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Narrator: THE SUN,
OUR NUCLEAR POWERHOUSE.
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00:00:07,833 --> 00:00:16,933
OUR STAR, ITS LIGHT
POWERS OUR WORLD...AND US.
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00:00:16,967 --> 00:00:20,333
WITHOUT LIGHT,
WE WOULD NOT BE ALIVE.
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00:00:22,500 --> 00:00:25,700
Narrator:
STARTING DEEP INSIDE THE SUN,
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00:00:25,733 --> 00:00:27,933
WE FOLLOW THE BRUTAL JOURNEY
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00:00:27,967 --> 00:00:33,267
OF A SINGLE, TINY PACKAGE
OF LIGHT -- A PHOTON.
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00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:36,467
THE RIDE THAT ANY PHOTON TAKES
TO GET TO MY EYES
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00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,100
WHEN I LOOK UP AT THE SUN
IS AN AMAZING ONE.
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00:00:39,133 --> 00:00:41,600
Narrator: FROM ITS ANCIENT BIRTH
IN THE SUN'S CORE
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00:00:41,633 --> 00:00:43,667
TO ITS ESCAPE FROM THE SURFACE.
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00:00:46,133 --> 00:00:47,767
Thaller: THE LIGHT REACHING ME
FROM THE SUN
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00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,533
WAS PRODUCED BEFORE THERE
WAS EVEN HUMAN CIVILIZATION.
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00:00:50,567 --> 00:00:51,833
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
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00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,267
Narrator:
JOIN OUR PHOTON
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00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:58,367
ON ITS INCREDIBLE
MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY
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00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:03,500
THROUGH THE MOST HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENT IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:07,067
TO BRING LIGHT AND LIFE
TO EARTH.
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-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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THE UNIVERSE,
HOME TO BILLIONS OF GALAXIES...
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...EACH MADE
OF BILLIONS OF STARS.
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00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:41,067
AND, IN AN UNREMARKABLE CORNER
OF OUR GALAXY, THE MILKY WAY,
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LIES THE SUN,
OUR CLOSEST STAR...
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...A DAZZLING SPHERE
OF INTENSE LIGHT,
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TOO BRIGHT FOR THE NAKED EYE.
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BUT STRIP AWAY THAT GLARE,
AND THE SUN TRANSFORMS
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INTO A GIANT BALL
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OF SUPER HEATED GAS
DOMINATING OUR COSMIC STAGE.
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00:02:10,967 --> 00:02:12,967
Gilbert: THE SUN IS REALLY
THE STAR OF THE SHOW.
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00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:16,533
THE SUN IS THE PARENT
OF THE WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM.
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IT PROVIDES ITS CHILDREN,
THE PLANETS,
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WITH EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
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WE DEPEND ON THE SUN FOR ENERGY,
FOR LIGHT, FOR WARMTH.
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00:02:25,567 --> 00:02:28,167
WE WOULD NOT EXIST
WITHOUT THE SUN.
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00:02:32,167 --> 00:02:34,933
Narrator: THE SUN
GENERATES HEAT AND LIGHT,
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THE ENERGY SOURCE
FOR ALL LIFE ON EARTH.
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Thaller: ALL OF THE ENERGY
THAT MY BODY USES,
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00:02:41,633 --> 00:02:43,933
LITERALLY WHAT I'M DOING
TO TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW,
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CAME FROM THE SUN.
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00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,400
THE SUN TRULY IS THE CREATOR
OF ALL OF THE LIFE AROUND US.
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Narrator: THE SUN
IS A CONSTANTLY EXPLODING
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NUCLEAR BOMB,
VIOLENT AND ESSENTIAL.
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Krauss: OUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE
IS POWERED BY THE ENERGY
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EMITTED IN THOSE
NUCLEAR REACTIONS IN THE SUN.
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WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT
FROM THE SUN.
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WE ARE HERE BECAUSE
OF THOSE NUCLEAR REACTIONS,
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AND NO ASPECT OF OUR EXISTENCE
COULD PERSIST
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IF IT WASN'T THERE.
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00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:19,233
Narrator: LIGHT IS
ONE OF THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS
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OF THE UNIVERSE.
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00:03:26,633 --> 00:03:29,233
Gilbert:
I FIND LIGHT TO BE PROBABLY
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THE MOST AMAZING THING
IN THE UNIVERSE.
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IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN EVERYTHING.
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I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING.
IT'S EVERYWHERE.
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SO, IT'S SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS.
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Narrator:
FUNDAMENTAL AND FAST.
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THE FASTEST THING
IN THE COSMOS...
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...TRAVELING AT 186,000 MILES
PER SECOND.
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THE SUN IS ABOUT
93 MILLION MILES AWAY FROM US.
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SO, GOING AT 186,000 MILES
PER SECOND,
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THAT'S ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES.
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Narrator:
BUT THOSE EIGHT MINUTES
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00:04:02,067 --> 00:04:05,667
ARE JUST THE BRIEF LAST LEG
OF ITS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
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IT MAY HAVE TAKEN THE LIGHT
AS MUCH AS A MILLION YEARS
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00:04:14,467 --> 00:04:16,833
TO ESCAPE FROM
THE SUN'S RAGING INTERIOR...
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...WHICH MEANS THE LIGHT
WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW
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WAS CREATED LONG BEFORE
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OUR ANCESTORS
LEFT THE PLAINS OF AFRICA.
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Krauss:
WHEN I FIRST LEARNED THIS FACT,
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I WAS ALREADY
A PRACTICING SCIENTIST.
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I HAD NEVER REALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT,
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AND ON FIRST GLANCE,
IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.
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Thaller: RIGHT NOW THE LIGHT
REACHING ME FROM THE SUN
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00:04:41,633 --> 00:04:44,533
WAS PRODUCED BEFORE THERE
WAS EVEN HUMAN CIVILIZATION.
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AND YET, THE MINUTE IT GETS
TO THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
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00:04:46,933 --> 00:04:50,067
IT RACES AWAY AND IS HERE
EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THAT.
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IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IDEA.
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00:04:53,233 --> 00:04:56,133
THE RIDE THAT ANY PHOTON TAKES
TO GET TO MY EYES
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00:04:56,167 --> 00:04:59,600
WHEN I LOOK UP AT THE SUN
IS AN AMAZING ONE.
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Narrator: THAT RIDE STARTS
DEEP IN THE BELLY OF OUR STAR.
81
00:05:05,067 --> 00:05:08,167
IF WE COULD OPEN UP THE SUN,
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WE'D SEE LAYERS
OF DENSE HYDROGEN GAS
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HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF MILES DEEP.
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AND AT ITS CENTER, THE CORE,
THE SUN GIVES BIRTH TO LIGHT...
85
00:05:25,833 --> 00:05:28,367
...FORGED IN ONE OF THE MOST
VIOLENT REACTIONS
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IN THE UNIVERSE, NUCLEAR FUSION.
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THE SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTION
THAT POWERS THE SUN IS FUSION,
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FUSION OF HYDROGEN INTO HELIUM.
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YOU TAKE TWO HYDROGEN ATOMS,
YOU RAM THEM TOGETHER,
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00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:48,667
AND WHAT'S LEFT OVER
IS A HELIUM ATOM.
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Narrator:
IT SOUNDS SIMPLE ENOUGH,
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BUT IT'S NOT.
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IT'S ACTUALLY HARD
TO GET TWO ATOMS TO FUSE.
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TWO PHOTONS
HAVE THE SAME CHARGE.
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THEY'RE BOTH POSITIVELY CHARGED.
THEY WANT TO REPEL EACH OTHER.
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00:06:02,567 --> 00:06:04,933
Krauss: PROTONS DON'T LIKE
TO GET CLOSE TOGETHER.
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THEY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER
WITH A HUGE AMOUNT
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OF ENERGY OR VELOCITY
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TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH
TO BEGIN TO FUSE,
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AND THAT'S VERY, VERY RARE.
101
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Narrator:
TO FORCE PROTONS TOGETHER
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TAKES IMMENSE AMOUNTS
OF HEAT AND PRESSURE...
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00:06:21,900 --> 00:06:25,867
...GENERATED BY
THE INVISIBLE HAND OF GRAVITY.
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THE SUN CONTAINS 99.8%
OF ALL THE MATTER
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IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
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THAT'S A LOT OF MASS.
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ALL THAT MASS
PULLS THE SUN TOGETHER
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WITH UNIMAGINABLE
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE.
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Thaller: WITH GRAVITY
CRUSHING THINGS DOWN,
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THINGS GET CLOSE ENOUGH TOGETHER
AND NUCLEAR FUSION HAPPENS.
