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and may contain
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Viewer discretion
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.
and may contain
mature subject matter.
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You know what?
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I've been around
for a while.
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I've travelled the world,
met some interesting people,
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done some crazy things.
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So, you might just think
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there's not much
that could take me by surprise.
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You'd be wrong.
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The world is full
of stories and science
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and things that
amaze and confound me
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every single day,
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incredible mysteries
that keep me awake at night.
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00:00:39,367 --> 00:00:40,734
Some I can answer.
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Others just defy logic.
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Does the brain
have the power to kill?
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Can the mind become
our most powerful weapon?
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The U.S. Army
investigates the paranormal,
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asking if future conflicts
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could be fought
using mind control.
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A boy loses his thumb
in a horrific accident,
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only to have it grow back,
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thanks to a
mysterious magical powder.
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Can we really
regenerate our limbs?
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And in Indonesia --
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an incredible
archeological find.
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Did humans
once share the earth
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with a race of hobbits?
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Yup...
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it's a weird world.
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And I love it.
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Throughout time,
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magicians,
psychics and mentalists
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have claimed that
they can move or lift objects,
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walk through walls
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and affect
the outcome of events --
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or even cause bodily harm,
using only the power of thought.
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But do these paranormal powers
actually exist?
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Can humans really
use their mind to affect matter?
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"But come on,"
I hear you say,
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"Psychic power, for real?"
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"What levelheaded person
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"would possibly take
such a crazy idea seriously?"
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Well, how about
the United States Army?
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One, two, three, four!
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William Shatner:
In the late 1970s,
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the U.S. military
did something very strange.
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A group of top soldiers
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started to investigate
whether the mind
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could be used as a weapon.
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Among them
was U.S. Army colonel
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John Alexander.
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We had been blindsided
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by the Soviets
on several occasions,
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and so,
we had some senior leaders
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who were
willing to explore,
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uh, very unique areas.
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And paranormal phenomena
was one of those.
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William Shatner:
The Army set up
a top-secret outfit
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called the
Stargate Project
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to harness paranormal powers
for military use.
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Some soldiers felt
they had already
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experienced the paranormal,
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while advancing
through enemy territory
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in the jungles
of Vietnam.
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They called it
point man syndrome.
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John Alexander:
When certain people
are on point,
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uh, they sense things,
like where are mines,
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where are ambushes
and whatnot.
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Other people
don't have that.
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Why? Don't know.
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William Shatner:
John Alexander
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investigated psychokinesis,
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the ability to move objects
just by thinking.
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His experimentation
started with spoon bending.
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We had a session
at my house.
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General Stubblebine,
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who was the head
of INSCOM at the time,
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was present,
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and we had
a truly phenomenal event
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occur directly
in front of us.
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William Shatner:
At this top-secret session,
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a psychic
was asked to demonstrate
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the power of the mind.
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The guy held up a fork,
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and this thing
just dropped over 90 degrees.
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And we saw that,
and we said,
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"Wow, need to look into
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"how you can
do that sort of thing."
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And so,
that led to the process,
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and we set up
a program to do that.
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I ended up
being able to teach this,
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and we used it,
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not because bending cutlery
makes any sense at all.
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It was to get mindset.
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It was how do you
convince people not to think
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within the box,
if you will.
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William Shatner:
Alexander focused
his unit's time and resources
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into learning
this psychokinesis.
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Amazingly, it wasn't long before
he started to get results.
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This particular one
was a lieutenant colonel.
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He was holding these forks
just like this.
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They used to be matched.
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Um, this thing dropped
over a full 90 degrees,
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with all of us watching,
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came back up
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and went to
where it is now.
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And you can see...
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that however you look at it,
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those are
dramatically different --
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absolutely no
physical force involved.
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William Shatner:
Encouraged by their
fork-bending success,
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Alexander
and General Stubblebine
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started programs
to train soldiers
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to use
other paranormal powers,
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like remote viewing.
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Remote viewing is
a means of data acquisition.
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I guess you'd colloquially
call it psychic spying.
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Uh, you had an individual
who was in a chamber --
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in that case,
usually, at Fort Meade.
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They were given
specific targets,
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although they knew
nothing about the target--
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And said,
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"Tell us about what's going on
at that location."
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William Shatner:
The Russians had built
a huge concrete structure,
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but U.S. intelligence
had no idea what it was for.
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00:05:48,033 --> 00:05:50,400
Alexander asked
remote viewer number one,
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Joe McMoneagle,
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to use his psychic powers
to see inside.
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And he
described the building.
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All they gave him, initially,
by the way, were coordinates.
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Described the building,
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then went inside,
looked and says,
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"There's a big
submarine in there,"
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and he described it and says,
"It's double hulled."
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"Most interesting
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"is that the missiles
are forward of the sail."
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Before that,
all of them had been behind --
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00:06:16,467 --> 00:06:18,333
and a number
of other technologies,
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to which our boat builder said,
"You can't do that."
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"If you build
a submarine that big,
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"it would go to depth
and crush and whatnot."
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Well, guess what?
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It became known as
the Typhoon class submarine.
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Again,
our intelligence community
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had totally missed it
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because we had not heard
that there were changes coming,
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and we also
did not believe --
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you know,
this cerebral centrism --
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that anybody else
could do it.
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Unknown to the U.S.,
the Russians had developed
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a new, ultra-secret
class of submarine,
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the largest in the world,
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with multiple
titanium pressure hulls.
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And now,
thanks to the supposed
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paranormal power
of a U.S. Army soldier,
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the Russians' secret was out.
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Was this result
an incredible stroke of luck,
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a coincidence,
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or had the military
application of remote viewing,
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psychic espionage,
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actually paid off?
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There's usually
a pretty simple explanation
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for what seems to be
an extraordinary event.
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William Shatner:
Jim Underdown has
devoted his life
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to testing claims
of paranormal powers.
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We take it upon ourselves
to use science to explain
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why some people
hold some of these beliefs.
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William Shatner:
The Center for Inquiry
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invites people
to prove their powers
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in a scientifically sound
testing environment.
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We had a woman who, um,
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claimed to look
inside the human body
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and tell if a kidney
was missing or not.
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Uh, she failed her test.
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We had people who claimed
to be able to send words
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from one person to another.
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Um, he failed.
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So, lots of people come forward
with these claims.
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Zero are successful.
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William Shatner:
In fact, Underdown thinks
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their claimed powers
have more to do with magicians
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than with the supernatural.
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Magicians are helpful
in making inquiries
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into some of these claims
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because we
suspect fraud sometimes,
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and sometimes,
the simplest parlour magic trick
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is employed in the guise
of supernatural power.
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William Shatner:
Skeptic investigator
and magician Mark Edward
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knows how
spoon bending is done,
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and it's got nothing to do
with paranormal powers.
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A lot of people are
interested in spoon bending,
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so I'm gonna just show you
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how easy it really is,
if you focus your mind.
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So, focus on "bend."
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Think of "bend."
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Yeah, yes, I can feel it
starting to loosen.
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Yes, slightly.
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A little more.
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Keep concentrating.
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There we go, yes.
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Jim:
Whoa!
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A lot of psychic energy
in the room,
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and let's just try
and get this part.
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This is really good.
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00:09:05,266 --> 00:09:07,967
You'll see it just droop.
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William Shatner:
Mark is a magician,
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00:09:09,967 --> 00:09:12,066
so he can't reveal
how the trick is done,
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but it goes
something like this.
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The spoon is already bent,
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but Mark is hiding the handle
behind his fingers.
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Mark has a false handle,
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which he pinches to make it
look like the spoon is straight.
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Releasing his grip
makes the false handle drop,
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so it looks like
the spoon is bending.
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00:09:31,066 --> 00:09:33,333
When Mark
shows us the bent spoon,
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he's actually diverting
attention away from the fact
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he's pocketing
the false handle.
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Try and get this part.
This is really good.
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It is impossible to think
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that the spoon could
bend on its own
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without cheating.
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In order for the spoon
to bend on its own,
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you have to cheat.
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There is no
physical way to do that.
