Have you ever seen a planet with two suns? | Brian Wu | TEDxJacksonville

Summary

This inspiring script traces the speaker's lifelong passion for space exploration, sparked at the tender age of two. From childhood dreams of discovering planets to uncovering the secrets of exoplanets in high school, the speaker shares their journey of curiosity and scientific discovery. Through the story of the Marvels survey and the groundbreaking discovery of a circumbinary planet, the speaker emphasizes the importance of dreaming big and pursuing scientific exploration. They encourage everyone to follow their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem, because the future is shaped by those who dare to imagine and take risks.

Takeaways

• 😀 At the age of 2, the speaker developed a deep love for the universe, using the stars and moon as a calming tool during childhood.
• 🌌 The speaker's childhood dream was to explore the universe and discover what lies beyond our planet.
• 🎥 The movie *Interstellar* inspired the speaker to pursue a deeper interest in exoplanets and the possibility of habitable planets beyond our solar system.
• 🌠 The observable universe contains around one billion trillion stars, which highlights the vastness and potential for discovering new worlds.
• 🔭 Marvel's, a radial velocity survey, played a key role in detecting stellar companions like giant planets, brown dwarfs, and binary stars using star wobble data.
• ⚖️ The radial velocity method detects planets by measuring the wobble caused by gravitational tug-of-war between stars and their orbiting objects.
• 🌍 In their high school years, the speaker discovered exoplanets through data from the Marvel's survey, demonstrating the power of modern astronomical techniques.
• 💫 A unique discovery of a circumbinary planet (a planet orbiting two stars) was made, highlighting the capabilities of modern radial velocity instruments.
• 🌍 The discovery of habitable exoplanets in the Goldilocks zone presents an opportunity for humanity to consider interplanetary colonization in the future.
• 🚀 The dream of exploring exoplanets and finding another home for humanity is within reach, thanks to advancing planetary surveys and collective efforts in exoplanet hunting.
• 🌱 The speaker emphasizes that dreaming big and taking risks are essential for solving global problems and achieving great feats, just as their childhood dream of exploring the universe has evolved into a tangible pursuit of discovery.

Q & A

What sparked the speaker's interest in the universe at a young age?

The speaker became fascinated with the universe at the age of 2, when their mother would point to the stars and the moon to calm them down. This early exposure to the vastness of space instilled a sense of wonder and curiosity about what lies beyond Earth.

What is the speaker's main dream, and how has it evolved over time?

The speaker's dream has always been to explore and understand what lies beyond Earth. This dream has evolved from an early fascination with the stars to a more scientific interest in discovering exoplanets and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe.

What is Marvels, and what was its goal?

Marvels (Multi-Object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large Area Survey) is a radial velocity survey that studied over 5,500 stars over four years. Its goal was to discover stellar companions, such as giant planets, brown dwarfs, and binary stars, by observing the wobble of stars caused by gravitational forces from orbiting objects.

How does the radial velocity method work in detecting exoplanets?

The radial velocity method works by detecting the wobble in a star’s motion caused by gravitational forces from objects orbiting it. This wobble can be observed as the star moves towards and away from us, which indicates the presence of a planet or other stellar companions.

What is the significance of the circumbinary planet discovery?

The discovery of a circumbinary planet (a planet that orbits two stars) is significant because it demonstrates that radial velocity instruments can detect planets even in complex stellar systems, such as binary star systems. This is the first solid detection of such a world and highlights the potential for finding habitable planets in unusual star systems.

What analogy did the speaker use to explain the radial velocity method?

The speaker used a tug-of-war analogy where two people on a spinning merry-go-round pull on a rope. The wobble caused by their tugging, seen from the side, mirrors how the radial velocity method detects the motion of a star as it is influenced by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet.

Why are terrestrial planets harder to detect using the radial velocity method?

Terrestrial planets are harder to detect because they are much less massive than giant planets, meaning they exert a smaller gravitational force. This results in a weaker wobble on the star, making it more difficult to detect using radial velocity measurements.

What is the Goldilocks Zone, and why is it important in the search for habitable planets?

The Goldilocks Zone is the region around a star where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. This zone is crucial for the existence of life as we know it, and planets within it are prime candidates for potentially supporting life.

How has the discovery of exoplanets advanced the idea of humanity becoming an interplanetary species?

The discovery of exoplanets, particularly those in the Goldilocks Zone, has brought humanity closer to the possibility of becoming an interplanetary species. These findings increase the chances of finding habitable worlds that could serve as future homes for humans as Earth faces environmental challenges.

What message does the speaker want to convey to the audience regarding dreams and aspirations?

The speaker encourages the audience to embrace their dreams and not be discouraged by others who may think they are unrealistic. The speaker believes that by nurturing our ability to imagine, dream, and take risks, we can solve problems and achieve great things, including the discovery of new worlds and the advancement of humanity.