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Narrator: Interstellar space is
the space between the stars.
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Interstellar space is vast,
largely unknown,
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and largely unmapped.
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Narrator: Now astronomers
are probing this great abyss
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and discovering
something remarkable.
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Interstellar space is busy.
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It's filled with activity.
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There are rogue planets that
are not attached to a star.
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There are cosmic rays, there
are interstellar gas clouds.
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Thaller: We've even got
high-velocity stars.
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All of that is careening
around out there.
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Narrator: The greatest secrets
in our universe...
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Interstellar space
is where we came from.
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Narrator:
...Could lie between the stars.
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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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��
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we live in a small solar system
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in the suburbs
of the milky way galaxy --
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8 planets and more than
180 moons all orbiting the sun.
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In our solar system, the sun
is the sheriff of the town.
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We do whatever the sun
wants us to do.
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Narrator:
The sun's influence stretches
more than one light-year
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in every direction
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and defines the boundary
of our solar system.
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Someplace out there is a place
where the sun's influence ends
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and the other stars' begins.
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That's the entrance
to interstellar space.
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��
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narrator: Interstellar space
is the region
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between star systems
in our galaxy.
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Until now, we've known
little about it.
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For so long,
we've thought the space
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in between the stars
as entirely empty,
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but this turns out
not to be true at all.
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Durda: There's a lot going on
out there,
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and it's the forefront
of astronomy.
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Narrator: One of the biggest
clues about interstellar space
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came right to our doorstep.
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��
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October 2017.
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The pan-starrs1 telescope
spots something unusual.
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Pan-starrs is an observatory
in Hawaii,
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and it's scanning
large sections of the sky,
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looking for things that change.
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All of a sudden, there was
this tiny, little visitor
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just screaming
through the solar system.
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It was going about
200,000 miles an hour.
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Wadhwa:
It was a much faster object
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than what might be expected
for a solar-system object.
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And also its trajectory was such
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that it seemed like its orbit
was not bound to the sun.
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It was totally unlike any other
path, any other trajectory,
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any other orbit
in our solar system.
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Narrator: Astronomers reached
an extraordinary conclusion.
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It became very clear that, yeah,
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this was not
some solar-system object
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falling from a long way away.
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This was something
that came from another star,
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and I think everybody
was pretty amazed by that.
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��
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narrator: Our first known
interstellar visitor
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on a fly-by
through our solar system.
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It was the very first object
that we had ever discovered
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that had originated
outside the solar system.
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Everything else we've seen --
every comet, every asteroid --
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originated within
our solar system.
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Wadhwa:
A big, mega solid object
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entering in
our own solar system,
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that's something that, you know,
I can only dream of
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but had never thought
it would actually be a reality.
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��
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narrator: Scientists
named the object 'oumuamua,
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Hawaiian for "a messenger
from afar arriving first."
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This thing came from
interstellar space
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into our solar system,
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and the main question is,
what could it be?
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��
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narrator: The object's shape
was mystifying.
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It's almost sort of shaped
like a cigar.
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It's 10 times longer
than it is wide.
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Walsh:
And this is extraordinary.
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There's no object in our
solar system
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that we've ever measured
that is this elongated.
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Narrator:
'Oumuamua looked so unnatural,
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it sparked
scientists' imaginations.
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One of the things to remember
about scientists
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is that we're still
human beings.
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We have read science fiction.
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We have imaginations.
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Plait: I have to admit,
when I first heard about it,
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my first thought is that
it was rama from
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an Arthur c. Clarke story,
"rendezvous with rama."
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This is a very
elongated spaceship
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that came from another star.
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Loeb:
It reminded me of some designs
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we had for
interstellar space crafts
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that have to be much longer
than they are wide
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in order to minimize friction
with the interstellar gas.
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Narrator:
Could 'oumuamua be an alien
interstellar spacecraft?
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��
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astronomers,
including professor avi loeb,
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took the idea seriously.
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Loeb:
We decided to follow this object
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using the best telescopes
in the world
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and observe whether there is
any radio transmission from it.
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Narrator: Astronomers hunted for
signs of alien communication.
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But after eight hours
of listening
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across multiple
frequencies, nothing.
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Sadly, no emissions
were detected.
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It's almost certainly
a natural object.
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I would bet
all of my money on that.
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I was disappointed.
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I would've been
much more excited
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if we had found evidence
for an alien civilization.
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Narrator:
No little green men this time.
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'Oumuamua is a natural object.
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But what exactly is it?
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At first, observers thought
it might be a comet.
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Something that's mostly ice
with a little bit of rock.
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00:07:08,094 --> 00:07:09,293
Those are the sorts of bodies
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00:07:09,295 --> 00:07:11,095
that exist really far out
from the star
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and are the easiest
things to eject.
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Narrator: But a comet passing
this close to the sun
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would warm up,
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turning the ice into a gas,
forming a vapor trail.
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On 'oumuamua, astronomers saw
no sign of this happening.
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There was no fuzziness around it
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that you would expect
from a comet
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as the ice
was turned into a gas.
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Wadhwa:
It was really mysterious,
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and so everybody
who was observing it
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thought it was an asteroid.
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Narrator: As team's track
'oumuamua across the sky,
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there was an unexpected twist.
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As 'oumuamua passed through
our solar system,
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basically, it was falling
in toward the sun,
139
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,947
speeding up immensely
as it passed the sun,
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00:08:02,949 --> 00:08:05,016
before exiting the solar system
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00:08:05,018 --> 00:08:07,151
in almost
the opposite direction.
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Plait: But then something
weird happened.
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As it was moving away
from the sun,
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00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:12,289
it was slowing down
as you'd expect,
145
00:08:12,291 --> 00:08:16,361
but it wasn't slowing down
fast enough.
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00:08:16,363 --> 00:08:19,631
Narrator: 'Oumuamua gets a boost
through our solar system,
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00:08:19,633 --> 00:08:22,567
but how?
148
00:08:22,569 --> 00:08:26,037
So we think the reason
is that it's outgassing.
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Plait: In other words, it was
emitting a little bit of gas,
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and that was acting as
a little bit
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of a rocket-motor push on it.
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Walsh:
It's kind of like a little
jet engine on the surface --
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00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:38,317
just gives it
a little thrust over time.
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Narrator: This tiny nudge
reveals 'oumuamua's
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true identity.
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00:08:45,191 --> 00:08:48,126
So, in that case, it is looking
more like a comet.
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It's just that that emission
wasn't enough to see.
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��
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narrator: Powered by outgassing,
this interstellar nomad
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might travel from star to star,
161
00:09:02,341 --> 00:09:04,274
but figuring out
where in the galaxy
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00:09:04,276 --> 00:09:09,080
it came from
just got more difficult.
