imagine I gave you a time machine and you could choose any dates in the past
you could choose any dates in the past
you could choose any dates in the past or the future where would you go – this
or the future where would you go – this
or the future where would you go – this was a question I was asked and I at
was a question I was asked and I at
was a question I was asked and I at first I thought well given what we’ve
first I thought well given what we’ve
first I thought well given what we’ve learned in the last 400 years just
learned in the last 400 years just
learned in the last 400 years just imagine what’s possible in the future
imagine what’s possible in the future
imagine what’s possible in the future 400 years from now or ten thousand years
400 years from now or ten thousand years
400 years from now or ten thousand years from now let’s go there and see what
from now let’s go there and see what
from now let’s go there and see what it’s like and on second thoughts you
it’s like and on second thoughts you
it’s like and on second thoughts you might get there to the future and you
might get there to the future and you
might get there to the future and you find that humans have been assimilated
find that humans have been assimilated
find that humans have been assimilated by robots which well maybe that’s not so
by robots which well maybe that’s not so
by robots which well maybe that’s not so much fun after all or even worse you get
much fun after all or even worse you get
much fun after all or even worse you get to the future and we’ve really messed
to the future and we’ve really messed
to the future and we’ve really messed things up and there’s no life at all so
things up and there’s no life at all so
things up and there’s no life at all so I’ll play it safe with my time machine
I’ll play it safe with my time machine
I’ll play it safe with my time machine I’ll go back two and a half thousand
I’ll go back two and a half thousand
I’ll go back two and a half thousand years I’ll go back to have a
years I’ll go back to have a
years I’ll go back to have a conversation with Democritus Democritus
conversation with Democritus Democritus
conversation with Democritus Democritus was a philosopher many historians of
was a philosopher many historians of
was a philosopher many historians of science say he was the first real
science say he was the first real
science say he was the first real scientist
scientist
scientist he made the remarkable advance that the
he made the remarkable advance that the
he made the remarkable advance that the world could be understood with logic
world could be understood with logic
world could be understood with logic thought and experiment rather than just
thought and experiment rather than just
thought and experiment rather than just appealing to the gods and magic only
appealing to the gods and magic only
appealing to the gods and magic only fragments of his writings remain but I
fragments of his writings remain but I
fragments of his writings remain but I would like to tell you about four topics
would like to tell you about four topics
would like to tell you about four topics he wrote about I would like to go back
he wrote about I would like to go back
he wrote about I would like to go back and show Democritus what we’ve learned
and show Democritus what we’ve learned
and show Democritus what we’ve learned about his predictions and tell him what
about his predictions and tell him what
about his predictions and tell him what we’ve learned from science he looked at
we’ve learned from science he looked at
we’ve learned from science he looked at the matter around him and he studied it
the matter around him and he studied it
the matter around him and he studied it and he speculated that everything was
and he speculated that everything was
and he speculated that everything was made of particles so small you can’t see
made of particles so small you can’t see
made of particles so small you can’t see them
them
them he called him a tan
he called him a tan
he called him a tan now I can’t show democritus a picture of
now I can’t show democritus a picture of
now I can’t show democritus a picture of an atom a photograph of an atom but at
an atom a photograph of an atom but at
an atom a photograph of an atom but at first I would show him the PhD thesis of
first I would show him the PhD thesis of
first I would show him the PhD thesis of Albert Einstein he graduated from the
Albert Einstein he graduated from the
Albert Einstein he graduated from the University of Zurich in 1905 that’s the
University of Zurich in 1905 that’s the
University of Zurich in 1905 that’s the cover of his thesis and you might think
cover of his thesis and you might think
cover of his thesis and you might think it would be for the discovery is about
it would be for the discovery is about
it would be for the discovery is about space and time and relativity but no
space and time and relativity but no
space and time and relativity but no it’s 17 short pages beautiful pages of
it’s 17 short pages beautiful pages of
it’s 17 short pages beautiful pages of physics and mathematics
physics and mathematics
physics and mathematics that describe how to measure the sizes
that describe how to measure the sizes
that describe how to measure the sizes of molecules his theory was applied on
of molecules his theory was applied on
