The Universe s02e03 Episode Script
Mysteries of the Moon
ln the beginning, there was darkness and then, bang giving birth to an endless expanding existence of time, space, and matter.
Now, see further than we've ever imagined beyond the limits of our existence in a place we call "The Universe.
" Our closest neighbor, mysterious as it is tied to ourvery survival.
lts luminance has captivated us since the beginning of humanity but a closer look reveals an ever-present source of myth, controversy, and mystery an unseen force that pulls at the Earth every second of the day a source of illusion and wonder a celestial body so close to home that it may impact the way we behave and the way our body functions.
And without it, some argue the planet Earth as we know it may never have evolved.
Almost 240,000 miles from Earth our Moon outshines every other celestial body in the night sky.
The Moon, when it's up and when it's bright makes us dream and wonder.
Our enigmatic neighbor is also the source of countless unsolved mysteries and age-old myths.
The Moon is a spooky place.
lt's a mysterious place from the human perspective.
The Moon is a beautiful and a really obvious thing to see.
lt's hard to miss the big shining Moon in the sky.
So l think all people from all times have had some need to understand it some need to relate to it.
Science may cast an empirical light on some things about the universe but lunar experts are the first to admit they don't have all the answers when it comes to our Moon.
Science is about process.
We're never sure about explanations.
We know so little about the Moon because we've only been observing it close up for a few hundred years and it's been there for over4 1/2 billion years.
Our Moon teemed with volcanic activity three to four billion years ago.
Today, most believe it's an inactive dead world floating through space.
But is it? July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong took his historic small step during that first visit to the lunar surface.
That's one small step for man one giant leap for mankind.
While on the Moon Armstrong reported seeing what he called an area that is considerably more illuminated than the surrounding area and that the area seems to have a slight amount offluorescence to it.
What could it mean? Today, almost 40 years later no one knows exactly what that light source was but scientists have witnessed similar occurrences.
There been a whole class of changes on the Moon that have involved brightenings color changes, and even gaseous emissions.
These events have left some like Nasa astronomer Bonnie Buratti perplexed by what they call lunar transient phenomena or LTPs.
Lunar transient phenomena are controversial.
Scientists are very skeptical about them.
The problem is there's no observations true and firm, on these events.
But ever since the Middle Ages lunar observers have reported seeing these mysterious lights.
They're usually witnessed in the dark, shadowy areas ofthe Moon where the contrast is greater.
They last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours and that's why they've been so hard to confirm.
Convinced that these ethereal displays are a real phenomenon but unsure as to what's causing them experts have honed in on several possible explanations.
There have been a number of theories that have surfaced for lunar transient phenomena.
Ever-changing views from Earth may be causing the appearance of bright flashes or surface changes on the Moon.
Some of the events that l've seen are clearlyjust due to turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
These cause movement and change on the Moon.
But Buratti thinks that not all LTPs can be explained by atmospheric turbulence.
The anomalies that Neil Armstrong reported were seen from the lunar surface so atmospheric turbulence couldn't be causing them.
Many astronomers like Laura Danly at the Griffith Observatory believe that the high-velocity impact of meteors and asteroids accounts for much of this activity being observed from Earth.
They're traveling very fast so when they smash into the Moon there's a big, bright explosion, really.
These impact explosions, known as fireballs may be one source ofthe activity but that premise has a gaping hole in it.
Even though we've seen these flashes on the dark side ofthe Moon we haven't identified a crater associated with any of them and that's where we get into the controversy.
There hasn't been any large event that has been unequivocally observed.
Another possible explanation is that when a meteor hits the Moon and creates a massive crater landslides around the crater rim kick up mountains of lunar dust.
The fine dust could absorb and scatter light rays or make it appear as if the Moon has somehow changed its surface features.
lt's possible that if a landslide occurred on the Moon you would see something from the Earth the edge of a crater being obscured a cloudlike feature forming.
ln otherwords, we would see a craterwall, an LTP and then a collapsed craterwall.
We've never seen that yet.
Perhaps the most controversial theory behind these lunar anomalies could alter our view of the Moon entirely.
lt would challenge the belief that the Moon has been geologically inactive for millennia.
One of the most intriguing explanations for lunar transient phenomena is active volcanoes on the Moon.
This is the most scientifically important because it would tell us that the Moon is still geologically active.
Photographs taken during the Apollo space missions revealed a rocky formation on the lunar surface called the inastructure.
With this data, scientists speculated that the Moon could've experienced volcanic activity in the last million years.
The information was groundbreaking and it meant that volcanic activity could be the primary source of LTPs but most scientists are yet to be convinced.
The thing about science is wheneveryou have a theory or a model you have to be able to get data of an event over and over again.
ln terms of these more mysterious brightenings or things that could be volcanic events we've never actually had two independent observers obtain incontrovertible data at the same time.
Even if the Moon isn't geologically active some astronomers believe there may be gases left over from a time when the volcanic activitywas prevalent.
lf residual gases reached the surface the Sun's rays would scatter colored hues of red and blue from the gas particles.
