1
00:00:01,635 --> 00:00:03,602
Narrator: A GROWING NUMBER
OF PHYSICISTS ARE REACHING
2
00:00:03,604 --> 00:00:06,972
AN ASTONISHING CONCLUSION --
3
00:00:06,974 --> 00:00:10,943
THAT ARE UNIVERSE IS A HOLOGRAM,
4
00:00:10,945 --> 00:00:13,812
AND OUR TRUE LIVES PLAY OUT
ON A FLAT BUBBLE
5
00:00:13,814 --> 00:00:16,515
THAT SURROUNDS SPACE AND TIME.
6
00:00:18,552 --> 00:00:22,521
NOW WE MAY FINALLY BE GLIMPSING
THAT NEXT REVOLUTION IN PHYSICS.
7
00:00:22,523 --> 00:00:25,657
Narrator:
TODAY, PIONEERING TECHNOLOGY
8
00:00:25,659 --> 00:00:28,527
IS TAKING THESE IDEAS
OFF THE BLACKBOARD
9
00:00:28,529 --> 00:00:31,363
AND TESTING THEM
IN THE REAL WORLD.
10
00:00:31,365 --> 00:00:35,234
WHAT IF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
HAD, KIND OF, GLITCHES,
11
00:00:35,236 --> 00:00:38,404
AND THOSE GLITCHES
COULD BE OUR OBSERVABLES?
12
00:00:38,406 --> 00:00:40,205
Narrator: AS SCIENTISTS PUT
13
00:00:40,207 --> 00:00:43,208
THE WEIRDEST IDEAS IN PHYSICS
TO THE TEST...
14
00:00:43,210 --> 00:00:46,945
Greene: THAT WOULD BE ONE OF
THE MOST SPECTACULAR DISCOVERIES
15
00:00:46,947 --> 00:00:49,648
THAT OUR SPECIES
HAS EVER ACCOMPLISHED.
16
00:00:49,650 --> 00:00:52,885
...THEIR QUEST TAKES THEM TO
PLACES THAT BEND REALITY
17
00:00:52,887 --> 00:00:55,254
TO BREAKING POINTS,
18
00:00:55,256 --> 00:00:58,257
PROBING THE FIRST SECONDS
OF THE BIG BANG,
19
00:00:58,259 --> 00:01:00,059
AND HUNTING FOR THE GLITCHES
20
00:01:00,061 --> 00:01:03,829
THAT COULD REVEAL
WE'RE ALL JUST HOLOGRAMS.
21
00:01:03,831 --> 00:01:06,632
WE'RE ON THE VERGE
OF UNLOCKING THE SECRETS
22
00:01:06,634 --> 00:01:09,034
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE,
23
00:01:09,036 --> 00:01:14,073
A THEORY THAT COULD CHANGE
THE WAY WE PERCEIVE EVERYTHING.
24
00:01:14,075 --> 00:01:17,076
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
25
00:01:17,078 --> 00:01:20,079
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
26
00:01:20,081 --> 00:01:26,718
♪
27
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,487
SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD
28
00:01:28,489 --> 00:01:33,225
ARE RACING TO ANSWER
AND UNUSUAL QUESTION...
29
00:01:33,227 --> 00:01:36,995
ARE WE LIVING IN A HOLOGRAM?
30
00:01:36,997 --> 00:01:40,899
THE WORLD AROUND US LOOKS
AND FEEL REAL,
31
00:01:40,901 --> 00:01:45,637
BUT THE COSMOS COULD BE PLAYING
AN ASTONISHING TRICK ON US.
32
00:01:45,639 --> 00:01:46,872
I THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE
IS FAMILIAR
33
00:01:46,874 --> 00:01:48,173
WITH THE IDEA OF A HOLOGRAM.
34
00:01:48,175 --> 00:01:49,942
WE EVEN HAVE THEM
ON OUR CREDIT CARDS.
35
00:01:49,944 --> 00:01:52,311
AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE
WHEN YOU LOOK INTO A HOLOGRAM
36
00:01:52,313 --> 00:01:53,579
IS 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE,
37
00:01:53,581 --> 00:01:55,380
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS
TO HAVE VOLUME.
38
00:01:55,382 --> 00:01:57,950
BUT A HOLOGRAM ITSELF IS JUST
2-DIMENSIONAL.
39
00:01:57,952 --> 00:02:00,152
IT'S JUST A SHEET
OF LITTLE FILM.
40
00:02:00,154 --> 00:02:02,955
Narrator:
THE IDEA SOUNDS CRAZY AT FIRST,
41
00:02:02,957 --> 00:02:04,890
BUT AS PHYSICISTS DIG DEEPER
42
00:02:04,892 --> 00:02:08,560
INTO THE MATH
THAT DESCRIBES THE COSMOS,
43
00:02:08,562 --> 00:02:12,664
IT IS BEGINNING TO TELL THEM
SOMETHING SERIOUSLY STRANGE --
44
00:02:12,666 --> 00:02:17,035
THAT THE UNIVERSE IS
NOTHING LIKE WE THINK IT IS.
45
00:02:17,037 --> 00:02:20,806
SO IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE'VE
BEEN FOOLED THIS WHOLE TIME?
46
00:02:20,808 --> 00:02:23,275
Narrator:
IF THE UNIVERSE IS A HOLOGRAM,
47
00:02:23,277 --> 00:02:26,645
IT MEANS TRUE REALITY
IS 2-DIMENSIONAL,
48
00:02:26,647 --> 00:02:31,683
AND OUR 3-DIMENSIONAL WORLD
IS JUST AN ILLUSION.
49
00:02:31,685 --> 00:02:34,553
COULD SUCH A WILD IDEA BE TRUE?
50
00:02:34,555 --> 00:02:39,391
♪
51
00:02:39,393 --> 00:02:42,161
LEGENDARY PHYSICIST
LEONARD SUSSKIND
52
00:02:42,163 --> 00:02:44,296
WAS PART OF A GROUP OF THEORISTS
53
00:02:44,298 --> 00:02:47,299
WHO BEGAN TO SUSPECT
THERE'S MORE TO OUR UNIVERSE
54
00:02:47,301 --> 00:02:50,202
THAN THE REALITY WE SEE.
55
00:02:50,204 --> 00:02:53,272
THEY WERE TRYING TO SOLVE
ONE OF THE GREATEST DILEMMAS
56
00:02:53,274 --> 00:02:55,174
IN THE WORLD OF PHYSICS.
57
00:02:55,176 --> 00:02:56,942
GRAVITY AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
58
00:02:56,944 --> 00:02:59,845
WERE AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS,
SO TO SPEAK.
59
00:02:59,847 --> 00:03:01,747
PUTTING THESE IDEAS
LIKE THIS TOGETHER
60
00:03:01,749 --> 00:03:06,118
HAS BECOME THE CENTRAL QUESTION
OF PHYSICS.
61
00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,986
Narrator: THE LAWS OF GRAVITY
THAT DESCRIBE
62
00:03:07,988 --> 00:03:10,722
HOW BIG THINGS
LIKE PLANETS, MOVE,
63
00:03:10,724 --> 00:03:13,792
SEEM TO CONFLICT WITH
THE LAWS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS
64
00:03:13,794 --> 00:03:19,464
THAT DESCRIBE HOW VERY SMALL
THINGS, LIKE ELECTRONS, BEHAVE.
65
00:03:19,466 --> 00:03:21,533
LEONARD EXPERIMENTED
WITH THE MATH
66
00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:25,537
TO TRY TO MAKE THE TWO THEORIES
WORK BETTER TOGETHER.
67
00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:28,907
HE BEGAN TO IMAGINE EVERYTHING
IN THE UNIVERSE EXISTING
68
00:03:28,909 --> 00:03:32,644
IN TWO PLACES SIMULTANEOUSLY.
69
00:03:32,646 --> 00:03:34,680
AND WHEN HE DID,
ALL THE PROBLEMS
70
00:03:34,682 --> 00:03:38,016
WITH THE MATHEMATICS
DISSOLVED AWAY.
71
00:03:38,018 --> 00:03:42,721
I HAD THOUGHT VERY HARD
ABOUT THIS PROBLEM
72
00:03:42,723 --> 00:03:45,457
AND EVENTUALLY CAME TO
THE CONCLUSION
73
00:03:45,459 --> 00:03:49,061
THAT EVERYTHING IS REALLY STORED
74
00:03:49,063 --> 00:03:51,029
ON THE BOUNDARIES
OF THE UNIVERSE
75
00:03:51,031 --> 00:03:54,967
FAR AWAY ON SOME LARGE SPHERE,
76
00:03:54,969 --> 00:03:57,436
FAR FROM WHERE EVERYTHING
IS TAKING PLACE.
77
00:04:00,541 --> 00:04:03,508
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO LEONARD'S THEORY,
78
00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:06,378
EVERYTHING WE SEE
IN THE UNIVERSE,
79
00:04:06,380 --> 00:04:09,214
FROM THE PLANET WE LIVE ON
80
00:04:09,216 --> 00:04:12,684
TO THE STAR
THAT BRINGS US WARMTH
81
00:04:12,686 --> 00:04:14,419
AND THE BILLION
NEIGHBORING STARS
82
00:04:14,421 --> 00:04:17,556
THAT MAKE UP THE GALAXY
THAT WE CALL HOME...
83
00:04:19,226 --> 00:04:22,160
...ARE ALL HIGHLY ELABORATE
PROJECTIONS.
84
00:04:22,162 --> 00:04:24,863
♪
85
00:04:24,865 --> 00:04:27,733
EVERYTHING WE PERCEIVE
IN THREE DIMENSIONS
86
00:04:27,735 --> 00:04:31,136
COULD ORIGINATE
FROM A GIGANTIC BUBBLE
87
00:04:31,138 --> 00:04:34,339
THAT WRAPS AROUND OUR COSMOS,
88
00:04:34,341 --> 00:04:37,609
A BLUEPRINT FOR BUILDING
A UNIVERSE
89
00:04:37,611 --> 00:04:39,911
MAPPED OUT IN TWO DIMENSIONS
90
00:04:39,913 --> 00:04:44,049
THAT WE EXPERIENCE
AS A 3-DIMENSIONAL HOLOGRAM.
91
00:04:44,051 --> 00:04:48,553
TO THINK THAT OUR 3-D REALITY
IS REALLY ARISEN
92
00:04:48,555 --> 00:04:54,559
FROM A 2-D TRUE REALITY,
NOW THAT'S REALLY MIND-BLOWING.
93
00:04:54,561 --> 00:04:56,561
Narrator: THE IDEA
THAT OUR REALITY
94
00:04:56,563 --> 00:04:59,531
IS HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
FROM THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE,
95
00:04:59,533 --> 00:05:03,669
LEAVES THE WORLD
OF PHYSICS REELING.
96
00:05:03,671 --> 00:05:06,538
MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE NUTS.
97
00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:09,174
I REMEMBER ONE OF MY FRIENDS
COMING AND SAYING,
98
00:05:09,176 --> 00:05:12,044
HALF-JOKINGLY, "YOU USED TO BE
A GOOD PHYSICIST,
99
00:05:12,046 --> 00:05:15,080
BUT YOU'VE LOST YOUR MARBLES."
