are we alone is there a place with life other than Earth it’s a question we’ve
other than Earth it’s a question we’ve
other than Earth it’s a question we’ve all probably asked ourselves or at least
all probably asked ourselves or at least
all probably asked ourselves or at least thought about at one point or another
thought about at one point or another
thought about at one point or another it’s a powerful question it’s a
it’s a powerful question it’s a
it’s a powerful question it’s a complicated question how do we even
complicated question how do we even
complicated question how do we even begin to answer it first we need to
begin to answer it first we need to
begin to answer it first we need to understand what we need to support life
understand what we need to support life
understand what we need to support life anywhere even here on earth first we
anywhere even here on earth first we
anywhere even here on earth first we need energy something to propagate a
need energy something to propagate a
need energy something to propagate a reaction when you liquid water to
reaction when you liquid water to
reaction when you liquid water to facilitate that reaction and we need
facilitate that reaction and we need
facilitate that reaction and we need organics that can react together and
organics that can react together and
organics that can react together and without these three ingredients we can’t
without these three ingredients we can’t
without these three ingredients we can’t support life and if we look at our own
support life and if we look at our own
support life and if we look at our own solar system we know there’s no other
solar system we know there’s no other
solar system we know there’s no other planet like Earth let’s start with the
planet like Earth let’s start with the
planet like Earth let’s start with the inner planets at Venus where the surface
inner planets at Venus where the surface
inner planets at Venus where the surface temperature averages over 460 degrees
temperature averages over 460 degrees
temperature averages over 460 degrees Celsius so hot that not only is there no
Celsius so hot that not only is there no
Celsius so hot that not only is there no liquid water but solid lead would melt
liquid water but solid lead would melt
liquid water but solid lead would melt in your hand next is Mars which is a
in your hand next is Mars which is a
in your hand next is Mars which is a little tricky we know there’s water but
little tricky we know there’s water but
little tricky we know there’s water but it’s frozen at the poles and while the
it’s frozen at the poles and while the
it’s frozen at the poles and while the surface temperature at the equator can
surface temperature at the equator can
surface temperature at the equator can get up to 25 degrees Celsius with such a
get up to 25 degrees Celsius with such a
get up to 25 degrees Celsius with such a thin atmosphere the temperature drops
thin atmosphere the temperature drops
thin atmosphere the temperature drops below zero to negative 70 at night and
below zero to negative 70 at night and
below zero to negative 70 at night and if we go any further past Mars it’s too
if we go any further past Mars it’s too
if we go any further past Mars it’s too cold even at Jupiter the next closest
cold even at Jupiter the next closest
cold even at Jupiter the next closest planet the surface temperature is well
planet the surface temperature is well
planet the surface temperature is well below zero 130 degrees Celsius colder
below zero 130 degrees Celsius colder
below zero 130 degrees Celsius colder than dry ice so it’s pretty clear life
than dry ice so it’s pretty clear life
than dry ice so it’s pretty clear life can’t exist on the surface of our solar
can’t exist on the surface of our solar
can’t exist on the surface of our solar system
system
system maybe George Lucas was right a long time
maybe George Lucas was right a long time
maybe George Lucas was right a long time ago in a galaxy far far away there were
ago in a galaxy far far away there were
ago in a galaxy far far away there were Jedi Knights fighting off Imperial
Jedi Knights fighting off Imperial
Jedi Knights fighting off Imperial forces or Pandora’s just out of sight
forces or Pandora’s just out of sight
forces or Pandora’s just out of sight and one day we’ll connect with the Navi
and one day we’ll connect with the Navi
and one day we’ll connect with the Navi people but we don’t want to wait we want
people but we don’t want to wait we want
people but we don’t want to wait we want to find life now but we just looked at
to find life now but we just looked at
to find life now but we just looked at our own solar system we know there’s no
our own solar system we know there’s no
our own solar system we know there’s no life on the surface so what what if we
life on the surface so what what if we
life on the surface so what what if we took a
took a
took a so look what if we took a look beneath
so look what if we took a look beneath
so look what if we took a look beneath the surface about 500 million miles away
the surface about 500 million miles away
the surface about 500 million miles away it’s a very unique place first
it’s a very unique place first
it’s a very unique place first discovered by Galileo over 400 years ago
discovered by Galileo over 400 years ago
discovered by Galileo over 400 years ago completing its orbit around Jupiter
completing its orbit around Jupiter
completing its orbit around Jupiter every three-and-a-half days is one of
every three-and-a-half days is one of
every three-and-a-half days is one of its smallest moons Europa and the
its smallest moons Europa and the
its smallest moons Europa and the surface of Europa is cold 130 degrees
