Does Earth Have a Twin? These People Want to Find Out | Short Film Showcase

[Music]

[Music] curiosity and exploration are simply

curiosity and exploration are simply

curiosity and exploration are simply part of our DNA what’s at the top of

part of our DNA what’s at the top of

part of our DNA what’s at the top of that mountain what’s around that Ridge

that mountain what’s around that Ridge

that mountain what’s around that Ridge what’s in that forest

what’s in that forest

what’s in that forest what’s across that body of water this

what’s across that body of water this

what’s across that body of water this quest to explore things that we think

quest to explore things that we think

quest to explore things that we think might be beyond our reach or might test

might be beyond our reach or might test

might be beyond our reach or might test our courage or our abilities the drive

our courage or our abilities the drive

our courage or our abilities the drive to explore has been an important part in

to explore has been an important part in

to explore has been an important part in making our species as successful as it’s

making our species as successful as it’s

making our species as successful as it’s been there are other destinations that

been there are other destinations that

been there are other destinations that perhaps are within our grasp I think

perhaps are within our grasp I think

perhaps are within our grasp I think there are a lot of surprises in store

there are a lot of surprises in store

there are a lot of surprises in store for us the holy grail that we’re

for us the holy grail that we’re

for us the holy grail that we’re searching for it’s planet like Earth I

tend to control the universe and windows

tend to control the universe and windows you know we are located in the array

you know we are located in the array

you know we are located in the array operations site at sixteen thousand four

operations site at sixteen thousand four

operations site at sixteen thousand four hundred feet so we are in the north of

hundred feet so we are in the north of

hundred feet so we are in the north of Chile he had the European Southern

Chile he had the European Southern

Chile he had the European Southern Observatory site of the Very Large

Observatory site of the Very Large

Observatory site of the Very Large Telescope what do we do with them we

Telescope what do we do with them we

Telescope what do we do with them we observe the universe at large from

observe the universe at large from

observe the universe at large from asteroids comets planets stars maybe

asteroids comets planets stars maybe

asteroids comets planets stars maybe those in the cannot see in the 21

those in the cannot see in the 21

those in the cannot see in the 21 century astronomy had to answer a very

century astronomy had to answer a very

century astronomy had to answer a very basic question if there is another

basic question if there is another

basic question if there is another planet like our own planet an exoplanet

planet like our own planet an exoplanet

planet like our own planet an exoplanet is very simply a planet that’s orbiting

is very simply a planet that’s orbiting

is very simply a planet that’s orbiting a star other than the Sun 20 years ago

a star other than the Sun 20 years ago

a star other than the Sun 20 years ago the idea of detecting exoplanets was

the idea of detecting exoplanets was

the idea of detecting exoplanets was considered to be totally science fiction

considered to be totally science fiction

considered to be totally science fiction and not worthy of a professional

and not worthy of a professional

and not worthy of a professional astronomer now exoplanets is one of the

astronomer now exoplanets is one of the

astronomer now exoplanets is one of the hottest fields in astronomy and it’s

hottest fields in astronomy and it’s

hottest fields in astronomy and it’s still-growing discovered thousands

still-growing discovered thousands

still-growing discovered thousands really common the Kepler mission was the

really common the Kepler mission was the

really common the Kepler mission was the first mission to do a large statistical

first mission to do a large statistical

first mission to do a large statistical survey and

survey and

survey and really contributed dramatically to our

really contributed dramatically to our

really contributed dramatically to our understanding of exoplanets it has

understanding of exoplanets it has

understanding of exoplanets it has essentially taught us that planets are

essentially taught us that planets are

essentially taught us that planets are everywhere roughly one out of every two

everywhere roughly one out of every two

everywhere roughly one out of every two stars has a potentially habitable planet

stars has a potentially habitable planet

stars has a potentially habitable planet the number of potentially habitable

the number of potentially habitable

the number of potentially habitable planets in our galaxy alone is greater

planets in our galaxy alone is greater

planets in our galaxy alone is greater than the number of people alive on earth

than the number of people alive on earth

than the number of people alive on earth and there are something like 100 billion

and there are something like 100 billion

and there are something like 100 billion galaxies in the universe all these new

galaxies in the universe all these new

galaxies in the universe all these new planets are incredibly diverse nature is

planets are incredibly diverse nature is

planets are incredibly diverse nature is more creative and most of the

more creative and most of the

more creative and most of the imaginative scientists out there for the

imaginative scientists out there for the

imaginative scientists out there for the first decade or so the planets that were

