two years ago in the middle of the night I stood like I’m standing out but in a
I stood like I’m standing out but in a
I stood like I’m standing out but in a swimming pool with a submerged rifle in
swimming pool with a submerged rifle in
swimming pool with a submerged rifle in front of me
front of me
front of me aimed at my chest in my hand I held the
aimed at my chest in my hand I held the
aimed at my chest in my hand I held the cord leading to the trigger this is not
cord leading to the trigger this is not
cord leading to the trigger this is not how I normally spend my Thursday nights
how I normally spend my Thursday nights
how I normally spend my Thursday nights I was shooting a TV series for the
I was shooting a TV series for the
I was shooting a TV series for the national broadcaster here in Norway
national broadcaster here in Norway
national broadcaster here in Norway called life on the line in which I test
called life on the line in which I test
called life on the line in which I test the laws of physics with my life on the
the laws of physics with my life on the
the laws of physics with my life on the line in this episode I would entrust my
line in this episode I would entrust my
line in this episode I would entrust my life to the concept of drag or fluid
life to the concept of drag or fluid
life to the concept of drag or fluid resistance the retarding force acting
resistance the retarding force acting
resistance the retarding force acting upon a body moving in the fluid in the
upon a body moving in the fluid in the
upon a body moving in the fluid in the pool I was not supposed to be the body
pool I was not supposed to be the body
pool I was not supposed to be the body moving the bullet was the theory is
moving the bullet was the theory is
moving the bullet was the theory is straightforward a bullet fired in or
straightforward a bullet fired in or
straightforward a bullet fired in or into water will not travel very far
into water will not travel very far
into water will not travel very far because of all the water molecules it
because of all the water molecules it
because of all the water molecules it has to push out of its way and we have
has to push out of its way and we have
has to push out of its way and we have done numerous tests in the water without
done numerous tests in the water without
done numerous tests in the water without me in the water tracking every bullets
me in the water tracking every bullets
me in the water tracking every bullets position with a high-speed camera
position with a high-speed camera
position with a high-speed camera we had weighed all the cartridges with
we had weighed all the cartridges with
we had weighed all the cartridges with the most exact paper weight that we
the most exact paper weight that we
the most exact paper weight that we could find to make sure one of them did
could find to make sure one of them did
could find to make sure one of them did not surprisingly contain more gunpowder
not surprisingly contain more gunpowder
not surprisingly contain more gunpowder than the others now it was 6:00 in the
than the others now it was 6:00 in the
than the others now it was 6:00 in the morning we had worked all night trying
morning we had worked all night trying
morning we had worked all night trying to get control of all the variables
to get control of all the variables
to get control of all the variables discussing all possible outcomes there
discussing all possible outcomes there
discussing all possible outcomes there was nothing more we could do
should I stand in front of the gun and
should I stand in front of the gun and pull the trigger should I fire a bullet
pull the trigger should I fire a bullet
pull the trigger should I fire a bullet at myself my rational part told me it
at myself my rational part told me it
at myself my rational part told me it will turn out exactly as in in theory
will turn out exactly as in in theory
will turn out exactly as in in theory and tests the other part of me law the
and tests the other part of me law the
and tests the other part of me law the irrational part was scared shitless
irrational part was scared shitless
irrational part was scared shitless it only has to fail once and I’m dead
it only has to fail once and I’m dead
it only has to fail once and I’m dead and to me just the idea of standing in
and to me just the idea of standing in
and to me just the idea of standing in front of a gun loaded made to kill it
front of a gun loaded made to kill it
front of a gun loaded made to kill it yeah you can have a look for yourself it
yeah you can have a look for yourself it
yeah you can have a look for yourself it still makes my hair stand talking about
still makes my hair stand talking about
still makes my hair stand talking about it too to help you understand how I
it too to help you understand how I
it too to help you understand how I ended up in the pool that night I should
ended up in the pool that night I should
ended up in the pool that night I should tell you my background is in physics I’m
tell you my background is in physics I’m
tell you my background is in physics I’m a physicist and I’ve spent the last
a physicist and I’ve spent the last
a physicist and I’ve spent the last eight years communicating science for a
eight years communicating science for a
eight years communicating science for a living writing giving talks hosting TV