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00:09:09,082 --> 00:09:11,949
Now that we know
'oumuamua has outgassed,
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which changes its velocity
and changes its trajectory,
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it makes it much harder
to do that.
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Narrator: 'Oumuamua may now be
safely racing away,
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00:09:21,894 --> 00:09:24,829
but the solar system
faces bombardment
168
00:09:24,831 --> 00:09:30,301
from another interstellar
source firing at earth
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00:09:30,303 --> 00:09:32,703
at close
to the speed of light.
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00:09:32,705 --> 00:09:37,543
Cosmic rays are the bullets
of the universe,
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00:09:37,545 --> 00:09:40,912
and they are flooding
interstellar space.
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��
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narrator: 'Oumuamua's surface
tells the story of its journey
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00:10:04,603 --> 00:10:08,339
through interstellar space.
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Radebaugh: The interesting thing
about 'oumuamua is its color.
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It's actually red.
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I'm standing on a surface
that's a nice analogue
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00:10:15,082 --> 00:10:17,215
for the surface of 'oumuamua.
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As you look around,
you see a really dark,
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00:10:19,018 --> 00:10:21,886
kind of shiny coating
to all of the rocks,
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00:10:21,888 --> 00:10:23,421
and it extends up the valley
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00:10:23,423 --> 00:10:25,556
and even onto
the mountains behind me.
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00:10:28,894 --> 00:10:31,695
Narrator: Scientists think
'oumuamua's red sheen
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comes from tholins,
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00:10:33,499 --> 00:10:38,836
organic molecules that are
the building blocks of life.
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00:10:38,838 --> 00:10:43,040
How cool is it that something
came out from some other origin,
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passed through
our neighborhood,
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00:10:44,777 --> 00:10:46,910
and it possessed
some sort of organics?
189
00:10:46,912 --> 00:10:49,881
That could be a possible
gold mine for us.
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Narrator:
In our own solar system,
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00:10:54,053 --> 00:10:57,455
distant objects like comets
and asteroids
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00:10:57,457 --> 00:11:01,125
also carry tholins.
193
00:11:01,127 --> 00:11:03,394
This happens because
their surfaces are bombarded
194
00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:06,396
by cosmic rays
and that changes the nature
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00:11:06,398 --> 00:11:08,866
of the chemicals on the surface.
196
00:11:08,868 --> 00:11:11,335
So we think the same thing
has happened to 'oumuamua.
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00:11:11,337 --> 00:11:13,004
It's been out there
in interstellar space
198
00:11:13,006 --> 00:11:16,107
and been bombarded
by cosmic rays over the eons.
199
00:11:20,012 --> 00:11:23,614
Narrator: Galactic cosmic rays
are high-energy particles
200
00:11:23,616 --> 00:11:25,349
that tear through the universe.
201
00:11:25,351 --> 00:11:30,154
��
202
00:11:30,156 --> 00:11:36,828
interstellar space is filled to
the brim with these cosmic rays.
203
00:11:36,830 --> 00:11:39,163
Things like protons and
electrons or perhaps
204
00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:41,232
some heavier,
the more exotic particles
205
00:11:41,234 --> 00:11:44,636
that are literally whizzing
through the universe.
206
00:11:44,638 --> 00:11:46,837
Some cosmic rays
can travel as fast
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00:11:46,839 --> 00:11:48,772
as 99% the speed of light --
208
00:11:48,774 --> 00:11:52,176
incredibly fast,
energetic things.
209
00:11:52,178 --> 00:11:55,112
Narrator:
It takes a lot of energy
210
00:11:55,114 --> 00:12:00,117
to accelerate anything close
to the speed of light.
211
00:12:00,119 --> 00:12:03,921
Cosmic rays come from
many energetic and powerful
212
00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:08,525
and violent sources
in our universe.
213
00:12:08,527 --> 00:12:15,166
Everything that's big and
blasting generates cosmic rays.
214
00:12:15,168 --> 00:12:19,870
Narrator:
One of the most powerful
cosmic-ray generators
215
00:12:19,872 --> 00:12:23,408
is the death of a giant star,
a supernova.
216
00:12:23,410 --> 00:12:29,347
��
217
00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:32,950
a supernova is
a really energetic explosion.
218
00:12:32,952 --> 00:12:35,587
It's so energetic
that it can create all kinds
219
00:12:35,589 --> 00:12:38,689
of interesting things.
220
00:12:38,691 --> 00:12:42,760
Narrator: When a star runs out
of fuel, it collapses.
221
00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:45,496
The mass of the star
crashes inwards,
222
00:12:45,498 --> 00:12:48,165
triggering a huge explosion.
223
00:12:48,167 --> 00:12:53,705
��
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00:12:53,707 --> 00:12:57,174
the shock wave slams
into surrounding gas,
225
00:12:57,176 --> 00:13:00,644
amplifying magnetic fields.
226
00:13:00,646 --> 00:13:02,580
Plait: If you get a particle
caught in there,
227
00:13:02,582 --> 00:13:05,116
trapped in the magnetic fields
of this gas,
228
00:13:05,118 --> 00:13:08,986
it can bounce back and forth,
be accelerated very rapidly.
229
00:13:08,988 --> 00:13:11,188
It goes ding, ding,
ding-ding-ding-ding.
230
00:13:11,190 --> 00:13:13,190
Like that.
231
00:13:13,192 --> 00:13:15,859
Narrator: Eventually,
the particle moves so fast
232
00:13:15,861 --> 00:13:19,430
that the magnetic field
can no longer hold it.
233
00:13:21,534 --> 00:13:24,569
And, pyew, it gets shot out
at very near the speed of light.
234
00:13:28,141 --> 00:13:35,012
Narrator: Cosmic rays have mass,
and they wreak havoc.
235
00:13:35,014 --> 00:13:39,884
Cosmic rays are the bullets
of the universe,
236
00:13:39,886 --> 00:13:42,753
and they are flooding
interstellar space.
237
00:13:42,755 --> 00:13:45,022
But, thankfully,
we're protected.
238
00:13:45,024 --> 00:13:49,893
��
239
00:13:49,895 --> 00:13:53,163
narrator: Cosmic rays from
interstellar space battle
240
00:13:53,165 --> 00:13:57,301
with another superpower --
241
00:13:57,303 --> 00:14:01,306
our own bodyguard
in the solar system -- the sun.
242
00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:05,509
Thaller: We think of the sun
as the source of energy
243
00:14:05,511 --> 00:14:07,978
and warmth for earth,
the giver of life,
244
00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:09,380
but it's also
protecting us in ways
245
00:14:09,382 --> 00:14:11,115
you might not be aware of.
246
00:14:13,586 --> 00:14:16,720
Narrator: The sun emits a stream
of charged particles
247
00:14:16,722 --> 00:14:20,391
called the solar wind.