The Moon could still be experiencing outgassing without having actual activity in the interior.
There are minerals in the Moon that produce gases and they seep up to the surface in the Moon and come out.
With so many lunar transient phenomena theories out there which is the most plausible? Dr.
Buratti doesn't point to one explanation for the phenomenon.
l think the reasons for LTP are probably myriad.
l think there's more than one explanation.
lt's notjust one phenomenon it's many different types of activities.
For now, the cause of the elusive lunar transient phenomena may remain hidden on the dark side of the Moon.
But the cause offull-Moon fever here on Earth may be even tougher to diagnose.
What role, if any, does the full Moon have on our bodies and our minds? When it comes to exploring the mysteries of the Moon perhaps the most celebrated and controversial is whether our satellite has any influence on the mind and body.
We know that there's some relationship between the Earth and the Moon and so it's perhaps not such a great leap to imagine that the different changes the full Moon might have some influence on people.
There are lots and lots of mysteries physical and psychological.
One of the words for madness, lunacy comes from the latin word for Moon, luna.
So l think throughout history people have associated the Moon with human psychology.
A lot of people really believe that the full Moon affects their behavior affects maybe their biochemistry or something like that.
There's a widely held belief among many people including clinicians that during a full Moon, there are changes palpable changes in emergency room visits in pregnancy rates in birthrates.
There is a mythology about behavior which changes consistently with the phases of the Moon.
Anecdotal evidence abounds but does science support the belief that a full Moon has a measurable effect on the Earth's occupants? People have long tried to associate the Moon and the gravitational effects of the Moon with behavior in people and animals.
Fact: the Moon stirs up the oceans which make up 70 percent of our planet.
So if the human body is made up of 70 percent water wouldn't that mean the Moon hasjust as much pull on human beings? Some respected members of the medical community have reported changes in human behavior and physiology during full Moons.
We must be open-minded and as careful observers continue to posit some relationship between changes in the lunar cycle and the way in which we behave the way in which our health and disease patterns move ahead through time then we probably need to ask in creative and critical and rigorous fashion the question: is this possible? There are some in law enforcement who believe the crime rates increase when the Moon is full but others manning the frontlines aren't so sure.
Well, the way l see it personally, l see it as a myth.
At the start of a full Moon shift Deputy Jose Castro with the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department scoffed at the idea that a lunar pull has any effect on people.
But in his first 20 minutes on duty three calls had already come in.
Right now, we're responding to a 488 which is a theft that had just occurred.
The call indicates that a male Hispanic approximately
Now, see further than we've ever imagined beyond the limits of our existence in a place we call "The Universe.
" Our closest neighbor, mysterious as it is tied to ourvery survival.
lts luminance has captivated us since the beginning of humanity but a closer look reveals an ever-present source of myth, controversy, and mystery an unseen force that pulls at the Earth every second of the day a source of illusion and wonder a celestial body so close to home that it may impact the way we behave and the way our body functions.
And without it, some argue the planet Earth as we know it may never have evolved.
Almost 240,000 miles from Earth our Moon outshines every other celestial body in the night sky.
The Moon, when it's up and when it's bright makes us dream and wonder.
Our enigmatic neighbor is also the source of countless unsolved mysteries and age-old myths.
The Moon is a spooky place.
lt's a mysterious place from the human perspective.
The Moon is a beautiful and a really obvious thing to see.
lt's hard to miss the big shining Moon in the sky.
So l think all people from all times have had some need to understand it some need to relate to it.
Science may cast an empirical light on some things about the universe but lunar experts are the first to admit they don't have all the answers when it comes to our Moon.
Science is about process.
We're never sure about explanations.
We know so little about the Moon because we've only been observing it close up for a few hundred years and it's been there for over4 1/2 billion years.
Our Moon teemed with volcanic activity three to four billion years ago.
Today, most believe it's an inactive dead world floating through space.
But is it? July 20, 1969.
Neil Armstrong took his historic small step during that first visit to the lunar surface.
That's one small step for man one giant leap for mankind.
While on the Moon Armstrong reported seeing what he called an area that is considerably more illuminated than the surrounding area and that the area seems to have a slight amount offluorescence to it.
What could it mean? Today, almost 40 years later no one knows exactly what that light source was but scientists have witnessed similar occurrences.
There been a whole class of changes on the Moon that have involved brightenings color changes, and even gaseous emissions.
These events have left some like Nasa astronomer Bonnie Buratti perplexed by what they call lunar transient phenomena or LTPs.
Lunar transient phenomena are controversial.
Scientists are very skeptical about them.
The problem is there's no observations true and firm, on these events.
But ever since the Middle Ages lunar observers have reported seeing these mysterious lights.
They're usually witnessed in the dark, shadowy areas ofthe Moon where the contrast is greater.
They last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours and that's why they've been so hard to confirm.
Convinced that these ethereal displays are a real phenomenon but unsure as to what's causing them experts have honed in on several possible explanations.
