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:
World-shattering asteroids
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on a collision course
with our planet.
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Colossal supervolcanoes
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00:00:13,010 --> 00:00:15,920
that will destroy
our atmosphere.
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And interstellar black holes
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capable of literally
swallowing the Earth.
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It seems that people
have been predicting
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how the world will end
almost since it began.
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And for some reason we can't
stop fixating on the notion
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that a massive cataclysm
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might suddenly erase us
from existence.
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But is there anything we can do
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to protect ourselves
and our planet?
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Or is an apocalypse
that will wipe out life on Earth
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simply inevitable?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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♪ ♪
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Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
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NASA scientists at the Kitt Peak
National Observatory
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- make a shocking announcement.
- (whirring)
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(shutter clicking)
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A massive asteroid
called Apophis
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is headed
directly towards Earth.
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And according to
their initial predictions,
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it is set to make impact
in April of 2029,
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on Friday the 13th.
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Apophis is approximately
300 meters in diameter.
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Put three football fields
end to end,
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and that would be roughly
the-the size of Apophis.
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00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,940
All the objects
we had discovered previously
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were either too small
to represent much of a hazard,
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or far enough away
from the Earth
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to not represent
an impact threat.
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Apophis was different.
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As more and more observations
came in,
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the chances that it was going
to impact the Earth--
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It got to the point where we had
roughly a three percent chance.
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This was unprecedented
at the time
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as far as a impact threat.
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If Apophis were to hit,
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it would be capable of producing
an extinction-level event.
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SHATNER:
An extinction-level event?
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It's almost inconceivable
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that a chunk of space rock
less than a quarter mile long
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could wipe out all life on a
planet almost 8,000 miles wide.
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And yet,
according to scientists,
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the possibility is very real.
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But how?
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Apophis is so large.
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If it were to impact the Earth,
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it would be hundreds of times
more destructive
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than the largest nuclear device
we've ever built.
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We know from analysis
of these collisions
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that the collision takes place
in stages.
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First, upon impact,
you have a flash
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that travels
at the speed of light--
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Infinitely fast--
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And that would blind
many animals in the area.
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The blast starts to then
level objects, crush them.
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(explosion)
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Then let's say
it lands near the ocean
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and causes a tsunami
that would then be perhaps,
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who knows,
tens of hundreds of feet tall,
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that would inundate
the entire area
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and cause a scale of
destruction not seen in history.
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SHATNER:
In March of 2021,
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NASA released revised orbital
calculations for Apophis.
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And as it turns out,
there's good news.
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It is now estimated
that Apophis has less than
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a one-in-380,000 chance
of hitting Earth.
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But could there be
other colossal asteroids
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making their way toward us
right now?
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The Earth has been hit
repeatedly
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throughout its history
by giant comets and asteroids.
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How do you prove it?
What evidence do we have?
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You see,
when a collision takes place,
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of course we have
the gigantic crater left over.
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Take a look at the one
in South Africa.
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That object is
about 200 miles across,
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clearly visible
from outer space.
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There have been
at least three world-killing
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extinction-level event asteroid
impacts that we know of.
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In South Africa,
there was the Vredefort impact.
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In Australia,
there was the Acraman impact.
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In the Gulf of Mexico,
there was the Chicxulub impact
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that destroyed the dinosaurs.
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Now, one might think that
these extinction-level events
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are a thing of the past,
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because these events happened
millions of years
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apart from each other.
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But that's just a blink
of an eye to the universe.
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We could have
an extinction-level event
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tomorrow or
a million years from now.
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SHATNER:
If it's true that
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a colossal asteroid strike
could happen at any moment,
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perhaps the question isn't
how soon it will hit Earth
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but rather whether there's
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anything we can do
to prevent it.
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The value of keeping an eye out
for potential global
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catastrophe-sized asteroids
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is having enough
advanced warning
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to do something about it.
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Congress directed NASA
to find 90%
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of all the asteroids
that were deemed capable
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of producing
an extinction-level event--
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A global catastrophe.
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NASA's Near-Earth Object
Observation Program
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funds astronomers
to find asteroids,
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but finding and tracking
near-Earth asteroids
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really is
an international effort.
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SHATNER: It's certainly
comforting to know
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that astronomers are on alert
for apocalyptic asteroids.
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But this concern for
the survival of the human race
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is not new.
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In fact,
humanity has been fixated
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on the threat of an apocalypse
since ancient times.
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We have been fascinated
with the end-times,
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the end of reality,
the end of the gods
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since we've been fascinated
with anything.
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For example,
Ragnarok in the Norse tales
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was the end of the world.
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In Buddhism,
the Lord Buddha gave
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00:07:03,250 --> 00:07:05,250
a little sermon on the end days.
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"And the rain shall cease,
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"and the oceans will dry up
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"until the Earth is baking
as if it were in an oven.
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And that will be
the end of all things."
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It's one of the things that
human beings have in common is,
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how are we gonna deal
with the future, particularly
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when there is no more future
and everything ends?
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Why would humans
even have predictions
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of apocalypses to begin with?
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Part of me thinks that
a lot of that has to do
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with a point in time
where we could have actually
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been listed as
an endangered species.
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Because there's been actually
key points in time
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where humans have nearly
gone extinct.
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One of them was
1.2 million years ago,
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but we don't know what happened
at that point in time.
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It could have been
the beginning of an ice age.
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It could have been changes
in environment.
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- (insects trilling)
- But within that time period,
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humans were down
to population numbers
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between maybe 6,000
and 26,000 individuals.
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The second point was
about 150,000 years ago.
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We are in the middle
of an ice age.
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Animals go extinct,
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and we're down
to nearly 600 individuals.
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The third close call
that we have for extinction
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is about 75,000 years ago.
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And during that time,
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we see this massive
volcanic eruption.
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It blows apart
the island of Sumatra.
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And expels ash and debris
into the atmosphere.
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It dims the sunlight,
and so we get down to roughly
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1,000 to maybe
10,000 individuals.
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And the near extinction
of humans could be
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why there are
these constant predictions
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of apocalypses
throughout the ancient world.
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In some sense
we have been lulled to sleep.
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You see, human history,
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recorded history,
only goes back 5,000 years.
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And before that period of time,
we have no direct experience
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with catastrophes
on a planetary scale
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that threaten the very existence
of human life.
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And that's why we have to change
our perspective.
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But the real reality is
there could be an apocalypse.
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So, perhaps history will
repeat itself one day,
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and humanity will meet its end
when a gigantic asteroid--
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That's hurtling towards us
at this very moment--
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Finally reaches Earth.
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But while we wait for
that possible date with destiny,
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there's another
potential apocalypse
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looming much, much closer.