248
00:14:20,393 --> 00:14:23,327
The particles hurtle out
past the planets
249
00:14:23,329 --> 00:14:25,596
at more than
a million miles an hour.
250
00:14:29,001 --> 00:14:32,937
But they do eventually
run out of power.
251
00:14:32,939 --> 00:14:36,273
There's this region where
the solar wind grinds to a stop.
252
00:14:36,275 --> 00:14:39,076
It's plowing into this material
between the stars
253
00:14:39,078 --> 00:14:41,545
and eventually slows and stops.
254
00:14:45,284 --> 00:14:49,487
Narrator:
The solar wind carries the sun's
magnetic field with it,
255
00:14:49,489 --> 00:14:53,824
forming a bubble
around our solar system.
256
00:14:53,826 --> 00:14:56,560
We call that the heliosphere,
"helio" for the sun
257
00:14:56,562 --> 00:14:59,296
and "sphere"
for this giant magnetic field.
258
00:14:59,298 --> 00:15:01,098
Plait: It acts, basically,
like a shield,
259
00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:03,634
protecting us from
these galactic cosmic rays.
260
00:15:03,636 --> 00:15:05,436
If that weren't there,
261
00:15:05,438 --> 00:15:09,306
the radiation levels hitting the
earth would actually increase.
262
00:15:09,308 --> 00:15:11,775
Thaller: So, in a real way,
the sun is protecting us
263
00:15:11,777 --> 00:15:14,845
from the dangerous environment
of interstellar space.
264
00:15:16,849 --> 00:15:18,516
Narrator:
The heliosphere protects us
265
00:15:18,518 --> 00:15:21,051
from the majority
of cosmic rays,
266
00:15:21,053 --> 00:15:25,990
but some still make it
into the solar system.
267
00:15:25,992 --> 00:15:31,862
Fortunately for us, earth also
has its own defense mechanisms.
268
00:15:31,864 --> 00:15:35,466
We have our magnetic field
that can redirect
269
00:15:35,468 --> 00:15:39,737
the lowest energy cosmic rays,
and we have our nice,
270
00:15:39,739 --> 00:15:42,940
thick security blanket
of an atmosphere,
271
00:15:42,942 --> 00:15:46,877
which absorbs most of
the high-energy cosmic rays
272
00:15:46,879 --> 00:15:50,882
before they even get a chance
to reach us here on the surface.
273
00:15:50,884 --> 00:15:56,754
��
274
00:15:56,756 --> 00:15:59,690
narrator: Cosmic rays from
interstellar space
275
00:15:59,692 --> 00:16:03,160
can alter DNA
and cause diseases.
276
00:16:03,162 --> 00:16:07,631
But without them,
we might not be here at all.
277
00:16:07,633 --> 00:16:09,433
Even that tiny fraction
of cosmic rays
278
00:16:09,435 --> 00:16:10,634
that makes it
through our atmosphere
279
00:16:10,636 --> 00:16:12,102
to the surface of the earth
280
00:16:12,104 --> 00:16:16,807
can have a profound influence
on the evolution of life.
281
00:16:16,809 --> 00:16:18,976
Narrator:
Cosmic rays can damage the DNA
282
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:21,912
that carries
the information of life.
283
00:16:23,516 --> 00:16:25,649
When those molecules
are broken apart,
284
00:16:25,651 --> 00:16:28,852
the atom is altered
by collisions with cosmic rays.
285
00:16:28,854 --> 00:16:30,720
The information carried
is changed.
286
00:16:30,722 --> 00:16:32,055
That's a mutation.
287
00:16:32,057 --> 00:16:34,592
That's what drives
natural selection.
288
00:16:34,594 --> 00:16:37,861
So life and we ourselves
are deeply connected
289
00:16:37,863 --> 00:16:41,732
to interstellar space around us.
290
00:16:44,803 --> 00:16:49,740
Narrator:
But interstellar space is also
home to much larger objects,
291
00:16:49,742 --> 00:16:54,445
objects that could wipe
out life all together.
292
00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:15,766
��
293
00:17:15,768 --> 00:17:19,103
narrator:
Our solar system races around
the center of the milky way
294
00:17:19,105 --> 00:17:23,440
at 143 miles per second.
295
00:17:23,442 --> 00:17:25,642
At its center, the sun,
296
00:17:25,644 --> 00:17:31,047
just 1 of around 200 billion
stars in our galaxy.
297
00:17:31,049 --> 00:17:32,983
We're not living in
an isolated bubble
298
00:17:32,985 --> 00:17:34,585
all on our own here
in the galaxy.
299
00:17:34,587 --> 00:17:38,355
We're living in a swarm,
a neighborhood of other stars.
300
00:17:41,527 --> 00:17:43,527
Narrator: And the movement
of all these stars
301
00:17:43,529 --> 00:17:46,564
can have far-reaching effects
on our solar system.
302
00:17:50,003 --> 00:17:57,808
Beyond the planets
and our heliosphere...
303
00:17:57,810 --> 00:18:01,278
Lies the oort cloud
304
00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:05,883
right on the border
of true interstellar space.
305
00:18:05,885 --> 00:18:09,486
The oort cloud is the remnants
of the formation
306
00:18:09,488 --> 00:18:13,356
of the solar system --
small, icy, dirty bodies,
307
00:18:13,358 --> 00:18:15,359
aka comets.
308
00:18:19,298 --> 00:18:21,565
Narrator:
The comets in the oort cloud
309
00:18:21,567 --> 00:18:26,303
are so far out they're only
weakly bound to the sun.
310
00:18:26,305 --> 00:18:29,707
They spend most their lives
perfectly happy,
311
00:18:29,709 --> 00:18:33,510
orbiting the sun lazily
in their frigid depths,
312
00:18:33,512 --> 00:18:36,547
but every once in a while,
they can be perturbed.
313
00:18:39,652 --> 00:18:42,986
Narrator: Our sun is moving
through interstellar space,
314
00:18:42,988 --> 00:18:46,390
and so are other stars.
315
00:18:46,392 --> 00:18:48,325
As our sun orbits the galaxy
316
00:18:48,327 --> 00:18:51,128
and encounters
other stellar neighbors,
317
00:18:51,130 --> 00:18:52,929
inevitably,
there is going to be one
318
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:57,534
that's going to pass through
or near our oort cloud.
319
00:18:57,536 --> 00:18:59,536
Narrator:
The gravity of a nearby star
320
00:18:59,538 --> 00:19:05,942
could disrupt the oort cloud...
321
00:19:05,944 --> 00:19:08,379
Sending showers of comets
322
00:19:08,381 --> 00:19:10,447
barreling through
the solar system.
