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00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,000
Narrator: DAZZLING, LEGENDARY --
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00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,467
IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANET
IN THE NIGHT SKY.
3
00:00:07,467 --> 00:00:10,933
BUT SECRETIVE SATURN
HAS BEEN HOLDING OUT ON US.
4
00:00:10,933 --> 00:00:13,267
WE LEARNED A VAST AMOUNT
ABOUT IT,
5
00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:16,500
AND MOST OF THIS
HAS BEEN VERY SURPRISING.
6
00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:19,867
WE THOUGHT WE KNEW THOSE BODIES.
WE HAD NO IDEA.
7
00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:23,567
Narrator: SATURN BOILS
WITH EXTREME WEATHER
8
00:00:23,567 --> 00:00:25,133
AND WEIRD LIGHTS.
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00:00:25,133 --> 00:00:27,533
THE RINGS RIPPLE AND TWIST,
10
00:00:27,533 --> 00:00:30,667
BULLIED BY OVER 60
REMARKABLE MOONS.
11
00:00:30,667 --> 00:00:35,367
THEY ARE INDIVIDUAL WORLDS.
THEY EACH HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
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00:00:35,367 --> 00:00:37,167
THIS IS
A PLANETARY EXPLORER'S DREAM.
13
00:00:37,167 --> 00:00:39,133
Narrator:
TODAY, SATURN'S MOONS
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00:00:39,133 --> 00:00:42,267
ARE THE HOTTEST PROPERTY
IN THE SEARCH FOR ALIEN LIFE.
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00:00:42,267 --> 00:00:44,667
IF THERE'S ONE PLACE
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
16
00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:47,367
I WOULD PUT A BET THAT LIFE
EXISTS THERE RIGHT NOW,
17
00:00:47,367 --> 00:00:48,533
I WOULD CHOOSE SATURN.
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00:00:48,533 --> 00:00:50,567
Narrator:
AND ON SATURN'S LARGEST MOON,
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00:00:50,567 --> 00:00:53,567
WE MAY HAVE ALREADY FOUND IT.
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00:00:53,567 --> 00:00:55,100
WE'VE FOUND SOME
CURIOUS THINGS ON TITAN,
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00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:57,267
AND IT MIGHT JUST BE EVIDENCE
OF LIFE.
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00:00:57,267 --> 00:01:00,333
***
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00:01:00,333 --> 00:01:03,267
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
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00:01:03,267 --> 00:01:06,300
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
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00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:16,933
Narrator: SATURN,
THE JEWEL OF THE NIGHT SKY,
26
00:01:16,933 --> 00:01:20,600
DAZZLES US WITH ITS BEAUTY
AND SCALE.
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00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,500
IT'S HUGE -- SO BIG,
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00:01:24,500 --> 00:01:29,400
YOU COULD FIT MORE THAN
700 EARTHS INSIDE IT.
29
00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,733
BUT DON'T LET SIZE FOOL YOU.
30
00:01:32,733 --> 00:01:34,567
Plait: ONE OF THE MOST
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT SATURN
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00:01:34,567 --> 00:01:38,467
IS THAT IT IS SO BIG COMPARED
TO HOW MUCH STUFF IS IN IT,
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THAT IT'S ACTUALLY LOWER DENSITY
THAN WATER.
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00:01:41,067 --> 00:01:44,433
THE OLD JOKE IS THAT IF YOU
COULD FIND A BATHTUB BIG ENOUGH
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00:01:44,433 --> 00:01:45,800
AND FILL IT WITH WATER,
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SATURN WOULD FLOAT,
BUT IT WOULD LEAVE A RING.
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00:01:48,533 --> 00:01:51,467
Narrator:
OTHER PLANETS HAVE RINGS,
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00:01:51,467 --> 00:01:55,467
BUT NONE SO VAST AND GLORIOUS
AS SATURN'S.
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00:01:55,467 --> 00:01:57,600
THE JOURNEY FROM THE OUTSIDE
OF THE MAIN RINGS
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00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,500
TO THE INSIDE EDGE
IS 66,000 MILES --
40
00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:04,800
OVER 2 1/2 TIMES THE DISTANCE
AROUND THE EARTH.
41
00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,467
YET THIS VAST COLLECTION
OF DUST AND ICE PARTICLES
42
00:02:08,467 --> 00:02:13,100
IS WHISPER-THIN
IN PLACES JUST TENS OF FEET.
43
00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:14,900
Thaller:
SATURN'S RINGS ARE MADE UP
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00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:16,900
OF MOSTLY VERY SMALL PARTICLES,
OF ICE AND ROCK.
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00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:18,867
SOME OF THE PARTICLES
ARE LARGER,
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00:02:18,867 --> 00:02:21,367
BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
NO BIGGER THAN GRAINS OF DUST.
47
00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:25,233
Narrator:
RACING WITHIN THE RINGS
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AND ORBITING FAR OUTSIDE THEM
ARE OVER 60 MOONS
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00:02:27,933 --> 00:02:32,433
MADE FROM ROCK AND WATER ICE.
50
00:02:32,433 --> 00:02:35,533
THEY RANGE IN SIZE
FROM TINY SNOWBALLS
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00:02:35,533 --> 00:02:39,333
TO WORLDS WITH ACTIVE GEOLOGY,
52
00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:42,733
LIQUID WATER...
53
00:02:42,733 --> 00:02:46,233
WEATHER SYSTEMS,
AND POSSIBLY EVEN LIFE,
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00:02:46,233 --> 00:02:50,333
A BILLION MILES FROM THE WARMTH
OF THE SUN.
55
00:02:50,333 --> 00:02:51,833
Porco:
IT'S SO COLD OUT THERE,
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00:02:51,833 --> 00:02:53,200
WE JUST THOUGHT THERE'D BE
NOTHING THERE,
57
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,133
AND WE WERE SO WRONG.
WE WERE SO WRONG.
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00:02:58,500 --> 00:03:01,167
[ LIGHTNING CRACKLING ]
59
00:03:01,167 --> 00:03:03,300
Narrator:
SATURN'S FIRST SHOCKER --
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00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:04,867
ITS WILD WEATHER.
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00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:08,833
[ CRACKLING AND WHOOSHING ]
62
00:03:08,833 --> 00:03:12,200
Kaku: THE STORMS ON SATURN
ARE EXTREMELY VIOLENT,
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00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,067
UNLIKE ANYTHING WE SEE
ON THE PLANET EARTH.
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00:03:14,067 --> 00:03:17,733
IN FACT, SATURN HAS
THE SECOND FASTEST WINDS
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00:03:17,733 --> 00:03:20,667
IN THE ENTIRE SOLAR SYSTEM.
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00:03:20,667 --> 00:03:22,067
[ THUNDERCLAP ]
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00:03:22,067 --> 00:03:25,267
Narrator: THESE WINDS RACE
THROUGH SATURN'S CLOUD TOPS
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AT OVER A THOUSAND MILES
AN HOUR,
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00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:30,067
FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN
EARTH'S STRONGEST CYCLONES.
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00:03:30,067 --> 00:03:32,500
[ THUNDERCLAPS ]
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00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:37,133
AND LIGHTNING BOLTS FLASH UP
TO 10,000 TIMES MORE POWERFULLY
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00:03:37,133 --> 00:03:38,867
THAN THOSE ON EARTH.
73
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,867
Porco: EVERYTHING ON SATURN IS
JUST SO VERY, VERY MUCH BIGGER.
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00:03:42,867 --> 00:03:44,333
I MEAN,
THERE ARE WEATHER SYSTEMS
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00:03:44,333 --> 00:03:46,800
THAT ARE AS BIG OR BIGGER
THAN THE EARTH.
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00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,500
Narrator: SATURN'S FEROCIOUS
WEATHER IS SURPRISING,
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00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:53,233
BECAUSE ON EARTH,
WEATHER IS DRIVEN
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00:03:53,233 --> 00:03:55,900
BY THE HEAT ENERGY OF THE SUN.
79
00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:59,467
THE SUN WARMS THE LAND,
GENERATING WIND.
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00:03:59,467 --> 00:04:04,800
IT CAUSES THE SEAS TO EVAPORATE,
CREATING CLOUDS AND RAIN.
81
00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,233
SATURN LIES TOO FAR FROM THE SUN
TO FEEL THE SAME WARMTH,
82
00:04:11,233 --> 00:04:13,333
SO THE HEAT THAT DRIVES
ITS WEATHER
83
00:04:13,333 --> 00:04:17,333
MUST BE COMING
FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
84
00:04:17,333 --> 00:04:19,900
TO UNDERSTAND
THIS MYSTERIOUS HEAT SOURCE,
85
00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:23,333
WE NEED TO GO BACK
4 1/2 BILLION YEARS...
86
00:04:24,633 --> 00:04:27,433
TO THE BIRTH
OF THE RINGED PLANET.
87
00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,067
[ WATER STREAMING ]
88
00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:34,333
THE PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
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00:04:34,333 --> 00:04:37,133
EMERGED
FROM A VAST, SWIRLING CLOUD
90
00:04:37,133 --> 00:04:40,233
OF ICE, DUST, AND GAS.
91
00:04:42,167 --> 00:04:45,833
THE SAME INGREDIENTS CAN STILL
BE FOUND ON EARTH TODAY
92
00:04:45,833 --> 00:04:47,600
IN PLACES LIKE ICELAND,
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00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,633
WHERE VOLCANIC ASH
MIXES WITH ICY GLACIERS.
94
00:04:51,633 --> 00:04:54,800
IF YOU WANNA BUILD
A GIANT PLANET LIKE SATURN,
95
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,067
THIS PILE OF RAW MATERIAL HERE
IS A GREAT VISUAL ANALOG.
96
00:04:59,067 --> 00:05:01,400
THERE'S A LOT OF OXYGEN
AND HYDROGEN IN THE UNIVERSE.
97
00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,667
THAT MAKES WATER,
AND THAT MAKES WATER ICE,
98
00:05:03,667 --> 00:05:05,800
AND THE STUFF INITIALLY
THAT MADE THE SOLAR SYSTEM
99
00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,300
IS BASICALLY THIS STUFF HERE.
100
00:05:07,300 --> 00:05:09,867
IT'S DIRTY ICE, WATER ICE,
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF --
101
00:05:09,867 --> 00:05:12,333
LITTLE BIT OF ROCKY AND METALLIC
MINERALS LEFT IN THERE
102
00:05:12,333 --> 00:05:14,200
OUT THERE IN THE COLD OF SPACE.