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In fact, it's lurking
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right beneath our feet.
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SHATNER: At approximately 11:00
a.m., than earthquake, measuring 5.0
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on the Richter scale,
sends great shock waves
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through the island's
most active volcano:
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Mount Kilauea.
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The ground cracks open
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and 2,000-degree magma boils
to the surface.
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As residents who live in
the area flee for their lives,
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a torrent of molten lava gushes
from the broken earth,
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destroying everything
in its path.
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BENJAMIN McGEE: It was
a massive volcanic eruption.
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We're used to looking at
volcanoes that look dormant
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and assuming that
there's no threat.
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But if there's one thing
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that the geologic history
of the Earth warns us about,
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over and over and over again,
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it's that there's
unintended consequences
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of the Earth being alive,
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and Kilauea proved that in 2018.
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Kilauea is a large volcano
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that sits in the middle
of the Pacific Ocean.
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And it is generally known
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for these lava flows
that it puts out,
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that unfortunately got
into a populated area.
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And this very large eruption
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unfortunately destroyed
over 700 homes.
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Destroyed some really pristine
areas of the island.
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McGEE: You have very
kind of soupy, watery lava
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that was racing
at incredible speeds.
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And the problem is,
Hawaii is populous.
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We have folks, many of them,
who live there,
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00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,550
and there is nowhere to run.
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00:12:05,130 --> 00:12:07,300
I think the Kilauea eruption is
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00:12:07,460 --> 00:12:09,550
one of nature's great warnings.
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00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:10,970
So long as the Earth is alive,
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we will face the threat
of major volcanic eruptions.
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SHATNER:
In 2018, Mount Kilauea topped
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00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:20,730
the U.S. Geological Survey's
ranking
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00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:24,480
of the most dangerous volcanoes
in the United States.
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00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:25,990
But according to experts,
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00:12:26,070 --> 00:12:28,650
even Kilauea's cataclysmic power
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00:12:28,740 --> 00:12:32,320
pales in comparison to others
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00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,160
that could potentially
pose great threats
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00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,580
to not only cities
but the entire world.
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00:12:38,670 --> 00:12:42,010
They're simply known
as supervolcanoes.
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00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,840
Nuclear weapons, yeah,
we track them.
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00:12:45,930 --> 00:12:47,260
We know who has them.
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00:12:47,340 --> 00:12:49,510
Global warming,
we have computer programs
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00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,260
that simulate global warming.
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00:12:51,350 --> 00:12:54,930
And meteors from outer space,
we track asteroids.
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00:12:55,020 --> 00:12:57,260
But when it comes
to supervolcanoes,
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00:12:57,350 --> 00:12:59,440
we know almost nothing.
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00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,350
A supervolcano could be
1,000 times more deadly,
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00:13:04,450 --> 00:13:06,280
leaving destruction on a scale
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00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,110
that we haven't seen
in modern civilization.
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00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,860
POLAND: A super
eruption is meant to describe
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00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:15,870
a truly extraordinary
explosive eruption
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00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:20,450
that's about 1,000 cubic
kilometers in volume.
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00:13:20,540 --> 00:13:22,210
That's how much material
gets ejected.
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00:13:23,540 --> 00:13:25,960
SHATNER: According to
volcanologists, there are--
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00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,630
At this very moment--
Between 12 and 20
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00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,310
active supervolcanoes scattered
across the Earth.
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00:13:33,470 --> 00:13:35,970
We've all seen
the devastation of volcanoes.
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00:13:36,050 --> 00:13:39,890
We see this catastrophe
with all the gas coming out
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00:13:39,980 --> 00:13:44,060
of the volcano, with all
the debris and all the dirt.
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00:13:45,310 --> 00:13:49,740
But supervolcano eruptions can
disrupt the atmosphere itself,
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00:13:49,820 --> 00:13:53,580
sufficient to affect the weather
of the entire planet.
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00:13:54,910 --> 00:13:56,990
You've got sulfur dioxide,
you've got particles
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00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,830
which are reflecting sunlight
245
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,170
and that bounce or trap sunlight
and thermal radiation.
246
00:14:02,330 --> 00:14:05,830
- (wind whistling) - And that completely
changes the planet's heat balance.
247
00:14:05,910 --> 00:14:08,750
You can cripple ecosystems
from the bottom up
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00:14:08,830 --> 00:14:10,330
by darkening the world.
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00:14:11,510 --> 00:14:14,430
POLAND: These gases
can also poison agriculture,
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00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,930
poison plants,
and that of course will have
251
00:14:17,020 --> 00:14:19,190
a chain reaction
down the food web.
252
00:14:20,430 --> 00:14:22,930
So, these eruptions
can really cause
253
00:14:23,020 --> 00:14:25,270
a huge impact,
even if the lava only affects
254
00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,940
one small area,
they can have a global impact.
255
00:14:28,030 --> 00:14:30,610
Even thousands
and thousands of miles away
256
00:14:30,690 --> 00:14:32,120
from where
the eruption occurred.
257
00:14:32,270 --> 00:14:33,870
SHATNER:
It's hard to imagine
258
00:14:34,030 --> 00:14:37,110
a supervolcano causing
a worldwide cataclysm.
259
00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,700
But one such event is believed
to have already occurred
260
00:14:40,790 --> 00:14:43,280
long before humans walked
the Earth.
261
00:14:43,380 --> 00:14:47,960
An apocalypse that is referred
to as the Great Dying.
262
00:14:49,460 --> 00:14:52,790
The Great Dying was a mass
extinction of plants and animals
263
00:14:52,890 --> 00:14:54,710
that occurred
about 250 million years ago.
264
00:14:54,810 --> 00:14:57,390
The largest that occurred
in the history of Earth.
265
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,980
McGEE: Geologists call it
the Permian-Triassic extinction.
266
00:15:02,060 --> 00:15:05,060
It's the largest mass extinction
in the geologic record
267
00:15:05,220 --> 00:15:08,740
across all time,
and this is related
268
00:15:08,890 --> 00:15:11,490
to a major volcanic eruption
in northern Siberia
269
00:15:11,570 --> 00:15:13,990
that injected so much CO2
into the atmosphere
270
00:15:14,150 --> 00:15:17,320
that we lost 80%
of all marine life.
271
00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,740
We lost 70%
of all vertebrate land animals.
272
00:15:20,820 --> 00:15:23,000
This was so bad,
even the bugs got taken out.
273
00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:28,830
So, the Great Dying is
one of geologic history's
274
00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,590
great warnings,
that large volcanism can pose
275
00:15:32,750 --> 00:15:36,180
a true existential threat
to all life on Earth.