first decade or so the planets that were

first decade or so the planets that were being found where large gas giants

being found where large gas giants

being found where large gas giants it’s hot Jupiters that are orbiting very

it’s hot Jupiters that are orbiting very

it’s hot Jupiters that are orbiting very close to the Sun these are not habitable

close to the Sun these are not habitable

close to the Sun these are not habitable planets they’re more like tiny stars we

planets they’re more like tiny stars we

planets they’re more like tiny stars we know from the Kepler data that earth

know from the Kepler data that earth

know from the Kepler data that earth sized planets are also rather numerous

sized planets are also rather numerous

sized planets are also rather numerous over the past five years astronomers

over the past five years astronomers

over the past five years astronomers have been finding smaller and smaller

have been finding smaller and smaller

have been finding smaller and smaller planets closer and closer to the

planets closer and closer to the

planets closer and closer to the habitable zone we call it the Goldilocks

habitable zone we call it the Goldilocks

habitable zone we call it the Goldilocks zone where the temperature is just right

zone where the temperature is just right

zone where the temperature is just right you’re going to support liquid water we

you’re going to support liquid water we

you’re going to support liquid water we don’t want it to be too hot or too cold

don’t want it to be too hot or too cold

don’t want it to be too hot or too cold whatever is done is discover that most

whatever is done is discover that most

whatever is done is discover that most stars have planets many are in a

stars have planets many are in a

stars have planets many are in a habitable zone a fair number of them are

habitable zone a fair number of them are

habitable zone a fair number of them are earth sized we have evidence now we can

earth sized we have evidence now we can

earth sized we have evidence now we can move to the next step do those planets

move to the next step do those planets

move to the next step do those planets have oceans

have oceans

have oceans do they have atmospheres Kepler was

do they have atmospheres Kepler was

do they have atmospheres Kepler was never designed to do that you need a

never designed to do that you need a

never designed to do that you need a different kind of instrument more

different kind of instrument more

different kind of instrument more powerful missions to look much more

powerful missions to look much more

powerful missions to look much more carefully at these planets we want

carefully at these planets we want

carefully at these planets we want something like Earth the problem is

something like Earth the problem is

something like Earth the problem is finding a planet like the earth is

finding a planet like the earth is

finding a planet like the earth is really hard it’s extremely difficult to

really hard it’s extremely difficult to

really hard it’s extremely difficult to be able to see a planet that is ten

be able to see a planet that is ten

be able to see a planet that is ten billion times dimmer than the star you

billion times dimmer than the star you

billion times dimmer than the star you see there are lots of stars here that

see there are lots of stars here that

see there are lots of stars here that aren’t highlighted and we know

aren’t highlighted and we know

aren’t highlighted and we know statistically there should be planets

statistically there should be planets

statistically there should be planets around them and many earth-like planets

around them and many earth-like planets

around them and many earth-like planets but current detection techniques are not

but current detection techniques are not

but current detection techniques are not capable of detecting small planets even

capable of detecting small planets even

capable of detecting small planets even around the nearest stars

around the nearest stars

around the nearest stars the star is much much brighter than the

the star is much much brighter than the

the star is much much brighter than the platic this is like looking at a

platic this is like looking at a

platic this is like looking at a searchlight and trying to find a little

searchlight and trying to find a little

searchlight and trying to find a little Firefly buzzing around the searchlight

Firefly buzzing around the searchlight

Firefly buzzing around the searchlight from a large distance like ten miles one

from a large distance like ten miles one

from a large distance like ten miles one way of doing it is with a device called

way of doing it is with a device called

way of doing it is with a device called a coronagraph a disc placed artificially

a coronagraph a disc placed artificially

a coronagraph a disc placed artificially in a telescope in front of the sun’s

in a telescope in front of the sun’s

in a telescope in front of the sun’s disc to block the Stars so you can see

disc to block the Stars so you can see

disc to block the Stars so you can see the planet indeed

the planet indeed

the planet indeed nearby stars are easier to study we

nearby stars are easier to study we

nearby stars are easier to study we happen to be lucky our solar system has

happen to be lucky our solar system has

happen to be lucky our solar system has not one but two nearby sun-like stars

not one but two nearby sun-like stars

not one but two nearby sun-like stars Alpha Centauri a and Alpha Centauri B

Alpha Centauri a and Alpha Centauri B

Alpha Centauri a and Alpha Centauri B right there we have that bright yellow

right there we have that bright yellow

right there we have that bright yellow star is Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is