103
00:05:17,633 --> 00:05:19,633
Narrator:
4 1/2 BILLION YEARS AGO,
104
00:05:19,633 --> 00:05:22,333
A VAST CLOUD
OF DIRTY ICE PARTICLES
105
00:05:22,333 --> 00:05:27,333
SHROUDED IN HYDROGEN AND HELIUM
COLLAPSES UNDER ITS OWN GRAVITY,
106
00:05:27,333 --> 00:05:31,300
AND AT THE CENTER,
A NEW STAR -- OUR SUN --
107
00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:33,500
SPARKS INTO LIFE.
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00:05:34,767 --> 00:05:38,200
THE HEAT OF THE NEW STAR
MELTS THE ICE CLOSEST TO IT
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00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,567
AND BLOWS AWAY THE GAS, LEAVING
ONLY ROCKY DEBRIS BEHIND.
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00:05:42,567 --> 00:05:47,433
BUT FARTHER OUT,
ICY MATERIAL AND GAS SURVIVE.
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00:05:47,433 --> 00:05:50,733
A BOUNDARY FORMS --
A FROST LINE
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00:05:50,733 --> 00:05:55,767
BETWEEN THE ROCKY INNER CLOUD
AND THE ICY GAS BEYOND.
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00:05:56,900 --> 00:05:59,533
ONCE YOU FIRE UP THAT CAMPFIRE,
IF YOU WILL,
114
00:05:59,533 --> 00:06:01,100
WHAT WOULD BE LEFT BEHIND
IN THE INNER SOLAR SYSTEM
115
00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:02,500
IS GONNA BE THIS STUFF --
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00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:04,600
SILICATE MINERALS YOU MAKE
A PLANET LIKE THE EARTH FROM.
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00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,833
BUT FAR AWAY FROM THE SUN,
WHERE IT'S COLDER,
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00:06:07,833 --> 00:06:11,100
YOU CROSS THE FROST LINE,
AND WHAT'S OUT THERE
119
00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:14,967
IS STILL COLD ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN
THE ICE BEHIND,
120
00:06:14,967 --> 00:06:17,333
AND THERE'S A LOT OF IT THERE.
121
00:06:17,333 --> 00:06:20,333
AT FIRST YOU MAKE SORT OF
A SOLID CORE OF THIS MATERIAL,
122
00:06:20,333 --> 00:06:21,500
BUT WHEN YOU REACH
A CRITICAL MASS,
123
00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:23,533
YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH
GRAVITATIONAL INFLUENCE
124
00:06:23,533 --> 00:06:26,200
TO START TO DIRECTLY DRAW IN
SOME OF THE HYDROGEN AND HELIUM
125
00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,500
IN THE INTERPLANETARY CLOUD.
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00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,633
Narrator:
SATURN'S HUGE SOLID CORE,
127
00:06:32,633 --> 00:06:35,833
NOW 10 TO 20 TIMES
THE SIZE OF THE EARTH,
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00:06:35,833 --> 00:06:40,367
GENERATES RELENTLESS GRAVITY
AND DRAWS IN GAS.
129
00:06:40,367 --> 00:06:46,867
THE BIGGER THIS GAS BALL GETS,
THE MORE MATERIAL IT SUCKS IN.
130
00:06:46,867 --> 00:06:49,500
SATURN'S MASSIVE GRAVITY
THEN GETS TO WORK
131
00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:53,500
ON ITS FLEDGLING ATMOSPHERE,
COMPRESSING IT.
132
00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:57,533
AND LIKE ANY GAS UNDER PRESSURE,
IT GETS HOT --
133
00:06:57,533 --> 00:06:59,667
SERIOUSLY HOT.
134
00:07:00,967 --> 00:07:04,067
EVEN TODAY, SATURN'S
HIGH PRESSURE ATMOSPHERE
135
00:07:04,067 --> 00:07:07,467
HEATS ITS CORE
TO 21,000 DEGREES --
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00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:11,267
TWICE THE TEMPERATURE
OF THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
137
00:07:13,467 --> 00:07:15,533
AND IT'S THIS HEAT RISING UP
138
00:07:15,533 --> 00:07:18,300
WHICH FORMS
SATURN'S DISTINCT BANDS
139
00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:22,233
AND DRIVES ITS EXTREME WEATHER.
140
00:07:22,233 --> 00:07:24,533
Thaller: SATURN'S ACTUALLY
ROTATING VERY QUICKLY.
141
00:07:24,533 --> 00:07:25,833
IT'S A LARGE PLANET.
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00:07:25,833 --> 00:07:28,433
IT ROTATES ONCE ON ITS AXIS
ABOUT EVERY 10 HOURS.
143
00:07:28,433 --> 00:07:31,067
SO AS THE WEATHER COMES U9P
FROM THE INTERIOR,
144
00:07:31,067 --> 00:07:33,167
IT GETS SMEARED OUT INTO BANDS.
145
00:07:35,933 --> 00:07:37,967
Narrator:
THAT'S SATURN'S NORTH POLE.
146
00:07:37,967 --> 00:07:40,833
THE BANDS DO SOMETHING
THAT AT FIRST GLANCE,
147
00:07:40,833 --> 00:07:42,933
SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.
148
00:07:42,933 --> 00:07:46,067
Plait:
THERE IS A GIGANTIC VORTEX --
149
00:07:46,067 --> 00:07:47,767
A SPINNING REGION OF AIR
150
00:07:47,767 --> 00:07:50,333
THAT'S SHAPED LIKE
A PERFECT HEXAGON.
151
00:07:50,333 --> 00:07:51,933
Thaller: YOU HAVE WAVES
152
00:07:51,933 --> 00:07:53,433
OF PRESSURE, DENSITY,
AND TEMPERATURE
153
00:07:53,433 --> 00:07:55,700
THAT START TO INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER.
154
00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:57,900
AND THESE WAVES CAN ACTUALLY
INTERFERE
155
00:07:57,900 --> 00:07:59,200
AND BECOME ONE BIG WAVE
156
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,533
THAT GOES ALL THE WAY
AROUND THE PLANET.
157
00:08:01,533 --> 00:08:03,267
Narrator:
THIS GIANT WAVE SETTLES
158
00:08:03,267 --> 00:08:06,867
INTO A LONG-LASTING PATTERN,
BECAUSE BELOW,
159
00:08:06,867 --> 00:08:08,500
THERE'S NO ROCKY SURFACE
160
00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:10,967
TO DISRUPT THE WINDS
THAT FORM IT.
161
00:08:10,967 --> 00:08:14,133
Thaller: THEY FORM A BEAUTIFULLY
DEFINED REGULAR HEXAGON.
162
00:08:14,133 --> 00:08:16,467
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR
THINGS ABOUT SATURN.
163
00:08:19,733 --> 00:08:21,933
Narrator:
IT TOOK ROBOTIC PROBES
164
00:08:21,933 --> 00:08:24,533
TO REVEAL THE WEIRD WEATHER
ON SATURN,
165
00:08:24,533 --> 00:08:27,367
BUT IF THESE CLOSE-UP SHOTS
OF STORMS AND LIGHTNING
166
00:08:27,367 --> 00:08:29,700
TOOK SCIENTISTS BY SURPRISE,
167
00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:34,367
THEY WERE NOTHING COMPARED
TO THE SHOCK OF WHAT CAME NEXT,
168
00:08:34,367 --> 00:08:37,433
BECAUSE THE RINGS ARE ALIVE.
169
00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,900
Narrator: IMAGINE SATURN
WITHOUT ITS RINGS --
170
00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:58,167
JUST A PALE GLOBE FLOATING
IN THE DARKNESS OF SPACE.
171
00:09:00,633 --> 00:09:03,833
WITH RINGS, IT'S MAGICAL.
172
00:09:07,733 --> 00:09:09,067
Krauss:
UNDOUBTEDLY, THE ONE THING
173
00:09:09,067 --> 00:09:11,367
THAT CAPTURES EVERYONE
ABOUT SATURN IS THE RINGS.
174
00:09:11,367 --> 00:09:14,433
IT'S INSPIRED FICTION STORIES,
AND IT'S INSPIRED EVERYONE
175
00:09:14,433 --> 00:09:16,500
WHO'S LOOKED AT IT
IN THE NIGHT SKY.
176
00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:19,233
Plait:
WHEN I WAS 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD,
177
00:09:19,233 --> 00:09:21,767
MY PARENTS BOUGHT A SMALL
DEPARTMENT STORE TELESCOPE,
178
00:09:21,767 --> 00:09:24,433
AND I REMEMBER LOOKING DOWN
INTO THAT EYEPIECE
179
00:09:24,433 --> 00:09:29,133
AND SEEING THIS PERFECT JEWEL
OF A PLANET.
180
00:09:29,133 --> 00:09:31,133
THERE'S JUST NOTHING
BETTER THAN THIS,
181
00:09:31,133 --> 00:09:32,300
AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THE RINGS
182
00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:34,167
GOING AROUND THE PLANET
JUST PERFECTLY.
183
00:09:34,167 --> 00:09:37,767
THEY'RE JUST A GORGEOUS
ELLIPTICAL RACE TRACK.
184
00:09:37,767 --> 00:09:41,333
Narrator: FROM THE EYEPIECE
OF A SMALL TELESCOPE,
185
00:09:41,333 --> 00:09:45,167
THE RINGS SEEM QUIET AND SERENE.
186
00:09:45,167 --> 00:09:48,933
BUT UP CLOSE,
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE.
187
00:09:48,933 --> 00:09:53,233
WE KNOW THIS THANKS
TO A SPACE PROBE CALLED CASSINI,
188
00:09:53,233 --> 00:09:56,600
AND OVER 10 YEARS
OF IMAGES LIKE THESE.
189
00:09:59,867 --> 00:10:03,700
ICE PARTICLES JOSTLE
FOR POSITION LIKE STOCK CARS,
190
00:10:03,700 --> 00:10:05,167
TRAVELING INSIDE THE RINGS
191
00:10:05,167 --> 00:10:09,300
AT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF MILES AN HOUR.
192
00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:12,033
THESE PARTICLES RANGE IN SIZE
FROM CHUNKS OF ICE
193
00:10:12,033 --> 00:10:17,467
AS BIG AS HOUSES
TO THE FINEST POWDER SNOW.
194
00:10:17,467 --> 00:10:19,300
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE WENT
TO SATURN
195
00:10:19,300 --> 00:10:21,533
AND STAYED THERE WITH CASSINI
THAT WE LEARNED
196
00:10:21,533 --> 00:10:24,200
JUST HOW FIERCELY COMPLEX IT IS.
197
00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,233
YOU HAVE THE GRAVITY
OF THE PLANET ITSELF
198
00:10:26,233 --> 00:10:27,633
AND ALL OF THESE MOONS
199
00:10:27,633 --> 00:10:30,533
INTERACTING WITH THE RINGS
AND THE MOONS AND THE PLANET.
