>> THIS HALLOWEEN NASA WILL TAKE
YOU ON A JOURNEY TO THE DARKEST
CORNERS.
WHERE INVISIBLE FORCES DRAW
GALAXY'S TOGETHER AS DARK ENERGY
RIPS THEM APART AND TRAVEL THE
WORLDS WITH UNIMAGINABLE
CONDITIONS, PERILOUS TO HUMANS.
WE'LL WE HEAR SOUNDS.
STOP.
LISTEN.
LOOK UP.
AND JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF OUR
GALAXY OF HORRORS.
(CACKLING LAUGH)
>> HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND WELCOME
TO SPECIAL HAIR RAISING EDITION
OF NASA SCIENCE LIVE.
I'M YOUR HOST SCOTT BEDNAR.
THIS IS A SHOW ABOUT YOU BEING
ABLE TO INTERACT WITH NASA
SCIENTISTS AND GETTING YOUR
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
IT'S EASY ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS
GO TO ASK US A QUESTION USING
THE #ASKNASA OR JUST LEAVE A
QUESTION IN THE COMMENT BOX
WHEREVER YOU'RE WATCHING THIS
PROGRAM TODAY.
SO, IT IS THE HALLOWEENS, THE
DAY OF THE DEAD AND CELEBRATE
THIS CHILLING HOLIDAY WE ARE
TAKING YOU ON OUR TOUR OF OUR
GALAXY OF HORRORS.
FIRST, WE'LL START AT THE FAR
REACHES OF THE MILKY WAY AND
EXPLORE TERRIFYING PLANETS THAT
ORBIT OTHER STARS.
THEN, WE'LL COME A BIT CLOSER TO
COME BY EXPLORING SOME OF THE
WHO ARE EERIE ENVIRONMENTS IF
OUR OWN SOLAR SYSTEM.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD RADIO WAVES
FROM SATURN?
YOU WILL TODAY.
THEN WE'LL DIVE INTO THE DARK
FORCES AT PLAY IN OUR UNIVERSE,
DARK ENERGY AND DARK MATTER.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?
ME?
WELL, I'M JUST A MAD SCIENTIST.
DO YOU HAVE A SPACE OR SCIENCE
THEME COSTUME YOU WANT TO SHARE
WITH US.
SEND US A PICTURE USING THE
#NASACOSTUME.
WE WANT TO SEE THEM ALL.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE DRESSED UP
HERE TODAY.
THE WHOLE NASA LIVE DREW IS
CRAWLING WITH CREEPY COST TOMBS.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
POSITIVELY GHASTLY.
BEFORE WE GET KNEE DEEP INTO
SOME SPOOKY SCIENCE WE WANT YOU
TO HELP US DETERMINE THE
SCARIEST IMAGE OF THE GALAXY.
WE HAVE FOUR TERRIFYING PHOTOS
AND WE NEED YOU TO HELP US VOTE
ON WHICH IS THE MOST
HALLOWEEN-RIFFIC OF THEM ALL.
WE HAVE A CREEPY COFFIN SHAPED
ICEBERG OF THE AFTER 18 YEARS IS
A SEA IT ENTERED A REGION IN
2018 WHERE ANTARCTIC ICEBERGS GO
TO DIE.
NEXT THIS FRIGHTENING SNAPSHOT
OF AN ASTEROID.
IN 2015 THIS CRANIUM-SHAPED
BOULDER FLEW BY EARTH ON
HALLOWEEN DAY.
THIRDLY WE HAVE THIS SPICY IMAGE
OF THE SIZZLING SUN.
THESE BRIGHTER AND MORE ACTIVE
REGIONS APPEAR TO BE PERFORMING
A JACK O' LANTERNS FACE AND
LASTLY BUT NOT THIS HAUNTING
PORTRAIT OF THE RETCH IT RICH
HEAD NEBULA SCREAMING BLOODY
MURDER INTO THE REACHES OF
SPACE.
WHICH IS THE SPACIEST OF ALL.
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS GO TO
TWITTER AND TYPE IN @ NASA AND
VOTE AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW
WHICH IS THE WORST A LATER IN
THE SHOW.