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Narrator:
IN THIS NUCLEAR COMPACTOR,
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HYDROGEN ATOMS SLAM TOGETHER
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100 MILLION QUADRILLION
QUADRILLION TIMES EACH SECOND.
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00:07:04,633 --> 00:07:10,133
SOME OF THESE COLLISIONS
ARE SO POWERFUL THAT ATOMS FUSE,
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RELEASING ENERGY.
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WHEN THE PROTONS
COME TOGETHER TO BIND TOGETHER,
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THEY LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF MASS,
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AND THAT MASS
GETS CONVERTED INTO ENERGY.
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00:07:19,967 --> 00:07:22,600
AND EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY,
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00:07:22,633 --> 00:07:28,500
ABOUT FIVE MILLION TONS OF STUFF
IS BEING CONVERTED TO ENERGY.
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IT'S AMAZING.
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Narrator: EACH COLLISION
CREATES A TINY BURST OF ENERGY,
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A PACKET OF LIGHT IMPOSSIBLY
SMALL AND INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
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SOMEHOW, OUR PHOTON
WILL DELIVER ITS ENERGY TO EARTH
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WHERE IT WILL POWER THE PLANET
AND MAKE LIFE POSSIBLE.
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BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S NOTHING LIKE
THE LIGHT WE SEE.
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IT HAS MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF ENERGY, AND IT'S DEADLY.
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Narrator: THE LIGHT WE SEE
FROM OUR STAR IS OLD...
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MUCH OLDER
THAN THE EIGHT MINUTES IT TAKES
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TO GET FROM THE SUN TO EARTH.
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THAT SHORT LEAP ACROSS SPACE IS
THE END OF A LONG, HARD JOURNEY
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THAT STARTS DEEP INSIDE OUR SUN.
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Kaku:
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SUN,
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WE SAY, "HOW BEAUTIFUL,
HOW ELEGANT, AND HOW SIMPLE."
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LIGHT IS FORMED IN THE SUN,
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AND IT SHINES
AND LIGHTS UP OUR WORLD.
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WELL, NOT SO FAST.
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IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COMPLEX.
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Narrator:
THE JOURNEY STARTS
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IN THE IMMENSE HEAT
OF THE SUN'S CORE.
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CRUSHED TOGETHER
BY THE SUN'S ENORMOUS GRAVITY,
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ATOMS SMASH INTO EACH OTHER
AND FUSE...
143
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...RELEASING A TINY PACKET
OF ENERGY, PHOTON OF LIGHT...
144
00:09:18,633 --> 00:09:22,867
...FAR SMALLER
THAN AN ATOM WITH NO MASS.
145
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PHOTONS TRAVEL
FASTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
146
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AND THEY NEVER STOP MOVING.
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00:09:35,233 --> 00:09:38,933
PHOTONS DON'T JUST COME
FROM THE CORE OF STARS.
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00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:42,433
Oluseyi:
SO, WHERE DOES LIGHT COME FROM?
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THE SHORT ANSWER IS,
MATTER MAKES IT,
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AND THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT
THAT IT CREATES
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DEPENDS ON ITS TEMPERATURE.
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Narrator: EVERY PIECE OF MATTER
IN THE UNIVERSE
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ABOVE ABSOLUTE ZERO DEGREES
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PRODUCES LIGHT,
INCLUDING HUMANS.
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Filippenko: WE HUMANS
ARE EMITTING LIGHT ALL THE TIME
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BECAUSE WE'RE ALIVE, WE'RE WARM,
WE'RE NOT AT A ZERO TEMPERATURE.
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00:10:05,267 --> 00:10:08,567
SO, IN FACT WE ARE EMITTING
INFRARED RADIATION,
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00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,600
OFTEN CALLED HEAT RADIATION.
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00:10:10,633 --> 00:10:13,000
BUT ALL MATTER EMITS LIGHT.
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00:10:13,033 --> 00:10:16,233
EVEN SOMEONE AS COOL AS ME,
I'M CREATING LIGHT RIGHT NOW.
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Narrator:
THE LIGHT WE SEE
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CAN BE SPLIT
INTO THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW.
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00:10:23,933 --> 00:10:26,433
EACH COLOR IS PHOTONS OF LIGHT
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WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS
OF ENERGY.
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00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:33,667
AND WHAT WE CAN SEE
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00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:35,967
IS ONLY A FRACTION
OF THE LIGHT SPECTRUM.
167
00:10:38,133 --> 00:10:40,433
OUR EYES ARE ACTUALLY
IMPERFECT DETECTORS.
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00:10:40,467 --> 00:10:41,733
WE KNOW ABOUT VISIBLE LIGHT,
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00:10:41,767 --> 00:10:44,033
THE TYPE OF LIGHT
THAT OUR EYES ARE SENSITIVE TO,
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00:10:44,067 --> 00:10:45,800
BUT THAT'S ONLY A SMALL RANGE
OF ENERGIES.
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00:10:45,833 --> 00:10:50,433
LIGHT COMES AT HIGHER AND LOWER
ENERGIES THAN WE CAN DETECT.
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Narrator:
USING SPECIAL CAMERAS,
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00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:55,500
WE CAN SEE THE INFRARED LIGHT
THAT HUMANS EMIT.
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00:10:57,100 --> 00:10:58,933
THIS INFRARED LIGHT
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00:10:58,967 --> 00:11:02,067
HAS LESS ENERGY
THAN THE VISIBLE LIGHT WE SEE.
176
00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:10,100
SOME LIGHT IS TOO ENERGETIC
TO SEE,
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00:11:10,133 --> 00:11:14,167
LIKE ULTRAVIOLETS,
X-RAYS, AND GAMMA RAYS.
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00:11:19,667 --> 00:11:25,167
THE VAST, HOT SUN
GENERATES ALL FORMS OF LIGHT.
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00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,767
BUT IN THE NUCLEAR FURNACE
OF THE SUN'S CORE,
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00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,700
EVERY PHOTON STARTS OUT
AS A GAMMA RAY,
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00:11:32,733 --> 00:11:37,433
THE MOST ENERGETIC FORM
OF LIGHT IN THE UNIVERSE.
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00:11:37,467 --> 00:11:38,600
Krauss: AND WHEN
A NUCLEAR REACTION HAPPENS,
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00:11:38,633 --> 00:11:40,933
IT EMITS
AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF ENERGY,
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00:11:40,967 --> 00:11:43,633
THE ENERGY MUCH, MUCH BIGGER
THAN VISIBLE LIGHT --
185
00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:46,200
GAMMA RAYS, WE CALL THEM.
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00:11:46,233 --> 00:11:48,600
LITERALLY ALMOST A MILLION TIMES
187
00:11:48,633 --> 00:11:53,433
OR AT LEAST 10,000 TIMES
THE ENERGY OF THE LIGHT WE SEE.
188
00:11:53,467 --> 00:11:58,400
Narrator: GAMMA RAYS
CAN TRANSFORM AND EVEN KILL.
189
00:11:58,433 --> 00:12:00,067
THERE'S A REASON WHY GAMMA RAYS
190
00:12:00,067 --> 00:12:01,833
TURNED BRUCE BANNER
INTO THE HULK.
191
00:12:01,867 --> 00:12:04,500
GAMMA RAYS ARE A VERY DANGEROUS
FORM OF LIGHT.
192
00:12:04,533 --> 00:12:06,167
THEY CAN TRAVEL INTO YOUR BODY
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00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,767
AND WHEN THEY INTERACT
WITH THE MATTER,
194
00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,633
THEY CAN BREAK APART ATOMS.
195
00:12:10,667 --> 00:12:12,433
Narrator:
FORTUNATELY FOR US,
196
00:12:12,467 --> 00:12:16,433
OUR GAMMA-RAY PHOTON CAN'T
HEAD STRAIGHT OUT OF THE SUN.
197
00:12:23,467 --> 00:12:26,567
Filippenko: IF THE SUN
WERE NOT THIS HOT BALL OF GAS,
198
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,433
THEN UPON BEING CREATED,
199
00:12:28,467 --> 00:12:31,933
A PHOTON WOULD IMMEDIATELY
ESCAPE FROM THE SUN
200
00:12:31,967 --> 00:12:33,400
AND IT WOULD BE
A GAMMA-RAY PHOTON,
201
00:12:33,433 --> 00:12:38,467
A VERY ENERGETIC PHOTON,
NOT VERY GOOD FOR LIFE ON EARTH.
202
00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:41,067
Narrator:
AFTER ITS BIRTH AS A GAMMA RAY,
203
00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:44,433
OUR PHOTON STARTS
TO RACE OUT FROM THE SUN'S CORE
204
00:12:44,467 --> 00:12:45,500
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
205
00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,833
BUT IT ENCOUNTERS AN OBSTACLE
COURSE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
206
00:12:55,633 --> 00:12:58,067
A JOURNEY
THAT SHOULD TAKE SECONDS
207
00:12:58,067 --> 00:13:00,333
SLOWS TO A COSMIC CRAWL.