276
00:15:45,850 --> 00:15:47,770
SHATNER:
This body of water is one of
277
00:15:47,850 --> 00:15:49,860
the most popular tourist
destinations in the country
278
00:15:50,020 --> 00:15:52,940
due to its natural beauty.
279
00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:55,860
But deep below
the lake's surface lies
280
00:15:55,940 --> 00:15:58,080
an active supervolcano.
281
00:15:59,370 --> 00:16:00,360
Taupo's a beautiful place.
282
00:16:00,450 --> 00:16:02,120
It's serene,
it's got a lovely lake,
283
00:16:02,210 --> 00:16:04,870
mountains, geysers
and hot springs.
284
00:16:05,030 --> 00:16:05,920
Absolutely gorgeous.
285
00:16:07,540 --> 00:16:10,210
McGEE: These nice low-lying
areas that tend to fill up
286
00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:14,130
with water and be very beautiful
often indicate
287
00:16:14,210 --> 00:16:16,550
lurking underneath you is
288
00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,560
an emptied former
super eruption.
289
00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,720
The irony is, the beauty of
a lake often goes hand in hand
290
00:16:23,810 --> 00:16:27,640
with the lurking threat
of volcanic systems ready to go.
291
00:16:28,810 --> 00:16:31,640
POLAND: The last super
eruption of the Taupo volcano
292
00:16:31,740 --> 00:16:33,990
occurred about 26,500 years ago.
293
00:16:35,070 --> 00:16:37,820
We know Taupo is restless.
294
00:16:37,910 --> 00:16:40,490
It has lots of seismicity.
The ground goes up and down.
295
00:16:40,650 --> 00:16:43,660
And scientists in New Zealand
have tied that
296
00:16:43,750 --> 00:16:45,670
to magma moving
in the subsurface.
297
00:16:47,830 --> 00:16:49,170
There's geothermal activity
in the region,
298
00:16:49,330 --> 00:16:51,840
which indicates that
the system's not dead.
299
00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,010
It's alive.
300
00:16:53,090 --> 00:16:56,670
It's on an active
tectonic plate boundary.
301
00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,350
So there are massive earthquakes
that can be caused
302
00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:02,180
by a supervolcano getting
ready to blow
303
00:17:02,340 --> 00:17:06,180
on a scale that we've never seen
before or since in geology.
304
00:17:06,260 --> 00:17:08,510
Where Taupo is,
305
00:17:08,610 --> 00:17:12,520
large eruptions will
eventually happen.
306
00:17:12,610 --> 00:17:15,030
Volcanoes are something
that humanity has always
307
00:17:15,110 --> 00:17:16,860
had to live with and
always will have to live with.
308
00:17:18,190 --> 00:17:20,780
We can study these things,
try to understand
309
00:17:20,940 --> 00:17:23,030
how an eruption might occur.
310
00:17:23,110 --> 00:17:25,360
But we don't have a way
to stop a volcanic eruption.
311
00:17:25,450 --> 00:17:26,450
We're not going to stop
312
00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:28,670
something that
the Earth wants to do.
313
00:17:29,790 --> 00:17:32,460
Is it possible that
the Earth itself
314
00:17:32,550 --> 00:17:34,460
will bring about the apocalypse?
315
00:17:34,550 --> 00:17:35,870
(groans)
316
00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,710
It's a terrifying notion,
317
00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:41,960
but not so terrifying as
another primal force of nature.
318
00:17:42,060 --> 00:17:45,130
One that has the power
to end our existence
319
00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:47,850
by swallowing the Earth whole.
320
00:17:52,730 --> 00:17:54,570
- (whirring)
- (indistinct chatter over radio)
321
00:17:57,980 --> 00:18:00,570
SHATNER:
In collaboration with NASA,
322
00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:03,580
an international team
of astronomers accomplishes
323
00:18:03,740 --> 00:18:06,740
something once thought
to be impossible.
324
00:18:06,830 --> 00:18:09,250
They capture
the first ever image
325
00:18:09,330 --> 00:18:12,090
of a region of space
where gravity is so strong
326
00:18:12,170 --> 00:18:15,090
that not even light can escape
from it.
327
00:18:15,170 --> 00:18:19,750
These mysterious areas are
more commonly known as...
328
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:21,670
black holes.
329
00:18:21,750 --> 00:18:23,680
McGEE: Imaging a
black hole for the first time
330
00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,010
answers a challenge that seems
like it has no answer.
331
00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:27,930
How can you possibly take
a picture of something
332
00:18:28,010 --> 00:18:29,760
that swallows up all light?
333
00:18:29,850 --> 00:18:33,350
What they did was network
radio telescopes together
334
00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,030
all across the Earth,
making an effective telescope
335
00:18:36,180 --> 00:18:37,400
the size of our planet.
336
00:18:39,780 --> 00:18:42,620
It was called
the Event Horizon Telescope.
337
00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:44,940
And using that,
they were able to peer
338
00:18:45,030 --> 00:18:48,700
into the heart
of nearby galaxy M87.
339
00:18:48,790 --> 00:18:51,540
And there's
a supermassive black hole
340
00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:55,290
25 billion miles across
at its core.
341
00:18:58,040 --> 00:18:59,870
DAVIES: The problem about
black holes is that they're black
342
00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:00,880
and they're very small.
343
00:19:00,970 --> 00:19:02,790
And so you can't
directly see them.
344
00:19:02,890 --> 00:19:04,130
You have to infer
their existence
345
00:19:04,210 --> 00:19:07,640
from what they do
to their, uh, surroundings.
346
00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,220
And so,
it was an image constructed
347
00:19:12,310 --> 00:19:15,560
from many, many observations
around the world,
348
00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:17,730
put together in a clever way
349
00:19:17,810 --> 00:19:19,570
with a lot of sort of
computer enhancement.
350
00:19:19,650 --> 00:19:20,560
And so you see this...
351
00:19:20,650 --> 00:19:23,150
(electrical whirring)
352
00:19:23,230 --> 00:19:25,620
black object against
a glowing background.
353
00:19:28,740 --> 00:19:31,500
SHATNER: Since 1915,
when Albert Einstein's
354
00:19:31,580 --> 00:19:36,170
famous theory of relativity
first proposed their existence,
355
00:19:36,330 --> 00:19:39,410
black holes have sparked
intense fascination.
356
00:19:39,510 --> 00:19:43,250
But just what are
these mysterious cosmic forces?
357
00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,500
DAVIES: Black hole is an
object where gravity is so intense
358
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,350
that even light can't escape.
359
00:19:49,430 --> 00:19:51,680
And seeing as nothing can go
faster than light,
360
00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:53,520
it means anything that
falls into a black hole
361
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,010
can't get out again.