200
00:10:30,533 --> 00:10:34,167
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
SCULPTING THAT ENTIRE SYSTEM
201
00:10:34,167 --> 00:10:37,100
ON SCALES THAT ARE BOTH
SUBTLE AND GROSS,
202
00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:41,833
AND IT MAKES THIS MAGNIFICENT
CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
203
00:10:43,033 --> 00:10:45,233
Thaller: AS SMALL MOONS
GO AROUND AND SIDE,
204
00:10:45,233 --> 00:10:48,200
THE RING PARTICLES
DANCE AROUND THEM IN RESPONSE.
205
00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,733
WE SEE AREAS OF THE RINGS
THAT GET RAISED UP
206
00:10:50,733 --> 00:10:51,933
AS THE MOON GOES BY.
207
00:10:51,933 --> 00:10:54,600
MOONS WILL EVEN SWITCH ORBITS
WITH EACH OTHER,
208
00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:55,967
SO THERE'S A LOT
OF DYNAMIC STUFF
209
00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:58,233
GOING ON INSIDE THE RINGS.
210
00:10:59,233 --> 00:11:01,300
Narrator: SCIENTISTS BELIEVE
THAT FROM TIME TO TIME,
211
00:11:01,300 --> 00:11:04,633
SATURN'S ICY MOONS BREAK UP,
212
00:11:04,633 --> 00:11:07,067
ADDING NEW MATERIAL
TO THE RINGS.
213
00:11:07,067 --> 00:11:08,800
[ EXPLOSION ]
214
00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,600
THIS MEANS THAT THE STRUCTURE
OF THE RINGS
215
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,100
IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING.
216
00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:17,900
WITH CASSINI, SCIENTISTS CAN
DECONSTRUCT THE PHYSICS
217
00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:21,400
OF THIS EVOLUTION,
AND IT'S TEACHING US THE RULES
218
00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,400
THAT MAKE
THE WHOLE UNIVERSE TICK.
219
00:11:28,267 --> 00:11:30,200
ALL THE PLANETS
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
220
00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:34,067
EVOLVE FROM THE SAME FLAT DISC
OF DUST AND GAS
221
00:11:34,067 --> 00:11:37,700
4 1/2 BILLION YEARS AGO.
222
00:11:37,700 --> 00:11:42,333
ASTRONOMERS SEE SIMILAR DISCS
AROUND YOUNG DISTANT STARS.
223
00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:44,733
BUT EVEN WITH OUR MOST
POWERFUL TELESCOPES,
224
00:11:44,733 --> 00:11:48,667
WE CAN'T SEE PLANETS FORMING.
THEY'RE TOO FAR AWAY.
225
00:11:48,667 --> 00:11:51,967
BUT SATURN'S RINGS
ARE RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP,
226
00:11:51,967 --> 00:11:55,567
A VERITABLE SNAPSHOT
OF A MINI SOLAR SYSTEM
227
00:11:55,567 --> 00:11:59,600
CAUGHT IN THE PROCESS
OF FORMATION.
228
00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:00,967
Porco: LOOKING AT THE RINGS,
229
00:12:00,967 --> 00:12:05,133
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FORMATION
OF PLANETS OR BODIES
230
00:12:05,133 --> 00:12:07,567
IN AN ARRESTED STATE
OF DEVELOPMENT.
231
00:12:07,567 --> 00:12:09,533
IT'S LIKE YOU TOOK
THE BEGINNING STAGES
232
00:12:09,533 --> 00:12:12,400
OF THE FORMATION OF THE PLANETS
BUT STOPPED IT.
233
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,567
[ EXPLOSION ]
234
00:12:15,567 --> 00:12:19,333
Narrator: CASSINI SHOWS
STRUCTURES FORMING SPONTANEOUSLY
235
00:12:19,333 --> 00:12:21,433
INSIDE THE RINGS.
236
00:12:21,433 --> 00:12:23,267
Porco: THEY DON'T EVEN
NEED TO BE TICKLED.
237
00:12:23,267 --> 00:12:27,233
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE DISTURBED
INTO FORMING STRUCTURES.
238
00:12:27,233 --> 00:12:29,600
THEY FORM THEM ON THEIR OWN.
239
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:30,900
Narrator:
DOES THIS TINY MOON,
240
00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:33,500
CAPTURED
IN THE PROCESS OF FORMATION,
241
00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:36,100
SHOW US HOW THE EARTH
STARTED ITS LIFE?
242
00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:41,067
Porco: YOU GET SOMETHING THAT
JUST HAPPENS TO FORM
243
00:12:41,067 --> 00:12:44,633
OUT OF RANDOM PROCESSES,
AND THAT MIMICS WHAT ASTRONOMERS
244
00:12:44,633 --> 00:12:48,133
THINK THEY'RE SEEING
IN PROTOPLANETARY DISCS
245
00:12:48,133 --> 00:12:52,567
SURROUNDING OTHER STARS
IN THE COSMOS AROUND US.
246
00:12:52,567 --> 00:12:57,233
Narrator: CASSINI SEES CURIOUS
PROPELLER-LIKE STRUCTURES
247
00:12:57,233 --> 00:13:00,433
INSIDE SATURN'S BROAD A RING.
248
00:13:00,433 --> 00:13:05,600
THEY'RE CAUSED BY RING PARTICLES
WASHING OVER TINY HIDDEN MOONS.
249
00:13:07,533 --> 00:13:09,933
THE PARTICLES COLLIDE
WITH THE MOONS,
250
00:13:09,933 --> 00:13:13,200
SENDING THEM INTO RANDOM,
EVER-CHANGING ORBITS,
251
00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,733
SOMETIMES CLOSER TO SATURN
AND SOMETIMES FARTHER AWAY.
252
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:24,067
PERHAPS SIMILAR FORCES
INFLUENCED THE EARTH'S FORMATION
253
00:13:24,067 --> 00:13:25,600
AROUND THE SUN,
254
00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,400
PUSHING IT INTO CLOSER
OR WIDER ORBITS.
255
00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:36,200
SATURN'S RINGS
ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND
256
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,667
WHY PLANETS STOP GROWING.
257
00:13:39,667 --> 00:13:41,900
A WALNUT-SHAPED MOON
CALLED "PAN"
258
00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:45,933
SITS NEAR THE MIDDLE
OF SATURN'S A RING.
259
00:13:45,933 --> 00:13:49,667
WITH SO MUCH ICE AROUND IT
TO GOBBLE UP,
260
00:13:49,667 --> 00:13:53,067
PAN SHOULD BE HUGE,
BUT IT'S TINY,
261
00:13:53,067 --> 00:13:55,467
ONLY 20 MILES IN DIAMETER.
262
00:13:55,467 --> 00:13:58,400
IF YOU HAVE A MOON EMBEDDED
IN A DISC OF RING PARTICLES,
263
00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,467
YOU MIGHT NAIVELY THINK
IT JUST SECRETES RING PARTICLES
264
00:14:01,467 --> 00:14:04,867
UNTIL IT GROWS INTO
A, YOU KNOW, A BIGGER MOON.
265
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:08,200
BUT ACTUALLY WE FIND
MOONS CREATE GAPS
266
00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:09,567
IN THE RING AROUND THEM.
267
00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:11,533
SO PAN HAS CREATED
THE INKY GAP.
268
00:14:11,533 --> 00:14:13,833
DAPHNIS HAS CREATED
THE KEELER GAP.
269
00:14:15,300 --> 00:14:18,400
Narrator: RATHER THAN PULLING
RING MATERIAL IN,
270
00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,400
PAN APPEARS TO PUSH IT AWAY.
271
00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:22,733
AS THE MOON PASSES
272
00:14:22,733 --> 00:14:25,200
THE SLOWER MOVING MATERIAL
OUTSIDE IT,
273
00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,100
PAN'S GRAVITY FLINGS
THE PARTICLES OUT
274
00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:30,633
INTO WIDER ORBITS.
275
00:14:30,633 --> 00:14:34,167
THE FASTER MATERIAL
INSIDE PAN'S ORBIT IS SLOW.
276
00:14:34,167 --> 00:14:37,100
AS IT PASSES, THE LITTLE MOON,
CAUSING IT TO FALL AWAY
277
00:14:37,100 --> 00:14:38,767
TOWARDS SATURN.
278
00:14:38,767 --> 00:14:43,800
THIS NATURAL CUTOFF AND GROWTH
MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY
279
00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,267
MULTIPLE PLANETS
FORM AROUND STARS,
280
00:14:46,267 --> 00:14:51,100
INSTEAD OF SINGLE GIANT PLANETS
THAT EAT THE WHOLE BUFFET.
281
00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:54,733
OF ALL CASSINI'S DISCOVERIES,
282
00:14:54,733 --> 00:14:59,100
THE MOST IMPORTANT IS ALSO
THE MOST SURPRISING --
283
00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:04,733
A TINY ICE MOON THAT MAY BE
HOME TO LIFE.
284
00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:19,133
Narrator:
FOR MOST OF HISTORY,
285
00:15:19,133 --> 00:15:22,167
THE ONLY MOON WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO STUDY UP CLOSE
286
00:15:22,167 --> 00:15:24,567
IS OUR OWN.
287
00:15:24,567 --> 00:15:30,233
MULTIPLE DEEP CRATERS
TELL A POWERFUL STORY.
288
00:15:30,233 --> 00:15:32,100
OUR MOON IS DEAD.
289
00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:34,067
THERE'S NO ACTIVE GEOLOGY
OR WEATHER
290
00:15:34,067 --> 00:15:36,767
TO WIPE AWAY
THESE ANCIENT SCARS.
291
00:15:36,767 --> 00:15:41,300
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MOONS AROUND
OTHER PLANETS LIKE SATURN?
292
00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:43,933
ARE THEY DEAD, TOO?
293
00:15:43,933 --> 00:15:45,367
Thaller: OUR FIRST ASSUMPTION
ABOUT SATURN
294
00:15:45,367 --> 00:15:46,933
WAS THAT THE MOONS
WOULD BE LIKE THAT --
295
00:15:46,933 --> 00:15:50,433
COLD, DEAD, LIFELESS RELICS
FROM THE EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM.
296
00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:52,733
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE INVENTED
SPACECRAFT
297
00:15:52,733 --> 00:15:56,067
THAT COULD GO TO THESE MOONS
THAT WE DISCOVERED
298
00:15:56,067 --> 00:15:59,900
HOW INCREDIBLY DIVERSE
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM TRULY IS.
299
00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:07,200
Narrator: TAKE ENCELADUS --
300
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:12,100
AN ICE MOON
BARELY 300 MILES ACROSS.
301
00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:17,167
NOBODY PAID IT ANY ATTENTION
A DECADE AGO.