NOW LET'S VENTURE BILLIONS OF
MILES PAST THE BOUNDARY OF OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM BEYOND PLUTO AND
THE INFLUENCE OF OUR SUN TO
LEARN ABOUT PLANETS THAT ORBIT
OTHER STARS, ALSO KNOWN AS
EXOPLANETS.
AND UNLIKE OUR BEAUTIFUL EARTH
NOT ALL OF THEM ARE VERY
WELCOMING.
ARE YOU READY?
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.
>> LURKING BEYOND OUR SOLAR
SYSTEM AMONG THE BILLIONS OF
STARS AND THE EXOPLANETS THAT
ORBIT THEM, IS ANOTHER SORT OF
MILKY WAY ALL TOGETHER, A PLACE
OF UNEQUAL TEARERS.
COME AT US NOW IF YOU DARE AND
DISCOVER THE GALAXY OF HORRORS.
FEEL THE RAINS OF TERROR, THE
KILLERS YOU NEVER SEE COMING.
WITH WINDS OF UP TO 5400 MILES
PER HOUR.
AND RAINS OF GLASS BLOWING
SIDEWAYS AND.
THE WEATHER IS HERE DEADLY.
THIS HAZY BLOW TORCHED
ATMOSPHERE IS RID TOLD WITH
PARTICLES MAKING THIS AN
UNEARTHLY DEATH TRAP NO ONE
WOULD WANT TO FACE.
DISCOVER THE ZOMBIE WORLD THAT
EXISTS IN THIS HOSPITABLE PART
OF THE GALAXY.
POLTERGEIST PLANET.
DESPITE ITS DEMISE THIS UNDEAD
STAR SPINS TWIN BEAMS OF
RADIATION THAT COULD INCINERATE
A SPACE SHIFT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO
VENTURE TOO CLOSE.
EVEN IF YOU COULD MAKE IT TO THE
SURFACE, YOUR NIGHTMARES WOULD
CONTINUE AS THE RADIATION FROM
THE ZOMBIE STAR RAINS DOWN ON
PLANET POLTERGEIST AS WELL AS
THEY ARE NEIGHBORING DEAD WORLD
CREATING SICKLY AWARDS TO LIGHT
UP YOUR CERTAIN DEATH.
THESE ARE THE SAMPLE OF THE
UNWELCOMING WORLDS THAT INHABIT
OUR WORLDS GALAXY OF HORRORS.
>> THAT WAS TERRIFYING.
MAKE SURE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR
GALAXY OF HORRORS TODAY AT A
WEBSITE NEAR YOU.
SPECIFICALLY
EXOPLANETS.NASA.GOV.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A SCIENTIST
OR AN ENGINEER TO WORK AT NASA.
LOOK AT ME.
WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
THE PLAGUED MINDS BEHIND THESE
CHILLING WORKS OF DARK ART.
LET'S HEAD OVER TO OUR FRIENDS
ON THE WEST COAST AT THE JET
PROPULSION LABORATORY.
THALIA AND TIFFANY, HAPPY
HALLOWEEN!
>> SCOTT, OVER TO YOU.
>> SO I AM THALIA RIVERA KHAN
AND I'M JOINED BY TIFFANY
KATARIA WHO IS AN EXOPLANET
SCIENTIST.
TIFFANY, WE JUST SAW THE
TRAILER.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE POSTERS.
WE HAVE RAINED TERROR, CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT THIS PLANET AND WHAT
MAKES IT SO TERRIFYING?
>> YEAH.
THIS PLANET IS CALLED HD
189773B.
IT'S CALLED A HOT JUPITER.
IT ORBITS CLOSER TO THE STAR.
IT'S 10 TIMES CLOSE THAN IT IS
ON THE SUN.
IT'S SUPER, SUPER HOT.
HOT ENOUGH THAT THE ROCKS WE
FIND ON EARTH ARE HOT ENOUGH TO
BE VAPORIZED AND RAINING OUT IN
THE ATMOSPHERE.
BECAUSE IT EXPERIENCES VERY HIGH
WINDS WE EXPECT THIS RAIN, THESE
RAINS OF GLASS BECAUSE THEY'RE
SILL CAT PARTICLES, WE EXPECT
THOSE PARTICLES TO BE DRIVEN
SIDEWAYS FROM THE WIND.
