHING,
MIND DESTROYING.
306
00:15:59,559 --> 00:16:03,427
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH ENERGY IS
WRAPPED UP IN THESE QUASAR JETS.
307
00:16:03,429 --> 00:16:06,430
SOMETHING CAN TAKE MANY,
MANY TIMES THE MASS OF THE SUN,
308
00:16:06,432 --> 00:16:08,433
ACCELERATE IT TO SPEEDS
NEAR THE SPEED OF LIGHT
309
00:16:08,435 --> 00:16:11,235
AND THROW IT OUT ACROSS HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF LIGHT-YEARS.
310
00:16:11,237 --> 00:16:13,504
♪♪
311
00:16:13,506 --> 00:16:15,239
Narrator:
THESE JETS SEEM TO LAUNCH OUT
312
00:16:15,241 --> 00:16:17,107
FROM THE QUASAR'S CORE,
313
00:16:17,109 --> 00:16:21,512
SUPERCHARGED PARTICLES TWISTED
INTO TIGHT BEAMS OF ENERGY,
314
00:16:21,514 --> 00:16:24,182
MOVING AT MILLIONS
OF MILES PER HOUR,
315
00:16:24,184 --> 00:16:27,585
HEATED TO TRILLIONS OF DEGREES.
316
00:16:27,587 --> 00:16:31,389
REGULAR QUASARS
ARE SERIOUSLY POWERFUL,
317
00:16:31,391 --> 00:16:36,394
BUT QUASARS WITH JETS,
THOSE ARE OFF THE CHARTS.
318
00:16:36,396 --> 00:16:38,195
Plait:
YOU'RE TAKING THE POWER
319
00:16:38,197 --> 00:16:40,865
OF BILLIONS OR TRILLIONS
OF STARS
320
00:16:40,867 --> 00:16:43,601
AND FOCUSING THEM
INTO NARROW JETS,
321
00:16:43,603 --> 00:16:46,871
WHICH BASICALLY MARCH ACROSS
THE UNIVERSE LIKE DEATH RAYS.
322
00:16:46,873 --> 00:16:49,407
IF YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THIS
THING, AND YOU'RE IN ITS WAY,
323
00:16:49,409 --> 00:16:51,675
YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO BE IN ITS WAY FOR LONG.
324
00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:52,944
[ RUMBLING ]
325
00:16:52,946 --> 00:16:54,345
Narrator: IT'S NOT JUST
THE GALAXY
326
00:16:54,347 --> 00:16:56,481
AND THE SURROUNDING GAS
THAT SUFFERS.
327
00:16:56,483 --> 00:16:59,550
THESE JETS COMING OUT ARE MORE
POWERFUL THAN THE DEATH STAR.
328
00:16:59,552 --> 00:17:02,352
THEY WOULD DESTROY NOT JUST A
PLANET GOING THROUGH THEIR PATH
329
00:17:02,354 --> 00:17:05,490
BUT, LIKE, STARS,
WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEMS.
330
00:17:05,492 --> 00:17:10,762
Narrator: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S
GOING ON IN SYSTEM 3C 321.
331
00:17:10,764 --> 00:17:15,165
VIEWED IN VISIBLE LIGHT, ALL
WE SEE IS A PAIR OF GALAXIES.
332
00:17:15,167 --> 00:17:17,035
♪♪
333
00:17:17,037 --> 00:17:20,972
BUT IN MULTIPLE WAVELENGTHS,
WE SEE THE LARGER GALAXY
334
00:17:20,974 --> 00:17:24,041
FIRING OUT A HUGE DEATH RAY,
335
00:17:24,043 --> 00:17:29,514
RIPPING THROUGH ITS SMALLER
NEIGHBOR AND OUT INTO SPACE.
336
00:17:29,516 --> 00:17:31,916
IMAGINE BEING IN
THE DIRECTION OF A JET.
337
00:17:31,918 --> 00:17:34,918
IF A JET'S COMING AT YOU,
IT'S OVER.
338
00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,657
YOU'RE IN FOR
A DEEP WORLD OF HURT.
339
00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:41,726
Narrator: PLANETS
WOULD BE DESTROYED.
340
00:17:41,728 --> 00:17:43,394
STARS WOULD EXPLODE.
341
00:17:43,396 --> 00:17:45,796
[ RUMBLING ]
342
00:17:45,798 --> 00:17:49,934
THESE JETS TRAVEL INCREDIBLE
DISTANCES THROUGH SPACE.
343
00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:54,672
Tremblay:
SO THE LARGEST KNOW JET IS ABOUT
1.4 MEGAPARSECS IN LENGTH.
344
00:17:54,674 --> 00:17:59,076
AND A MEGAPARSEC IS ABOUT
3 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS.
345
00:17:59,078 --> 00:18:02,079
SO, WE'RE TALKING ALMOST
5 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS
346
00:18:02,081 --> 00:18:03,881
FROM END TO END.
347
00:18:03,883 --> 00:18:05,950
Narrator: EVENTUALLY,
THE JETS DO STOP
348
00:18:05,952 --> 00:18:08,686
WHEN THEY SLAM INTO
THE INTERGALACTIC MEDIUM,
349
00:18:08,688 --> 00:18:12,557
THE THIN FILM OF GAS
THAT SURROUNDS GALAXIES.
350
00:18:12,559 --> 00:18:15,293
IT CAN GO HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF LIGHT-YEARS,
351
00:18:15,295 --> 00:18:19,029
STRIKING THE INTERGALACTIC
MEDIUM AND SETTING IT ABLAZE.
352
00:18:19,031 --> 00:18:21,498
♪♪
353
00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:24,635
Narrator: THE IMPACT SENDS OUT
MASSIVE SHOCK WAVES
354
00:18:24,637 --> 00:18:28,039
LIKE IN GALAXY PICTOR A.
355
00:18:28,041 --> 00:18:30,308
Plait: THEY FORM THESE HUGE,
PUFFY CLOUDS.
356
00:18:30,310 --> 00:18:32,310
THEY LOOK LIKE
SORT OF COTTON SWABS.
357
00:18:32,312 --> 00:18:35,112
YOU HAD A NARROW JET WITH THESE
BIG PUFFY THINGS AT EITHER END.
358
00:18:35,114 --> 00:18:37,381
[ EXPLOSION ]
359
00:18:37,383 --> 00:18:39,984
Narrator: BUT IT SEEMS THAT
QUASARS WITH JETS
360
00:18:39,986 --> 00:18:42,386
ARE A VERY RARE SPECIES.
361
00:18:42,388 --> 00:18:47,324
ONLY 10 PERCENT HAVE THEM,
AND NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHY.
362
00:18:47,326 --> 00:18:49,460
Thaler: THE HUGE JETS COMING OUT
OF QUASARS ARE THINGS
363
00:18:49,462 --> 00:18:51,662
WE CAN SEE CLEAR
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
364
00:18:51,664 --> 00:18:54,465
THE AMAZING THING IS WE DON'T
EVEN REALLY UNDERSTAND
365
00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:55,733
HOW THEY'RE CREATED.
366
00:18:55,735 --> 00:18:58,735
IT'S SUCH A COMPLICATED PROCESS
367
00:18:58,737 --> 00:19:02,940
THAT IT'S HARD TO UNTANGLE
THE ASTROPHYSICS GOING ON HERE.
368
00:19:02,942 --> 00:19:04,741
Tremblay: SO WE THINK THAT
THE FORMATION OF JETS
369
00:19:04,743 --> 00:19:06,878
ARISES FROM THE ACCRETION DISK,
370
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,946
OR THIS SPINNING DISK OF GAS
371
00:19:08,948 --> 00:19:11,882
THAT'S SPIRALING CLOSE TO THE
EVENT HORIZON OF THE BLACK HOLE.
372
00:19:11,884 --> 00:19:14,418
♪♪
373
00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:15,953
Narrator:
THIS IS OUR BEST THEORY.