of molecules his theory was applied on the image there you see some jittering
the image there you see some jittering
the image there you see some jittering particles that’s Brownian motion those
particles that’s Brownian motion those
particles that’s Brownian motion those are very small specks of pollen floating
are very small specks of pollen floating
are very small specks of pollen floating on water chittering around because
on water chittering around because
on water chittering around because they’re being bombarded by the molecules
they’re being bombarded by the molecules
they’re being bombarded by the molecules in the water and from the random path
in the water and from the random path
in the water and from the random path they make you could use the work that
they make you could use the work that
they make you could use the work that I’m Stein laid out in his thesis to
I’m Stein laid out in his thesis to
I’m Stein laid out in his thesis to calculate the size of the water
calculate the size of the water
calculate the size of the water molecules and indeed 100 years ago it
molecules and indeed 100 years ago it
molecules and indeed 100 years ago it was shown that the molecules were
was shown that the molecules were
was shown that the molecules were smaller than the wavelength of light so
smaller than the wavelength of light so
smaller than the wavelength of light so you can’t actually shine a light onto
you can’t actually shine a light onto
you can’t actually shine a light onto them to take a photograph but I could
them to take a photograph but I could
them to take a photograph but I could show
show
show Democritus this this is the first image
Democritus this this is the first image
Democritus this this is the first image of a molecule that was made actually in
of a molecule that was made actually in
of a molecule that was made actually in 2009 by researchers at IBM Zurich they
2009 by researchers at IBM Zurich they
2009 by researchers at IBM Zurich they used what is called an atomic force
used what is called an atomic force
used what is called an atomic force microscope which is like a mechanical
microscope which is like a mechanical
microscope which is like a mechanical very fine slither of material that is
very fine slither of material that is
very fine slither of material that is pushed across the molecule with a laser
pushed across the molecule with a laser
pushed across the molecule with a laser and it has little sensors piezoelectric
and it has little sensors piezoelectric
and it has little sensors piezoelectric sensors on it and they can move this
sensors on it and they can move this
sensors on it and they can move this around the molecule in three dimensions
around the molecule in three dimensions
around the molecule in three dimensions picking up its charge field and from
picking up its charge field and from
picking up its charge field and from that you can make the image on the top
that you can make the image on the top
that you can make the image on the top there which correspond exactly to those
there which correspond exactly to those
there which correspond exactly to those total diagrams you learn about in
total diagrams you learn about in
total diagrams you learn about in chemistry quite beautiful but what’s at
chemistry quite beautiful but what’s at
chemistry quite beautiful but what’s at the center of those connecting places
the center of those connecting places
the center of those connecting places they’re the atoms well that I could also
they’re the atoms well that I could also
they’re the atoms well that I could also show to Democritus because just a few
show to Democritus because just a few
show to Democritus because just a few years ago researchers in the Netherlands
years ago researchers in the Netherlands
years ago researchers in the Netherlands and Germany they built a quantum
and Germany they built a quantum
and Germany they built a quantum microscope this was the first picture of
microscope this was the first picture of
microscope this was the first picture of an Assam hydrogen atom that was made in
an Assam hydrogen atom that was made in
an Assam hydrogen atom that was made in 2013 quantum microscope
2013 quantum microscope
2013 quantum microscope pretty complicated thing but what you’re
pretty complicated thing but what you’re
pretty complicated thing but what you’re looking at here is is a picture made up
looking at here is is a picture made up
looking at here is is a picture made up by ejecting the electrons out of the
by ejecting the electrons out of the
by ejecting the electrons out of the hydrogen atom looking at where they fall
hydrogen atom looking at where they fall
hydrogen atom looking at where they fall onto a detector and reconstructing how
onto a detector and reconstructing how
onto a detector and reconstructing how where they came from and what you’re
where they came from and what you’re
where they came from and what you’re seeing there is really the wave function
seeing there is really the wave function
seeing there is really the wave function the probability function of where the
the probability function of where the
the probability function of where the electrons can be found quite different
electrons can be found quite different
electrons can be found quite different to those sort of planetary orbit type
to those sort of planetary orbit type