>> OUR SANTA ANA WINDS HAVE
NOTHING ON THIS PLANET.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR NEXT
POSTER WHICH IS ZOMBIE WORLD.
PSRB125712.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE
PLANET ANDS MAKE WHAT THEM SO
INHOSPITABLE.
>> THIS IS SYSTEM FOR HALLOWEEN
BECAUSE OF THE NAMES OF THE
PLANETS AND THE STAR ARE
ACTUALLY UNDEAD CREATURES.
SO THE STAR IS CALLED LEECH AND
TRAILER YOU SAW THE PLANETS ARE
CALLED POLTERGEIST AND DRAGAR
AND I'M FOR GETTING THE THIRD
ONE.
ALL OF THOSE ARE UNDEAD
CREATURES ALREADY.
SO CLIMBED FOR A HALLOWEEN
POSTER.
THEY'RE ORBITING A PULSAR.
A DEAD STAR THAT IS ROTATING.
ROTATING EVERY 6 MILLISECONDS
AND SMALL AND HOT AND GIVING OFF
ALL THESE RADIO EMISSIONS.
VERY INHOSPITABLE TO LIFE.
>> BRILLIANT.
IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH
YOU.
REALLY ENJOYED IT.
AMAZING TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT
IS AND EXPLAINING THAT SCIENCE
THAT CAN'T ALWAYS BE EXPLAINED
VERY EASILY.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW HAS FUN
RESOURCES LIKE THESE PLANET
POSTERS HELPED YOU EXPLAIN
SCIENCE TO THE PUBLIC?
PERSONALLY I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT
BOTH ART AND SCIENCE SO IT'S AN
AWESOME INTERSECTION.
I LOVE -- WHAT I LOVE ABOUT
THESE POSTERS THEY'RE ENGAGING
NOT ONLY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
BUT ALSO ASTRONOMERS AND SIGN
ITS IT ACROSS THE BOARD EVEN
PEOPLE WELL INTO EXOPLANET
PLANET SCIENCE.
IT'S NOT NICE NOT ONLY TO POINT
OUT THE POSTERS FOR THE ARTISTIC
ELEMENTS YOU BUT THE SCIENCE
ELEMENTS INCORPORATED ARE LIKE
LITTLE EASTER EGGS FOR PEOPLE TO
FIND.
THE SIZE OF THE PLANETS, IS THE
PARTICLES IN THE SKY, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS WE CAN DRAW FROM
AND EXPLAINING NOT ONLY THE ARTS
BUT ALSO THE SCIENCE THAT GOES
INTO THESE PARTICULAR SYSTEMS.
>> AMAZING.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AN ASK NASA
QUESTION.
ZACK POWERS HERE ASKS, "SAY A
PERSON ON ANOTHER PLANET FAR,
FAR AWAY FROM ANOTHER GALAXY,
CLEAR PICTURE OF EARTH, WHAT
TIME PERIOD WAS THE PICTURE OF
EARTH BE IN?"
>> GREAT QUESTION.
LIGHT TAKES TIME TO TRAVEL TO
US, SO IN FACT WE'RE PEERING
BACK IN TIME WHEN WE'RE
RECEIVING TIME FROM AN EXISTING
EXOPLANET PLANET SYSTEM.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THAT OTHER
DISTANT SYSTEM WAS LOOKING AT US
THEY COULD BE PEERING INTO
DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS.
SOME GLACIAL AGE OR PRESENT DAY
WHEN THE EARTH IS REALLY
HOSPITABLE.
IT COULD LOOK ANYWAY DEPENDING
ON WHAT TIME THEY'RE PEERING
INTO.
>> AMAZING.
WE HAVE TO ASK, CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR
OUTFIT AND HOW DOES IT HAVE TO
RELATE TO EXOPLANETS?
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THALIA.
THIS WIG HERE AND MY MAKE-UP
REPRESENTS A TERMINATOR.
SO I'VE GOT A REALLY HOT DAY ON
THE RIGHT AND COLD NIGHT ON THE
LEFT AND SO I TRIED TO MAKE THE
MAKE-UP COMPANIES INCIDENT WITH
THAT AND ALWAYS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO WEAR A CAT SPACE
SHIRT.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOURS.
>> I'M EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.