208
00:13:02,833 --> 00:13:07,067
IT TAKES ON AVERAGE
ABOUT 100,000 YEARS
209
00:13:07,067 --> 00:13:10,167
FOR A PHOTON TO MAKE IT
FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE SUN,
210
00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,900
WHERE IT WAS CREATED,
TO THE OUTERMOST EDGE,
211
00:13:12,933 --> 00:13:16,233
WHERE IT GETS EMITTED
INTO SPACE -- 100,000 YEARS.
212
00:13:16,267 --> 00:13:19,200
IF IT HAD TRAVELED
IN A STRAIGHT LINE UNIMPEDED,
213
00:13:19,233 --> 00:13:21,400
IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TWO SECONDS.
214
00:13:21,433 --> 00:13:24,767
Narrator: WHAT COULD POSSIBLY
SLOW A PHOTON
215
00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,433
MOVING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT?
216
00:13:28,467 --> 00:13:36,967
SOMETHING SLAMS ON THE BRAKES --
HUGE, HOT, DENSE.
217
00:13:37,067 --> 00:13:41,900
SO POWERFUL,
IT DOESN'T JUST SLOW LIGHT,
218
00:13:41,933 --> 00:13:43,600
IT TRANSFORMS IT.
219
00:13:57,333 --> 00:13:59,200
Narrator:
IN THE SUN'S CORE,
220
00:13:59,233 --> 00:14:03,833
NUCLEAR FUSION RELEASES
A TINY BUNDLE OF ENERGY...
221
00:14:06,067 --> 00:14:08,067
...A PHOTON OF LIGHT.
222
00:14:08,967 --> 00:14:13,833
IT RACES OUTWARDS
AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND.
223
00:14:17,233 --> 00:14:19,933
AT THAT SPEED,
IT SHOULD TAKE TWO SECONDS
224
00:14:19,967 --> 00:14:23,067
TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE
SUN'S INTERIOR TO THE SURFACE.
225
00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:32,100
BUT SOMETHING TURNS SECONDS
INTO AN ETERNITY.
226
00:14:32,133 --> 00:14:33,500
THE SUN IS SO DENSE
227
00:14:33,533 --> 00:14:36,100
THAT TO GET THROUGH ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF GAS,
228
00:14:36,133 --> 00:14:38,600
THIS POOR LITTLE PIECE OF LIGHT
TAKES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS,
229
00:14:38,633 --> 00:14:40,667
IF NOT A MILLION YEARS,
TO GET TO THE SURFACE.
230
00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,700
Krauss: SO,
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SUN,
231
00:14:46,733 --> 00:14:47,933
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE LIGHT
232
00:14:47,967 --> 00:14:51,267
EMITTED FROM REACTIONS
A MILLION YEARS AGO.
233
00:14:51,300 --> 00:14:52,767
Narrator:
OUR NEWBORN PHOTON
234
00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:54,600
LEAVES THE CORE
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT
235
00:14:54,633 --> 00:14:57,900
ONLY TO RUN SMACK
INTO A DENSE SOUP
236
00:14:57,933 --> 00:15:02,067
OF HYDROGEN ATOMS,
A PHOTON'S NIGHTMARE,
237
00:15:02,067 --> 00:15:07,067
THAT STRETCHES
FOR OVER 400,000 MILES.
238
00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:09,433
Plait: IF YOU'RE A PHOTON
BORN IN THE CENTER OF THE SUN,
239
00:15:09,467 --> 00:15:11,633
YOU HAVE A HECK OF A JOURNEY
AHEAD OF YOU.
240
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:13,067
IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY HARD
241
00:15:13,067 --> 00:15:15,833
FOR LIGHT GENERATED IN
THE CORE OF THE SUN TO GET OUT
242
00:15:15,867 --> 00:15:18,167
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SUN
IN THE WAY,
243
00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:19,667
AND IT'S EXTREMELY DENSE.
244
00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:24,067
Narrator: THE RADIATION ZONE
SURROUNDS THE CORE OF THE SUN.
245
00:15:27,067 --> 00:15:29,733
THE ZONE IS MADE
OF HYDROGEN GAS,
246
00:15:29,767 --> 00:15:32,067
BUT NOT A GAS AS WE THINK OF IT.
247
00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:37,433
THE SHEER WEIGHT
OF ALL THE MATERIAL ABOVE
248
00:15:37,467 --> 00:15:42,800
COMPRESSES THE RADIATION ZONE
UNTIL IT'S DENSER THAN LEAD
249
00:15:42,833 --> 00:15:45,167
AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO PASS THROUGH.
250
00:15:49,567 --> 00:15:51,933
A PHOTON PRODUCED
IN THE CENTER OF THE SUN
251
00:15:51,967 --> 00:15:53,833
KNOWS WHERE IT WANTS TO GO.
252
00:15:53,867 --> 00:15:56,700
IT WANTS TO GO TO THE EDGE
WHERE IT'S COOL,
253
00:15:56,733 --> 00:15:58,567
AND IT WANTS TO GET OUT.
254
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,600
BUT IT'S GOT 400,000 MILES
255
00:16:01,633 --> 00:16:04,533
OF ALL THESE OPAQUE GASES
BLOCKING ITS WAY.
256
00:16:04,567 --> 00:16:09,967
Narrator: THESE GASES AREN'T
JUST DENSE -- THEY'RE HOT,
257
00:16:10,067 --> 00:16:15,400
SUPERHEATED TO OVER 12 1/2
MILLION DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
258
00:16:15,433 --> 00:16:17,367
THE GAS IN THE RADIATION ZONE
259
00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:21,500
IS TRANSFORMED INTO
WHAT SCIENTISTS CALL PLASMA.
260
00:16:24,433 --> 00:16:27,633
PLASMA IS THE FOURTH STATE
OF MATTER.
261
00:16:27,667 --> 00:16:33,067
ATOMS IN NORMAL MATTER HAVE A
NUCLEUS WITH ORBITING ELECTRONS.
262
00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:36,433
IN PLASMA, THE ATOMS
HAVE BEEN TORN APART
263
00:16:36,467 --> 00:16:40,300
AND THE ELECTRONS RIPPED AWAY.
264
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:44,333
HERE ON EARTH, WE'RE FAMILIAR
WITH THE THREE MAIN STATES
265
00:16:44,367 --> 00:16:46,433
OF MATTER
THAT WE'RE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL --
266
00:16:46,467 --> 00:16:49,100
SOLIDS, LIQUIDS, AND GASES.
267
00:16:49,133 --> 00:16:52,267
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ATMOSPHERE
AS A GAS, THE OCEANS ARE WATER,
268
00:16:52,300 --> 00:16:54,800
THE GROUND
THAT I STAND ON IS SOLID.
269
00:16:54,833 --> 00:16:56,700
BUT IN FACT,
MOST OF THE UNIVERSE,
270
00:16:56,733 --> 00:17:00,600
INCLUDING STARS,
CONSISTS OF PLASMA.
271
00:17:03,167 --> 00:17:05,067
Narrator: COMPARED TO
THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE,
272
00:17:05,067 --> 00:17:08,400
EARTH IS A CALM PLACE.
273
00:17:08,433 --> 00:17:09,733
MOST OF THE TIME,
274
00:17:09,767 --> 00:17:13,067
IT'S NOT HOT OR VIOLENT ENOUGH
HERE TO CREATE PLASMA.
275
00:17:16,867 --> 00:17:21,633
THE BEST PLACE TO WITNESS
THE POWER OF PLASMA ON EARTH
276
00:17:21,667 --> 00:17:23,333
IS INSIDE A LIGHTNING STRIKE.
277
00:17:26,367 --> 00:17:32,600
TEMPERATURES INSIDE A BOLT CAN
REACH 53,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
278
00:17:32,633 --> 00:17:35,667
ENOUGH TO MOMENTARILY
RIP A FEW ATOMS APART.
279
00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:40,200
THE PLASMA LASTS AN INSTANT.
280
00:17:40,233 --> 00:17:44,067
THEN THE ELECTRONS REBIND
AND IT'S GONE.
281
00:17:47,733 --> 00:17:50,200
BUT IN OUR MASSIVE SUN,
282
00:17:50,233 --> 00:17:53,133
THE PLASMA
LASTS FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS
283
00:17:53,167 --> 00:17:54,333
AND MAKES UP
284
00:17:54,367 --> 00:17:57,933
THE ENTIRE 200,000-MILE-DEEP
RADIATION ZONE.