374
00:19:15,955 --> 00:19:19,156
GAS FALLS TOWARDS
THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
375
00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:23,094
IT MOVES FASTER AND FASTER,
GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER.
376
00:19:23,096 --> 00:19:25,429
[ RUMBLING ]
377
00:19:25,431 --> 00:19:29,366
WHEN YOU HEAT GAS TO EXTREME
TEMPERATURES, IT BECOMES PLASMA,
378
00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:33,303
FULL OF ELECTROMAGNETICALLY
CHARGED PARTICLES.
379
00:19:33,305 --> 00:19:35,640
WE THINK, IN THE REGIONS AROUND
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES,
380
00:19:35,642 --> 00:19:37,441
YOU HAVE QUICKLY MOVING
CHARGED PARTICLES.
381
00:19:37,443 --> 00:19:39,042
THIS CREATES MAGNETIC FIELDS.
382
00:19:39,044 --> 00:19:41,245
♪♪
383
00:19:41,247 --> 00:19:44,114
Narrator: AS THE PARTICLES SWIRL
AROUND THE BLACK HOLE,
384
00:19:44,116 --> 00:19:46,918
THEY BUILD UP
A POWERFUL MAGNETIC FIELD.
385
00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:51,054
THE FIELD BUILDS UP INTENSITY
AND SURROUNDS THE BLACK HOLE.
386
00:19:51,056 --> 00:19:53,658
♪♪
387
00:19:53,660 --> 00:19:55,659
THAT STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD
388
00:19:55,661 --> 00:19:59,797
CAN WRAP ITSELF
AROUND THE BLACK HOLE,
389
00:19:59,799 --> 00:20:03,867
AND ANY CHARGED PARTICLES
IN THE ACCRETION DISK
390
00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:07,805
WILL FOLLOW THE PATHS
OF THOSE MAGNETIC FIELDS.
391
00:20:07,807 --> 00:20:09,940
AND WHERE THERE IS A BODY
WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD,
392
00:20:09,942 --> 00:20:11,342
THERE ARE MAGNETIC POLES,
393
00:20:11,344 --> 00:20:13,544
AND THAT'S WHERE THINGS
CAN ESCAPE.
394
00:20:13,546 --> 00:20:17,348
Sutter: IT GETS WOUND AROUND,
SPIRALED UP,
395
00:20:17,350 --> 00:20:20,217
AND SHOVED UP INTO A JET.
396
00:20:20,219 --> 00:20:22,887
Olusey: THE PRESSURES IN THAT
DISCUSS ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH,
397
00:20:22,889 --> 00:20:25,489
AND THESE MAGNETIC FIELDS
ARE INCREDIBLY STRONG,
398
00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:28,292
AND THEY'RE WOUND UP TIGHTLY
BY THE SPINNING BLACK HOLE,
399
00:20:28,294 --> 00:20:31,495
AND WHAT YOU END UP WITH
ARE JETS THAT ARE COLLIMATED
400
00:20:31,497 --> 00:20:32,964
AND INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
401
00:20:32,966 --> 00:20:35,700
[ RUMBLING ]
402
00:20:35,702 --> 00:20:38,836
Narrator: THE JET BLASTS OUT
FROM THE POLES OF THE BLACK HOLE
403
00:20:38,838 --> 00:20:42,907
AT 99 PERCENT
THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
404
00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:46,243
Sutter: THESE QUASARS
ARE BIG GENERATORS.
405
00:20:46,245 --> 00:20:50,314
THEY CONVERT GRAVITATIONAL
ENERGY INTO MAGNETIC ENERGY,
406
00:20:50,316 --> 00:20:54,251
AND THAT MAGNETIC ENERGY GETS
CONVERTED INTO KINETIC ENERGY
407
00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:56,387
IN THE LAUNCHING OF THESE JETS.
408
00:20:56,389 --> 00:20:58,990
♪♪
409
00:20:58,992 --> 00:21:00,658
Narrator:
THEY CARRY SO MUCH ENERGY,
410
00:21:00,660 --> 00:21:03,594
THEY CAN BE DETECTED
CLEAR ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
411
00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:07,665
♪♪
412
00:21:07,667 --> 00:21:10,935
QUASARS CONTINUE TO
CONFUSE ASTRONOMERS.
413
00:21:10,937 --> 00:21:14,138
NOW, THEY'RE PRESENTING US
WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM.
414
00:21:14,140 --> 00:21:18,275
QUASARS SHOULD TAKE MILLIONS
OF YEARS TO FIRE UP.
415
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:20,344
♪♪
416
00:21:20,346 --> 00:21:24,348
BUT RECENTLY, WE'VE DETECTED
ONE THAT SWITCHED ON
417
00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:26,550
IN A COSMIC HEARTBEAT.
418
00:21:26,552 --> 00:21:28,753
♪♪
419
00:21:35,228 --> 00:21:39,563
[ EXPLOSION ]
420
00:21:39,565 --> 00:21:41,699
♪♪
421
00:21:41,701 --> 00:21:45,970
Narrator: SO FAR, WE'VE
DISCOVERED OVER 200,000 QUASARS.
422
00:21:45,972 --> 00:21:50,908
AND IN JUNE OF 2016,
WE DISCOVERED ANOTHER.
423
00:21:50,910 --> 00:21:53,244
BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.
[ WHIRRING ]
424
00:21:53,246 --> 00:21:57,114
IT IGNITED IN JUST 500 DAYS --
425
00:21:57,116 --> 00:21:59,984
IN COSMOLOGICAL TERMS,
426
00:21:59,986 --> 00:22:02,520
JUST A BLINK OF AN EYE.
427
00:22:02,522 --> 00:22:04,255
THAT'S INCREDIBLY WEIRD,
428
00:22:04,257 --> 00:22:06,657
BECAUSE REMEMBER WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
429
00:22:06,659 --> 00:22:08,125
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE CONSUMPTION
430
00:22:08,127 --> 00:22:10,794
OF GALAXY-SIZED
QUANTITIES OF GAS.
431
00:22:10,796 --> 00:22:13,130
HOW COULD THAT BE FAST?
432
00:22:13,132 --> 00:22:16,400
Sutter:
THAT'S A VERY RAPID PROCESS.
433
00:22:16,402 --> 00:22:18,269
USUALLY, WHEN WE THINK
OF ASTRONOMY,
434
00:22:18,271 --> 00:22:21,271
WE THINK OF ASTRONOMICALLY
LONG TIME SCALES
435
00:22:21,273 --> 00:22:24,742
WHERE WE DON'T GET TO SEE
THINGS HAPPEN IN REAL TIME.
436
00:22:24,744 --> 00:22:28,746
SO WHEN WE SEE THESE INCREDIBLE
ENGINES IN OUR UNIVERSE
437
00:22:28,748 --> 00:22:30,347
CHANGING THEIR COMPLETE NATURE
438
00:22:30,349 --> 00:22:33,951
BY TURNING ON OVER THE COURSE
OF A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW YEARS,
439
00:22:33,953 --> 00:22:36,420
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING.
440
00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:38,823
Narrator: WHAT TRIGGERS A QUASAR
TO IGNITE?
441
00:22:38,825 --> 00:22:42,493
SCIENTISTS NOW THEORIZE
THE QUASARS SWITCHING ON
442
00:22:42,495 --> 00:22:46,230
MAY BE A NATURAL PART
OF A GALAXY'S LIFE.
443
00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:48,165
GALAXIES
ARE NOT FIXED THINGS.
444
00:22:48,167 --> 00:22:50,834
THEY'RE CONSTANTLY
CHANGING, EVOLVING.
445
00:22:50,836 --> 00:22:53,570
IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT SUDDENLY
WE SEE THESE THINGS SWITCH ON,
446
00:22:53,572 --> 00:22:56,507
AND IT'S KIND OF MESMERIZING
TO IMAGINE THE SITUATION.
447
00:22:56,509 --> 00:22:59,243
WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME, A GALAXY
COULD GO FROM BEING NORMAL
448
00:22:59,245 --> 00:23:00,977
TO BEING ACTIVE.