I I'M THE UNIVERSE AND I HAVE
PLANETS HERE AND MY STARS HERE
WHICH ONLY MAKE UP 5% OF IT AND
REST IS DARK ENERGY AND DARK
MATTER.
WE'LL HEAD BACK TO THE STUDIO
WITH YOU, SCOTT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, BOTH.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE BILLIONS
AND BILLIONS OF PLANETS,
EXOPLANETS IN THE KNOWN
UNIVERSE.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR
WORK SCHEDULES?
>> SO, THERE ARE BILLIONS AND
BILLIONS OF PLANETS IN THE
UNIVERSE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR WORK
SCHEDULE?
FOR ME IT'S A LOT OF TRYING TO
COMMUNICATE ALL OF THOSE WEIRD
WORLDS OUT THERE.
BUT FOR TIFFANY IT'S A LOT
DIFFERENT.
>> NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
>> HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO BOTH YOU.
YOU LOOK FANTASTIC.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE
SPOOKY MYSTERY OF DARK ENERGY
AND DARK MATTER LET'S TALK
PUMPKINS.
WORKING AT NASA ISN'T YOU WILL
SCIENCE AND MATH.
IT CAN BE FUN AND GAMES TOO.
FOR INSTANCE, I'M NOT ACTUALLY A
STAR FLEET CAPTAIN.
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY HOSTED
THEIR ANNUAL EMPLOYEE PUMPKIN
CARVING CONTEST AND OUR FRIEND
KAITLYN SOARES HAS ALL THE
DETAILS.
LET'S GIVE THEM PUMPKIN TO TALK
ABOUT ♪
>> EVERYBODY READY TO GO?
>> OUR ANNUAL PUMPKIN CARVING
CONTEST IS UNDERWAY.
WHAT ARE YOU CARVING TODAY?
>>
>> WE'RE CARVING THE ADVANCED
DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURES THE LAST
10 YEARS PLUG INTO A PUMPKIN.
>> WHAT ARE YOU WORK ON HERE
TODAY?
>> WE GOT OUR ROGUE ON VACATION
TO OLYMPUS MONS THE LARGEST
VOLCANO IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
>> WHAT IS THE SCARECROW THERE?
>> HE'S A BUTTERNUT SQUASH.
>> WE TURN OR PUMPKIN INTO THE
APOLLO LUNAR LANDER.
SO WE GOT THE LANDER GOING DOWN
AND WE ALSO HAVE REAL FOOTAGE OF
THE MOON SHOWING UNDERNEATH IT.
OUR JACK-O-LANDER LANDED SAFETY.
>> DID YOU SEE THOSE PUMPKINS.
I CAN'T EVEN PICK OUT A PUMPKIN
WITHOUT HAVING A FULL BLOWN PAN
PAN ATTACK.
I'M JOINED BY TRUE NASA
SCIENTIST REGINA AND DOMINIC.
I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR
COSTUME WEARING.
LOOKING WONDERFUL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A QUESTION WE SHOULD START
WITH, WHAT IS DARK MATTER AND
WHAT IS DARK ENERGY?
>> IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION
AND A GREAT WAY TO START.
WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO KNOW ABOUT
DARK MATTER.
SO WE KNOW JUST LIKE NORMAL
MATTER LIKE PUMPKINS AND
PLANETS, BUT IT INTERACTS
GRAVITY.
THIS IS HOW WE FIRST DISCOVERED
DARK MATTER.
THERE IS ABOUT 5 TIMES MORE DARK
MATTER OUT THERE THEN THERE IS
REGULAR MATTER.
HOWEVER ONE OF THE BIG
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DARK MATTER
AND REGULAR MATTER IS THAT DARK
MATTER DOESN'T INTERACT WITH
LIGHT OR FOE TONS.
SO WE CAN'T SEE IT.
WHICH IS WHY WE CALL IT,
DARK.
>> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT DARK
ENERGY IS ABOUT 2/3 OF THE TOTAL
MASS AND ENERGY IN THE UNIVERSE
IS IN THE FORM OF DARK ENERGY
AND BEYOND THAT WE ACTUALLY
DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH.