362
00:19:55,100 --> 00:19:57,520
McGEE:
A black hole is formed
363
00:19:57,610 --> 00:20:02,100
- under intense pressure of a collapsing star.
- (explosion)
364
00:20:02,190 --> 00:20:03,530
And the pressure is so intense
365
00:20:03,610 --> 00:20:07,440
that it pushes the atoms
inside each other
366
00:20:07,530 --> 00:20:09,440
until the whole thing is
collapsed down to a point.
367
00:20:09,530 --> 00:20:10,950
And they call that
a singularity.
368
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:13,610
And if you get too close to it,
369
00:20:13,710 --> 00:20:15,370
it'll trap you with its gravity,
and then you're stuck.
370
00:20:16,630 --> 00:20:19,700
DAVIES: As you get closer
and closer to the black hole,
371
00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:21,880
the gravity gets
more and more intense.
372
00:20:21,970 --> 00:20:25,790
So, supposing I'm falling
into a black hole feet first,
373
00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,460
imagine this,
then my feet are a bit closer
374
00:20:28,550 --> 00:20:29,880
to the black hole than my head.
375
00:20:29,970 --> 00:20:33,720
And so gravity's a bit stronger
on my feet than my head.
376
00:20:33,810 --> 00:20:35,230
So I'm gonna be stretched
this way,
377
00:20:35,390 --> 00:20:37,730
but my shoulders,
each shoulder's trying
378
00:20:37,890 --> 00:20:39,150
to fall to the center
of the black hole,
379
00:20:39,230 --> 00:20:41,140
so I'm gonna be squeezed
this way.
380
00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:43,640
If it's a star, for example,
381
00:20:43,740 --> 00:20:45,810
it wouldn't just sort of
go straight down the black hole.
382
00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:48,530
It would spiral around
and get ripped to pieces.
383
00:20:50,150 --> 00:20:53,160
SHATNER:
Ripped to pieces?
384
00:20:53,250 --> 00:20:55,820
Since a black hole has
the power to destroy
385
00:20:55,910 --> 00:20:59,250
anything that comes near it,
then it begs the question...
386
00:21:00,340 --> 00:21:04,170
What if the unimaginable
happened,
387
00:21:04,260 --> 00:21:08,760
and a black hole crossed paths
with Earth?
388
00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:12,770
DAVIES: If a black hole
enters the solar system,
389
00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,770
the gravitational field is
so intense that
390
00:21:15,850 --> 00:21:19,260
Earth will be ripped to shreds
when it came close enough.
391
00:21:19,350 --> 00:21:23,430
It would spiral around
as the material was shredded,
392
00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,610
whirling down and down
faster and faster and faster,
393
00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:27,280
as the Earth
and all the people on it
394
00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:29,530
eventually go down
the black hole.
395
00:21:29,690 --> 00:21:31,780
A truly apocalyptic event.
396
00:21:31,870 --> 00:21:35,450
I'm reassured by the fact that
our solar system has been around
397
00:21:35,540 --> 00:21:37,360
for four and a half
billion years
398
00:21:37,460 --> 00:21:41,870
and no black hole has ventured
this way before.
399
00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:43,300
But of course that doesn't
mean it couldn't happen.
400
00:21:45,460 --> 00:21:47,710
SHATNER: Fortunately,
the nearest black hole is
401
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:52,140
1,500 light-years away,
but that may be about to change.
402
00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,210
Because there are those
who believe that
403
00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:58,060
black holes could be created
right here on Earth.
404
00:21:58,150 --> 00:22:00,470
And as evidence,
they point to a series
405
00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,320
of experiments being conducted
by physicists
406
00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,740
at the largest particle
accelerator on Earth:
407
00:22:05,890 --> 00:22:09,230
the Large Hadron Collider.
408
00:22:09,310 --> 00:22:11,490
McGEE: The Large Hadron
Collider in Switzerland
409
00:22:11,650 --> 00:22:13,740
is the largest
particle accelerator
410
00:22:13,830 --> 00:22:15,410
humanity has ever constructed.
411
00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:18,000
16 miles in diameter.
412
00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,750
A particle accelerator is
a machine designed
413
00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,590
to make subatomic particles
go near to the speed of light
414
00:22:25,750 --> 00:22:27,010
to break matter down
415
00:22:27,170 --> 00:22:29,260
into its fundamental
building blocks
416
00:22:29,340 --> 00:22:30,580
and see what they are.
417
00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,260
DAVIES: The LHC takes
protons and whirls them around
418
00:22:35,420 --> 00:22:37,270
inside a ring-shaped tube,
419
00:22:37,350 --> 00:22:40,440
and then they smash them
together at enormous energies,
420
00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:42,430
recreating the conditions
421
00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,850
just a trillionth of a second
after the big bang.
422
00:22:44,930 --> 00:22:47,180
So some people have conjectured
423
00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,020
that maybe the LHCs could create
424
00:22:50,110 --> 00:22:53,020
a microscopic black hole
at energies far in excess
425
00:22:53,110 --> 00:22:54,280
of anything that
had been reached before.
426
00:22:54,370 --> 00:22:58,450
Now, our best understanding
of black holes is
427
00:22:58,530 --> 00:23:02,200
that if you make one
by colliding particles,
428
00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,700
then it would disappear
almost immediately,
429
00:23:04,790 --> 00:23:06,380
so it really wouldn't pose
a threat.
430
00:23:07,630 --> 00:23:10,710
McGEE: Some physicists
actually raised legal battles
431
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,220
trying to shut down the LHC
432
00:23:13,380 --> 00:23:16,140
over fear that they might
accidentally create
433
00:23:16,220 --> 00:23:19,480
one of these black holes,
and it would start to swallow up
434
00:23:19,630 --> 00:23:22,640
everything around it and maybe
doom the Earth in the process.
435
00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,310
Ultimately those objections
were tossed out,
436
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:26,900
and the LHC is still running.
437
00:23:27,980 --> 00:23:30,740
But as we probe farther
and farther
438
00:23:30,820 --> 00:23:33,150
into the deepest reaches
of the laws of physics,
439
00:23:33,230 --> 00:23:36,410
and we use the largest tools
we have in our toolbox to do it,
440
00:23:36,490 --> 00:23:38,900
there's the chance
that we will get
441
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,080
into territory we didn't expect,
442
00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,000
and that could pose a threat
of a scale that would pose
443
00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:45,210
a threat to humanity.