100
00:05:15,082 --> 00:05:17,082
Narrator: BUT AS SCIENTISTS
AROUND THE WORLD
101
00:05:17,084 --> 00:05:22,921
WORK ON THE MATH OF THIS IDEA,
THE NUMBERS BEGIN TO ADD UP.
102
00:05:22,923 --> 00:05:25,724
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
APPEARS TO BE THE THEORY
103
00:05:25,726 --> 00:05:29,695
THAT MAKES ALL OUR PHYSICS
WORK TOGETHER.
104
00:05:29,697 --> 00:05:33,065
WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
OF UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSE.
105
00:05:33,067 --> 00:05:35,167
AND IT'S GENERALLY ACCEPTED
IN SCIENCE
106
00:05:35,169 --> 00:05:36,868
THAT WHAT WE ACCEPT
AS BEING TRUE
107
00:05:36,870 --> 00:05:38,670
IS WHAT WE OBSERVE
AS BEING TRUE.
108
00:05:38,672 --> 00:05:41,606
BUT SOMETIMES THE MATH
IS SO COMPELLING
109
00:05:41,608 --> 00:05:44,075
THAT YOU JUST CAN'T IGNORE IT.
110
00:05:44,077 --> 00:05:46,044
Narrator:
SCIENTISTS HAVE LEARNED TO TAKE
111
00:05:46,046 --> 00:05:49,047
EVEN THE MOST UNLIKELY THEORY
SERIOUSLY
112
00:05:49,049 --> 00:05:52,684
IF THE MATH STACKS UP.
113
00:05:52,686 --> 00:05:58,924
100 YEARS AGO, EINSTEIN'S THEORY
OF RELATIVITY SOUNDED CRAZY.
114
00:05:58,926 --> 00:06:03,128
BUT THE ATOMIC BOMB
SHOWED THAT IT WORKS.
115
00:06:03,130 --> 00:06:06,131
TODAY, THE EQUATIONS THAT
DESCRIBE THE UNIVERSE
116
00:06:06,133 --> 00:06:08,166
AS A HOLOGRAM ADD UP.
117
00:06:08,168 --> 00:06:12,037
SO SCIENTISTS HAVE
TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
118
00:06:12,039 --> 00:06:14,039
MATHEMATICS GIVES US
A SUPERPOWER.
119
00:06:14,041 --> 00:06:17,609
IT CAN ENVISION THE POSSIBILITY
THAT OUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE
120
00:06:17,611 --> 00:06:20,312
IS NOTHING MORE THAN
A HOLOGRAPHIC SIMULATION.
121
00:06:20,314 --> 00:06:24,649
IT REALLY IS THE ENGINE
OF OUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS.
122
00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:25,984
IT REALLY DOES SOUNDS
COMPLETELY NUTTY,
123
00:06:25,986 --> 00:06:29,821
BUT OUR UNIVERSE COULD, IN FACT,
BE ONE BIG HOLOGRAM.
124
00:06:29,823 --> 00:06:32,057
WE SCIENTISTS HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
125
00:06:32,059 --> 00:06:34,459
NO MATTER THE CRAZY PLACES
THAT IT WILL TAKE US.
126
00:06:34,461 --> 00:06:38,163
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS
TO DO SCIENCE.
127
00:06:38,165 --> 00:06:40,499
Narrator: IS OUR EXISTENCE
REALLY BEING PLAYED OUT
128
00:06:40,501 --> 00:06:44,069
IN TWO DIMENSIONS
SOMEWHERE ELSE?
129
00:06:44,071 --> 00:06:47,606
AND IF SO, WHY DOES IT FEEL
SO REAL TO US?
130
00:06:51,345 --> 00:06:55,147
IN THE CITY OF PROVO, UTAH,
PHYSICIST DANIEL SMALLEY
131
00:06:55,149 --> 00:06:59,284
USES A PRACTICAL APPROACH
TO INVESTIGATE THIS MYSTERY.
132
00:06:59,286 --> 00:07:02,854
HE BUILDS HOLOGRAMS FROM SCRATCH
IN HIS LAB.
133
00:07:02,856 --> 00:07:04,623
THE MAGIC OF A HOLOGRAM
IS THAT IT A CONTAINS
134
00:07:04,625 --> 00:07:08,226
A 3-D INFORMATION
FOR A VOLUME IN A 2-D SURFACE.
135
00:07:08,228 --> 00:07:11,396
HERE WE SEE THAT
THE 2-D PATTERN OF LINES
136
00:07:11,398 --> 00:07:13,298
IS ACTUALLY RECREATING
A 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE
137
00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:17,135
THAT APPEARS TO BE
BEHIND THE PLATE.
138
00:07:17,137 --> 00:07:20,739
Narrator: COULD OUR UNIVERSE
BE PLAYING A SIMILAR TRICK,
139
00:07:20,741 --> 00:07:25,510
MANIPULATING LIGHT
TO CREATE OUR GALAXIES?
140
00:07:25,512 --> 00:07:29,915
DANIEL THINKS A GLASS HOLOGRAM,
LIKE THIS ONE, IS TOO SIMPLE.
141
00:07:29,917 --> 00:07:33,785
IT ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU VIEW IT
FROM THE CORRECT ANGLE.
142
00:07:33,787 --> 00:07:36,054
THEIR LIMITATION IS THAT
THEY CAN'T GO
143
00:07:36,056 --> 00:07:37,522
BEYOND THESE BOUNDARIES,
144
00:07:37,524 --> 00:07:39,558
THE BOUNDARIES CREATED
BY THE PLATE.
145
00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,694
IF WE'RE NOT LOOKING DIRECTLY
INTO THAT PATTERN OF LINES,
146
00:07:42,696 --> 00:07:45,430
WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE AN IMAGE.
147
00:07:45,432 --> 00:07:48,500
IF OUR UNIVERSE IS A HOLOGRAM
LIKE THIS,
148
00:07:48,502 --> 00:07:50,635
THE COSMOS WOULD APPEAR TO FLASH
149
00:07:50,637 --> 00:07:53,772
IN AND OUT OF EXISTENCE
AS OUR GALAXY SPINS.
150
00:07:53,774 --> 00:07:56,975
♪
151
00:07:56,977 --> 00:08:01,480
BUT THIS BEHAVIOR
HAS NEVER BEEN OBSERVED.
152
00:08:01,482 --> 00:08:04,816
A GLASS HOLOGRAM ISN'T
THE ANSWER.
153
00:08:06,153 --> 00:08:09,154
DANIEL IS WORKING ON
A NEW GENERATION OF HOLOGRAM
154
00:08:09,156 --> 00:08:11,590
THAT GETS US MUCH CLOSER.
155
00:08:11,592 --> 00:08:15,494
IT MANIPULATES SOLID MATTER
INSTEAD OF LIGHT.
156
00:08:15,496 --> 00:08:17,662
Smalley: OUR TEAM HERE HAS BEEN
WORKING ON A NEW TYPE
157
00:08:17,664 --> 00:08:19,631
OF 3-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY
158
00:08:19,633 --> 00:08:21,199
THAT ACTUALLY USES
NOT JUST LIGHT
159
00:08:21,201 --> 00:08:25,170
BUT ALSO PHYSICAL, MATERIAL
OBJECTS TO CREATE 3-D IMAGES
160
00:08:25,172 --> 00:08:28,406
THAT ENABLE US TO BE ABLE TO SEE
THOSE 3-D IMAGES
161
00:08:28,408 --> 00:08:30,475
FROM EVERY DIRECTION.
162
00:08:30,477 --> 00:08:33,512
Narrator: ONE LASER MOVES
A PARTICLE OF CELLULOSE
163
00:08:33,514 --> 00:08:34,846
THROUGH SPACE,
164
00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:37,782
AND ANOTHER SHINES
COLORFUL LIGHT ONTO IT,
165
00:08:37,784 --> 00:08:41,086
CREATING A PICTURE IN MID-AIR.
166
00:08:41,088 --> 00:08:44,389
AND THEN POINT BY POINT,
WE'RE ABLE TO BUILD A 3-D IMAGE.
167
00:08:44,391 --> 00:08:47,125
Narrator: DANIEL'S TEAM CREATES
A MINIATURE HOLOGRAM
168
00:08:47,127 --> 00:08:52,497
THAT YOU CAN TOUCH
AND CAN BE SEEN FROM ANY ANGLE.
169
00:08:52,499 --> 00:08:55,700
THIS IS A GIANT LEAP CLOSER
TO A HOLOGRAM
170
00:08:55,702 --> 00:08:59,304
THAT FEELS LIKE THE REALITY
WE SEE AROUND US.
171
00:08:59,306 --> 00:09:02,440
BUT THIS ISN'T CONCRETE PROOF.
172
00:09:02,442 --> 00:09:06,378
THE HOLOGRAPHIC LIGHT SOURCE
CAN BE BLOCKED.
173
00:09:06,380 --> 00:09:08,113
LIGHT IS ENTERING THE SYSTEM,
174
00:09:08,115 --> 00:09:11,950
AND IF WE BLOCK THAT DIRECTION
WITH OUT HANDS,
175
00:09:11,952 --> 00:09:14,252
OUR UNIVERSE DISAPPEARS.
176
00:09:14,254 --> 00:09:15,754
AND THIS, OF COURSE,
177
00:09:15,756 --> 00:09:19,057
IS NOT HOW WE EXPECT
OUR REAL UNIVERSE TO BEHAVE.
178
00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:22,827
SO EVEN THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT
QUITE PERFECT
179
00:09:22,829 --> 00:09:26,598
FOR BUILDING
A MINIATURE UNIVERSE.
180
00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,867
Narrator: DANIEL'S HOLOGRAMS
ARE A POOR FIT
181
00:09:28,869 --> 00:09:32,037
FOR THE REALITY WE EXPERIENCE.
182
00:09:32,039 --> 00:09:36,074
SO IS IT GAME OVER
FOR THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE?
183
00:09:36,076 --> 00:09:38,977
IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT
TO TEST THESE IDEAS.
184
00:09:38,979 --> 00:09:42,247
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO TEST THESE IDEAS.
185
00:09:42,249 --> 00:09:45,183
IT JUST MEANS
IT IS A GRAND CHALLENGE.
186
00:09:45,185 --> 00:09:46,351
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT
187
00:09:46,353 --> 00:09:48,520
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES
IN OUR HISTORY
188
00:09:48,522 --> 00:09:49,921
WHERE PHYSICS HAS CONFRONTED US
189
00:09:49,923 --> 00:09:51,856
WITH SOMETHING
THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
190
00:09:53,727 --> 00:09:55,860
Narrator:
SCIENTISTS DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP
191
00:09:55,862 --> 00:09:58,363
ON THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
EASILY
192
00:09:58,365 --> 00:10:02,000
BECAUSE THE MATH ADDS UP.
193
00:10:02,002 --> 00:10:05,003
BUT IF THIS RADICAL IDEA
IS CORRECT,
194
00:10:05,005 --> 00:10:09,641
THERE MUST BE EVIDENCE IN OUR
OWN UNIVERSE THAT CONFIRMS IT.