AND SCOTT, THE OLDEST AND
STRONGEST FEAR IS FEAR OF THE
UNKNOWN AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE
DO KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE
BILLIONS OF DARK MATTER
PARTICLES FLOODING THROUGH YOUR
BODY AT THIS VERY MOMENT AND
THAT DARK ENERGY DIFFUSES
EVERYTHING AROUND US INCLUDING
OURSELVES AND OUR OWN BODY.
THEY MAY CHANGE WITH TIME.
BILLIONS FLOODING THROUGH ME
RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT DARK
MATTER AND DARK ENERGY IS PRETTY
MUCH INVISIBLE OR IMPOSSIBLE TO
SEE.
HOW DO WE KNOW IT EXISTS?
HOW DO YOU MEASURE SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T SEE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND
SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO
MEASURE WHAT DARK MATTER IS AND
WHERE IT IS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS WE
GET -- WE HAVE A THEORY AS TO
WHAT DARK MATTER COULD BE.
IF DARK MATTER IS A WEEKLY
INTERACTING MASSIVE PARTICLE, IT
COULD ANNIHILATE TOGETHER IN THE
UNIVERSE THEREFORE FORMING OTHER
KINDS OF MATTER THAT WE COULD
ACTUALLY OBSERVE LIKE PHOTONS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE
GAMMA OBSERVATORY SEARCHES FOR
DARK MATTER.
>> WE MOSTLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
IS BY LOOKING AT HOW IT AFFECTS
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE
AND THE UNIVERSE AS A WHOLE.
DARK ENERGY HAS A REPULSIVE
EFFECT.
IT PUSHES EVERYTHING AWAY FROM
EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT PUSHES SPACE AWAY FROM ITSELF
AND ALL THE GALAXIES AND WE WANT
TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S DOING
THAT AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO
TO US IN THE FUTURE.
>> YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT DARK
ENERGY IS EXPANDING THE UNIVERSE
AND THE DARK MATTER IS PULLING
IT TOGETHER.
THAT SOUNDS KIND OF
CONTRADICTORY TO EACH OTHER.
>> EXACTLY.
DARK MATTER JUST LIKE REGULAR
MATTER IS AN ATTRACTIVE FORCE.
SO IT INTERACTS VIA GRAVITY BY
PULLING THINGS TOGETHER.
>> WHEN THE UNIVERSE WAS VERY,
VERY YOUNG, DARK ENERGY WAS
INSIGNIFICANT AND DARK MATTER
WAS MORE IMPORTANT.
SO THE UNIVERSE WAS EXPANDING
AFTER THE BIG BANG AND THE DARK
MATTER'S GRAVITY PULLED IT BACK
IN.
THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT 8 BILLION
YEARS OR SO AND VERBALLY DARK
ENERGY BECAME MORE IMPORTANT AND
MORE DOMINANT AND STARTED TO
ACCELERATE THE UNIVERSE AGAIN.
SO THE UNIVERSE'S EXPANSION HAS
BEEN SPEEDING UP AS IT GOES.
>> DARK ENERGY IN THE LEAD.
>> IT IS FOR RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHETHER
DARK ENERGY CONTINUES IN THE
LEAD OR WHETHER IT CHANGES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE SIMPLEST
EXPLANATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS
CONSTANT EVERYWHERE IN SPACE AND
ALL TIMES AND AS THE SOON VERSE
GETS BIGGER THERE IS MORE DARK
ENERGY IN THE UNIVERSE.
BUT WE COULD BE SEEING AN EFFECT
THAT ACTUALLY IS DIFFERENT WITH
SPACE AND TIME AND IT COULD BE
THAT IT A HE EVOLVING AND
UNIVERSE MIGHT ACCELERATE MORE
OR LESS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK IN TIME TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO
THAT WE KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
>> IT'S ALL SO CONFUSING.
LET'S MOVING TO THE ASK NASA
SEGMENT WHERE WE GET TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS SENT IN BY YOU.
IF YOU WANT YOUR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED BY REGINA OR DOMINIC
ASK TO ASK NASA.
>> ELIZABETH ON TWITTER WANTS TO
KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE
FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSE IN
REGARDS TO DARK ENERGY AND DARK
MATTER?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WISH WE KNEW THE ANSWER.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
WE'RE LAUNCHING NEW TELESCOPES
TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OF
THE UNIVERSE.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
BUT WE KNOW WHICH KINDS OF
SCENARIOS ARE POSSIBLE.