to those sort of planetary orbit type pictures that I was taught in school at
pictures that I was taught in school at
pictures that I was taught in school at least now Democritus
least now Democritus
least now Democritus might wonder where all of these atoms
might wonder where all of these atoms
might wonder where all of these atoms came from and prior to this year I
came from and prior to this year I
came from and prior to this year I wouldn’t have been able to answer that
wouldn’t have been able to answer that
wouldn’t have been able to answer that question but there was a remarkable
question but there was a remarkable
question but there was a remarkable event that took place some months ago
event that took place some months ago
event that took place some months ago for one-minute fabric of space vibrated
for one-minute fabric of space vibrated
for one-minute fabric of space vibrated stretched and expanded it was picked up
stretched and expanded it was picked up
stretched and expanded it was picked up by gravitational wave detectors in
by gravitational wave detectors in
by gravitational wave detectors in Europe and America a rough location
Europe and America a rough location
Europe and America a rough location could be identified after this source
could be identified after this source
could be identified after this source that was disturbing space time and
that was disturbing space time and
that was disturbing space time and astronomers all around the world focused
astronomers all around the world focused
astronomers all around the world focused the telescope’s into that region and
the telescope’s into that region and
the telescope’s into that region and they saw an explosion of light decaying
they saw an explosion of light decaying
they saw an explosion of light decaying away from some cosmic event that had
away from some cosmic event that had
away from some cosmic event that had occurred that blue dot there is shining
occurred that blue dot there is shining
occurred that blue dot there is shining with the light of a billion stars what
with the light of a billion stars what
with the light of a billion stars what it comes from is a merger between two
it comes from is a merger between two
it comes from is a merger between two neutron stars this is an artist’s
neutron stars this is an artist’s
neutron stars this is an artist’s representations neutron stars are what’s
representations neutron stars are what’s
representations neutron stars are what’s left over when a giant star collapses at
left over when a giant star collapses at
left over when a giant star collapses at the end of its life and its core
the end of its life and its core
the end of its life and its core condenses into a very dense state of
condenses into a very dense state of
condenses into a very dense state of neutrons now what’s this all got to do
neutrons now what’s this all got to do
neutrons now what’s this all got to do with atoms well it was found that these
with atoms well it was found that these
with atoms well it was found that these mergers between dead stars this is where
mergers between dead stars this is where
mergers between dead stars this is where the heavier elements are actually
the heavier elements are actually
the heavier elements are actually created before this observation we were
created before this observation we were
created before this observation we were missing part of the puzzle as to where
missing part of the puzzle as to where
missing part of the puzzle as to where atoms came from and now we have a
atoms came from and now we have a
atoms came from and now we have a complete picture we can look at the
complete picture we can look at the
complete picture we can look at the periodic table of atoms and say where
periodic table of atoms and say where
periodic table of atoms and say where everything came from this is it here so
everything came from this is it here so
everything came from this is it here so the hydrogen in your bodies about 20% of
the hydrogen in your bodies about 20% of
the hydrogen in your bodies about 20% of you originates in the Big Bang 13.8
you originates in the Big Bang 13.8
you originates in the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago that’s how old most of
billion years ago that’s how old most of
billion years ago that’s how old most of you are there’s no other source of
you are there’s no other source of
you are there’s no other source of hydrogen since then
hydrogen since then
hydrogen since then the oxygen in your bodies was made in
the oxygen in your bodies was made in
the oxygen in your bodies was made in exploding supernova massive stars at the
exploding supernova massive stars at the
exploding supernova massive stars at the end of their lives and then some of the
end of their lives and then some of the
end of their lives and then some of the trace elements that
trace elements that
trace elements that would be dead without like iodine
would be dead without like iodine
would be dead without like iodine there’s only a few grams in in our
there’s only a few grams in in our
there’s only a few grams in in our bodies but we can’t live without it
bodies but we can’t live without it
bodies but we can’t live without it that was all made in the exploding
that was all made in the exploding
that was all made in the exploding neutron stars quite a story quite an
