0000 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,000 YoubetCash.net Agen Judi Online Aman & Terpercaya 000 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,000 Bonus Cashback Bola 6% Bonus Rollingan 0,80% 00 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Welcome Bonus Rp 25.000 Extra Bonus Tambahan Withdraw Rp 2.000.000 0 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,000 CashBack Mix Parlay 100% Bonus Ajak teman 45,2% 1 00:00:02,036 --> 00:00:03,702 Narrator: Black holes. 2 00:00:03,704 --> 00:00:07,039 The most formidable yet mysterious entities 3 00:00:07,041 --> 00:00:08,474 In our universe. 4 00:00:10,244 --> 00:00:12,244 For over two years, 5 00:00:12,246 --> 00:00:16,248 Our cameras have followed a team of international scientists 6 00:00:16,250 --> 00:00:19,585 Trying to reveal their ultimate secret. 7 00:00:19,653 --> 00:00:20,986 Man: Attention, attention! 8 00:00:20,988 --> 00:00:22,421 Call station 42. 9 00:00:23,857 --> 00:00:27,192 Narrator: They are taking the first-ever picture 10 00:00:27,194 --> 00:00:28,794 Of a black hole. 11 00:00:28,862 --> 00:00:31,263 Man: If you ask why this hasn't been done before, 12 00:00:31,265 --> 00:00:33,732 It's because it's really, really hard. 13 00:00:33,734 --> 00:00:36,535 Narrator: To pull off this extraordinary feat, 14 00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:39,137 They must travel to the most hostile environments 15 00:00:39,140 --> 00:00:40,806 In the world... 16 00:00:40,874 --> 00:00:41,940 Man: It's pretty cold. 17 00:00:41,942 --> 00:00:45,143 The windchill right now is around minus 70. 18 00:00:45,146 --> 00:00:47,612 Narrator: ...To build a network of telescopes 19 00:00:47,615 --> 00:00:49,648 The size of planet earth. 20 00:00:51,352 --> 00:00:55,420 Their goal: To reveal a picture of a black hole 21 00:00:55,423 --> 00:00:58,357 That will challenge the theories of albert einstein 22 00:00:58,425 --> 00:01:02,227 And could pave the way to a revolution in physics. 23 00:01:02,296 --> 00:01:04,763 Man: It will be one of the most thrilling discoveries 24 00:01:04,832 --> 00:01:06,765 Of our age. 25 00:01:06,767 --> 00:01:09,501 Narrator: This is the inside story 26 00:01:09,503 --> 00:01:13,439 Of the mission to capture the first real image 27 00:01:13,507 --> 00:01:15,307 Of a black hole. 28 00:01:15,309 --> 00:01:21,113 ♪ 29 00:01:23,117 --> 00:01:26,451 In the expanse of our universe, 30 00:01:26,454 --> 00:01:29,388 There is one object so mysterious 31 00:01:29,456 --> 00:01:33,725 It puzzles the greatest scientific minds. 32 00:01:33,727 --> 00:01:35,194 The black hole. 33 00:01:37,197 --> 00:01:38,997 Max tegmark: Pretty much every crazy idea 34 00:01:38,999 --> 00:01:40,532 That sounds like sci-fi 35 00:01:40,534 --> 00:01:43,135 Has been put forward in a serious physics journal 36 00:01:43,203 --> 00:01:45,737 As something that can happen inside of black holes. 37 00:01:45,739 --> 00:01:49,741 It's really the frontier of the wild west of physics. 38 00:01:49,810 --> 00:01:51,676 Brian greene: A black hole is a region of space 39 00:01:51,679 --> 00:01:55,480 Where the pull of gravity is so powerful 40 00:01:55,483 --> 00:01:58,617 That nothing at all can escape if it gets too close. 41 00:01:58,685 --> 00:02:00,819 And by nothing, I really mean nothing, 42 00:02:00,888 --> 00:02:03,021 Including even light itself. 43 00:02:04,291 --> 00:02:06,091 Janna levin: What we really mean by that 44 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,894 Is this area called the event horizon. 45 00:02:08,962 --> 00:02:10,896 It's a specific limit 46 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:12,498 Around the black hole 47 00:02:12,566 --> 00:02:15,434 That marks what's inside and what's outside. 48 00:02:15,502 --> 00:02:18,237 Scott hughes: Once anything crosses that boundary, 49 00:02:18,305 --> 00:02:21,507 Adios, it is out of contact with the rest of the universe. 50 00:02:21,575 --> 00:02:24,042 We don't know what its ultimate fate is, 51 00:02:24,111 --> 00:02:26,078 But probably it ain't very good. 52 00:02:29,049 --> 00:02:30,582 Narrator: Most scientists today 53 00:02:30,584 --> 00:02:34,520 Believe that black holes really exist. 54 00:02:34,588 --> 00:02:38,056 But nobody has ever actually seen one. 55 00:02:40,327 --> 00:02:44,663 Ramesh narayan: We have identified lots of objects 56 00:02:44,731 --> 00:02:46,398 That look like black holes, 57 00:02:46,466 --> 00:02:48,934 But you can't prove that they're black holes. 58 00:02:48,936 --> 00:02:51,036 This is where the problem comes, right? 59 00:02:52,406 --> 00:02:56,141 Narrator: If nobody has ever seen a black hole, 60 00:02:56,210 --> 00:02:59,411 Can we be sure that they really exist? 61 00:02:59,479 --> 00:03:02,347 Could this fundamental notion about our universe 62 00:03:02,416 --> 00:03:03,882 And how it works 63 00:03:03,951 --> 00:03:05,050 Be wrong? 64 00:03:07,888 --> 00:03:09,287 Astronomer shep doeleman 65 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:12,357 From the smithsonian astrophysical observatory 66 00:03:12,426 --> 00:03:16,094 Is on a mission to solve this mystery. 67 00:03:16,163 --> 00:03:20,432 He's spearheading an extraordinary experiment. 68 00:03:20,434 --> 00:03:24,102 Shep wants to take the first-ever photograph 69 00:03:24,171 --> 00:03:26,104 Of a black hole. 70 00:03:26,173 --> 00:03:28,573 Shep doeleman: The goal of the entire project 71 00:03:28,576 --> 00:03:30,976 Is to see what a black hole really looks like, 72 00:03:31,044 --> 00:03:32,711 Detect its shape 73 00:03:32,779 --> 00:03:36,381 And see what's happening immediately surrounding it, 74 00:03:36,450 --> 00:03:39,251 Because that's where the action is. 75 00:03:39,253 --> 00:03:42,387 We are really in uncharted territory. 76 00:03:42,456 --> 00:03:43,588 So it's all a bit of a gamble. 77 00:03:43,591 --> 00:03:47,459 It's what we call high risk, high payoff. 78 00:03:47,527 --> 00:03:50,195 Narrator: Here at the haystack observatory 79 00:03:50,264 --> 00:03:52,330 And across the world, 80 00:03:52,333 --> 00:03:54,600 Shep has been developing a technique 81 00:03:54,668 --> 00:03:56,702 To try and see the unseen. 82 00:03:59,406 --> 00:04:03,342 Shep is targeting the very center of the galaxy, 83 00:04:03,410 --> 00:04:07,279 Where astronomers have recorded a cluster of stars 84 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:09,414 Orbiting something strange. 85 00:04:12,152 --> 00:04:14,753 The stars are orbiting so fast, 86 00:04:14,821 --> 00:04:16,488 Scientists have calculated 87 00:04:16,556 --> 00:04:22,294 It must have the mass of over 4 million suns. 88 00:04:22,296 --> 00:04:24,896 The best explanation? 89 00:04:24,965 --> 00:04:26,798 A black hole. 90 00:04:30,104 --> 00:04:33,038 Shep wants to use radio-telescopes 91 00:04:33,106 --> 00:04:35,774 To try and see this black hole. 92 00:04:35,776 --> 00:04:37,376 But there's a problem. 93 00:04:37,444 --> 00:04:40,512 Although it's predicted to be much larger than the sun, 94 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:45,117 From earth it's 26,000 lightyears away. 95 00:04:45,185 --> 00:04:47,319 This is such a small target, 96 00:04:47,387 --> 00:04:49,721 There's no telescope in existence 97 00:04:49,723 --> 00:04:52,124 That has the power to see it. 98 00:04:52,192 --> 00:04:54,926 Shep: The entire reason this hasn't been done up till now 99 00:04:54,995 --> 00:04:57,195 Is that black holes are extremely small. 100 00:04:57,264 --> 00:05:00,131 It would be the equivalent of trying to see an orange 101 00:05:00,134 --> 00:05:01,866 At the distance of the moon. 102 00:05:01,869 --> 00:05:03,468 So we have to build a telescope. 103 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:06,071 We have to build a fundamentally new instrument 104 00:05:06,139 --> 00:05:08,240 That can see things that are that small. 