285
00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:02,600
WORSE FOR OUR PHOTON,
286
00:18:02,633 --> 00:18:08,167
THE PLASMA IS ELECTRICALLY
CHARGED, FORMING A COSMIC TRAP.
287
00:18:13,167 --> 00:18:15,633
AND A PLASMA
IS OPAQUE TO RADIATION
288
00:18:15,667 --> 00:18:18,600
BECAUSE LIGHT
INTERACTS MUCH MORE STRONGLY
289
00:18:18,633 --> 00:18:20,300
WITH ELECTRONICALLY CHARGED
OBJECTS
290
00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:22,067
THAN WITH NEUTRAL OBJECTS.
291
00:18:22,067 --> 00:18:23,533
SO, WHEN YOU
HAVE A NEUTRAL ATOM,
292
00:18:23,567 --> 00:18:25,433
LIGHT IN GENERAL CAN PASS BY.
293
00:18:25,467 --> 00:18:27,067
BUT WHEN YOU SEPARATED
THE CHARGES
294
00:18:27,067 --> 00:18:28,500
AND YOU HAVE POSITIVE
AND NEGATIVE CHARGES
295
00:18:28,533 --> 00:18:32,600
LOCATED EVERYWHERE,
THE LIGHT CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.
296
00:18:32,633 --> 00:18:35,433
Narrator: OUR PHOTON,
IN THE FORM OF A GAMMA RAY,
297
00:18:35,467 --> 00:18:37,400
HAS ENTERED THE RADIATION ZONE
298
00:18:37,433 --> 00:18:41,100
AND SMASHED
INTO A CHARGED PLASMA PARTICLE.
299
00:18:41,133 --> 00:18:42,600
FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
300
00:18:42,633 --> 00:18:47,567
THE PARTICLE ABSORBS THE PHOTON,
THEN SPITS IT BACK OUT,
301
00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,333
AND THE PHOTON COLLIDES
WITH ANOTHER PARTICLE.
302
00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:56,733
Plait: EVERY TIME IT GOES
A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTANCE,
303
00:18:56,767 --> 00:18:58,467
IT BASICALLY SLAMS INTO AN ATOM,
304
00:18:58,500 --> 00:19:01,833
IS ABSORBED AND READMITTED
IN SOME RANDOM DIRECTION.
305
00:19:01,867 --> 00:19:03,667
SO, INSTEAD OF JUST FLYING OUT,
306
00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:06,733
IT'S BOUNCING AROUND COUNTLESS,
COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS TIMES
307
00:19:06,767 --> 00:19:08,567
UNTIL FINALLY, IT REACHES
THE EDGE OF THE STAR.
308
00:19:10,067 --> 00:19:13,333
Narrator: IT'S AN ATOMIC GAME
OF BASKETBALL
309
00:19:13,367 --> 00:19:17,267
WITH A COURT
REPRESENTING THE RADIATION ZONE.
310
00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:21,233
THE PLAYERS STAND IN
FOR THE PARTICLES AND THE PLASMA
311
00:19:21,267 --> 00:19:23,067
AND THE BALL IS THE PHOTON.
312
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:27,067
Filippenko:
SO, THE BASKETBALL
313
00:19:27,067 --> 00:19:30,933
IS BEING THROWN FROM ONE PLAYER
TO ANOTHER SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY.
314
00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:34,267
IT'S NOT MAKING A LOT
OF PROGRESS DOWN THE COURT,
315
00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,267
BUT IT IS GRADUALLY
MAKING PROGRESS.
316
00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:39,533
GRADUALLY OVER TIME, IT IS GOING
317
00:19:39,567 --> 00:19:42,633
FROM THE HOTTER PARTS
OF THE CORE OUTWARD
318
00:19:42,667 --> 00:19:44,600
TOWARD COOLER TEMPERATURES.
319
00:19:44,633 --> 00:19:46,367
THAT'S WHERE IT WANTS TO GET.
320
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,300
IT'S A RANDOM-LOOKING PROCESS,
321
00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:52,833
BUT IT'S DIRECTED IN
A CERTAIN DIRECTION WITH TIME.
322
00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,767
Narrator: THE PHOTON WANTS
TO GO STRAIGHT UP THE COURT --
323
00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,733
ITS QUICKEST ROUTE --
324
00:20:02,767 --> 00:20:05,333
BUT IS BOUNCED AND THROWN
AROUND THE RADIATION ZONE,
325
00:20:05,367 --> 00:20:07,567
SLOWING TO A CRAWL.
326
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:15,167
THIS BRUISING PROCESS
TRANSFORMS THE PHOTON.
327
00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,233
WHEN A PHOTON,
A LITTLE PACKET OF LIGHT,
328
00:20:17,267 --> 00:20:18,967
IS CREATED
IN THE CENTER OF THE STAR,
329
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,233
IT'S ACTUALLY A GAMMA RAY,
SUPER HIGH ENERGY BIT OF LIGHT.
330
00:20:22,267 --> 00:20:25,200
AND IT CAN'T GO VERY FAR
BECAUSE AS SOON AS IT DOES,
331
00:20:25,233 --> 00:20:27,667
BOOM, IT HITS ANOTHER ATOM
AND GETS ABSORBED.
332
00:20:29,967 --> 00:20:31,100
EVERY TIME IT DOES THIS,
333
00:20:31,133 --> 00:20:33,933
IT LOSES
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT ENERGY.
334
00:20:35,933 --> 00:20:37,767
Narrator: OVER SEVERAL
HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS,
335
00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:42,100
SOMETIMES EVEN A MILLION,
THE PHOTON KEEPS BOUNCING
336
00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:46,433
THROUGH THE DENSE
RADIATION ZONE.
337
00:20:46,467 --> 00:20:51,367
EACH COLLISION SAPS
A TINY BIT OF ENERGY,
338
00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,867
TRANSFORMING IT
FROM A LETHAL GAMMA-RAY PHOTON
339
00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:56,933
TO A LOWER ENERGY X-RAY.
340
00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,267
NEARLY A MILLION YEARS
AFTER ITS CREATION IN THE CORE,
341
00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:08,767
THE PHOTON HAS MADE IT
THROUGH THE RADIATION ZONE,
342
00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,667
BUT ITS QUEST TO ESCAPE
IS NOT OVER YET.
343
00:21:13,633 --> 00:21:15,800
IT'S ABOUT TO HITCH A WILD RIDE
344
00:21:15,833 --> 00:21:19,167
ON THE SUN'S FEROCIOUS
INTERNAL ROLLER COASTER...
345
00:21:20,900 --> 00:21:24,600
...A PLACE SO VIOLENT,
IT MAKES THE SUN ROAR.
346
00:21:45,233 --> 00:21:48,667
Narrator: A PHOTON,
NATURE'S ENERGY-DELIVERY SYSTEM,
347
00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:51,100
HAS SPENT UP TO A MILLION YEARS
348
00:21:51,133 --> 00:21:53,100
IN THE MAZE
OF THE SUN'S INTERIOR
349
00:21:53,133 --> 00:21:55,167
ON ITS JOURNEY TOWARD THE EARTH.
350
00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,567
THE PHOTON HAS FOUGHT ITS WAY
THROUGH 3/4 OF THE SUN'S RADIUS.
351
00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:06,300
BATTERED AND SAPPED OF ENERGY,
352
00:22:06,333 --> 00:22:09,733
IT IS MORPHED FROM
A DEADLY GAMMA RAY TO AN X-RAY.
353
00:22:13,233 --> 00:22:17,667
BUT NOW IT ENTERS THE MYSTERIOUS
BOILING LAYER OF THE SUN,
354
00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:19,400
THE CONVECTION ZONE.
355
00:22:23,567 --> 00:22:26,967
THE CONVECTION ZONE
LIES BETWEEN THE RADIATION ZONE
356
00:22:27,067 --> 00:22:32,567
AND THE SUN'S SURFACE
AND IS 125,000 MILES DEEP.
357
00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,667
WE CAN'T SEE
THE CONVECTION ZONE DIRECTLY.
358
00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:43,667
THIS REGION OF THE SUN IS STILL
OPAQUE TO OUR TELESCOPES,
359
00:22:43,700 --> 00:22:45,733
BUT WE CAN HEAR IT.
360
00:22:49,833 --> 00:22:55,067
NASA'S SOLAR DYNAMICS
OBSERVATORY LISTENS TO THE SUN.
361
00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:59,067
THE SOUND IT PICKS UP
IS TOO DEEP FOR HUMANS TO HEAR,
362
00:22:59,067 --> 00:23:02,667
BUT IF YOU SPEED UP
40 DAYS' RECORDING
363
00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:06,833
INTO A FEW SECONDS,
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET.