195
00:10:09,643 --> 00:10:12,877
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
COULD BE A GAME CHANGER
196
00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:14,946
AND SOLVE
A REALLY FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
197
00:10:14,948 --> 00:10:16,414
IN OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF THE COSMOS,
198
00:10:16,416 --> 00:10:18,817
SO THE STAKES ARE REALLY HIGH.
199
00:10:18,819 --> 00:10:21,686
Narrator: THE HUNT IS NOW ON
TO FIND CLUES
200
00:10:21,688 --> 00:10:25,056
TO THE HOLOGRAPHIC NATURE
OF REALITY.
201
00:10:25,058 --> 00:10:27,892
THE SEARCH TAKES SCIENTISTS
INTO THE PHYSICS
202
00:10:27,894 --> 00:10:31,162
OF THE MOST EXTREME OBJECTS
IN THE UNIVERSE.
203
00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:34,899
COULD BLACK HOLES PROVE
THAT THE UNIVERSE WE LIVE IN
204
00:10:34,901 --> 00:10:36,601
IS A HOLOGRAM?
205
00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:40,572
AND CAN THIS $3 MILLION MACHINE
HUNT DOWN GLITCHES
206
00:10:40,574 --> 00:10:43,108
IN THE HOLOGRAM OF REALITY?
207
00:10:43,110 --> 00:10:44,342
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PICK
UP SOMETHING
208
00:10:44,344 --> 00:10:46,311
WHICH NEVER WOULD'VE
BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
209
00:10:46,313 --> 00:10:51,583
♪
210
00:10:57,824 --> 00:11:02,160
♪
211
00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:04,629
Narrator:
AN ELITE GROUP OF PHYSICISTS
212
00:11:04,631 --> 00:11:08,733
IS BATTLING TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE.
213
00:11:08,735 --> 00:11:11,736
THIS GROUNDBREAKING NEW THEORY
FLIES IN THE FACE
214
00:11:11,738 --> 00:11:14,439
OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM.
215
00:11:14,441 --> 00:11:18,143
BUT THE MATH IS GETTING CLEARER
AND CLEARER.
216
00:11:18,145 --> 00:11:23,048
THE UNIVERSE WE THINK WE KNOW
MAY NOT BE REAL.
217
00:11:23,050 --> 00:11:26,184
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE IS ONE
OF THE MORE SHOCKING,
218
00:11:26,186 --> 00:11:28,319
STRANGE, MIND-BENDING IDEAS
219
00:11:28,321 --> 00:11:31,990
THAT PHYSICISTS HAVE COME UP
WITH IN THE LAST HALF-CENTURY,
220
00:11:31,992 --> 00:11:34,793
AND THE BAR IS HIGH.
221
00:11:34,795 --> 00:11:36,961
Narrator: ACCORDING TO
THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY,
222
00:11:36,963 --> 00:11:39,864
THE REAL UNIVERSE EXISTS
ON FLAT BUBBLE
223
00:11:39,866 --> 00:11:42,133
ON THE HORIZON OF THE COSMOS.
224
00:11:42,135 --> 00:11:46,638
♪
225
00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:52,110
THIS 2-D VERSION OF REALITY
CAN'T BE OBSERVED DIRECTLY,
226
00:11:52,112 --> 00:11:55,146
BUT THERE MAY BE A SHORTCUT.
227
00:11:55,148 --> 00:11:59,284
SOME PHYSICISTS BELIEVE
THE DARK SHELL, OR HORIZON,
228
00:11:59,286 --> 00:12:02,320
THAT SURROUNDS BLACK HOLES
COULD ACT LIKE
229
00:12:02,322 --> 00:12:04,522
THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE.
230
00:12:04,524 --> 00:12:06,558
AND BY STUDYING
THESE BOUNDARIES,
231
00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:10,962
WE MAY FIND EVIDENCE THAT
SUPPORTS THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY.
232
00:12:10,964 --> 00:12:13,131
WE UNDERSTAND MUCH LESS
ABOUT THE UNIVERSE
233
00:12:13,133 --> 00:12:16,634
AS A WHOLE THAN WE DO
ABOUT BLACK HOLES.
234
00:12:16,636 --> 00:12:18,970
WE'RE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND
HOW BLACK HOLES WORK
235
00:12:18,972 --> 00:12:21,840
AND HOW THE HORIZONS
OF BLACK HOLES WORK.
236
00:12:21,842 --> 00:12:23,508
THAT MAY BE A GOOD WAY
237
00:12:23,510 --> 00:12:26,611
TO START TO THINK ABOUT
THE UNIVERSE AS WHOLE.
238
00:12:26,613 --> 00:12:30,381
Narrator: BLACK HOLES ARE FOUND
THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE.
239
00:12:30,383 --> 00:12:33,585
THESE DENSE POINTS IN SPACE
GREEDILY SUCK IN
240
00:12:33,587 --> 00:12:36,421
THE MATTER AROUND THEM.
241
00:12:36,423 --> 00:12:39,758
NOT EVEN LIGHT CAN ESCAPE
THEIR CLUTCHES.
242
00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,693
BLACK HOLES FASCINATE PHYSICISTS
243
00:12:41,695 --> 00:12:46,464
BECAUSE THE LAWS OF PHYSICS
SEEM TO BREAK DOWN INSIDE THEM.
244
00:12:46,466 --> 00:12:51,035
IT'S AS IF THEY EXIST OUTSIDE
THE NORMAL UNIVERSE.
245
00:12:51,037 --> 00:12:56,207
PHYSICS IS THE RULE BOOK THAT
UNIVERSE OBEYS WHEN IT BEHAVES,
246
00:12:56,209 --> 00:12:58,009
WHEN IT DOES THINGS.
247
00:12:58,011 --> 00:13:00,378
SO YOU'D EXPECT THE LAWS
OF PHYSICS
248
00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:02,580
TO WORK EVERYWHERE
IN THE UNIVERSE,
249
00:13:02,582 --> 00:13:05,517
AND YET, IN THE CENTER
OF A BLACK HOLE,
250
00:13:05,519 --> 00:13:07,852
OUR PHYSICS BREAKS DOWN.
251
00:13:07,854 --> 00:13:11,723
Narrator: IF BLACK HOLES EXIST
OUTSIDE OUR UNIVERSE,
252
00:13:11,725 --> 00:13:13,758
COULD THEIR EDGES
SHARE PROPERTIES
253
00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,127
WITH THE EDGE
OF OUR UNIVERSE ITSELF?
254
00:13:17,264 --> 00:13:19,130
[ KEYPAD BEEPS ]
255
00:13:19,132 --> 00:13:22,133
♪
256
00:13:22,135 --> 00:13:24,536
AT NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY
IN ENGLAND,
257
00:13:24,538 --> 00:13:26,938
SILKE WEINFURTNER INVESTIGATES
258
00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:30,308
HOW BLACK HOLES
BEND THE LAWS OF PHYSICS.
259
00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:35,513
I THINK BLACK HOLES
ARE THE GUIDE TO NEW PHYSICS.
260
00:13:35,515 --> 00:13:38,983
I SEE THEM AS
THIS HUGE OPPORTUNITY.
261
00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:41,586
Narrator: SILKE SIMULATES
BLACK HOLES IN THE LAB
262
00:13:41,588 --> 00:13:44,889
BY CREATING POWERFUL VORTICES
IN TANKS OF WATER.
263
00:13:44,891 --> 00:13:48,827
YOU CAN THINK OF A BLACK HOLE
AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE,
264
00:13:48,829 --> 00:13:50,295
AND THE QUESTION IS,
WHAT HAPPENS
265
00:13:50,297 --> 00:13:52,330
IF YOU COME CLOSE TO THE EDGE,
266
00:13:52,332 --> 00:13:56,100
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ACTUALLY
FALL OVER THE EDGE?
267
00:13:56,102 --> 00:13:59,404
AND WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS
TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM
268
00:13:59,406 --> 00:14:01,606
FROM A VERY DIFFERENT ANGLE.
269
00:14:01,608 --> 00:14:03,808
Narrator: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO
UNDERTAKE EXPERIMENTS
270
00:14:03,810 --> 00:14:05,910
WITH REAL BLACK HOLES,
271
00:14:05,912 --> 00:14:10,348
SO SILKE TURNS THIS WATER TANK
INTO THE NEXT BEST THING.
272
00:14:10,350 --> 00:14:12,884
THE VORTEX SPINNING
AT THE CENTER OF THE TANK
273
00:14:12,886 --> 00:14:16,454
SIMULATES THE ACTION
OF A ROTATING BLACK HOLE.
274
00:14:16,456 --> 00:14:17,956
Weinfurtner:
WE HAVE A GIGANTIC TANK
275
00:14:17,958 --> 00:14:21,025
FILLED WITH 2000 LITERS
OF WATER,
276
00:14:21,027 --> 00:14:25,096
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
SET UP A BIG VORTEX FLOW.
277
00:14:25,098 --> 00:14:29,801
AND THAT IS SITTING
AT THE CENTER OF OUR SETUP.
278
00:14:29,803 --> 00:14:34,272
Narrator: SILKE INTRODUCES
FLOATING MATERIAL TO THE TANK.
279
00:14:34,274 --> 00:14:37,842
THE PROJECTED GRID ALLOWS HER TO
MEASURE HOW CLOSE MATERIAL
280
00:14:37,844 --> 00:14:42,146
CAN GET TO THE VORTEX
BEFORE ITS FATE IS SEALED.
281
00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:48,086
YOU CAN SEE, ANYTHING THAT COMES
CLOSER THAN AROUND HERE
282
00:14:48,088 --> 00:14:50,722
SLOWLY STARTS TO GET SUCKED IN.
283
00:14:50,724 --> 00:14:52,190
Narrator:
AT A CERTAIN DISTANCE,
284
00:14:52,192 --> 00:14:54,659
THE STRENGTH OF THE VORTEX
IS SO GREAT
285
00:14:54,661 --> 00:14:57,228
THAT GETTING SUCKED IN
IS INEVITABLE.
286
00:14:57,230 --> 00:14:58,696
IT'S BASICALLY --
IT'S BEING PUSHED
287
00:14:58,698 --> 00:15:01,299
OVER THE EDGE OF OUR UNIVERSE.
288
00:15:01,301 --> 00:15:03,601
Narrator: THIS POINT OF
NO RETURN AROUND A BLACK HOLE
289
00:15:03,603 --> 00:15:06,070
IS CALLED AN EVENT HORIZON.
290
00:15:09,075 --> 00:15:13,378
BLACK HOLES ARE INFINITESIMALLY
SMALL POINTS IN SPACE,
291
00:15:13,380 --> 00:15:15,480
BUT THERE EVENT HORIZONS
CAN STRETCH OUT
292
00:15:15,482 --> 00:15:18,349
OVER MILLIONS OF MILES.
293
00:15:18,351 --> 00:15:22,620
THEY APPEAR AS A BLACK BUBBLE
AROUND THE BLACK HOLE.
294
00:15:22,622 --> 00:15:26,491
THIS DARK FRONTIER IS LIKE
THE EDGE OF A WATERFALL.
295
00:15:26,493 --> 00:15:31,296
NOTHING CAN COME BACK ONCE IT'S
PASSED OVER THE EVENT HORIZON.
296
00:15:31,298 --> 00:15:35,767
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OBJECTS
INSIDE THE EVENT HORIZON?