323
00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:17,621
Some of them could strike earth.
324
00:19:17,623 --> 00:19:23,260
��
325
00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:31,635
��
326
00:19:31,637 --> 00:19:33,771
thaller: Comets falling down
into the inner solar system
327
00:19:33,773 --> 00:19:35,506
is something that we really want
to pay attention to,
328
00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:38,108
that could actually be dangerous
to life here on earth.
329
00:19:38,110 --> 00:19:40,778
So one of the things we do
is look out into the galaxy
330
00:19:40,780 --> 00:19:43,047
and see if any stars
are gonna be coming nearby
331
00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:45,083
anytime in the near future.
332
00:19:48,053 --> 00:19:51,055
Narrator: With a new space
observatory called Gaia,
333
00:19:51,057 --> 00:19:54,925
astronomers keep watch over
millions of neighboring stars
334
00:19:54,927 --> 00:19:58,462
in our galaxy,
335
00:19:58,464 --> 00:20:02,799
tracking their movements
through interstellar space.
336
00:20:02,801 --> 00:20:05,003
So what's the next star
that's gonna pass the earth?
337
00:20:05,005 --> 00:20:06,803
And it turns out we may know.
338
00:20:06,805 --> 00:20:08,071
There's an orange dwarf.
339
00:20:08,073 --> 00:20:10,341
It's called gliese 710.
340
00:20:12,278 --> 00:20:15,345
Narrator:
In 2018, new data shows
341
00:20:15,347 --> 00:20:19,149
gliese 710 is on
a collision course
342
00:20:19,151 --> 00:20:21,552
with our oort cloud.
343
00:20:21,554 --> 00:20:23,219
It's gonna kick up
a lot of dirt,
344
00:20:23,221 --> 00:20:24,688
kick up a lot of dust,
345
00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:28,091
and it might be bad news
for the inner solar system.
346
00:20:28,093 --> 00:20:30,827
We might get a lot
of unwanted visitors.
347
00:20:30,829 --> 00:20:36,300
��
348
00:20:36,302 --> 00:20:39,235
narrator: Luckily for us,
gliese 710 won't arrive
349
00:20:39,237 --> 00:20:42,306
for another 1.3 million years.
350
00:20:44,844 --> 00:20:48,912
But there are other
rogue stars out there.
351
00:20:48,914 --> 00:20:50,647
All the stars
that you can see in our sky
352
00:20:50,649 --> 00:20:52,916
plait: Are in the disc
of the milky way galaxy,
353
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:55,251
and they tend to be moving
in the same direction
354
00:20:55,253 --> 00:20:57,688
at about 100 miles per second
around the center.
355
00:21:00,459 --> 00:21:05,795
Narrator: Gaia discovers stars
that follow different rules.
356
00:21:05,797 --> 00:21:07,597
They don't seem to be
moving around
357
00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:09,065
with the motion of the galaxy.
358
00:21:09,067 --> 00:21:11,735
Instead, they're actually
flying through space.
359
00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:15,138
Plait:
And they are screaming.
360
00:21:15,140 --> 00:21:16,607
These are cannonballs.
361
00:21:16,609 --> 00:21:18,809
They're moving, three, four,
five times faster
362
00:21:18,811 --> 00:21:20,677
than the other stars
in the galaxy,
363
00:21:20,679 --> 00:21:24,014
and they tend to moving away
from the center.
364
00:21:26,151 --> 00:21:30,621
Narrator:
These cosmic cannonballs are
known as hypervelocity stars.
365
00:21:34,094 --> 00:21:37,627
What could cause them
to move so quickly?
366
00:21:37,629 --> 00:21:41,498
Some of these stars originated
from binary star systems
367
00:21:41,500 --> 00:21:44,301
in which one of the components
went supernova,
368
00:21:44,303 --> 00:21:47,504
removing that gravitational tie
to the other star,
369
00:21:47,506 --> 00:21:48,839
allowing that star to escape
370
00:21:48,841 --> 00:21:51,576
and basically be ejected
through the galaxy
371
00:21:51,578 --> 00:21:54,979
on its own very, you know,
high-speed trajectory.
372
00:21:57,916 --> 00:22:03,454
Narrator: Some hypervelocity
stars have a darker past.
373
00:22:03,456 --> 00:22:06,390
They're flung from a black hole.
374
00:22:06,392 --> 00:22:11,394
There are trillions of
black holes in the universe.
375
00:22:11,396 --> 00:22:14,197
Narrator: There are giant
black holes at the centers
376
00:22:14,199 --> 00:22:17,734
of nearly all large galaxies,
including our own.
377
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:25,208
And these monsters inflict chaos
on paired stars.
378
00:22:25,210 --> 00:22:27,343
Again, you have
a binary system of stars,
379
00:22:27,345 --> 00:22:28,979
and they are orbiting
the back hole
380
00:22:28,981 --> 00:22:30,747
in the center of our galaxy.
381
00:22:30,749 --> 00:22:32,148
When they get too close,
382
00:22:32,150 --> 00:22:33,884
one of the stars falls
into the black hole,
383
00:22:33,886 --> 00:22:36,954
and the other one
is ejected away at high speed.
384
00:22:39,692 --> 00:22:42,292
Narrator: These hypervelocity
stars Blaze through
385
00:22:42,294 --> 00:22:45,495
interstellar space.
386
00:22:45,497 --> 00:22:51,435
Their stellar winds
can bring beauty out of chaos.
387
00:22:51,437 --> 00:22:52,835
A lot of these
hypervelocity stars
388
00:22:52,837 --> 00:22:54,971
that we see are
very massive stars,
389
00:22:54,973 --> 00:22:58,841
much larger and hotter
and more luminous than the sun.
390
00:22:58,843 --> 00:23:00,977
Well, as they're plowing
through the material
391
00:23:00,979 --> 00:23:03,580
in between the stars
their wind is expanding
392
00:23:03,582 --> 00:23:06,516
and slamming
into the gas and the dust.
393
00:23:06,518 --> 00:23:08,652
And so what you see
when you look at them
394
00:23:08,654 --> 00:23:14,591
is this beautiful arc,
like the bow wave off of a ship.
395
00:23:14,593 --> 00:23:17,794
And we have images of these,
and they're gorgeous.
396
00:23:17,796 --> 00:23:21,431
These are beautiful,
beautiful patterns.
397
00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:26,870
Narrator: Hypervelocity stars
paint the canvas
398
00:23:26,872 --> 00:23:29,239
of the universe.
399
00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:34,011
It looks serene,
400
00:23:34,013 --> 00:23:39,949
but interstellar space
can be anything but tranquil.
401
00:23:39,951 --> 00:23:44,755
��
402
00:23:44,757 --> 00:23:46,957
it's no man's land.