living writing giving talks hosting TV
living writing giving talks hosting TV shows and this morning as the Sun was
shows and this morning as the Sun was
shows and this morning as the Sun was about thrice sitting there on the edge
about thrice sitting there on the edge
about thrice sitting there on the edge of the pool my rational reasoning was
of the pool my rational reasoning was
of the pool my rational reasoning was pulling my irrational fear to the edge I
pulling my irrational fear to the edge I
pulling my irrational fear to the edge I remember asking myself how do I take the
remember asking myself how do I take the
remember asking myself how do I take the decision whether to to pull the trigger
decision whether to to pull the trigger
decision whether to to pull the trigger and fire a bullet at myself or go home
and fire a bullet at myself or go home
and fire a bullet at myself or go home on what basis do I take that decision
on what basis do I take that decision
on what basis do I take that decision like how can I know for sure how do you
like how can I know for sure how do you
like how can I know for sure how do you know stuff to be true I can tell you
know stuff to be true I can tell you
know stuff to be true I can tell you that when your life is on the line these
that when your life is on the line these
that when your life is on the line these questions become really really important
and this is how I think we know stuff it
and this is how I think we know stuff it all starts with an idea a leap of
all starts with an idea a leap of
all starts with an idea a leap of imagination scientists they have this
imagination scientists they have this
imagination scientists they have this immense privilege of standing on the
immense privilege of standing on the
immense privilege of standing on the edge of what we know and scoping
edge of what we know and scoping
edge of what we know and scoping outwards so you have an idea of how
outwards so you have an idea of how
outwards so you have an idea of how something might be you kind of make it
something might be you kind of make it
something might be you kind of make it guess really and then you form this into
guess really and then you form this into
guess really and then you form this into our hypothesis a prediction and a
our hypothesis a prediction and a
our hypothesis a prediction and a testable one and after may after making
testable one and after may after making
testable one and after may after making sure no one has done exactly what you’re
sure no one has done exactly what you’re
sure no one has done exactly what you’re planning to do you start the trial and
planning to do you start the trial and
planning to do you start the trial and error you you design a procedure that
error you you design a procedure that
error you you design a procedure that will hopefully answer your hypothesis in
will hopefully answer your hypothesis in
will hopefully answer your hypothesis in the end and then you start testing and
the end and then you start testing and
the end and then you start testing and in the Natural Sciences we have
in the Natural Sciences we have
in the Natural Sciences we have something truly unique we have something
something truly unique we have something
something truly unique we have something you won’t find in in politics or
you won’t find in in politics or
you won’t find in in politics or economics or art we have this
economics or art we have this
economics or art we have this universally agreed-upon blueprint to
universally agreed-upon blueprint to
universally agreed-upon blueprint to test against will not one that everyone
test against will not one that everyone
test against will not one that everyone accepts its nature if your hypothesis
accepts its nature if your hypothesis
accepts its nature if your hypothesis does not agree with nature you need to
does not agree with nature you need to
does not agree with nature you need to toss it out if your hypothesis cannot
toss it out if your hypothesis cannot
toss it out if your hypothesis cannot successfully predict how nature works
successfully predict how nature works
successfully predict how nature works it’s not worth much and then there is
it’s not worth much and then there is
it’s not worth much and then there is publication telling people about your
publication telling people about your
publication telling people about your work you might remember this a few years
work you might remember this a few years
work you might remember this a few years ago headlines all over the world being
ago headlines all over the world being
ago headlines all over the world being neutrinos traveling faster than light
neutrinos traveling faster than light
neutrinos traveling faster than light okay you might have to be a physicist to
okay you might have to be a physicist to
okay you might have to be a physicist to remember
remember
remember [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this children anyway a few weeks later
this children anyway a few weeks later
this children anyway a few weeks later the same news channels reported
the same news channels reported
the same news channels reported something like haha scientists were
something like haha scientists were
something like haha scientists were wrong neutrinos do not travel faster
wrong neutrinos do not travel faster
wrong neutrinos do not travel faster than light this was how it was seen