449
00:23:00,979 --> 00:23:04,048
Sutter: IT'S THOUGHT
THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL,
450
00:23:04,050 --> 00:23:07,851
GALAXIES GO THROUGH
A PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT
451
00:23:07,853 --> 00:23:09,853
THAT INCLUDES FORMING A QUASAR,
452
00:23:09,855 --> 00:23:13,190
THAT IT'S A NORMAL PART
OF A GALAXY GROWING UP.
453
00:23:13,192 --> 00:23:14,525
♪♪
454
00:23:14,527 --> 00:23:16,794
Narrator: QUASARS CAN ACT
A LOT LIKE A TEENAGER,
455
00:23:16,796 --> 00:23:19,129
TANTRUMS AND ALL.
456
00:23:19,131 --> 00:23:20,865
THIS WAS WHEN THEY WERE
SHINING BRIGHTLY,
457
00:23:20,867 --> 00:23:23,467
EATING MASS AT
AN INCREDIBLE RATE.
458
00:23:23,469 --> 00:23:25,869
IT'S ALMOST LIKE
YOUR TEENAGE YEARS, YOU KNOW?
459
00:23:25,871 --> 00:23:28,606
YOU ATE EVERYTHING IN SIGHT,
AND THINGS WERE PRETTY MESSY.
460
00:23:28,608 --> 00:23:31,208
YOU MIGHT HAVE UNDERGONE
A LOT OF MOOD SWINGS.
461
00:23:31,210 --> 00:23:34,011
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT
WITH A QUASAR.
462
00:23:34,013 --> 00:23:36,013
Narrator:
WHEN A QUASAR GETS HUNGRY
463
00:23:36,015 --> 00:23:38,549
AND RAIDS THE REFRIGERATOR,
IT CAN SWITCH ON.
464
00:23:38,551 --> 00:23:40,684
[ BURSTS ]
465
00:23:40,686 --> 00:23:43,554
SO WHAT FLIPS THE SWITCH?
WHAT TURNS A QUASAR ON AND OFF?
466
00:23:43,556 --> 00:23:45,356
IT FUNDAMENTALLY HAS TO DO
WITH GAS
467
00:23:45,358 --> 00:23:47,158
GETTING INTO
THE CENTERS OF GALAXIES.
468
00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,294
WHEN STUFF GETS IN THERE,
A BLACK HOLE IS WAITING,
469
00:23:50,296 --> 00:23:52,162
AND THEN IT GETS BRIGHT.
470
00:23:52,164 --> 00:23:56,500
Narrator: SO WHERE DOES A QUASAR
FIND ENOUGH GAS TO FEAST ON?
471
00:23:56,502 --> 00:24:00,170
TO TURN ON A QUASAR,
YOU NEED CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
472
00:24:00,172 --> 00:24:01,906
YOU NEED A SUPERMASSIVE
BLACK HOLE,
473
00:24:01,908 --> 00:24:04,508
AND YOU NEED A LOT
OF MATERIAL DUMPED ON IT.
474
00:24:04,510 --> 00:24:07,578
WHAT DOES THIS?
A GALAXY COLLISION.
475
00:24:07,580 --> 00:24:10,180
Narrator: GALAXIES ARE NOT
LOCKED IN PLACE.
476
00:24:10,182 --> 00:24:12,049
THEY MOVE THROUGH SPACE.
477
00:24:12,051 --> 00:24:13,717
SOMETIMES, THEY COLLIDE.
478
00:24:13,719 --> 00:24:16,720
♪♪
479
00:24:16,722 --> 00:24:19,122
WE THINK THAT THE SUPERMASSIVE
BLACK HOLES,
480
00:24:19,124 --> 00:24:22,326
AT THEIR CORES,
WILL COLLIDE AND MERGE,
481
00:24:22,328 --> 00:24:25,328
AND THE GAS SUPPLY FROM
THE COMBINED GALAXIES
482
00:24:25,330 --> 00:24:29,934
STREAMS TOWARDS THE NEW
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
483
00:24:29,936 --> 00:24:33,403
IT'S ALMOST LIKE, WHEN YOU HAVE
THESE TWO GALAXIES MERGING,
484
00:24:33,405 --> 00:24:36,006
THAT THEY HAVE ALL NEW FOOD.
485
00:24:36,008 --> 00:24:37,541
IT'S A BRAND-NEW DINNER PLATE,
486
00:24:37,543 --> 00:24:39,610
A BRAND-NEW BUFFET
OF FOOD TO EAT.
487
00:24:39,612 --> 00:24:41,344
WELL, THAT'S A FEEDING SOURCE,
RIGHT?
488
00:24:41,346 --> 00:24:42,812
YOU'RE GOING TO START
A FEEDING FRENZY
489
00:24:42,814 --> 00:24:45,216
ON THE BLACK HOLE
THAT'S SITTING THERE.
490
00:24:45,218 --> 00:24:50,154
Narrator: THE GAS SPIRALS IN,
HEATS UP TO MILLIONS OF DEGREES.
491
00:24:50,156 --> 00:24:52,689
THE GALACTIC CORE LIGHTS UP.
492
00:24:52,691 --> 00:24:55,892
[ RUMBLING ]
493
00:24:55,894 --> 00:24:58,295
AND A QUASAR IS BORN.
494
00:24:58,297 --> 00:25:03,099
♪♪
495
00:25:03,101 --> 00:25:05,369
IT SEEMS GALAXY MERGERS PROVIDE
496
00:25:05,371 --> 00:25:08,772
THE BEST CONDITIONS
FOR QUASAR FORMATION,
497
00:25:08,774 --> 00:25:11,308
BUT WHEN ASTRONOMERS STUDIED
THE RAPID IGNITION
498
00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:13,978
OF THESE UNUSUAL QUASARS,
499
00:25:13,980 --> 00:25:17,047
THEY DIDN'T FIND EVIDENCE
OF A GALAXY MERGER.
500
00:25:17,049 --> 00:25:21,985
SOMETHING ELSE
MUST SWITCH THEM ON.
501
00:25:21,987 --> 00:25:25,989
Sutter:
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SIZE
SCALES OF A TYPICAL QUASAR,
502
00:25:25,991 --> 00:25:28,525
WE THINK IT MUST TAKE YEARS
TO REALLY TURN ON.
503
00:25:28,527 --> 00:25:31,461
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT A FLOW OF GAS
504
00:25:31,463 --> 00:25:34,698
PASSING THROUGH
THE CENTRAL PARTS OF A GALAXY
505
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:37,601
TO ENCOUNTER THE BLACK HOLE,
TO ACTIVATE THE DYNAMO,
506
00:25:37,603 --> 00:25:39,003
TO LAUNCH A JET,
507
00:25:39,005 --> 00:25:41,805
THIS SHOULD TAKE
A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF TIME.
508
00:25:41,807 --> 00:25:45,142
THIS -- THIS IS BIG STUFF.
509
00:25:45,144 --> 00:25:49,012
Narrator: SO WHAT COULD
SPEED THIS UP?
510
00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:51,682
ONE IDEA IS THAT SOMETHING
CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS
511
00:25:51,684 --> 00:25:54,084
INSIDE THE ACCRETION DISK,
512
00:25:54,086 --> 00:25:57,988
THE RING OF GAS
SURROUNDING THE BLACK HOLE.
513
00:25:57,990 --> 00:26:01,758
AN ACTIVE QUASAR MEANS THAT A
BLACK HOLE IS EATING SOMETHING,
514
00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,693
SO WHEN YOU SEE
A QUASAR TURN ON,
515
00:26:03,695 --> 00:26:04,894
YOU KNOW THAT SOMETHING
516
00:26:04,896 --> 00:26:06,563
WENT VERY WRONG
AROUND THE BLACK HOLE.
517
00:26:06,565 --> 00:26:08,098
MAYBE SOME OF THE DISK FELL IN.