364
00:23:06,867 --> 00:23:11,833
[ RUMBLING ]
365
00:23:11,867 --> 00:23:15,233
IT'S THE SOUND OF CHAOS.
366
00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,600
SINCE WE CAN'T SEE INTO THE SUN,
367
00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:23,400
ITS SOUND
IS VITAL TO SCIENTISTS.
368
00:23:26,633 --> 00:23:31,800
WHEN A GUN FIRES, THE BULLET
RUSHES OUT AND SMASHES INTO AIR,
369
00:23:31,833 --> 00:23:34,400
CREATING WAVES OF TURBULENCE.
370
00:23:37,533 --> 00:23:39,500
WHEN WE HEAR THE GUN FIRING,
371
00:23:39,533 --> 00:23:42,867
THESE WAVES
VIBRATE OUR EARDRUMS.
372
00:23:46,067 --> 00:23:48,567
WHAT WE SEE HERE IS SOUND.
373
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,333
THE SUN WORKS THE SAME WAY
ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.
374
00:23:56,933 --> 00:23:59,900
WHEN WE SEE THESE WAVES
MOVING ACROSS,
375
00:24:00,067 --> 00:24:02,967
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
IS WHEN MATERIAL MOVES UP
376
00:24:03,067 --> 00:24:05,567
FROM INSIDE THE SUN
AND IT MAKES NOISE.
377
00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,067
IT JUST, LIKE,
RAN INTO A SURFACE.
378
00:24:07,067 --> 00:24:10,267
IT JUST RAN INTO A WALL,
AND IT GENERATES SOUND.
379
00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:13,833
AND WE SEE THAT SOUND
MOVING ALL AROUND THE SUN.
380
00:24:13,867 --> 00:24:16,667
Narrator: SOUND WAVES
CRASHING THROUGH THE PLASMA
381
00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:20,133
CREATE RIPPLES
IN THE SUN'S SURFACE.
382
00:24:20,167 --> 00:24:22,433
AND ALL WE SEE
ARE THESE RIPPLES.
383
00:24:22,467 --> 00:24:25,333
THOSE ARE THE ACTUAL SOUND WAVES
OF THE SUN,
384
00:24:25,367 --> 00:24:27,367
AND THEY MOVE
AROUND THE ENTIRE SUN.
385
00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:28,967
THEY MOVE DOWN INSIDE THE SUN.
386
00:24:29,067 --> 00:24:30,933
THEY MOVE BACK UP
TO THE SURFACE.
387
00:24:31,967 --> 00:24:34,367
Narrator:
BY TRACKING THE SOUND,
388
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,900
SCIENTISTS
CAN SEE THE INVISIBLE.
389
00:24:39,367 --> 00:24:40,933
THEY PICK UP SOUND WAVES
390
00:24:40,967 --> 00:24:43,433
SMASHING
AGAINST THE SUN'S SURFACE
391
00:24:43,467 --> 00:24:46,400
AND RESONATING
THROUGHOUT THE SOLAR INTERIOR...
392
00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:52,067
...REVEALING A VIOLENT,
BOILING CONVECTION ZONE.
393
00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,900
Oluseyi: THE SUN CAN BE SAID
TO BE RINGING.
394
00:25:00,067 --> 00:25:02,300
YOU HAVE THIS HOT GAS RISING.
395
00:25:02,333 --> 00:25:04,200
YOU HAVE COOL GAS FALLING.
396
00:25:04,233 --> 00:25:06,067
YOU HAVE ALL THIS TURBULENCE.
397
00:25:06,067 --> 00:25:09,533
YOU HAVE SO MUCH ACTION GOING ON
THAT IT CAUSES THE SUN TO RING.
398
00:25:09,567 --> 00:25:13,667
Narrator:
COLUMNS OF GASES RISE AND FALL,
399
00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:18,767
CHURNED BY HEAT FROM BELOW.
400
00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,433
Gilbert:
IF YOU LOOK AT WATER BOILING,
401
00:25:20,467 --> 00:25:24,367
BUBBLES OF GAS OR WATER ARE
RISING UP BECAUSE THEY'RE HOT.
402
00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,533
AND THEN THEY COOL OFF,
AND THEN THEY SINK BACK DOWN.
403
00:25:26,567 --> 00:25:29,067
AND IF YOU LOOK
AT A POT OF BOILING WATER,
404
00:25:29,067 --> 00:25:32,067
THAT'S THE SAME PHENOMENA
THAT'S GOING ON THE SUN,
405
00:25:32,067 --> 00:25:36,067
BUT WITH HOT PLASMA
INSTEAD OF WATER.
406
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:38,433
Narrator: AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE CONVECTION ZONE,
407
00:25:38,467 --> 00:25:41,800
PHOTONS SMASH
INTO ATOMS IN THE PLASMA,
408
00:25:41,833 --> 00:25:43,400
HEATING THEM TO A BOIL.
409
00:25:45,433 --> 00:25:48,833
BUT THIS TIME, THE PHOTONS
ARE ABSORBED BY THE ATOMS.
410
00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:53,800
THE HOT ATOMS RIDE
THE BOILING CURRENT TO THE TOP,
411
00:25:53,833 --> 00:25:56,333
DRAGGING THE PHOTONS WITH THEM.
412
00:25:59,433 --> 00:26:02,467
SO, IT'S ALMOST LIKE
THIS CONVEYOR BELT OF MATERIAL.
413
00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:05,400
PHOTONS ARE ACTUALLY
HITCHHIKING A RIDE ON THE ATOMS
414
00:26:05,433 --> 00:26:08,833
THAT ARE TRAVELING UPWARD
THROUGH THIS HEAT TRANSFER.
415
00:26:08,867 --> 00:26:11,167
SO, IT'S A MUCH EASIER RIDE
IN THE CONVECTION LAYER
416
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,900
THAN IT IS
IN THE RADIATION ZONE.
417
00:26:17,733 --> 00:26:20,600
Narrator: IT'S AS IF OUR PHOTON
WERE NOW IN THE HANDS
418
00:26:20,633 --> 00:26:23,667
OF A SINGLE PLAYER
MAKING A FAST BREAK.
419
00:26:25,967 --> 00:26:30,067
Gilbert: IN THE CONVECTION
LAYER, IT'S A DIRECT PATH.
420
00:26:30,067 --> 00:26:33,500
ONE PLAYER CAN ACTUALLY HOLD ON
TO THIS BASKETBALL OR PHOTON
421
00:26:33,533 --> 00:26:35,900
FOR A LOT LONGER
IN A DIRECT PATH.
422
00:26:38,167 --> 00:26:39,400
Narrator:
BY NOT PASSING,
423
00:26:39,433 --> 00:26:42,400
THE ATOM TAKES THE BALL
QUICKLY UP THE COURT.
424
00:26:45,433 --> 00:26:48,067
THE PHOTON'S JOURNEY
THROUGH THE CONVECTION ZONE
425
00:26:48,067 --> 00:26:50,967
TAKES JUST ONE WEEK.
426
00:26:51,067 --> 00:26:54,833
BUT IN THAT TIME,
THE PHOTON IS TRANSFORMED.
427
00:26:54,867 --> 00:26:57,433
THE BOTTOM
OF THE CONVECTION ZONE
428
00:26:57,467 --> 00:27:01,400
IS AROUND
360,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
429
00:27:03,633 --> 00:27:05,900
THE TOP -- JUST 10,000.
430
00:27:09,267 --> 00:27:14,167
SO, AS THE PHOTON RISES UP,
IT COOLS, LOSING ENERGY,
431
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,900
CHANGING FROM AN ENERGETIC X-RAY
TO VISIBLE LIGHT.
432
00:27:22,267 --> 00:27:24,800
SO, IT STARTS
AS A HIGH-ENERGY X-RAY
433
00:27:24,833 --> 00:27:27,433
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONVECTION
ZONE, MOVES ITS WAY UP,
434
00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:29,467
IT LOSES A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT ENERGY.
435
00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:30,867
BY THE TIME IT LEAVES THERE,
436
00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:33,167
IT'S CLOSER TO THE KIND OF LIGHT
THAT WE SEE,
437
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,467
WHICH IS VISIBLE LIGHT.
438
00:27:38,133 --> 00:27:40,167
Narrator: AT THE TOP
OF THE CONVECTION ZONE,
439
00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,467
THE ATOM RELEASES THE PHOTON,
440
00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:45,467
WHICH SHOOTS OUT
AS VISIBLE LIGHT.
441
00:27:47,133 --> 00:27:48,633
THIS COOLS THE ATOMS,
442
00:27:48,667 --> 00:27:51,867
WHICH FALL BACK DOWN
TO ABSORB MORE PHOTONS,
443
00:27:51,900 --> 00:27:53,833
HEAT UP, AND RISE AGAIN.
