hi everybody so I’m gonna share with you one of my passions and it’s not Pokemon
one of my passions and it’s not Pokemon
one of my passions and it’s not Pokemon go hahaha that would be funny for a 45
go hahaha that would be funny for a 45
go hahaha that would be funny for a 45 year old woman but you everyone
year old woman but you everyone
year old woman but you everyone recognizes image how many people have
recognizes image how many people have
recognizes image how many people have played it a few you’re on camera okay
played it a few you’re on camera okay
played it a few you’re on camera okay I’m going to share with you a kind of
I’m going to share with you a kind of
I’m going to share with you a kind of strange fact that pokemons go and Albert
strange fact that pokemons go and Albert
strange fact that pokemons go and Albert Einstein have something in common and it
Einstein have something in common and it
Einstein have something in common and it wasn’t that Albert Einstein played
wasn’t that Albert Einstein played
wasn’t that Albert Einstein played Pokemon go Albert Einstein lived in a
Pokemon go Albert Einstein lived in a
Pokemon go Albert Einstein lived in a fascinating time for physics he’s
fascinating time for physics he’s
fascinating time for physics he’s probably the most famous physicist
probably the most famous physicist
probably the most famous physicist that’s ever lived
that’s ever lived
that’s ever lived maybe scientist and he lived in a time
maybe scientist and he lived in a time
maybe scientist and he lived in a time when there was some tension building and
when there was some tension building and
when there was some tension building and how we understood some fundamental
how we understood some fundamental
how we understood some fundamental physics properties we had developed a
physics properties we had developed a
physics properties we had developed a new theory of light called
new theory of light called
new theory of light called electromagnetism and it was inconsistent
electromagnetism and it was inconsistent
electromagnetism and it was inconsistent with some of the previous notions of how
with some of the previous notions of how
with some of the previous notions of how motion worked developed by Newton and
motion worked developed by Newton and
motion worked developed by Newton and Galileo there were also some interesting
Galileo there were also some interesting
Galileo there were also some interesting discrepancies about how planetary motion
discrepancies about how planetary motion
discrepancies about how planetary motion you know the earth and Mercury orbiting
you know the earth and Mercury orbiting
you know the earth and Mercury orbiting the Sun was a little inconsistent tiny
the Sun was a little inconsistent tiny
the Sun was a little inconsistent tiny tiny inconsistencies with Newtonian
tiny inconsistencies with Newtonian
tiny inconsistencies with Newtonian theory of gravity and when you have
theory of gravity and when you have
theory of gravity and when you have these things happen
these things happen
these things happen attention builds and you know something
attention builds and you know something
attention builds and you know something has to change because we need everything
has to change because we need everything
has to change because we need everything to match with experiment I’m so famous
to match with experiment I’m so famous
to match with experiment I’m so famous because when he developed the theory
because when he developed the theory
because when he developed the theory that would fix some of these
that would fix some of these
that would fix some of these inconsistencies he changed the way we
inconsistencies he changed the way we
inconsistencies he changed the way we think about space and time he actually
think about space and time he actually
think about space and time he actually had to abandon a sacred belief to us
had to abandon a sacred belief to us
had to abandon a sacred belief to us that time is absolute and instead he
that time is absolute and instead he
that time is absolute and instead he discovered the time is in fact relative
discovered the time is in fact relative
discovered the time is in fact relative I don’t mean the time that you feel
I don’t mean the time that you feel
I don’t mean the time that you feel being bored on a plane there is some
being bored on a plane there is some
being bored on a plane there is some time change up there but it’s not from
time change up there but it’s not from
time change up there but it’s not from being bored we mean the fact that when
being bored we mean the fact that when
being bored we mean the fact that when two objects are emotion relative to each
two objects are emotion relative to each
two objects are emotion relative to each other time runs differently for those
other time runs differently for those
other time runs differently for those two objects if they compare clocks they
two objects if they compare clocks they
two objects if they compare clocks they will not agree and we also mean that if
will not agree and we also mean that if
will not agree and we also mean that if there’s a height difference so compared
there’s a height difference so compared
there’s a height difference so compared to something on the surface of the earth
to something on the surface of the earth
to something on the surface of the earth and something out of height from the
and something out of height from the