105 00:05:10,077 --> 00:05:13,078 Narrator: To achieve this unprecedented power, 106 00:05:13,146 --> 00:05:14,279 For the last decade, 107 00:05:14,281 --> 00:05:18,684 Shep has been working towards a master-plan. 108 00:05:18,752 --> 00:05:22,620 He wants to combine eight separate telescopes-- 109 00:05:22,623 --> 00:05:23,888 In Spain, 110 00:05:23,891 --> 00:05:26,558 Mexico, 111 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,228 Arizona, 112 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:31,896 Hawaii, 113 00:05:31,899 --> 00:05:33,765 Chile, 114 00:05:33,834 --> 00:05:36,635 And the south pole. 115 00:05:36,703 --> 00:05:38,570 This earth-sized network 116 00:05:38,572 --> 00:05:42,641 Is called the event horizon telescope. 117 00:05:42,709 --> 00:05:44,443 To capture the crucial image, 118 00:05:44,511 --> 00:05:47,712 All eight dishes must point towards the black hole 119 00:05:47,715 --> 00:05:50,515 At exactly the same time. 120 00:05:50,584 --> 00:05:54,853 Shep: We're linking telescopes about 10,000 kilometers apart, 121 00:05:54,921 --> 00:05:56,188 Even more than that. 122 00:05:56,256 --> 00:05:58,056 By spanning the globe, 123 00:05:58,125 --> 00:06:00,525 You create a new kind of instrument 124 00:06:00,594 --> 00:06:02,861 That can see a black hole. 125 00:06:02,863 --> 00:06:04,663 That's the secret sauce, 126 00:06:04,731 --> 00:06:07,666 That's the secret of the event horizon telescope. 127 00:06:14,208 --> 00:06:18,009 Narrator: It's a monumental technological undertaking. 128 00:06:21,748 --> 00:06:25,283 At each of the eight observatories across the world, 129 00:06:25,285 --> 00:06:27,753 Radio waves from around the black hole 130 00:06:27,821 --> 00:06:29,621 Must be recorded 131 00:06:29,623 --> 00:06:30,622 And the data stored 132 00:06:30,624 --> 00:06:34,893 Onto hundreds of specialized hard drives. 133 00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:37,496 These drives must then be transported 134 00:06:37,564 --> 00:06:40,165 To the max planck institute in germany 135 00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:42,901 And haystack observatory in massachusetts, 136 00:06:42,969 --> 00:06:47,239 Where the data will be combined inside giant supercomputers 137 00:06:47,307 --> 00:06:49,507 Called correlators. 138 00:06:49,510 --> 00:06:52,510 Shep: This correlator is the final piece of the puzzle. 139 00:06:52,513 --> 00:06:54,112 The first part is collecting data 140 00:06:54,181 --> 00:06:56,448 At different spots around the globe. 141 00:06:56,516 --> 00:06:59,317 The second piece, though, is combining that data. 142 00:06:59,386 --> 00:07:01,253 And that's what the correlator does. 143 00:07:03,390 --> 00:07:08,193 Narrator: Only then will this earth-sized telescope network 144 00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:12,464 Have a chance to make an image of a black hole. 145 00:07:12,532 --> 00:07:14,399 Tegmark: If the event horizon telescope 146 00:07:14,401 --> 00:07:17,402 Manages to actually take a high-quality photo 147 00:07:17,471 --> 00:07:19,337 Of a black hole, 148 00:07:19,406 --> 00:07:21,206 That's not an impressive feat; 149 00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:23,341 It's a mind-blowing feat. 150 00:07:23,410 --> 00:07:26,678 It's a technical tour de force like we've never seen before. 151 00:07:28,081 --> 00:07:30,415 Narrator: But what does shep's team hope to see 152 00:07:30,417 --> 00:07:35,620 If a black hole allows nothing, not even light, to escape? 153 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:45,096 A black hole itself is invisible, 154 00:07:45,098 --> 00:07:47,499 But matter falling into it 155 00:07:47,501 --> 00:07:49,234 Should give it away. 156 00:07:50,704 --> 00:07:55,040 Its intense gravity attracts interstellar gas 157 00:07:55,108 --> 00:08:00,512 And pulls it into a faster and faster orbit. 158 00:08:00,580 --> 00:08:04,983 This heats the gas to billions of degrees 159 00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:06,318 And emits a glow 160 00:08:06,386 --> 00:08:09,454 That the telescopes may be able to detect. 161 00:08:10,524 --> 00:08:14,058 If our ideas about black holes are true, 162 00:08:14,061 --> 00:08:18,730 The team predicts they will see a circular ring of light 163 00:08:18,798 --> 00:08:21,466 And the shadow of a black hole. 164 00:08:27,407 --> 00:08:31,943 For physicists, a lot is at stake. 165 00:08:32,012 --> 00:08:33,678 A picture of a black hole 166 00:08:33,747 --> 00:08:37,482 Will test one of the most treasured theories in science, 167 00:08:37,551 --> 00:08:40,952 Einstein's theory of general relativity. 168 00:08:40,954 --> 00:08:46,157 His theory says that mass curves the fabric of space and time, 169 00:08:46,226 --> 00:08:49,427 Creating an effect that we call gravity. 170 00:08:49,429 --> 00:08:52,364 Hughes: Einstein's theory of relativistic gravity, 171 00:08:52,432 --> 00:08:54,699 That is what lays the foundations 172 00:08:54,768 --> 00:08:58,102 That set all of our understanding. 173 00:08:58,105 --> 00:09:01,172 Step 1 is just, did einstein get it right? 174 00:09:01,174 --> 00:09:04,042 Is there some detail that's been overlooked? 175 00:09:04,110 --> 00:09:05,443 Narrator: For a hundred years, 176 00:09:05,512 --> 00:09:08,647 Einstein's theory has passed every test. 177 00:09:08,715 --> 00:09:12,584 But nobody has ever seen its most extreme prediction. 178 00:09:12,586 --> 00:09:16,721 If enough mass was crushed into a small enough space, 179 00:09:16,790 --> 00:09:19,924 The gravity would be so strong, 180 00:09:19,927 --> 00:09:22,460 It would form a black hole. 181 00:09:22,529 --> 00:09:24,529 Greene: How wonderful would it be 182 00:09:24,598 --> 00:09:29,067 If the event horizon telescope shows us that in extreme realms, 183 00:09:29,135 --> 00:09:32,270 Einstein is not completely right? 184 00:09:32,339 --> 00:09:36,074 It will be one of the most thrilling discoveries of our age 185 00:09:36,142 --> 00:09:38,476 As we will then leap-frog forward 186 00:09:38,545 --> 00:09:41,479 In our grasp of how the universe works. 187 00:09:41,548 --> 00:09:44,082 Narrator: A challenge to einstein's theory 188 00:09:44,150 --> 00:09:46,484 And a new era of astronomy 189 00:09:46,486 --> 00:09:48,019 Rests on the success 190 00:09:48,088 --> 00:09:51,056 Of the event horizon telescope team. 191 00:09:52,225 --> 00:09:59,697 ♪ 192 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,100 There are now just three months 193 00:10:02,168 --> 00:10:05,236 Until the team will attempt to observe the black hole 194 00:10:05,305 --> 00:10:08,006 Using a network of eight telescopes. 195 00:10:10,911 --> 00:10:13,711 But there's a lot to do. 196 00:10:13,714 --> 00:10:17,382 Shep has come to one of the telescopes in the network 197 00:10:17,384 --> 00:10:20,318 To oversee a crucial test run. 198 00:10:20,387 --> 00:10:22,320 Shep: What really gets us out of bed, 199 00:10:22,322 --> 00:10:24,522 What really gets us motivated for this, 200 00:10:24,591 --> 00:10:28,259 Is building a new kind of instrument. 201 00:10:28,261 --> 00:10:29,727 When you think of building a telescope 202 00:10:29,730 --> 00:10:30,929 As large as the earth, 203 00:10:30,997 --> 00:10:35,033 That in and of itself is such a crazy idea. 204 00:10:37,337 --> 00:10:40,138 Narrator: None of the telescopes were originally designed 205 00:10:40,140 --> 00:10:44,009 To connect in this giant network. 206 00:10:44,077 --> 00:10:46,277 So the team must fit each telescope 207 00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:48,012 With special equipment 208 00:10:48,015 --> 00:10:50,615 And customize them to make it work. 209 00:10:50,684 --> 00:10:53,084 Shep: We're operating a little bit on faith-- 210 00:10:53,153 --> 00:10:56,287 Faith that we've checked everything that we can 211 00:10:56,356 --> 00:10:58,289 And that it's working properly. 212 00:10:58,358 --> 00:11:01,092 Narrator: Shep and the team are hoping that the test run 213 00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:04,029 Goes according to plan. 214 00:11:04,097 --> 00:11:06,230 Shep: We spend all of our time being paranoid. 