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William Shatner:
For Jim Underdown,
spoon bending is representative
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of the vast majority
of claims of paranormal ability,
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including the ones
researched by the U.S. Army.
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00:10:03,333 --> 00:10:06,734
So, did the U.S. military
waste millions of tax dollars
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00:10:06,867 --> 00:10:08,233
on paranormal research?
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After all,
it's all nonsense, right?
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Well, maybe not.
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You see,
it's not just the Army
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that has taken
such spookiness seriously.
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Researchers at Stanford
and Princeton universities
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studied phenomena
like ESP and psychokinesis
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for 30 years.
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And today,
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some scientists
believe laboratory evidence
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00:10:28,066 --> 00:10:31,700
for such psychic ability
might actually exist.
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♪
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William Shatner:
Can we move distant objects
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and even kill people
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00:10:44,967 --> 00:10:47,533
just by using our minds?
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00:10:47,667 --> 00:10:49,000
In the late 1970s,
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00:10:49,133 --> 00:10:50,834
the U.S. military decided
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00:10:50,967 --> 00:10:54,600
to investigate
the power of psychokinesis.
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00:10:54,734 --> 00:10:57,200
Dean Radin
is a parapsychologist
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00:10:57,333 --> 00:11:00,333
at the
Institute of Noetic Sciences.
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00:11:00,467 --> 00:11:02,500
He's devised an experiment
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00:11:02,633 --> 00:11:05,133
intended to produce
evidence that psychokinesis
253
00:11:05,266 --> 00:11:07,633
might actually exist.
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00:11:09,166 --> 00:11:11,367
This is an experiment
looking at the relationship
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00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:13,834
between mind and matter.
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00:11:13,967 --> 00:11:15,867
William Shatner:
Radin believes the human mind
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00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,133
is capable of
interacting with something
258
00:11:18,266 --> 00:11:20,633
far smaller than spoons --
259
00:11:20,767 --> 00:11:22,133
photons,
260
00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:24,633
the subatomic particles
that make up light.
261
00:11:26,967 --> 00:11:29,467
Lisa is asked
to place her attention
262
00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,033
on an optical system,
which has a laser beam in it.
263
00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:34,700
William Shatner:
Hidden from view,
264
00:11:34,834 --> 00:11:36,533
a laser shoots
a beam of photons
265
00:11:36,667 --> 00:11:39,367
through two tiny slits
etched in a slide
266
00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,033
to create an
interference pattern.
267
00:11:42,166 --> 00:11:43,533
Dean Radin:
She's at a distance.
268
00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:45,033
She's not able
to see the beam itself,
269
00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:48,700
but she's asked to imagine
that she could see the beam.
270
00:11:48,834 --> 00:11:50,967
William Shatner:
According to his theory,
271
00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:52,967
if psychokinesis exists,
272
00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:54,867
the subject should be
able to influence
273
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,867
the nature
of the interference pattern
274
00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,200
just by thinking
about the photons.
275
00:12:00,333 --> 00:12:03,200
Dean Radin:
This picture here
is showing what the camera sees
276
00:12:03,333 --> 00:12:05,033
in the double-slit system.
277
00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:07,800
And here, we're measuring
what's happening in her brain.
278
00:12:07,934 --> 00:12:11,266
So, we want to see,
is there a relationship
279
00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,433
between the EEG
and the interference pattern?
280
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,033
If we can show
that the relationship exists,
281
00:12:17,166 --> 00:12:19,500
then that's showing
a mind/matter interconnection.
282
00:12:19,633 --> 00:12:22,200
William Shatner:
The experiment begins.
283
00:12:22,333 --> 00:12:24,867
Computer:
Welcome to the
double-slit experiment.
284
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,367
Please relax.
285
00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:27,867
Okay.
286
00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,834
Computer:
Please influence the beam now.
287
00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:33,200
William Shatner:
The subject is asked to imagine,
288
00:12:33,333 --> 00:12:35,767
in her mind's eye,
the interference pattern.
289
00:12:39,834 --> 00:12:41,667
Computer:
You may now relax.
290
00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,300
William Shatner:
Then she's told to
ignore the pattern completely.
291
00:12:47,967 --> 00:12:50,000
At the conclusion
of the experiment,
292
00:12:50,133 --> 00:12:52,734
the images
of the interference pattern
293
00:12:52,867 --> 00:12:55,066
are compared to the EEG readout.
294
00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,734
Dean Radin:
These--
295
00:12:57,867 --> 00:13:01,266
These colours are showing
the degree of correlation.
296
00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,000
If it's positive,
we get a redder colour,
297
00:13:04,133 --> 00:13:05,500
and so,
this is interesting.
298
00:13:05,633 --> 00:13:08,867
This suggests
that when Lisa
299
00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,400
is paying attention
to the optical system,
300
00:13:11,533 --> 00:13:13,900
we actually see a change
in the optical system,
301
00:13:14,033 --> 00:13:16,133
even though
she's doing it in her mind.
302
00:13:16,266 --> 00:13:18,900
William Shatner:
Could this be coincidence?
303
00:13:19,033 --> 00:13:20,400
Dean Radin:
If we see red,
304
00:13:20,533 --> 00:13:22,033
it means that
there's a relationship.
305
00:13:22,166 --> 00:13:23,734
If we see
this kind of red,
306
00:13:23,867 --> 00:13:26,266
it means it's a highly
significant relationship.
307
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:27,800
It's meaningful
308
00:13:27,934 --> 00:13:30,200
that the relationship
that we're seeing is not chance.
309
00:13:30,333 --> 00:13:32,700
It's a real effect.
310
00:13:32,834 --> 00:13:36,700
William Shatner:
So, maybe the mind
can affect matter, after all.
311
00:13:36,834 --> 00:13:40,667
However, Radin's findings
are controversial,
312
00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,500
and the majority
of scientists remain skeptical
313
00:13:42,633 --> 00:13:45,266
about psychokinesis.
314
00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:46,767
Nevertheless,
315
00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:49,000
anecdotal reports
suggest that the U.S. military
316
00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:51,066
restarted
its paranormal research
317
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,133
in the wake of 9/11.
318
00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:55,367
Probably, the
biggest thing that happened
319
00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:58,533
was causing people to think
and think differently
320
00:13:58,667 --> 00:14:01,600
and to think beyond
the realm of the possible,
321
00:14:01,734 --> 00:14:03,100
as they knew it.
322
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:05,567
So, whether psychokinesis
323
00:14:05,700 --> 00:14:08,033
turns out to be
a genuine phenomena,
324
00:14:08,166 --> 00:14:10,033
embraced by those
with open minds,
325
00:14:10,166 --> 00:14:13,834
or merely
cynical sleights of hand,
326
00:14:13,967 --> 00:14:15,700
the U.S. military's
investigation
327
00:14:15,834 --> 00:14:19,200
into whether the mind could be
used as a psychic weapon
328
00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:21,700
is definitely...
329
00:14:21,834 --> 00:14:24,300
weird, or what?
330
00:14:37,066 --> 00:14:39,834
A boy loses his thumb
in a horrific accident,
331
00:14:39,967 --> 00:14:43,266
only to have it grow back.
332
00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,467
Can we really
regenerate our limbs?
333
00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:55,700
♪
334
00:14:55,834 --> 00:14:57,200
Ow!
335
00:14:57,333 --> 00:14:58,700
Almost lost
a finger there.
336
00:14:58,834 --> 00:15:01,767
Need to hang onto that
little pinky for a while yet.
337
00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:04,433
But did you know that if
I were a salamander or a newt,
338
00:15:04,567 --> 00:15:05,934
it wouldn't be
such a big deal?
339
00:15:06,066 --> 00:15:08,600
If they lose a limb or a tail,
they can grow another.
340
00:15:08,734 --> 00:15:11,433
Wouldn't that
kind of ability be cool?
341
00:15:11,567 --> 00:15:15,600
But why would a newt
be chopping vegetables?
342
00:15:15,734 --> 00:15:16,467
Oh!
343
00:15:18,166 --> 00:15:20,600
But could humans do the same
344
00:15:20,734 --> 00:15:23,834
and regenerate their limbs?