and something out of height from the surface of the earth clocks will again
surface of the earth clocks will again
surface of the earth clocks will again run differently and this is such a
run differently and this is such a
run differently and this is such a amazing notion that it’s really captured
amazing notion that it’s really captured
amazing notion that it’s really captured attention of a lot of people and that
attention of a lot of people and that
attention of a lot of people and that what happens
what happens
what happens when we look at something that’s a
when we look at something that’s a
when we look at something that’s a mundane example like the pokey mango
mundane example like the pokey mango
mundane example like the pokey mango it runs on GPS and the Global
it runs on GPS and the Global
it runs on GPS and the Global Positioning System is the best example I
Positioning System is the best example I
Positioning System is the best example I have to give you to understand how
have to give you to understand how
have to give you to understand how important it is to really solve
important it is to really solve
important it is to really solve equations like Einstein did which he
equations like Einstein did which he
equations like Einstein did which he called the special general theories of
called the special general theories of
called the special general theories of relativity and if you look at how GPS
relativity and if you look at how GPS
relativity and if you look at how GPS works those are satellites orbiting the
works those are satellites orbiting the
works those are satellites orbiting the Earth and those satellites beam
Earth and those satellites beam
Earth and those satellites beam information down to your phone
information down to your phone
information down to your phone pretend it’s my phone and your phone is
pretend it’s my phone and your phone is
pretend it’s my phone and your phone is what you’re usually your GPS so what’s
what you’re usually your GPS so what’s
what you’re usually your GPS so what’s happening is because the satellites are
happening is because the satellites are
happening is because the satellites are moving and it relative to your phone and
moving and it relative to your phone and
moving and it relative to your phone and because the satellites are at a
because the satellites are at a
because the satellites are at a different height from the surface the
different height from the surface the
different height from the surface the earth compared to your phone
earth compared to your phone
earth compared to your phone time is running differently for you and
time is running differently for you and
time is running differently for you and the satellites and that these things
the satellites and that these things
the satellites and that these things aren’t corrected by using Einstein’s
aren’t corrected by using Einstein’s
aren’t corrected by using Einstein’s theory you’ll be inaccurate very quickly
theory you’ll be inaccurate very quickly
theory you’ll be inaccurate very quickly you won’t find your Pokemon you won’t
you won’t find your Pokemon you won’t
you won’t find your Pokemon you won’t find Walmart whatever you’re looking for
find Walmart whatever you’re looking for
find Walmart whatever you’re looking for so believe it or not a theory that
so believe it or not a theory that
so believe it or not a theory that Einstein developed a hundred years ago
Einstein developed a hundred years ago
Einstein developed a hundred years ago you use every day if you’re like me and
you use every day if you’re like me and
you use every day if you’re like me and can’t find anything you use every day to
can’t find anything you use every day to
can’t find anything you use every day to locate stuff and so I think that set out
locate stuff and so I think that set out
locate stuff and so I think that set out to do that that’s a consequence of
to do that that’s a consequence of
to do that that’s a consequence of something of fundamental physics but
something of fundamental physics but
something of fundamental physics but other than this mundane example of GPS
other than this mundane example of GPS
other than this mundane example of GPS Einstein’s theories predicted two things
Einstein’s theories predicted two things
Einstein’s theories predicted two things that even Einstein himself wasn’t
that even Einstein himself wasn’t
that even Einstein himself wasn’t comfortable with he made the theory
comfortable with he made the theory
comfortable with he made the theory itself made two extraordinary claims one
itself made two extraordinary claims one
itself made two extraordinary claims one of them was black holes and the other
of them was black holes and the other
of them was black holes and the other was gravitational waves and even
was gravitational waves and even
was gravitational waves and even throughout his life he struggled with
throughout his life he struggled with
throughout his life he struggled with whether or not these were mathematical
whether or not these were mathematical
whether or not these were mathematical consequences of his theory with no
consequences of his theory with no
consequences of his theory with no physical realization or were they
physical realization or were they
physical realization or were they actually part of our universe and that’s
actually part of our universe and that’s
actually part of our universe and that’s where we’re going next black holes have
where we’re going next black holes have