surface of Europa is cold 130 degrees
surface of Europa is cold 130 degrees below zero but as you keep going deeper
below zero but as you keep going deeper
below zero but as you keep going deeper and deeper it begins to get warmer and
and deeper it begins to get warmer and
and deeper it begins to get warmer and warmer so warm in fact that it’s some
warmer so warm in fact that it’s some
warmer so warm in fact that it’s some depth that ice turns to liquid water and
depth that ice turns to liquid water and
depth that ice turns to liquid water and we know this from the Voyager and
we know this from the Voyager and
we know this from the Voyager and Galileo spacecraft that have flown by
Galileo spacecraft that have flown by
Galileo spacecraft that have flown by and we also know Europa surface is
and we also know Europa surface is
and we also know Europa surface is active it has ridges and valleys
active it has ridges and valleys
active it has ridges and valleys icebergs and cracks
icebergs and cracks
icebergs and cracks all along the surface and these surface
all along the surface and these surface
all along the surface and these surface features didn’t just appear out of
features didn’t just appear out of
features didn’t just appear out of nowhere something must be driving them
nowhere something must be driving them
nowhere something must be driving them like maybe an ocean just beneath the
like maybe an ocean just beneath the
like maybe an ocean just beneath the surface of the ice
surface of the ice
surface of the ice it took scientists 400 years to narrow
it took scientists 400 years to narrow
it took scientists 400 years to narrow down the field but they found it a place
down the field but they found it a place
down the field but they found it a place that might have life outside of Earth
that might have life outside of Earth
that might have life outside of Earth let’s go let’s start exploring after all
let’s go let’s start exploring after all
let’s go let’s start exploring after all we’ve had astronauts play golf on the
we’ve had astronauts play golf on the
we’ve had astronauts play golf on the moon and there are Rovers on Mars right
moon and there are Rovers on Mars right
moon and there are Rovers on Mars right now sending data back to earth so there
now sending data back to earth so there
now sending data back to earth so there must be something a machine a vehicle
must be something a machine a vehicle
must be something a machine a vehicle something that we can send to Europa but
something that we can send to Europa but
something that we can send to Europa but sadly there isn’t let’s take a look at
sadly there isn’t let’s take a look at
sadly there isn’t let’s take a look at what we need for the whole process first
what we need for the whole process first
what we need for the whole process first we need a launch vehicle something that
we need a launch vehicle something that
we need a launch vehicle something that can lift off from earth then we have to
can lift off from earth then we have to
can lift off from earth then we have to wait six years because it takes a little
wait six years because it takes a little
wait six years because it takes a little time to travel 500 million miles and
time to travel 500 million miles and
time to travel 500 million miles and once we get there we have to slow
once we get there we have to slow
once we get there we have to slow ourselves down from 30 miles per second
ourselves down from 30 miles per second
ourselves down from 30 miles per second to zero softly landing on the surface
to zero softly landing on the surface
to zero softly landing on the surface and once we’re there we still have
and once we’re there we still have
and once we’re there we still have another roadblock a sheet of ice that
another roadblock a sheet of ice that
another roadblock a sheet of ice that could be anywhere from 10 to 30 miles
could be anywhere from 10 to 30 miles
could be anywhere from 10 to 30 miles thick and once through the ice the
thick and once through the ice the
thick and once through the ice the vehicle will have to make decisions on
vehicle will have to make decisions on
vehicle will have to make decisions on its own because it takes almost 2 hours
its own because it takes almost 2 hours
its own because it takes almost 2 hours to send and receive a response to
to send and receive a response to
to send and receive a response to something that far away
something that far away
something that far away whatever we send to Europa must be as
whatever we send to Europa must be as
whatever we send to Europa must be as smart as one of us
smart as one of us
smart as one of us and will need to be able to make
and will need to be able to make
and will need to be able to make decisions on its own clearly this is no
decisions on its own clearly this is no
decisions on its own clearly this is no easy task
easy task
easy task we don’t have all of these tools yet
we don’t have all of these tools yet
we don’t have all of these tools yet fortunately for us there are a few
fortunately for us there are a few
fortunately for us there are a few places here on earth that are covered
places here on earth that are covered
places here on earth that are covered with ice year-round so we have a perfect
with ice year-round so we have a perfect
with ice year-round so we have a perfect test platform but we still need a
test platform but we still need a
test platform but we still need a vehicle so surely there must be
vehicle so surely there must be
vehicle so surely there must be something to you study the ice caps here
something to you study the ice caps here
something to you study the ice caps here on earth but again we came up empty it