215 00:11:06,233 --> 00:11:09,000 There's a saying, only the paranoid survive. 216 00:11:15,242 --> 00:11:17,975 Narrator: To connect the telescopes together, 217 00:11:17,978 --> 00:11:19,911 The team is using a special technique 218 00:11:19,913 --> 00:11:25,250 Called very-long-baseline interferometry. 219 00:11:25,318 --> 00:11:27,852 But there is a big challenge. 220 00:11:27,854 --> 00:11:29,987 During the observations, 221 00:11:29,990 --> 00:11:33,491 They won't see any results in real time. 222 00:11:35,662 --> 00:11:38,730 Shep: The very nature of the technique we're using 223 00:11:38,798 --> 00:11:42,934 Is that we're not gonna know if these observations work 224 00:11:42,936 --> 00:11:44,202 Until we get all the data back 225 00:11:44,270 --> 00:11:46,538 To a central processing facility. 226 00:11:46,606 --> 00:11:50,608 So we're here to do what's called a dry run, 227 00:11:50,610 --> 00:11:54,479 To make sure that everything runs like clockwork. 228 00:11:54,481 --> 00:11:55,413 Man: Scan 2. 229 00:11:55,415 --> 00:11:57,949 Somebody wrote .78. It's .078. 230 00:11:57,951 --> 00:11:59,150 Who wrote that? 231 00:11:59,219 --> 00:12:01,753 Narrator: During the critical observation run, 232 00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:03,621 There's a lot that can go wrong. 233 00:12:08,228 --> 00:12:10,962 The radio signal from the black hole 234 00:12:10,964 --> 00:12:14,365 Must be recorded at each telescope 235 00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:19,904 And the data stored onto specialized hard drives. 236 00:12:19,906 --> 00:12:22,573 But clouds can obscure the signal 237 00:12:22,576 --> 00:12:24,909 And equipment could fail, 238 00:12:24,911 --> 00:12:26,244 Knocking one or more 239 00:12:26,246 --> 00:12:27,712 Of the telescopes 240 00:12:27,714 --> 00:12:30,115 Out of the network. 241 00:12:30,183 --> 00:12:32,383 So the team needs clear weather 242 00:12:32,452 --> 00:12:34,919 And perfectly working telescopes 243 00:12:34,988 --> 00:12:37,922 At every location across the globe, 244 00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,191 Simultaneously. 245 00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:42,327 If just one telescope fails, 246 00:12:42,395 --> 00:12:45,063 They might not get an image. 247 00:12:45,131 --> 00:12:47,598 After the data have been recorded, 248 00:12:47,601 --> 00:12:49,934 The filled hard drives will be shipped 249 00:12:49,936 --> 00:12:52,270 To massachusetts and germany, 250 00:12:52,272 --> 00:12:54,205 Where the data must be combined, 251 00:12:54,274 --> 00:12:58,343 And they will know if their ambitious plan has worked. 252 00:12:58,411 --> 00:12:59,744 Man: Everything's all set? 253 00:12:59,746 --> 00:13:01,079 Man: Yeah, I hope so. 254 00:13:01,147 --> 00:13:02,213 Narrator: In mexico, 255 00:13:02,282 --> 00:13:06,150 Astronomer gopal narayanan is in charge. 256 00:13:06,153 --> 00:13:07,285 Gopal narayanan: The whole purpose 257 00:13:07,287 --> 00:13:08,953 Of the test observations we're doing 258 00:13:08,955 --> 00:13:10,621 Is to bring in a couple 259 00:13:10,624 --> 00:13:12,757 Of new facilities. 260 00:13:12,826 --> 00:13:15,760 We're going to bring in apex, which is in chile, 261 00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:18,096 Pico veleta in europe, 262 00:13:18,164 --> 00:13:19,664 And the south pole telescope. 263 00:13:23,570 --> 00:13:26,304 Narrator: Out of all of the telescopes in the network, 264 00:13:26,372 --> 00:13:32,510 The south pole is critical to make an image of a black hole. 265 00:13:32,579 --> 00:13:37,982 From mexico, the south pole is nearly 8,000 miles away. 266 00:13:38,051 --> 00:13:40,518 The huge distance between these telescopes 267 00:13:40,587 --> 00:13:44,522 Will help the team get an image with much greater resolution. 268 00:13:44,591 --> 00:13:46,991 Physicist dan marrone and his team 269 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:49,660 Have traveled here to the ends of the earth 270 00:13:49,663 --> 00:13:51,529 To get the telescope ready. 271 00:13:51,598 --> 00:13:53,198 Dan marrone: By including the south pole telescope, 272 00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:56,534 We really truly make a telescope the size of the earth. 273 00:13:56,603 --> 00:13:59,137 It more than doubles the resolution of the array 274 00:13:59,205 --> 00:14:02,073 And gives us that last bit of detail that we need 275 00:14:02,075 --> 00:14:04,275 To make a picture of a black hole. 276 00:14:05,945 --> 00:14:07,411 Narrator: It's January, 277 00:14:07,414 --> 00:14:11,149 And the weather is a biting 33 degrees below zero. 278 00:14:11,217 --> 00:14:12,283 Marrone: So it's pretty cold. 279 00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:14,786 The windchill right now is around minus 70. 280 00:14:16,956 --> 00:14:18,223 Narrator: Despite the cold, 281 00:14:18,291 --> 00:14:24,295 The team still needs to prepare for the test observations. 282 00:14:24,297 --> 00:14:26,764 They must install this custom-built mirror 283 00:14:26,766 --> 00:14:28,099 To the telescope 284 00:14:28,167 --> 00:14:32,370 With submillimeter accuracy. 285 00:14:32,438 --> 00:14:35,840 Marrone: Ok. I do believe the tertiary is installed. 286 00:14:35,909 --> 00:14:38,443 We have to have this mirror positioned 287 00:14:38,511 --> 00:14:41,112 So that the light from this giant 10-meter telescope 288 00:14:41,114 --> 00:14:44,048 Is focused precisely on our receiver. 289 00:14:44,117 --> 00:14:45,516 Uh, so that took a little bit of doing, 290 00:14:45,585 --> 00:14:48,653 But we think we have it right about now. 291 00:14:48,655 --> 00:14:50,922 Narrator: The mirror is in, 292 00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:53,658 But until the observations are complete, 293 00:14:53,726 --> 00:14:55,660 They won't know if it's worked. 294 00:14:57,730 --> 00:14:59,463 Back in mexico, 295 00:14:59,466 --> 00:15:03,267 Gopal and the team get ready to start the trial observation run 296 00:15:03,270 --> 00:15:05,403 With the four telescopes. 297 00:15:05,405 --> 00:15:07,272 They will record the radio emission 298 00:15:07,340 --> 00:15:09,941 From bright sources called quasars 299 00:15:09,943 --> 00:15:12,076 To test the network. 300 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,078 Data specialist lindy blackburn 301 00:15:14,147 --> 00:15:16,881 Is in charge of recording the data. 302 00:15:16,883 --> 00:15:18,149 Man: One minute to go. 303 00:15:18,217 --> 00:15:21,352 Gopal: One minute to go. Is lindy happy with this? 304 00:15:21,354 --> 00:15:23,087 [buzzing] 305 00:15:23,156 --> 00:15:26,291 Gopal: Here we go. We're on. 306 00:15:26,359 --> 00:15:29,060 Narrator: But as the test observations begin... 307 00:15:31,097 --> 00:15:32,897 Gopal: Ok, recording. 308 00:15:32,899 --> 00:15:35,700 Narrator: There's an unexpected problem. 309 00:15:35,702 --> 00:15:37,101 Man: No lights. 310 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:38,303 Lindy: No lights? 311 00:15:38,371 --> 00:15:39,437 Narrator: A bug in the code 312 00:15:39,505 --> 00:15:42,640 Means the recording lights are not coming on. 313 00:15:42,709 --> 00:15:44,375 Lindy: It's trying to record. 314 00:15:44,444 --> 00:15:46,711 Gopal: It's trying to record? Ok. 315 00:15:46,779 --> 00:15:48,513 Sending data to record-- 316 00:15:48,581 --> 00:15:51,916 Only the very last step in this whole fine process, 317 00:15:51,985 --> 00:15:54,319 Which is albeit a very important step, 318 00:15:54,387 --> 00:15:55,453 Which is to record the damn data 319 00:15:55,455 --> 00:15:57,388 We've collected all through the chain. 320 00:15:57,457 --> 00:15:59,991 That is not happening right now. 321 00:16:00,059 --> 00:16:01,258 Narrator: Without data, 322 00:16:01,261 --> 00:16:05,196 The telescope is knocked out of the network. 