where we’re going next black holes have long fascinated me I was apparently very
long fascinated me I was apparently very
long fascinated me I was apparently very dorky child and at 12 I was obsessed
dorky child and at 12 I was obsessed
dorky child and at 12 I was obsessed with black holes wrote a paper in
with black holes wrote a paper in
with black holes wrote a paper in seventh grade made no sense it’s okay
seventh grade made no sense it’s okay
seventh grade made no sense it’s okay everybody wrinkled on time you know all
everybody wrinkled on time you know all
everybody wrinkled on time you know all that business and I think they still
that business and I think they still
that business and I think they still capture the imagination of so many
capture the imagination of so many
capture the imagination of so many people there’s something very
people there’s something very
people there’s something very interesting about a black hole so think
interesting about a black hole so think
interesting about a black hole so think about it how does a black hole form we
about it how does a black hole form we
about it how does a black hole form we have a star like our Sun but much bigger
have a star like our Sun but much bigger
have a star like our Sun but much bigger eventually every star runs out of fuel
eventually every star runs out of fuel
eventually every star runs out of fuel we’ll stop shining runs out of fuel it
we’ll stop shining runs out of fuel it
we’ll stop shining runs out of fuel it starts to collapse because nothing will
starts to collapse because nothing will
starts to collapse because nothing will beat gravity at that point
beat gravity at that point
beat gravity at that point and if it’s really big you think of a
and if it’s really big you think of a
and if it’s really big you think of a collapsing like a balloon running out of
collapsing like a balloon running out of
collapsing like a balloon running out of air but if a star is big enough nothing
air but if a star is big enough nothing
air but if a star is big enough nothing will stop it from collapsing that we
will stop it from collapsing that we
will stop it from collapsing that we know of and it actually goes all the way
know of and it actually goes all the way
know of and it actually goes all the way down just pressure pressure until it
down just pressure pressure until it
down just pressure pressure until it sinks to a singular point and at that
sinks to a singular point and at that
sinks to a singular point and at that point we’ve created a black hole the
point we’ve created a black hole the
point we’ve created a black hole the black hole will be much smaller than the
black hole will be much smaller than the
black hole will be much smaller than the original star it’s very compact and it
original star it’s very compact and it
original star it’s very compact and it famously doesn’t even allow light to
famously doesn’t even allow light to
famously doesn’t even allow light to escape which is why you see these dark
escape which is why you see these dark
escape which is why you see these dark circles up here so black holes have
circles up here so black holes have
circles up here so black holes have captured our imagination because what
captured our imagination because what
captured our imagination because what they’ve done is informing isn’t
they’ve done is informing isn’t
they’ve done is informing isn’t collapsing to form this black hole the
collapsing to form this black hole the
collapsing to form this black hole the curvature of space and time gets so
curvature of space and time gets so
curvature of space and time gets so tense
tense
tense they’re so stretched and it’s such
they’re so stretched and it’s such
they’re so stretched and it’s such strong curvature it’s almost like we’re
strong curvature it’s almost like we’re
strong curvature it’s almost like we’re creating a rip in space and time itself
creating a rip in space and time itself
creating a rip in space and time itself up here I have two black holes because
up here I have two black holes because
up here I have two black holes because one is never enough always better to
one is never enough always better to
one is never enough always better to have to you this is a picture that’s a
have to you this is a picture that’s a
have to you this is a picture that’s a computer generation it’s not an actual
computer generation it’s not an actual
computer generation it’s not an actual photograph of two black holes and what
photograph of two black holes and what
photograph of two black holes and what we’ve done is this is a picture done by
we’ve done is this is a picture done by
we’ve done is this is a picture done by some of my colleagues and they have
some of my colleagues and they have
some of my colleagues and they have rendered on a computer what would happen
rendered on a computer what would happen
rendered on a computer what would happen if there were two black holes between us
if there were two black holes between us
if there were two black holes between us in the centre of the Milky Way has
in the centre of the Milky Way has
in the centre of the Milky Way has anyone actually gotten a chance to see
anyone actually gotten a chance to see
anyone actually gotten a chance to see what it looks like to look towards the
what it looks like to look towards the
what it looks like to look towards the Milky Way and a dark night can’t do it
Milky Way and a dark night can’t do it