444
00:23:49,420 --> 00:23:51,500
While black holes may be
445
00:23:51,580 --> 00:23:53,760
the most destructive force
in the universe,
446
00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,850
there are those
who believe that there's
447
00:23:55,930 --> 00:23:58,170
a different threat
from outer space
448
00:23:58,260 --> 00:24:00,930
that we should be
even more concerned about.
449
00:24:01,020 --> 00:24:03,590
One that even
our best telescopes
450
00:24:03,690 --> 00:24:05,270
may not be able to see coming.
451
00:24:07,020 --> 00:24:09,610
Because there's
a very good chance
452
00:24:09,690 --> 00:24:11,780
it's already here.
453
00:24:18,860 --> 00:24:21,860
SHATNER: Astronomers
at the Carl Sagan Institute
454
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,870
release the findings
of a groundbreaking study.
455
00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:29,540
By using a highly-detailed
3D map of the Milky Way galaxy,
456
00:24:29,620 --> 00:24:31,380
they conduct observations
457
00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:34,130
of more than
2,000 nearby star systems.
458
00:24:35,380 --> 00:24:36,300
After analyzing the data,
459
00:24:36,390 --> 00:24:39,300
they come to
a shocking conclusion:
460
00:24:39,380 --> 00:24:42,930
we may not be alone
in the universe.
461
00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:46,310
The findings show that
there are potentially
462
00:24:46,470 --> 00:24:50,150
29 advanced
extraterrestrial civilizations
463
00:24:50,230 --> 00:24:53,060
located within
50 light-years of Earth,
464
00:24:53,140 --> 00:24:56,980
and it's possible
they've been observing us.
465
00:24:58,230 --> 00:25:03,740
The idea that there might be
other life out there is
466
00:25:03,820 --> 00:25:05,580
as old as recorded history.
467
00:25:05,670 --> 00:25:08,500
And also, of course,
there has always been
468
00:25:08,590 --> 00:25:12,170
this idea that if there are
other life-forms out there,
469
00:25:12,260 --> 00:25:16,750
that extraterrestrials may take
the view that it is logical
470
00:25:16,830 --> 00:25:20,680
to eliminate any potential
threat to their own existence,
471
00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:25,270
and emerging civilizations like
humanity might be that threat.
472
00:25:25,430 --> 00:25:27,020
And there's the idea that
473
00:25:27,180 --> 00:25:29,520
these super predator
civilizations would
474
00:25:29,610 --> 00:25:32,780
comb the universe
looking for the first signs
475
00:25:32,860 --> 00:25:35,850
of emerging
spacefaring civilizations
476
00:25:35,940 --> 00:25:37,820
and then exterminating them.
477
00:25:39,030 --> 00:25:41,200
KAKU: Some scientists
want to reach out
478
00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,780
and advertise our existence
and say, "Here we are.
479
00:25:44,870 --> 00:25:46,110
"This is our location.
480
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:49,710
This is our state of technology.
Come visit us."
481
00:25:49,870 --> 00:25:53,130
I think that's
a catastrophically bad idea.
482
00:25:53,210 --> 00:25:55,380
History shows that
483
00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:58,380
when civilizations encounter
each other,
484
00:25:58,470 --> 00:26:00,390
the outcome is often tragic.
485
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,060
I think we should keep
our identity a secret for now.
486
00:26:06,310 --> 00:26:09,730
TAYLOR:
It's a mathematical likelihood
487
00:26:09,890 --> 00:26:12,980
that we will encounter
other life-forms,
488
00:26:13,140 --> 00:26:17,310
other intelligences, within
this universe at some time.
489
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:18,980
It's not a matter of if.
490
00:26:19,060 --> 00:26:21,480
It really is just
a matter of when.
491
00:26:21,580 --> 00:26:25,490
It's just as likely that
any interaction with aliens
492
00:26:25,580 --> 00:26:29,540
might end the world in
a huge apocalyptic-type event.
493
00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:33,410
So, while we're prepared to know
494
00:26:33,490 --> 00:26:36,260
that aliens are there
and want to talk to them,
495
00:26:36,340 --> 00:26:38,250
I don't think we are prepared
for an invasion.
496
00:26:39,500 --> 00:26:42,000
SHATNER: For some, the
idea that extraterrestrials
497
00:26:42,100 --> 00:26:45,920
would travel across the galaxy
to wipe out humanity
498
00:26:46,010 --> 00:26:48,760
may sound like something
out of science fiction.
499
00:26:50,090 --> 00:26:54,600
But there are others who believe
that this doomsday scenario
500
00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,520
is well within the realm
of possibility,
501
00:26:58,610 --> 00:27:03,950
because they claim there is
evidence which suggests
502
00:27:04,110 --> 00:27:08,250
that extraterrestrials are
already here.
503
00:27:11,780 --> 00:27:15,040
After decades
of public speculation,
504
00:27:15,130 --> 00:27:19,040
the Pentagon finally releases
a report corroborating
505
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:21,470
what many have long suspected:
506
00:27:21,550 --> 00:27:25,140
unidentified aerial phenomena--
Otherwise known as UAPs--
507
00:27:25,220 --> 00:27:29,140
Do, in fact, exist.
508
00:27:29,230 --> 00:27:32,810
The government has
a track record of saying
509
00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:35,890
as little as possible
about UFOs.
510
00:27:35,980 --> 00:27:39,650
The Office of the Director
of National Intelligence
511
00:27:39,810 --> 00:27:44,230
delivered a report
to Congress about UFOs.
512
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,660
It was a preliminary assessment,
513
00:27:46,740 --> 00:27:51,570
and it essentially says
that this phenomenon is real.
514
00:27:52,740 --> 00:27:56,240
What it said basically was,
a lot of events happened
515
00:27:56,330 --> 00:28:00,170
and many of them have
no explanation as of yet.
516
00:28:00,260 --> 00:28:03,680
And that is very interesting
that the government is
517
00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,670
actually telling
the general public that
518
00:28:06,750 --> 00:28:08,600
"Hey, there's something
in our skies
519
00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,180
that we don't what they are."
520
00:28:11,270 --> 00:28:15,350
POPE:
UFOs are an existential threat.
521
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:19,520
Those sorts of civilizations
with maybe millions of years'
522
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,190
head start on us in terms of
523
00:28:22,270 --> 00:28:24,520
their scientific understanding,
their technology.
524
00:28:24,610 --> 00:28:27,020
They could wipe up us out
in an instant.
525
00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:29,360
They probably have technology
526
00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,120
that could crack
this planet open
527
00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,200
like a nut, if they wanted to.
528
00:28:34,370 --> 00:28:36,870
SHATNER: The Department
of Defense has also confirmed
529
00:28:36,950 --> 00:28:39,380
that a classified program
known as AATIP
530
00:28:39,460 --> 00:28:42,290
had obtained
actual video evidence
531
00:28:42,370 --> 00:28:46,290
of encounters with
unidentified aerial phenomena.