297
00:15:35,769 --> 00:15:39,203
AND ARE THEY TRULY PUSHED OFF
THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE?
298
00:15:41,775 --> 00:15:44,909
Weinfurtner: WELL, THE PROBLEM
IS IF YOU THINK OF A BLACK HOLE
299
00:15:44,911 --> 00:15:46,711
THAT SWALLOWS EVERYTHING UP,
RIGHT?
300
00:15:46,713 --> 00:15:50,281
AND WHATEVER YOU THROW INTO THAT
BLACK HOLE, IT CAN BE A CHAIR,
301
00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:53,651
IT CAN BE A MOBILE PHONE,
IT CAN BE FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLES,
302
00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:57,422
WHATEVER YOU GIVE INTO IT,
THAT'S BASICALLY LOST.
303
00:15:57,424 --> 00:15:59,991
Narrator: BUT THIS
FUNDAMENTAL DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTY
304
00:15:59,993 --> 00:16:03,661
CREATES A HUGE PROBLEM
FOR PHYSICISTS.
305
00:16:03,663 --> 00:16:07,699
THIS BEHAVIOR IS INCOMPATIBLE,
IN A SENSE,
306
00:16:07,701 --> 00:16:10,735
TO QUANTUM MECHANICS.
307
00:16:10,737 --> 00:16:13,071
Narrator:
THE LAWS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS SAY
308
00:16:13,073 --> 00:16:15,139
THAT EVERY PARTICLE OF MATTER
IN THE UNIVERSE
309
00:16:15,141 --> 00:16:18,710
CARRIES INFORMATION
ABOUT ITS PROPERTIES,
310
00:16:18,712 --> 00:16:22,580
AND THAT THIS INFORMATION
CAN NEVER BE LOST.
311
00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:26,584
BLACK HOLES APPEAR TO BREAK
THIS ESSENTIAL RULE.
312
00:16:26,586 --> 00:16:29,320
BLACK HOLE, YOU THROW SOMETHING
AND THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
313
00:16:29,322 --> 00:16:31,389
SAYS IT HAS DISAPPEARED.
314
00:16:31,391 --> 00:16:35,493
BUT IF IT DISAPPEARS, THAT MEANS
IT TAKES ALL OF THE INFORMATION
315
00:16:35,495 --> 00:16:37,161
THAT IT CARRIES WITH IT.
316
00:16:37,163 --> 00:16:38,529
WHERE DOES THE INFORMATION GO?
317
00:16:38,531 --> 00:16:41,799
IF YOU LOSE INFORMATION,
YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO PREDICT,
318
00:16:41,801 --> 00:16:43,401
AND IF YOU LOSE THAT,
THEN PHYSICS IS IN
319
00:16:43,403 --> 00:16:45,570
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE.
320
00:16:45,572 --> 00:16:48,206
Narrator: IT SEEMS LIKE
BLACK HOLES AND QUANTUM PHYSICS
321
00:16:48,208 --> 00:16:52,010
CAN'T EXIST TOGETHER
IN THE SAME UNIVERSE.
322
00:16:52,012 --> 00:16:55,246
BUT THERE MAY BE ONE WAY
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM --
323
00:16:55,248 --> 00:16:57,415
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE.
324
00:16:57,417 --> 00:17:01,519
♪
325
00:17:07,794 --> 00:17:11,429
♪
326
00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:13,164
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO ONE VERSION
327
00:17:13,166 --> 00:17:14,565
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE,
328
00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:18,970
BLACK HOLES MAY ACT AS
STORAGE DEVICES.
329
00:17:18,972 --> 00:17:21,973
AS AN OBJECT IS SUCKED THROUGH
THE EVENT HORIZON,
330
00:17:21,975 --> 00:17:26,477
ITS INFORMATION MIGHT BE
STRIPPED FROM ITS PARTICLES
331
00:17:26,479 --> 00:17:31,015
AND IMPRINTED ON THE SURFACE
OF THE EVENT HORIZON.
332
00:17:31,017 --> 00:17:33,851
THIS VIRTUAL SNAPSHOT
OF INFORMATION
333
00:17:33,853 --> 00:17:36,254
IS HELD AS A PERMANENT RECORD.
334
00:17:38,358 --> 00:17:43,728
IF THIS IS TRUE, NO OBJECT
FULLY LEAVES THE UNIVERSE.
335
00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:47,598
INSTEAD, ITS INFORMATION REMAINS
IN ARCHIVE FORM,
336
00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,767
FLATTENED ONTO
THE 2-DIMENSIONAL BUBBLE
337
00:17:49,769 --> 00:17:51,502
OF THE EVENT HORIZON.
338
00:17:54,107 --> 00:17:58,643
THIS HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
HELPS BLACK HOLES MAKE SENSE
339
00:17:58,645 --> 00:18:03,214
AND STOPS THEM FROM BREAKING
THE LAWS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS.
340
00:18:03,216 --> 00:18:06,717
SO, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WHAT
AN EVENT HORIZON REALLY IS
341
00:18:06,719 --> 00:18:09,520
IS SOME TYPE OF
2-DIMENSIONAL MEMBRANE
342
00:18:09,522 --> 00:18:11,689
AND ALL THE INFORMATION
ABOUT ANYTHING
343
00:18:11,691 --> 00:18:13,758
THAT'S EVER FALLEN INTO
THE BLACK HOLE
344
00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,360
IS STILL ENCAPSULATED
THERE SOMEHOW.
345
00:18:16,362 --> 00:18:19,697
THE EVENT HORIZON WOULD BE
ANALOGOUS TO THIS "SAVE" POINT
346
00:18:19,699 --> 00:18:23,434
IN A VIDEO GAME IN THE SENSE
THAT THE INFORMATION OF OBJECTS
347
00:18:23,436 --> 00:18:25,336
CARRIED IN DOESN'T GET LOST.
348
00:18:25,338 --> 00:18:27,338
IT REMAINS ACCESSIBLE.
349
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:29,807
IT'S SIMPLY STORED
IN AN UNUSUAL PLACE,
350
00:18:29,809 --> 00:18:31,776
AN UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENT
ON THE SURFACE
351
00:18:31,778 --> 00:18:33,744
ON THE EVENT HORIZON
OF A BLACK HOLE.
352
00:18:33,746 --> 00:18:37,381
♪
353
00:18:37,383 --> 00:18:39,650
Narrator:
AND IF THE EVENT HORIZONS
OF BLACK HOLES
354
00:18:39,652 --> 00:18:43,721
REALLY DO SHARE PROPERTIES
WITH THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE,
355
00:18:43,723 --> 00:18:45,156
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
356
00:18:45,158 --> 00:18:49,694
SUDDENLY TAKES
ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING.
357
00:18:49,696 --> 00:18:52,463
JUST AS BLACK HOLES STORE
PURE INFORMATION,
358
00:18:52,465 --> 00:18:56,901
ABOUT EVERY ATOM
OF EVERY PLANET,
359
00:18:56,903 --> 00:19:00,771
ABOUT EVERY STAR IN
OVER 100 BILLION GALAXIES
360
00:19:00,773 --> 00:19:05,810
THAT'S IMPRINTED ON THE HORIZON
OF THE UNIVERSE,
361
00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:09,313
THIS VAST BUBBLE
THAT SURROUNDS THE COSMOS
362
00:19:09,315 --> 00:19:12,717
MAY ACT LIKE
A COSMIC HARD DRIVE,
363
00:19:12,719 --> 00:19:17,221
CARRYING THE SOURCE CODE
OF EVERYTHING WITHIN ITS BOUNDS.
364
00:19:19,926 --> 00:19:23,694
THE MATHEMATICS OF BLACK HOLES
APPEARS TO SUPPORT THE IDEA
365
00:19:23,696 --> 00:19:27,865
THAT THE UNIVERSE IS
HOLOGRAPHIC.
366
00:19:27,867 --> 00:19:31,102
BUT TO TRULY BRING THE IDEA
INTO THE MAINSTREAM,
367
00:19:31,104 --> 00:19:36,073
SCIENTISTS NEED TO FIND CONCRETE
OBSERVABLE EVIDENCE.
368
00:19:36,075 --> 00:19:39,210
♪
369
00:19:39,212 --> 00:19:42,046
IN SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND,
KOSTAS SKENDERIS
370
00:19:42,048 --> 00:19:45,116
HAS MADE
A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH.
371
00:19:45,118 --> 00:19:48,186
HE MAY HAVE UNCOVERED
THE FIRST DIRECT EVIDENCE
372
00:19:48,188 --> 00:19:50,922
THAT THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
IS REAL
373
00:19:50,924 --> 00:19:53,858
BY STUDYING THE BIRTH
OF THE UNIVERSE.
374
00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:56,794
Skenderis: THE UNIVERSE IS
ACTUALLY 14 BILLION YEARS OLD.
375
00:19:56,796 --> 00:19:58,963
WITH HOLOGRAPHY, FOR FIRST TIME,
376
00:19:58,965 --> 00:20:02,166
WE HAVE A CHANCE
TO ACTUALLY MODEL THAT PERIOD.
377
00:20:02,168 --> 00:20:04,969
IT'S VERY EXCITING, ABSOLUTELY.
378
00:20:04,971 --> 00:20:07,872
Narrator: KOSTAS USES
SUPERCOMPUTERS TO SIMULATE
379
00:20:07,874 --> 00:20:11,275
WHAT A HOLOGRAPHIC BIG BANG
WOULD'VE LOOKED LIKE.
380
00:20:11,277 --> 00:20:14,445
THE END RESULT IS JAW-DROPPING.
381
00:20:14,447 --> 00:20:18,149
♪
382
00:20:18,151 --> 00:20:20,651
BEFORE THE DAWN OF TIME,
383
00:20:20,653 --> 00:20:25,923
THE UNIVERSE STARTS AS
A SIMPLE DISK OF INFORMATION,
384
00:20:25,925 --> 00:20:28,826
EXISTING ENTIRELY
IN TWO DIMENSIONS.
385
00:20:30,830 --> 00:20:33,731
AS THE DATA IT CONTAINS
INTERACTS AND INCREASES
386
00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:39,670
IN COMPLEXITY,
HIGHER DIMENSIONS ARE NEEDED,
387
00:20:39,672 --> 00:20:45,276
AND THE 2-D DISK INFLATES
INTO A 3-D SPHERE.
388
00:20:45,278 --> 00:20:49,580
THE COSMIC CLOCK BEGINS TO TICK
AS THE UNIVERSE WE KNOW
389
00:20:49,582 --> 00:20:53,451
SLOWLY EMERGES
FROM PURE INFORMATION,
390
00:20:53,453 --> 00:20:57,221
CREATING ENERGY AND MATTER
THAT WE CAN OBSERVE.
391
00:20:57,223 --> 00:21:00,958
AND EVENTUALLY,
THE FIRST GLIMMER OF STARS.
392
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,629
♪
393
00:21:04,631 --> 00:21:09,200
BUT IS THIS VERSION OF THE DAWN
OF THE UNIVERSE CORRECT?
394
00:21:09,202 --> 00:21:11,769
KOSTAS BELIEVES
A HOLOGRAPHIC BIRTH
395
00:21:11,771 --> 00:21:15,539
WOULD HAVE LEFT COSMIC
STRETCH MARKS ON THE UNIVERSE,
396
00:21:15,541 --> 00:21:18,776
MARKS WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SEE TODAY.