345
00:15:23,967 --> 00:15:25,667
Sounds like science fiction.
346
00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,867
Well, it's not.
347
00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,333
As this next story will show,
348
00:15:30,467 --> 00:15:32,300
the future
is most definitely here.
349
00:15:32,433 --> 00:15:34,867
2009, South Florida.
350
00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,300
A typical day
for the Meraz family.
351
00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:39,834
Father Froylan goes outside
352
00:15:39,967 --> 00:15:41,934
to begin
washing the family car.
353
00:15:42,066 --> 00:15:44,567
He is accompanied
by his two small sons,
354
00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:47,400
Froylan Junior
and 14-month-old Jeevan,
355
00:15:47,533 --> 00:15:49,633
while mother
Jeanette is inside.
356
00:15:49,767 --> 00:15:51,233
What happened next would be
357
00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:52,900
the beginning
of a bizarre journey
358
00:15:53,033 --> 00:15:54,533
into the scientific unknown.
359
00:15:54,667 --> 00:15:56,200
Froylan Meraz:
He was stepping out.
360
00:15:56,333 --> 00:15:59,467
He was coming out
from the house to the outside,
361
00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,533
when Jeevan was following him.
362
00:16:02,667 --> 00:16:05,200
He never noticed
363
00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:07,600
that Jeevan was behind him.
364
00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:11,266
He shut the door like
a "normally" kid will do,
365
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,100
and, um, Jeevan was grabbing
the edge of the door,
366
00:16:15,233 --> 00:16:17,600
and he shut the door.
367
00:16:17,734 --> 00:16:20,767
William Shatner:
In an instant,
Jeevan's right thumb is cut off,
368
00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,433
just below the nail.
369
00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:26,066
I grabbed some rag --
370
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,600
a towel from the kitchen.
371
00:16:27,734 --> 00:16:29,367
So, I put it
around his finger.
372
00:16:29,500 --> 00:16:31,433
Froylan Meraz:
So, we were like,
"We need to rush,"
373
00:16:31,567 --> 00:16:34,233
yeah, 'cause he was
losing a lot of blood.
374
00:16:34,367 --> 00:16:36,233
I believe she was
on her second towel,
375
00:16:36,367 --> 00:16:39,266
um, I mean, of blood.
376
00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,266
So, we just
rushed to the hospital.
377
00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,767
William Shatner:
As they rush to
get medical help,
378
00:16:44,900 --> 00:16:47,734
Jeanette and Froylan
have no idea
379
00:16:47,867 --> 00:16:50,300
just how badly injured
their son is.
380
00:16:50,433 --> 00:16:52,934
The toddler's thumb
receives treatment,
381
00:16:53,066 --> 00:16:54,734
but the parents are told
382
00:16:54,867 --> 00:16:57,433
that since the rest
of his thumb is missing,
383
00:16:57,567 --> 00:17:00,700
the boy's thumb will be
disfigured for life.
384
00:17:00,834 --> 00:17:06,433
We were at the hospital
and waiting for the results.
385
00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:08,567
The doctor told us that,
386
00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:10,033
probably,
he was gonna
387
00:17:10,166 --> 00:17:13,000
lose his thumb.
388
00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:15,967
And that was a bad news for us,
at the moment.
389
00:17:16,100 --> 00:17:19,367
William Shatner:
The Meraz family is devastated.
390
00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:22,934
They believe their youngest son
will be permanently scarred
391
00:17:23,066 --> 00:17:25,934
and partially disabled.
392
00:17:26,066 --> 00:17:29,667
But days later, their
pediatrician offers some hope.
393
00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,867
He sends them to see a doctor
named Juan Bravo.
394
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,700
He has a controversial new
treatment that can improve
395
00:17:36,834 --> 00:17:39,533
Jeevan's condition.
396
00:17:39,667 --> 00:17:42,767
The product simply is a powder
and is applied to the wound bed,
397
00:17:42,900 --> 00:17:45,767
and, pretty much,
you reapply
398
00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:48,433
and reapply
every 24, 48 hours,
399
00:17:48,567 --> 00:17:51,500
and the tissue
regenerates underneath it.
400
00:17:51,633 --> 00:17:54,367
William Shatner:
Could Jeevan's finger be saved
401
00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:56,500
simply by using
a magic powder?
402
00:17:56,633 --> 00:17:59,367
It's an extraordinary claim.
403
00:17:59,500 --> 00:18:00,934
We called the mother,
404
00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:02,433
and I remember
I called her and said,
405
00:18:02,567 --> 00:18:04,433
"Listen,
we've come upon a product
406
00:18:04,567 --> 00:18:06,533
"that is supposed to be
great for fingers."
407
00:18:06,667 --> 00:18:08,934
"I got pictures
to show you."
408
00:18:09,066 --> 00:18:10,433
"It should not have
any side effects
409
00:18:10,567 --> 00:18:13,433
"or any
future complications for him,
410
00:18:13,567 --> 00:18:16,734
"and, um, we would like
to try it with him."
411
00:18:16,867 --> 00:18:19,367
And, uh,
she was all up for it.
412
00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:21,433
William Shatner:
But Bravo's magic powder
413
00:18:21,567 --> 00:18:24,000
had never been used
on a baby before.
414
00:18:24,133 --> 00:18:27,066
With no guarantee
of success,
415
00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,066
Jeanette and Froylan
would have to take a risk.
416
00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,633
It was the first time that they
had used that on a baby.
417
00:18:33,767 --> 00:18:35,166
So, I mean,
I believe they--
418
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:38,166
it was a first trial,
419
00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:41,033
and we give them the yes.
420
00:18:41,166 --> 00:18:43,433
William Shatner:
Knowing little
of the treatment's
421
00:18:43,567 --> 00:18:45,700
mysterious healing power,
422
00:18:45,834 --> 00:18:48,600
only days after
the first application,
423
00:18:48,734 --> 00:18:52,000
Jeanette and Froylan
checked Jeevan's wound.
424
00:18:52,133 --> 00:18:54,734
What they found
was astonishing.
425
00:18:54,867 --> 00:18:58,400
We started seeing
that his finger
426
00:18:58,533 --> 00:19:01,233
was starting to get a shape.
427
00:19:01,367 --> 00:19:02,834
We were surprised.
428
00:19:02,967 --> 00:19:04,300
We never thought
it was gonna work.
429
00:19:04,433 --> 00:19:07,700
We applied powder every 48 hours
for the first two weeks,
430
00:19:07,834 --> 00:19:09,734
and then we spread it out
to three times a week,
431
00:19:09,867 --> 00:19:11,266
the third week.
432
00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,567
And this really was no need,
after the third week.
433
00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:16,633
William Shatner:
It seems like science fiction.
434
00:19:16,767 --> 00:19:19,333
In just over three weeks,
435
00:19:19,467 --> 00:19:21,467
the seemingly
miraculous has occurred.
436
00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,667
After severing his digit,
437
00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,800
Jeevan's thumb
has grown back --
438
00:19:25,934 --> 00:19:28,734
nail,
fingerprint and all.
439
00:19:28,867 --> 00:19:31,667
It looks like 99 per cent
440
00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,667
equal to his left thumb.
441
00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,667
Juan Bravo:
When we finally
removed the scab
442
00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,100
that was formed
by the magic dust,
443
00:19:39,233 --> 00:19:41,300
what was underneath it,
it was normal skin.
444
00:19:41,433 --> 00:19:42,800
It was a normal finger.
445
00:19:42,934 --> 00:19:44,300
It was like
it never happened.
446
00:19:44,433 --> 00:19:46,433
It's hard to believe
that this finger was gonna
447
00:19:46,567 --> 00:19:49,133
regenerate that fast
and heal that fast.
448
00:19:49,266 --> 00:19:50,633
I'm very happy.
449
00:19:50,767 --> 00:19:52,633
Yeah, I felt very happy
450
00:19:52,767 --> 00:19:54,900
to see that, um,
451
00:19:55,033 --> 00:19:57,867
his finger was grown.
452
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,800
William Shatner:
But did the powder alone
regenerate Jeevan's thumb?