532
00:28:46,380 --> 00:28:48,710
And according to experts
who have seen the tapes,
533
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:53,230
we have every reason to be
very, very worried.
534
00:28:54,550 --> 00:28:59,060
AATIP was a Pentagon program
looking at UFOs,
535
00:28:59,150 --> 00:29:01,980
and they were studying
the technologies
536
00:29:02,070 --> 00:29:04,740
that UFOs would need
to travel here.
537
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,580
They revealed that
there had been videos taken
538
00:29:09,730 --> 00:29:12,660
through forward-looking
infrared cameras
539
00:29:12,750 --> 00:29:16,420
mounted on F-18 Super Hornets,
540
00:29:16,500 --> 00:29:20,590
and they show
the pilots tracking
541
00:29:20,750 --> 00:29:24,090
and in some cases getting
hugely interested,
542
00:29:24,170 --> 00:29:27,250
concerned,
excited about the speeds,
543
00:29:27,340 --> 00:29:29,600
the maneuvers, the acceleration.
544
00:29:34,340 --> 00:29:35,680
(chuckles)
545
00:29:35,770 --> 00:29:40,100
Sometimes they can evade
our air defenses altogether.
546
00:29:40,180 --> 00:29:44,360
Sometimes they show up on radar
but other times not.
547
00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:48,860
The best aircraft we have are
left standing by these things.
548
00:29:48,940 --> 00:29:52,790
The technology is greater
than anything we have.
549
00:29:52,870 --> 00:29:55,870
And therefore, you have to say,
"Yeah, this is a threat."
550
00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,120
SHATNER: In an interview
with the Washington Post
551
00:29:59,210 --> 00:30:00,710
conducted shortly
before the release
552
00:30:00,790 --> 00:30:02,870
of the Pentagon's UFO report,
553
00:30:02,950 --> 00:30:04,620
the former director of AATIP,
554
00:30:04,710 --> 00:30:07,220
U.S. Army Special Agent
Luis Elizondo,
555
00:30:07,380 --> 00:30:10,540
made an unsettling claim.
556
00:30:10,630 --> 00:30:12,880
Unidentified flying objects
have been seen
557
00:30:12,970 --> 00:30:16,550
observing U.S. nuclear
launch sites around the world.
558
00:30:17,980 --> 00:30:21,890
TAYLOR: Lou Elizondo has
suggested that a lot of sightings occur
559
00:30:21,970 --> 00:30:24,820
near nuclear power plants,
nuclear missile sites,
560
00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:28,400
nuclear submarines,
nuclear ships.
561
00:30:28,490 --> 00:30:31,740
The question is, if that's true,
why are they doing that?
562
00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:34,330
What is the motivation to
look at the nuclear locations?
563
00:30:35,490 --> 00:30:37,740
These UFOs, for whatever reason,
564
00:30:37,820 --> 00:30:40,070
are interested in nuclear sites.
565
00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,330
There are few things
about this whole UFO mystery
566
00:30:43,410 --> 00:30:47,420
more potentially dangerous
than this.
567
00:30:47,510 --> 00:30:49,920
There have been briefings
to the president
568
00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,340
at top secret level.
569
00:30:52,420 --> 00:30:54,840
And a fuller assessment will be
570
00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:56,850
delivered to Congress
in due course.
571
00:30:58,180 --> 00:31:01,930
There's a great logic
that governments need
572
00:31:02,010 --> 00:31:04,930
a plan on first contact--
573
00:31:05,020 --> 00:31:08,440
What to do if aliens arrive
and are hostile.
574
00:31:08,530 --> 00:31:10,530
Because the point is,
575
00:31:10,690 --> 00:31:13,280
this is going to be
an existential threat.
576
00:31:13,370 --> 00:31:17,540
It's far better in any situation
577
00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:20,790
to have a contingency plan
and not need it,
578
00:31:20,870 --> 00:31:23,380
than to need it and not have it.
579
00:31:25,710 --> 00:31:30,540
Are the AATIP videos evidence
of extraterrestrials spying
580
00:31:30,630 --> 00:31:33,040
on us and
our defense installations
581
00:31:33,130 --> 00:31:35,390
in order to plan an attack?
582
00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:38,630
We simply don't know.
583
00:31:38,730 --> 00:31:40,550
But if they are,
584
00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,400
it could spell humanity's
certain doom.
585
00:31:43,550 --> 00:31:46,810
Just like
another potential apocalypse.
586
00:31:46,890 --> 00:31:49,900
One that could pull
the plug on our existence...
587
00:31:49,990 --> 00:31:51,700
like that.
588
00:31:55,660 --> 00:31:57,570
SHATNER:
According to researchers,
589
00:31:57,650 --> 00:31:59,650
recent advancements
in computer graphics
590
00:31:59,740 --> 00:32:01,580
may soon give us the ability
591
00:32:01,660 --> 00:32:04,910
to create simulations
so lifelike
592
00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,660
that they're
nearly indistinguishable
593
00:32:06,740 --> 00:32:08,660
from reality itself.
594
00:32:08,750 --> 00:32:11,830
And such realism has
actually caused many experts
595
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:16,340
to ponder a profound
and disturbing possibility:
596
00:32:16,420 --> 00:32:21,420
what if we're actually
living in a simulation
597
00:32:21,510 --> 00:32:23,010
right now?
598
00:32:24,260 --> 00:32:29,110
Simulation theory is the idea
that we live in a video game.
599
00:32:29,190 --> 00:32:31,780
That the reality
that we see around us,
600
00:32:31,940 --> 00:32:35,030
the reality that
we think is real and hard,
601
00:32:35,190 --> 00:32:36,570
is actually a fake.
602
00:32:38,030 --> 00:32:41,290
It's a software program
running in virtual reality.
603
00:32:41,370 --> 00:32:42,700
(electrical whirring)
604
00:32:42,780 --> 00:32:46,280
And concocted perhaps
by a more advanced civilization
605
00:32:46,380 --> 00:32:48,540
that's running us
as a video game.
606
00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,120
VIRK: The biggest argument
against simulation theory is
607
00:32:53,220 --> 00:32:55,380
that the idea just seems absurd.
608
00:32:55,470 --> 00:32:57,800
But if you were
inside a video game,
609
00:32:57,890 --> 00:33:01,800
the walls and the objects
would appear to be real.
610
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,390
And if there was
a good enough physics engine,
611
00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,650
pretty soon we would be unable
612
00:33:07,730 --> 00:33:11,900
to distinguish between physical
reality and virtual reality.