444
00:27:56,433 --> 00:27:59,833
THE PHOTON IS NOW
JUST BELOW THE SUN'S SURFACE.
445
00:28:02,467 --> 00:28:07,867
BUT THE CHURNING CONVECTION ZONE
UNLEASHES ANOTHER FORCE --
446
00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:10,767
A FORCE THAT POWERS HUGE STORMS,
447
00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:15,067
DETONATES BOMBS, AND THREATENS
TO STOP LIGHT'S ESCAPE.
448
00:28:32,533 --> 00:28:35,267
Narrator:
IN THE SUN'S CORE,
449
00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:40,067
NUCLEAR FUSION HAS CREATED
A PHOTON, A PACKET OF LIGHT.
450
00:28:40,067 --> 00:28:44,067
IT HAS BATTLED
THROUGH THE RADIATION ZONE,
451
00:28:44,067 --> 00:28:46,800
BEEN DRAGGED UP
THROUGH THE CONVECTION ZONE
452
00:28:46,833 --> 00:28:51,833
ON COLUMNS OF HOT PLASMA,
HURDLING TOWARDS ITS ESCAPE.
453
00:28:54,767 --> 00:28:56,933
ON THIS MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY,
454
00:28:56,967 --> 00:29:01,700
THE PHOTON HAS CHANGED FROM
AN INVISIBLE DEADLY GAMMA RAY
455
00:29:01,733 --> 00:29:05,100
TO THE KIND OF LIFE-GIVING LIGHT
WE SEE HERE ON EARTH.
456
00:29:11,067 --> 00:29:15,333
FINALLY,
IT HAS REACHED THE SURFACE --
457
00:29:15,367 --> 00:29:19,067
THE VISIBLE SHELL OF THE SUN,
THE PHOTOSPHERE.
458
00:29:21,867 --> 00:29:23,067
Gilbert:
THE PHOTOSPHERE,
459
00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:24,667
WHICH IS BASICALLY
THE VISIBLE PART OF THE SUN,
460
00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:28,233
OR THE SURFACE, IS WHAT WE SEE
WHEN WE LOOK UP AT THE SUN.
461
00:29:28,267 --> 00:29:31,333
WE'RE SEEING VISIBLE LIGHT
COMING FROM THAT VERY LAYER,
462
00:29:31,367 --> 00:29:32,433
THE PHOTOSPHERE.
463
00:29:35,567 --> 00:29:39,067
Narrator: THE BALL
OF BLINDING LIGHT WE PERCEIVE
464
00:29:39,067 --> 00:29:43,567
HIDES A SPECTACULAR
AND SAVAGE WORLD.
465
00:29:46,767 --> 00:29:50,333
THE SUN FROM A DISTANCE
LOOKS QUIET AND SERENE,
466
00:29:50,367 --> 00:29:53,433
BUT IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE-UP
OF THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
467
00:29:53,467 --> 00:29:56,400
YOU SEE THAT IT'S CHURNING
WITH ACTIVITY.
468
00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:01,667
Krauss: IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND
TERRIFYING AT THE SAME TIME --
469
00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,833
HUGE STORMS OF MATERIAL
BUBBLING AND BOILING.
470
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:06,333
IT LOOKS LIKE A WITCH'S BREW,
471
00:30:06,367 --> 00:30:08,367
EXCEPT THE BUBBLES
IN THE WITCH'S BREW
472
00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:10,433
ARE LARGER
THAN THE SIZE OF THE EARTH.
473
00:30:12,367 --> 00:30:15,733
Narrator: THE SURFACE OF THE SUN
IS A TURBULENT BARRIER.
474
00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:21,567
AND ONCE AGAIN,
OUR PHOTON GETS TAKEN HOSTAGE.
475
00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:36,067
AT KITT PEAK OBSERVATORY
IN ARIZONA,
476
00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:40,567
SOLAR ASTRONOMER MATT PENN
STUDIES THIS SOLAR SURFACE
477
00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,600
TO DISCOVER HOW PHOTONS OF LIGHT
GET TRAPPED.
478
00:30:44,633 --> 00:30:46,367
THERE'S A BUNCH OF CIRRUS TODAY,
479
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,200
BUT HOPEFULLY,
WE'LL GET SOME DATA.
480
00:30:52,133 --> 00:30:54,100
Narrator: USING
THE McMATH-PIERCE TELESCOPE,
481
00:30:54,133 --> 00:31:00,633
HE FOCUSES THE SUN'S LIGHT TO
SCAN THE PHOTOSPHERE IN DETAIL.
482
00:31:00,667 --> 00:31:03,167
Penn: SO, WHAT WE'VE GOT
ARE A FEW SMALL SUN SPOTS
483
00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:04,500
ON A DISC OF THE SUN.
484
00:31:04,533 --> 00:31:07,933
WE'VE GOT TWO SUN SPOTS,
TWO LARGE ONES.
485
00:31:07,967 --> 00:31:09,500
THEY'RE HEADING OFF
TO THE EDGE OF THE SUN,
486
00:31:09,533 --> 00:31:10,967
TO THE LIMB OF THE SUN.
487
00:31:11,067 --> 00:31:13,400
BUT THEY'RE ALL ACCOMPANIED
BY A SMALLER SUN SPOTS,
488
00:31:13,433 --> 00:31:15,067
GROUPS OF SMALLER ONES,
FOLLOWING THEM.
489
00:31:17,867 --> 00:31:21,400
Narrator: SUN SPOTS MARK AREAS
WHERE LIGHT IS TRAPPED.
490
00:31:23,567 --> 00:31:25,667
Penn:
SO, A SUN SPOT FORMS A DARK SPOT
491
00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:28,100
BY REMOVING ENERGY
FROM THAT PART OF THE SUN.
492
00:31:28,133 --> 00:31:30,733
IT'S BLOCKING THE CONVECTIVE
FLOWS THAT TRANSPORT THE HEAT
493
00:31:30,767 --> 00:31:33,200
AND THE LIGHT
FROM INSIDE THE SUN TO SPACE.
494
00:31:33,233 --> 00:31:35,067
SO, WHAT WE SEE THEN
IS A COOLER REGION
495
00:31:35,067 --> 00:31:36,467
THAT APPEARS DARK TO US.
496
00:31:39,067 --> 00:31:43,433
Narrator: A POWERFUL FORCE STOPS
OUR PHOTON DEAD IN ITS TRACKS,
497
00:31:43,467 --> 00:31:47,333
PREVENTING ITS LIGHT AND ENERGY
FROM LEAVING THE SUN'S SURFACE.
498
00:31:50,767 --> 00:31:53,167
THAT FORCE IS MAGNETISM.
499
00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:00,667
SUN SPOTS TAKE SHAPE
WHERE INTENSE MAGNETISM
500
00:32:00,700 --> 00:32:05,400
FROM DEEP INSIDE THE SUN BLASTS
UP THROUGH THE PHOTOSPHERE.
501
00:32:09,367 --> 00:32:12,500
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
ARE SO STRONG THAT IT ACTUALLY
502
00:32:12,533 --> 00:32:17,267
STOPS THE CONVECTIVE MOTION
OF HOT INNER MATERIAL
503
00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:18,533
FROM FLOWING TO THE SURFACE.
504
00:32:18,567 --> 00:32:20,867
SO, YOU ACTUALLY GET
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A COOL SPOT
505
00:32:20,900 --> 00:32:23,467
ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
506
00:32:23,500 --> 00:32:25,333
Narrator:
THEY CAN BE HUGE,
507
00:32:25,367 --> 00:32:28,400
THE LARGEST OVER 10 TIMES
THE SIZE OF EARTH.
508
00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,833
THE MAGNETISM
THAT GENERATES THESE SUN SPOTS
509
00:32:37,867 --> 00:32:41,100
FORMS FIELD LINES
COVERING THE SUN.
510
00:32:41,133 --> 00:32:44,067
ON OUR SOLID EARTH,
THE WHOLE PLANET
511
00:32:44,067 --> 00:32:49,767
ROTATES TOGETHER,
INCLUDING ITS MAGNETIC FIELD.
512
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,167
BUT THE SUN
IS A BIG BALL OF GAS,
513
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,067
AND THE SAME RULES DON'T APPLY.
514
00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:58,400
YOU SEE, THERE'S NOTHING SOLID
ABOUT THE SUN.
515
00:32:58,433 --> 00:32:59,600
IT'S A BIG BALL OF GAS.
516
00:32:59,633 --> 00:33:01,500
IT TURNS ON ITS AXIS,
517
00:33:01,533 --> 00:33:04,167
BUT THE EQUATOR
ROTATES FASTER THAN THE POLES.