302
00:16:17,167 --> 00:16:21,567
BUT TODAY,
IT'S A GEOLOGICAL ROCK STAR.
303
00:16:21,567 --> 00:16:23,967
AND THIS IS WHY.
304
00:16:23,967 --> 00:16:28,067
ENCELADUS ORBITS INSIDE
SATURN'S OUTER MOST RING --
305
00:16:28,067 --> 00:16:30,567
THE E RING.
306
00:16:30,567 --> 00:16:34,133
THE E RING PUZZLED SCIENTISTS
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT
307
00:16:34,133 --> 00:16:36,733
HOW A RING SO BROAD
AND SO DIFFUSE
308
00:16:36,733 --> 00:16:39,067
COULD HOLD ITSELF TOGETHER.
309
00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:45,633
THE CASSINI TEAM DECIDED TO TAKE
A CLOSE FLYBY OF ENCELADUS
310
00:16:45,633 --> 00:16:49,300
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY.
311
00:16:49,300 --> 00:16:50,433
Thaller:
DID IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
312
00:16:50,433 --> 00:16:52,633
WITH KEEPING
THE PARTICLES TOGETHER?
313
00:16:52,633 --> 00:16:56,667
WHAT WAS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE E RING AND ENCELADUS?
314
00:16:56,667 --> 00:16:59,800
WELL, NOW WE KNOW THAT ENCELADUS
IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE
315
00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,067
FOR THE E RING BEING THERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
316
00:17:04,933 --> 00:17:06,800
Narrator: 2005 --
317
00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,367
CASSINI CAPTURES
AN ASTONISHING SIGHT --
318
00:17:10,367 --> 00:17:15,067
A HUNDRED GEYSERS SHOOTING
ICE PARTICLES MILES INTO SPACE
319
00:17:15,067 --> 00:17:17,800
FROM CRACKS IN THE SOUTH POLE.
320
00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:23,100
ENCELADUS IS HURDLING ITS GUTS
INTO SPACE AT A COLOSSAL RATE.
321
00:17:23,100 --> 00:17:25,067
AS ENCELADUS ORBITS SATURN,
322
00:17:25,067 --> 00:17:28,800
THESE ICY PLUMES
FEED A VAST SHIMMERING HALO
323
00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,367
AROUND THE PLANET --
324
00:17:30,367 --> 00:17:34,900
THE MYSTERIOUS E RING.
325
00:17:37,633 --> 00:17:41,433
THIS ICY PLUME ALSO INTERACTS
WITH SATURN'S MAGNETIC FIELD,
326
00:17:41,433 --> 00:17:45,233
CAUSING A PLASMA CLOUD
OF CHARGED PARTICLES.
327
00:17:48,433 --> 00:17:52,067
THE PARTICLES RACE ALONG
SATURN'S MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
328
00:17:52,067 --> 00:17:54,767
AND SLAM
INTO SATURN'S POLAR ATMOSPHERE,
329
00:17:54,767 --> 00:17:59,800
RAISING
HUGE ULTRAVIOLET AURORAS.
330
00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,067
GEYSERS EXPLAIN THE E RING,
331
00:18:04,067 --> 00:18:07,267
BUT HOW CAN THEY EXIST
ON A FROZEN MOON
332
00:18:07,267 --> 00:18:10,300
A BILLION MILES FROM THE SUN?
333
00:18:13,567 --> 00:18:17,500
ON EARTH, GEYSERS FORM
IN HIGHLY VOLCANIC PLACES
334
00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:21,533
WHERE WATER COMES INTO CONTACT
WITH HOT ROCKS.
335
00:18:21,533 --> 00:18:25,700
ENCELADUS, SO SMALL,
AND SO FAR FROM THE SUN,
336
00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:28,367
SHOULD BE COLD AND DEAD.
337
00:18:28,367 --> 00:18:32,400
BUT THANKS TO SATURN'S GRAVITY,
IT'S NOT.
338
00:18:35,767 --> 00:18:37,900
THE SOURCE OF THE HEATING
ON ENCELADUS
339
00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:41,067
IS THE ECCENTRIC ORBIT
OF THAT MOON.
340
00:18:41,067 --> 00:18:43,067
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE CLOSER
TO SATURN,
341
00:18:43,067 --> 00:18:45,067
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE
FURTHER AWAY.
342
00:18:45,067 --> 00:18:47,667
AND THAT HEATING ON ENCELADUS
FROM THAT KNEADING
343
00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:51,267
GRAVITATIONALLY MAKING THE MOON
STRETCH AND PULL
344
00:18:51,267 --> 00:18:52,700
IS WHAT WARMS THE INTERIOR,
345
00:18:52,700 --> 00:18:55,633
CAUSING THE ACTIVITY
ON ENCELADUS THAT WE SEE TODAY.
346
00:18:59,367 --> 00:19:01,667
Narrator: THE GRAVITATIONAL
PULL OF SATURN
347
00:19:01,667 --> 00:19:06,333
REACHES DEEP INTO ENCELADUS
BEYOND ITS WATER-ICE EXTERIOR
348
00:19:06,333 --> 00:19:08,933
GRIPPING ITS ROCKY CORE.
349
00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,733
AS SATURN'S GRASP
STRENGTHENS AND WEAKENS,
350
00:19:14,733 --> 00:19:17,633
IT MASSAGES
THIS COLD, ROCKY HEART,
351
00:19:17,633 --> 00:19:22,733
BRINGING IT TO GEOLOGICAL LIFE
WITH FRICTIONAL HEAT.
352
00:19:22,733 --> 00:19:25,067
THE HEAT MELTS THE ICE
AROUND IT,
353
00:19:25,067 --> 00:19:26,867
CREATING A VAST SUBSURFACE LAKE
354
00:19:26,867 --> 00:19:29,333
AT THE SOUTHERN POLE
OF ENCELADUS.
355
00:19:29,333 --> 00:19:35,433
THIS WATER JETS OUT THROUGH
HUGE CRACKS IN THE SURFACE ICE.
356
00:19:35,433 --> 00:19:37,767
ON EARTH,
WHERE THERE'S LIQUID WATER,
357
00:19:37,767 --> 00:19:39,267
THERE'S LIFE.
358
00:19:39,267 --> 00:19:41,833
COULD ENCELADUS
HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
359
00:19:41,833 --> 00:19:45,600
FOR SIMPLE ORGANISMS TO EXIST?
360
00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,400
ONCE CASSINI SAW THESE GEYSERS,
THE SCIENTISTS KNEW
361
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,200
THEY HAD FOUND SOMETHING
EXTREMELY WONDERFUL.
362
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,200
THEY ACTUALLY CHANGED
THE MISSION OF CASSINI ITSELF,
363
00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:55,800
CHANGED ITS TRAJECTORY.
364
00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,067
WE SENT THE CASSINI SPACECRAFT
TO FLY VERY, VERY CLOSE
365
00:19:59,067 --> 00:20:03,500
OVER THESE CRACKS WHERE
THE WATER WAS RUSHING OUT.
366
00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,800
Narrator: SCIENTISTS CLUNG
TO THE FAINT HOPE
367
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:09,567
THAT THE WATER WOULD CONTAIN
SALTS AND ORGANIC MOLECULES
368
00:20:09,567 --> 00:20:10,867
LIKE AMMONIA,
369
00:20:10,867 --> 00:20:15,200
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE
HERE ON EARTH.
370
00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:21,767
STUNNINGLY, CASSINI'S CENSORS
TASTED ALL OF THEM IN ABUNDANCE.
371
00:20:21,767 --> 00:20:24,600
McKay: IN THAT PLUME,
THERE'S ORGANIC MATERIAL.
372
00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,667
IT'S NOT WATER. IT'S A SOUP.
373
00:20:27,667 --> 00:20:29,167
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
374
00:20:29,167 --> 00:20:31,433
ALL THE MAIN REQUIREMENTS
FOR HABITABILITY,
375
00:20:31,433 --> 00:20:35,333
ENERGY SOURCE, LIQUID WATER,
SOURCE OF BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN
376
00:20:35,333 --> 00:20:37,700
AND AMMONIA, ORGANIC MATERIAL,
377
00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:40,033
AND THE SAMPLES ARE COMING UP
INTO SPACE.
378
00:20:40,033 --> 00:20:42,333
THERE'S A BIG SIGN --
FREE SAMPLES, TAKE ONE.
379
00:20:42,333 --> 00:20:44,600
THERE COULD BE LIFE
THAT COULD'VE EVOLVED THERE.
380
00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,833
NOW WE DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
381
00:20:46,833 --> 00:20:51,267
BUT THE CONDITIONS THERE
ARE AS GOOD THERE NOW
382
00:20:51,267 --> 00:20:53,600
AS THEY WERE ON EARTH
3 BILLION YEARS AGO
383
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,267
WHEN LIFE AROSE HERE.
384
00:20:55,267 --> 00:20:59,033
Narrator: THE SENSATIONAL
REALIZATION THAT ENCELADUS
385
00:20:59,033 --> 00:21:02,267
MAY HARBOR LIFE
HAS SPARKED INTENSE DEBATE
386
00:21:02,267 --> 00:21:04,700
ABOUT FUTURE MISSIONS
TO FIND IT,
387
00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:09,333
BECAUSE IT HAS A RIVAL FOR THOSE
PRECIOUS RESEARCH DOLLARS.
388
00:21:09,333 --> 00:21:14,133
SATURN'S LARGEST MOON, TITAN,
COULD ALSO BE HOME TO LIFE --
389
00:21:14,133 --> 00:21:16,333
BIZARRE LIFE.
390
00:21:16,333 --> 00:21:18,767
AND WE MAY HAVE
ALREADY FOUND IT.
391
00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,800
Narrator: MORE THAN 60 MOONS
ORBIT THE PLANET SATURN,
392
00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,567
BUT ONE DWARFS THEM ALL.
393
00:21:38,567 --> 00:21:43,133
TITAN IS A COLOSSUS,
BIGGER THAN THE PLANET MERCURY.
394
00:21:43,133 --> 00:21:47,967
A THICK ORANGE HAZE HIDES
ITS SURFACE FROM OUR TELESCOPES,
395
00:21:47,967 --> 00:21:51,100
AND WHEN THE CASSINI MISSION
FIRST APPEARED BENEATH
396
00:21:51,100 --> 00:21:55,067
TITAN'S ORANGE CLOAK,
IT REVEALED A WORLD WEIRDER
397
00:21:55,067 --> 00:21:57,533
THAN WE COULD
EVER HAVE IMAGINED.
398
00:21:57,533 --> 00:22:00,100
TITAN IS AN AMAZING PLACE.