453
00:20:01,934 --> 00:20:03,367
If so, how?
454
00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,400
Many pediatricians
455
00:20:05,533 --> 00:20:07,233
and other medical experts
are skeptical.
456
00:20:09,166 --> 00:20:11,433
They believe
Jeevan's thumb regenerating
457
00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:13,633
is not that surprising.
458
00:20:13,767 --> 00:20:16,100
It's an ability
that starts in the womb.
459
00:20:16,233 --> 00:20:18,433
Steve Badylak:
We know that we can--
460
00:20:18,567 --> 00:20:20,867
That pretty serious injuries
461
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,433
in fetuses
can be completely healed --
462
00:20:23,567 --> 00:20:25,433
normal,
like there was never an injury.
463
00:20:25,567 --> 00:20:26,934
What we do know,
464
00:20:27,066 --> 00:20:28,967
and I think
everybody would agree,
465
00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:31,233
is that young children,
for example,
466
00:20:31,367 --> 00:20:33,333
if they cut off
the tips of their fingers,
467
00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:36,266
they can
occasionally re-grow them.
468
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:37,767
That's not a miracle.
469
00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:39,400
It was gonna happen anyway.
470
00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:41,967
William Shatner:
But in 2005,
471
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:43,700
something
extraordinary happened.
472
00:20:43,834 --> 00:20:47,266
What is
less easy to explain
473
00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:49,266
is when you--
474
00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,567
You get an individual
like a Lee Spievack.
475
00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:54,500
William Shatner:
In 2004,
476
00:20:54,633 --> 00:20:56,100
Lee Spievack,
a 60-year-old man,
477
00:20:56,233 --> 00:20:58,433
had the tip
of his finger cut off
478
00:20:58,567 --> 00:21:00,133
in a gruesome accident
479
00:21:00,266 --> 00:21:02,367
caused by
a model airplane propeller.
480
00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:05,667
Weeks later,
his finger grew back.
481
00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:09,166
It was the first
documented case of an adult
482
00:21:09,300 --> 00:21:11,100
regenerating a body part.
483
00:21:11,233 --> 00:21:13,100
Remarkably,
Lee Spievack's doctor
484
00:21:13,233 --> 00:21:15,533
suggested using
the same powder
485
00:21:15,667 --> 00:21:18,967
Dr. Bravo applied
four years later on Jeevan.
486
00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:20,800
Did it do the impossible
487
00:21:20,934 --> 00:21:24,300
and regenerate
an adult human's finger?
488
00:21:24,433 --> 00:21:28,467
Dr. Ashkan Ghavami is a plastic
and reconstructive surgeon.
489
00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:33,033
He believes that it's
impossible, even in an adult.
490
00:21:33,166 --> 00:21:35,266
Well, limb generation itself,
491
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,266
limb regeneration itself,
492
00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,266
is more possible
in salamanders
493
00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:40,767
and the lizard family.
494
00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:42,266
In human beings, uh,
495
00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,133
you can regenerate skin,
but to actually
496
00:21:45,266 --> 00:21:46,767
regenerate
all the parts of a limb --
497
00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,433
the bones, the skin,
the soft tissue, fat,
498
00:21:49,567 --> 00:21:50,934
tendons, nerves --
499
00:21:51,066 --> 00:21:53,500
that's impossible,
for that to occur.
500
00:21:53,633 --> 00:21:56,367
William Shatner:
Impossible?
501
00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:59,066
So, if the controversial
and mysterious white powder
502
00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,633
doesn't regenerate
Jeevan's and Lee's
503
00:22:01,767 --> 00:22:03,867
severed digits,
what did?
504
00:22:11,433 --> 00:22:13,133
♪
505
00:22:13,266 --> 00:22:16,133
William Shatner:
An infant and an elderly man
506
00:22:16,266 --> 00:22:19,000
both regenerate their fingers
after horrific accidents,
507
00:22:19,133 --> 00:22:21,066
using a mysterious powder.
508
00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,133
How is this possible?
509
00:22:24,667 --> 00:22:27,000
Can body parts
really grow back
510
00:22:27,133 --> 00:22:30,133
from just having
the affected areas sprinkled...
511
00:22:31,633 --> 00:22:34,533
in some mysterious,
magical powder?
512
00:22:34,667 --> 00:22:36,000
Apparently so,
513
00:22:36,133 --> 00:22:38,033
and it turns out
this powder
514
00:22:38,166 --> 00:22:40,033
is not so
magical after all.
515
00:22:40,166 --> 00:22:42,467
It's made up
of something called ECM --
516
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,834
extracellular matrix.
517
00:22:44,967 --> 00:22:46,333
What's ECM?
518
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:47,834
I dunno!
519
00:22:47,967 --> 00:22:51,500
Steve Badylak
is a research professor
520
00:22:51,633 --> 00:22:54,333
from the McGowan Institute
521
00:22:54,467 --> 00:22:56,333
for regenerative medicine.
522
00:22:56,467 --> 00:23:00,166
Extracellular matrix
is the glue that holds
523
00:23:00,300 --> 00:23:03,633
all of the cells
in our body together.
524
00:23:03,767 --> 00:23:06,166
All tissues,
as most people know,
525
00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:08,166
are made up of cells,
different cell types --
526
00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:10,867
skin cells,
muscle cells, heart cells.
527
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,867
So, extra cellular matrix
is what you might think of
528
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,667
as an instructive template
529
00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,667
that all the cells in our--
530
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,834
in which
all the cells of our body live.
531
00:23:19,967 --> 00:23:21,367
We can make powder forms.
532
00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:23,667
We can make sheet forms
that look like sheets.
533
00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,333
We can make
gels out of it.
534
00:23:26,467 --> 00:23:27,834
And these are important
535
00:23:27,967 --> 00:23:29,500
for different
therapeutic applications.
536
00:23:29,633 --> 00:23:31,166
William Shatner:
Extracellular matrix
537
00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:33,500
is the scaffolding
upon which
538
00:23:33,633 --> 00:23:36,000
all tissue
in the body is built.
539
00:23:36,133 --> 00:23:39,000
This mix of protein
and connective tissue
540
00:23:39,133 --> 00:23:41,000
can signal the body
to start the process
541
00:23:41,133 --> 00:23:44,500
of re-growth,
if applied to a wound.
542
00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:46,367
Some scientists
believe it may be possible
543
00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:48,367
to use an extracellular matrix,
544
00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:50,266
one day,
to direct the process
545
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,367
of re-growing
an entire digit or limb.
546
00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:57,433
It changes the default mechanism
of healing of the body.
547
00:23:57,567 --> 00:24:00,467
It's something that, basically,
Mother Nature's been working on
548
00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,667
for hundreds of millions
of years of R and D,
549
00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,233
if you want to
think of it that way.
550
00:24:04,367 --> 00:24:08,433
William Shatner:
So, where do scientists
get their ECM from?
551
00:24:08,567 --> 00:24:09,934
Here's a clue.
552
00:24:10,066 --> 00:24:11,900
What is a cute, cuddly,
553
00:24:12,033 --> 00:24:14,100
pink farm animal
who has therapeutic
554
00:24:14,233 --> 00:24:17,467
extracellular matrix
to re-grow limbs?
555
00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:18,967
Pigs, right?
556
00:24:19,100 --> 00:24:20,467
But why pigs?
557
00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,333
Steve Badylak:
Pigs are a convenient
558
00:24:23,467 --> 00:24:26,333
and abundant source
of extracellular matrix.
559
00:24:26,467 --> 00:24:28,333
The tissues
from which they're made,
560
00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:30,633
like skin,
small intestine,
561
00:24:30,767 --> 00:24:32,133
urinary bladder,
562
00:24:32,266 --> 00:24:35,133
are throwaway products
of the agricultural industry.
563
00:24:35,266 --> 00:24:36,633
So, here's something.
564
00:24:36,767 --> 00:24:38,500
Here's a tissue
that would have been waste,
565
00:24:38,633 --> 00:24:40,834
or maybe
turned into fertilizer.