397
00:21:18,778 --> 00:21:22,580
TO FIND THEM, HE LOOKS TO A BAND
OF PRIMORDIAL RADIATION
398
00:21:22,582 --> 00:21:25,716
THAT LIES BEYOND THE STARS.
399
00:21:25,718 --> 00:21:29,420
THIS STRANGE, ETHEREAL GLOW IS
A REMNANT OF THE ENERGY
400
00:21:29,422 --> 00:21:32,556
THAT FILLED THE EARLY UNIVERSE.
401
00:21:32,558 --> 00:21:37,328
ASTRONOMERS CALL IT
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND.
402
00:21:37,330 --> 00:21:39,330
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND
403
00:21:39,332 --> 00:21:42,667
IS THE MOST DISTANT THING
THAT WE CAN SEE IN OUR UNIVERSE.
404
00:21:42,669 --> 00:21:45,002
IT'S AN ECHO
OF THE BIG BANG ITSELF.
405
00:21:45,004 --> 00:21:46,570
THE BIRTH OF OUR UNIVERSE.
406
00:21:46,572 --> 00:21:49,807
Narrator: OUR BEST VIEW OF
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND
407
00:21:49,809 --> 00:21:53,544
COMES FROM A SPACE SATELLITE
CALLED PLANCK.
408
00:21:53,546 --> 00:21:55,780
PLANCK REVEALS
THE EARLY UNIVERSE
409
00:21:55,782 --> 00:21:59,050
AS AN EXPANSE
OF SEETHING ENERGY.
410
00:21:59,052 --> 00:22:03,654
THE HOTTEST AREAS ARE BLUE,
AND THE COOLEST AREAS RED.
411
00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:07,091
KOSTAS THINKS THIS MAP
OF PRIMORDIAL ENERGY
412
00:22:07,093 --> 00:22:11,562
HOLDS STRIKING SIMILARITIES
TO HIS HOLOGRAPHIC SIMULATION.
413
00:22:13,666 --> 00:22:15,900
Skenderis:
WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT
414
00:22:15,902 --> 00:22:17,501
THE PATTERNS WE'RE COMPUTING
415
00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:21,205
USING THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY
AGREE REMARKABLY WELL
416
00:22:21,207 --> 00:22:26,077
WITH WHAT WE SEE IN
THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND.
417
00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:29,180
I THINK THIS RESEARCH PROVIDES
THE FIRST EVIDENCE
418
00:22:29,182 --> 00:22:32,416
THAT OUR UNIVERSE
MAY BE HOLOGRAPHIC.
419
00:22:32,418 --> 00:22:35,152
Narrator: IT MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS
TO THE UNTRAINED EYE,
420
00:22:35,154 --> 00:22:37,822
BUT FOR KOSTAS, IT'S A MATCH.
421
00:22:37,824 --> 00:22:41,492
HIS SIMULATION SHOWS THE SAME
VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE
422
00:22:41,494 --> 00:22:44,795
THAT CAN BE FOUND
IN THE COSMOS TODAY.
423
00:22:44,797 --> 00:22:48,366
HIS RESEARCH COULD TURN OUT
TO BE THE SMOKING GUN EVIDENCE
424
00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:52,603
THAT OUR UNIVERSE
REALLY IS HOLOGRAPHIC.
425
00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:54,472
IT'S ABSOLUTELY EXCITING.
426
00:22:54,474 --> 00:22:57,908
IT'S MIND-BLOWING.
427
00:22:57,910 --> 00:23:00,778
Greene:
THE HOLOGRAPHIC IDEA IS SO NEW
428
00:23:00,780 --> 00:23:03,714
THAT IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH
MANY INCARNATIONS
429
00:23:03,716 --> 00:23:05,916
AS PEOPLE TEAR IT APART,
PUT IT BACK TOGETHER,
430
00:23:05,918 --> 00:23:09,387
REINTERPRET IT, INTRODUCE
NEW MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS.
431
00:23:09,389 --> 00:23:12,223
BUT EVERY TIME AN EXOTIC IDEA
432
00:23:12,225 --> 00:23:15,659
IS ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT
WITH OBSERVATIONAL DATA,
433
00:23:15,661 --> 00:23:17,561
THAT IS WHAT
WILL PROPEL US ONWARDS
434
00:23:17,563 --> 00:23:20,898
TO TRY TO MAKE MORE
REFINED TESTS OF THESE IDEAS.
435
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:22,833
Tremblay: OUR UNDERSTANDING
THE COSMOS IS DEFINED
436
00:23:22,835 --> 00:23:26,404
MORE BY WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
THAN WHAT WE DO ACTUALLY KNOW.
437
00:23:26,406 --> 00:23:29,006
AND SO,ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
TO BE A SCIENTIST
438
00:23:29,008 --> 00:23:33,677
IS TO JUST ALLOW THE IMPOSSIBLE
TO BE POSSIBLE IN YOUR HEAD.
439
00:23:33,679 --> 00:23:36,680
Narrator: THESE IDEAS OFFER
A TANTALIZING NEW BIRTH STORY
440
00:23:36,682 --> 00:23:38,048
FOR THE UNIVERSE,
441
00:23:38,050 --> 00:23:41,118
BUT THEY REMAIN ON THE FRINGES
OF THEORETICAL PHYSICS,
442
00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:44,789
BORDERING ON SCIENCE FICTION.
443
00:23:44,791 --> 00:23:49,393
WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION --
IS ANYTHING REALLY REAL?
444
00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:52,496
♪
445
00:23:58,771 --> 00:24:02,773
♪
446
00:24:02,775 --> 00:24:06,010
Narrator: ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
SCIENTISTS CONTINUE TO PROVE
447
00:24:06,012 --> 00:24:09,146
THE VALIDITY
OF THEIR HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY.
448
00:24:09,148 --> 00:24:11,882
FROM GALAXIES TO PLANETS
AND PEOPLE,
449
00:24:11,884 --> 00:24:14,285
THEIR MATHEMATICAL VISION
OF THE UNIVERSE
450
00:24:14,287 --> 00:24:20,357
SUGGESTS OUR REALITY COULD BE
A HOLOGRAM.
451
00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,494
THE PRINCIPLE SUGGESTS
THE REAL UNIVERSE EXISTS
452
00:24:23,496 --> 00:24:25,162
IN TWO DIMENSIONS,
453
00:24:25,164 --> 00:24:29,667
AND OUR LIVES ARE JUST
A PROJECTION.
454
00:24:29,669 --> 00:24:33,571
IF THIS IS TRUE, WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO FIND HARD EVIDENCE
455
00:24:33,573 --> 00:24:36,040
OF THE HOLOGRAM IN ACTION.
456
00:24:36,042 --> 00:24:38,776
IF YOU IMAGINE
SCIENCE FICTION FILMS
457
00:24:38,778 --> 00:24:41,512
AND DEPICTIONS OF HOLOGRAMS
IN THOSE FILMS,
458
00:24:41,514 --> 00:24:44,882
THOSE HOLOGRAMS OFTEN GLITCH TO
GIVE AWAY TO THE AUDIENCE
459
00:24:44,884 --> 00:24:47,218
THAT THIS IS
A FAKE REPRESENTATION.
460
00:24:47,220 --> 00:24:49,854
AND SO WHAT IF, YOU KNOW,
THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
461
00:24:49,856 --> 00:24:52,056
ALSO HAD KIND OF "GLITCHES,"
462
00:24:52,058 --> 00:24:56,827
AND THOSE GLITCHES
COULD BE OUR OBSERVABLES?
463
00:24:56,829 --> 00:24:59,230
Narrator: THE IDEA THAT
A HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
464
00:24:59,232 --> 00:25:05,236
COULD BE GLITCHING
COMES DOWN TO QUANTUM PHYSICS.
465
00:25:05,238 --> 00:25:07,805
IT'S CALLED
THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE.
466
00:25:10,076 --> 00:25:13,143
THIS THEORY SUGGESTS THAT
SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
467
00:25:13,145 --> 00:25:17,448
FLASH IN AND OUT
OF EXISTENCE LIKE FIREFLIES,
468
00:25:17,450 --> 00:25:21,752
MAKING REALITY GLITCHY
AT THE MOST MICRO LEVEL.
469
00:25:21,754 --> 00:25:23,587
AND IN A HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE,
470
00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:27,291
THIS GLITCHY NATURE OF REALITY
MAY BE STRONGER.
471
00:25:27,293 --> 00:25:30,327
♪
472
00:25:30,329 --> 00:25:33,597
TODAY, AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY'S FERMILAB,
473
00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:36,000
CRAIG HOGAN MASTERMINDS
AN EXPERIMENT
474
00:25:36,002 --> 00:25:41,405
TO SCAN THE UNIVERSE
FOR HOLOGRAPHIC GLITCHES.
475
00:25:41,407 --> 00:25:42,973
Hogan: WE'RE DRIVING ALONG
476
00:25:42,975 --> 00:25:44,341
ONE OF THE OLD BEAM LINES
AT FERMILAB
477
00:25:44,343 --> 00:25:47,878
TO AN EXPERIMENT CALLED
THE HOLOMETER.
478
00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,181
WE PUT THIS TOGETHER
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS TO STUDY
479
00:25:51,183 --> 00:25:54,552
THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS
THAT MAKE UP SPACE AND TIME.
480
00:25:56,856 --> 00:26:00,658
Narrator:
IT'S A TALL ORDER FOR CRAIG.
481
00:26:00,660 --> 00:26:02,593
IF THESE GLITCHES EXIST,
482
00:26:02,595 --> 00:26:07,932
THEY WILL ONLY BE FOUND
ON MICROSCOPIC SCALES.
483
00:26:07,934 --> 00:26:11,101
WHEN YOU ZOOM IN ON AN OBJECT --
484
00:26:11,103 --> 00:26:15,973
PAST MOLECULES, ATOMS,
AND ELECTRONS --
485
00:26:15,975 --> 00:26:21,278
YOU ENTER A QUANTUM WORLD
WHERE NOTHING IS FIXED.
486
00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:26,216
TINY GRAINS OF PURE INFORMATION
CALLED QUANTUM BITS,
487
00:26:26,218 --> 00:26:31,088
OR QUBITS,
CONSTANTLY SHIFT AROUND.
488
00:26:31,090 --> 00:26:35,826
IN HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE,
THE QUBITS MOVE IN LAYERS --
489
00:26:35,828 --> 00:26:41,398
2-D SLICES SHIFTING ONE
AFTER THE OTHER.
490
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,667
THIS SYNCHRONIZED JITTER
491
00:26:43,669 --> 00:26:46,503
PRODUCES TINY GLITCHES
IN REALITY,
492
00:26:46,505 --> 00:26:52,810
THAT MAY BE DETECTED, BUT ONLY
BY THE MOST SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT.
493
00:26:52,812 --> 00:26:56,647
♪
494
00:26:56,649 --> 00:26:59,049
THESE GLITCHES,
IF THEY TRULY EXIST,
495
00:26:59,051 --> 00:27:03,721
ARE A THOUSAND TIMES SMALLER
THAN A PROTON IN AN ATOM --
496
00:27:03,723 --> 00:27:05,322
A SCALE SO SMALL,
497
00:27:05,324 --> 00:27:08,826
MANY SCIENTISTS
THINK IT'S UNDETECTABLE.