Milky Way and a dark night can’t do it in Atlanta you can see beautiful images
in Atlanta you can see beautiful images
in Atlanta you can see beautiful images of it it’s a big stretch of starry milky
of it it’s a big stretch of starry milky
of it it’s a big stretch of starry milky light and if you have two black holes
light and if you have two black holes
light and if you have two black holes between us and that milky light the
between us and that milky light the
between us and that milky light the light gets so distorted as it goes near
light gets so distorted as it goes near
light gets so distorted as it goes near those black holes the curvature of space
those black holes the curvature of space
those black holes the curvature of space and time is all funky and warped and
and time is all funky and warped and
and time is all funky and warped and twisted but the light looks warped and
twisted but the light looks warped and
twisted but the light looks warped and twisted because they had a travel curved
twisted because they had a travel curved
twisted because they had a travel curved path to reach our eyes now this isn’t
path to reach our eyes now this isn’t
path to reach our eyes now this isn’t really a picture this is just a
really a picture this is just a
really a picture this is just a rendition of what it would look like but
rendition of what it would look like but
rendition of what it would look like but think about what’s happening if I have a
think about what’s happening if I have a
think about what’s happening if I have a star and a companion star and both of
star and a companion star and both of
star and a companion star and both of them collapse to form a black hole then
them collapse to form a black hole then
them collapse to form a black hole then they’re orbiting around each other just
they’re orbiting around each other just
they’re orbiting around each other just like the Earth orbits the Sun and
like the Earth orbits the Sun and
like the Earth orbits the Sun and eventually they’re going to merge
eventually they’re going to merge
eventually they’re going to merge together they’re attracted to each other
together they’re attracted to each other
together they’re attracted to each other think about what’s happening to the
think about what’s happening to the
think about what’s happening to the space and time around it it’s just
space and time around it it’s just
space and time around it it’s just whipping and curving and it’s gotta be
whipping and curving and it’s gotta be
whipping and curving and it’s gotta be the most intense thing out there there
the most intense thing out there there
the most intense thing out there there has to be a physical consequence of such
has to be a physical consequence of such
has to be a physical consequence of such a dynamic and intense environment and
a dynamic and intense environment and
a dynamic and intense environment and that leads us to our second
that leads us to our second
that leads us to our second extraordinary claim of Einstein his
extraordinary claim of Einstein his
extraordinary claim of Einstein his theories claim that when when space and
theories claim that when when space and
theories claim that when when space and time are agitated like that when a
time are agitated like that when a
time are agitated like that when a something as compact as a black hole is
something as compact as a black hole is
something as compact as a black hole is accelerate
accelerate
accelerate then we must give off some kind of
then we must give off some kind of
then we must give off some kind of energy it’s called gravitational waves
energy it’s called gravitational waves
energy it’s called gravitational waves and near the source of this energy it’s
and near the source of this energy it’s
and near the source of this energy it’s gonna be really intense intense
gonna be really intense intense
gonna be really intense intense radiation but we can’t see it at all
radiation but we can’t see it at all
radiation but we can’t see it at all it’s not light so I’m showing you a
it’s not light so I’m showing you a
it’s not light so I’m showing you a computer graphic this is done by solving
computer graphic this is done by solving
computer graphic this is done by solving here at Georgia Tech we solve a science
here at Georgia Tech we solve a science
here at Georgia Tech we solve a science equations for two black holes colliding
equations for two black holes colliding
equations for two black holes colliding and we predict what the radiation and
and we predict what the radiation and
and we predict what the radiation and what the gravitational waves would look
what the gravitational waves would look
what the gravitational waves would look like so this is the movie and you see
like so this is the movie and you see
like so this is the movie and you see that it’s color-coded blue and orange to
that it’s color-coded blue and orange to
that it’s color-coded blue and orange to give you a sense of what the waves would
give you a sense of what the waves would
give you a sense of what the waves would look like even though they’re not
look like even though they’re not
look like even though they’re not viewable by the eye because they’re not
viewable by the eye because they’re not
viewable by the eye because they’re not electromagnetism so the two black holes
electromagnetism so the two black holes
electromagnetism so the two black holes or each other and they collide they form
or each other and they collide they form