399
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:02,233
AND OF ALL THE THINGS
GOING ON AROUND SATURN,
400
00:22:02,233 --> 00:22:05,833
TITAN MIGHT BE
THE MOST EXCITING OF ALL.
401
00:22:08,067 --> 00:22:11,833
Narrator: TITAN HAS MOUNTAINS
AND DESERTS, RIVERS AND LAKES.
402
00:22:11,833 --> 00:22:17,167
ONLY THE EARTH CAN MATCH IT
FOR GEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
403
00:22:17,167 --> 00:22:21,067
BUT HERE, WATER ICE
TAKES THE PLACE OF BEDROCK,
404
00:22:21,067 --> 00:22:24,100
FROZEN AT 300 DEGREES
BELOW ZERO.
405
00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:26,167
AND INSTEAD OF WATER,
406
00:22:26,167 --> 00:22:29,833
THE RIVERS ON TITAN
FLOW WITH METHANE.
407
00:22:29,833 --> 00:22:31,567
Thaller: THIS IS A PLACE
408
00:22:31,567 --> 00:22:34,400
WHERE IT ACTUALLY RAINS
LIQUID METHANE,
409
00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,067
LIQUID NATURAL GAS.
410
00:22:36,067 --> 00:22:39,933
THIS LIQUID IS FILLING UP
RIVERS AND LAKES.
411
00:22:39,933 --> 00:22:42,333
Plait: THIS MAKES TITAN
INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.
412
00:22:42,333 --> 00:22:44,767
IT'S ONLY THE SECOND WORLD
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
413
00:22:44,767 --> 00:22:48,067
WHERE WE KNOW
THERE'S LIQUID ON THE SURFACE.
414
00:22:51,333 --> 00:22:52,900
Narrator: AND LIKE EARTH,
415
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:56,533
TITAN HAS A THICK NITROGEN-RICH
ATMOSPHERE.
416
00:22:56,533 --> 00:22:58,667
BUT INSTEAD OF THE OXYGEN
WE BREATHE,
417
00:22:58,667 --> 00:23:02,333
TITAN'S AIR IS SPIKED
WITH CARBON-RICH MOLECULES
418
00:23:02,333 --> 00:23:06,433
THAT STAIN IT A DULL ORANGE.
419
00:23:06,433 --> 00:23:09,633
IT'S A SOUP OF METHANE
AND ETHANE AND PROPANE
420
00:23:09,633 --> 00:23:11,133
AND ACETYLENE.
421
00:23:11,133 --> 00:23:13,200
UH, THE LIST OF
ORGANIC MOLECULES IS LITERALLY
422
00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,500
HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS LONG
THAT WE'VE DETECTED THERE.
423
00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,700
Narrator:
TITAN'S COMPLEX COCKTAIL
424
00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:24,667
OF ATMOSPHERIC CHEMICALS
INTRIGUE SCIENTISTS.
425
00:23:24,667 --> 00:23:27,333
BUT IT ALSO PUZZLES THEM,
426
00:23:27,333 --> 00:23:33,367
ESPECIALLY METHANE GAS, WHICH
RAPIDLY DECAYS IN SUNLIGHT.
427
00:23:33,367 --> 00:23:35,800
SO EVEN A BILLION MILES
FROM THE SUN,
428
00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:40,267
TITAN'S THICK HAZE
SHOULD'VE LIFTED LONG AGO.
429
00:23:40,267 --> 00:23:44,267
A VAST SOURCE OF METHANE
MUST BE REPLENISHING
430
00:23:44,267 --> 00:23:46,400
THE ORANGE SMOG.
431
00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:47,667
BEFORE CASSINI,
432
00:23:47,667 --> 00:23:49,167
SCIENTISTS ASSUMED
THE WHOLE OF TITAN
433
00:23:49,167 --> 00:23:51,833
WAS COVERED
IN MASSIVE IMPACT CRATERS.
434
00:23:51,833 --> 00:23:55,067
PERHAPS CRATER LAKES
FILLED WITH LIQUID METHANE
435
00:23:55,067 --> 00:23:57,600
WERE EVAPORATING
INTO THE ATMOSPHERE,
436
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,433
SUPPLYING THE MISSING GAS.
437
00:24:01,433 --> 00:24:03,567
TO HELP PROVE THIS THEORY,
438
00:24:03,567 --> 00:24:07,567
CASSINI CARRIED A HITCHHIKER
ALL THE WAY TO SATURN.
439
00:24:07,567 --> 00:24:11,800
THE HUYGENS LANDER RELEASED
HIGH ABOVE TITAN'S EQUATOR
440
00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:17,167
PARACHUTED THROUGH THE CLOUDS,
SNAPPING PHOTOGRAPHS AS IT FELL.
441
00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:21,900
Plait: AS IT WENT
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE,
442
00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:23,233
IT TOOK A HUGE AMOUNT OF DATA
443
00:24:23,233 --> 00:24:27,133
AND THEN LANDED ON THE MOON
ITSELF AND TOOK PICTURES.
444
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:29,400
WHEN WE FIRST SAW
THOSE PICTURES,
445
00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,600
IT WAS LIFE-CHANGING.
446
00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,433
Narrator:
THERE WERE NO CRATERS.
447
00:24:35,433 --> 00:24:39,533
IT LOOKED LIKE FLOWING LIQUID
HAD ONCE SHAPED THE LANDSCAPE,
448
00:24:39,533 --> 00:24:43,733
BUT AT THE LANDING SITE
AND AS FAR AS HUYGENS COULD SEE,
449
00:24:43,733 --> 00:24:47,933
THAT LIQUID WAS LONG GONE.
450
00:24:47,933 --> 00:24:50,733
HUYGENS LANDED IN A SPOT
ALMOST IDENTICAL
451
00:24:50,733 --> 00:24:52,400
TO WHAT WE'RE STANDING ON
RIGHT NOW.
452
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,633
IF WE LOOK ALL AROUND,
453
00:24:54,633 --> 00:24:57,867
WE CAN SEE THIS BLEAK,
BARREN LANDSCAPE.
454
00:24:57,867 --> 00:24:59,667
WE SEE PEBBLES AND COBBLES
455
00:24:59,667 --> 00:25:01,333
THAT HAVE BEEN ROUNDED
AND SMOOTHED
456
00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:03,233
BECAUSE THEY'VE COME THROUGH
RIVER CHANNELS.
457
00:25:03,233 --> 00:25:05,600
WE SEE PLENTY OF THOSE
AT THE HUYGENS LANDING SITE.
458
00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,567
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE SEE LOTS OF SAND.
459
00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:14,833
Narrator: THE DESERT
HUYGENS LANDED IN IS HUGE.
460
00:25:14,833 --> 00:25:18,167
IT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY
AROUND TITAN'S EQUATOR...
461
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,967
WITH 300-FOOT TALL DUNES
SCULPTED BY THE WIND
462
00:25:24,967 --> 00:25:28,533
JUST AS THEY ARE ON EARTH.
463
00:25:28,533 --> 00:25:31,800
IF THE VAST CRATER LAKES
WEREN'T AT THE EQUATOR,
464
00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,200
THEY HAD TO BE AT TITAN'S POLES.
465
00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,233
CASSINI SCHEDULED A NUMBER
OF ADDITIONAL FLYBYS
466
00:25:38,233 --> 00:25:43,067
TO LOOK FOR ANY SIGNS OF LIQUID.
467
00:25:43,067 --> 00:25:44,067
ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS
ONBOARD CASSINI
468
00:25:44,067 --> 00:25:46,233
IS BASICALLY A RADAR GUN.
469
00:25:46,233 --> 00:25:49,667
IT SHOOTS RADAR WAVES AT TITAN,
AND THEY GET REFLECTED BACK.
470
00:25:49,667 --> 00:25:52,800
Narrator: AFTER TWO YEARS
OF HUNTING WITH THIS INSTRUMENT,
471
00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,267
SCIENTISTS FINALLY GOT
THE SIGNAL
472
00:25:55,267 --> 00:25:56,967
THEY WERE WAITING FOR.
473
00:25:56,967 --> 00:25:58,400
ONE OF THE THINGS IT FOUND
474
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,200
IS THAT NEAR
THE NORTH POLE OF TITAN
475
00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,967
WERE REGIONS
THAT WERE NOT REFLECTING RADAR,
476
00:26:02,967 --> 00:26:05,067
AND THAT SOUNDS A LOT
LIKE LIQUID.
477
00:26:05,067 --> 00:26:07,967
LIQUID ABSORBS THAT ENERGY
AND DOESN'T REFLECT IT BACK.
478
00:26:07,967 --> 00:26:11,733
LATER OBSERVATIONS CLINCHED IT.
479
00:26:11,733 --> 00:26:13,300
Radebaugh:
WHEN CASSINI FINALLY IMAGED
480
00:26:13,300 --> 00:26:15,800
THE NORTH POLAR REGIONS
OF TITAN,
481
00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,967
IT -- IT FINALLY SAW THESE LAKES
AND SEAS OF METHANE
482
00:26:17,967 --> 00:26:19,567
THAT WE'D BEEN LOOKING FOR,
483
00:26:19,567 --> 00:26:22,800
ONLY THEY WEREN'T CONTAINED IN
IMPACT CRATERS LIKE WE THOUGHT.
484
00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,067
INSTEAD THEY'RE CONTAINED
IN BIG LAKE BASINS
485
00:26:25,067 --> 00:26:26,833
THAT LOOK JUST LIKE
THEY DO ON EARTH.
486
00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,200
[ BIRDS CAWING ]
487
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,433
Narrator:
BASIN LAKES LIKE THIS ONE
488
00:26:34,433 --> 00:26:36,133
IN MONO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
489
00:26:36,133 --> 00:26:40,533
FORM IN THE DEPRESSIONS LEFTOVER
FROM TECTONIC ACTIVITY.
490
00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:42,933
THESE GEOLOGICAL FEATURES
ON TITAN
491
00:26:42,933 --> 00:26:45,833
COULD ONLY MEAN
ONE SHOCKING THING --
492
00:26:45,833 --> 00:26:50,733
THE MOON WAS ALIVE
WITH GEOLOGICAL ACTIVITY.
493
00:26:50,733 --> 00:26:53,233
Radebaugh: IF WE WERE SITTING
ON THE MARGINS OF KRAKEN MARE,
494
00:26:53,233 --> 00:26:56,667
WHICH IS THE LARGEST SEA
THAT WE SEE ON TITAN,
495
00:26:56,667 --> 00:26:58,533
THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE
SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR
496
00:26:58,533 --> 00:27:00,333
TO THIS LANDSCAPE.
497
00:27:00,333 --> 00:27:03,067
WE WOULD LOOK OUT ACROSS
A FAIRLY CALM SURFACE,
498
00:27:03,067 --> 00:27:05,633
WE THINK THE WINDS
ARE NOT VERY STRONG ON TITAN.