It's the wild west.
403
00:23:46,959 --> 00:23:48,291
There are no rules.
404
00:23:48,293 --> 00:23:51,160
You can do whatever you want.
405
00:23:51,162 --> 00:23:56,433
Narrator: In the badlands of the
galaxy, outlaws reign supreme.
406
00:23:56,435 --> 00:24:00,404
��
407
00:24:11,316 --> 00:24:15,452
��
408
00:24:15,454 --> 00:24:17,854
narrator: Tens of light-years
from the sun,
409
00:24:17,856 --> 00:24:23,126
mysterious objects
lurk in the darkness.
410
00:24:23,128 --> 00:24:25,595
We've only seen a fraction
of the stuff that's out there,
411
00:24:25,597 --> 00:24:28,632
you know, so this is really
the next great frontier.
412
00:24:30,736 --> 00:24:34,270
Narrator: In 2016, scientists
spot a tiny source
413
00:24:34,272 --> 00:24:38,475
of infrared light
95 light-years from earth.
414
00:24:38,477 --> 00:24:44,013
��
415
00:24:44,015 --> 00:24:48,118
it's too dim to be a star
and not orbiting a star either.
416
00:24:50,822 --> 00:24:54,758
It can only be a rogue planet.
417
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:56,827
When we think of a planet,
we think of an object
418
00:24:56,829 --> 00:24:58,361
that's orbiting a star.
419
00:24:58,363 --> 00:25:01,264
In fact, that's the very
definition of a planet today.
420
00:25:01,266 --> 00:25:03,900
Well, what if it doesn't
orbit anything?
421
00:25:03,902 --> 00:25:06,303
We call those rogue planets.
422
00:25:06,305 --> 00:25:12,843
��
423
00:25:12,845 --> 00:25:14,311
narrator: The following year,
424
00:25:14,313 --> 00:25:18,448
astronomers take
more detailed images.
425
00:25:18,450 --> 00:25:23,786
They find it's not just
one world but two.
426
00:25:23,788 --> 00:25:25,254
Plait:
And that's incredible, right?
427
00:25:25,256 --> 00:25:27,190
There's this object
out in the middle of space.
428
00:25:27,192 --> 00:25:28,591
They're not orbiting stars.
429
00:25:28,593 --> 00:25:31,128
These are rogue planets
orbiting each other.
430
00:25:33,665 --> 00:25:37,333
Narrator: Planets with 4 times
the mass of Jupiter
431
00:25:37,335 --> 00:25:39,536
over 300 million miles apart,
432
00:25:39,538 --> 00:25:43,473
more than 3 times the distance
between the earth and the sun,
433
00:25:43,475 --> 00:25:47,944
they circle each other
once a century.
434
00:25:47,946 --> 00:25:49,812
Think about not just
one rogue planet
435
00:25:49,814 --> 00:25:51,548
but a binary rogue planet,
436
00:25:51,550 --> 00:25:55,419
two planets
circling around each other.
437
00:25:55,421 --> 00:25:58,154
They may still be gas giants,
like Jupiter,
438
00:25:58,156 --> 00:26:00,023
and if that's the case,
they don't have a surface.
439
00:26:00,025 --> 00:26:01,358
But if they're really old,
440
00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:03,493
they could actually have
had enough time to cool
441
00:26:03,495 --> 00:26:05,429
and maybe they do
have a surface.
442
00:26:05,431 --> 00:26:08,131
We don't really know,
but they would be very dark.
443
00:26:08,133 --> 00:26:11,001
There's no star nearby
to light them up.
444
00:26:14,172 --> 00:26:17,307
Narrator: Rogue planets drift
in eternal darkness
445
00:26:17,309 --> 00:26:23,046
through the frigid expanses
of interstellar space,
446
00:26:23,048 --> 00:26:28,251
untouched by light
for millions of years.
447
00:26:28,253 --> 00:26:30,388
Let's say you found yourself
standing on the surface
448
00:26:30,390 --> 00:26:31,654
of one of these rogue planets.
449
00:26:31,656 --> 00:26:33,656
I mean, it would be
such a bizarre sight.
450
00:26:33,658 --> 00:26:35,525
There wouldn't be a sun.
451
00:26:35,527 --> 00:26:40,263
You know, it would just be
the night sky all around you.
452
00:26:40,265 --> 00:26:42,066
Durda: Think about the darkest,
453
00:26:42,068 --> 00:26:44,868
moonless night you can possibly
imagine here on the earth.
454
00:26:44,870 --> 00:26:46,736
That's the light level
that you have out there
455
00:26:46,738 --> 00:26:48,772
in interstellar space.
456
00:26:51,076 --> 00:26:54,410
Narrator: Physicists now believe
there could be billions
457
00:26:54,412 --> 00:27:01,485
of rogue planets in our galaxy,
one for every four stars.
458
00:27:01,487 --> 00:27:05,088
The question is, why do these
rogue planets exist at all?
459
00:27:05,090 --> 00:27:06,690
Did they form freely,
460
00:27:06,692 --> 00:27:10,493
or were they somehow cast out
of their solar system?
461
00:27:10,495 --> 00:27:12,629
The answer is probably both.
462
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:18,368
��
463
00:27:18,370 --> 00:27:21,370
narrator: Some rogue planets
formed from lumps of gas
464
00:27:21,372 --> 00:27:25,242
that never quite became stars.
465
00:27:25,244 --> 00:27:27,310
Others formed like planets
466
00:27:27,312 --> 00:27:32,382
around a star in solar systems
like our own.
467
00:27:32,384 --> 00:27:37,320
When solar systems are formed,
they're violent places.
468
00:27:37,322 --> 00:27:39,789
Sometimes planets just crash
into each other
469
00:27:39,791 --> 00:27:42,191
and become a single object.
470
00:27:42,193 --> 00:27:44,193
But sometimes
there are near misses,
471
00:27:44,195 --> 00:27:49,466
and they'll scatter away
from each other and be ejected.
472
00:27:49,468 --> 00:27:54,137
So these rogue planets spend
almost their entire lives
473
00:27:54,139 --> 00:27:56,072
completely alone.
474
00:27:56,074 --> 00:28:01,411
��
475
00:28:01,413 --> 00:28:03,413
narrator: Without a star
to keep them warm,
476
00:28:03,415 --> 00:28:08,551
rogue planets seem to be
an unlikely place for life.
477
00:28:08,553 --> 00:28:10,820
A rogue planet on its own
out in space,
478
00:28:10,822 --> 00:28:12,622
probably not gonna be habitable.
479
00:28:12,624 --> 00:28:13,823
It's cold out there, right?
480
00:28:13,825 --> 00:28:15,424
So if it's the size
of the earth,
481
00:28:15,426 --> 00:28:18,895
it's probably a frozen ball.