than light this was how it was seen
than light this was how it was seen through the media lens this is what
through the media lens this is what
through the media lens this is what actually happened a few scientists in
actually happened a few scientists in
actually happened a few scientists in Switzerland found something odd their
Switzerland found something odd their
Switzerland found something odd their data seemed to implicate these
data seemed to implicate these
data seemed to implicate these fundamental particles neutrinos travel
fundamental particles neutrinos travel
fundamental particles neutrinos travel faster than light which is not possible
faster than light which is not possible
faster than light which is not possible according to the current laws of physics
according to the current laws of physics
according to the current laws of physics nothing travels faster the night so they
nothing travels faster the night so they
nothing travels faster the night so they naturally assume they must have made a
naturally assume they must have made a
naturally assume they must have made a mistake somewhere
mistake somewhere
mistake somewhere so they went looking for the mistakes
so they went looking for the mistakes
so they went looking for the mistakes for years they couldn’t find any so they
for years they couldn’t find any so they
for years they couldn’t find any so they published their findings in an academic
published their findings in an academic
published their findings in an academic journal saying hey this is strange we
journal saying hey this is strange we
journal saying hey this is strange we think we must have made a mistake but we
think we must have made a mistake but we
think we must have made a mistake but we can find it can you guys help us and the
can find it can you guys help us and the
can find it can you guys help us and the scientific world did help them it turned
scientific world did help them it turned
scientific world did help them it turned out there was an fiber optic cable
out there was an fiber optic cable
out there was an fiber optic cable improperly installed and an oscillating
improperly installed and an oscillating
improperly installed and an oscillating clock ticking too fast but I love this
clock ticking too fast but I love this
clock ticking too fast but I love this this story because it shows a crucial
this story because it shows a crucial
this story because it shows a crucial element of the scientific method to seek
element of the scientific method to seek
element of the scientific method to seek criticism in what other part of society
criticism in what other part of society
criticism in what other part of society do people go hey please come pull my
do people go hey please come pull my
do people go hey please come pull my work apart tell me what I’ve done wrong
work apart tell me what I’ve done wrong
work apart tell me what I’ve done wrong I don’t think that’s intuitive it
I don’t think that’s intuitive it
I don’t think that’s intuitive it certainly isn’t to me I’ve had to learn
certainly isn’t to me I’ve had to learn
certainly isn’t to me I’ve had to learn it but it’s part of what makes
it but it’s part of what makes
it but it’s part of what makes publishing so important in the
publishing so important in the
publishing so important in the scientific method and then there’s my
scientific method and then there’s my
scientific method and then there’s my favorite trait
willingness to change your mind in
willingness to change your mind in science if presented with better
science if presented with better
science if presented with better knowledge you should change your mind it
knowledge you should change your mind it
knowledge you should change your mind it doesn’t always happen
doesn’t always happen
doesn’t always happen scientists are humans too but it happens
scientists are humans too but it happens
scientists are humans too but it happens let me give you an example a life saving
let me give you an example a life saving
let me give you an example a life saving 110 years ago in hospitals all over the
110 years ago in hospitals all over the
110 years ago in hospitals all over the world
world
world premature children were given pure
premature children were given pure
premature children were given pure oxygen to help them cope with life
oxygen to help them cope with life
oxygen to help them cope with life outside the womb
outside the womb
outside the womb now imagine in one of these hospitals
now imagine in one of these hospitals
now imagine in one of these hospitals and an experienced and highly regarded
and an experienced and highly regarded
and an experienced and highly regarded pediatrician who has given 100% oxygen –
pediatrician who has given 100% oxygen –
pediatrician who has given 100% oxygen – tiny premature babies her whole career
tiny premature babies her whole career
tiny premature babies her whole career and taught her students to do the same
and taught her students to do the same
and taught her students to do the same one day reading a scientific paper or
one day reading a scientific paper or
one day reading a scientific paper or attending a scientific conference and
attending a scientific conference and
attending a scientific conference and learning all these new studies showing
learning all these new studies showing
learning all these new studies showing it’s not to the child’s best in fact
it’s not to the child’s best in fact