or each other and they collide they form a bigger black hole and then there’s
a bigger black hole and then there’s
a bigger black hole and then there’s gravity waves it comes pouring out of
gravity waves it comes pouring out of
gravity waves it comes pouring out of the event and then we ask ourselves a
the event and then we ask ourselves a
the event and then we ask ourselves a question super dynamic crazy curvature
question super dynamic crazy curvature
question super dynamic crazy curvature is happening near that system but we’re
is happening near that system but we’re
is happening near that system but we’re really really far away it’s a good thing
really really far away it’s a good thing
really really far away it’s a good thing really far away from these black holes
really far away from these black holes
really far away from these black holes they’re far away into the universe so
they’re far away into the universe so
they’re far away into the universe so what happens by the time they reach us
what happens by the time they reach us
what happens by the time they reach us on planet earth and can we figure out a
on planet earth and can we figure out a
on planet earth and can we figure out a way to measure them to find out was
way to measure them to find out was
way to measure them to find out was Einstein’s theory predicting things that
Einstein’s theory predicting things that
Einstein’s theory predicting things that are right or not so this is a scale it’s
are right or not so this is a scale it’s
are right or not so this is a scale it’s vastly exaggerated this is an image out
vastly exaggerated this is an image out
vastly exaggerated this is an image out of the LIGO collaboration and what
of the LIGO collaboration and what
of the LIGO collaboration and what you’re going to see is what happens when
you’re going to see is what happens when
you’re going to see is what happens when a gravitational wave hits the earth so
a gravitational wave hits the earth so
a gravitational wave hits the earth so we’re gonna let the gravitational wave
we’re gonna let the gravitational wave
we’re gonna let the gravitational wave come from very far away or we might not
come from very far away or we might not
come from very far away or we might not this is why they tell you don’t show
this is why they tell you don’t show
this is why they tell you don’t show movies at a TEDx talk but I’m stubborn
movies at a TEDx talk but I’m stubborn
movies at a TEDx talk but I’m stubborn so a gravitational wave comes hits the
so a gravitational wave comes hits the
so a gravitational wave comes hits the earth and the earth would actually
earth and the earth would actually
earth and the earth would actually wobble like a bowl of jelly and what our
wobble like a bowl of jelly and what our
wobble like a bowl of jelly and what our job is as experimental physicists I’m a
job is as experimental physicists I’m a
job is as experimental physicists I’m a theorist and I work with them and I say
theorist and I work with them and I say
theorist and I work with them and I say this is what a gravitational wave should
this is what a gravitational wave should
this is what a gravitational wave should look like and then they go and look for
look like and then they go and look for
look like and then they go and look for it and the way they look for it is
it and the way they look for it is
it and the way they look for it is called the LIGO experiment this is an
called the LIGO experiment this is an
called the LIGO experiment this is an experiment in Louisiana and there’s
experiment in Louisiana and there’s
experiment in Louisiana and there’s another one in Washington State
another one in Washington State
another one in Washington State and so when a gravitational wave travels
and so when a gravitational wave travels
and so when a gravitational wave travels to the surface of the earth what’s it’s
to the surface of the earth what’s it’s
to the surface of the earth what’s it’s doing is it’s stretching space and time
doing is it’s stretching space and time
doing is it’s stretching space and time as it comes and if I have two masses in
as it comes and if I have two masses in
as it comes and if I have two masses in an l-shaped arm like we have here one’s
an l-shaped arm like we have here one’s
an l-shaped arm like we have here one’s hanging at one end station another is
hanging at one end station another is
hanging at one end station another is hanging at the other when the
hanging at the other when the
hanging at the other when the gravitational wave passed it literally
gravitational wave passed it literally
gravitational wave passed it literally distorts space as it passes and it
distorts space as it passes and it
distorts space as it passes and it causes these arms to change in length
causes these arms to change in length
causes these arms to change in length and the LIGO experiment
and the LIGO experiment
and the LIGO experiment actually detects a way to detect this
actually detects a way to detect this
actually detects a way to detect this change in length and translate that into
change in length and translate that into
change in length and translate that into the fact that we’ve seen for the first
the fact that we’ve seen for the first
the fact that we’ve seen for the first time a gravitational wave this is the
time a gravitational wave this is the
time a gravitational wave this is the ugliest image I showed you and this one
ugliest image I showed you and this one