neutron stars quite a story quite an
neutron stars quite a story quite an accomplishment of science to figure out
accomplishment of science to figure out
accomplishment of science to figure out the origin of all these elements the
the origin of all these elements the
the origin of all these elements the next thing
next thing
next thing Democritus talked about was the night
Democritus talked about was the night
Democritus talked about was the night sky he speculated that the stars that
sky he speculated that the stars that
sky he speculated that the stars that glowed were actually distant Suns like
glowed were actually distant Suns like
glowed were actually distant Suns like our Sun he couldn’t prove that because
our Sun he couldn’t prove that because
our Sun he couldn’t prove that because there were no telescopes at this time so
there were no telescopes at this time so
there were no telescopes at this time so I’d like to go back and show him a
I’d like to go back and show him a
I’d like to go back and show him a telescope I would like to show him one
telescope I would like to show him one
telescope I would like to show him one of the most beautiful images ever taken
of the most beautiful images ever taken
of the most beautiful images ever taken this is by the Hubble Space Telescope so
this is by the Hubble Space Telescope so
this is by the Hubble Space Telescope so I will just step out the way because you
I will just step out the way because you
I will just step out the way because you can just watch this and I’ll comment
can just watch this and I’ll comment
can just watch this and I’ll comment over a little bit of it I can’t show
over a little bit of it I can’t show
over a little bit of it I can’t show Democritus our own galaxy cuz we’re in
Democritus our own galaxy cuz we’re in
Democritus our own galaxy cuz we’re in the middle of it but I can show him
the middle of it but I can show him
the middle of it but I can show him Andromeda which is our nearest neighbor
Andromeda which is our nearest neighbor
Andromeda which is our nearest neighbor it contains hundreds of billion stars
it contains hundreds of billion stars
it contains hundreds of billion stars like our own Milky Way this image is a
like our own Milky Way this image is a
like our own Milky Way this image is a composite of many pointings of the
composite of many pointings of the
composite of many pointings of the hubble space telescope to show the whole
hubble space telescope to show the whole
hubble space telescope to show the whole image you would need 600 of these
image you would need 600 of these
image you would need 600 of these screens
screens
screens to what you’re seeing are close to a
to what you’re seeing are close to a
to what you’re seeing are close to a billion stars and I at least are not
billion stars and I at least are not
billion stars and I at least are not used to seeing a billion things from
used to seeing a billion things from
used to seeing a billion things from here by scanning over this image you can
here by scanning over this image you can
here by scanning over this image you can get a sense scale of a single galaxy
get a sense scale of a single galaxy
get a sense scale of a single galaxy [Music]
[Music]
[Music] one of the next
one of the next
one of the next predictions that Democritus made was
predictions that Democritus made was
predictions that Democritus made was that there should be planets out there
that there should be planets out there
that there should be planets out there in space like the earth and that is one
in space like the earth and that is one
in space like the earth and that is one of the most remarkable accomplishments
of the most remarkable accomplishments
of the most remarkable accomplishments that we’ve actually made in astronomy in
that we’ve actually made in astronomy in
that we’ve actually made in astronomy in the last century I think is the
the last century I think is the
the last century I think is the discovery that nearly all of the stars
discovery that nearly all of the stars
discovery that nearly all of the stars we see in the night sky have their own
we see in the night sky have their own
we see in the night sky have their own planets orbiting them get back in a
planets orbiting them get back in a
planets orbiting them get back in a minute to describe how we’ve understood
minute to describe how we’ve understood
minute to describe how we’ve understood that
that
that [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this song I actually broke is from my
this song I actually broke is from my
this song I actually broke is from my last album I wrote it for my wife I hope
last album I wrote it for my wife I hope
last album I wrote it for my wife I hope you like it
you like it
you like it [Music]
I always I’ve been looking at these
I always I’ve been looking at these images for 30 years as an astrophysicist
images for 30 years as an astrophysicist
images for 30 years as an astrophysicist I always it always makes you feel so
I always it always makes you feel so
I always it always makes you feel so small and insignificance
small and insignificance
small and insignificance but also it fills me with this or about
but also it fills me with this or about
but also it fills me with this or about how amazing that universe actually is
how amazing that universe actually is