482
00:28:18,897 --> 00:28:22,766
Narrator: But in 2018,
astronomers announced that life
483
00:28:22,768 --> 00:28:26,536
could be possible
on a moon around a rogue planet.
484
00:28:29,374 --> 00:28:32,175
There are icy moons orbiting
Jupiter and saturn
485
00:28:32,177 --> 00:28:35,044
that are heated by the gravity
of the planets they orbit.
486
00:28:35,046 --> 00:28:38,915
It has nothing to do
with the sun.
487
00:28:38,917 --> 00:28:42,051
Narrator:
As these moons are warped
by the planet's gravity,
488
00:28:42,053 --> 00:28:45,722
friction generates heat
that keeps the water liquid.
489
00:28:48,994 --> 00:28:51,194
So it's entirely possible
that if a rogue planet
490
00:28:51,196 --> 00:28:54,664
was able to keep its moons
and these moons are icy,
491
00:28:54,666 --> 00:28:57,000
they could have liquid oceans
under their surface.
492
00:28:57,002 --> 00:28:58,401
They don't need a star.
493
00:28:58,403 --> 00:29:00,804
They've got their planet
keeping them warm.
494
00:29:00,806 --> 00:29:06,609
��
495
00:29:06,611 --> 00:29:09,746
narrator: Interstellar space
is far from empty.
496
00:29:09,748 --> 00:29:13,950
It's loaded with disconnected
bodies that don't have a home.
497
00:29:16,154 --> 00:29:17,486
You can think of
interstellar space
498
00:29:17,488 --> 00:29:19,755
as almost sort of
a cosmic pinball machine.
499
00:29:19,757 --> 00:29:21,223
You've got high-velocity stars.
500
00:29:21,225 --> 00:29:22,825
You've got rogue planets.
501
00:29:22,827 --> 00:29:25,095
You've even moons that have been
thrown out from around planets.
502
00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:28,765
All of that is careening around
out there.
503
00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:32,101
Interstellar space
is more active and alive
504
00:29:32,103 --> 00:29:34,238
than we ever imagined.
505
00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:38,842
As it turns out,
it even has clouds that sing.
506
00:29:38,844 --> 00:29:44,314
��
507
00:29:55,261 --> 00:30:01,464
��
508
00:30:01,466 --> 00:30:03,399
narrator: Hundreds
of light-years away,
509
00:30:03,401 --> 00:30:05,001
vast amounts of gas
510
00:30:05,003 --> 00:30:10,140
and dust drift
through interstellar space.
511
00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:12,141
Think about all that space
between the stars,
512
00:30:12,143 --> 00:30:13,609
full of gas, dust --
513
00:30:13,611 --> 00:30:16,380
full of the stories about
how stars and planets formed.
514
00:30:16,382 --> 00:30:19,015
We've been missing a lot.
515
00:30:19,017 --> 00:30:20,950
Narrator:
Scientists call the gas and dust
516
00:30:20,952 --> 00:30:24,120
between the stars
the interstellar medium.
517
00:30:27,292 --> 00:30:31,094
It's the most common stuff
out there in the galaxy.
518
00:30:31,096 --> 00:30:34,698
It's hydrogen atoms, a few
helium atoms here and there.
519
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:39,102
��
520
00:30:39,104 --> 00:30:41,571
narrator: The interstellar
medium isn't distributed
521
00:30:41,573 --> 00:30:44,642
evenly throughout the galaxy.
522
00:30:44,644 --> 00:30:46,309
It's patchy.
It's clumpy.
523
00:30:46,311 --> 00:30:47,977
And there's some regions
that have more stuff,
524
00:30:47,979 --> 00:30:51,514
and some regions
that have less.
525
00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:55,485
Narrator:
The regions with more stuff
are called interstellar clouds.
526
00:30:59,057 --> 00:31:00,657
An interstellar cloud
is really just
527
00:31:00,659 --> 00:31:03,193
a slightly
denser concentration of gas
528
00:31:03,195 --> 00:31:07,063
and possibly dust that we see
scattered across our galaxy.
529
00:31:09,735 --> 00:31:12,669
Narrator: Interstellar clouds
can stretch vast distances
530
00:31:12,671 --> 00:31:16,206
across the cosmos --
531
00:31:16,208 --> 00:31:21,477
some reaching a million times
the mass of the sun.
532
00:31:21,479 --> 00:31:22,879
You know, it boggles my mind
533
00:31:22,881 --> 00:31:24,747
when I look at these
interstellar clouds
534
00:31:24,749 --> 00:31:27,016
and realize that they're
light-years in size.
535
00:31:27,018 --> 00:31:31,821
��
536
00:31:31,823 --> 00:31:34,624
narrator: Interstellar clouds
are more than just clumps
537
00:31:34,626 --> 00:31:37,493
of gas and dust.
538
00:31:37,495 --> 00:31:40,296
They're alive.
539
00:31:40,298 --> 00:31:44,367
Scharf: We know that these are
places where stars form,
540
00:31:44,369 --> 00:31:46,369
and they're also places
that are, themselves,
541
00:31:46,371 --> 00:31:48,771
formed by dying stars.
542
00:31:48,773 --> 00:31:56,112
��
543
00:31:56,114 --> 00:32:00,983
narrator: Stars form when
an interstellar cloud collapses.
544
00:32:00,985 --> 00:32:04,387
Gravity pulls matter together,
igniting the core.
545
00:32:04,389 --> 00:32:09,459
��
546
00:32:09,461 --> 00:32:11,327
but astronomers
don't have a full
547
00:32:11,329 --> 00:32:13,196
understanding of the process.
548
00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:16,866
Understanding the shape
and structure of a cloud
549
00:32:16,868 --> 00:32:19,668
like this is important
to understanding
550
00:32:19,670 --> 00:32:21,938
the process
of star formation.
551
00:32:21,940 --> 00:32:24,006
Some shapes and structures
just aren't big enough,
552
00:32:24,008 --> 00:32:27,210
in some dimensions,
to allow a cloud to collapse.
553
00:32:27,212 --> 00:32:29,879
Everything we can learn
about this sort of thing
554
00:32:29,881 --> 00:32:31,681
really depends on its shape.
555
00:32:31,683 --> 00:32:34,651
So knowing that shape is the key
to understanding it.
556
00:32:38,423 --> 00:32:40,757
Narrator: But there's a problem.
557
00:32:40,759 --> 00:32:42,558
When we look out
into the universe,
558
00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:45,962
we're seeing everything
projected onto the sky.
559
00:32:45,964 --> 00:32:50,232
So we may look at the structure
like an interstellar cloud
560
00:32:50,234 --> 00:32:54,170
and have very little
information about its depth.