498
00:27:08,828 --> 00:27:10,294
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PICK UP
SOMETHING WHICH IS
499
00:27:10,296 --> 00:27:12,029
SO SMALL AND SUBTLE
500
00:27:12,031 --> 00:27:15,199
IT NEVER WOULD
HAVE BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
501
00:27:15,201 --> 00:27:18,369
Narrator: CRAIG HAS DEVELOPED
THIS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR MACHINE
502
00:27:18,371 --> 00:27:22,606
TO HUNT
THESE MINISCULE GLITCHES.
503
00:27:22,608 --> 00:27:25,442
IT'S CALLED THE HOLOMETER.
504
00:27:25,444 --> 00:27:27,011
IT USES A LASER BEAM RULER
505
00:27:27,013 --> 00:27:29,079
TO SEARCH
FOR HOLOGRAPHIC GLITCHES
506
00:27:29,081 --> 00:27:31,682
IN THE FABRIC OF SPACE AND TIME.
507
00:27:31,684 --> 00:27:35,052
WE'RE SENDING LASER LIGHT
INTO AN EXPLORATION
508
00:27:35,054 --> 00:27:37,655
OF SPACE AND TIME,
AND THIS IS WHERE THAT STARTS,
509
00:27:37,657 --> 00:27:40,457
'CAUSE THIS IS WHERE
THE LIGHT IS GENERATED,
510
00:27:40,459 --> 00:27:43,494
BACK HERE
IN THIS VERY POWERFUL LASER.
511
00:27:43,496 --> 00:27:46,096
Narrator: THIS EQUIPMENT
SUPERCHARGES A LASER BEAM,
512
00:27:46,098 --> 00:27:48,132
TO GIVE IT A MILLION TIMES
MORE POWER
513
00:27:48,134 --> 00:27:51,869
THAN A REGULAR LASER POINTER.
514
00:27:51,871 --> 00:27:55,539
THE HIGH-POWERED LASERS
SPLIT INTO TWO BEAMS.
515
00:27:55,541 --> 00:28:01,078
THE BEAMS FIRE SIMULTANEOUSLY
DOWN TWO 65-FOOT-LONG TUBES.
516
00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,013
AT THE END OF EACH TUBE
IS A MIRROR,
517
00:28:03,015 --> 00:28:07,117
WHICH BOUNCES THE LASER BACK
DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE TUBE.
518
00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,486
ANY GLITCHES IN
THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
519
00:28:09,488 --> 00:28:14,892
COULD MOVE THE MIRRORS LESS THAN
3 BILLION BILLIONTHS OF A FOOT.
520
00:28:14,894 --> 00:28:16,326
THE HOLOMETER IS PROGRAMMED
521
00:28:16,328 --> 00:28:18,562
TO DETECT THESE CHANGES
IN LENGTH.
522
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,535
IF QUANTUM GLITCHES ARE REALLY
OCCURRING IN THE UNIVERSE,
523
00:28:24,537 --> 00:28:27,838
CRAIG BELIEVES BOTH LASERS
WILL DETECT THEM,
524
00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,207
BUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
525
00:28:30,209 --> 00:28:32,609
SO, THE MEASUREMENT WE'RE DOING
IS TO SEE
526
00:28:32,611 --> 00:28:36,814
WHETHER MIRRORS EVER STAND
PERFECTLY STILL.
527
00:28:36,816 --> 00:28:39,950
IF SPACE AND TIME,
WITH NOTHING IN IT,
528
00:28:39,952 --> 00:28:44,054
IS MADE OF PARTICLES
OR QUANTUM THINGS,
529
00:28:44,056 --> 00:28:46,356
THE PREDICTION IS IT SHOULD
NEVER STAND PERFECTLY STILL.
530
00:28:46,358 --> 00:28:50,027
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE JITTERING
OR ROTATING A TINY BIT
531
00:28:50,029 --> 00:28:53,897
AND WE'RE USING INTERFEROMETERS
TO LOOK FOR THAT EXOTIC MOTION
532
00:28:53,899 --> 00:28:56,934
ON THE VERY SMALLEST SCALES.
533
00:28:56,936 --> 00:28:58,435
Narrator:
THE TEAM NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
534
00:28:58,437 --> 00:29:01,138
THAT ANY MOVEMENT DETECTED
IS, IN FACT,
535
00:29:01,140 --> 00:29:04,074
FROM THE NATURE OF SPACE/TIME,
536
00:29:04,076 --> 00:29:08,479
NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD
INTERFERING WITH THE LASERS.
537
00:29:08,481 --> 00:29:12,816
SO THEY CONDUCT TESTS AT NIGHT
TO ENSURE ACCURACY.
538
00:29:12,818 --> 00:29:16,019
Hogan: IF WE TRY TO DO
THE MEASUREMENT DURING THE DAY,
539
00:29:16,021 --> 00:29:17,421
PEOPLE ARE COMING
AND GOING FROM WORK,
540
00:29:17,423 --> 00:29:20,090
THE SUN SHINES ON THINGS,
THE GROUND EXPANDS,
541
00:29:20,092 --> 00:29:23,427
AND IT ALL MOVES BY
A TINY AMOUNT.
542
00:29:23,429 --> 00:29:26,296
AND THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET REALLY CLEAN DATA
543
00:29:26,298 --> 00:29:28,298
TO UNLOCK THE APPARATUS
DURING THE DAY.
544
00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:32,703
SO WE WAIT TILL NIGHT,
WHEN IT CALMS DOWN.
545
00:29:32,705 --> 00:29:34,404
Narrator:
CRAIG HAS BEEN WORKING ON
546
00:29:34,406 --> 00:29:36,173
THIS LASER-POWERED
HOLOGRAPHIC RULER
547
00:29:36,175 --> 00:29:39,243
FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.
548
00:29:39,245 --> 00:29:42,346
BUT JUST AS IT ACHIEVED
THE SENSITIVITY NEEDED,
549
00:29:42,348 --> 00:29:45,415
THE LASER FAILED THEM.
550
00:29:45,417 --> 00:29:47,518
SO WE'VE REINSTALLED
THE LASERS,
551
00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:49,253
AFTER GETTING THEM REFURBISHED.
552
00:29:49,255 --> 00:29:51,522
THE TEAM'S IN THERE NOW,
LINING UP THE BEAMS
553
00:29:51,524 --> 00:29:54,024
AND GETTING READY TO DO
A NEW ROUND OF DATA-TAKING
554
00:29:54,026 --> 00:29:55,592
THIS SUMMER.
555
00:29:55,594 --> 00:29:58,228
Narrator:
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS,
556
00:29:58,230 --> 00:30:01,832
BUT FOR CRAIG,
IT'S WORTH THE EFFORT.
557
00:30:01,834 --> 00:30:04,268
IF WE LEARN ABOUT HOW
SPACE AND TIME REALLY WORK
558
00:30:04,270 --> 00:30:06,303
AT A DEEPER LEVEL,
THE QUANTUM LEVEL,
559
00:30:06,305 --> 00:30:10,340
WE'RE GOING TO BE UNLEASHING
ALL KINDS OF NEW POSSIBILITIES.
560
00:30:10,342 --> 00:30:12,409
IT'S REAL HARD TO SPECULATE
WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE,
561
00:30:12,411 --> 00:30:13,744
BUT, YOU KNOW,
562
00:30:13,746 --> 00:30:16,346
IF YOU THINK ABOUT
SCIENCE FICTION POSSIBILITIES,
563
00:30:16,348 --> 00:30:19,750
LIKE TELEPORTATION, THAT'S WHAT
THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVOLVE.
564
00:30:19,752 --> 00:30:22,119
IF YOU WERE ABLE TO MEASURE
QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS,
565
00:30:22,121 --> 00:30:25,455
VIBRATIONS FROM THE QUANTUM
NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE,
566
00:30:25,457 --> 00:30:27,825
TAKING PLACE IN THE FABRIC
OF SPACE AND TIME,
567
00:30:27,827 --> 00:30:31,528
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST
SPECTACULAR DISCOVERIES
568
00:30:31,530 --> 00:30:35,232
THAT OUR SPECIES
HAS EVER ACCOMPLISHED.
569
00:30:35,234 --> 00:30:39,403
Narrator: CRAIG'S TEAM CONTINUES
TO FINE TUNE THEIR EQUIPMENT.
570
00:30:39,405 --> 00:30:41,705
AND ONCE THE SYSTEM IS STABLE,
571
00:30:41,707 --> 00:30:46,476
IT MAY BE THE KEY TO FINDING OUT
IF THE UNIVERSE IS HOLOGRAPHIC.
572
00:30:46,478 --> 00:30:49,680
♪
573
00:30:49,682 --> 00:30:52,316
THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY
COULD REVOLUTIONIZE
574
00:30:52,318 --> 00:30:54,685
THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE UNIVERSE.
575
00:30:57,323 --> 00:31:00,657
BUT WHILE CRAIG CONTINUES
HIS SEARCH,
576
00:31:00,659 --> 00:31:06,230
RESEARCHERS IN THE NETHERLANDS
MIGHT HAVE BEATEN HIM TO IT.
577
00:31:06,232 --> 00:31:09,399
♪
578
00:31:15,708 --> 00:31:19,610
♪
579
00:31:19,612 --> 00:31:22,412
Narrator: SCIENTISTS ACROSS
THE WORLD ARE SEARCHING
580
00:31:22,414 --> 00:31:26,617
FOR EVIDENCE THAT
THE UNIVERSE IS A HOLOGRAM.
581
00:31:26,619 --> 00:31:30,153
THEY FIND CLUES IN THE INNER
WORKINGS OF BLACK HOLES
582
00:31:30,155 --> 00:31:34,424
AND IN THE EARLIEST IMAGES
OF THE INFANT UNIVERSE.
583
00:31:34,426 --> 00:31:37,361
THEY CONSTRUCT HOLOGRAMS
YOU CAN TOUCH
584
00:31:37,363 --> 00:31:38,996
AND BUILD MASSIVE MACHINES
585
00:31:38,998 --> 00:31:43,000
TO CHECK THE FABRIC
OF SPACE/TIME FOR GLITCHES.
586
00:31:43,002 --> 00:31:48,272
BUT SO FAR, ONLY THE SMALLEST
HINTS OF EVIDENCE HAVE EMERGED.
587
00:31:48,274 --> 00:31:51,942
THAT IS, UNTIL NOW.
588
00:31:51,944 --> 00:31:55,112
SOME RESEARCHERS THINK
A GALAXY-SIZED CLUE
589
00:31:55,114 --> 00:31:58,916
HAS BEEN STARING US
IN THE FACE FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
590
00:31:58,918 --> 00:32:02,719
♪
591
00:32:02,721 --> 00:32:05,756
ERIK VERLINDE BELIEVES
AN UNUSUAL PROPERTY
592
00:32:05,758 --> 00:32:07,457
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
593
00:32:07,459 --> 00:32:12,129
COULD EXPLAIN
A DECADES-OLD PUZZLE.