ugliest image I showed you and this one is the most spectacular so you have a
is the most spectacular so you have a
is the most spectacular so you have a hundred years after Albert Einstein’s
hundred years after Albert Einstein’s
hundred years after Albert Einstein’s theory has been developed we have some
theory has been developed we have some
theory has been developed we have some twenty years of scientists Polly more
twenty years of scientists Polly more
twenty years of scientists Polly more than that 30 years of scientists and
than that 30 years of scientists and
than that 30 years of scientists and engineers building experiment and what
engineers building experiment and what
engineers building experiment and what it has to do this experiment has to
it has to do this experiment has to
it has to do this experiment has to basically see a wrinkle of space-time
basically see a wrinkle of space-time
basically see a wrinkle of space-time oscillation coming towards it
oscillation coming towards it
oscillation coming towards it that’s so subtle that it’s almost
that’s so subtle that it’s almost
that’s so subtle that it’s almost impossible to detect and then it took 20
impossible to detect and then it took 20
impossible to detect and then it took 20 years for scientists like myself to
years for scientists like myself to
years for scientists like myself to solve Einstein’s equations for two black
solve Einstein’s equations for two black
solve Einstein’s equations for two black holes so we could all come together and
holes so we could all come together and
holes so we could all come together and for the first time detect gravitational
for the first time detect gravitational
for the first time detect gravitational waves so on September 14 2015 we a
waves so on September 14 2015 we a
waves so on September 14 2015 we a binary black hole so these two black
binary black hole so these two black
binary black hole so these two black holes were orbiting 1.4 billion years
holes were orbiting 1.4 billion years
holes were orbiting 1.4 billion years ago and that information and finally
ago and that information and finally
ago and that information and finally traveled to the earth so we were still
traveled to the earth so we were still
traveled to the earth so we were still single-celled organisms when this
single-celled organisms when this
single-celled organisms when this collision happened and it took 1.4
collision happened and it took 1.4
collision happened and it took 1.4 billion years for the information to
billion years for the information to
billion years for the information to reach earth that’s how far away it was
reach earth that’s how far away it was
reach earth that’s how far away it was by the time it reaches us it’s super
by the time it reaches us it’s super
by the time it reaches us it’s super weak barely detected and this is it’s
weak barely detected and this is it’s
weak barely detected and this is it’s picture signature so it looks like a
picture signature so it looks like a
picture signature so it looks like a goofy sine wave you know with some mask
goofy sine wave you know with some mask
goofy sine wave you know with some mask because the detector is noisy and it
because the detector is noisy and it
because the detector is noisy and it took about 0.2 seconds after traveling
took about 0.2 seconds after traveling
took about 0.2 seconds after traveling 1.4 billion years to pass through the
1.4 billion years to pass through the
1.4 billion years to pass through the earth but we were there we were ready
earth but we were there we were ready
earth but we were there we were ready everything was in place
everything was in place
everything was in place so it might not doesn’t look very
so it might not doesn’t look very
so it might not doesn’t look very impressive this is the one from the
impressive this is the one from the
impressive this is the one from the Washington detector but nonetheless if
Washington detector but nonetheless if
Washington detector but nonetheless if you imagine the timing it was pretty
you imagine the timing it was pretty
you imagine the timing it was pretty exciting to be one of the scientists
exciting to be one of the scientists
exciting to be one of the scientists working on this having devoted my whole
working on this having devoted my whole
working on this having devoted my whole career studying these black holes and
career studying these black holes and
career studying these black holes and Einstein’s theory it’s actually be
Einstein’s theory it’s actually be
Einstein’s theory it’s actually be present when the first one was detected
present when the first one was detected
present when the first one was detected and I think it says something about
and I think it says something about
and I think it says something about humanity that a human brain can think of
humanity that a human brain can think of
humanity that a human brain can think of a theory come up with stuff that doesn’t
a theory come up with stuff that doesn’t
a theory come up with stuff that doesn’t even make sense for a hundred years and
even make sense for a hundred years and
even make sense for a hundred years and we could actually build the detector and
we could actually build the detector and
we could actually build the detector and find out it really exists in the
find out it really exists in the
find out it really exists in the universe thank you
”
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