518
00:26:08,100 --> 00:26:10,334
MAYBE EVEN A STAR
GOT A BIT TOO CLOSE.
519
00:26:10,336 --> 00:26:11,969
♪♪
520
00:26:11,971 --> 00:26:16,773
Narrator: ACCRETION DISKS
ARE NOT JUST GAS AND DUST.
521
00:26:16,775 --> 00:26:21,444
BLACK HOLES WILL DRAG IN
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
522
00:26:21,446 --> 00:26:22,846
THERE ARE STARS.
THERE'S GAS.
523
00:26:22,848 --> 00:26:24,581
THERE'S GAS CLOUDS.
THERE'S STARS IN FORMATION.
524
00:26:24,583 --> 00:26:25,982
THERE ARE STARS DYING.
525
00:26:25,984 --> 00:26:28,519
A LOT IS HAPPENING THERE,
BUT BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS
526
00:26:28,521 --> 00:26:30,387
IS THAT STAR VEERS TOO CLOSE,
527
00:26:30,389 --> 00:26:32,189
AND IT IS BASICALLY STRIPPED.
528
00:26:32,191 --> 00:26:35,793
IT'S PULLED APART.
529
00:26:35,795 --> 00:26:37,728
Narrator: THE ENORMOUS GRAVITY
OF THE BLACK HOLE
530
00:26:37,730 --> 00:26:40,197
COULD TEAR A STAR TO PIECES,
531
00:26:40,199 --> 00:26:42,933
GIVING RISE TO A SUDDEN
SURGE OF ENERGY
532
00:26:42,935 --> 00:26:45,002
WITHIN THE ACCRETION DISK.
533
00:26:45,004 --> 00:26:46,537
[ EXPLOSION ]
534
00:26:46,539 --> 00:26:48,806
OR PERHAPS, AN EXPLODING STAR
535
00:26:48,808 --> 00:26:52,142
COULD BE THE CATALYST
FOR QUASAR IGNITION.
536
00:26:52,144 --> 00:26:55,879
SO IT COULD BE THAT A SUPERNOVA
GOING OFF IN THE ACCRETION DISK
537
00:26:55,881 --> 00:26:59,016
TRIGGERS AN AVALANCHE
OF MATERIAL
538
00:26:59,018 --> 00:27:02,419
SUDDENLY BEING ABLE TO FALL IN
ON THE BLACK HOLE.
539
00:27:02,421 --> 00:27:05,622
Narrator: IN BOTH CASES,
A SUDDEN RUSH OF HOT GAS
540
00:27:05,624 --> 00:27:07,557
WOULD HEAT UP
THE ACCRETION DISK,
541
00:27:07,559 --> 00:27:09,426
SWITCHING ON THE QUASAR.
542
00:27:09,428 --> 00:27:11,895
♪♪
543
00:27:11,897 --> 00:27:14,098
YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING
VIOLENT TO A GALAXY
544
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:18,101
TO LET IT REALLY FEED ENOUGH
TO CREATE A QUASAR ACTIVITY.
545
00:27:18,103 --> 00:27:20,036
♪♪
546
00:27:20,038 --> 00:27:21,505
Narrator: ONCE ACTIVATED,
547
00:27:21,507 --> 00:27:24,441
A QUASAR CAN SHINE
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,
548
00:27:24,443 --> 00:27:29,312
BLASTING OUT ENERGY
AND DESTRUCTIVE JETS.
549
00:27:29,314 --> 00:27:31,849
WE SEE THEM ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
550
00:27:31,851 --> 00:27:36,920
IT SEEMS THE BASIC INGREDIENTS
ARE QUITE COMMON,
551
00:27:36,922 --> 00:27:40,124
EVEN IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
552
00:27:40,126 --> 00:27:41,658
Plait:
LET'S PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER.
553
00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:44,394
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A QUASAR?
YOU NEED A GALAXY.
554
00:27:44,396 --> 00:27:46,997
YOU NEED A CENTRAL
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
555
00:27:46,999 --> 00:27:51,801
YOU NEED GAS, AND YOU NEED STUFF
FALLING INTO THAT BLACK HOLE
556
00:27:51,803 --> 00:27:54,137
TO CREATE THE QUASAR PHENOMENON.
557
00:27:54,139 --> 00:27:56,540
WELL, WE LIVE IN A GALAXY,
THE MILKY WAY,
558
00:27:56,542 --> 00:27:59,143
AND IT HAS A CENTRAL
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE,
559
00:27:59,145 --> 00:28:02,613
AND THERE'S GAS ORBITING
AROUND NEAR THERE.
560
00:28:02,615 --> 00:28:05,215
THAT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD.
561
00:28:05,217 --> 00:28:08,285
Narrator: JETS RIPPING THROUGH
THE MILKY WAY,
562
00:28:08,287 --> 00:28:12,489
HEAT AND COSMIC WINDS
BURSTING OUT FROM THE CORE,
563
00:28:12,491 --> 00:28:16,092
POSING THE QUESTION --
WOULD WE SURVIVE?
564
00:28:16,094 --> 00:28:18,028
♪♪
565
00:28:24,436 --> 00:28:28,839
[ EXPLOSION ]
566
00:28:28,841 --> 00:28:32,843
♪♪
567
00:28:32,845 --> 00:28:36,446
Narrator: WE'RE USED TO THINKING
OF OUR GALAXY AS PEACEFUL.
568
00:28:36,448 --> 00:28:38,115
BUT WHAT IF IT ISN'T?
569
00:28:38,117 --> 00:28:42,853
WHAT IF IT'S HIDING
A VIOLENT PAST?
570
00:28:42,855 --> 00:28:45,255
Krauss:
WHAT'S BEEN DISCOVERED RECENTLY
IS KIND OF FASCINATING.
571
00:28:45,257 --> 00:28:48,391
THERE'S TWO LARGE
EVACUATED BUBBLES
572
00:28:48,393 --> 00:28:50,327
EMANATING FROM
THE CENTER OF OUR GALAXY.
573
00:28:50,329 --> 00:28:52,662
♪♪
574
00:28:52,664 --> 00:28:55,399
Narrator: THE BUBBLES ARE FULL
OF SUPERHEATED GAS,
575
00:28:55,401 --> 00:28:57,334
AND THEY'RE MOVING
OUT OF OUR GALAXY
576
00:28:57,336 --> 00:28:59,536
AT 2 MILLION MILES PER HOUR.
577
00:28:59,538 --> 00:29:01,471
THESE BUBBLES ARE HUGE.
578
00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:04,474
THEY'RE ON THE SCALE
OF THE GALAXY ITSELF.
579
00:29:04,476 --> 00:29:07,477
THEY'RE 50,000 LIGHT-YEARS LONG.
580
00:29:07,479 --> 00:29:10,814
THEY'RE SO BIG THAT IF YOU WERE
TO MAP THEM OUT ON THE SKY,
581
00:29:10,816 --> 00:29:14,751
THEY WOULD STRETCH
FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON.
582
00:29:14,753 --> 00:29:17,154
Narrator: THESE GAS BUBBLES LOOK
SIMILAR TO THOSE SEEN
583
00:29:17,156 --> 00:29:20,490
WITHIN DISTANT GALAXY CLUSTERS
LIKE HYDRA A.
584
00:29:20,492 --> 00:29:21,758
Bullock: ONE BIG QUESTION IS,
585
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:23,293
WHAT COULD'VE PUT
THAT GAS THERE?
586
00:29:23,295 --> 00:29:24,961
WHAT COULD HAVE MADE
THIS GAS SO HOT
587
00:29:24,963 --> 00:29:27,831
THAT IT'S ABLE TO PUFF OUT
SO FAR FROM THE GALAXY?
588
00:29:27,833 --> 00:29:31,568
ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT THIS WAS
DRIVEN BY AN ACTIVE PHASE
589
00:29:31,570 --> 00:29:34,438
IN OUR GALAXY'S HISTORY.