613
00:33:12,060 --> 00:33:15,320
KAKU: If we live in a
simulation, that we're just puppets,
614
00:33:15,410 --> 00:33:18,480
dancing according
to somebody's PC screen,
615
00:33:18,570 --> 00:33:21,830
then the question is,
who's watching the screen?
616
00:33:22,830 --> 00:33:25,070
Who is in charge of this thing?
617
00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:29,330
Who set up the ground rules to
create this fantastic universe
618
00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:32,170
that we think is reality
but actually
619
00:33:32,260 --> 00:33:34,660
it's a figment of
somebody else's imagination?
620
00:33:34,750 --> 00:33:37,840
Well, your guess is
as good as mine.
621
00:33:39,010 --> 00:33:42,010
SHATNER:
Could we actually be living
622
00:33:42,170 --> 00:33:45,760
within a sophisticated
computer simulation?
623
00:33:45,850 --> 00:33:50,260
And if so, perhaps
the more important question is,
624
00:33:50,350 --> 00:33:53,610
what happens if
whoever's running the simulation
625
00:33:53,770 --> 00:33:56,360
decides to shut it off?
626
00:33:57,610 --> 00:33:59,200
VIRK:
The biggest threat is
627
00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:03,040
that the simulation
will have to be shut down.
628
00:34:03,190 --> 00:34:05,290
Uh, which means that
it would be the end
629
00:34:05,370 --> 00:34:07,870
of our simulation and that
it has served its purpose.
630
00:34:09,210 --> 00:34:13,120
To us, it would basically mean
the end of the world.
631
00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:15,460
In other words, it's game over.
632
00:34:15,550 --> 00:34:20,140
Somebody has pulled the plug
on what we call "reality."
633
00:34:20,220 --> 00:34:23,710
An intelligence that advanced
634
00:34:23,810 --> 00:34:26,140
that can simulate
reality itself,
635
00:34:26,230 --> 00:34:29,730
make it indistinguishable
from reality,
636
00:34:29,810 --> 00:34:33,730
would be extremely advanced,
almost godlike in their powers.
637
00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:39,150
SHATNER: A simulation
controlled by godlike beings?
638
00:34:39,240 --> 00:34:40,480
(electrical whirring)
639
00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:43,240
While the idea may seem
far-fetched to some,
640
00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:45,490
religious traditions
from around the world
641
00:34:45,570 --> 00:34:48,580
have long held that
our reality is controlled
642
00:34:48,660 --> 00:34:53,160
by a higher power
that we don't fully understand.
643
00:34:53,240 --> 00:34:55,090
YOUNG: Since the
beginning of shamanism,
644
00:34:55,250 --> 00:34:58,000
spiritual teachers of all kinds
have been telling us
645
00:34:58,090 --> 00:35:02,090
there is more to reality
than what we see or think.
646
00:35:03,260 --> 00:35:05,350
The simulation theory is
647
00:35:05,430 --> 00:35:08,020
the very real statistical
possibility that
648
00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:11,760
- somebody greater than us has invented all this.
- (praying in foreign language)
649
00:35:11,850 --> 00:35:13,350
We wouldn't know, would we?
650
00:35:13,430 --> 00:35:15,930
Unless the gods--
That is, the programmers--
651
00:35:16,020 --> 00:35:17,570
Decided to let us in on it.
652
00:35:18,850 --> 00:35:21,200
Of course, that's what
religions tell us anyway.
653
00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:23,030
They tell us there are
more realities,
654
00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:24,200
greater realities,
655
00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,110
and that there are powers
greater than ours
656
00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:31,370
- who have made things that we walk around in.
- (indistinct chatter)
657
00:35:31,460 --> 00:35:32,450
I think the simulation theory is
658
00:35:32,540 --> 00:35:34,750
just science catching up
to religion.
659
00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,130
One thing we don't know
about is,
660
00:35:38,210 --> 00:35:41,220
who were the programmers
and why did they do it?
661
00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:43,470
One particular reason is
662
00:35:43,550 --> 00:35:45,630
to see how civilizations
rise and fall.
663
00:35:45,710 --> 00:35:47,640
That would be quite apocalyptic
664
00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,970
and could lead to bad events
for us.
665
00:35:52,060 --> 00:35:54,230
SHATNER: Could we
actually be test subjects
666
00:35:54,390 --> 00:35:56,220
in a computer simulation?
667
00:35:56,310 --> 00:35:58,480
Like rats in a virtual maze?
668
00:35:58,570 --> 00:36:01,490
There are many who believe
that to be the case.
669
00:36:01,570 --> 00:36:03,400
And as evidence
they point to the fact
670
00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,240
that we're using advanced
computer simulations right now
671
00:36:06,330 --> 00:36:10,660
to prepare for earthquakes
and other catastrophic threats.
672
00:36:17,590 --> 00:36:21,410
Scientists at the Earthquake
Research Institute
673
00:36:21,500 --> 00:36:23,250
conduct an unusual experiment.
674
00:36:23,330 --> 00:36:26,000
Using the powerful
microprocessor
675
00:36:26,090 --> 00:36:28,430
known as the K supercomputer...
676
00:36:28,510 --> 00:36:32,600
- (beep) - they build an
incredibly detailed virtual simulation
677
00:36:32,690 --> 00:36:36,100
of the city of Tokyo,
down to the last detail.
678
00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:37,510
And then...
679
00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,150
- (beep)
- they destroy it.
680
00:36:42,860 --> 00:36:46,520
The K supercomputer was
one of the,
681
00:36:46,610 --> 00:36:49,030
if not the fastest,
supercomputer on Earth.
682
00:36:49,110 --> 00:36:52,610
And a team of scientists
in Japan
683
00:36:52,700 --> 00:36:55,460
used it to try to simulate
what would happen
684
00:36:55,540 --> 00:36:59,380
to Tokyo if there was
a major earthquake.
685
00:36:59,460 --> 00:37:02,870
Then we're able to simulate
the routes people might take
686
00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,880
through the city to try
to escape the devastation
687
00:37:05,970 --> 00:37:07,880
that could be caused
by the earthquake.
688
00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,140
We create simulations
in order to mimic
689
00:37:11,220 --> 00:37:13,140
these disasters taking place,
690
00:37:13,230 --> 00:37:17,060
and so perhaps that's why
this advanced civilization,
691
00:37:17,150 --> 00:37:20,400
playing this cosmic video game,
created humanity--
692
00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:22,400
To see what happens
during an apocalypse.
693
00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:26,650
VIRK: Some people say that the
problem they have with simulation theory
694
00:37:26,740 --> 00:37:30,070
is that we cannot prove
we're not in a simulation.