594
00:32:12,131 --> 00:32:14,398
Verlinde: WE ARE CURRENTLY
TRYING TO DEVELOP
595
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,333
A NEW WAY OF THINKING
ABOUT GRAVITY.
596
00:32:16,335 --> 00:32:18,769
IT STARTS FROM
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE.
597
00:32:20,873 --> 00:32:24,074
Narrator: ACCORDING TO
THE NORMAL LAWS OF PHYSICS,
598
00:32:24,076 --> 00:32:27,778
SPINNING GALAXIES
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MASS
599
00:32:27,780 --> 00:32:32,015
TO STOP THEIR STARS
BEING FLUNG INTO SPACE.
600
00:32:32,017 --> 00:32:34,885
SO SCIENTISTS HAVE INVENTED
A SUBSTANCE
601
00:32:34,887 --> 00:32:37,387
THAT ADDS GRAVITY TO
THESE GALAXIES,
602
00:32:37,389 --> 00:32:39,389
HOLDING THEM TOGETHER,
603
00:32:39,391 --> 00:32:42,893
AND MAKING THEIR EQUATIONS
ADD UP.
604
00:32:42,895 --> 00:32:45,495
THEY CALL
THIS INVISIBLE SOURCE OF GRAVITY
605
00:32:45,497 --> 00:32:48,231
DARK MATTER.
606
00:32:48,233 --> 00:32:50,133
ONLY WITH DARK MATTER IN THE MIX
607
00:32:50,135 --> 00:32:53,770
CAN THE SHAPE OF
SPIRAL GALAXIES MAKE SENSE.
608
00:32:55,174 --> 00:32:57,174
Greene: WE BELIEVE THAT
THERE'S DARK MATTER
609
00:32:57,176 --> 00:33:02,212
BECAUSE WHEN WE STUDY THE MOTION
OF STARS IN ORBITING GALAXIES,
610
00:33:02,214 --> 00:33:04,314
THEY'RE NOT TRAVELLING
AT THE RIGHT SPEED.
611
00:33:04,316 --> 00:33:06,016
THEY'RE TRAVELLING TOO FAST.
612
00:33:06,018 --> 00:33:09,286
SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE PULLING
ON THEM THAT WE DON'T SEE,
613
00:33:09,288 --> 00:33:11,755
AND WE SUGGEST THAT MAYBE
THERE'S SOME DARK STUFF
614
00:33:11,757 --> 00:33:13,690
OUT THERE,
EXERTING GRAVITATIONAL PULL,
615
00:33:13,692 --> 00:33:16,460
AND THAT'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE MOTION OF THE STARS.
616
00:33:17,696 --> 00:33:19,563
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S A TWIST.
617
00:33:19,565 --> 00:33:23,900
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE LOOK,
WE CAN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE
618
00:33:23,902 --> 00:33:28,338
THAT DARK MATTER PARTICLES
ACTUALLY EXIST.
619
00:33:28,340 --> 00:33:30,774
SCIENTISTS HAVE GONE
TO EXTREME LENGTHS
620
00:33:30,776 --> 00:33:34,945
TO DETECT TRACES
OF DARK MATTER PARTICLES.
621
00:33:34,947 --> 00:33:36,980
ONE STUDY HAS BUILT
THIS LABORATORY
622
00:33:36,982 --> 00:33:40,083
DEEP INSIDE A MOUNTAIN.
623
00:33:40,085 --> 00:33:43,120
THE EXPERIMENT IS DESIGNED
TO FIND DARK MATTER PARTICLES
624
00:33:43,122 --> 00:33:47,491
PASSING THROUGH
THESE LARGE TANKS OF XENON.
625
00:33:47,493 --> 00:33:50,927
IT COSTS $160 MILLION,
626
00:33:50,929 --> 00:33:54,698
AND SO FAR,
THEY'VE FOUND NOTHING.
627
00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:56,033
Thaller:
ONE OF THE REAL PROBLEMS
628
00:33:56,035 --> 00:33:57,434
WITH OUR VIEW
OF THE UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW,
629
00:33:57,436 --> 00:34:00,704
IS WE APPEAR TO UNDERSTAND
VERY LITTLE OF IT.
630
00:34:00,706 --> 00:34:02,739
TAKE THE CASE OF DARK MATTER.
631
00:34:02,741 --> 00:34:04,541
WE SEE THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING
OUT THERE
632
00:34:04,543 --> 00:34:07,411
THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GRAVITY,
BUT NOTHING ELSE.
633
00:34:07,413 --> 00:34:09,046
YOU COULDN'T TOUCH IT
OR SMELL IT.
634
00:34:09,048 --> 00:34:10,914
IT DOESN'T INTERACT WITH US
IN ANY OTHER WAY.
635
00:34:10,916 --> 00:34:12,649
IT JUST HAS GRAVITY.
636
00:34:12,651 --> 00:34:14,484
AND THIS DOESN'T REALLY
MAKE SENSE,
637
00:34:14,486 --> 00:34:17,020
HOW WE FOUND AN ENTIRELY
NEW PHASE OF MATTER,
638
00:34:17,022 --> 00:34:21,258
THAT HAVEN'T EVEN FOUND A SINGLE
PARTICLE OF AN EXAMPLE OF.
639
00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:24,227
Narrator: ERIK'S CONVINCED
WE CAN'T FIND DARK MATTER,
640
00:34:24,229 --> 00:34:26,463
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST.
641
00:34:26,465 --> 00:34:29,299
AND IT'S APPARENT EFFECTS
ARE REALLY JUST A FLAW
642
00:34:29,301 --> 00:34:32,469
ON THE CONVENTIONAL LAWS
OF PHYSICS.
643
00:34:32,471 --> 00:34:35,939
I'VE CONCLUDED
THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP
644
00:34:35,941 --> 00:34:38,842
A NEW THEORY OF GRAVITY.
645
00:34:38,844 --> 00:34:41,078
Narrator: THE LAWS OF GRAVITY
WERE FIRST PROPOSED
646
00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:45,015
BY ISAAC NEWTON
IN THE 17th CENTURY.
647
00:34:45,017 --> 00:34:48,985
THEY REINFORCE OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF THE MOTION OF THE PLANETS,
648
00:34:48,987 --> 00:34:52,956
AND ALL OUR EXPLORATIONS
INTO SPACE.
649
00:34:52,958 --> 00:34:57,694
DARK MATTER KEEPS THESE LAWS
IN TACT.
650
00:34:57,696 --> 00:34:59,663
BUT THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY
651
00:34:59,665 --> 00:35:03,266
BLOWS THEM
CLEAN OUT OF THE WATER.
652
00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:05,902
♪
653
00:35:05,904 --> 00:35:07,604
ERIK'S FORMULA SUGGESTS
654
00:35:07,606 --> 00:35:09,706
THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE-LOOKING
GALAXIES
655
00:35:09,708 --> 00:35:14,611
ARE A NATURAL FEATURE
OF A HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE.
656
00:35:14,613 --> 00:35:18,582
INSTEAD OF DARK MATTER HOLDING
THE SPEEDING STARS IN CHECK,
657
00:35:18,584 --> 00:35:23,320
IT'S THE HOLOGRAPHIC HORIZON
THAT PROVIDES THE EXTRA GLUE.
658
00:35:23,322 --> 00:35:26,790
THE TWO DIMENSIONAL GALAXY
ON THE HOLOGRAPHIC BUBBLE
659
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:29,559
PROVIDES A 3-DIMENSIONAL
FRAMEWORK
660
00:35:29,561 --> 00:35:32,529
THAT EXTENDS
THROUGH OUR UNIVERSE,
661
00:35:32,531 --> 00:35:36,333
LIKE COSMIC PUPPET STRINGS.
662
00:35:36,335 --> 00:35:38,969
THESE HOLOGRAPHIC TETHERS
HOLD ON
663
00:35:38,971 --> 00:35:42,405
TO FAST-ROTATING GALAXIES
LIKE ANCHORS,
664
00:35:42,407 --> 00:35:45,208
PREVENTING THEIR SPEEDING STARS
FROM FLYING OFF
665
00:35:45,210 --> 00:35:48,111
INTO INTERGALACTIC SPACE.
666
00:35:48,113 --> 00:35:49,546
WE'VE BEEN ASSUMING
THAT THE UNIVERSE
667
00:35:49,548 --> 00:35:51,214
IS MORE AND MORE STRANGE,
668
00:35:51,216 --> 00:35:53,917
IN FORMS THAT
WE CAN'T EVEN REACT TO.
669
00:35:53,919 --> 00:35:56,553
INSTEAD, WE MAY HAVE MISSED
THE UNDERLYING NATURE
670
00:35:56,555 --> 00:35:58,488
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE.
671
00:35:58,490 --> 00:36:01,691
Narrator: ERIK'S THEORY
MIGHT STACK UP ON PAPER,
672
00:36:01,693 --> 00:36:04,427
BUT COULD IT REALLY BE TRUE?
673
00:36:04,429 --> 00:36:07,597
♪
674
00:36:13,872 --> 00:36:17,440
♪
675
00:36:17,442 --> 00:36:19,709
Narrator: THEORETICAL PHYSICIST
ERIK VERLINDE'S
676
00:36:19,711 --> 00:36:21,878
HOLOGRAPHIC VISION OF GRAVITY
677
00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:27,184
CHALLENGES OVER 300 YEARS
OF SCIENTIFIC THINKING.
678
00:36:27,186 --> 00:36:32,055
AND EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS
REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY PROOF.
679
00:36:32,057 --> 00:36:36,726
SO, ERIK SEARCHES FOR EVIDENCE.
680
00:36:36,728 --> 00:36:39,062
IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
IN THESE GALAXIES,
681
00:36:39,064 --> 00:36:43,133
YOU NEED TELESCOPES
OR OTHER WAYS OF OBSERVING
682
00:36:43,135 --> 00:36:46,970
WHAT THE GRAVITATIONAL FIELD
LOOKS LIKE AROUND THE GALAXY.
683
00:36:46,972 --> 00:36:51,007
AND THEN IT'S THE ASTRONOMERS
THAT NEED TO TEST THESE IDEAS.
684
00:36:51,009 --> 00:36:54,277
♪
685
00:36:54,279 --> 00:36:55,912
Narrator:
ERIK'S THEORIES PREDICT
686
00:36:55,914 --> 00:36:57,614
HOW THE STRENGTH OF
GRAVITY VARIES
687
00:36:57,616 --> 00:37:00,283
ACROSS THE DISK OF A GALAXY.
688
00:37:00,285 --> 00:37:02,686
IF THE UNIVERSE IS HOLOGRAPHIC,
689
00:37:02,688 --> 00:37:08,158
THIS VARIATION SHOULD BE
OBSERVABLE THROUGH TELESCOPES.
690
00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:12,095
BUT ERIK CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
691
00:37:12,097 --> 00:37:16,666
WE REALLY NEED, LITERALLY,
MILLIONS OF BACKGROUND GALAXIES.
692
00:37:16,668 --> 00:37:18,568
YEAH.
693
00:37:18,570 --> 00:37:21,371
Narrator: ASTROPHYSICIST
MARGOT BROUWER
694
00:37:21,373 --> 00:37:25,275
SCOURS THE UNIVERSE TO MEASURE
THE VARIATION OF GRAVITY
695
00:37:25,277 --> 00:37:26,943
IN DIFFERENT GALAXIES.
