00:00In the mesmerizing sci-fi film Ad Astra, astronaut Roy McBride finds himself in awe.
00:07He's gazing upon the breathtaking Earth from atop a colossal space tower.
00:11An unexpected event kicks McBride off the antenna and sends him into the abyss.
00:17And just when it seems all is lost, a parachute emerges.
00:21It's slowing his descent and granting him a new chance on life.
00:25Now that's all fine and dandy, but you might be wondering, could such a tower ever
00:30become a reality?
00:31Could we create a structure that reaches space?
00:34Actually, yes you can.
00:36So let's dive into the realms of this possibility.
00:40First let's address the height hurdle.
00:42Drawing a clear line where Earth ends and space begins is kinda tricky.
00:48However, most scientists agree that the elusive boundary lies somewhere between 50 to 60 miles
00:54above the Earth.
00:56Sadly, stacking up a column to space, like some kind of Lego tower, is a recipe for disaster.
01:02Do you remember this childhood tragedy?
01:05The wobbly Lego tower crashing under its own weight, scattering bricks in every direction?
01:11And if this is a disaster for a child, then imagine what it would be like on a large scale!
01:17So building a spindly tower isn't the way to go.
01:20Instead, we need to think creatively.
01:23For example, how about constructing a majestic pyramid to the stars?
01:28We already know that pyramids can stand for millennia.
01:31A strong base, narrowing to the top, that's exactly what we need, right?
01:36But curb your enthusiasm.
01:38Even if we miraculously fashioned a pyramid that soared to the skies, there's a problem.
01:44Our humble Earth wouldn't appreciate the burden of supporting such a massive structure.
01:49Let's take a look at the layers of our Earth.
01:52We'll try peeling back the surface like an onion.
01:55First we have the crust.
01:56It's like a thin, crispy layer covering the planet, averaging around 17 miles deep.
02:02It's where we build our cities, hike majestic mountains, and dig for hidden treasures.
02:08And under that we have the mantle, a hot and dynamic layer.
02:12It's where swirling currents and rock dance their fiery tango.
02:17Here's where things get interesting.
02:19If we were to build an enormously tall pyramid that reached space, the weight of that pyramid
02:25would push down on the Earth's surface.
02:27And because the crust and mantle are not super strong, they would start to sink under all
02:32that pressure.
02:34All this would create a kind of dip or ditch in the surface.
02:38Now imagine this is happening over a very long time.
02:41We're talking thousands of years.
02:44The relentless weight of the tower would keep pushing down, causing the Earth's surface
02:48to sink even deeper and deeper.
02:51Not a very pretty sight, right?
02:53Oh, and don't forget the most important part.
02:56The Earth's mantle is the powerhouse of geological activity.
03:00It's responsible for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the majestic movement of tectonic
03:05plates.
03:06So, you can guess what would happen if we disrupted it, especially with a huge pyramid.
03:13This could lead to some serious disasters.
03:16So while it might seem cool to have an impossibly tall structure, we'd have to consider the
03:21limits of our planet.
03:23But hey, that's why scientists are always coming up with new and creative ideas.
03:28So physicists have cooked up an alternative solution.
03:32One that flips the tower concept on its head.
03:34A ribbon.
03:35Yep, that's right.
03:37Imagine a ribbon gracefully floating in Earth's orbit, its end dancing down to the surface.
03:44So instead of blasting off in rockets, explorers could just scale this thread.
03:49This crazy concept is known as the Space Elevator.
03:53It's not very new.
03:55One visionary scientist came up with this idea way back in the 1800s.
04:00Since then, this incredible notion has weaved its way into countless sci-fi tales and movies.
04:06But here's the twist.
04:08Some scientists are taking this idea seriously.
04:11Although this elevator would have to be a bit longer than 60 miles.
04:15More like 60,000 miles.
04:17Yep, you heard that right.
04:19It would stretch a quarter of the distance from Earth's surface to the Moon.
04:24Talk about reaching for the stars!
04:26Now imagine a gigantic ribbon gracefully circling our planet, like an acrobat.
04:32At one end of this ribbon, it remains perfectly still, positioned in orbit above the same
04:37spot on Earth.