566
00:24:40,967 --> 00:24:43,133
we're now using,
as a medical device,
567
00:24:43,266 --> 00:24:44,767
a regenerative medicine tool
568
00:24:44,900 --> 00:24:46,400
for the
reconstruction of tissue.
569
00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:50,433
William Shatner:
And because pigs are
genetically similar to humans,
570
00:24:50,567 --> 00:24:52,567
the proteins
from the pig bladder
571
00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:54,567
will trigger
a response in us.
572
00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:56,834
This is how
they harvest it.
573
00:24:56,967 --> 00:24:59,033
Scott Johnson:
So, to prepare
the extracellular matrix,
574
00:24:59,166 --> 00:25:00,600
we start with
the raw pig bladder,
575
00:25:00,734 --> 00:25:02,333
and then,
by using an acrylic scraper,
576
00:25:02,467 --> 00:25:03,834
we simply spread the tissue,
577
00:25:03,967 --> 00:25:05,333
loosen the muscle fibre.
578
00:25:05,467 --> 00:25:07,867
Using forceps,
then we grab that muscle
579
00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:11,133
and literally pull and tear it
away from the underlying matrix.
580
00:25:11,266 --> 00:25:12,867
So, that's the outside layer,
581
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,633
referred to
as the abluminal layer,
582
00:25:14,767 --> 00:25:16,233
where the muscle is attached.
583
00:25:16,367 --> 00:25:18,300
It then goes through
584
00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:21,367
what is referred to
as a peracetic acid wash.
585
00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:24,700
At the end of that stage,
the ECM is ready for use.
586
00:25:24,834 --> 00:25:27,900
It can be freeze dried
and used as a dry sheet.
587
00:25:28,033 --> 00:25:29,967
That sheet, then,
can either be used as is
588
00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:32,400
or ground
into a fine powder.
589
00:25:32,533 --> 00:25:34,867
William Shatner:
But not everyone
is convinced that ECM
590
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,066
is the answer
to the mystery.
591
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:38,533
Rocky Tuan is the director
592
00:25:38,667 --> 00:25:42,400
of the Centre of Cellular
and Molecular Engineering.
593
00:25:42,533 --> 00:25:45,000
He believes
there may be another explanation
594
00:25:45,133 --> 00:25:47,700
why Lee Spievack
and Jeevan's
595
00:25:47,834 --> 00:25:49,300
fingertips grew back.
596
00:25:49,433 --> 00:25:53,033
They may have
a unique genetic predisposition.
597
00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,000
The possibility of regenerating
a finger is definitely there,
598
00:25:58,133 --> 00:26:00,066
as shown by Lee's results.
599
00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,367
He may very well have a genetic
600
00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:06,333
or maybe even
epi-genetic constitution
601
00:26:06,467 --> 00:26:08,567
that allows him
to respond in this manner.
602
00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,066
William Shatner:
Is it possible that people like
603
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,233
Jeevan and Lee
are able to regenerate
604
00:26:13,367 --> 00:26:15,500
and others can't?
605
00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:19,767
Could we exploit
their incredible abilities?
606
00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:21,533
Before we find the answer,
607
00:26:21,667 --> 00:26:23,900
far more research
needs to be done.
608
00:26:24,033 --> 00:26:27,000
Rocky Tuan:
What we're trying to do
is trying to figure out how,
609
00:26:27,133 --> 00:26:29,066
in rare instances,
610
00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,033
people are able to grow,
what the mechanisms are,
611
00:26:32,166 --> 00:26:33,533
and then, also,
612
00:26:33,667 --> 00:26:35,667
in situations
where they can't regenerate,
613
00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,467
and then try
to compare the two.
614
00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:38,967
And by doing so,
615
00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:41,066
we hope to identify
616
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,934
those factors
or cells or genes
617
00:26:44,066 --> 00:26:45,934
that are
responsible for this process.
618
00:26:46,066 --> 00:26:47,934
And that's how
we can move forward.
619
00:26:48,066 --> 00:26:50,433
William Shatner:
One way this may be possible
620
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:53,100
is through
stem cell research.
621
00:26:53,233 --> 00:26:55,433
Found throughout
growing embryos
622
00:26:55,567 --> 00:26:58,934
but in only
certain places in adults,
623
00:26:59,066 --> 00:27:01,700
stem cells are unique
because they can become
624
00:27:01,834 --> 00:27:04,033
almost any type
of tissue in the body,
625
00:27:04,166 --> 00:27:07,166
while other cell types,
like muscle or skin,
626
00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:10,166
are fixed and unchangeable.
627
00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:13,166
They're sort of like
a wild card in a game of poker.
628
00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:15,333
Now, if scientists
can figure out
629
00:27:15,467 --> 00:27:19,333
how to reprogram
any cell into a stem cell,
630
00:27:19,467 --> 00:27:21,166
through genetic manipulation,
631
00:27:21,300 --> 00:27:24,667
then it may be possible
to re-grow body parts
632
00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:27,967
wherever there is damage.
633
00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:31,300
If we can
instruct the body
634
00:27:31,433 --> 00:27:33,333
to re-grow a body part,
635
00:27:33,467 --> 00:27:35,266
then, uh...
636
00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,667
why wouldn't we do that?
637
00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,333
I don't think there's
any doubt that some day,
638
00:27:42,467 --> 00:27:45,400
we will be
able to control
639
00:27:45,533 --> 00:27:47,834
the way cells
act in the body.
640
00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:49,834
In other words,
we will be able
641
00:27:49,967 --> 00:27:51,934
to instruct the growth
642
00:27:52,066 --> 00:27:54,300
of new tissues and organs.
643
00:27:54,433 --> 00:27:56,800
But what we would like to do is
be able to re-grow your heart,
644
00:27:56,934 --> 00:27:59,266
if you had a heart attack
that destroys so much
645
00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,133
of the heart muscle
that you're going to die,
646
00:28:02,266 --> 00:28:05,333
or to replace your kidney
to get you off of dialysis,
647
00:28:05,467 --> 00:28:07,133
or to re-grow your esophagus,
648
00:28:07,266 --> 00:28:09,133
so that you don't
have to go through
649
00:28:09,266 --> 00:28:12,166
a life of misery,
650
00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:14,166
after having it removed.
651
00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:16,367
Instead, we will
grow you a new esophagus.
652
00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:18,333
This is not science fiction.
653
00:28:18,467 --> 00:28:20,233
Uh, it would have been
science fiction
654
00:28:20,367 --> 00:28:21,734
30 or 40 years ago.
655
00:28:21,867 --> 00:28:23,967
William Shatner:
This may eventually lead
656
00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:26,700
to the holy grail
of all scientific discoveries --
657
00:28:26,834 --> 00:28:29,667
eternal life.
658
00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:31,633
The fountain of youth,
659
00:28:31,767 --> 00:28:33,567
it has always been
the holy grail.
660
00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:36,800
We may change
the life expectancy.
661
00:28:36,934 --> 00:28:39,800
If you're able
to better locomote
662
00:28:39,934 --> 00:28:43,500
because you have better
limbs and joints,
663
00:28:43,633 --> 00:28:45,633
you'll be more fit,
for example,
664
00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:47,300
and maybe you'll eat better
665
00:28:47,433 --> 00:28:49,467
and feel better
and so on and so forth.
666
00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,967
It'll probably affect
your life expectancy.
667
00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:55,333
William Shatner:
Imagine a world
where no one gets old.
668
00:28:55,467 --> 00:28:58,700
What will our civilization
look like in a hundred
669
00:28:58,834 --> 00:29:00,734
or a thousand years?
670
00:29:00,867 --> 00:29:03,834
Jeevan can say he had
something to do with that.
671
00:29:05,367 --> 00:29:07,333
Is that weird, or what?
672
00:29:22,467 --> 00:29:24,700
What if I was to tell you
that long ago,
673
00:29:24,834 --> 00:29:26,166
in a time before time,
674
00:29:26,300 --> 00:29:29,133
in a remote land at the
far edges of the known world,
675
00:29:29,266 --> 00:29:31,667
lived a race
of tiny people
676
00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,667
who lived in
constant mortal fear
677
00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:35,266
of huge,
carnivorous dragons?