star is Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is

star is Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is very similar to our own sand is the

very similar to our own sand is the

very similar to our own sand is the closest star 4.3 light year from us so

closest star 4.3 light year from us so

closest star 4.3 light year from us so it’s our neighbor these two stars could

it’s our neighbor these two stars could

it’s our neighbor these two stars could very well host earth-like worlds it’s

very well host earth-like worlds it’s

very well host earth-like worlds it’s close enough so if you could find

close enough so if you could find

close enough so if you could find planets runners you could study those

planets runners you could study those

planets runners you could study those plants we could potentially make one of

plants we could potentially make one of

plants we could potentially make one of the greatest discoveries of all time

the greatest discoveries of all time

the greatest discoveries of all time another earth-like planet we might call

another earth-like planet we might call

another earth-like planet we might call it Earth proximal

it Earth proximal

it Earth proximal a lot of people realized that Alpha

a lot of people realized that Alpha

a lot of people realized that Alpha Centauri is an easy target

Centauri is an easy target

Centauri is an easy target except for the fact that it’s a binary

except for the fact that it’s a binary

except for the fact that it’s a binary so you have two stars that you have to

so you have two stars that you have to

so you have two stars that you have to deal with in terms of blocking their

deal with in terms of blocking their

deal with in terms of blocking their light that’s where most people’s

light that’s where most people’s

light that’s where most people’s thinking stopped these scientists at

thinking stopped these scientists at

thinking stopped these scientists at NASA Ames Research Center have been

NASA Ames Research Center have been

NASA Ames Research Center have been working for a number of years to take on

working for a number of years to take on

working for a number of years to take on this challenge

this challenge

this challenge Kepler’s completed its job it’s time to

Kepler’s completed its job it’s time to

Kepler’s completed its job it’s time to move on to more capable missions that

move on to more capable missions that

move on to more capable missions that product is called mission centauri

product is called mission centauri

product is called mission centauri mission centaur is a small telescope to

mission centaur is a small telescope to

mission centaur is a small telescope to find and if they’re found study planets

find and if they’re found study planets

find and if they’re found study planets in the habitable zones Alpha Centauri a

in the habitable zones Alpha Centauri a

in the habitable zones Alpha Centauri a in Alpha Centauri B we developed a

in Alpha Centauri B we developed a

in Alpha Centauri B we developed a technique called multi star weapon

technique called multi star weapon

technique called multi star weapon control which solves this problem it’s

control which solves this problem it’s

control which solves this problem it’s the key component that allows us to

the key component that allows us to

the key component that allows us to suppress the light from both stars this

suppress the light from both stars this

suppress the light from both stars this is a prototype of the primary mirror

is a prototype of the primary mirror

is a prototype of the primary mirror their final telescope is going to be

their final telescope is going to be

their final telescope is going to be packed on a spacecraft the size of our

packed on a spacecraft the size of our

packed on a spacecraft the size of our washing machine the best conditions for

washing machine the best conditions for

washing machine the best conditions for astronomical observations are in the

astronomical observations are in the

astronomical observations are in the other space the problem for Space

other space the problem for Space

other space the problem for Space Telescope’s

Telescope’s

Telescope’s well same problem of entire science

well same problem of entire science

well same problem of entire science budget space missions are particularly

budget space missions are particularly

budget space missions are particularly expensive but they try to do is to

expensive but they try to do is to

expensive but they try to do is to observe many targets by doing that

observe many targets by doing that

observe many targets by doing that you’re adding a lot of complexity and

you’re adding a lot of complexity and

you’re adding a lot of complexity and cost the better way to go

cost the better way to go

cost the better way to go is to study the closest sun-like stars

is to study the closest sun-like stars

is to study the closest sun-like stars for which you can use a much smaller

for which you can use a much smaller

for which you can use a much smaller spacecraft for much much less money

spacecraft for much much less money

spacecraft for much much less money the beauty of mission centauri is when

the beauty of mission centauri is when

the beauty of mission centauri is when you decide that the target is alpha

you decide that the target is alpha

you decide that the target is alpha centauri all the time you can optimize

centauri all the time you can optimize

centauri all the time you can optimize your telescope we can do it with a much

your telescope we can do it with a much

your telescope we can do it with a much lower cost and much smaller mission and

lower cost and much smaller mission and