499
00:27:05,633 --> 00:27:09,167
AND SO WE'D HAVE THIS CALM LAKE
OF METHANE AND ETHANE.
500
00:27:09,167 --> 00:27:11,867
AND IN THE DISTANCE WE WOULD SEE
HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
501
00:27:11,867 --> 00:27:13,400
THAT HAVE FORMED ON TITAN
502
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,133
PROBABLY THROUGH
TECTONIC PROCESSES
503
00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:17,467
IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT
MOUNTAINS ARE BUILT ON EARTH.
504
00:27:17,467 --> 00:27:21,300
Narrator:
EXCEPT ON TITAN, IT'S SO COLD,
505
00:27:21,300 --> 00:27:25,333
THE VOLCANOES SPEW WATER,
NOT LAVA.
506
00:27:25,333 --> 00:27:32,300
AND THE MOUNTAINS
AND LAKE BASINS ARE SOLID ICE.
507
00:27:32,300 --> 00:27:36,400
AT FIRST, SCIENTISTS THOUGHT
THAT METHANE EVAPORATING
508
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,567
FROM THESE LAKES GENERATED
TITAN'S SMOG.
509
00:27:40,567 --> 00:27:44,233
BUT WHEN CASSINI FLEW BY
TO MEASURE THE LAKES AGAIN,
510
00:27:44,233 --> 00:27:46,500
THE LEVELS APPEAR TO BE
THE SAME.
511
00:27:46,500 --> 00:27:50,467
THE LAKES DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
THEY WERE EVAPORATING AT ALL.
512
00:27:50,467 --> 00:27:52,333
SCIENTISTS WERE STUMPED.
513
00:27:52,333 --> 00:27:54,433
EITHER THE LAKES
WEREN'T THE SOURCE
514
00:27:54,433 --> 00:27:56,367
OF ATMOSPHERIC METHANE
515
00:27:56,367 --> 00:28:00,133
OR THEY WERE SOMEHOW
BEING REFILLED.
516
00:28:00,133 --> 00:28:03,167
PLANETARY GEOLOGIST,
JANI RADEBAUGH,
517
00:28:03,167 --> 00:28:05,967
BELIEVES A CRUCIAL CLUE
TO THE MISSING METHANE
518
00:28:05,967 --> 00:28:09,567
LIES IN THE FORMATION
OF ROCKY DEPOSITS CALLED TUFA.
519
00:28:09,567 --> 00:28:12,067
[ WATER BUBBLING ]
520
00:28:12,067 --> 00:28:14,333
Narrator:
THEY'RE FOUND HERE AT MONO LAKE,
521
00:28:14,333 --> 00:28:17,667
WHERE CLEAN SPRING WATER
RISES UP FROM THE GROUND
522
00:28:17,667 --> 00:28:22,500
INTO THE MINERAL-RICH LAKE
WHERE THE TWO WATER TYPES REACT.
523
00:28:26,333 --> 00:28:29,933
THIS IS VERY EXCITING
BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A CLUE
524
00:28:29,933 --> 00:28:31,467
TO THE MISSING METHANE ON TITAN.
525
00:28:31,467 --> 00:28:35,600
SO IT'S ROCK THAT HAS BEEN
FORMED FROM THE CHEMICALS
526
00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,200
CONTAINED IN TWO FLUIDS.
527
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,733
THERE IS WATER THAT'S EMERGING
AT THE MARGIN OF THE LAKE.
528
00:28:40,733 --> 00:28:42,133
IT'S INTERACTING
WITH THE LAKE WATER
529
00:28:42,133 --> 00:28:44,233
WHICH HAS
A VERY DIFFERENT CHEMISTRY
530
00:28:44,233 --> 00:28:46,733
AND ALL OF THE CHEMICALS
THAT ARE DISSOLVED
531
00:28:46,733 --> 00:28:49,833
COMBINE WITH EACH OTHER
AND CREATE THIS ROCK.
532
00:28:49,833 --> 00:28:53,467
Narrator: RADAR IMAGES
OF TITAN'S LARGEST LAKE
533
00:28:53,467 --> 00:28:56,233
REVEAL ROCKY STRUCTURES
AROUND THE MARGINS
534
00:28:56,233 --> 00:29:00,367
THAT LOOK JUST LIKE
MONO LAKE'S TUFA.
535
00:29:00,367 --> 00:29:03,167
TITAN'S TUFA,
IF THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE,
536
00:29:03,167 --> 00:29:06,533
COULD BE EVIDENCE OF A LAYER
OF LIQUID METHANE
537
00:29:06,533 --> 00:29:09,233
THAT SITS
ABOVE TITAN'S FROZEN CORE
538
00:29:09,233 --> 00:29:12,900
AND RISES AND SPRINGS
TO FEED ITS LAKES
539
00:29:12,900 --> 00:29:16,767
JUST LIKE SPRING WATER
RISES TO FEED MONO LAKE.
540
00:29:16,767 --> 00:29:18,833
Radebaugh: SO WHEN
THOSE METHANE SPRINGS COME IN,
541
00:29:18,833 --> 00:29:23,200
THEY INTERACT WITH THE LAKES
AND A ROCK PRECIPITATES OUT.
542
00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,667
SO WE SEE THESE ORGANIC ROCKS
543
00:29:25,667 --> 00:29:27,967
DOTTING THE MARGINS
OF THE LAKES.
544
00:29:27,967 --> 00:29:29,700
AND ALMOST CERTAINLY
THERE'S ALSO METHANE
545
00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:31,733
JUST BUBBLING UP AND EMERGING
546
00:29:31,733 --> 00:29:33,400
AT THE MARGINS OF THE LAKE
AS WELL.
547
00:29:35,767 --> 00:29:37,200
Narrator: IF JANI IS RIGHT,
548
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:41,767
TITAN'S LAKES DO EVAPORATE,
FEEDING THE ATMOSPHERIC SMOG,
549
00:29:41,767 --> 00:29:43,600
BUT THEY'RE CONSTANTLY
REPLENISHED
550
00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:48,633
BY UNDERGROUND METHANE SPRINGS
REPLACING THE LOST FLUID.
551
00:29:52,533 --> 00:29:55,467
TITAN IS NO DEAD WORLD.
552
00:29:55,467 --> 00:30:01,000
IT'S ALIVE WITH ACTIVE GEOLOGY
AND COMPLEX CHEMISTRY.
553
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,700
AND IT MIGHT BE ALIVE
WITH SOMETHING ELSE --
554
00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:05,933
SOMETHING REALLY BIG.
555
00:30:19,467 --> 00:30:21,800
Narrator: WE USED TO THINK
THAT SATURN WAS TOO FAR
556
00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:28,333
FROM THE SUN AND TOO COLD TO
PLAY HOST TO ANYTHING DRAMATIC.
557
00:30:28,333 --> 00:30:32,267
WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
MORE WRONG.
558
00:30:32,267 --> 00:30:35,800
THE PLANET BOILS AND BANGS
WITH ACTIVE WEATHER --
559
00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:39,300
STORMS, LIGHTNING, AND AURORAS.
560
00:30:39,300 --> 00:30:42,900
THE RINGS CONSTANTLY EVOLVE.
561
00:30:45,833 --> 00:30:50,433
AND THE MOONS AREN'T THE FROZEN
SNOWBALLS WE EXPECTED.
562
00:30:50,433 --> 00:30:56,000
THEY'RE SHAPED BY ACTIVE GEOLOGY
WITH WARM WATER GEYSERS
563
00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:00,133
AND LAKES OF LIQUID METHANE.
564
00:31:00,133 --> 00:31:04,633
AND NOW
ON SATURN'S LARGEST MOON, TITAN,
565
00:31:04,633 --> 00:31:10,467
SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE UNCOVERED
THE FIRST TANGIBLE EVIDENCE...
566
00:31:10,467 --> 00:31:14,600
OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE.
567
00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:16,400
McKay:
OUR SEARCH FOR LIFE HAS BEEN
568
00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,067
FOCUSED ON LIQUID WATER --
FOLLOW THE WATER.
569
00:31:19,067 --> 00:31:20,833
I THINK IT'S A GOOD STRATEGY.
570
00:31:20,833 --> 00:31:23,233
BUT I THINK WE ARE LIMITING
OURSELVES IF WE THINK THAT
571
00:31:23,233 --> 00:31:25,500
THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE TO LOOK.
572
00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:28,367
I THINK LIQUIDS MAY BE
INTERESTING
573
00:31:28,367 --> 00:31:30,533
EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WATER.
574
00:31:32,300 --> 00:31:34,333
Narrator:
ASTROBIOLOGIST, CHRIS McKAY,
575
00:31:34,333 --> 00:31:36,367
BELIEVES THAT LIFE ON TITAN
576
00:31:36,367 --> 00:31:39,233
MAY HAVE EVOLVED TO LIVE
IN LIQUID METHANE,
577
00:31:39,233 --> 00:31:42,100
NOT LIQUID WATER.
578
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:43,733
BUT TITAN IS SO COLD,
579
00:31:43,733 --> 00:31:48,067
SIMPLE LIFE WOULD PLAY BY
A VERY DIFFERENT SET OF RULES
580
00:31:48,067 --> 00:31:51,300
WHERE BIGGER IS BETTER.
581
00:31:51,300 --> 00:31:52,500
McKay:
WHEN WE GO TO OTHER WORLDS,
582
00:31:52,500 --> 00:31:53,900
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING
FOR BACTERIA,
583
00:31:53,900 --> 00:31:56,200
AND WE ASSUME THAT
THEY'RE GONNA BE VERY SMALL.
584
00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,833
BUT YOU COULD ASK THE QUESTION,
WHY ARE BACTERIA SO SMALL?
585
00:31:59,833 --> 00:32:04,500
WELL, I THINK THE ANSWER IS
BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN WATER.
586
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:08,600
Narrator: ON EARTH,
BACTERIA DON'T NEED TO GROW BIG
587
00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,300
IN ORDER TO THRIVE.
588
00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:13,400
WATER DISSOLVES ALMOST
EVERYTHING,
589
00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,133
SO IT PROVIDES
A NUTRIENT-RICH ENVIRONMENT
590
00:32:16,133 --> 00:32:20,767
WHERE SMALL AND SIMPLE
BRING SUCCESS.
591
00:32:20,767 --> 00:32:23,800
YOU GO TO TITAN WHERE
THE LIQUID IS LIQUID METHANE,
592
00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:25,933
LIQUID ETHANE,
VERY DIFFERENT FROM WATER.
593
00:32:25,933 --> 00:32:28,167
THERE'S NO REASON AN ORGANISM
SHOULD BE SMALL.