695
00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:32,320
But of course
humans have been pondering
696
00:37:32,410 --> 00:37:35,910
the nature of reality
for many thousands of years.
697
00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,420
So, I think it's an innate
part of who we are,
698
00:37:39,580 --> 00:37:42,340
to try to figure out
the world around us.
699
00:37:42,500 --> 00:37:44,410
So that we can survive.
700
00:37:45,580 --> 00:37:49,260
Could our existence really end
with the flip of a switch?
701
00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:52,590
Your guess is as good as mine.
702
00:37:52,670 --> 00:37:55,180
But if the fate of our world
703
00:37:55,270 --> 00:37:59,270
really does lie at the mercy
of forces beyond our control,
704
00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,440
what, if anything,
can we do about it?
705
00:38:03,860 --> 00:38:08,530
Well, there are those
who are taking steps right now
706
00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:13,080
that just might allow us
to escape.
707
00:38:18,790 --> 00:38:20,780
SHATNER: The threat
of a sudden apocalypse
708
00:38:20,870 --> 00:38:24,210
that wipes out life on Earth
is certainly concerning.
709
00:38:24,300 --> 00:38:27,210
But on the other hand,
we know that change
710
00:38:27,290 --> 00:38:29,540
is inevitable on our planet.
711
00:38:29,630 --> 00:38:32,640
And the prospect of
a potential doomsday
712
00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:35,220
is inspiring scientists
and engineers
713
00:38:35,380 --> 00:38:37,310
to develop new technologies
714
00:38:37,390 --> 00:38:41,650
and plans that will ensure
humanity's survival.
715
00:38:46,990 --> 00:38:48,900
It is a law of physics
practically
716
00:38:48,990 --> 00:38:52,120
that one day we will have
to leave the planet Earth.
717
00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,740
There are a number
of catastrophes
718
00:38:55,830 --> 00:39:00,000
that could definitely collapse
civilization as we know it.
719
00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:05,080
Faced with these planetary
threats, we have to have plan B.
720
00:39:05,170 --> 00:39:08,470
We have to have a way
to save humanity itself.
721
00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:13,510
The way to ensure
the survivability of humanity is
722
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:15,510
by spreading out
to the planets and the stars.
723
00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:21,190
If we move humanity to
another planet location,
724
00:39:21,350 --> 00:39:23,100
an extinction-level event
is not going to occur
725
00:39:23,190 --> 00:39:25,440
on both of those
at the same time.
726
00:39:26,860 --> 00:39:29,110
KAKU: How come there
are no dinosaurs in this room?
727
00:39:29,270 --> 00:39:30,440
How come there are no dinosaurs
728
00:39:30,530 --> 00:39:33,520
witnessing all these great shots
into outer space?
729
00:39:33,610 --> 00:39:36,450
Because the dinosaurs
did not have a space program.
730
00:39:36,610 --> 00:39:38,860
We have to make sure
that we don't go
731
00:39:38,950 --> 00:39:40,040
the way of the dinosaurs.
732
00:39:41,950 --> 00:39:46,120
SHATNER: Is it possible that we
might one day escape an apocalypse
733
00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:48,130
by moving to another planet?
734
00:39:48,210 --> 00:39:49,800
Perhaps.
735
00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:52,710
But even if catastrophe strikes
736
00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,130
before humans can escape
to another world,
737
00:39:55,220 --> 00:40:00,890
history suggests we will find
a way to endure.
738
00:40:01,050 --> 00:40:04,720
MICHAEL DENNIN: When we think
about the luck of avoiding mass extinction,
739
00:40:04,810 --> 00:40:08,560
or apocalypses,
I think, for humans,
740
00:40:08,650 --> 00:40:11,060
we've shown
an amazing resilience
741
00:40:11,150 --> 00:40:12,570
and ability to respond.
742
00:40:12,730 --> 00:40:15,320
So things that could have been
local apocalypses,
743
00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:17,580
we've already been able
to mitigate in our history.
744
00:40:17,730 --> 00:40:21,150
And the hope is,
these other larger ones,
745
00:40:21,250 --> 00:40:25,830
as tragic as they'll be
for large segments of society,
746
00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,420
hopefully society as a whole
will be able to navigate.
747
00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:32,750
THOLEN: Some people estimate
Homo sapiens have been around
748
00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:35,330
for perhaps as long
as 200,000 years.
749
00:40:35,430 --> 00:40:37,850
And over that course of time,
750
00:40:38,010 --> 00:40:40,090
the species has managed
to survive.
751
00:40:40,180 --> 00:40:44,340
And that gives me
some confidence that
752
00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:48,600
the species will continue
to adapt to the environment.
753
00:40:49,940 --> 00:40:53,280
PAUL J. SPRINGER: Extinction-level
events, apocalyptic catastrophes,
754
00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:55,700
they're interesting
to think about.
755
00:40:55,780 --> 00:40:57,860
But the likelihood
of them occurring
756
00:40:57,950 --> 00:41:00,030
is astronomically small.
757
00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:03,280
Humans are programmed
to continue.
758
00:41:03,370 --> 00:41:04,780
And so you don't want
to give them
759
00:41:04,870 --> 00:41:06,780
outsized influence in your mind.
760
00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:08,950
You don't want
to constantly worry
761
00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,300
about the worst
possible scenarios...
762
00:41:11,380 --> 00:41:14,620
- (cheering) - because
they're so unlikely to occur,
763
00:41:14,710 --> 00:41:17,140
that you'll really miss out
on a lot of life
764
00:41:17,290 --> 00:41:19,710
and the day-to-day affairs
that make being human
765
00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:20,810
such a special thing.
766
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:24,770
Well, what do you think?
767
00:41:25,900 --> 00:41:28,560
Just like other species
before us,
768
00:41:28,650 --> 00:41:30,720
are we facing
the threat of extinction
769
00:41:30,810 --> 00:41:32,900
with the next apocalypse?
770
00:41:33,060 --> 00:41:36,730
Or is humanity
actually resilient enough
771
00:41:36,820 --> 00:41:41,240
that no matter what comes at us,
or explodes beneath us,
772
00:41:41,330 --> 00:41:43,240
or attempts to push our buttons,
773
00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:45,580
we'll survive and evolve
and prepare
774
00:41:45,740 --> 00:41:48,670
for the next cataclysmic event?
775
00:41:48,830 --> 00:41:51,410
Only time will tell.
776
00:41:51,500 --> 00:41:53,340
But until it does,
777
00:41:53,420 --> 00:41:58,340
the question of what fate
may hold for us remains...
778
00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:00,500
unexplained.
778
00:42:01,305 --> 00:43:01,324
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.63010
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