how amazing that universe actually is we’ve learnt so much but there’s still
we’ve learnt so much but there’s still
we’ve learnt so much but there’s still an awful long way to go to really
an awful long way to go to really
an awful long way to go to really understand some of the complicated
understand some of the complicated
understand some of the complicated things like why there is something and
things like why there is something and
things like why there is something and not nothing so each of these little
not nothing so each of these little
not nothing so each of these little pixels contains a star something like
pixels contains a star something like
pixels contains a star something like the Sun some smallest and larger we’re
the Sun some smallest and larger we’re
the Sun some smallest and larger we’re scanning through to the center of
scanning through to the center of
scanning through to the center of Andromeda and then the end of the movie
Andromeda and then the end of the movie
Andromeda and then the end of the movie will zoom out
so how how did Democritus come up with
so how how did Democritus come up with the idea that there are planets orbiting
the idea that there are planets orbiting
the idea that there are planets orbiting these stars I would like to ask him that
these stars I would like to ask him that
these stars I would like to ask him that it’s quite a remarkable prediction he
it’s quite a remarkable prediction he
it’s quite a remarkable prediction he made and as I mentioned we’ve learned
made and as I mentioned we’ve learned
made and as I mentioned we’ve learned that most stars out there in our galaxy
that most stars out there in our galaxy
that most stars out there in our galaxy have their own worlds orbiting them how
have their own worlds orbiting them how
have their own worlds orbiting them how do we know that with one technique is
do we know that with one technique is
do we know that with one technique is quite simple and it’s the most commonly
quite simple and it’s the most commonly
quite simple and it’s the most commonly used technique to find planets around
used technique to find planets around
used technique to find planets around other worlds and here’s a little example
other worlds and here’s a little example
other worlds and here’s a little example of how we do that if the alignment is
of how we do that if the alignment is
of how we do that if the alignment is just right that planet will orbit in
just right that planet will orbit in
just right that planet will orbit in front of the star this is an example of
front of the star this is an example of
front of the star this is an example of Venus transiting the Sun and our
Venus transiting the Sun and our
Venus transiting the Sun and our telescopes are not powerful enough to
telescopes are not powerful enough to
telescopes are not powerful enough to see the planets themselves they’re too
see the planets themselves they’re too
see the planets themselves they’re too small and too faint but the planet has a
small and too faint but the planet has a
small and too faint but the planet has a small size and it blocks out some of the
small size and it blocks out some of the
small size and it blocks out some of the Starlight and in the graph you can see
Starlight and in the graph you can see
Starlight and in the graph you can see the intensity of light and the Sun drops
the intensity of light and the Sun drops
the intensity of light and the Sun drops by a tenth of a percent so by looking
by a tenth of a percent so by looking
by a tenth of a percent so by looking for these dips in starlight we can find
for these dips in starlight we can find
for these dips in starlight we can find planets orbiting of the Worlds and by
planets orbiting of the Worlds and by
planets orbiting of the Worlds and by the amount that the light dips we can
the amount that the light dips we can
the amount that the light dips we can figure out how big the planet is that’s
figure out how big the planet is that’s
figure out how big the planet is that’s blocking the star lines putting all the
blocking the star lines putting all the
blocking the star lines putting all the few thousand planets together that have
few thousand planets together that have
few thousand planets together that have been discovered so far onto one plot it
been discovered so far onto one plot it
been discovered so far onto one plot it looks like this this is a an orrery
looks like this this is a an orrery
looks like this this is a an orrery these are all real planetary systems
these are all real planetary systems
these are all real planetary systems observed around stars in our galaxy the
observed around stars in our galaxy the
observed around stars in our galaxy the diversity was quite shocking to
diversity was quite shocking to
diversity was quite shocking to astronomers because there’s so much
astronomers because there’s so much
astronomers because there’s so much variety in the number of configurations
variety in the number of configurations
variety in the number of configurations of solar systems out there there are
of solar systems out there there are
of solar systems out there there are some were like our own with planets
some were like our own with planets
some were like our own with planets orbiting at the same distance from their
orbiting at the same distance from their