590
00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,306
Narrator: FAR AWAY,
IN THE HEART OF OUR GALAXY,
591
00:29:36,308 --> 00:29:38,308
HIDDEN BY GAS AND CLOUDS,
592
00:29:38,310 --> 00:29:42,178
LIES A GIANT --
593
00:29:42,180 --> 00:29:46,583
A SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE
CALLED SAGITTARIUS A-STAR.
594
00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:49,119
♪♪
595
00:29:49,121 --> 00:29:51,654
NOW, IT'S QUIET.
596
00:29:51,656 --> 00:29:56,059
IS IT DEAD OR JUST SLEEPING?
597
00:29:56,061 --> 00:29:57,861
THE ONLY THING THAT
COULD HAVE CREATED
598
00:29:57,863 --> 00:30:01,398
THESE VAST LOBES OF MATERIAL
ABOVE AND BELOW THE MILKY WAY
599
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:05,335
ARE GIANT JETS STREAMING OUT
OF THE CORE OF OUR GALAXY.
600
00:30:05,337 --> 00:30:07,738
WELL, DOESN'T THAT SOUND
A LOT LIKE A QUASAR?
601
00:30:07,740 --> 00:30:09,339
♪♪
602
00:30:09,341 --> 00:30:12,075
Narrator: BUT UNLIKE HYDRA A,
THE EXPELLED GAS
603
00:30:12,077 --> 00:30:15,545
DOESN'T DATE FROM HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.
604
00:30:15,547 --> 00:30:20,150
THESE WERE BLOWN OUT
WITHIN THE LAST 6 MILLION YEARS.
605
00:30:20,152 --> 00:30:23,420
ALMOST ALL QUASARS WE SEE ARE
IN THE DISTANT UNIVERSE,
606
00:30:23,422 --> 00:30:25,555
WHICH MEANS THEY'RE
IN THE DISTANT PAST.
607
00:30:25,557 --> 00:30:29,159
BUT HERE WE HAVE
RECENT ACTIVITY.
608
00:30:29,161 --> 00:30:33,297
JUST 6 MILLION YEARS AGO, OUR
CENTRAL BLACK HOLE WAS FEEDING.
609
00:30:33,299 --> 00:30:34,864
Isler: NO ONE REALLY
EXPECTED THAT BECAUSE,
610
00:30:34,866 --> 00:30:37,301
FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN REMEMBER,
WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
611
00:30:37,303 --> 00:30:39,636
OUR MILKY WAY GALAXY
AS BEING QUIESCENT,
612
00:30:39,638 --> 00:30:41,838
THAT IS TO SAY
NOT REALLY EATING TOO MUCH,
613
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,042
SORT OF LIKE A BLACK HOLE
ON A DIET.
614
00:30:45,044 --> 00:30:48,044
Narrator: SOMETHING MUST HAVE
BROKEN ITS DIET.
615
00:30:48,046 --> 00:30:52,849
MAYBE AN UNFORTUNATE GROUP
OF STARS STRAYED TOO CLOSE.
616
00:30:52,851 --> 00:30:54,584
WHATEVER THE DELIVERY METHOD,
617
00:30:54,586 --> 00:30:57,520
THE SLEEPING SAGITTARIUS A-STAR
GORGED
618
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:01,457
ON ITS NEW MEAL
AND WOKE UP EXPLOSIVELY.
619
00:31:01,459 --> 00:31:05,528
[ EXPLOSION ]
620
00:31:05,530 --> 00:31:10,667
ITS JETS BLASTED OVER A TRILLION
TRILLION TRILLION TONS OF GAS
621
00:31:10,669 --> 00:31:13,737
OUT OF THE GALAXY.
622
00:31:13,739 --> 00:31:15,405
THANKFULLY, OUR BLACK HOLE
623
00:31:15,407 --> 00:31:18,141
IS MUCH SMALLER
THAN A TYPICAL QUASAR.
624
00:31:18,143 --> 00:31:21,077
THIS WAS ONLY A SMALL OUTBURST,
625
00:31:21,079 --> 00:31:23,680
BUT IT'S POSSIBLE
OUR SLEEPING GIANT
626
00:31:23,682 --> 00:31:26,616
COULD WAKE UP AGAIN, MUCH BIGGER
627
00:31:26,618 --> 00:31:30,087
AND MUCH MORE DANGEROUS
THAN EVER BEFORE.
628
00:31:30,089 --> 00:31:32,622
THERE'S SOMETHING COMING UP
THAT MEANS THAT ONE DAY,
629
00:31:32,624 --> 00:31:35,492
YOU MAY WALK OUTSIDE,
LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY
630
00:31:35,494 --> 00:31:38,628
AND REALIZE
THE QUASAR HAS TURNED ON.
631
00:31:38,630 --> 00:31:40,497
Narrator: WE KNOW QUASARS
CAN BE TRIGGERED
632
00:31:40,499 --> 00:31:43,033
BY GALACTIC COLLISIONS,
633
00:31:43,035 --> 00:31:46,636
AND WE KNOW A GALAXY
IS HEADING OUR WAY.
634
00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:50,039
PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT --
THE MILKY WAY GALAXY
635
00:31:50,041 --> 00:31:52,976
IS ON A COLLISION COURSE
WITH ANDROMEDA.
636
00:31:52,978 --> 00:31:56,513
Bullock: IT'S TRAVELING AT US
AT ABOUT 70 MILES A SECOND,
637
00:31:56,515 --> 00:31:58,148
AND IN ABOUT 4 BILLION YEARS,
638
00:31:58,150 --> 00:32:00,183
THESE TWO GALAXIES
ARE GOING TO COLLIDE.
639
00:32:00,185 --> 00:32:02,385
BOTH OF US HAVE
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES.
640
00:32:02,387 --> 00:32:05,855
OURS IS 4 OR 5 MILLION TIMES
THE MASS OF THE SUN.
641
00:32:05,857 --> 00:32:09,392
AND ANDROMEDA'S BLACK HOLE
IS 20 TIMES LARGER.
642
00:32:09,394 --> 00:32:10,727
EVENTUALLY, THOSE BLACK HOLES
643
00:32:10,729 --> 00:32:12,729
WILL START
SPIRALING AROUND EACH OTHER,
644
00:32:12,731 --> 00:32:16,133
AND THEY'RE DESTINED TO MERGE.
645
00:32:16,135 --> 00:32:18,067
Narrator: THE NEW BLACK HOLE
WILL BE MUCH BIGGER
646
00:32:18,069 --> 00:32:20,470
THAN SAGITTARIUS A-STAR,
647
00:32:20,472 --> 00:32:25,142
AND THIS SUPERGIANT WILL HAVE
A FRESH LOAD OF GAS TO CONSUME.
648
00:32:25,144 --> 00:32:28,011
THIS WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE
EXPLOSION FOR THE MILKY WAY,
649
00:32:28,013 --> 00:32:29,613
MAYBE EVEN THE BIGGEST EXPLOSION
650
00:32:29,615 --> 00:32:33,216
IT'S EVER HAD
IN ITS WHOLE LIFE CYCLE.
651
00:32:33,218 --> 00:32:36,820
Narrator: A QUASAR COULD BE BORN
FAR BIGGER
652
00:32:36,822 --> 00:32:39,623
THAN ANYTHING
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
653
00:32:39,625 --> 00:32:42,025
♪♪
654
00:32:42,027 --> 00:32:46,029
IN THE CHAOS OF THE MERGER,
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM COULD MIGRATE,
655
00:32:46,031 --> 00:32:51,768
MOVING CLOSER TO THE GALAXY'S
CORE, CLOSER TO THE QUASAR.
656
00:32:51,770 --> 00:32:56,172
WE WILL HAVE A FRONT-ROW SEAT
TO NOT ONLY COLLIDING GALAXIES,
657
00:32:56,174 --> 00:33:00,577
BUT IN FACT, SOMETHING EVEN
MORE AMAZING AND TERRIFYING,
658
00:33:00,579 --> 00:33:03,980
A QUASAR BEING SWITCHED ON.