594
00:32:28,167 --> 00:32:30,567
IN FACT, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
IT SHOULD BE HUGE.
595
00:32:30,567 --> 00:32:35,267
Narrator: McKAY ENVISIONS
ENORMOUS SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISMS
596
00:32:35,267 --> 00:32:39,633
AROUND TITAN'S SHORES,
LOOKING LIKE SHEETS OF PAPER.
597
00:32:39,633 --> 00:32:42,200
THEIR HUGE SURFACE AREA
WOULD MAXIMIZE
598
00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:47,167
THE UPTAKE OF FOOD FROM THE
NUTRIENT-POOR LIQUID METHANE.
599
00:32:47,167 --> 00:32:48,833
I PREDICT
IF THERE'S LIFE ON TITAN
600
00:32:48,833 --> 00:32:49,967
LIVING IN LIQUID METHANE,
601
00:32:49,967 --> 00:32:51,500
YOU WON'T NEED A MICROSCOPE
TO SEE IT.
602
00:32:51,500 --> 00:32:53,100
YOU'LL NEED A YARDSTICK.
603
00:32:57,067 --> 00:33:00,633
Narrator: WHEN CASSINI RELEASED
THE HUYGENS PROBE
604
00:33:00,633 --> 00:33:03,200
HIGH ABOVE THE CLOUD TOPS
OF TITAN,
605
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,133
McKAY REALIZED
HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
606
00:33:06,133 --> 00:33:09,933
TO BOLSTER HIS THEORIES
OF LIFE ON THE SURFACE.
607
00:33:09,933 --> 00:33:14,433
HIS METHANE-LOVING LIFE-FORMS
MUST BE EATING TO SURVIVE.
608
00:33:14,433 --> 00:33:16,867
PERHAPS
HUYGENS' DELICATE SENSORS
609
00:33:16,867 --> 00:33:21,700
WOULD PICK UP EVIDENCE
OF GROUND LEVEL FEASTING.
610
00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:24,333
AS HUYGENS WAS ON ITS WAY
TO TITAN,
611
00:33:24,333 --> 00:33:27,533
I'M SITTING IN A HOTEL ROOM
WRITING UP A PAPER SAYING,
612
00:33:27,533 --> 00:33:29,533
HEY, WHAT IF THERE'S LIFE
ON TITAN?
613
00:33:29,533 --> 00:33:31,900
WHAT WOULD IT EAT?
AND HOW WOULD WE DETECT IT?
614
00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:34,133
HOW WOULD THIS PROBE
FLYING THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE
615
00:33:34,133 --> 00:33:35,633
DETECT IT?
616
00:33:35,633 --> 00:33:38,100
LITERALLY THE DAY
HUYGENS LANDED,
617
00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:40,700
I SUBMITTED THIS PAPER
TO THE JOURNAL,
618
00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:43,367
PREDICTING THAT
IF THERE WAS LIFE ON TITAN,
619
00:33:43,367 --> 00:33:45,567
IT WOULD EAT HYDROGEN
AND THE PROBE
620
00:33:45,567 --> 00:33:48,067
WOULD BE ABLE TO MEASURE
THIS DEPLETION OF HYDROGEN.
621
00:33:48,067 --> 00:33:52,300
SO LET'S LOOK FOR HYDROGEN.
622
00:33:52,300 --> 00:33:55,400
Narrator: HUYGENS PARACHUTES
THROUGH TITAN'S ATMOSPHERE,
623
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,967
SAMPLING THE GASES AS IT GOES.
624
00:33:57,967 --> 00:34:00,633
THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE
HAS PLENTY OF HYDROGEN,
625
00:34:00,633 --> 00:34:02,200
SO DO THE MIDDLE LAYERS,
626
00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:07,600
BUT AT GROUND LEVEL,
THERE'S A SURPRISE RESULT --
627
00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,133
AN APPARENTLY DROP-OFF
IN THE CONCENTRATION
628
00:34:10,133 --> 00:34:12,433
OF HYDROGEN IN THE AIR.
629
00:34:12,433 --> 00:34:17,667
SOMETHING OR PERHAPS SOMEONE
WAS USING IT UP.
630
00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:23,733
WHEN I HEARD A REPORT THAT THERE
WAS A DEPLETION OF HYDROGEN,
631
00:34:23,733 --> 00:34:26,800
I -- MY HEART RACED
'CAUSE I THOUGHT,
632
00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,400
IF THIS IS --
IF THIS IS HARD DATA
633
00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,133
FOR DEPLETION OF HYDROGEN,
634
00:34:30,133 --> 00:34:33,267
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OTHER WAY
BESIDES BIOLOGY TO EXPLAIN THAT.
635
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:37,067
IT'S EXCITING IN THAT
IT'S CONSISTENT
636
00:34:37,067 --> 00:34:39,200
WITH WHAT WE PREDICTED,
637
00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:41,133
BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS
TO BE CONFIRMED
638
00:34:41,133 --> 00:34:43,967
BY OTHER CALCULATIONS,
BY DIRECT MEASUREMENTS,
639
00:34:43,967 --> 00:34:46,933
AND SO ON.
640
00:34:46,933 --> 00:34:50,900
Narrator: IF FUTURE MISSIONS
CAN CONFIRM METHANE-BASED LIFE
641
00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:54,600
ON TITAN, IT WILL SURELY BE
THE GREATEST DISCOVERY
642
00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:56,167
IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE.
643
00:34:56,167 --> 00:35:01,367
BECAUSE THIS LOW TEMPERATURE
BIOLOGY MUST HAVE ARISEN
644
00:35:01,367 --> 00:35:06,600
INDEPENDENTLY OF LIFE ON EARTH.
645
00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,200
IF WE DISCOVER LIFE,
LET'S SAY ON MARS,
646
00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,367
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
THE POSSIBILITY
647
00:35:12,367 --> 00:35:14,533
THAT ROCKS AND ICE
AND BITS OF MATERIAL
648
00:35:14,533 --> 00:35:16,200
COULD'VE BEEN EXCHANGED.
649
00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,133
BUT THE CHANCES OF THAT
HAPPENING FROM EARTH
650
00:35:18,133 --> 00:35:21,533
ALL THE WAY TO SATURN
ARE NEXT TO NOTHING.
651
00:35:21,533 --> 00:35:24,633
IF WE FIND A SECOND EXAMPLE
OF LIFE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
652
00:35:24,633 --> 00:35:26,567
ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE
LIKE TITAN
653
00:35:26,567 --> 00:35:30,333
WHICH IS SO ALIEN TO THE EARTH,
SO COLD AND SO DIFFERENT,
654
00:35:30,333 --> 00:35:33,767
THAT TELLS US SOMETHING
EXCRUCIATINGLY IMPORTANT.
655
00:35:33,767 --> 00:35:37,567
AND THAT IS THAT LIFE MUST BE
EVERYWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
656
00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,233
Narrator: ROBOTIC MISSIONS
OFFER TANTALIZING HINTS
657
00:35:48,233 --> 00:35:51,767
OF SIMPLE LIFE
ON ENCELADUS AND TITAN.
658
00:35:51,767 --> 00:35:56,633
BUT IS SATURN'S REALM ONLY FIT
FOR GIANT BACTERIA
659
00:35:56,633 --> 00:36:02,300
OR IS IT A PLACE WE HUMANS
COULD ONE DAY CALL HOME?
660
00:36:16,233 --> 00:36:20,767
Narrator: SATURN ORBITS
A BILLION MILES FROM THE SUN.
661
00:36:20,767 --> 00:36:24,300
SO FAR OUT IT TAKES AN HOUR
FOR ITS REFLECTED LIGHT
662
00:36:24,300 --> 00:36:28,200
TO REACH OUR EYES.
663
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:29,967
YET THE FUTURE OF
OUR CIVILIZATION
664
00:36:29,967 --> 00:36:34,167
MAY REST ON HUMANS
ONE DAY COLONIZING THE MOONS
665
00:36:34,167 --> 00:36:37,867
SURROUNDING THIS
GAS GIANT PLANET.
666
00:36:37,867 --> 00:36:40,867
IT WON'T BE EASY,
BUT SATURN HAS SOMETHING
667
00:36:40,867 --> 00:36:43,267
WORTH THE TROUBLE --
668
00:36:43,267 --> 00:36:47,400
A MAGICAL SOURCE OF FUEL
CALLED HELIUM-3
669
00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:50,533
THAT CAN SATISFY OUR INCREASING
HUNGER FOR ENERGY
670
00:36:50,533 --> 00:36:54,333
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.
671
00:36:54,333 --> 00:36:56,800
SOME FUTURISTS BELIEVE
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE
672
00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:59,400
A COMMERCIAL INCENTIVE
TO GOING TO SATURN.
673
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:03,633
NOT JUST TO MINE THE MINERALS
OF THE MOONS OF SATURN,
674
00:37:03,633 --> 00:37:09,067
BUT ALSO TO HARVEST FUEL
IN THE FORM OF HELIUM-3.
675
00:37:09,067 --> 00:37:11,467
HELIUM-3 IS A RARE SUBSTANCE
THAT WE CAN USE
676
00:37:11,467 --> 00:37:16,333
IN FUSION ENGINES TO PROVIDE
PERHAPS UNLIMITED ENERGY.
677
00:37:16,333 --> 00:37:21,067
Narrator: HELIUM-3 MAY VERY WELL
REPLACE OIL AS THE FUEL
678
00:37:21,067 --> 00:37:24,133
TO TAKE US
INTO THE CENTURIES TO COME.
679
00:37:24,133 --> 00:37:26,933
WITH ITS SINGLE NEUTRON
AND TWIN PROTONS,
680
00:37:26,933 --> 00:37:31,133
HELIUM-3 IS UNIQUELY SUITED
TO A FORM OF ENERGY PRODUCTION
681
00:37:31,133 --> 00:37:32,967
CALLED FUSION --
682
00:37:32,967 --> 00:37:37,700
THE SAME PROCESS THAT BURNS
IN THE HEART OF A STAR.
683
00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:39,533
WHEN TWO NUCLEI
ARE CRUSHED TOGETHER
684
00:37:39,533 --> 00:37:42,300
UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE,
THEY FUSE,
685
00:37:42,300 --> 00:37:48,167
CREATING A NEW HEAVIER ATOM
AND A BURST OF PURE ENERGY.
686
00:37:48,167 --> 00:37:52,433
BEST OF ALL,
HELIUM-3 DOESN'T RELEASE
687
00:37:52,433 --> 00:37:54,433
ANY OF THE HARMFUL RADIATION
688
00:37:54,433 --> 00:37:58,067
ASSOCIATED
WITH OTHER FUSION FUELS.