678
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,333
You might say,
"Big deal Shatner!"
679
00:29:37,467 --> 00:29:39,166
"Like we haven't seen
Lord of the Rings!"
680
00:29:39,300 --> 00:29:42,400
But what I'm talking about
isn't an epic tale of fiction
681
00:29:42,533 --> 00:29:43,900
set in Middle Earth.
682
00:29:44,033 --> 00:29:47,367
What I'm talking about
is a real race of Hobbits
683
00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:49,000
that may once have existed
684
00:29:49,133 --> 00:29:51,633
and fought real dragons,
right here,
685
00:29:51,767 --> 00:29:53,133
on our Earth.
686
00:29:53,266 --> 00:29:54,633
Now,
I dare you to tell me
687
00:29:54,767 --> 00:29:58,266
that isn't weird,
or what?
688
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,667
The remote island of Flores,
in Southeast Asia,
689
00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,266
has one of the most bizarre
ecosystems in the world --
690
00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:12,633
inhabited by elephants,
691
00:30:12,767 --> 00:30:14,734
giant rats
692
00:30:14,867 --> 00:30:17,100
and the deadly
komodo dragon.
693
00:30:18,633 --> 00:30:20,834
It is also the location
of one of the most
694
00:30:20,967 --> 00:30:24,266
unbelievable archeological
discoveries of all time.
695
00:30:27,533 --> 00:30:30,667
In 2001, a team of archeologists
travelled to the island.
696
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,166
They began excavating
697
00:30:32,300 --> 00:30:34,500
deep in a cave
on the island of Flores
698
00:30:34,633 --> 00:30:36,266
called Liang Bua.
699
00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,633
Matt Tocheri:
Researchers started
excavating at Liang Bua,
700
00:30:38,767 --> 00:30:41,500
this limestone cave
on Flores, Indonesia.
701
00:30:41,633 --> 00:30:44,000
And during the first
two years of excavation,
702
00:30:44,133 --> 00:30:47,433
they found some
small bits of human bone,
703
00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:49,233
but they weren't sure
exactly what it was.
704
00:30:49,367 --> 00:30:52,433
William Shatner:
But then, in 2003,
705
00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:54,900
they discovered more remains --
706
00:30:55,033 --> 00:30:58,767
a complete skeleton of a female,
roughly 30 years of age.
707
00:30:58,900 --> 00:31:01,633
Carbon dating said she lived
708
00:31:01,767 --> 00:31:04,066
around 18,000 years ago.
709
00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,033
What confounded experts
was that she was unlike
710
00:31:07,166 --> 00:31:10,266
any other human being that's
been ever known to have existed.
711
00:31:11,967 --> 00:31:13,333
Matt Tocheri:
In looking at, uh,
712
00:31:13,467 --> 00:31:15,500
our species,
it certainly does not fit in.
713
00:31:15,633 --> 00:31:17,333
If it was
a member of our species,
714
00:31:17,467 --> 00:31:19,667
it would be very strange.
715
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:21,500
William Shatner:
The reason is this.
716
00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:23,033
Astonishing as it sounds,
717
00:31:23,166 --> 00:31:26,066
it was only around 3' tall,
718
00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,033
2½' shorter than
a modern North American woman.
719
00:31:29,166 --> 00:31:31,500
Robert Martin:
It's a very small individual.
720
00:31:31,633 --> 00:31:33,500
It was around three foot,
721
00:31:33,633 --> 00:31:35,834
maybe a bit less
than 3' in height.
722
00:31:35,967 --> 00:31:38,567
William Shatner:
This remarkable discovery
723
00:31:38,700 --> 00:31:42,133
led this tiny,
full-grown human specimen
724
00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:45,467
to be nicknamed the Hobbit.
725
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:47,633
Was science fiction
becoming science fact?
726
00:31:49,166 --> 00:31:51,000
An undiscovered,
human-like species,
727
00:31:51,133 --> 00:31:52,567
only 3' tall,
728
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:54,467
sharing an island
with komodo dragons
729
00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:55,967
and giant rats.
730
00:31:56,100 --> 00:31:57,433
Sounds too incredible?
731
00:31:57,567 --> 00:31:59,166
The indigenous
population of Flores
732
00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:01,166
think they know
what this species is --
733
00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:03,834
the mythical Ebu Gogo --
734
00:32:03,967 --> 00:32:06,500
a creature they believe
once inhabited the island.
735
00:32:06,633 --> 00:32:09,367
The Ebu Gogo
are said to have been small,
736
00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:10,834
hairy cave dwellers,
737
00:32:10,967 --> 00:32:12,367
the same size
as the hobbit.
738
00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:14,834
These creatures
are claimed to have survived
739
00:32:14,967 --> 00:32:17,500
until as recently
as the last century.
740
00:32:17,633 --> 00:32:20,900
Is the presence
of the hobbit's skeletons proof
741
00:32:21,033 --> 00:32:23,600
that the legends
were actually true?
742
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:32,867
♪
743
00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:35,867
William Shatner:
In 2003, archaeologists
744
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,300
make an astonishing discovery
on an Indonesian island.
745
00:32:39,433 --> 00:32:42,967
They find the
complete skeleton of a human,
746
00:32:43,100 --> 00:32:45,700
nearly 18,000 years old
747
00:32:45,834 --> 00:32:49,333
and only 3' tall.
748
00:32:49,467 --> 00:32:52,333
It's known as the hobbit.
749
00:32:52,467 --> 00:32:54,834
But what happened to them?
750
00:32:54,967 --> 00:32:57,834
Some theorize that the hobbit
may have become extinct,
751
00:32:57,967 --> 00:32:59,333
in part,
because they were eaten
752
00:32:59,467 --> 00:33:03,233
by the island's
komodo dragon population.
753
00:33:03,367 --> 00:33:05,233
Not nice.
754
00:33:05,367 --> 00:33:07,233
But whatever their fate,
755
00:33:07,367 --> 00:33:10,333
this extraordinary discovery
confronted scientists
756
00:33:10,467 --> 00:33:12,734
with an
amazing possibility --
757
00:33:12,867 --> 00:33:16,367
our human evolutionary history
is incomplete,
758
00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:19,400
and the hobbit
is an entirely new species.
759
00:33:19,533 --> 00:33:23,834
Briana Pobiner:
Knowing that there was a totally
different early human species,
760
00:33:23,967 --> 00:33:26,767
living on earth,
coexisting with us,
761
00:33:26,900 --> 00:33:28,567
that looks
so different than us
762
00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:30,567
is something that was
really mind-blowing
763
00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:32,266
to the scientific community.
764
00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,266
Well, I thought
it was absolutely fantastic.
765
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,400
I think it adds
a real level of diversity
766
00:33:36,533 --> 00:33:38,333
to our family tree.
767
00:33:38,467 --> 00:33:40,700
And seeing something
that in some ways
768
00:33:40,834 --> 00:33:43,200
looks so primitive
that is so recent in time,
769
00:33:43,333 --> 00:33:45,934
is really this great experiment
770
00:33:46,066 --> 00:33:47,533
in being human.
771
00:33:47,667 --> 00:33:49,767
Matt Tocheri:
No matter what
you thought it was,
772
00:33:49,900 --> 00:33:51,667
it's just an incredible find.
773
00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:53,600
I remember,
774
00:33:53,734 --> 00:33:56,667
when it was first announced,
you know, many, many scientists,
775
00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:58,900
including myself,
were very skeptical about it.
776
00:33:59,033 --> 00:34:00,734
I mean,
could this really be real?
777
00:34:00,867 --> 00:34:02,567
But over time, you know,
778
00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:05,066
the evidence has just been
consistently presented
779
00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:06,567
that shows us that, yeah,
780
00:34:06,700 --> 00:34:09,600
this is a legitimate
different species than our own.
781
00:34:09,734 --> 00:34:11,467
William Shatner:
Whilst the discovery
782
00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:13,233
of the hobbit excited many,
783
00:34:13,367 --> 00:34:16,400
others were less convinced.