IF DARK MATTER ENDS UP BEING THE
DOMINANT COMPONENT OF THE
UNIVERSE THEN THAT ACCELERATION
I SPOKE OF WILL REVERSE AND
EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME BACK.
IT IF IS IMPERFECTLY IMBALANCED
IT EXPANDS FOREVER BUT EXPANDS
MORE AND MORE SLOWLY AS UNIVERSE
AGES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF DARK
ENERGY THE PART THAT WINS AND IF
IT IS ACCELERATING IT FASTER AND
FASTER WITH TIME THEN EVENTUALLY
IT TEARS APART THE UNIVERSE AND
THE GALAXIES AND THEN THE SOLAR
SYSTEMS AND THEN THE PLANET ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO THE ATOMS UNTIL
IT RIPS APART SPACE ITSELF.
WE A GREAT NAME FOR IT.
WE CALL THIS THE BIG RIP.
THEN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION
WHERE IT GOES THE OTHER WAY THE
BIG CRUNCH WHERE EVERYTHING HE
NESTLES BACK DOWN INTO A
SINGULARITY WHERE IT'S THE END
OF SOMETIME.
THIS WON'T HAPPEN TENS OF
MILLIONS OF YEARS.
SO DON'T WORRY.
>> JESSE WANTS TO KNOW ON
FACEBOOK, IF THE UNIVERSE IS
EXPANDING WHAT IS IT EXPANDING
INTO?
WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE?
>> THIS IS A QUESTION WE LOVE TO
GET.
IT'S GOOD THAT JESSE ASKED THAT
BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO ANSWER
SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFICULT TO
CONCEPTUALIZE.
I WOULD SUGGEST BY SAYING IT'S
NOT EXPANDING INTO ANYTHING.
IT'S AN EXPANSION OF SPACE AS
SPACE EXPANDS IT'S PUSHING AWAY
FROM ITSELF BUT IT'S EVERYWHERE.
EVERY PART OF SPACE IS MOVE
APART.
>> I SO WANT TO KNOW, WE KNOW
SOME STUFF ABOUT DARK MATTER AND
DARK ENERGY.
WHAT'S IN THE WORKS IN THE
FUTURE?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO, ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS
THAT WE TRY TO ANSWER IS HOW DO
WE UNDERSTAND THESE QUESTIONS
THAT WE KNOW EXIST BUT WE DON'T
QUITE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS YET
FOR AND THAT'S BY DEVELOPING NEW
TELESCOPES AND WAYS OF STUDYING
THEM.
I WORK ON FUTURE GAMMA RAY
MISSIONS TO TRY TO LOOK FOR
EVIDENCE OF DARK MATTER EYE
ANNIHILATION IN THE UNIVERSE AND
THAT'S ONE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
WHAT IT IS.
>> YOU WORKED ON ONE OF THE
PRIME TOOLS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW FOR MEASURING DARK MATTER
AND ONE OF THE TOOLS RIGHT NOW
WE HAVE IS HUBBLE SPACE
TELESCOPE BUT I WORK ON A
MISSION CALLED WFIRST WHICH IS
PLANNED ON PLANNED ON TAKING IT
A STEP FURTHER.
MAKES PICTURES 100 TIMES FASTER
AND 1,000 TIMES FASTER AS IT
PULLS GALAXY TOGETHER AND
SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT DECADE AND
PROVIDE A LOT OF DATA WE NEED TO
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
>> A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
BACK TO YOUR ASK NASA QUESTIONS.
BONNIE WALKER ON FACEBOOK ASKS,
HOW CAN YOU TELL DARK MATTER OR
ENERGY FROM LIGHT?
IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
LIGHT IS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
FORCES OF THE FUNDAMENTAL FORCES
THE UNIVERSE.
THEY INTERACT WITH LIGHT.
AND SO, DARK MATTER SOMEWHAT
UNIQUELY DOESN'T INTERACT WITH
LIGHT.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T SEE
IT.
SO THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN TELL
THAT DARK MATTER THERE IS BY
LOOKING AT HOW IT EFFECTS THINGS
GRAVITATIONALLY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT A GALAXY WE CAN
SEE THAT THERE'S SOME MATTER
THERE, BUT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE
THE MATTER ITSELF LIKE WE WOULD
WITH OUR EYES OR TELESCOPE.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE KNOW
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.