689
00:37:58,067 --> 00:38:00,733
THE ONLY TROUBLE
WITH HELIUM-3 --
690
00:38:00,733 --> 00:38:04,700
THERE'S PRECIOUS LITTLE
TO BE FOUND ON EARTH.
691
00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:07,233
NOW YOU COULD FIND SOME
HELIUM-3 ON THE MOON,
692
00:38:07,233 --> 00:38:10,600
BUT THE MAJOR SUPPLIES
OF HELIUM-3 IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
693
00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:13,233
ARE LOCATED IN THE ATMOSPHERES
OF THE GIANT PLANETS.
694
00:38:13,233 --> 00:38:16,333
I CALL THE GAS GIANTS
695
00:38:16,333 --> 00:38:18,133
"THE PERSIAN GULF
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM"
696
00:38:18,133 --> 00:38:21,867
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LOCATION
OF ITS PRIMARY ENERGY RESOURCES
697
00:38:21,867 --> 00:38:24,933
OUTSIDE OF THE SUN.
698
00:38:24,933 --> 00:38:26,100
Narrator:
THE GAS GIANTS PROVIDE
699
00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:30,233
A NEAR INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY
OF HELIUM-3.
700
00:38:30,233 --> 00:38:33,800
BUT HOW COULD WE EXTRACT IT?
701
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,600
JUPITER HAS THE MOST.
702
00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,900
BUT THE PLANET'S IMMENSE GRAVITY
AND DANGEROUS RADIATION BELTS
703
00:38:38,900 --> 00:38:43,567
MAKE IT A NO-GO FOR MINING.
704
00:38:43,567 --> 00:38:48,067
NEPTUNE AND URANUS ARE WAY
TOO FAR AWAY TO BE PRACTICAL.
705
00:38:48,067 --> 00:38:51,700
THAT LEAVES SATURN
WITH RELATIVELY LOW GRAVITY
706
00:38:51,700 --> 00:38:53,667
FOR SUCH A BIG PLANET.
707
00:38:53,667 --> 00:38:59,433
AND FAR LOWER LEVELS OF DEADLY
RADIATION THAN AROUND JUPITER.
708
00:38:59,433 --> 00:39:02,733
IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FUTURE
HUMAN ECONOMY BASED ON
709
00:39:02,733 --> 00:39:05,333
USING CONTROLLED FUSION
AND HELIUM-3,
710
00:39:05,333 --> 00:39:08,067
SATURN IS THE DESTINATION
OF CHOICE.
711
00:39:08,067 --> 00:39:13,400
Narrator: FUTURISTS ENVISION
WINGED DRONES FLYING THROUGH
712
00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:19,667
THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE OF SATURN,
SCOOPING UP GASES.
713
00:39:19,667 --> 00:39:23,433
BUT WHERE TO PROCESS
THIS SUPER FUEL?
714
00:39:23,433 --> 00:39:28,567
THE IDEAL BASE OF OPERATIONS
WOULD CLEARLY BE TITAN.
715
00:39:30,767 --> 00:39:33,233
WITH GRAVITY AS GENTLE
AS OUR MOONS
716
00:39:33,233 --> 00:39:35,333
AND A THICK EARTH-LIKE
ATMOSPHERE,
717
00:39:35,333 --> 00:39:40,667
TITAN IS SURPRISINGLY SUITABLE
FOR A HUMAN OUTPOST.
718
00:39:40,667 --> 00:39:43,067
Zubrin: WE COULD HAVE HUGE DOME
SETTLEMENTS ON TITAN.
719
00:39:43,067 --> 00:39:45,467
THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE
STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD PRESSURE.
720
00:39:45,467 --> 00:39:47,667
THEY COULD JUST BE THIN,
INFLATABLE MEMBRANES.
721
00:39:47,667 --> 00:39:50,633
YOU COULD HAVE DOME CITIES
LIKE YOU SEE IN SCIENCE FICTION
722
00:39:50,633 --> 00:39:53,967
WHICH ARE REALLY NOT POSSIBLE
IN PLACES LIKE THE MOON.
723
00:39:53,967 --> 00:39:56,800
Narrator: WALKING OUT
ONTO THE SURFACE OF TITAN
724
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,267
WOULD BE MUCH EASIER
THAN ON THE MOON OR ON MARS.
725
00:40:00,267 --> 00:40:02,200
THE PRESSURE ON TITAN
IS KIND OF NICE.
726
00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:05,100
IT'S 1 1/2 TIMES EARTH PRESSURE.
727
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:07,100
YOU WOULD NEED A SOURCE
OF OXYGEN.
728
00:40:07,100 --> 00:40:09,000
AND YOU NEED A VERY WARM COAT.
729
00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,867
BUT IT WOULDN'T FEEL AS COLD
AS YOU MIGHT THINK
730
00:40:12,867 --> 00:40:18,400
BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERE IS CALM
AND THERE'S NOT STRONG WIND.
731
00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,367
I THINK A COAT LIKE YOU MIGHT
WEAR IN ANTARCTICA
732
00:40:20,367 --> 00:40:21,800
MIGHT BE ADEQUATE.
733
00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:24,533
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE SOMEBODY
STEPPING OUT OF THE SPACESHIP,
734
00:40:24,533 --> 00:40:27,767
HAVING A PARKA ON, A MASK,
LIKE A S.C.U.B.A. MASK
735
00:40:27,767 --> 00:40:29,467
TO PROVIDE OXYGEN,
736
00:40:29,467 --> 00:40:31,567
AND LITERALLY WALKING OUT
ON THE SURFACE.
737
00:40:31,567 --> 00:40:36,100
Narrator: TITAN'S LOW GRAVITY
AND DENSE ATMOSPHERE
738
00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:40,367
COULD EVEN SEND US SOARING
FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
739
00:40:40,367 --> 00:40:41,867
LET'S SAY YOU HAD, YOU KNOW,
740
00:40:41,867 --> 00:40:43,600
IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A WING ON YOUR ARM,
741
00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:45,067
AND YOU STARTED TO FLAP
YOUR ARMS.
742
00:40:45,067 --> 00:40:47,100
REMEMBER IT'S ALMOST LIKE
YOU'RE -- YOU'RE ON THE MOON,
743
00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:48,667
BUT WITH A THICK ATMOSPHERE.
744
00:40:48,667 --> 00:40:50,400
AND YOU'D REALLY BE ABLE
TO LIFT YOURSELF
745
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:52,633
OFF THE SURFACE, MAYBE FLY,
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
746
00:40:57,567 --> 00:40:59,867
Narrator: WHEN THE HELIUM-3
TRADE ROUTE HAS OPENED
747
00:40:59,867 --> 00:41:03,100
AND THE EARTH BECOMES
A FUSION ECONOMY,
748
00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:04,900
A NEW GENERATION OF ROCKETS
749
00:41:04,900 --> 00:41:08,067
WILL OPEN UP INTERPLANETARY
TRAVEL TO EVERYONE,
750
00:41:08,067 --> 00:41:13,167
TAKING HUMANS
TO MARS AND JUPITER,
751
00:41:13,167 --> 00:41:16,067
NOT IN YEARS, BUT IN MONTHS.
752
00:41:18,067 --> 00:41:22,200
AND HELIUM-3 MIGHT EVEN POWER
ADVENTURE TOURISM
753
00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:24,533
TO SATURN ITSELF.
754
00:41:24,533 --> 00:41:25,967
Plait: YOU CAN IMAGINE
IN A HUNDRED YEARS
755
00:41:25,967 --> 00:41:28,067
WHEN SPACE TRAVEL IS EASY
756
00:41:28,067 --> 00:41:29,833
AND THERE WILL BE HOTELS
ORBITING THE MOON AND MARS
757
00:41:29,833 --> 00:41:31,933
AND EVERYTHING,
WHAT WOULD BE THE ONE?
758
00:41:31,933 --> 00:41:34,733
WHAT WOULD BE THE PLACE,
RIGHT, TO GO?
759
00:41:34,733 --> 00:41:36,167
IT WOULD BE SATURN.
760
00:41:40,467 --> 00:41:43,933
Porco: I WOULD HOPE ONE DAY THAT
THERE IS SUCH A THING
761
00:41:43,933 --> 00:41:48,233
AS SPACE TOURISM AND PEOPLE CAN
VISIT PLACES LIKE ENCELADUS.
762
00:41:48,233 --> 00:41:49,367
IT SHOULD BE CALLED
763
00:41:49,367 --> 00:41:51,167
THE ENCELADUS INTERPLANETARY
GEYSER PARK
764
00:41:51,167 --> 00:41:54,267
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A PHENOMENAL
PLACE TO JUST GO VISIT.
765
00:41:57,833 --> 00:42:00,467
STANDING ON ENCELADUS
WOULD BE AN AMAZING SIGHT.
766
00:42:00,467 --> 00:42:03,167
ALL OF THIS FROST CONDENSING
BACK OUT ON THE SURFACE
767
00:42:03,167 --> 00:42:05,333
MAKES AN INCREDIBLY
BRILLIANT WHITE.
768
00:42:05,333 --> 00:42:07,567
IT'S GOT SOME OF THE BEST POWDER
SNOW FOR SKIING ANYWHERE
769
00:42:07,567 --> 00:42:08,833
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
770
00:42:13,833 --> 00:42:15,833
Plait: YOU COULD GET
CLOSE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY
771
00:42:15,833 --> 00:42:18,300
SEE THE INDIVIDUAL RINGS,
772
00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:21,067
MAYBE EVEN SEE THE LITTLE MOONS
IN THE GAPS SCULPTING
773
00:42:21,067 --> 00:42:22,967
AND PULLING AND PUSHING
AND PRODDING,
774
00:42:22,967 --> 00:42:26,533
SHEPHERDING
THOSE RING PARTICLES AROUND.
775
00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:28,167
YOU COULD GO BACK
OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
776
00:42:28,167 --> 00:42:31,533
AND IT WOULD ALWAYS BE ALIEN
AND EXOTIC AND EXCITING.
777
00:42:35,267 --> 00:42:39,733
Narrator: FROM A COLD, DEAD
JEWEL IN OUR TELESCOPES
778
00:42:39,733 --> 00:42:43,967
TO A PLACE ALIVE
WITH MAGIC AND MAYHEM --
779
00:42:43,967 --> 00:42:47,533
SATURN AND ITS WORLDS
HAVE COME ALIVE
780
00:42:47,533 --> 00:42:50,967
AND MAY HARBOR LIFE ITSELF.
781
00:42:50,967 --> 00:42:55,633
SOMEDAY SOON, THIS PLANET
COULD REMAKE OUR UNIVERSE,
782
00:42:55,633 --> 00:43:00,067
AND NOTHING WILL EVER
BE THE SAME.
63028
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