518
00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:05,567
THE SUN TWISTS ITSELF UP,
519
00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,867
AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD
TWISTS WITH IT.
520
00:33:10,233 --> 00:33:14,267
Narrator: IT ROTATES FASTER AT
THE EQUATOR THAN AT THE POLES,
521
00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:17,567
TWISTING AND TANGLING
ITS MAGNETIC FIELD
522
00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,233
WITH EACH ROTATION.
523
00:33:20,533 --> 00:33:24,400
THE RESULT -- MAGNETIC MAYHEM.
524
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,100
SO, WHEN THESE FIELDS EMERGE
FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
525
00:33:31,133 --> 00:33:34,100
THEY HAVE ALL THIS STORED ENERGY
IN THEM.
526
00:33:34,133 --> 00:33:36,067
THEY'RE, LIKE,
ALL TWISTED AND KNOTTED,
527
00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:38,133
LIKE RUBBER BANDS
YOU JUST TWIST AND KNOT
528
00:33:38,167 --> 00:33:39,467
WITH ALL THIS ENERGY IN IT.
529
00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:41,067
IF YOU EVER TWIST AND TWIST
AND TWIST A RUBBER BAND
530
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:42,233
AND PULL IT STRAIGHT,
531
00:33:42,267 --> 00:33:44,667
YOU CAN TELL,
YOU CAN FEEL THAT TENSION IN IT.
532
00:33:46,933 --> 00:33:49,400
Narrator:
WHERE THE MAGNETIC LINES TWIST,
533
00:33:49,433 --> 00:33:52,467
FLOWS OF PLASMA
CONTAINING OUR PHOTON
534
00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:54,067
CAN'T REACH THE SURFACE.
535
00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,100
SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE
THESE PACKETS OF GAS
536
00:33:58,133 --> 00:34:00,867
WHICH REACH THE SURFACE,
COOL OFF,
537
00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,267
BUT ARE TRAPPED RIGHT THERE
BY THE MAGNETISM.
538
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,200
Narrator:
A PATCH OF THE SUN GOES DARK
539
00:34:08,233 --> 00:34:10,967
WHERE LIGHT CAN'T ESCAPE.
540
00:34:11,067 --> 00:34:13,067
A SUN SPOT IS BORN.
541
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,133
BUT IN THAT TANGLE
OF MAGNETIC LINES,
542
00:34:17,167 --> 00:34:20,400
SOMETHING
EVENTUALLY HAS TO SNAP.
543
00:34:20,433 --> 00:34:23,500
Oluseyi: THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
ARE VERY UNHAPPY.
544
00:34:23,533 --> 00:34:25,167
THEY DON'T LIKE
THE STATE THAT THEY'RE IN,
545
00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,400
AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO
IS UNRAVEL.
546
00:34:31,867 --> 00:34:34,167
Narrator:
HUGE LOOPS OF MAGNETIC ENERGY
547
00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:36,567
ARCH OUT OVER THE SUN SPOTS.
548
00:34:39,533 --> 00:34:43,933
TWISTED AND UNSTABLE,
DESPERATE TO SPEW THEIR ENERGY,
549
00:34:43,967 --> 00:34:48,333
THEY CREATE A MAGNETIC BOMB
PRIMED TO EXPLODE.
550
00:34:51,133 --> 00:34:53,067
Oluseyi: AND SO, IF ONE MAGNETIC
FIELD WITH STORED ENERGY
551
00:34:53,100 --> 00:34:56,667
SEES ANOTHER MAGNETIC FIELD,
THOSE TWO LOOK AT EACH OTHER
552
00:34:56,700 --> 00:35:00,067
AND SAY, "HEY, IF WE CONNECT, WE
CAN GET RID OF A LOT OF ENERGY."
553
00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:01,433
THEY DO SO, THEY RECONNECT.
554
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:02,900
BADDOW!
555
00:35:12,367 --> 00:35:15,400
Plait: IT'S A HUGE EXPLOSION,
AND WE CALL IT A SOLAR FLARE.
556
00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,433
AND THIS CAN BE EQUIVALENT
TO MILLIONS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
557
00:35:21,467 --> 00:35:24,200
EXPLODING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
558
00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:31,433
Narrator: SOLAR FLARES
ERUPT OUTWARDS INTO SPACE
559
00:35:31,467 --> 00:35:34,067
AT UP TO 4 1/2 MILLION MILES
AN HOUR...
560
00:35:36,133 --> 00:35:38,567
...RELEASING MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF ENERGY.
561
00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:44,800
Oluseyi: MAGNETIC FIELDS
ARE THROWING PLASMA
562
00:35:44,833 --> 00:35:46,933
FROM THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
563
00:35:46,967 --> 00:35:49,500
SUDDENLY, THERE'S A LARGE
OUTPOURING OF LIGHT.
564
00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:54,933
Narrator:
AFTER NEARLY A MILLION YEARS,
565
00:35:54,967 --> 00:35:58,167
OUR PACKET OF LIGHT
FINALLY MAKES ITS ESCAPE.
566
00:36:02,467 --> 00:36:03,733
IT'S FREE,
567
00:36:03,767 --> 00:36:08,500
CATAPULTING OUT ALONG
WITH TRILLIONS OF OTHER PHOTONS,
568
00:36:08,533 --> 00:36:11,133
BUT THEIR JOURNEY
IS FAR FROM OVER.
569
00:36:12,767 --> 00:36:17,633
MOST HURDLE ONWARDS TO
THE FAR REACHES OF THE COSMOS,
570
00:36:17,667 --> 00:36:20,333
TO STRANGE, NEW WORLDS.
571
00:36:33,167 --> 00:36:37,133
Narrator: AFTER A NEARLY
MILLION-YEAR JOURNEY
572
00:36:37,167 --> 00:36:41,733
THROUGH THE MOST HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENT IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
573
00:36:41,767 --> 00:36:44,567
TINY PARCELS OF LIGHT --
574
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,433
PHOTONS -- FINALLY BURST
FROM THE SUN'S SURFACE.
575
00:36:55,233 --> 00:36:56,767
Gilbert:
THEY'RE FREE.
576
00:36:56,800 --> 00:37:00,767
THEY BASICALLY ARE FREE
TO LEAVE THIS ARDUOUS JOURNEY
577
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:02,300
THAT THEY'VE BEEN ON IN THE SUN.
578
00:37:02,333 --> 00:37:04,667
AND THEN THEY FLY OUT
AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
579
00:37:06,833 --> 00:37:10,600
SO, IT'S KIND OF A "BREAKING
OUT OF PRISON" TYPE OF FEELING
580
00:37:10,633 --> 00:37:12,433
FOR THOSE POOR PHOTONS.
581
00:37:14,633 --> 00:37:17,600
Narrator:
THEY SPEED OUT INTO EMPTY SPACE
582
00:37:17,633 --> 00:37:20,667
AT 186,000 MILES PER SECOND.
583
00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:25,967
AND JUST 8.3 MINUTES
AFTER IT LEAVES THE SUN,
584
00:37:26,067 --> 00:37:28,233
OUR PHOTON REACHES EARTH.
585
00:37:28,267 --> 00:37:30,500
Filippenko: THE NEXT TIME
YOU LOOK AT A STAR IN THE SKY,
586
00:37:30,533 --> 00:37:33,067
YOU MIGHT CONSIDER
THE AMAZING JOURNEY
587
00:37:33,100 --> 00:37:36,700
THE PHOTONS HAVE TAKEN ON
THEIR WAY TO REACHING YOUR EYE.
588
00:37:39,933 --> 00:37:42,167
THEY WERE CREATED
BY NUCLEAR REACTIONS
589
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:46,100
DEEP IN THE CORE OF THE STARS,
AND THEN THEY BOUNCED AROUND
590
00:37:46,133 --> 00:37:50,067
AND GOT DEGRADED
INTO LOWER ENERGY PHOTONS.
591
00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:52,167
AND THEN IN THE CONVECTIVE ZONE,
592
00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:55,500
THEY WERE CARRIED
BY MASS MOTIONS OF GAS.
593
00:37:55,533 --> 00:37:58,767
AND FINALLY, AT THE EDGE,
THEY WERE SET FREE.
594
00:38:01,867 --> 00:38:06,833
AND THEY TRAVELED UNIMPEDED
AND FINALLY REACHED YOUR EYES.
595
00:38:09,833 --> 00:38:13,167
Narrator:
OUR PHOTON FINALLY ARRIVES,
596
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:17,667
SMASHES INTO A LEAF,
AND PASSES ON ITS ENERGY.
597
00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:19,800
THIS IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS,
598
00:38:19,833 --> 00:38:22,167
THE FUNDAMENTAL LINK
IN OUR FOOD CHAIN.