323 00:16:05,198 --> 00:16:09,667 Gopal: Lindy is working furiously to find the fixes. 324 00:16:09,736 --> 00:16:12,069 And I think we're hopeful. 325 00:16:12,072 --> 00:16:13,671 So the I.F. Levels look fine. 326 00:16:13,673 --> 00:16:14,472 Lindy: Yeah. 327 00:16:14,540 --> 00:16:17,675 Gopal: Tell me it's working, lindy. 328 00:16:17,677 --> 00:16:19,210 Man: No. 329 00:16:19,278 --> 00:16:22,546 [bleep] 330 00:16:22,549 --> 00:16:23,681 Lindy: Same problem. 331 00:16:23,683 --> 00:16:24,749 I changed the order 332 00:16:24,817 --> 00:16:27,218 That I thought was the initial problem with the... 333 00:16:27,220 --> 00:16:28,686 Gopal: You're hoping that we'll get 334 00:16:28,688 --> 00:16:31,089 This recording to start, lindy? 335 00:16:31,157 --> 00:16:33,424 Lindy: I really don't know. 336 00:16:33,493 --> 00:16:35,226 Woman: All ready? 337 00:16:35,228 --> 00:16:36,661 Man: 10 seconds to go. 338 00:16:41,167 --> 00:16:42,100 Man: Lights. 339 00:16:42,168 --> 00:16:45,703 Gopal: Yay! 340 00:16:45,772 --> 00:16:47,905 Good job, lindy! 341 00:16:47,907 --> 00:16:50,908 Narrator: It's 2:46 a.M. 342 00:16:50,910 --> 00:16:53,411 The team has recorded the quasar data. 343 00:16:56,315 --> 00:16:58,916 But they won't find out if the test has worked 344 00:16:58,985 --> 00:17:01,252 Until the data have been analyzed. 345 00:17:03,256 --> 00:17:04,522 Only then will the team know 346 00:17:04,524 --> 00:17:08,259 If they stand a chance on the real observation run 347 00:17:08,261 --> 00:17:11,462 When they attempt to record an image of a black hole. 348 00:17:16,202 --> 00:17:19,404 An image of a black hole will provide a new way 349 00:17:19,472 --> 00:17:23,808 To test einstein's most extreme theoretical predictions. 350 00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:25,676 Greene: Einstein's equations show us 351 00:17:25,678 --> 00:17:28,279 That if you spend an hour or two at the edge of a black hole 352 00:17:28,281 --> 00:17:30,948 And then come back to earth, for instance, 353 00:17:30,950 --> 00:17:32,817 Earth might have aged ten thousand 354 00:17:32,819 --> 00:17:34,819 Or a million or a billion years. 355 00:17:34,821 --> 00:17:36,421 So when we are observing 356 00:17:36,489 --> 00:17:38,355 The event horizon of a black hole, 357 00:17:38,358 --> 00:17:41,025 We are observing what really can be characterized 358 00:17:41,027 --> 00:17:43,360 As a time machine. 359 00:17:43,363 --> 00:17:46,097 Narrator: Yet despite einstein's equations, 360 00:17:46,165 --> 00:17:49,233 Even he didn't think that black holes could exist. 361 00:17:49,235 --> 00:17:53,170 He didn't believe there was a way they could ever form. 362 00:17:53,173 --> 00:17:55,773 Levin: That's a sensible objection that einstein had. 363 00:17:55,775 --> 00:17:58,309 I mean, after all, it would be very, very, very hard to do, 364 00:17:58,311 --> 00:18:02,113 To crush all the mass of something to a point. 365 00:18:02,181 --> 00:18:05,049 Einstein naturally and reasonably assumed 366 00:18:05,118 --> 00:18:07,118 That matter just wouldn't allow itself 367 00:18:07,186 --> 00:18:08,953 To be compacted that much. 368 00:18:11,791 --> 00:18:15,226 Narrator: But evidence of a mechanism has been growing. 369 00:18:18,131 --> 00:18:21,198 Scientists now believe a black hole 370 00:18:21,201 --> 00:18:23,468 Is the corpse of a giant star 371 00:18:23,536 --> 00:18:24,935 That's gone supernova. 372 00:18:24,938 --> 00:18:29,006 [explosion] 373 00:18:29,075 --> 00:18:30,808 Deep inside the debris, 374 00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:36,614 The surviving core collapses to an infinitely small point. 375 00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:39,684 This is called the singularity. 376 00:18:39,752 --> 00:18:43,955 Its intense gravity warps space and time so severely 377 00:18:44,023 --> 00:18:46,223 That nothing can escape, 378 00:18:46,226 --> 00:18:50,361 Forming the black hole's event horizon. 379 00:18:50,429 --> 00:18:51,695 Greene: It's possible that black holes 380 00:18:51,698 --> 00:18:55,299 Are ultimately a figment of the mathematical equations 381 00:18:55,301 --> 00:18:56,700 That einstein gave us. 382 00:18:56,703 --> 00:18:59,970 But how better to begin to push this understanding 383 00:18:59,973 --> 00:19:02,507 Than to look and see what's actually out there? 384 00:19:02,575 --> 00:19:05,309 And that's the promise of the event horizon telescope. 385 00:19:07,113 --> 00:19:09,447 Narrator: The team hopes to test these theories 386 00:19:09,515 --> 00:19:12,449 By taking a picture of a black hole. 387 00:19:12,452 --> 00:19:13,851 They have two targets 388 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,321 In the centers of two different galaxies-- 389 00:19:17,323 --> 00:19:21,058 One called sagittarius a-star; 390 00:19:21,060 --> 00:19:25,062 The other called m87. 391 00:19:25,131 --> 00:19:27,264 Shep: There are only a couple of targets 392 00:19:27,267 --> 00:19:29,800 In the universe currently 393 00:19:29,869 --> 00:19:31,268 Where the event horizon telescope 394 00:19:31,271 --> 00:19:33,938 Could hope to resolve the silhouette of a black hole, 395 00:19:33,940 --> 00:19:36,007 To see the edge of the event horizon. 396 00:19:36,075 --> 00:19:37,542 M87 is one of them. 397 00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:40,678 Narrator: This image showing emissions from m87 398 00:19:40,746 --> 00:19:44,949 Is the closest astronomers have come to seeing a black hole, 399 00:19:45,017 --> 00:19:47,218 But it's not close enough. 400 00:19:47,286 --> 00:19:49,086 Shep: If we want to image the event horizon 401 00:19:49,155 --> 00:19:51,021 We have to make an image 402 00:19:51,024 --> 00:19:53,090 Of what's inside this little box here, 403 00:19:53,159 --> 00:19:56,560 At the very central core of this galaxy. 404 00:19:56,563 --> 00:19:58,896 That's what we've been directing all of our efforts towards 405 00:19:58,898 --> 00:20:00,698 For over a decade-- 406 00:20:00,766 --> 00:20:02,366 To find out what happens 407 00:20:02,368 --> 00:20:05,369 In this place that has been off limits to us 408 00:20:05,438 --> 00:20:08,038 Since the beginning of astronomy. 409 00:20:08,041 --> 00:20:09,240 Narrator: If they succeed, 410 00:20:09,242 --> 00:20:14,311 Computer simulations show they should see this. 411 00:20:14,314 --> 00:20:20,384 A ring of light circling the edge of the black hole. 412 00:20:20,453 --> 00:20:22,053 Shep: If we could see this ring, 413 00:20:22,121 --> 00:20:25,122 It would be the best evidence that we have 414 00:20:25,191 --> 00:20:27,325 For the existence of black holes. 415 00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:35,199 ♪ 416 00:20:35,201 --> 00:20:37,268 Narrator: It's been three months 417 00:20:37,270 --> 00:20:40,538 Since the event horizon telescope team ran a test 418 00:20:40,606 --> 00:20:45,209 Using four out of eight telescopes in their network. 419 00:20:45,211 --> 00:20:50,348 Since the test run, they have been processing the data. 420 00:20:50,416 --> 00:20:53,484 And despite the recording problems in mexico, 421 00:20:53,552 --> 00:20:56,153 The results showed that four telescopes 422 00:20:56,222 --> 00:20:58,689 Combined successfully as one. 423 00:21:03,095 --> 00:21:06,563 The full observation run is now just one day away, 424 00:21:06,566 --> 00:21:08,566 And shep is at the black hole initiative 425 00:21:08,634 --> 00:21:11,102 In cambridge, massachusetts. 426 00:21:11,170 --> 00:21:13,271 This will be mission control. 427 00:21:15,575 --> 00:21:17,975 The team needs to link eight world-leading, 428 00:21:18,044 --> 00:21:21,112 Multi-million-dollar observatories simultaneously 429 00:21:21,180 --> 00:21:24,315 To capture their image. 430 00:21:24,317 --> 00:21:27,118 They have a 10-day window at the telescopes. 