04:39It's like watching a magical trick with a rock tied to a string.
04:43And just as the rock on the string experiences a force that pulls it outward, the Space Elevator
04:49would defy gravity, staying suspended.
04:53But the excitement continues.
04:55There's also a weighty companion at the far end of this incredible elevator.
05:00Its important job is to maintain the elevator's stability and strength.
05:04It ensures that the elevator stays tight and secure.
05:08Although whether we need this counterweight or not depends on how heavy and long the rope
05:13is.
05:14It's all about finding the perfect balance.
05:17Now all this may sound like a crazy and maybe even useless idea, but you'll be surprised
05:23when you hear about its benefits.
05:26Right now, the International Space Elevator Consortium is working tirelessly to make this
05:31a reality.
05:32Why?
05:33Because a Space Elevator has the power to completely revolutionize space travel, making
05:39it easier and more affordable than ever before.
05:42Sending a tiny pound of cargo to the Moon today costs an astronomical $10,000.
05:49But if we had a Space Elevator, the cost could drop drastically to a mere $100 per pound.
05:56Suddenly, exploring space and transporting goods becomes much more accessible to everyone.
06:02It's like unlocking a whole new universe of possibilities.
06:06Now picture this.
06:07You hop onto a vehicle called a climber, ready to leave the Earth behind.
06:12This climber attaches itself to a ribbon, grabbing hold with wheels or belts, just like
06:17a high-tech treadmill.
06:19Now you're on a vertical railroad, ready for the great experience.
06:24As the climber starts its ascent, you barely feel a thing.
06:28It's a smooth and gentle ride, much like a regular elevator.
06:32But here's where the magic happens.
06:34If you look out of the window, the anchor station, the point where the ribbon connects
06:38to Earth, slowly disappears from sight.
06:42The adventure truly begins.
06:44The climber picks up speed, racing through the ribbon at an incredible velocity.
06:49Imagine traveling at a mind-boggling 100 to 200 miles per hour.
06:54The view outside transforms before your eyes, from mesmerizing clouds and lightning to witnessing
07:01the majestic curvature of our planet.
07:04You'll even pass the International Space Station, waving at fellow space explorers
07:08as you zoom past.
07:10But guess what?
07:11The fun doesn't end there.
07:13See, the way the elevators and swings around creates a mind-bending opportunity.
07:19It can fling you toward distant worlds, like a space slingshot.
07:24Letting go at the right moment could propel you to incredible destinations, like the Moon,
07:29Mars, or even mighty Jupiter.
07:32As you can see, with a space elevator, the universe becomes your playground, with endless
07:37possibilities for exploration and adventure.
07:41The biggest hurdle would be the length of the tether, more than 60,000 miles of sheer
07:46engineering marvel.
07:48So it must possess incredible strength to withstand the gravitational and centrifugal
07:53forces at play.
07:55Ordinary steel won't do the trick.
07:57Our idea would require an unimaginable amount of it.
08:01But fear not!
08:02The ingenious physicists have turned to a superhero material – carbon nanotubes.
08:09Carbon nanotubes are like tiny rolled-up chain-link fences.
08:13Only instead of wire, they're made entirely of carbon atoms.
08:17These microscopic wonders are among the strongest materials known to humanity, boosting remarkable
08:23strength-to-weight ratios.
08:25They're lightweight powerhouses.
08:28Engineers have already crafted fibers, cables, and ribbons from carbon nanotubes.
08:33They hold immense potential.
08:35In 2018, scientists made them more stronger than steel.
08:39There's only one little challenge left – to create lengths reaching tens of thousands
08:44of miles.
08:45Also, the material isn't the only concern with our ribbon.
08:49Its strength is also influenced by its weaving and the presence of any defects.
08:55And even if we conquer these challenges, the space elevator must brave lightning strikes
09:00and dodging space debris.
09:02What an obstacle course, huh?
09:04So yeah, there's still a long way to go.
09:06But remember, many things, once deemed science fiction, have transformed into science fact.
09:13The future is full of surprises, and who knows, maybe one day, we'll be riding the space
09:19elevator ascending to the stars and beyond!
09:22That's it for today!
09:23So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:28friends.
09:29Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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