on earth but again we came up empty it
on earth but again we came up empty it turns out we’ve sent more vehicles to
turns out we’ve sent more vehicles to
turns out we’ve sent more vehicles to Mars than there are vehicles to study
Mars than there are vehicles to study
Mars than there are vehicles to study our own ice shelves here on earth so as
our own ice shelves here on earth so as
our own ice shelves here on earth so as engineers in scientists we weren’t gonna
engineers in scientists we weren’t gonna
engineers in scientists we weren’t gonna let that get in our way
let that get in our way
let that get in our way presenting ice Finn our very own under
presenting ice Finn our very own under
presenting ice Finn our very own under ice explorer
[Applause]
[Applause] one of the hardest things when working
one of the hardest things when working
one of the hardest things when working on an ice shelf is drilling a hole
on an ice shelf is drilling a hole
on an ice shelf is drilling a hole through hundreds of meters of ice and
through hundreds of meters of ice and
through hundreds of meters of ice and most hot water drills can only drill a
most hot water drills can only drill a
most hot water drills can only drill a hole 30 to 40 centimeters in diameter
hole 30 to 40 centimeters in diameter
hole 30 to 40 centimeters in diameter which is large enough to lower an ocean
which is large enough to lower an ocean
which is large enough to lower an ocean mooring or a camera but that only gives
mooring or a camera but that only gives
mooring or a camera but that only gives us data in one plane I spin at 24
us data in one plane I spin at 24
us data in one plane I spin at 24 centimeters in diameter can’t fit
centimeters in diameter can’t fit
centimeters in diameter can’t fit through any hole in the ice but it also
through any hole in the ice but it also
through any hole in the ice but it also gives us data in the vertical and
gives us data in the vertical and
gives us data in the vertical and horizontal planes making it a unique
horizontal planes making it a unique
horizontal planes making it a unique creation it’s also outfitted with a
creation it’s also outfitted with a
creation it’s also outfitted with a three-and-a-half millimeter fiber-optic
three-and-a-half millimeter fiber-optic
three-and-a-half millimeter fiber-optic Kevlar jacketed cable which serves two
Kevlar jacketed cable which serves two
Kevlar jacketed cable which serves two functions first its uses communications
functions first its uses communications
functions first its uses communications to send data back and forth instantly
to send data back and forth instantly
to send data back and forth instantly unlike most autonomous underwater
unlike most autonomous underwater
unlike most autonomous underwater vehicles where data is downloaded after
vehicles where data is downloaded after
vehicles where data is downloaded after a mission we can see it instantly
a mission we can see it instantly
a mission we can see it instantly allowing us to stop examine an
allowing us to stop examine an
allowing us to stop examine an interesting feature and continue our
interesting feature and continue our
interesting feature and continue our search and it’s also used to lower the
search and it’s also used to lower the
search and it’s also used to lower the vehicle in and out of the water if we
vehicle in and out of the water if we
vehicle in and out of the water if we take a closer look we’d see it’s broken
take a closer look we’d see it’s broken
take a closer look we’d see it’s broken down into seven individual modules each
down into seven individual modules each
down into seven individual modules each with a specific purpose in its most
with a specific purpose in its most
with a specific purpose in its most basic form you need five core modules
basic form you need five core modules
basic form you need five core modules three thruster modules to control five
three thruster modules to control five
three thruster modules to control five degrees of freedom a navigation module
degrees of freedom a navigation module
degrees of freedom a navigation module and a control module or as I call it the
and a control module or as I call it the
and a control module or as I call it the brains and with these five modules you
brains and with these five modules you
brains and with these five modules you can take iseman anywhere but they don’t
can take iseman anywhere but they don’t
can take iseman anywhere but they don’t tell you anything
tell you anything
tell you anything there’s no sensors there’s no cameras
there’s no sensors there’s no cameras
there’s no sensors there’s no cameras it’s like driving your car with a
it’s like driving your car with a
it’s like driving your car with a blindfold on and if we tried to fit all
blindfold on and if we tried to fit all
blindfold on and if we tried to fit all of our sensors into I spin it would be
of our sensors into I spin it would be
of our sensors into I spin it would be over five meters long longer than these
over five meters long longer than these
over five meters long longer than these tables so rather than putting them on
tables so rather than putting them on
tables so rather than putting them on all at once we group them into modules
all at once we group them into modules
all at once we group them into modules currently installed we have our survey
currently installed we have our survey
currently installed we have our survey module installed our sonars and cameras
module installed our sonars and cameras
module installed our sonars and cameras that allow us to characterize our
that allow us to characterize our