431 00:21:27,186 --> 00:21:29,720 But clouds at any one of the locations 432 00:21:29,722 --> 00:21:32,456 Will obscure the signal from the black hole 433 00:21:32,458 --> 00:21:34,659 And ruin the data. 434 00:21:34,727 --> 00:21:37,394 So each day shep needs to make a call-- 435 00:21:37,397 --> 00:21:40,264 If the night is go or no-go. 436 00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:41,799 Shep: Whether or not you energize 437 00:21:41,801 --> 00:21:44,268 The event horizon telescope on a given night, 438 00:21:44,337 --> 00:21:46,470 That's the biggest decision you can make. 439 00:21:46,539 --> 00:21:49,006 If you make the right one, then you've got great data. 440 00:21:49,008 --> 00:21:50,341 If you make a wrong decision, 441 00:21:50,343 --> 00:21:54,278 You've expended huge amounts of resources. 442 00:21:54,347 --> 00:21:56,013 Narrator: Each night of observation 443 00:21:56,015 --> 00:21:58,149 Will cost thousands of dollars 444 00:21:58,217 --> 00:22:01,085 And eat up their limited hard-drive space. 445 00:22:01,153 --> 00:22:03,087 Shep needs five nights of data 446 00:22:03,155 --> 00:22:06,424 To stand the best chance of making an image. 447 00:22:06,492 --> 00:22:09,093 Judging the weather conditions across the world 448 00:22:09,161 --> 00:22:11,362 Will be critical. 449 00:22:11,364 --> 00:22:14,631 Man: Pico might go above in the next couple of days. 450 00:22:14,634 --> 00:22:15,633 Shep: The alma looks good. 451 00:22:15,701 --> 00:22:17,835 If you make the wrong go/no-go decision, 452 00:22:17,903 --> 00:22:19,970 You may have jeopardized 453 00:22:19,972 --> 00:22:22,373 Your ability to image a black hole. 454 00:22:22,441 --> 00:22:25,576 And that's what consumes us when we're in that room. 455 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:31,582 Narrator: The communication and weather reports are online. 456 00:22:31,584 --> 00:22:34,718 Now shep needs to make sure the telescopes are ready. 457 00:22:34,721 --> 00:22:36,787 Shep: We want to make sure that we understand where things stand 458 00:22:36,856 --> 00:22:38,255 By the end of today, right? 459 00:22:38,257 --> 00:22:39,457 Because if something is not technically ready, 460 00:22:39,525 --> 00:22:41,425 Then we really do have a problem. 461 00:22:42,862 --> 00:22:45,730 Narrator: High in the atacama desert of chile... 462 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,935 Astronomer alan roy is at the apex telescope 463 00:22:51,938 --> 00:22:54,138 To make final preparations. 464 00:22:54,206 --> 00:22:58,809 [speaking spanish] 465 00:22:58,811 --> 00:23:03,080 Alan is responsible for the most critical part of the project-- 466 00:23:03,149 --> 00:23:04,415 The timing. 467 00:23:04,483 --> 00:23:06,083 Alan roy: Timing is absolutely important to this project, 468 00:23:06,085 --> 00:23:08,685 Absolutely central. 469 00:23:08,688 --> 00:23:11,088 It's the heart piece of the whole experiment. 470 00:23:11,157 --> 00:23:12,423 You're putting in a lot of effort, 471 00:23:12,425 --> 00:23:15,092 A lot of money, a lot of time, 472 00:23:15,161 --> 00:23:17,661 And it's all hinging on getting that timing right. 473 00:23:20,433 --> 00:23:24,368 Narrator: The event horizon telescope network is so large, 474 00:23:24,370 --> 00:23:26,036 The signal from the black hole 475 00:23:26,038 --> 00:23:27,971 Will arrive at each telescope 476 00:23:27,974 --> 00:23:30,641 At a different point in time. 477 00:23:30,643 --> 00:23:33,444 What's more, the earth rotates. 478 00:23:33,512 --> 00:23:36,847 As it spins, the position of the telescopes in space 479 00:23:36,849 --> 00:23:39,250 Constantly changes. 480 00:23:39,318 --> 00:23:42,253 If the team can't record the time the signals arrive 481 00:23:42,321 --> 00:23:45,923 To within a millionth of a millionth of a second, 482 00:23:45,925 --> 00:23:49,160 The telescopes will fail to combine as one. 483 00:23:51,197 --> 00:23:53,397 To sync the telescopes together, 484 00:23:53,466 --> 00:23:55,999 The team has spent $2 million 485 00:23:56,002 --> 00:23:57,802 On some of the most accurate atomic clocks 486 00:23:57,870 --> 00:23:59,269 In the world, 487 00:23:59,272 --> 00:24:01,872 Called hydrogen masers. 488 00:24:01,874 --> 00:24:03,674 Alan: This is the hydrogen maser. 489 00:24:03,742 --> 00:24:07,678 This clock keeps time to about a second in 10 million years. 490 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,948 Of course we don't wait 10 million years to measure it. 491 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:14,218 Narrator: Alan must keep this clock at a stable temperature 492 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:16,487 So it runs precisely. 493 00:24:16,555 --> 00:24:18,088 But there's a problem. 494 00:24:18,157 --> 00:24:21,625 The chamber used to cool it is broken. 495 00:24:21,694 --> 00:24:24,562 Alan: The bearings have seized, and we've got no cooling. 496 00:24:24,630 --> 00:24:26,563 So that means the chamber overheats, 497 00:24:26,566 --> 00:24:29,433 And the maser is then not very happy. 498 00:24:29,502 --> 00:24:32,303 Narrator: A faulty maser could be catastrophic. 499 00:24:35,107 --> 00:24:37,307 In the remote atacama desert, 500 00:24:37,310 --> 00:24:40,177 It's too far to call for an engineer. 501 00:24:40,246 --> 00:24:43,247 But alan has a resourceful solution. 502 00:24:43,249 --> 00:24:48,318 Alan: The solution is to crack open the door of the chamber 503 00:24:48,321 --> 00:24:50,053 So that the excess heat from the maser 504 00:24:50,056 --> 00:24:52,990 Can come out through the door. 505 00:24:53,058 --> 00:24:54,458 It makes me a little nervous, 506 00:24:54,527 --> 00:24:57,394 But the clock we have to take on faith, yes, 507 00:24:57,396 --> 00:25:00,063 That it's running as it should. 508 00:25:00,066 --> 00:25:01,131 Narrator: This piece of tape 509 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,201 Should keep the maser running correctly, 510 00:25:04,203 --> 00:25:08,072 If it doesn't, the whole experiment could be at risk. 511 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:10,741 Greene: My hat is off to the folks 512 00:25:10,743 --> 00:25:12,876 That can actually undertake 513 00:25:12,879 --> 00:25:14,611 These experiments and observations 514 00:25:14,614 --> 00:25:16,280 And make it work. 515 00:25:16,348 --> 00:25:18,082 It's real, it's tangible, 516 00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:21,185 And it's extreme and abstract at the same time. 517 00:25:22,821 --> 00:25:27,024 ♪ 518 00:25:27,026 --> 00:25:31,095 Narrator: In hawaii, on the volcano mauna kea, 519 00:25:31,163 --> 00:25:35,165 Project manager remo tilanus hears from mission control. 520 00:25:35,234 --> 00:25:37,367 Remo tilanus: So, just got the news. 521 00:25:37,370 --> 00:25:39,102 It's a go. 522 00:25:39,105 --> 00:25:42,673 So, ready to go and start observing. 523 00:25:44,977 --> 00:25:47,044 Narrator: This is the crucial moment 524 00:25:47,112 --> 00:25:50,447 That over 10 years of hard work has been leading up to. 525 00:25:50,449 --> 00:25:52,716 Remo: It's taken a long time to get to this point 526 00:25:52,785 --> 00:25:54,918 That we're going to get a real shot 527 00:25:54,921 --> 00:25:57,187 To get an image of a black hole. 528 00:25:57,256 --> 00:25:59,523 And now finally the day is here. 529 00:26:01,260 --> 00:26:05,262 Narrator: Remo must ascend to over 13,000 feet, 530 00:26:05,331 --> 00:26:08,532 To the top of the volcano. 531 00:26:08,534 --> 00:26:10,400 Here two observatories, 532 00:26:10,403 --> 00:26:13,136 The james clerk maxwell telescope 533 00:26:13,139 --> 00:26:15,072 And the submillimeter array, 534 00:26:15,140 --> 00:26:17,541 Are part of the network. 535 00:26:17,543 --> 00:26:20,711 And remo is up against the clock to get them ready. 536 00:26:24,016 --> 00:26:25,482 Remo: Right. 537 00:26:28,153 --> 00:26:31,088 We have to start tuning the receiver. 538 00:26:31,090 --> 00:26:32,956 This mirror directs the radiation 539 00:26:32,959 --> 00:26:35,559 Into the receiver that we're going to use. 540 00:26:35,628 --> 00:26:37,294 It's like tuning a radio. 541 00:26:38,964 --> 00:26:40,698 It's going. 