WE JUST CAN'T SEE IT AND THAT'S
HOW WE KNOW IT DOESN'T INTERACT
WITH LIGHT.
AT LEAST NOT IN A WAY THAT WE
UNDERSTAND.
>> I'M AFRAID WE HAVE COME TO
THE END OF THE TIME HERE. I
WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH
FOR JOIN US TODAY.
QUITE AN ENLIGHTENING
CONVERSATION.
ALWAYS A TERRIFYING
CONVERSATION.
IF YOU AT HOME WANT TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT DARK MATTER AND DARK
ENERGY GOOGLE IT OR GO TO
NASA.GOV AND SEARCH THE SPOOKY
SCIENTIST.
FOR OUR NEXT SEGMENT WE'LL
TRAVEL ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND
NASA SCIENTIST MORGAN CABLE WILL
USE US TO THE CREEPY SOUNDS WE
CAPTURED IN OUR OWN SOLAR
SYSTEM.
MY GOOD FRIEND THALIA IS THERE
WITH MORGAN.
OFF TO YOU.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> SO I AM BOOK HERE WITH
DR. MORGAN CABLE, NASA SCIENTIST
WHO WORKED ON THE CASSINI
MISSION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SPOOKY
SOUNDS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE RECORDED
SOME OF THEM AND WE CAN HE HEAR
THEM TODAY?
>> I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE PART
OF THE CASSINI MISSION WHICH WAS
IN THE SATURN FOR 13 YEARS
STUDYING ITS MOONS AND RINGS TO
SOME BEAUTIFUL IMAGES WE
COLLECTED EERIE SOUNDS FROM THE
SATURN SYSTEM.
>> WONDERFUL.
WILL WE GET TO HEAR TODAY?
>> YES, WE WILL.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT
SOUNDS THAT WE'LL BE LISTENING
TO TODAY.
>> WHY DON'T WE LISTEN TO THE
FIRST ONE.
(EERIE SOUND)
>> MY GOODNESS.
THAT WAS A TERRIFYING SOUND.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT
WHAT WE HEARD?
>> THAT WAS CRAZY, HUH?
YOU MIGHT OF HEARD WHAT SOUNDED
LIKE A SCREAMING INFRASTRUCTURE
NOW YOU SAY THERE IS NO SOUND.
CASSINI COULD.
SO THERE'S A SCREAMING SOUND AND
THIS SWOOPING SOUND.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW OF THESE
FORMED.
THIS HAPPENED WHEN CASSINI WAS
NEAR SATURN AND THIS WAS DURING
THE TIME WHEN SATURN'S AURORA
WAS REALLY ACTIVE.
AURORAS FORM FROM -- IT ACTUALLY
STARTS IN THE SUN.
THE SUN IN ADDITION TO
GENERATING LOTS OF LIGHT SPEWS
ALL SORTS OF CHARGED PARTICLES
IN WHAT'S CALLED THE SOLAR WIND.
WHEN THOSE PARTICLES COME AND
INTERACT WITH GASES IN THE
ATMOSPHERE OF EARTH OR SATURN
SOME OF THE GASES CAN GET
EXCITED AND GLOW.
IN THE EARTH'S CASE IT'S USUALLY
OXYGEN AND IT CAUSES THE
BEAUTIFUL AURORA IN THE NORTHERN
REGIONS.
IN SATELLITE IT'S HYDROGEN.
DURING THIS TIME SATURN IS
ACTIVE IN TERMS OF ITS RADIO
EMISSIONS AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
HEARING.
IF YOU WERE LISTENING YOU
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HEAR
ANYTHING.
WE HAD TO SHIFT THE SOUND IN
ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HEAR
IT WITH OUR OWN EARS.
BUT SATURN'S EARS WERE ABLE TO
PICK IT UP.
WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IS SOME OF
THE ELECTRONS THAT COME IN IN
AND GET TRAPPED BY THE GIANT
STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD.
IF THEY MOVE ALONG THE MAGNETIC
FIELD LINES THEN THEY FORM THAT
HISSING, SCREAMING SOUND THAT
THEY'RE HEARING.