that allow us to characterize our environment at a bird’s eye view and
environment at a bird’s eye view and
environment at a bird’s eye view and once we’ve completed a mission will
once we’ve completed a mission will
once we’ve completed a mission will remove this survey module and install
remove this survey module and install
remove this survey module and install our ocean chemistry module and we can go
our ocean chemistry module and we can go
our ocean chemistry module and we can go investigate an interesting feature
investigate an interesting feature
investigate an interesting feature further and this modularity also allows
further and this modularity also allows
further and this modularity also allows us to develop new modules without having
us to develop new modules without having
us to develop new modules without having to change the design of an entire
to change the design of an entire
to change the design of an entire vehicle
vehicle
vehicle but more importantly it allows us to
but more importantly it allows us to
but more importantly it allows us to take Iceland to some of the most remote
take Iceland to some of the most remote
take Iceland to some of the most remote places in the world fortunately for me I
places in the world fortunately for me I
places in the world fortunately for me I was able to take part in two of
was able to take part in two of
was able to take part in two of Iceland’s firsts I was able to be part
Iceland’s firsts I was able to be part
Iceland’s firsts I was able to be part of a design team that brainstormed and
of a design team that brainstormed and
of a design team that brainstormed and built this incredible vehicle but I also
built this incredible vehicle but I also
built this incredible vehicle but I also got to be part of a field team for its
got to be part of a field team for its
got to be part of a field team for its first season in Antarctica in 2014 the
first season in Antarctica in 2014 the
first season in Antarctica in 2014 the first question I always get from people
first question I always get from people
first question I always get from people is isn’t it cold down there it’s hard to
is isn’t it cold down there it’s hard to
is isn’t it cold down there it’s hard to describe what it’s like working in
describe what it’s like working in
describe what it’s like working in Antarctica but I just checked the
Antarctica but I just checked the
Antarctica but I just checked the weather and it’s a balmy 27 degrees
weather and it’s a balmy 27 degrees
weather and it’s a balmy 27 degrees below zero so yes it’s a little cold but
below zero so yes it’s a little cold but
below zero so yes it’s a little cold but we’re well cared-for with big red as
we’re well cared-for with big red as
we’re well cared-for with big red as it’s known to keep us warm
it’s known to keep us warm
it’s known to keep us warm Antarctica is an amazing place mountain
Antarctica is an amazing place mountain
Antarctica is an amazing place mountain ranges for miles the occasional visit
ranges for miles the occasional visit
ranges for miles the occasional visit from our steel friend Steve and even
from our steel friend Steve and even
from our steel friend Steve and even time to eat a slice of ice cold pizza
time to eat a slice of ice cold pizza
time to eat a slice of ice cold pizza put all jokes aside it’s an incredible
put all jokes aside it’s an incredible
put all jokes aside it’s an incredible place for its environment above the
place for its environment above the
place for its environment above the surface but even more interesting below
surface but even more interesting below
surface but even more interesting below the ice until our mission in 2014 there
the ice until our mission in 2014 there
the ice until our mission in 2014 there were only a handful of vehicles that
were only a handful of vehicles that
were only a handful of vehicles that have been able to take a peek under the
have been able to take a peek under the
have been able to take a peek under the surface they could only dive a few
surface they could only dive a few
surface they could only dive a few hundred meters and only search a small
hundred meters and only search a small
hundred meters and only search a small area but some of these vehicles made
area but some of these vehicles made
area but some of these vehicles made incredible discoveries like skinny in
incredible discoveries like skinny in
incredible discoveries like skinny in 2012 that captured these images of sea
2012 that captured these images of sea
2012 that captured these images of sea anenome that buried themselves in the
anenome that buried themselves in the
anenome that buried themselves in the ice shelf under the ice so our goal in
ice shelf under the ice so our goal in
ice shelf under the ice so our goal in 2014 was simple get to the bottom of the
2014 was simple get to the bottom of the
2014 was simple get to the bottom of the ocean floor
ocean floor
ocean floor and tell us what else was down there a
and tell us what else was down there a
and tell us what else was down there a 500 meters one doesn’t expect to find
500 meters one doesn’t expect to find
500 meters one doesn’t expect to find much there’s no visible light from the
much there’s no visible light from the
much there’s no visible light from the surface so any organism that relies on
surface so any organism that relies on
surface so any organism that relies on light to survive can’t and the pressure
light to survive can’t and the pressure
light to survive can’t and the pressure is over 700 psi an incredible amount of
is over 700 psi an incredible amount of
is over 700 psi an incredible amount of pressure that would crush almost every