542 00:26:40,766 --> 00:26:42,232 Looking good. 543 00:26:42,301 --> 00:26:44,635 Narrator: At the submillimeter array, 544 00:26:44,703 --> 00:26:48,972 Engineer jonathan weintroub is checking the data recorders. 545 00:26:48,975 --> 00:26:50,708 Jonathan weintroub: We have 50 minutes now 546 00:26:50,776 --> 00:26:53,777 To run the checks before we start recording. 547 00:26:53,846 --> 00:26:58,115 And high altitude doesn't help your brain function. 548 00:26:58,117 --> 00:27:01,051 You tend to make more mistakes at altitude. 549 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:03,053 Narrator: But across the mountain, 550 00:27:03,122 --> 00:27:04,989 Remo hits a glitch. 551 00:27:05,057 --> 00:27:07,391 Remo: Oh! 552 00:27:07,393 --> 00:27:08,458 What the heck? 553 00:27:08,461 --> 00:27:09,793 He fell out of lock. 554 00:27:09,862 --> 00:27:14,798 Narrator: The receiver won't lock on to the frequency. 555 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:19,503 Without a lock, the data from the telescope will be ruined. 556 00:27:21,874 --> 00:27:24,074 Remo: Maybe our yig is unlocked. 557 00:27:24,076 --> 00:27:25,542 Narrator: Remo has no option 558 00:27:25,611 --> 00:27:29,079 But to manually adjust the receiver settings. 559 00:27:29,148 --> 00:27:32,216 Remo: Darn, I might now need reading glasses. 560 00:27:32,284 --> 00:27:34,418 I can't see the stupid dials anymore! 561 00:27:34,420 --> 00:27:36,253 [laughs] 562 00:27:39,291 --> 00:27:41,825 Yeah, we stayed in lock. 563 00:27:41,827 --> 00:27:42,793 Excellent. 564 00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:50,033 Narrator: The team is ready just in time. 565 00:27:50,036 --> 00:27:51,835 Man: I think we're all set. 566 00:27:51,837 --> 00:27:53,103 Remo: Good. 567 00:27:53,172 --> 00:27:55,539 Great. It has a nice signal. 568 00:27:56,909 --> 00:27:58,242 Attention, attention. 569 00:27:58,310 --> 00:28:02,246 Doors and roof will be opening, doors and roof will be opening. 570 00:28:02,314 --> 00:28:05,249 Call station 42, call station 42. 571 00:28:11,724 --> 00:28:13,691 Oh, jct is open. 572 00:28:18,197 --> 00:28:23,067 Narrator: Remo directs the antenna onto the target... 573 00:28:23,135 --> 00:28:26,203 And jonathan gets ready to record the data. 574 00:28:26,271 --> 00:28:30,741 Jonathan: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. 575 00:28:30,809 --> 00:28:32,542 Are we going? 576 00:28:32,545 --> 00:28:36,012 Remo: The event horizon telescope is on the way. 577 00:28:36,015 --> 00:28:38,081 Narrator: After years of work, 578 00:28:38,084 --> 00:28:41,218 The teams at eight observatories across the world 579 00:28:41,220 --> 00:28:44,021 Are finally recording the radio emissions 580 00:28:44,089 --> 00:28:46,323 From around a black hole. 581 00:28:51,564 --> 00:28:59,770 ♪ 582 00:28:59,772 --> 00:29:02,372 Over the first two days of the run, 583 00:29:02,441 --> 00:29:06,210 They successfully record two full nights of data. 584 00:29:08,647 --> 00:29:11,047 But it's not easy. 585 00:29:11,050 --> 00:29:12,116 Shep: We're tired. 586 00:29:12,184 --> 00:29:13,984 You know, you wind up 587 00:29:13,986 --> 00:29:15,853 Just being up at all hours of the night. 588 00:29:15,921 --> 00:29:17,121 Where is it? Where is... 589 00:29:17,189 --> 00:29:20,056 Woman: Oh, so, it's in front. 590 00:29:20,059 --> 00:29:22,325 Shep: We had a problem at one of the telescopes, 591 00:29:22,328 --> 00:29:25,062 One of the bits of electronics that we rely on 592 00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:27,064 Was giving us some crazy results. 593 00:29:27,132 --> 00:29:29,266 Gopal: We're at the maser right now. 594 00:29:29,268 --> 00:29:31,135 Shep: Look at channel number 17. 595 00:29:31,203 --> 00:29:33,403 And ultimately we fixed it, 596 00:29:33,472 --> 00:29:35,773 Because we were in the room, we're working. 597 00:29:39,545 --> 00:29:40,611 Narrator: So far, 598 00:29:40,679 --> 00:29:43,680 The weather has been perfect across the globe. 599 00:29:43,749 --> 00:29:45,348 But on day three, 600 00:29:45,351 --> 00:29:48,351 At the large millimeter telescope in mexico, 601 00:29:48,354 --> 00:29:50,887 The outlook is beginning to change. 602 00:29:50,890 --> 00:29:54,892 Shep: That's a scary, scary webcam. 603 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,095 The lmt is just completely chaotic right now. 604 00:29:58,163 --> 00:29:59,363 I mean, you saw the webcam. 605 00:29:59,431 --> 00:30:03,166 They're socked in by fog, there's clouds rolling in. 606 00:30:03,169 --> 00:30:06,436 It looks very, very dicey up there. 607 00:30:06,438 --> 00:30:08,705 Man: Yes, it's clearly building up. 608 00:30:08,707 --> 00:30:13,110 Narrator: A storm system looks like it's moving towards mexico. 609 00:30:13,178 --> 00:30:16,313 Shep: The telescope in mexico, the lmt, 610 00:30:16,381 --> 00:30:21,251 And the telescope in arizona have dicey weather. 611 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:22,619 So we're just gonna wait. 612 00:30:25,390 --> 00:30:28,992 Narrator: Shep delays the go/no-go decision. 613 00:30:29,061 --> 00:30:31,261 It's too close to call. 614 00:30:31,263 --> 00:30:34,264 Shep: You guys have to explain these lmt webcams to me. 615 00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:39,870 From one direction, it just looks like a vacation paradise. 616 00:30:39,938 --> 00:30:41,204 And then from these other views, 617 00:30:41,207 --> 00:30:42,472 It just looks like 618 00:30:42,474 --> 00:30:47,144 You're heading into a vortex maelstrom of hell. 619 00:30:47,212 --> 00:30:49,947 And I don't understand how three different views 620 00:30:50,015 --> 00:30:51,815 Can be so different. 621 00:30:51,884 --> 00:30:54,684 Narrator: Shep has to decide. 622 00:30:54,687 --> 00:30:58,155 But now there's news from the alma observatory in chile. 623 00:30:58,223 --> 00:30:59,489 Shep: Hold on, hold on, 624 00:30:59,491 --> 00:31:02,826 I want to make sure I understand what you just said. 625 00:31:02,895 --> 00:31:07,297 You think there's a chance that the data from last night 626 00:31:07,299 --> 00:31:10,033 From alma are corrupted? 627 00:31:10,102 --> 00:31:11,602 Man: Um, there's a chance. 628 00:31:13,171 --> 00:31:14,371 Narrator: Corrupt data 629 00:31:14,439 --> 00:31:17,641 Could put the whole $50 million experiment 630 00:31:17,643 --> 00:31:18,809 In jeopardy. 631 00:31:25,317 --> 00:31:28,184 At eight telescopes across the world, 632 00:31:28,187 --> 00:31:32,455 The team has been recording the emission from a black hole. 633 00:31:32,458 --> 00:31:34,391 Remo: Ok, recording. Man: Recording. 634 00:31:34,393 --> 00:31:37,060 Remo: Alright. Man: Oh, yes, yes. 635 00:31:37,062 --> 00:31:38,061 Narrator: They are three days 636 00:31:38,130 --> 00:31:41,331 Into their 10-day observation window, 637 00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:44,067 But at the alma observatory in chile, 638 00:31:44,069 --> 00:31:46,870 The team thinks their entire second night of data 639 00:31:46,872 --> 00:31:48,505 Could be corrupt. 640 00:31:49,675 --> 00:31:52,342 Shep: This is a whole new wrinkle for us. 641 00:31:52,344 --> 00:31:57,147 If you had extra time, could you run this problem down? 642 00:31:57,149 --> 00:32:00,483 Man: Running it down is probably not likely. 643 00:32:00,486 --> 00:32:02,352 Narrator: It's a massive blow. 644 00:32:02,354 --> 00:32:05,488 The team might now only have one night's worth of data 645 00:32:05,491 --> 00:32:08,825 Out of five they need. 646 00:32:08,894 --> 00:32:11,028 With the weather outlook set to get worse, 647 00:32:11,096 --> 00:32:13,296 Shep has to take a risk. 648 00:32:13,299 --> 00:32:15,098 Shep: I think we should make this a go 649 00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:17,300 Because we're not gonna tear the system apart, 650 00:32:17,303 --> 00:32:19,903 So we have to assume that alma's going to be fine. 651 00:32:19,905 --> 00:32:22,973 So I'm gonna say that we're gonna go. 652 00:32:22,975 --> 00:32:28,445 ♪ 653 00:32:28,513 --> 00:32:30,781 Narrator: Over the next five days, 654 00:32:30,849 --> 00:32:33,116 The team avoids the storm 655 00:32:33,185 --> 00:32:36,453 And observes for the remaining three nights. 