lower cost and much smaller mission and do it much faster this is a project

do it much faster this is a project

do it much faster this is a project who’s who’s operating budget is a

who’s who’s operating budget is a

who’s who’s operating budget is a fraction of a typical huge budget

fraction of a typical huge budget

fraction of a typical huge budget projects such as Hubble or even Kepler

projects such as Hubble or even Kepler

projects such as Hubble or even Kepler we’ve entered a new age and companies

we’ve entered a new age and companies

we’ve entered a new age and companies like SpaceX are an example

like SpaceX are an example

like SpaceX are an example of the commercialization of space space

of the commercialization of space space

of the commercialization of space space missions are getting more and more

missions are getting more and more

missions are getting more and more practical year by year private industry

practical year by year private industry

practical year by year private industry is comfortable with calculated risks a

is comfortable with calculated risks a

is comfortable with calculated risks a lot of the expertise is at NASA so it’s

lot of the expertise is at NASA so it’s

lot of the expertise is at NASA so it’s a natural partnership between NASA and

a natural partnership between NASA and

a natural partnership between NASA and the private sector to enable this

the private sector to enable this

the private sector to enable this mission this is a program for for

mission this is a program for for

mission this is a program for for everyone this is a citizen science

everyone this is a citizen science

everyone this is a citizen science project that not only is profound in its

project that not only is profound in its

project that not only is profound in its primary mission but potentially profound

primary mission but potentially profound

primary mission but potentially profound in its secondary mission the earth is

in its secondary mission the earth is

in its secondary mission the earth is going to block the line-of-sight to

going to block the line-of-sight to

going to block the line-of-sight to Alpha Centauri half of the time when the

Alpha Centauri half of the time when the

Alpha Centauri half of the time when the earth cope cannot observe Alpha Centauri

earth cope cannot observe Alpha Centauri

earth cope cannot observe Alpha Centauri we expect to offer telescope time to

we expect to offer telescope time to

we expect to offer telescope time to different people that are interested on

different people that are interested on

different people that are interested on exploring the universe that’s part of

exploring the universe that’s part of

exploring the universe that’s part of what we want to achieve with mission

what we want to achieve with mission

what we want to achieve with mission Centauri is empower people to feel like

Centauri is empower people to feel like

Centauri is empower people to feel like they can have access to state-of-the-art

they can have access to state-of-the-art

they can have access to state-of-the-art technology we are enabling all this

technology we are enabling all this

technology we are enabling all this exciting science so that we can excite

exciting science so that we can excite

exciting science so that we can excite our kids to become the next generation

our kids to become the next generation

our kids to become the next generation of scientists and engineers who will be

of scientists and engineers who will be

of scientists and engineers who will be the drivers of the economy of the future

the drivers of the economy of the future

the drivers of the economy of the future if we find earth proximal it would

if we find earth proximal it would

if we find earth proximal it would fundamentally shift people’s perception

fundamentally shift people’s perception

fundamentally shift people’s perception of what the cosmos is finding earth

of what the cosmos is finding earth

of what the cosmos is finding earth proximal would be a transformative event

proximal would be a transformative event

proximal would be a transformative event in the history of mankind I would love

in the history of mankind I would love

in the history of mankind I would love to think that that is something that

to think that that is something that

to think that that is something that helps bring us together it’s a very

helps bring us together it’s a very

helps bring us together it’s a very unifying thing how could you worry about

unifying thing how could you worry about

unifying thing how could you worry about conflicts on earth when there’s amazing

conflicts on earth when there’s amazing

conflicts on earth when there’s amazing awe-inspiring things like this in the

awe-inspiring things like this in the

awe-inspiring things like this in the universe

universe

universe I look forward with a lot of enthusiasm

I look forward with a lot of enthusiasm

I look forward with a lot of enthusiasm to new missions that take those new

to new missions that take those new

to new missions that take those new steps and the sooner the better

steps and the sooner the better

steps and the sooner the better so I see what we’re doing as part of

so I see what we’re doing as part of

so I see what we’re doing as part of this hopeful future where humanity

this hopeful future where humanity

this hopeful future where humanity expands out into the stars that would be

expands out into the stars that would be

expands out into the stars that would be a milestone of the human civilization to

a milestone of the human civilization to

a milestone of the human civilization to find another planet like the earth

find another planet like the earth

find another planet like the earth you