784
00:34:16,533 --> 00:34:19,700
I had a different viewpoint
on this from the outset
785
00:34:19,834 --> 00:34:23,133
because when I read that
first paper about the skeleton,
786
00:34:23,266 --> 00:34:24,734
it just didn't fit.
787
00:34:24,867 --> 00:34:28,033
And so, I looked for
an alternative explanation.
788
00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:32,000
William Shatner:
So, is the hobbit skull
just a lone example,
789
00:34:32,133 --> 00:34:34,367
or is there other evidence
790
00:34:34,500 --> 00:34:38,633
that can prove it is
a new species of human relative?
791
00:34:38,767 --> 00:34:41,333
Is there anything else
unique about the hobbit?
792
00:34:41,467 --> 00:34:42,834
Well, it turns out
793
00:34:42,967 --> 00:34:45,300
they do have one
distinctive characteristic
794
00:34:45,433 --> 00:34:46,800
that many experts say
795
00:34:46,934 --> 00:34:49,333
is proof that it is
796
00:34:49,467 --> 00:34:50,900
a separate species.
797
00:34:51,033 --> 00:34:54,433
Matt Tocheri
is a paleoanthropologist,
798
00:34:54,567 --> 00:34:56,533
an expert
who studies ancient peoples.
799
00:34:56,667 --> 00:34:59,033
He has studied bones
of the hobbit's wrist
800
00:34:59,166 --> 00:35:01,767
and says that
the unique structure is proof
801
00:35:01,900 --> 00:35:03,934
that it is a new species.
802
00:35:04,066 --> 00:35:06,233
The reasons why I think
it's a different species
803
00:35:06,367 --> 00:35:07,767
stem largely
from my own research,
804
00:35:07,900 --> 00:35:10,967
which happens to be on the
evolution of the wrist in humans
805
00:35:11,100 --> 00:35:13,567
and our close relatives,
the great apes.
806
00:35:13,700 --> 00:35:16,033
So, there's been some
big changes to our wrists
807
00:35:16,166 --> 00:35:18,033
in the last million years.
808
00:35:18,166 --> 00:35:20,266
Well, Homo floresiensis
doesn't show those changes,
809
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,133
and so,
that basically says to me
810
00:35:23,266 --> 00:35:26,233
that it must be descended
from an ancestor prior to that,
811
00:35:26,367 --> 00:35:27,734
a million years ago,
812
00:35:27,867 --> 00:35:29,667
because it doesn't
share the derived anatomy
813
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:31,367
we see in us and Neandertals.
814
00:35:31,500 --> 00:35:34,900
William Shatner:
He has found that
a key bone in the hobbit's wrist
815
00:35:35,033 --> 00:35:37,834
is more similar
to that of a chimpanzee or ape
816
00:35:37,967 --> 00:35:40,834
and not
like a modern human's,
817
00:35:40,967 --> 00:35:43,133
which means
that it is, in fact,
818
00:35:43,266 --> 00:35:47,166
a new and unknown species
of human cousin.
819
00:35:47,300 --> 00:35:48,667
Matt:
In terms of the wrist evidence,
820
00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,233
you can see
that it's remarkably similar
821
00:35:50,367 --> 00:35:51,734
to what we see
in chimpanzees.
822
00:35:51,867 --> 00:35:54,166
Now, that doesn't mean
it's more closely related
823
00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:55,667
to a chimpanzee,
824
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,767
because the hobbits
share anatomy with modern humans
825
00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:00,200
and Neandertals
that chimpanzees don't.
826
00:36:00,333 --> 00:36:04,066
But what the wrist shows to us
is that it retains the anatomy
827
00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:05,567
of the primitive hominin.
828
00:36:05,700 --> 00:36:07,567
And so, it must have
branched off prior to
829
00:36:07,700 --> 00:36:09,266
this new morphology evolving,
830
00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,100
and that's pretty amazing.
831
00:36:11,233 --> 00:36:13,233
William Shatner:
This compelling evidence
832
00:36:13,367 --> 00:36:16,233
would be presented to the
world's scientific community.
833
00:36:16,367 --> 00:36:20,233
Since there were portions
of other hobbit skeletons found,
834
00:36:20,367 --> 00:36:22,900
they classified it
as its own species,
835
00:36:23,033 --> 00:36:25,800
with the Latin name
Homo floresiensis.
836
00:36:27,834 --> 00:36:29,900
But anthropologist
Robert Martin
837
00:36:30,033 --> 00:36:31,400
has a different theory
838
00:36:31,533 --> 00:36:33,066
to explain
the mystery of the hobbit.
839
00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:34,567
Robert Martin:
This skull is really
840
00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:36,400
quite unusual.
841
00:36:36,533 --> 00:36:40,066
The skeleton is quite unusual,
and so you can understand
842
00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,533
why people said
it must be a new species.
843
00:36:42,667 --> 00:36:44,533
It's a very
unusual individual.
844
00:36:44,667 --> 00:36:47,600
William Shatner:
Robert Martin suggests
the hobbit's inclusion
845
00:36:47,734 --> 00:36:49,533
into our evolutionary history
846
00:36:49,667 --> 00:36:52,500
was based on
too little evidence.
847
00:36:52,633 --> 00:36:55,500
Archeologists
only recovered one skull
848
00:36:55,633 --> 00:36:58,500
among the skeletal remains.
849
00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:01,266
Robert Martin:
And the point I
really want to emphasize
850
00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:03,266
is that we have
fragments of other individuals,
851
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:05,266
but we only have one skull.
852
00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:07,233
If they had found
two or three
853
00:37:07,367 --> 00:37:09,033
or four skulls
that were all the same,
854
00:37:09,166 --> 00:37:11,834
it would be much more
difficult to argue.
855
00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:16,600
We should be very,
very careful about basing
856
00:37:16,734 --> 00:37:19,000
huge interpretations
on single specimens.
857
00:37:19,133 --> 00:37:22,367
William Shatner:
Dr. Martin agrees
the skull isn't consistent
858
00:37:22,500 --> 00:37:24,734
with our evolutionary history.
859
00:37:24,867 --> 00:37:26,834
He believes its small size
860
00:37:26,967 --> 00:37:29,734
raises a big problem.
861
00:37:29,867 --> 00:37:33,934
The hobbit's skeleton
is nearly 18,000 years old.
862
00:37:34,066 --> 00:37:37,633
If what we know
about human evolution is true,
863
00:37:37,767 --> 00:37:41,033
the hobbit's brain
should be larger than it is.
864
00:37:41,166 --> 00:37:43,133
You have to go back
three million years
865
00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:45,233
to find a brain this small,
866
00:37:45,367 --> 00:37:47,166
but over the last
three million years,
867
00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:49,300
the brain has got bigger
in every other single hominid
868
00:37:49,433 --> 00:37:50,767
except this one.
869
00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:52,266
So, that's a problem.
870
00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,533
If we look at all
of the known hominid skulls
871
00:37:54,667 --> 00:37:56,967
and plot out
the brain size,
872
00:37:57,100 --> 00:37:59,467
you get
a very nice curve,
873
00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:01,934
and the only thing
that doesn't fit
874
00:38:02,066 --> 00:38:04,800
is this hobbit from Flores.
875
00:38:04,934 --> 00:38:07,233
William Shatner:
So, he has an
amazing theory of his own.
876
00:38:07,367 --> 00:38:10,066
He suggests
that the hobbit skeleton
877
00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:13,066
actually belongs to
a modern human from Flores,
878
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:15,433
who suffered from
a congenital disease
879
00:38:15,567 --> 00:38:17,166
known as microcephalia.
880
00:38:17,300 --> 00:38:20,400
And microcephalic
simply means "small head."
881
00:38:20,533 --> 00:38:24,867
It is a
developmental abnormality.
882
00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:28,900
This is a cast of the skull
of a modern human microcephalic,
883
00:38:29,033 --> 00:38:31,433
a small-brained modern human,
884
00:38:31,567 --> 00:38:34,867
and this brain is exactly
the same size as in the hobbit.
885
00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:37,767
William Shatner:
Another convincing
piece of evidence
886
00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:40,834
is that this disease
also has another side effect.