656 00:32:36,455 --> 00:32:38,488 Woman: We are recording the data. 657 00:32:40,993 --> 00:32:42,258 Narrator: Their hard drives fill up 658 00:32:42,261 --> 00:32:46,997 With over 6 million gigabytes of precious data-- 659 00:32:47,065 --> 00:32:50,934 More storage than 12,000 laptop computers. 660 00:32:51,003 --> 00:33:00,344 ♪ 661 00:33:00,412 --> 00:33:03,213 In chile, alan roy and the team 662 00:33:03,215 --> 00:33:06,283 Finish what's been a tiring eight days. 663 00:33:06,351 --> 00:33:08,351 Alan: This is coming up to the end of the last run. 664 00:33:08,354 --> 00:33:10,287 We've got maybe three minutes. 665 00:33:10,355 --> 00:33:13,690 I'm feeling weary but, but content. 666 00:33:13,759 --> 00:33:15,959 Narrator: The team has recorded their target 667 00:33:15,961 --> 00:33:18,095 Of five nights of data. 668 00:33:18,163 --> 00:33:21,231 But only when all the data are combined together 669 00:33:21,233 --> 00:33:24,768 Will they know if they might see a black hole. 670 00:33:24,770 --> 00:33:27,170 Neil nagar: This is the interesting part. This is... 671 00:33:27,239 --> 00:33:30,240 It's almost a game of bluff. 672 00:33:30,308 --> 00:33:34,110 You've now spent more than a week here at the telescopes, 673 00:33:34,113 --> 00:33:35,578 Observed through the night, 674 00:33:35,581 --> 00:33:38,382 And we still don't know if anything will come out of this. 675 00:33:38,450 --> 00:33:46,056 ♪ 676 00:33:46,058 --> 00:33:50,127 Narrator: Over in cambridge, shep is winding down. 677 00:33:50,195 --> 00:33:52,996 Shep: This is the beginning of the end, right? 678 00:33:53,065 --> 00:33:56,800 I mean, this is not the end by any stretch of the imagination. 679 00:33:56,802 --> 00:34:00,203 We have a lot of work to do, a lot of work to do. 680 00:34:00,272 --> 00:34:02,539 But we've taken this first big step. 681 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:10,280 Narrator: At the south pole, 682 00:34:10,348 --> 00:34:13,283 After five months of total darkness, 683 00:34:13,285 --> 00:34:15,419 Flights resume once again. 684 00:34:19,425 --> 00:34:23,693 Now the team can finally return the last remaining hard drives 685 00:34:23,762 --> 00:34:26,763 Back to the u.S. And germany 686 00:34:26,765 --> 00:34:31,334 And complete the processing from all eight telescopes. 687 00:34:34,106 --> 00:34:35,638 At the black hole initiative, 688 00:34:35,641 --> 00:34:39,042 Shep assembles team members from around the world 689 00:34:39,044 --> 00:34:42,979 To test how to turn the new data into images. 690 00:34:43,048 --> 00:34:44,314 Shep: The big challenge that we face 691 00:34:44,316 --> 00:34:46,716 In this technique of the event horizon telescope 692 00:34:46,785 --> 00:34:47,918 Is that we don't have 693 00:34:47,986 --> 00:34:50,120 All the pixels in the image, if you will. 694 00:34:50,122 --> 00:34:51,455 We have some of the pixels, 695 00:34:51,523 --> 00:34:53,656 So the art is trying to figure out 696 00:34:53,659 --> 00:34:55,792 What the entire image looks like 697 00:34:55,794 --> 00:34:57,327 Without having, you know, 698 00:34:57,395 --> 00:34:59,930 Everything that we'd like to have. 699 00:34:59,998 --> 00:35:03,133 Narrator: The team will test different computer algorithms 700 00:35:03,201 --> 00:35:06,536 To see if they can create an accurate image. 701 00:35:06,538 --> 00:35:10,874 But they won't attempt it on the target black holes just yet. 702 00:35:10,942 --> 00:35:13,276 Shep: First we're putting on training wheels. 703 00:35:13,278 --> 00:35:14,878 Right? We're taking baby steps. 704 00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:16,412 And we're trying to use 705 00:35:16,415 --> 00:35:19,749 The algorithms that we want to use 706 00:35:19,818 --> 00:35:21,084 For sag a-star and m87, 707 00:35:21,153 --> 00:35:24,087 But on well-known sources that are much brighter. 708 00:35:25,357 --> 00:35:27,157 Narrator: These bright sources 709 00:35:27,159 --> 00:35:30,093 Come from matter swirling into what's believed to be 710 00:35:30,162 --> 00:35:32,962 A feasting black hole. 711 00:35:32,965 --> 00:35:38,301 As the black hole accelerates the matter, it rips it apart 712 00:35:38,370 --> 00:35:42,439 And launches jets of radiation into space. 713 00:35:42,507 --> 00:35:45,041 These are quasars. 714 00:35:45,110 --> 00:35:48,912 They can kick out more energy than a billion stars, 715 00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:54,317 Leaving a signature jet that's visible across the cosmos. 716 00:35:54,319 --> 00:35:59,122 Shep: If we can get really good images on those sources, 717 00:35:59,191 --> 00:36:01,291 Then we know we'll be ready to go to the next phase. 718 00:36:03,195 --> 00:36:05,729 Narrator: Katie bouman is leading one of the teams 719 00:36:05,797 --> 00:36:08,932 Trying to make an image of a quasar. 720 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,200 Katie bouman: It's really exciting, 721 00:36:10,268 --> 00:36:12,936 The first time we're actually trying to make an image. 722 00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:15,739 So, here is 3c120. 723 00:36:15,807 --> 00:36:17,340 Narrator: The quasar is too far away 724 00:36:17,409 --> 00:36:19,676 To see the edge of the black hole, 725 00:36:19,678 --> 00:36:22,145 But the team knows what the jet should look like 726 00:36:22,214 --> 00:36:25,015 From existing telescopes. 727 00:36:28,954 --> 00:36:31,354 But two days into this workshop, 728 00:36:31,423 --> 00:36:36,159 The algorithms are not producing one consistent image. 729 00:36:36,161 --> 00:36:38,895 Woman: I can make an image that looks like that, 730 00:36:38,897 --> 00:36:40,297 And that's ridiculous. 731 00:36:40,365 --> 00:36:42,566 Katie: We get a lot of different kind of structures 732 00:36:42,634 --> 00:36:44,234 Come out from the same data. 733 00:36:44,236 --> 00:36:47,370 That's not a vote of confidence in those images, I guess. 734 00:36:47,439 --> 00:36:49,306 Narrator: Physicist mareki honma 735 00:36:49,374 --> 00:36:52,175 Is also not getting a clear image. 736 00:36:52,244 --> 00:36:54,044 Mareki honma: Here is a very bright spot. 737 00:36:54,112 --> 00:36:56,379 So we believe there is something, 738 00:36:56,448 --> 00:37:01,317 But the whole area, it just looks like noise. 739 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:02,986 [chuckles] 740 00:37:06,658 --> 00:37:10,594 Narrator: If the team can't get the algorithms to work, 741 00:37:10,662 --> 00:37:14,064 They won't be able to make an image of a black hole. 742 00:37:20,339 --> 00:37:23,073 The event horizon telescope team 743 00:37:23,141 --> 00:37:25,942 Has linked data from eight telescopes together 744 00:37:26,011 --> 00:37:30,013 To try and capture an image of a black hole. 745 00:37:30,015 --> 00:37:31,281 The team has had problems 746 00:37:31,349 --> 00:37:34,818 Creating a clear test image of a quasar, 747 00:37:34,886 --> 00:37:39,623 But after a week of coding, the images start to improve. 748 00:37:39,691 --> 00:37:41,824 And the jet has more detail 749 00:37:41,827 --> 00:37:44,427 Than anything the team has seen before. 750 00:37:44,496 --> 00:37:48,832 Katie: I see this jet-like kind of structure shooting out. 751 00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:50,166 Ramesh: It's incredible. 752 00:37:50,168 --> 00:37:52,235 Look at all the structure. 753 00:37:52,237 --> 00:37:55,038 Shep: The team has produced images now, 754 00:37:55,106 --> 00:37:57,173 After going through this whole pipeline, 755 00:37:57,175 --> 00:37:59,709 That seem very robust. 