pressure that would crush almost every
pressure that would crush almost every living thing on our surface but when we
living thing on our surface but when we
living thing on our surface but when we got to the bottom of our drill site on
got to the bottom of our drill site on
got to the bottom of our drill site on the McMurdo ice shelf we were wrong
the McMurdo ice shelf we were wrong
the McMurdo ice shelf we were wrong when we turned on our cameras and lights
when we turned on our cameras and lights
when we turned on our cameras and lights we were amazed at the amount of life we
we were amazed at the amount of life we
we were amazed at the amount of life we saw there were sea slug
saw there were sea slug
saw there were sea slug and brittle stars even small fish
and brittle stars even small fish
and brittle stars even small fish swimming around there was plant life
swimming around there was plant life
swimming around there was plant life flourishing and small ice crystals that
flourishing and small ice crystals that
flourishing and small ice crystals that would eventually detach from the ocean
would eventually detach from the ocean
would eventually detach from the ocean floor to join the ice shelf above in
floor to join the ice shelf above in
floor to join the ice shelf above in 2014
2014
2014 Iceland was the first vehicle to capture
Iceland was the first vehicle to capture
Iceland was the first vehicle to capture these images and this data under the
these images and this data under the
these images and this data under the McMurdo ice shelf of the ocean floor and
McMurdo ice shelf of the ocean floor and
McMurdo ice shelf of the ocean floor and it began to answer so many questions
it began to answer so many questions
it began to answer so many questions that people started asking years ago but
that people started asking years ago but
that people started asking years ago but it also prompted new ones what else is
it also prompted new ones what else is
it also prompted new ones what else is down there where is it getting this
down there where is it getting this
down there where is it getting this energy what else lies below and that’s
energy what else lies below and that’s
energy what else lies below and that’s what our group’s been working on since
what our group’s been working on since
what our group’s been working on since last year NASA continued our funding to
last year NASA continued our funding to
last year NASA continued our funding to keep exploring this unknown world below
keep exploring this unknown world below
keep exploring this unknown world below venturing even further into the ice
venturing even further into the ice
venturing even further into the ice shelf over 400 miles away from the front
shelf over 400 miles away from the front
shelf over 400 miles away from the front of the ice we started outfitting Iceland
of the ice we started outfitting Iceland
of the ice we started outfitting Iceland with chemical sensors to detect geologic
with chemical sensors to detect geologic
with chemical sensors to detect geologic traces in the water that could lead us
traces in the water that could lead us
traces in the water that could lead us to the energy in the organics they might
to the energy in the organics they might
to the energy in the organics they might be keeping these organisms alive and
be keeping these organisms alive and
be keeping these organisms alive and we’ve also started working on sampling
we’ve also started working on sampling
we’ve also started working on sampling mechanisms they could take a water
mechanisms they could take a water
mechanisms they could take a water sample right in the middle of a black
sample right in the middle of a black
sample right in the middle of a black smoker on the ocean floor or tell us how
smoker on the ocean floor or tell us how
smoker on the ocean floor or tell us how a tiny sea anenome has buried itself in
a tiny sea anenome has buried itself in
a tiny sea anenome has buried itself in the ice shelf ice beam is one of the
the ice shelf ice beam is one of the
the ice shelf ice beam is one of the most promising tools we have available
most promising tools we have available
most promising tools we have available today to to explore life under the ice
today to to explore life under the ice
today to to explore life under the ice we’ve collected encouraging results
we’ve collected encouraging results
we’ve collected encouraging results under the Ross Ice Shelf furthering the
under the Ross Ice Shelf furthering the
under the Ross Ice Shelf furthering the hope to find life on Europa and who
hope to find life on Europa and who
hope to find life on Europa and who knows maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of
knows maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of
knows maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of what earth was like billions of years
what earth was like billions of years
what earth was like billions of years ago or there’s a giant sea squid just
ago or there’s a giant sea squid just
ago or there’s a giant sea squid just waiting for our arrival whether or not
waiting for our arrival whether or not
waiting for our arrival whether or not there’s life on Europa remains to be
there’s life on Europa remains to be
there’s life on Europa remains to be seen but today with the help of ice fin
seen but today with the help of ice fin
seen but today with the help of ice fin we’re several steps closer to answering
we’re several steps closer to answering
we’re several steps closer to answering that question thank you
that question thank you
that question thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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