orbiting at the same distance from their stars others were quite different you
stars others were quite different you
stars others were quite different you had all the planets orbiting within the
had all the planets orbiting within the
had all the planets orbiting within the distance of Mercury there are planets
distance of Mercury there are planets
distance of Mercury there are planets orbiting binary stars there are planets
orbiting binary stars there are planets
orbiting binary stars there are planets of all shapes and sizes it’s quite
of all shapes and sizes it’s quite
of all shapes and sizes it’s quite remarkable even the nearest star Proxima
remarkable even the nearest star Proxima
remarkable even the nearest star Proxima be in the Alpha Centauri triple star
be in the Alpha Centauri triple star
be in the Alpha Centauri triple star system that has its own world orbiting
system that has its own world orbiting
system that has its own world orbiting it and just this last week we’ve heard
it and just this last week we’ve heard
it and just this last week we’ve heard about Rosslyn 128 which has a earth-like
about Rosslyn 128 which has a earth-like
about Rosslyn 128 which has a earth-like planet in the habitable
planet in the habitable
planet in the habitable eleven light-years away Democritus was
eleven light-years away Democritus was
eleven light-years away Democritus was right in those three statements so far
right in those three statements so far
right in those three statements so far the last statement that survives that he
the last statement that survives that he
the last statement that survives that he made was that many of these worlds out
made was that many of these worlds out
made was that many of these worlds out there would be dead and barren and empty
there would be dead and barren and empty
there would be dead and barren and empty but many will be filled with life in the
but many will be filled with life in the
but many will be filled with life in the next ten years we will be able to see if
next ten years we will be able to see if
next ten years we will be able to see if Democritus was right or not we can’t
Democritus was right or not we can’t
Democritus was right or not we can’t obviously go there today because we
obviously go there today because we
obviously go there today because we don’t have the technology but we can
don’t have the technology but we can
don’t have the technology but we can observe life on the surfaces of these
observe life on the surfaces of these
observe life on the surfaces of these worlds by looking for bio signatures bio
worlds by looking for bio signatures bio
worlds by looking for bio signatures bio signatures are molecules that wouldn’t
signatures are molecules that wouldn’t
signatures are molecules that wouldn’t be present in the atmospheres of worlds
be present in the atmospheres of worlds
be present in the atmospheres of worlds if those worlds didn’t have life here’s
if those worlds didn’t have life here’s
if those worlds didn’t have life here’s an example we have Venus the Earth and
an example we have Venus the Earth and
an example we have Venus the Earth and Mars and those graphs show the sunlight
Mars and those graphs show the sunlight
Mars and those graphs show the sunlight that’s passed through the atmospheres of
that’s passed through the atmospheres of
that’s passed through the atmospheres of these planets and some of the molecules
these planets and some of the molecules
these planets and some of the molecules in the atmosphere have blocked the
in the atmosphere have blocked the
in the atmosphere have blocked the sunlight and you get those dips so you
sunlight and you get those dips so you
sunlight and you get those dips so you see all these worlds have carbon dioxide
see all these worlds have carbon dioxide
see all these worlds have carbon dioxide but only the earth has ozone they’re
but only the earth has ozone they’re
but only the earth has ozone they’re very prominent which comes from free
very prominent which comes from free
very prominent which comes from free oxygen and water too so oxygen is a bio
oxygen and water too so oxygen is a bio
oxygen and water too so oxygen is a bio signature of life it’s produced by
signature of life it’s produced by
signature of life it’s produced by living things if there was no life on
living things if there was no life on
living things if there was no life on earth there would be no oxygen in its
earth there would be no oxygen in its
earth there would be no oxygen in its atmosphere at the moment our telescopes
atmosphere at the moment our telescopes
atmosphere at the moment our telescopes are just not big enough to detect these
are just not big enough to detect these
are just not big enough to detect these bio signatures in other worlds but
bio signatures in other worlds but
bio signatures in other worlds but coming online we have these remarkable
coming online we have these remarkable
coming online we have these remarkable instruments and they’re going to look at
instruments and they’re going to look at
instruments and they’re going to look at this effect when the planets class in
this effect when the planets class in
this effect when the planets class in front of their stars some of the
front of their stars some of the
front of their stars some of the Starlight will pass through their