696
00:37:26,945 --> 00:37:31,047
ERIK HAS MADE THE PREDICTION
HOW THE STRENGTH OF GRAVITY
697
00:37:31,049 --> 00:37:34,517
IN A GALAXY VARIES
FROM ITS CENTER,
698
00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:36,786
UP TO VERY LARGE DISTANCES.
699
00:37:36,788 --> 00:37:40,957
SO WE'VE USED THE DATA
FROM THESE GALAXIES
700
00:37:40,959 --> 00:37:44,828
TO PUT ERIK VERLINDE'S THEORY
TO THE TEST.
701
00:37:44,830 --> 00:37:47,731
Narrator: MEASURING THE GRAVITY
ACROSS DISTANT GALAXIES
702
00:37:47,733 --> 00:37:50,800
IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR MARGOT.
703
00:37:50,802 --> 00:37:54,537
LUCKILY, THE COSMOS CREATES
A WEIRD OPTICAL ILLUSION
704
00:37:54,539 --> 00:37:56,273
TO HELP HER.
705
00:37:58,477 --> 00:38:01,278
SOME GALAXIES ARE SO MASSIVE,
706
00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:03,880
THEY BEND LIGHT AROUND THEM,
707
00:38:03,882 --> 00:38:08,051
AN EFFECT CALLED
GRAVITATIONAL LENSING.
708
00:38:08,053 --> 00:38:09,619
THE STRONGER THE GRAVITY,
709
00:38:09,621 --> 00:38:12,389
THE MORE THE BACKGROUND
APPEARS TO WARP.
710
00:38:14,026 --> 00:38:17,093
IT'S A PRICELESS TOOL FOR
MARGOT'S STUDIES.
711
00:38:19,264 --> 00:38:22,032
YOU NEED A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF GALAXIES
712
00:38:22,034 --> 00:38:25,602
TO GET A SIGNIFICANT SIGNAL.
-OKAY.
713
00:38:25,604 --> 00:38:28,338
Narrator: MARGOT NEEDS TO TRAWL
VAST AREAS OF THE COSMOS
714
00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:32,108
FOR DATA TO EVALUATE
THIS RADICAL IDEA.
715
00:38:32,110 --> 00:38:34,944
TO TEST ERIK VERLINDE'S THEORY
716
00:38:34,946 --> 00:38:39,749
WE STUDIED MORE THAN
33,000 GALAXIES.
717
00:38:39,751 --> 00:38:43,286
♪
718
00:38:43,288 --> 00:38:45,655
Narrator: MARGOT MAPS
THE DISTRIBUTION OF GRAVITY
719
00:38:45,657 --> 00:38:49,693
IN THESE GALAXIES BY LOOKING AT
HOW THEY DISTORT THE LIGHT
720
00:38:49,695 --> 00:38:54,064
FROM MILLIONS OF GALAXIES
BEHIND THEM.
721
00:38:54,066 --> 00:38:56,466
SHE THEN COMPARES THE RESULTS
722
00:38:56,468 --> 00:39:00,103
TO THE PREDICTIONS MADE
BY ERIK'S FORMULAS.
723
00:39:00,105 --> 00:39:03,773
INCREDIBLY, ERIK'S THEORY IS
AN ALMOST PERFECT FIT
724
00:39:03,775 --> 00:39:08,144
FOR THE UNIVERSE WE SEE
AROUND US.
725
00:39:08,146 --> 00:39:11,147
THE SPIRAL GALAXIES THAT HAVE
MYSTIFIED ASTRONOMERS
726
00:39:11,149 --> 00:39:14,484
FOR DECADES
COULD JUST BE A NATURAL FEATURE
727
00:39:14,486 --> 00:39:17,053
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE.
728
00:39:17,055 --> 00:39:18,555
ERIK VERLINDE'S THEORY
729
00:39:18,557 --> 00:39:21,257
GIVES A SLIGHTLY MORE ELEGANT
SOLUTION.
730
00:39:21,259 --> 00:39:25,695
BUT WHERE WE HAVE TO ADJUST
THE THEORIES OF GRAVITY
731
00:39:25,697 --> 00:39:30,600
TOWARDS THIS--
YEAH, QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.
732
00:39:32,838 --> 00:39:35,238
Narrator: ASTRONOMERS NOW HAVE
AN ALTERNATIVE WAY
733
00:39:35,240 --> 00:39:37,507
OF UNDERSTANDING THE COSMOS,
734
00:39:37,509 --> 00:39:41,644
ONE THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE
DARK MATTER.
735
00:39:41,646 --> 00:39:44,681
I KNEW, IMMEDIATELY,
WHEN I SAW IT,
736
00:39:44,683 --> 00:39:48,718
THAT THIS WAS
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT,
737
00:39:48,720 --> 00:39:50,720
THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL,
738
00:39:50,722 --> 00:39:55,392
AND THAT I WAS THE FIRST ONE
TO SEE IT,
739
00:39:55,394 --> 00:39:57,827
AND THAT FELT AMAZING.
740
00:39:57,829 --> 00:39:59,996
Thaller: ISAAC NEWTON USED
THE LAWS OF MATHEMATICS
741
00:39:59,998 --> 00:40:03,199
TO WONDERFULLY DESCRIBE
HOW OBJECTS ACCELERATE,
742
00:40:03,201 --> 00:40:05,702
HOW PLANETS ORBIT AROUND STARS.
743
00:40:05,704 --> 00:40:08,438
BUT THERE WERE SOME THINGS
THAT WEREN'T QUITE RIGHT.
744
00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:11,141
AND THEN HE NEEDED EINSTEIN.
745
00:40:11,143 --> 00:40:12,842
EINSTEIN DIDN'T PROVE
NEWTON WRONG.
746
00:40:12,844 --> 00:40:15,145
HE TOOK NEWTON'S IDEAS
AND EXPANDED THEM
747
00:40:15,147 --> 00:40:16,846
TO DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
748
00:40:16,848 --> 00:40:19,783
HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
NOW TAKES US ONE STEP FURTHER.
749
00:40:19,785 --> 00:40:22,986
SOMETIMES OUR IDEAS ARE
FLAT OUT WRONG.
750
00:40:22,988 --> 00:40:24,954
BUT THE AMAZING THING OF
THE LAST 100 YEARS
751
00:40:24,956 --> 00:40:27,090
IS THAT WE'VE SEEN
THAT MANY OF THESE NUTTY,
752
00:40:27,092 --> 00:40:31,528
CRAZY-SOUNDING IDEAS HAVE BEEN
BORNE OUT BY OBSERVATION.
753
00:40:31,530 --> 00:40:32,962
Narrator:
MORE EVIDENCE WILL BE NEEDED
754
00:40:32,964 --> 00:40:35,799
BEFORE THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY
IS CONVINCED.
755
00:40:38,737 --> 00:40:41,404
BUT WITH GROUND-BREAKING
THEORETICAL WORK,
756
00:40:41,406 --> 00:40:43,640
AND INNOVATIVE
EXPERIMENTAL TESTS
757
00:40:43,642 --> 00:40:45,909
TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE WORLD,
758
00:40:45,911 --> 00:40:52,348
THE EVIDENCE MIGHT SOON PROVE IF
WE ARE LIVING IN A HOLOGRAM.
759
00:40:52,350 --> 00:40:55,285
I AM A GREAT FAN
OF THE HOLOGRAPHIC IDEAS,
760
00:40:55,287 --> 00:40:56,453
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE.
761
00:40:56,455 --> 00:40:58,621
IT NATURALLY EMERGES
FROM THE EQUATIONS
762
00:40:58,623 --> 00:41:01,424
THAT WE'VE BEEN STUDYING
FOR 30-40 YEARS.
763
00:41:01,426 --> 00:41:03,426
AND IT ALSO FEELS RIGHT.
764
00:41:03,428 --> 00:41:08,898
IT REALLY FEELS LIKE IT CAPTURES
THE CURIOUS QUALITY OF GRAVITY
765
00:41:08,900 --> 00:41:11,734
IN A MANNER THAT REALLY BEFITS
BOTH THE DATA
766
00:41:11,736 --> 00:41:13,803
AND OUR THEORETICAL PREJUDICES.
767
00:41:13,805 --> 00:41:15,872
SO I THINK THERE'S A VERY,
VERY GOOD CHANCE
768
00:41:15,874 --> 00:41:18,441
THAT THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
IS CORRECT.
769
00:41:18,443 --> 00:41:21,678
THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE IS
AN INTERESTING IDEA.
770
00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,514
IT MAY EVEN BE RIGHT.
IT MAY NOT. WE DON'T KNOW YET.
771
00:41:24,516 --> 00:41:26,649
WE'RE STILL FIGURING
THIS STUFF OUT.
772
00:41:26,651 --> 00:41:30,887
BUT I THINK WHAT IT'S TELLING US
IS THAT OUR KNOWLEDGE
773
00:41:30,889 --> 00:41:34,023
OF THE UNIVERSE,
RIGHT NOW, IS INCOMPLETE.
774
00:41:34,025 --> 00:41:36,493
WE'RE PRETTY SMART
AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.
775
00:41:36,495 --> 00:41:38,495
THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.
776
00:41:38,497 --> 00:41:41,764
IF, HYPOTHETICALLY,
THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
777
00:41:41,766 --> 00:41:43,500
WERE SHOWN TO BE TRUE,
778
00:41:43,502 --> 00:41:45,535
THAT'S SAYING THAT
THIS 4-DIMENSIONAL SPACE/TIME
779
00:41:45,537 --> 00:41:47,737
THAT WE LIVE IN
ISN'T ACTUALLY REAL,
780
00:41:47,739 --> 00:41:49,639
IT'S MORE OF A SIMULATION.
781
00:41:49,641 --> 00:41:51,574
I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE,
YOU KNOW,
782
00:41:51,576 --> 00:41:55,645
TRANSFORMATIONAL, LIKE, "WHOA!"
MOMENT IN SCIENCE THAN THAT.
783
00:41:55,647 --> 00:41:57,113
♪
784
00:41:57,115 --> 00:41:58,615
Narrator: THE HOLOGRAPHIC THEORY
785
00:41:58,617 --> 00:42:02,151
STILL SITS ON THE FRINGES
OF PHYSICS.
786
00:42:02,153 --> 00:42:05,321
BUT IT'S BOLD IDEAS HAVE ALREADY
SENT SHOCK WAVES
787
00:42:05,323 --> 00:42:07,624
THROUGH THE WORLD OF SCIENCE.
788
00:42:07,626 --> 00:42:09,926
I DO BELIEVE THAT
THE HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE
789
00:42:09,928 --> 00:42:12,529
HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED
THE WAY WE THINK
790
00:42:12,531 --> 00:42:16,399
ABOUT ALMOST
ALL FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS.
791
00:42:16,401 --> 00:42:17,834
ONLY TIME WILL TELL
792
00:42:17,836 --> 00:42:23,373
IF THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
IS REAL.
793
00:42:23,375 --> 00:42:28,511
EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WE KNEW
ABOUT THE UNIVERSE.