756 00:37:59,778 --> 00:38:00,910 So that's the key. 757 00:38:00,912 --> 00:38:03,780 You have to be so confident in your techniques 758 00:38:03,782 --> 00:38:05,448 And your data handling, 759 00:38:05,517 --> 00:38:06,783 That you trust them, 760 00:38:06,785 --> 00:38:08,785 Because for sag a-star, for m87, 761 00:38:08,787 --> 00:38:10,987 We have no idea what we're gonna see. 762 00:38:14,259 --> 00:38:16,726 Narrator: After more than ten years of planning... 763 00:38:18,463 --> 00:38:20,196 Gopal: Yay! 764 00:38:20,198 --> 00:38:22,732 Narrator: $50 million, 765 00:38:22,734 --> 00:38:24,400 And the combined brainpower 766 00:38:24,403 --> 00:38:27,070 Of over 200 international scientists... 767 00:38:27,138 --> 00:38:28,604 Remo: Attention, attention. 768 00:38:28,607 --> 00:38:30,473 Doors and roof will be opening. 769 00:38:32,077 --> 00:38:34,744 [speaking spanish] 770 00:38:34,746 --> 00:38:36,479 Narrator: Finally the time comes 771 00:38:36,481 --> 00:38:40,350 To try and make an image of a black hole. 772 00:38:40,352 --> 00:38:42,151 Shep: This has been a huge process, 773 00:38:42,154 --> 00:38:44,287 A very, very careful process, 774 00:38:44,356 --> 00:38:47,623 And the imaging team is now getting the first set of data 775 00:38:47,626 --> 00:38:51,361 That they can use to make a photo of a black hole. 776 00:38:53,765 --> 00:38:55,098 Katie: It's really exciting. 777 00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:57,300 We just got the data, 778 00:38:57,369 --> 00:38:59,502 And that's, you know, what we've been waiting for 779 00:38:59,571 --> 00:39:01,037 For many years, 780 00:39:01,106 --> 00:39:03,073 So it's a pretty exciting time for us. 781 00:39:05,110 --> 00:39:08,911 Shep: This is the moment when we finally get to see 782 00:39:08,914 --> 00:39:11,381 What a black hole might look like. 783 00:39:11,449 --> 00:39:14,517 Narrator: Each member of the team loads the data 784 00:39:14,586 --> 00:39:17,053 And starts running their algorithms. 785 00:39:17,122 --> 00:39:18,922 Katie: Are we gonna-- are we doing this? 786 00:39:18,990 --> 00:39:19,922 Shep: Let's see it. 787 00:39:19,925 --> 00:39:22,859 Katie: Ok, ready...Set... 788 00:39:22,927 --> 00:39:24,861 Go. Going, going, going... 789 00:39:24,863 --> 00:39:35,405 ♪ 790 00:39:35,407 --> 00:39:37,874 Narrator: The algorithms are producing 791 00:39:37,942 --> 00:39:40,276 Some tantalizing images. 792 00:39:40,345 --> 00:39:42,078 Shep: This is very early stages, 793 00:39:42,147 --> 00:39:43,346 This is exploratory surgery. 794 00:39:43,415 --> 00:39:45,148 The patient is on the table, 795 00:39:45,216 --> 00:39:46,616 We've opened the patient up, 796 00:39:46,618 --> 00:39:47,417 We're looking inside, 797 00:39:47,485 --> 00:39:49,119 We're trying to find out what we see. 798 00:39:51,890 --> 00:39:53,289 Narrator: Each member of the team 799 00:39:53,291 --> 00:39:57,227 Needs to zero in on one consistent image. 800 00:40:00,698 --> 00:40:02,232 Shep: That is interesting. 801 00:40:03,969 --> 00:40:04,967 Whoa. 802 00:40:04,970 --> 00:40:06,235 Katie: Ha ha! 803 00:40:06,238 --> 00:40:08,338 I'm getting something pretty similar, a little bit. 804 00:40:09,841 --> 00:40:14,177 Narrator: And with the data for the black hole m87, 805 00:40:14,245 --> 00:40:16,713 One image soon becomes clear. 806 00:40:19,251 --> 00:40:23,253 Katie: I see a circle-y feature. Ha! 807 00:40:27,259 --> 00:40:29,325 Narrator: A bright ring of light 808 00:40:29,394 --> 00:40:33,029 Circling the shadow of the black hole. 809 00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:36,999 Shep: What I'm seeing on the screen here 810 00:40:37,002 --> 00:40:38,401 Is pretty startling. 811 00:40:38,470 --> 00:40:42,672 This is a case where the signal is so clear 812 00:40:42,740 --> 00:40:45,074 That it kind of hits you on the head with a hammer. 813 00:40:45,076 --> 00:40:47,543 If this holds up, 814 00:40:47,546 --> 00:40:50,012 It's going to be the discovery of my lifetime, 815 00:40:50,015 --> 00:40:53,216 And I think of many other people's lifetime. 816 00:40:53,218 --> 00:40:56,219 And...It's, uh, 817 00:40:56,221 --> 00:40:59,622 It's really sobering to see what a black hole looks like 818 00:40:59,624 --> 00:41:01,958 For the first time. 819 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:05,294 Narrator: The image shows photons of light 820 00:41:05,297 --> 00:41:09,699 Being distorted into a ring by the power of gravity. 821 00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:10,700 In the center, 822 00:41:10,768 --> 00:41:14,437 A black hole with the mass of 6 billion suns 823 00:41:14,439 --> 00:41:18,107 Is swallowing the light that strays too close. 824 00:41:18,176 --> 00:41:19,642 It is profound evidence 825 00:41:19,711 --> 00:41:23,112 That confirms the existence of black holes 826 00:41:23,114 --> 00:41:27,116 First predicted by einstein's theory of gravity. 827 00:41:27,185 --> 00:41:30,987 Shep: This shows us that space-time is distorted 828 00:41:30,989 --> 00:41:33,856 In the way that einstein felt it would be 829 00:41:33,859 --> 00:41:35,324 At the black hole boundary, 830 00:41:35,327 --> 00:41:39,329 At the most extreme environment in the universe. 831 00:41:39,397 --> 00:41:44,867 These photons are struggling to get away from this black hole. 832 00:41:44,870 --> 00:41:46,736 And the black hole is tethering them 833 00:41:46,804 --> 00:41:49,872 With its immense gravity. 834 00:41:49,875 --> 00:41:51,074 And every once in a while, 835 00:41:51,142 --> 00:41:54,410 Some of them can just get away from the black hole 836 00:41:54,479 --> 00:41:55,478 And come to us. 837 00:41:55,547 --> 00:42:00,750 So we're seeing the very definition of this surface 838 00:42:00,752 --> 00:42:03,219 Where light is lost forever. 839 00:42:03,221 --> 00:42:08,090 ♪ 840 00:42:08,093 --> 00:42:10,092 Narrator: In 2019, 841 00:42:10,095 --> 00:42:13,963 The event horizon telescope team verified their data 842 00:42:13,965 --> 00:42:16,832 And released their results to the world. 843 00:42:16,835 --> 00:42:26,642 ♪ 844 00:42:26,645 --> 00:42:30,680 This is a groundbreaking scientific result. 845 00:42:34,586 --> 00:42:37,120 For the event horizon telescope team, 846 00:42:37,188 --> 00:42:41,858 They hope it could transform the way we see the universe. 847 00:42:41,926 --> 00:42:43,459 Tegmark: When galileo first proved 848 00:42:43,528 --> 00:42:46,862 That you can take pictures of the sky with telescopes, 849 00:42:46,865 --> 00:42:49,132 That didn't end astronomy; 850 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:50,633 It started it. 851 00:42:51,803 --> 00:42:54,070 And in the same way, 852 00:42:54,138 --> 00:42:55,738 The most important scientific legacy 853 00:42:55,807 --> 00:42:57,140 Of the event horizon telescope 854 00:42:57,208 --> 00:42:58,407 Is gonna be the fact that it creates 855 00:42:58,410 --> 00:43:00,677 An entirely new field of science. 856 00:43:03,147 --> 00:43:05,414 Hughes: If I know astronomers, when this thing is done, 857 00:43:05,417 --> 00:43:09,152 They're gonna go, "ooh! What else can we do with this?" 858 00:43:09,220 --> 00:43:10,620 Greene: I can certainly envision 859 00:43:10,622 --> 00:43:13,422 That 10, 30, 50 years from now, 860 00:43:13,425 --> 00:43:15,825 Our description of black holes are gonna be 861 00:43:15,827 --> 00:43:18,561 Completely, radically different. 862 00:43:18,563 --> 00:43:22,165 Narrator: For shep and the event horizon telescope team, 863 00:43:22,233 --> 00:43:25,568 They hope this is just the beginning. 864 00:43:25,570 --> 00:43:26,970 Shep: We're not done. 865 00:43:27,038 --> 00:43:28,104 We don't actually like things 866 00:43:28,172 --> 00:43:32,241 To be tied up in a bow and finished. 867 00:43:32,310 --> 00:43:36,112 This shows us how black holes eat and how they feed 868 00:43:36,180 --> 00:43:38,381 In a way that has been impossible up to now. 869 00:43:42,721 --> 00:43:45,188 This, most of all, 870 00:43:45,256 --> 00:43:49,659 Signals a whole new direction in astronomy. 871 00:43:49,727 --> 00:43:51,060 And that's rare. 872 00:43:52,664 --> 00:43:54,764 That is really extraordinary.