659
00:33:03,982 --> 00:33:07,650
Narrator: THE CLOSER WE ARE,
THE BIGGER THE SPECTACLE.
660
00:33:07,652 --> 00:33:10,119
IT WOULD LOOK LIKE A SINGLE
BRIGHT SOURCE IN THE SKY,
661
00:33:10,121 --> 00:33:11,888
ALMOST LIKE A SECOND SUN.
662
00:33:11,890 --> 00:33:14,657
♪♪
663
00:33:14,659 --> 00:33:17,727
Narrator: ALONG WITH THE BEAUTY
WILL BE INCREDIBLE HEAT,
664
00:33:17,729 --> 00:33:19,463
QUASAR WINDS,
665
00:33:19,465 --> 00:33:22,065
AND, PERHAPS, EVEN JETS.
666
00:33:22,067 --> 00:33:23,600
[ EXPLOSION ]
667
00:33:23,602 --> 00:33:26,937
WHAT WILL ALL THIS
MEAN FOR EARTH?
668
00:33:26,939 --> 00:33:29,339
Plait: THE ATMOSPHERE IS GOING
TO BE STRIPPED AWAY.
669
00:33:29,341 --> 00:33:31,208
OCEANS ARE GOING TO BOIL.
670
00:33:31,210 --> 00:33:33,810
MAYBE THE ROCK
UNDER YOUR FEET WILL MELT.
671
00:33:33,812 --> 00:33:35,078
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
672
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,280
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF ENERGY HERE.
673
00:33:37,282 --> 00:33:39,616
THERE WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE
NO LIFE ON EARTH.
674
00:33:39,618 --> 00:33:42,552
[ RUMBLING ]
675
00:33:42,554 --> 00:33:46,756
Narrator: THE NEWLY IGNITED
QUASAR MAY BE SO ENERGETIC
676
00:33:46,758 --> 00:33:49,559
IT BLASTS TRILLIONS OF TONS
OF GAS
677
00:33:49,561 --> 00:33:51,561
OUT OF THE MILKY WAY.
678
00:33:51,563 --> 00:33:55,098
EVEN THE BASIC INGREDIENTS
FOR FUTURE STARS AND PLANETS
679
00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:56,999
COULD BE AT RISK.
680
00:33:57,001 --> 00:34:00,170
THAT'S WHERE STARS FORM,
AND THAT'S WHERE PLANETS FORM,
681
00:34:00,172 --> 00:34:02,639
AND SO IF YOU KICK ALL
THE NORMAL MATTER
682
00:34:02,641 --> 00:34:04,040
OUT OF THE GALAXIES,
683
00:34:04,042 --> 00:34:05,908
YOU NO LONGER GET
STARS AND PLANETS
684
00:34:05,910 --> 00:34:08,245
AND HUMANS AND CIVILIZATIONS.
685
00:34:08,247 --> 00:34:10,313
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
SUCH A GOOD IDEA TO ME.
686
00:34:10,315 --> 00:34:11,914
♪♪
687
00:34:11,916 --> 00:34:14,651
Narrator: WITH THEIR TERRIBLE
DESTRUCTIVE FORCE,
688
00:34:14,653 --> 00:34:17,788
QUASARS SEEM LIKE
BAD NEWS FOR GALAXIES.
689
00:34:17,790 --> 00:34:23,059
BUT WE ARE NOW DISCOVERING
THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE TO THEM.
690
00:34:23,061 --> 00:34:25,328
Olusey: QUASARS ARE PUTTING OUT
SO MUCH ENERGY,
691
00:34:25,330 --> 00:34:28,065
THEY APPEAR TO BE SO DISRUPTIVE
TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT,
692
00:34:28,067 --> 00:34:31,468
BUT IT COULD BE THAT, WITHOUT
THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
693
00:34:31,470 --> 00:34:32,802
[ EXPLOSION ]
694
00:34:32,804 --> 00:34:34,537
Narrator:
FOR ALL THEIR FEROCIOUS POWER,
695
00:34:34,539 --> 00:34:39,275
QUASARS MIGHT BE THE ULTIMATE
COSMIC CREATORS.
696
00:34:39,277 --> 00:34:42,012
♪♪
697
00:34:48,553 --> 00:34:52,822
[ EXPLOSION ]
698
00:34:52,824 --> 00:34:54,357
♪♪
699
00:34:54,359 --> 00:34:56,760
Narrator: KICKING OUT
UNIMAGINABLE POWER,
700
00:34:56,762 --> 00:35:00,363
QUASARS CAN CAUSE CHAOS
IN THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT,
701
00:35:00,365 --> 00:35:04,167
BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
THIS MIGHT BE ESSENTIAL
702
00:35:04,169 --> 00:35:06,235
FOR A HEALTHY GALAXY.
703
00:35:06,237 --> 00:35:09,639
IT MIGHT EVEN CREATE
THE CONDITIONS FOR LIFE.
704
00:35:09,641 --> 00:35:12,308
[ RUMBLING ]
705
00:35:12,310 --> 00:35:14,911
Bullock:
WE'RE DISCOVERING THAT FOR ALL
THEIR DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTIES,
706
00:35:14,913 --> 00:35:17,180
QUASARS ALSO HAVE
A CREATIVE SIDE,
707
00:35:17,182 --> 00:35:19,583
SO IT VERY WELL MAY BE THAT
THE UNIVERSE WE SEE AROUND US
708
00:35:19,585 --> 00:35:22,585
WAS SHAPED BY QUASARS.
709
00:35:22,587 --> 00:35:25,655
Narrator: STARS ARE THE ESSENCE
OF A GALAXY,
710
00:35:25,657 --> 00:35:28,858
BUT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.
711
00:35:28,860 --> 00:35:32,061
TOO MANY STARS
CAN ACTUALLY BE A PROBLEM.
712
00:35:32,063 --> 00:35:34,130
Olusey: HAVING A LOT OF NEW
STAR FORMATION
713
00:35:34,132 --> 00:35:35,464
IS KIND OF A GOOD THING,
714
00:35:35,466 --> 00:35:38,201
BUT TOO MUCH OF IT
CAN BE A BAD THING.
715
00:35:38,203 --> 00:35:41,204
WHEN NEW STARS ARE BORN,
MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE
716
00:35:41,206 --> 00:35:43,406
HOT, LARGE, BLUE STARS,
717
00:35:43,408 --> 00:35:46,809
BUT EVENTUALLY, THOSE YOUNG, HOT
STARS ARE GOING TO START TO DIE,
718
00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:49,212
AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY'RE GOING
TO EXPLODE VIOLENTLY
719
00:35:49,214 --> 00:35:50,413
AS SUPERNOVAE.
720
00:35:50,415 --> 00:35:52,549
[ EXPLOSION ]
721
00:35:52,551 --> 00:35:55,151
♪♪
722
00:35:55,153 --> 00:35:56,620
Thaler:
THERE WILL BE NEW BLACK HOLES.
723
00:35:56,622 --> 00:35:57,687
THERE WILL BE JETS.
724
00:35:57,689 --> 00:35:59,089
THERE WILL BE SHOCKS
THAT ACTUALLY GO
725
00:35:59,091 --> 00:36:00,824
THROUGH THE GAS OF THE GALAXY.
726
00:36:00,826 --> 00:36:04,294
ALL OF THAT IS, EFFECTIVELY,
KILLING THE GALAXY.
727
00:36:04,296 --> 00:36:08,231
♪♪
728
00:36:08,233 --> 00:36:10,566
Narrator: LARGE BURSTS
OF STAR FORMATION
729
00:36:10,568 --> 00:36:13,436
MAKE THE GALAXY
VIOLENT AND CHAOTIC.
730
00:36:13,438 --> 00:36:17,374
STARS AND PLANETS ARE
WIPED OUT BY INTENSE RADIATION
731
00:36:17,376 --> 00:36:22,045
FROM SUPERNOVAS
AND BLACK HOLES.