There have been a number of theories that have surfaced for lunar transient phenomena.
Ever-changing views from Earth may be causing the appearance of bright flashes or surface changes on the Moon.
Some of the events that l've seen are clearlyjust due to turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
These cause movement and change on the Moon.
But Buratti thinks that not all LTPs can be explained by atmospheric turbulence.
The anomalies that Neil Armstrong reported were seen from the lunar surface so atmospheric turbulence couldn't be causing them.
Many astronomers like Laura Danly at the Griffith Observatory believe that the high-velocity impact of meteors and asteroids accounts for much of this activity being observed from Earth.
They're traveling very fast so when they smash into the Moon there's a big, bright explosion, really.
These impact explosions, known as fireballs may be one source ofthe activity but that premise has a gaping hole in it.
Even though we've seen these flashes on the dark side ofthe Moon we haven't identified a crater associated with any of them and that's where we get into the controversy.
There hasn't been any large event that has been unequivocally observed.
Another possible explanation is that when a meteor hits the Moon and creates a massive crater landslides around the crater rim kick up mountains of lunar dust.
The fine dust could absorb and scatter light rays or make it appear as if the Moon has somehow changed its surface features.
lt's possible that if a landslide occurred on the Moon you would see something from the Earth the edge of a crater being obscured a cloudlike feature forming.
ln otherwords, we would see a craterwall, an LTP and then a collapsed craterwall.
We've never seen that yet.
Perhaps the most controversial theory behind these lunar anomalies could alter our view of the Moon entirely.
lt would challenge the belief that the Moon has been geologically inactive for millennia.
One of the most intriguing explanations for lunar transient phenomena is active volcanoes on the Moon.
This is the most scientifically important because it would tell us that the Moon is still geologically active.
Photographs taken during the Apollo space missions revealed a rocky formation on the lunar surface called the inastructure.
With this data, scientists speculated that the Moon could've experienced volcanic activity in the last million years.
The information was groundbreaking and it meant that volcanic activity could be the primary source of LTPs but most scientists are yet to be convinced.
The thing about science is wheneveryou have a theory or a model you have to be able to get data of an event over and over again.
ln terms of these more mysterious brightenings or things that could be volcanic events we've never actually had two independent observers obtain incontrovertible data at the same time.
Even if the Moon isn't geologically active some astronomers believe there may be gases left over from a time when the volcanic activitywas prevalent.
lf residual gases reached the surface the Sun's rays would scatter colored hues of red and blue from the gas particles.
The Moon could still be experiencing outgassing without having actual activity in the interior.
There are minerals in the Moon that produce gases and they seep up to the surface in the Moon and come out.
With so many lunar transient phenomena theories out there which is the most plausible? Dr.
Buratti doesn't point to one explanation for the phenomenon.
l think the reasons for LTP are probably myriad.
l think there's more than one explanation.
lt's notjust one phenomenon it's many different types of activities.
For now, the cause of the elusive lunar transient phenomena may remain hidden on the dark side of the Moon.
But the cause offull-Moon fever here on Earth may be even tougher to diagnose.
What role, if any, does the full Moon have on our bodies and our minds? When it comes to exploring the mysteries of the Moon perhaps the most celebrated and controversial is whether our satellite has any influence on the mind and body.
We know that there's some relationship between the Earth and the Moon and so it's perhaps not such a great leap to imagine that the different changes the full Moon might have some influence on people.
There are lots and lots of mysteries physical and psychological.
One of the words for madness, lunacy comes from the latin word for Moon, luna.
So l think throughout history people have associated the Moon with human psychology.
A lot of people really believe that the full Moon affects their behavior affects maybe their biochemistry or something like that.
There's a widely held belief among many people including clinicians that during a full Moon, there are changes palpable changes in emergency room visits in pregnancy rates in birthrates.
There is a mythology about behavior which changes consistently with the phases of the Moon.
Anecdotal evidence abounds but does science support the belief that a full Moon has a measurable effect on the Earth's occupants? People have long tried to associate the Moon and the gravitational effects of the Moon with behavior in people and animals.
Fact: the Moon stirs up the oceans which make up 70 percent of our planet.
So if the human body is made up of 70 percent water wouldn't that mean the Moon hasjust as much pull on human beings? Some respected members of the medical community have reported changes in human behavior and physiology during full Moons.
We must be open-minded and as careful observers continue to posit some relationship between changes in the lunar cycle and the way in which we behave the way in which our health and disease patterns move ahead through time then we probably need to ask in creative and critical and rigorous fashion the question: is this possible? There are some in law enforcement who believe the crime rates increase when the Moon is full but others manning the frontlines aren't so sure.
Well, the way l see it personally, l see it as a myth.
At the start of a full Moon shift Deputy Jose Castro with the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department scoffed at the idea that a lunar pull has any effect on people.
But in his first 20 minutes on duty three calls had already come in.
Right now, we're responding to a 488 which is a theft that had just occurred.
The call indicates that a male Hispanic approximately