Starlight will pass through their
Starlight will pass through their atmospheres they will measure the
atmospheres they will measure the
atmospheres they will measure the spectrum and search for those chemicals
spectrum and search for those chemicals
spectrum and search for those chemicals that would indicate life these are the
that would indicate life these are the
that would indicate life these are the instruments that are coming online we
instruments that are coming online we
instruments that are coming online we have the next generation Space Telescope
have the next generation Space Telescope
have the next generation Space Telescope the James Webb telescope with its six
the James Webb telescope with its six
the James Webb telescope with its six meter gold-plated mirror that’s going to
meter gold-plated mirror that’s going to
meter gold-plated mirror that’s going to be launched in just two years and then
be launched in just two years and then
be launched in just two years and then we have this remarkable telescope from
we have this remarkable telescope from
we have this remarkable telescope from the European Southern Observatory with
the European Southern Observatory with
the European Southern Observatory with its 40 meter mirror those
its 40 meter mirror those
its 40 meter mirror those carved to scale in front of the
carved to scale in front of the
carved to scale in front of the observatory though with these telescopes
observatory though with these telescopes
observatory though with these telescopes we can find if there is oxygen in the
we can find if there is oxygen in the
we can find if there is oxygen in the atmospheres of these are the worlds
atmospheres of these are the worlds
atmospheres of these are the worlds we’ve already actually detected water on
we’ve already actually detected water on
we’ve already actually detected water on some planets but oxygen is harder and
some planets but oxygen is harder and
some planets but oxygen is harder and there are other molecules we can look
there are other molecules we can look
there are other molecules we can look for such as nitrous oxide from decaying
for such as nitrous oxide from decaying
for such as nitrous oxide from decaying plants Missal chloride from fires
plants Missal chloride from fires
plants Missal chloride from fires because only once living things can burn
because only once living things can burn
because only once living things can burn so that would be a strong indicator of
so that would be a strong indicator of
so that would be a strong indicator of life or maybe life is sort of like
life or maybe life is sort of like
life or maybe life is sort of like ourselves and happily pollutes its
ourselves and happily pollutes its
ourselves and happily pollutes its atmosphere and we can detect the
atmosphere and we can detect the
atmosphere and we can detect the chlorofluorocarbons in their worlds so
chlorofluorocarbons in their worlds so
chlorofluorocarbons in their worlds so Democritus I think would be quite
Democritus I think would be quite
Democritus I think would be quite impressed by our discoveries he might
impressed by our discoveries he might
impressed by our discoveries he might also ask the same question as many of us
also ask the same question as many of us
also ask the same question as many of us given all of these worlds out there how
given all of these worlds out there how
given all of these worlds out there how comes life hasn’t already visited us and
comes life hasn’t already visited us and
comes life hasn’t already visited us and I I would be able to show him a picture
I I would be able to show him a picture
I I would be able to show him a picture of a UFO because the CIA just
of a UFO because the CIA just
of a UFO because the CIA just Declassified its database of UFOs and
Declassified its database of UFOs and
Declassified its database of UFOs and there are thousands of terrible images
there are thousands of terrible images
there are thousands of terrible images like this from the sixties and
like this from the sixties and
like this from the sixties and unfortunately that’s the best I have to
unfortunately that’s the best I have to
unfortunately that’s the best I have to show to Democritus even though today we
show to Democritus even though today we
show to Democritus even though today we have a billion high-resolution
have a billion high-resolution
have a billion high-resolution smartphone cameras around the world
smartphone cameras around the world
smartphone cameras around the world still no one good picture of a UFO or an
still no one good picture of a UFO or an
still no one good picture of a UFO or an alien and you know this is this is known
alien and you know this is this is known
alien and you know this is this is known as the Fermi paradox and I think I’ve
as the Fermi paradox and I think I’ve
as the Fermi paradox and I think I’ve uncovered the answer to that why
uncovered the answer to that why
uncovered the answer to that why intelligent life is leaving it alone
intelligent life is leaving it alone
intelligent life is leaving it alone and we haven’t seen it yet and I will
and we haven’t seen it yet and I will
and we haven’t seen it yet and I will leave you with the last image
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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