PBS Space Time Season 2015, Episode 24: The Leap Second Explained

What Planet is Super Mario World?

We've run, jumped, and stomped all over the world of Super Mario, but, where in the universe is Super Mario EXACTLY? It's virtual so it obviously DOESN'T exist, but if it did, could Super Mario world be in our solar system? And what do the planet's dynamics reveal about Mario's crazy jumping ability? Join Gabe as he takes us on a rick-roaring tour of our known universe as we search for the answer in this week's SpaceTime!

7 min

Is It Irrational to Believe in Aliens?

Aliens! Could humans really be alone in this expansive universe? And if we're not, how come we've never made contact with other intelligent life? Everyone's thought about it; especially members of the scientific community. Join Gabe as he presents some of the most popular theories that scientists use to rationalize their support or skepticism of the existence of aliens. We may never know the answer to this age old question, but a little scientific thinking never hurt anybody!

8 min

How Do You Measure the Size of the Universe?

The universe is HUGE. But, there is only so much of the universe we can ACTUALLY see, and if we wanted to measure that FINITE space, how would we do it? A gigantic ruler? One really long car ride? Or maybe it's something even more spectacular, something that involves not only the observable universe as it is NOW, but how it was when it was first BORN?

7 min

Should We Colonize Venus Instead of Mars?

Mars One. The Mars Rover. Bruno Mars. Mars Bars. It's pretty clear we're OBSESSED with the idea of Mars, especially in regard to it being a potential colony for earthlings. But is that really the best option? Is there a better place for us to colonize in our solar system? Well, how about Venus? Sure the surface temperature is over 450 degrees Celsius, with crazy pressure, but there might be a smart way around that, making Venus a better option for long term colonization than Mars!

8 min

What Will Destroy Planet Earth?

Killing all the life on Earth is easy. But what about destroying the planet itself? That is DEFINITELY going to happen!! But HOW? Could it be Nukes? A Giant Asteroid? A Collision with another planet? And what’s more, will anyone be around to actually watch the world reach its ultimate demise?

9 min

Can A Starfox Barrel Roll Work In Space?

DO A BARREL ROLL! Or at least, try…? The iconic move from Star Fox seems so easy, just press a button and BOOM. The ship rolls. But HOW? Barrel rolls in atmosphere are easy to execute with the use of ailerons, but in space, it's a different issue altogether. With no atmosphere (and no thrusters), how does one Barrel Roll like Star Fox in space?

10 min

Cosmic Microwave Background Explained

HAS SPACE ALWAYS BEEN BLACK? As long as we've been around, YES. But the universe gets much more exciting, AND much BRIGHTER, as we start winding our clocks back to the early days of the universe. Near the beginning of the universe, when space was rapidly expanding, that dark night sky we know so well as actually…ORANGE! But why? Did the lights just go out, or did something more spectacular happen?

8 min

Is the Moon in Majora’s Mask a Black Hole?

Is Link in Majora's Mask actually being overseen by a Black Hole (with teeth)? It's easy to take things at face value in video games. But when we take a deeper dive into the physics in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, it seems that the "MOON" might be one of those things that isn't quite what it seems. Given its size and the way it affects Termina, it actually appears that the moon is really a BLACK HOLE! Is that seriously the only possibility? What is the evidence that supports this theory?

10 min

Could You Fart Your Way to the Moon?

Listen, we know you've thought about it, and we're here to give you THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER to one of the greatest science questions of all time. How long would it take to get to the MOON by farting?

9 min

How to Weigh a Fart

EVER WANTED TO WEIGH A FART? Well, it isn't easy, but walk through the math, physics, and science behind farts and how to measure them!

2 min

Could NASA Start the Zombie Apocalypse?

7 min

Are Space and Time An Illusion?

9 min

What's the Most Realistic Artificial Gravity in Sci-Fi?

12 min

Should the First Mars Mission Be All Women?

11 min

9 NASA Technologies Shaping YOUR Future

10 min

The Real Meaning of E=mc²

11 min

Habitable Exoplanets Debunked!

11 min

Is Gravity An Illusion?

13 min

Challenge: What Happens to a Helium Balloon in Freefall?

2 min

How to Signal Aliens

12 min

The Calendar, Australia & White Christmas

8 min

Can a Circle Be a Straight Line?

11 min

Curvature Demonstrated + Comments

7 min

Can You Trust Your Eyes in Spacetime?

Last time we talked about what curvature means, looked at geodesics, great circles on spheres, and tried to understand the notion of "straightness". This week on Spacetime, we take a detour into how geometry works in spacetime. Get excited, because this episode is even more mind-bending than the last!

10 min

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT + Flat Spacetime Geometry Comments

7 min

General Relativity & Curved Spacetime Explained!

9 min

What Physics Teachers Get Wrong About Tides!

We all know tides have something to do with gravity from the Moon and Sun, but if gravity affects the motion of all objects equally, then how come oceans have large tides while other bodies of water don't? It's because your mental picture of the tides is probably WRONG!!! Join Gabe on this week’s episode of PBS Space Time as he sets the record straight on tidal force, gravitational differential and what role the moon actually plays in tides. Why don't lakes have tides? Watch the episode to find out!

16 min

Challenge: Which Particle Wins This Race?

7 min

Do Events Inside Black Holes Happen?

15 min

Watch THIS! (New Host + Challenge Winners)

6 min

Does Dark Matter BREAK Physics?

11 min

What Happens At The Edge Of The Universe?

Lots of people believe the Universe is infinite, but there's a good possibility that might not be the case. Which means that there would be an actual edge of the Universe. What happens at that edge? Is there a restaurant? Join Matt on this week’s episode of Space Time as he explores the greatest expanses of our Universe. So what do you find when you reach the edge? More Universe? Bubble Universes? Back where you started?! Check out this episode of Space Time to find out!

10 min

The Speed of Light is NOT About Light

13 min

5 REAL Possibilities for Interstellar Travel

14 min

Have Gravitational Waves Been Discovered?!?

12 min

Is The Alcubierre Warp Drive Possible?

10 min

Why Haven't We Found Alien Life?

13 min

Challenge: Can you save Earth from a Killer Asteroid?

4 min

5 Ways to Stop a Killer Asteroid

12 min

100 Years of Relativity + Challenge Winners!

9 min

How to Build a Black Hole

14 min

The Higgs Mechanism Explained

10 min