it’s not to the child’s best in fact giving them a gas makes closer to what
giving them a gas makes closer to what
giving them a gas makes closer to what we breathe here today like starting out
we breathe here today like starting out
we breathe here today like starting out with 30-40 percent oxygen it decreases
with 30-40 percent oxygen it decreases
with 30-40 percent oxygen it decreases the chance of brain damage and increases
the chance of brain damage and increases
the chance of brain damage and increases survival rate now please
survival rate now please
survival rate now please imagine her with all of these tiny
imagine her with all of these tiny
imagine her with all of these tiny babies that she has tried to help in
babies that she has tried to help in
babies that she has tried to help in their mind both the ones that survived
their mind both the ones that survived
their mind both the ones that survived and the ones that did not and with all
and the ones that did not and with all
and the ones that did not and with all her students looking up to her imagine
her students looking up to her imagine
her students looking up to her imagine her saying to herself and to her
her saying to herself and to her
her saying to herself and to her colleagues
colleagues
colleagues okay then that’s what we’re going to do
okay then that’s what we’re going to do
okay then that’s what we’re going to do from now on
it happens and this discovery alone and
it happens and this discovery alone and doctors willingness to change their mind
has since then saved an estimated
has since then saved an estimated 200,000 lives and I think this is
200,000 lives and I think this is
200,000 lives and I think this is something we can all learn from the
something we can all learn from the
something we can all learn from the scientific method to be willing to
scientific method to be willing to
scientific method to be willing to change your mind if presented with with
change your mind if presented with with
change your mind if presented with with new and solid information it’s a
new and solid information it’s a
new and solid information it’s a fundamental thing I mean I trust you
fundamental thing I mean I trust you
fundamental thing I mean I trust you more if you are open to changing your
more if you are open to changing your
more if you are open to changing your mind I think we will have a more
mind I think we will have a more
mind I think we will have a more fruitful discussion if we are all open
fruitful discussion if we are all open
fruitful discussion if we are all open to this idea it’s hard I know because we
to this idea it’s hard I know because we
to this idea it’s hard I know because we intuitively do the opposite but I think
intuitively do the opposite but I think
intuitively do the opposite but I think it’s worth trying science might be this
it’s worth trying science might be this
it’s worth trying science might be this cold logical process but it’s always
cold logical process but it’s always
cold logical process but it’s always performed by humans and we like to think
performed by humans and we like to think
performed by humans and we like to think of ourselves as as rational beings we
of ourselves as as rational beings we
of ourselves as as rational beings we certainly are not
certainly are not
certainly are not and sometimes our irrationality stands
and sometimes our irrationality stands
and sometimes our irrationality stands in the way of scientific progress but at
in the way of scientific progress but at
in the way of scientific progress but at the same time the human capacity of
the same time the human capacity of
the same time the human capacity of wonder and curiosity is crucial to the
wonder and curiosity is crucial to the
wonder and curiosity is crucial to the process as for me I felt that duality of
process as for me I felt that duality of
process as for me I felt that duality of the human mind that night in the pool we
the human mind that night in the pool we
the human mind that night in the pool we had done lots of tests we had weighed
had done lots of tests we had weighed
had done lots of tests we had weighed all the bullets
all the bullets
all the bullets the only variable changed would be me
the only variable changed would be me
the only variable changed would be me standing in front of the gun it should
standing in front of the gun it should
standing in front of the gun it should perform exactly as in tests there should
perform exactly as in tests there should
perform exactly as in tests there should be no fear my rational personality told
be no fear my rational personality told
be no fear my rational personality told me but then science cannot state facts
me but then science cannot state facts
me but then science cannot state facts with a hundred percent certainty it can
with a hundred percent certainty it can
with a hundred percent certainty it can only say something is very
only say something is very
only say something is very very likely what if just this one time
very likely what if just this one time
very likely what if just this one time my irrationality spoke and this is what
my irrationality spoke and this is what
my irrationality spoke and this is what I decided to do
it’s gone today
it’s gone today [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] thank you
”
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