599
00:38:26,067 --> 00:38:30,367
FINALLY, CARRYING ENERGY
BORN INSIDE THE SUN'S CORE,
600
00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,333
OUR PHOTON AND BILLIONS LIKE IT
601
00:38:33,367 --> 00:38:37,833
IGNITE THE PRIMAL FIRES
OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET.
602
00:38:37,867 --> 00:38:43,167
THE SUN'S LIGHT CREATES
OUR FUEL, DRIVES OUR WEATHER,
603
00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:44,600
CHURNS OUR SEAS.
604
00:38:48,433 --> 00:38:51,767
EVERY SINGLE DAY,
ENOUGH PHOTONS HIT THE EARTH
605
00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,767
TO POWER OUR CIVILIZATION
FOR 27 YEARS.
606
00:38:56,867 --> 00:39:00,800
THE SUN'S LIGHT IS MORE
THAN JUST WARMTH AND HEAT.
607
00:39:00,833 --> 00:39:04,500
IT PROVIDES EVERYTHING
WE NEED TO SURVIVE.
608
00:39:04,533 --> 00:39:08,667
WITHOUT LIGHT, WE ARE NOTHING.
609
00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:11,733
Thaller: ALL OF THE ENERGY
THAT POWERS OUR BIOLOGY,
610
00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:14,433
THE THING THAT MAKES OUR PLANET
WARM, THAT MAKES LIFE POSSIBLE,
611
00:39:14,467 --> 00:39:16,067
THAT ALL COMES FROM THE SUN.
612
00:39:18,533 --> 00:39:22,433
Narrator: TRILLIONS OF PHOTONS
HIT THE EARTH EVERY SECOND,
613
00:39:22,467 --> 00:39:24,667
EACH DELIVERING
LIFE-GIVING ENERGY.
614
00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:32,833
BUT FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE NUMBER
WHO PASS US BY,
615
00:39:32,867 --> 00:39:36,067
THE JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER.
616
00:39:36,067 --> 00:39:39,267
AROUND 80 MINUTES
AFTER LEAVING THE SUN,
617
00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:41,700
THEY REACH SATURN.
618
00:39:41,733 --> 00:39:44,167
AFTER FOUR HOURS, NEPTUNE.
619
00:39:46,567 --> 00:39:48,867
ONCE A PHOTON
LEAVES THE SURFACE OF THE SUN,
620
00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:51,267
IT'S FREE TO TRAVEL
AS FAR AS IT CAN,
621
00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,800
AND AS FAR AS IT CAN CAN BE
LITERALLY ACROSS THE UNIVERSE,
622
00:39:54,833 --> 00:39:57,100
BILLIONS OF LIGHT YEARS AWAY.
623
00:39:58,967 --> 00:40:00,767
Narrator: THEY SHOOT
PAST THE OUTER REACHES
624
00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:04,833
OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
IN JUST 18 HOURS.
625
00:40:04,867 --> 00:40:09,600
HERE, THE SUN IS A DIM SPECK
IN THE DISTANCE.
626
00:40:09,633 --> 00:40:14,167
BUT THE PHOTONS KEEP ON GOING,
OUT INTO DEEP SPACE.
627
00:40:18,133 --> 00:40:20,767
IN 1,200 YEARS,
SOME OF THE PHOTONS
628
00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:25,267
REACH THE RED DWARF STAR SYSTEM
KEPLER-62,
629
00:40:25,300 --> 00:40:29,733
A SOLAR SYSTEM WITH POTENTIALLY
HABITABLE EARTH-LIKE PLANETS.
630
00:40:29,767 --> 00:40:32,533
IN OUR GALAXY,
631
00:40:32,567 --> 00:40:36,833
THERE ARE BILLIONS
OF EARTH-LIKE PLANETS.
632
00:40:36,867 --> 00:40:42,200
IF THERE IS LIFE OUT THERE, CAN
IT SEE THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN?
633
00:40:42,233 --> 00:40:44,200
Filippenko:
IF ALIENS EXIST OUT THERE,
634
00:40:44,233 --> 00:40:46,767
THEY COULD EASILY
SEE THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN.
635
00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:48,733
IF THEY'RE SUFFICIENTLY NEARBY,
636
00:40:48,767 --> 00:40:52,267
THE SUN MIGHT BE
A NAKED-EYE STAR IN THEIR SKY
637
00:40:52,300 --> 00:40:53,633
OR WITH TELESCOPES,
638
00:40:53,667 --> 00:40:55,267
THEY WOULD BE ABLE
TO DETECT THE SUN
639
00:40:55,300 --> 00:40:57,933
EVEN FROM
VASTLY GREATER DISTANCES.
640
00:40:57,967 --> 00:41:00,067
SO,
THERE'S A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY
641
00:41:00,067 --> 00:41:04,933
THAT ALIENS ARE STUDYING OUR SUN
RIGHT NOW WITHOUT REALIZING
642
00:41:04,967 --> 00:41:08,067
THAT WE'RE HERE TRYING
TO STUDY THE UNIVERSE, AS WELL.
643
00:41:10,633 --> 00:41:12,100
Narrator:
HURDLING ON,
644
00:41:12,133 --> 00:41:17,433
THE PHOTONS PASS THE HORSEHEAD
NEBULA IN 1,500 YEARS
645
00:41:17,467 --> 00:41:20,500
AND THE PILLARS OF CREATION
IN 7,000.
646
00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:25,167
AT THESE DISTANCES,
THE LIGHT FROM OUR STAR
647
00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:28,500
IS TOO SMALL TO BE SEEN
WITH THE NAKED EYE,
648
00:41:28,533 --> 00:41:32,100
BUT IT WOULD BE VISIBLE
WITH A POWERFUL TELESCOPE.
649
00:41:32,133 --> 00:41:33,833
Krauss:
AND WITH THE BIGGEST TELESCOPES
650
00:41:33,867 --> 00:41:35,767
THAT WE CAN CREATE HERE ON EARTH
OR IN SPACE,
651
00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:38,433
WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THE LIGHT FROM STARS
652
00:41:38,467 --> 00:41:40,100
AT THE OTHER END
OF THE UNIVERSE,
653
00:41:40,133 --> 00:41:42,067
OVER 10 BILLION LIGHT YEARS
AWAY.
654
00:41:42,100 --> 00:41:45,933
AND SO THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN IS
TRAVELING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
655
00:41:48,267 --> 00:41:49,567
Plait:
SO, THE LIGHT FROM OUR SUN,
656
00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:52,900
THE LIGHT FROM THE EARTH,
TRAVELS ESSENTIALLY FOREVER.
657
00:41:52,933 --> 00:41:55,367
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE OUT
UNDER A CLEAR SKY
658
00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:56,633
AND YOU LOOK UP,
659
00:41:56,667 --> 00:41:58,867
YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAVE
BECAUSE SOMEBODY OUT THERE
660
00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:01,300
MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE YOU
AND WAVE BACK.
661
00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:07,800
Narrator: OUR TINY STAR
IS VISIBLE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
662
00:42:07,833 --> 00:42:10,333
IF SOMEONE IS LOOKING.
663
00:42:10,367 --> 00:42:13,733
Krauss: THERE ISN'T A SINGLE
PLACE IN OUR VISIBLE UNIVERSE
664
00:42:13,767 --> 00:42:15,767
THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO SEE THE SUN FROM,
665
00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:17,400
AND MAYBE THAT'S HEARTENING.
666
00:42:17,433 --> 00:42:19,467
MAYBE THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE
OF OUR EXISTENCE
667
00:42:19,500 --> 00:42:20,633
AT THE OTHER END
OF THE UNIVERSE.
668
00:42:20,667 --> 00:42:22,533
WON'T GET THERE
FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS,
669
00:42:22,567 --> 00:42:25,233
BUT AT LEAST
MAYBE WE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN.
670
00:42:25,267 --> 00:42:30,100
Narrator: A JOURNEY THAT STARTED
DEEP INSIDE THE CORE OF THE SUN
671
00:42:30,133 --> 00:42:33,267
WITH A PHOTON,
A MILLION-YEAR STRUGGLE
672
00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:35,667
TO FINALLY ESCAPE
THE SUN'S GRIP.
673
00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:40,600
ONCE FREE, OUR PHOTON
674
00:42:40,633 --> 00:42:45,267
BROUGHT ENERGY, HEAT,
AND LIFE TO OUR WORLD.
675
00:42:47,533 --> 00:42:53,300
LIGHT FROM OUR SUN JOINS LIGHT
FROM TRILLIONS OF OTHER STARS
676
00:42:53,333 --> 00:42:55,767
JOURNEYING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE,
677
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:59,067
SPREADING ENERGY
THROUGHOUT THE COSMOS.
54846
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