732
00:36:22,047 --> 00:36:27,183
LEFT UNCHECKED,
THE GALAXY BURNS ITSELF OUT.
733
00:36:27,185 --> 00:36:30,119
BUT SOME GALAXIES
HAVE A COSMIC GUARDIAN
734
00:36:30,121 --> 00:36:33,656
CREATING QUIET,
PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOODS.
735
00:36:33,658 --> 00:36:37,127
SOMETHING IS CONTROLLING
STAR BIRTH.
736
00:36:37,129 --> 00:36:38,861
IN ORDER FOR STARS TO FORM,
737
00:36:38,863 --> 00:36:42,265
YOU NEED COOL GAS,
MOLECULAR HYDROGEN,
738
00:36:42,267 --> 00:36:44,668
AND A QUASAR
IS ANYTHING BUT COOL.
739
00:36:44,670 --> 00:36:46,002
THEY'RE COOL TO THINK ABOUT,
740
00:36:46,004 --> 00:36:48,271
BUT THEY'RE REALLY HOT
IF YOU'RE NEAR ONE.
741
00:36:48,273 --> 00:36:49,940
IF YOU'RE A GALAXY,
AND YOU'RE READY TO JUST
742
00:36:49,942 --> 00:36:51,741
FORM A BUNCH OF STARS,
743
00:36:51,743 --> 00:36:55,011
BUT THEN A QUASAR TURNS
ON IN YOUR HEART,
744
00:36:55,013 --> 00:36:57,080
THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT
HOW THOSE STARS FORM.
745
00:36:57,082 --> 00:37:01,817
SO THE FATE OF COLD GAS IN
A GALAXY IS INCREDIBLY TIGHTLY
746
00:37:01,819 --> 00:37:03,552
COUPLED TO THE FATE
OF STAR FORMATION
747
00:37:03,554 --> 00:37:05,488
THROUGHOUT THAT GALAXY,
748
00:37:05,490 --> 00:37:08,391
AND WE THINK THAT
QUASARS DEPOSIT SO MUCH ENERGY
749
00:37:08,393 --> 00:37:10,360
INTO THEIR AMBIENT SURROUNDINGS
750
00:37:10,362 --> 00:37:13,163
THAT THEY CAN PREVENT
THE FORMATION
751
00:37:13,165 --> 00:37:16,299
OF VERY, VERY COLD GAS
BY HEATING IT UP.
752
00:37:16,301 --> 00:37:20,303
♪♪
753
00:37:20,305 --> 00:37:22,572
Narrator: QUASARS PUMP
HUGE AMOUNTS OF HEAT
754
00:37:22,574 --> 00:37:24,307
INTO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
755
00:37:24,309 --> 00:37:28,378
ONE WAY THEY DO THIS IS THROUGH
AN EXTREME COSMIC HURRICANE
756
00:37:28,380 --> 00:37:30,513
CALLED A QUASAR WIND.
757
00:37:30,515 --> 00:37:32,982
♪♪
758
00:37:32,984 --> 00:37:34,384
YOU HAVE A WIND OF LIGHT.
759
00:37:34,386 --> 00:37:36,653
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH LIGHT
THAT'S BEING POWERED
760
00:37:36,655 --> 00:37:38,321
BY THIS SPINNING DISK
OF MATERIAL
761
00:37:38,323 --> 00:37:40,390
AROUND THIS SUPERMASSIVE
BLACK HOLE
762
00:37:40,392 --> 00:37:42,726
THAT THAT LIGHT CAN ACTUALLY
PUSH ON THE DUST
763
00:37:42,728 --> 00:37:44,728
AND THE GAS IN THE CORE
OF THE GALAXY
764
00:37:44,730 --> 00:37:46,529
AND PUSH IT OUTWARDS
VERY RAPIDLY,
765
00:37:46,531 --> 00:37:48,631
AND THESE WINDS
CAN BE REALLY FAST.
766
00:37:48,633 --> 00:37:50,200
Thaler: IT'S NOT
THE KIND OF WIND YOU AND I
767
00:37:50,202 --> 00:37:51,534
ARE USED TO THINKING ABOUT.
768
00:37:51,536 --> 00:37:53,737
IT'S ACTUALLY A STREAM
OF HIGH-ENERGY PARTICLES.
769
00:37:53,739 --> 00:37:55,738
IN SOME CASES, THESE PARTICLES
CAN BE TRAVELING
770
00:37:55,740 --> 00:37:58,674
AT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF MILES AN HOUR.
771
00:37:58,676 --> 00:38:01,611
Narrator: THE COOL, STAR-FORMING
MATERIAL IN THE GALAXY
772
00:38:01,613 --> 00:38:04,947
BECOMES HOT AND TURBULENT.
773
00:38:04,949 --> 00:38:07,884
INSTEAD OF HAVING THESE NICE,
TRANQUIL CLOUDS
774
00:38:07,886 --> 00:38:09,419
OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN
775
00:38:09,421 --> 00:38:12,222
COLLAPSING UNDER GRAVITY,
NOW HERE COMES THIS BIG,
776
00:38:12,224 --> 00:38:15,024
GIANT NASTY QUASAR
WIND DISRUPTING EVERYTHING.
777
00:38:15,026 --> 00:38:17,694
Isler: IT'S GOING TO BASICALLY
WARM THE GALAXY TOO MUCH,
778
00:38:17,696 --> 00:38:19,763
AND THAT GALAXY IS GOING TO HAVE
779
00:38:19,765 --> 00:38:21,831
WHAT WE CALL QUENCHED
STAR FORMATION,
780
00:38:21,833 --> 00:38:25,435
SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOWER
RATE OF FORMING NEW STARS
781
00:38:25,437 --> 00:38:26,970
THAN WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO.
782
00:38:26,972 --> 00:38:30,239
♪♪
783
00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:33,242
Narrator: QUASARS HAVE ANOTHER
STAR-SUPPRESSING WEAPON
784
00:38:33,244 --> 00:38:35,978
IN THEIR COSMIC ARMORY.
785
00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:37,981
THERE'S ANOTHER MODE
THAT WE THINK EXISTS,
786
00:38:37,983 --> 00:38:40,383
AND THAT IS MECHANICAL,
OR KINETIC, FEEDBACK,
787
00:38:40,385 --> 00:38:42,319
AND THAT IS LITERALLY THIS.
RIGHT?
788
00:38:42,321 --> 00:38:43,920
THAT IS MOMENTUM INJECTION.
789
00:38:43,922 --> 00:38:47,524
THAT IS A FREIGHT TRAIN
PLOWING THROUGH A GALAXY
790
00:38:47,526 --> 00:38:51,194
IN THE FORM OF A JET LAUNCHED BY
THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE,
791
00:38:51,196 --> 00:38:55,999
AND THAT JET, JUST LIKE A TRUCK
PLOWING A SNOWY STREET,
792
00:38:56,001 --> 00:38:58,735
PUSHES MATERIAL OUT OF THE WAY.
793
00:38:58,737 --> 00:39:03,172
Narrator: THEY BULLDOZE THE GAS
TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE GALAXY.
794
00:39:03,174 --> 00:39:05,542
Bullock: THEY BLOW OUT
TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.
795
00:39:05,544 --> 00:39:07,744
THEY SPIT OUT GAS,
AND WHAT HAPPENS
796
00:39:07,746 --> 00:39:09,746
IS IT STOPS THE PROCESS
OF STAR FORMATION.
797
00:39:09,748 --> 00:39:12,415
THERE'S LESS FUEL
FOR NEW STARS TO BE MADE.
798
00:39:12,417 --> 00:39:15,951
Narrator:
QUASARS SUPPRESS STAR FORMATION
799
00:39:15,953 --> 00:39:17,887
WITH WINDS AND JETS.