561
00:32:54,172 --> 00:32:56,572
That's one of the big
challenges for astronomers,
562
00:32:56,574 --> 00:32:59,775
is to decode the full
three-dimensional shape
563
00:32:59,777 --> 00:33:01,878
of these clouds.
564
00:33:04,515 --> 00:33:07,583
Narrator: In 2018,
scientists get a breakthrough
565
00:33:07,585 --> 00:33:12,856
in their efforts
to understand star formation.
566
00:33:12,858 --> 00:33:15,858
Around 490 light-years
from earth
567
00:33:15,860 --> 00:33:21,397
lies an interstellar cloud
known as musca.
568
00:33:21,399 --> 00:33:24,133
It looks like a thin snake.
569
00:33:24,135 --> 00:33:25,935
Durda:
Optically, this dark doodle,
570
00:33:25,937 --> 00:33:27,537
if you will,
looks like a dark cloud.
571
00:33:27,539 --> 00:33:28,972
It looks rather two-dimensional,
572
00:33:28,974 --> 00:33:32,977
silhouetted against
the background stars on the sky.
573
00:33:32,979 --> 00:33:38,948
Narrator: Astronomers
examine musca in infrared,
574
00:33:38,950 --> 00:33:43,353
and discover it's singing.
575
00:33:43,355 --> 00:33:46,489
It vibrates,
and it sets up waves
576
00:33:46,491 --> 00:33:48,424
that move through this cloud,
back and forth.
577
00:33:48,426 --> 00:33:51,628
And these are called
magnetohydrodynamic waves,
578
00:33:51,630 --> 00:33:53,363
which sounds awesome.
579
00:33:56,167 --> 00:33:59,369
Narrator: The team converted
the waves into musical notes,
580
00:33:59,371 --> 00:34:03,172
producing musca's song.
581
00:34:03,174 --> 00:34:09,445
��
582
00:34:09,447 --> 00:34:15,852
��
583
00:34:15,854 --> 00:34:17,854
it turns out that,
if you study this,
584
00:34:17,856 --> 00:34:19,389
you can actually determine
585
00:34:19,391 --> 00:34:21,457
the three-dimensional
shape of this cloud
586
00:34:21,459 --> 00:34:23,526
by the way the waves
move through it.
587
00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:31,000
It's a little bit like listening
to the frequency of sound
588
00:34:31,002 --> 00:34:33,736
coming from some instrument
that you don't see,
589
00:34:33,738 --> 00:34:35,537
and trying to reconstruct
what kind of an instrument
590
00:34:35,539 --> 00:34:36,873
that must be.
591
00:34:36,875 --> 00:34:43,746
��
592
00:34:43,748 --> 00:34:45,415
narrator: A low notes tells you
you're listening
593
00:34:45,417 --> 00:34:51,087
to something large,
like a cello,
594
00:34:51,089 --> 00:34:54,089
while a high note represents
something smaller,
595
00:34:54,091 --> 00:34:57,093
like a violin.
596
00:34:57,095 --> 00:34:59,229
And just as different
instruments
597
00:34:59,231 --> 00:35:02,966
make very different sounds,
598
00:35:02,968 --> 00:35:08,170
clouds with different structures
will vibrate in different ways.
599
00:35:08,172 --> 00:35:12,374
They'll "sing" different songs.
600
00:35:12,376 --> 00:35:13,576
Durda:
The sounds, if you will,
601
00:35:13,578 --> 00:35:15,511
the frequencies coming
from that cloud,
602
00:35:15,513 --> 00:35:19,582
are a clue ultimately
to its shape and structure.
603
00:35:19,584 --> 00:35:20,983
Plait:
And with this musca cloud,
604
00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:22,785
even though it just looks
like a line in the sky,
605
00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:25,721
astronomers were able
to determine its 3-d shape.
606
00:35:25,723 --> 00:35:27,323
And it's not just a filament.
607
00:35:27,325 --> 00:35:29,125
It's actually a disc.
608
00:35:29,127 --> 00:35:31,327
It's like we're seeing
a disc edge-on.
609
00:35:31,329 --> 00:35:35,599
��
610
00:35:35,601 --> 00:35:40,536
narrator: Musca is more
of a pancake than a snake.
611
00:35:40,538 --> 00:35:45,340
We've just been looking
at the pancake from the side.
612
00:35:45,342 --> 00:35:46,810
Plait: That's amazing.
613
00:35:46,812 --> 00:35:49,211
It's like putting on 3-d glasses
for the first time
614
00:35:49,213 --> 00:35:52,081
and finally seeing depth
in the universe.
615
00:35:52,083 --> 00:35:56,285
��
616
00:35:56,287 --> 00:35:57,887
narrator:
The same technique can be used
617
00:35:57,889 --> 00:36:01,957
to study other
interstellar clouds.
618
00:36:01,959 --> 00:36:04,227
Durda: It brings with it a whole
new wealth of knowledge
619
00:36:04,229 --> 00:36:07,697
on the structure and processes
that are going on there.
620
00:36:07,699 --> 00:36:13,636
��
621
00:36:13,638 --> 00:36:19,709
��
622
00:36:19,711 --> 00:36:22,245
narrator: We're discovering
that the interstellar space
623
00:36:22,247 --> 00:36:26,716
in our galaxy is full of stuff,
624
00:36:26,718 --> 00:36:30,386
but something
doesn't quite add up.
625
00:36:30,388 --> 00:36:33,789
It turns out that if we take
all of the matter
626
00:36:33,791 --> 00:36:35,858
we see around
the universe today
627
00:36:35,860 --> 00:36:38,527
and add it up, it doesn't
equal the total amount
628
00:36:38,529 --> 00:36:40,130
that we know must be there.
629
00:36:43,802 --> 00:36:47,470
Narrator: 1/3 of the matter
in the universe is missing.
630
00:36:47,472 --> 00:36:50,673
So where is it?
631
00:36:50,675 --> 00:36:55,478
To find it, we have to look
beyond interstellar space
632
00:36:55,480 --> 00:37:00,749
into the dark, mysterious
reaches of intergalactic space.
633
00:37:00,751 --> 00:37:05,888
��
634
00:37:16,634 --> 00:37:21,504
��
635
00:37:21,506 --> 00:37:24,640
narrator: The milky way is one
of trillions of galaxies
636
00:37:24,642 --> 00:37:28,712
in the observable universe.
637
00:37:28,714 --> 00:37:30,779
The milky way galaxy is a disc.
638
00:37:30,781 --> 00:37:33,316
It's about
100,000 light-years across.
639
00:37:33,318 --> 00:37:38,254
It's filled with stars, lots
of planets, and gas and dust.