887
00:38:42,367 --> 00:38:44,233
It produces a small body,
888
00:38:44,367 --> 00:38:47,066
just like the hobbit.
889
00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:48,567
Is it possible
890
00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:51,266
that the world's
scientific community is wrong?
891
00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,133
♪
892
00:39:02,266 --> 00:39:04,567
William Shatner:
A tiny skeleton,
893
00:39:04,700 --> 00:39:06,066
only 3' tall,
894
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:08,400
is found on
an island in Indonesia --
895
00:39:08,533 --> 00:39:11,300
nicknamed the hobbit.
896
00:39:11,433 --> 00:39:13,800
Is this tiny creature
a modern human,
897
00:39:13,934 --> 00:39:16,233
simply shrunk by disease,
898
00:39:16,367 --> 00:39:18,133
or is it
a new species of human?
899
00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:21,800
To add to the mystery,
900
00:39:21,934 --> 00:39:25,133
completely new species
of long-extinct human relatives
901
00:39:25,266 --> 00:39:27,633
have started
popping up all over.
902
00:39:27,767 --> 00:39:31,133
Most recently,
in a remote cave in Siberia,
903
00:39:31,266 --> 00:39:32,800
where a tiny, preserved,
904
00:39:32,934 --> 00:39:35,300
human-like finger bone
was unearthed --
905
00:39:35,433 --> 00:39:38,800
with DNA
unrelated to any of our
906
00:39:38,934 --> 00:39:40,633
so-far-discovered,
907
00:39:40,767 --> 00:39:42,967
proto-human pals.
908
00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:46,333
Dr. Briana Pobiner
is an education specialist
909
00:39:46,467 --> 00:39:49,467
from the Smithsonian Institute.
910
00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,066
She believes the hobbit
is just one of many
911
00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,767
previously
undiscovered species,
912
00:39:54,900 --> 00:39:56,900
and more
will likely be found.
913
00:39:57,033 --> 00:39:59,800
Briana Pobiner:
New fossils are
being found all the time.
914
00:39:59,934 --> 00:40:01,333
They often fit very well
915
00:40:01,467 --> 00:40:03,633
into the
early human family tree.
916
00:40:03,767 --> 00:40:05,967
At least three other species
of early humans
917
00:40:06,100 --> 00:40:08,000
have shared the earth
with our species,
918
00:40:08,133 --> 00:40:09,500
Homo sapiens --
919
00:40:09,633 --> 00:40:11,166
Homo erectus,
920
00:40:11,300 --> 00:40:14,400
Homo Neandertalensis,
or Neandertals,
921
00:40:14,533 --> 00:40:16,800
and Homo floresiensis,
the hobbit.
922
00:40:16,934 --> 00:40:19,000
Potentially,
this new species,
923
00:40:19,133 --> 00:40:21,300
found in southern Siberia,
this pinky bone,
924
00:40:21,433 --> 00:40:23,333
could have even
been a fourth species.
925
00:40:23,467 --> 00:40:25,967
William Shatner:
One of the ways
they've been able to determine
926
00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:28,467
this pinky bone
belonged to a new species
927
00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:30,533
was by examining its DNA.
928
00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:34,333
Recent technological advances
make it possible
929
00:40:34,467 --> 00:40:37,166
to sequence the genes
of long extinct species.
930
00:40:37,300 --> 00:40:38,700
But mysteriously,
931
00:40:38,834 --> 00:40:41,200
the hobbit's DNA
has never been examined.
932
00:40:41,333 --> 00:40:43,367
Why?
933
00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:44,900
It turns out
934
00:40:45,033 --> 00:40:47,734
the original
DNA samples were damaged,
935
00:40:47,867 --> 00:40:49,200
and, more bizarre,
936
00:40:49,333 --> 00:40:52,300
since the first
scientific paper was published,
937
00:40:52,433 --> 00:40:55,266
no one has been granted access
to the original skeleton.
938
00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:58,200
Robert Martin
The specimen has been kept
939
00:40:58,333 --> 00:41:00,533
pretty much under wraps
by the discoverers.
940
00:41:00,667 --> 00:41:04,400
I requested
access to CAT scans...
941
00:41:05,934 --> 00:41:07,467
uh, CT scans,
942
00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:10,200
to check this out,
and I was refused access.
943
00:41:10,333 --> 00:41:13,200
You're not allowed to publish
if you don't make the material
944
00:41:13,333 --> 00:41:14,867
accessible
to other scientists.
945
00:41:16,533 --> 00:41:19,467
William Shatner:
Despite the protests,
Homo floresiensis --
946
00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:21,467
a.k.a. the hobbit --
947
00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:24,467
is widely accepted
as a new species.
948
00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:26,800
Briana Pobiner:
There's a lot
about human evolution
949
00:41:26,934 --> 00:41:28,333
that's still a mystery.
950
00:41:28,467 --> 00:41:29,900
In a way,
it's like putting together
951
00:41:30,033 --> 00:41:31,967
the pieces of a puzzle.
952
00:41:32,100 --> 00:41:33,900
In the last 10 or 15 years,
953
00:41:34,033 --> 00:41:36,400
we've had an unprecedented
amount of discoveries
954
00:41:36,533 --> 00:41:38,400
that tell us that
the human family tree
955
00:41:38,533 --> 00:41:40,967
extends back about
double the amount of time
956
00:41:41,100 --> 00:41:42,600
that we initially thought,
957
00:41:42,734 --> 00:41:44,767
that the number of
human species on the family tree
958
00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:47,400
is about double the number
that we originally thought.
959
00:41:47,533 --> 00:41:49,300
So, these finds,
these new genetic finds,
960
00:41:49,433 --> 00:41:51,600
the fossils,
the archeological evidence,
961
00:41:51,734 --> 00:41:54,100
really is filling out
the human family tree,
962
00:41:54,233 --> 00:41:56,633
shedding light on
some of the darker mysteries
963
00:41:56,767 --> 00:41:58,600
of human evolution.
964
00:41:58,734 --> 00:42:01,967
William Shatner:
So, hobbits might indeed exist,
965
00:42:02,100 --> 00:42:06,066
but their true origins
may remain a mystery forever.
966
00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:09,567
Is that weird, or what?
967
00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:28,767
So, there you have it --
968
00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:30,633
three weird mysteries,
969
00:42:30,767 --> 00:42:32,767
each with
equally weird theories
970
00:42:32,900 --> 00:42:35,934
to possibly explain them.
971
00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:37,333
The U.S. military
972
00:42:37,467 --> 00:42:40,433
investigates
the power of mind over matter.
973
00:42:42,133 --> 00:42:44,467
What did they find?
974
00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:46,467
Can we control objects
975
00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:48,300
or even kill,
976
00:42:48,433 --> 00:42:51,400
just by using our minds,
977
00:42:51,533 --> 00:42:54,500
or is psychokinesis
just a trick of magic?
978
00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:58,667
A young boy
and an elderly man
979
00:42:58,800 --> 00:43:00,767
both re-grow their fingers
980
00:43:00,900 --> 00:43:02,867
after horrific accidents.
981
00:43:04,767 --> 00:43:07,000
Can we regenerate limbs
982
00:43:07,133 --> 00:43:09,400
simply by using
powder extracted
983
00:43:09,533 --> 00:43:11,900
from a pig bladder?
984
00:43:13,567 --> 00:43:15,266
On an Indonesian island
985
00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:17,266
inhabited by
deadly komodo dragons,
986
00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:20,934
archaeologists discover
something extraordinary
987
00:43:21,066 --> 00:43:24,700
that could rewrite the history
of human evolution --
988
00:43:24,834 --> 00:43:27,934
a tiny, 3' skeleton.
989
00:43:28,066 --> 00:43:30,700
Is this a new
species of human?
990
00:43:30,834 --> 00:43:32,100
Do hobbits really exist?
991
00:43:32,233 --> 00:43:35,066
You decide.
992
00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,867
Join me next time
for more stories that will
993
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:39,433
undoubtedly be...
994
00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:42,967
weird, or What?
70980
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