BUT SOME OF THOSE ELECTRONS ARE
MOVING SIDEWAYS AND THEY GET
KICKED OUT OF SATURN AND THAT'S
THAT WHOOPING SOUND THAT YOU
HEARD.
>> VERY INTERESTING.
DO OUR OWN AURORAS MAKE ANY
SOUND?
>> THEY DO ALTHOUGH YOU CAN'T
HEAR IT FROM EARTH.
YOU HAVE TO BE DEEP IN SPACE.
IT'S CALLED OR AURORAL
KILOMETRIC RADIATION.
>> LET'S HEAR THE NEXT SOUND
THAT YOU HAVE FOR US.
(STRANGE SOUNDS)
>> WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT
THAT SOUNDED LIKE.
THAT SOUNDED CRAZY.
>> THIS ONE IS CREEPY AND SAD TO
ME PAUSE THIS HAPPENED TWO WEEKS
BEFORE CASSINI'S FINAL GRAND
FINALE PLUNGE INTO SATURN.
SO THIS HAPPENED WHEN CASSINI
WAS GOING BY ONE OF SATURN'S
MOONS.
TURNS OUT THAT SATURN'S MAGNETIC
FIELD IS SO BIG A LOT OF THE
MOONS OF SATURN'S SYSTEM FIT
INSIDE OF IT.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES.
IT'S GOT A LIQUID WATER OCEAN
AND SPEWING SOME OF THOSE
MOLECULES INTO SPACE VIA THESE
PLUME.
WHEN THEY GET THERE THEY CAN
INTERACT WITH THINGS LIKE THE
SOLAR WIND AND SOMETIMES WHEN
SOME OF THOSE MOLECULES GET HIT
BY A PROTON THEY'LL PICK UP A
CHARGE AND BECOME WHAT WE CALL
IONS.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, NOW SATURN'S
MAGNETIC FIELD CAN GRAB ONTO
THEM AND PULL THEM IN LIKE A
TRACTOR BEAM.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT FORMS A
FLUX TUBE AND WHAT YOU ARE
HEARING IN THAT SOUND IS CASSINI
ACTUALLY FLYING THROUGH THAT
FLUX TUBE. THAT'S WHY YOU COULD
HEAR IT GO UP AND THEN GO DOWN.
>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR
COSTUME TODAY?
>> MY COSTUME, SOME FELLOW
HUMANS IT'S QUITE CONVINCING.
IS IT FLIPPING?
IS IT OKAY?
>> YOU COULD PROBABLY ADJUST IT.
>> DON'T TELL ANYONE.
>> I WON'T.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS SO
MUCH FOR JOINING MORGAN AND I.
WE'LL BE HEADING BACK TO THE
STUDIO WITH SCOTT.
>> INCH THAT MORGAN AND THALIA.
I'LL BE SLEEPING WITH THE LIGHTS
ON TONIGHT.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE WANT TO
HEAR CREEPY SPACE SOUNDS GO TO
GO.NASA.GOV/SPOOKYSPACESOUNDS.
BEFORE WE SAY FAREWELL, LET'S GO
AND SEE WHICH PHOTO IS IN THE
LEAD FOR THE SCARIEST IMAGE IN
OUR UNIVERSE CONTEST.
JUST TO RECAP YOUR OPTIONS WERE,
THE SKULL ASTEROID AND WITCH
HEAD NEBULA AND COFFIN SPACED
ICEBERG AND SPICY JACK-O-LANTERN
SUN.
SO FAR THE LEAD IS THE
JACK-O-LANTERN SUN BUT THE POLLS
HAVE NOT CLOSED.
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED YOU HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE
COURSE OF HISTORY.
THIS IS ARGUABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING YOU'LL DO TODAY.
I LOVE THE DRAMATIC PROCESS.
AND DON'T FOR GET TO SEND US
THOSE PHOTOS OF YOU AND YOUR
SPACE AND SCIENCE COST TOMBS
USING THE #NASACOSTUME.
THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
YOU TODAY.
IT HAS BEEN A HORRIFYING
PLEASURE EXPLORING OUR GALAXY OF
HORRORS OF HORRORS WITH YOU AND
I HOPE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
HAVE A PERFECTLY TERRIFYING
HALLOWEEN.