640
00:37:38,256 --> 00:37:40,523
Narrator:
But where does our galaxy end
641
00:37:40,525 --> 00:37:44,059
and the other galaxies begin?
642
00:37:44,061 --> 00:37:45,962
A structure like our galaxy
643
00:37:45,964 --> 00:37:49,065
doesn't really have
a hard edge to it.
644
00:37:49,067 --> 00:37:52,068
It actually becomes less
and less dense,
645
00:37:52,070 --> 00:37:54,537
and it gradually Peters out
as you move
646
00:37:54,539 --> 00:37:57,573
into true intergalactic space.
647
00:38:01,279 --> 00:38:05,681
Narrator: Between the galaxies
are huge gaps --
648
00:38:05,683 --> 00:38:09,418
intergalactic space.
649
00:38:09,420 --> 00:38:14,089
But, like interstellar space,
this region isn't empty.
650
00:38:14,091 --> 00:38:19,161
��
651
00:38:19,163 --> 00:38:25,835
new research reveals, it holds
the answer to a major mystery.
652
00:38:25,837 --> 00:38:29,638
We know how much normal matter
was made in the big bang.
653
00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:31,107
And we can look around us today
654
00:38:31,109 --> 00:38:33,508
and count up all
the normal matter we see,
655
00:38:33,510 --> 00:38:36,546
and the problem is,
they don't equal up.
656
00:38:38,516 --> 00:38:40,516
Narrator: There's something
wrong with the galaxies
657
00:38:40,518 --> 00:38:46,322
in our universe --
they're not massive enough.
658
00:38:46,324 --> 00:38:51,660
About 1/3 of the normal matter
in the universe is missing.
659
00:38:51,662 --> 00:38:56,866
There is more normal matter that
is not bound inside of galaxies.
660
00:38:56,868 --> 00:38:59,402
So where is it?
661
00:39:01,672 --> 00:39:04,474
One idea for where this missing
normal matter could be,
662
00:39:04,476 --> 00:39:08,011
is that it's actually
floating outside of our galaxy
663
00:39:08,013 --> 00:39:10,446
in a hot gas.
664
00:39:13,751 --> 00:39:15,885
Narrator: Scientists suspected
this hot gas
665
00:39:15,887 --> 00:39:22,225
might exist in long strands
between the galaxies,
666
00:39:22,227 --> 00:39:24,360
but the gas is so thin
and diffuse,
667
00:39:24,362 --> 00:39:28,898
it has been hard to detect...
668
00:39:28,900 --> 00:39:30,499
Until now.
669
00:39:30,501 --> 00:39:35,704
��
670
00:39:35,706 --> 00:39:39,909
in 2018, astronomers study
a bright distant quasar
671
00:39:39,911 --> 00:39:45,581
called 1es 1553.
672
00:39:45,583 --> 00:39:49,418
A quasar is when
a black hole feeds.
673
00:39:51,989 --> 00:39:53,389
It gives off light,
674
00:39:53,391 --> 00:39:56,426
and we can see it all the way
across the universe.
675
00:39:59,063 --> 00:40:02,465
Narrator: The quasar's light
takes over 4 billion years
676
00:40:02,467 --> 00:40:05,334
to reach us,
677
00:40:05,336 --> 00:40:09,605
but observers notice
something unusual.
678
00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:11,808
Something is absorbing the light
679
00:40:11,810 --> 00:40:14,076
as it passes
through the universe.
680
00:40:16,146 --> 00:40:19,281
The culprit?
681
00:40:19,283 --> 00:40:21,483
Ghostly strands of gas
682
00:40:21,485 --> 00:40:27,423
suspended in the spaces
between galaxies.
683
00:40:27,425 --> 00:40:31,560
These results suggest
that a good fraction
684
00:40:31,562 --> 00:40:34,496
of the normal matter
in our universe
685
00:40:34,498 --> 00:40:37,232
is not enclosed
inside of galaxies.
686
00:40:37,234 --> 00:40:39,301
They don't live
in the city limits.
687
00:40:39,303 --> 00:40:41,103
Instead, they live in long,
688
00:40:41,105 --> 00:40:45,308
thin streams that connect
the galaxies together.
689
00:40:45,310 --> 00:40:50,045
��
690
00:40:50,047 --> 00:40:53,516
narrator: Heated by shock waves
to millions of degrees,
691
00:40:53,518 --> 00:40:56,051
these strands of gas
could extend
692
00:40:56,053 --> 00:41:00,723
throughout the universe...
693
00:41:00,725 --> 00:41:02,191
And account for the matter
694
00:41:02,193 --> 00:41:05,194
that's been missing
all this time.
695
00:41:05,196 --> 00:41:09,732
��
696
00:41:09,734 --> 00:41:13,202
this opens up
a very interesting question --
697
00:41:13,204 --> 00:41:14,871
has this matter
always been there
698
00:41:14,873 --> 00:41:19,008
and just failed to accumulate
onto the galaxies,
699
00:41:19,010 --> 00:41:23,546
or was it started in galaxies
and gets blown out?
700
00:41:23,548 --> 00:41:25,748
We honestly don't know.
701
00:41:25,750 --> 00:41:30,953
��
702
00:41:30,955 --> 00:41:34,757
narrator: Interstellar space,
703
00:41:34,759 --> 00:41:37,426
and now intergalactic space,
704
00:41:37,428 --> 00:41:39,629
are more alive than we thought.
705
00:41:42,266 --> 00:41:46,234
From rogue planets
706
00:41:46,236 --> 00:41:49,839
to singing clouds of gas,
707
00:41:49,841 --> 00:41:54,176
interstellar space
is stranger than fiction.
708
00:41:54,178 --> 00:41:58,180
And we've only just begun
to tell its story.
709
00:42:00,517 --> 00:42:01,784
Just because
there's so much we don't
710
00:42:01,786 --> 00:42:03,385
understand
about interstellar space,
711
00:42:03,387 --> 00:42:05,988
it makes it that much
more critical to explore
712
00:42:05,990 --> 00:42:07,989
and try to figure it out.
713
00:42:07,991 --> 00:42:09,991
Durda: There's more to find out
about interstellar space
714
00:42:09,993 --> 00:42:11,393
than what we know,
715
00:42:11,395 --> 00:42:13,061
and that's the beauty
of exploration
716
00:42:13,063 --> 00:42:15,064
and the beauty of knowledge,
is it's ever-expanding,
717
00:42:15,066 --> 00:42:18,067
and that frontier
is always there.
718
00:42:18,069 --> 00:42:19,468
Plait: Who knows what else
is out there?
719
00:42:19,470 --> 00:42:21,804
What else could be lurking out
in the dark,
720
00:42:21,806 --> 00:42:23,473
between the stars?
721
00:42:23,475 --> 00:42:27,477
��
56902
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