800
00:39:17,889 --> 00:39:20,156
BUT IF THEY CONTINUE
EJECTING GAS,
801
00:39:20,158 --> 00:39:23,426
THEY WOULD PERMANENTLY
SHUT OFF STAR BIRTH,
802
00:39:23,428 --> 00:39:24,961
KILLING THEIR GALAXY.
803
00:39:24,963 --> 00:39:28,631
LUCKILY, THEY STOP
BEFORE CAUSING FATAL DAMAGE.
804
00:39:28,633 --> 00:39:31,434
EVENTUALLY, THE GAS
IN THE CENTER OF THAT GALAXY
805
00:39:31,436 --> 00:39:32,835
IS GOING TO RUN OUT,
806
00:39:32,837 --> 00:39:34,770
AND WHEN IT DOES,
IT'S LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH,
807
00:39:34,772 --> 00:39:37,106
AND YOU'RE TURNING
THE QUASAR OFF.
808
00:39:37,108 --> 00:39:38,641
♪♪
809
00:39:38,643 --> 00:39:41,511
Narrator: QUASARS ARE FUELED
BY COOL GAS.
810
00:39:41,513 --> 00:39:46,182
HAVING BLOWN AWAY ITS FUEL,
THE QUASAR ITSELF WILL DIE.
811
00:39:46,184 --> 00:39:51,855
GAS CLOUDS COOL, AND STARS
BEGIN TO FORM AGAIN.
812
00:39:51,857 --> 00:39:54,857
BUT THE COOLING GAS
ALSO FALLS BACK
813
00:39:54,859 --> 00:39:57,393
TOWARDS THE
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE,
814
00:39:57,395 --> 00:40:02,598
PROVIDING NEW FUEL
FOR THE QUASAR TO REIGNITE.
815
00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,935
AND SO THE BLACK HOLE, IN A LOT
OF WAYS, CAN SHUT ITSELF OFF,
816
00:40:05,937 --> 00:40:08,003
JUST LIKE A THERMOSTAT
IN YOUR LIVING ROOM,
817
00:40:08,005 --> 00:40:10,540
WHERE, IF THE ROOM GETS TOO
COLD, YOUR THERMOSTAT KICKS IN.
818
00:40:10,542 --> 00:40:12,608
THE HEAT TURNS ON
AND GETS TO A POINT
819
00:40:12,610 --> 00:40:15,878
WHERE THE ROOM IS NOW TOO HOT,
AND THE THERMOSTAT KICKS OFF.
820
00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:19,615
WHEN THE QUASAR TURNS ON, IT'S
LIKE YOU STOP STAR FORMATION,
821
00:40:19,617 --> 00:40:21,084
AND THEN WHEN IT TURNS OFF,
822
00:40:21,086 --> 00:40:23,686
IT'S LIKE YOU'VE TURNED
STAR FORMATION BACK ON.
823
00:40:23,688 --> 00:40:27,090
QUASARS REGULATE STAR FORMATION
SO THAT NOT TOO MANY STARS
824
00:40:27,092 --> 00:40:29,359
ARE FORMED ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
825
00:40:29,361 --> 00:40:31,294
♪♪
826
00:40:31,296 --> 00:40:33,563
Narrator: BY REGULATING
STAR FORMATION,
827
00:40:33,565 --> 00:40:38,367
QUASARS CONTROL THE FUTURE
STAR FORMATION OF THE GALAXY.
828
00:40:38,369 --> 00:40:41,904
SO WE THINK AS QUASARS AS THESE
INCREDIBLY VIOLENT PHENOMENON,
829
00:40:41,906 --> 00:40:44,174
BUT IN ACTUALITY, THEY ARE
MUCH MORE SUBTLE AND ELEGANT
830
00:40:44,176 --> 00:40:45,641
THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.
831
00:40:45,643 --> 00:40:47,844
IN A SENSE, THEY'RE A FORCE
FOR CREATION, AS WELL,
832
00:40:47,846 --> 00:40:52,181
BECAUSE THEY ARE MITIGATING HOW
STARS ARE FORMING IN GALAXIES.
833
00:40:52,183 --> 00:40:54,183
IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT
QUASAR ACTIVITY
834
00:40:54,185 --> 00:40:57,053
IS ESSENTIAL
FOR GALAXY DEVELOPMENT,
835
00:40:57,055 --> 00:40:59,522
SO IN THAT SENSE, WE HAVE
AN EQUILIBRIUM GENERATED
836
00:40:59,524 --> 00:41:01,190
BY QUASAR ACTIVITY.
837
00:41:01,192 --> 00:41:04,727
YOU COULD KEEP THEM
ON AN EVEN KEEL.
838
00:41:04,729 --> 00:41:06,729
Narrator: QUASARS
ARE A RITE OF PASSAGE
839
00:41:06,731 --> 00:41:08,531
FOR YOUNG GALAXIES,
840
00:41:08,533 --> 00:41:12,735
GRADUATING FROM CHAOTIC
STAR-FORMING ADOLESCENCE
841
00:41:12,737 --> 00:41:18,307
INTO MATURE,
STABLE GALAXIES LIKE OUR OWN.
842
00:41:18,309 --> 00:41:19,742
THE EXISTENCE OF QUASARS
843
00:41:19,744 --> 00:41:22,479
MAY BE ESSENTIAL TO
THE HEALTH OF A GALAXY.
844
00:41:22,481 --> 00:41:24,680
BUT WE THINK THEY PLAY
AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ROLE
845
00:41:24,682 --> 00:41:28,217
IN THE EVOLUTION OF GALAXIES
THROUGHOUT COSMIC TIME.
846
00:41:28,219 --> 00:41:30,520
Krauss: QUASARS ARE THE MOST
ENERGETIC OBJECTS
847
00:41:30,522 --> 00:41:31,888
IN THE UNIVERSE.
848
00:41:31,890 --> 00:41:34,356
THEY SEEM TO ALMOST DEFY
THE LAWS OF NATURE,
849
00:41:34,358 --> 00:41:36,759
BUT THEY'RE ALSO TOOLS.
850
00:41:36,761 --> 00:41:39,562
THEY'RE TOOLS THAT ALLOW US
TO UNDERSTAND OUR OWN ORIGINS.
851
00:41:39,564 --> 00:41:41,564
WE CAN USE QUASARS
TO HELP UNDERSTAND
852
00:41:41,566 --> 00:41:47,436
THE ORIGINS OF GALAXIES,
THE ORIGINS OF STARS.
853
00:41:47,438 --> 00:41:50,440
Narrator: QUASARS HELP CREATE
STABLE GALAXIES,
854
00:41:50,442 --> 00:41:53,776
THE KIND OF GALAXIES
THAT COULD SUSTAIN LIFE.
855
00:41:53,778 --> 00:41:55,712
♪♪
856
00:41:55,714 --> 00:41:57,780
Sutter: WE ARE CONNECTED
TO THE UNIVERSE
857
00:41:57,782 --> 00:42:01,384
IN A BEAUTIFUL
AND FUNDAMENTAL WAY.
858
00:42:01,386 --> 00:42:04,854
SO QUASARS, EVEN THOUGH
THEY'RE INCREDIBLY VIOLENT,
859
00:42:04,856 --> 00:42:06,856
THEY'RE A PART OF GALAXIES,
860
00:42:06,858 --> 00:42:09,592
AND THEY'RE A PART
OF GALACTIC EVOLUTION.
861
00:42:09,594 --> 00:42:11,861
♪♪
862
00:42:11,863 --> 00:42:14,130
Narrator: SOMETIMES,
IN ORDER TO CREATE,
863
00:42:14,132 --> 00:42:15,932
YOU HAVE TO DESTROY.
864
00:42:15,934 --> 00:42:18,201
♪♪
865
00:42:18,203 --> 00:42:21,671
QUASARS HAVE SHAPED
THE UNIVERSE.
866
00:42:21,673 --> 00:42:25,608
WITHOUT THEM,
WE MIGHT NOT EVEN EXIST.
867
00:42:25,610 --> 00:42:28,478
♪♪
67608
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