[music]
[music]

Even if you're not a science fiction fan,
Even if you're not a science fiction fan,

you can't help but hear about all sorts of cool kinds of imaginary gadgets,
you can't help but hear about all sorts of cool kinds of imaginary gadgets,

from light sabres
from light sabres

to the time travel
to the time travel

However the reality is that almost everything you see in science fiction
However the reality is that almost everything you see in science fiction

movies is, scientifically speaking, actually really pretty bogus
movies is, scientifically speaking, actually really pretty bogus

They're not real.
They're not real.

But I have some good news!
But I have some good news!

There's one physics concept in the pantheon of great science fiction plot
There's one physics concept in the pantheon of great science fiction plot

devices is that is totally real.
devices is that is totally real.

This physically real thing is antimatter.
This physically real thing is antimatter.

Antimatter was predicted in the nineteen twenties and discovered shortly
Antimatter was predicted in the nineteen twenties and discovered shortly

thereafter.
thereafter.

Since its discovery scientists have been able to make anti atoms including
Since its discovery scientists have been able to make anti atoms including

antimatter hydrogen and helium.
antimatter hydrogen and helium.

Antimatter is science fact, not fiction.
Antimatter is science fact, not fiction.

So what are some of the properties of antimatter?
So what are some of the properties of antimatter?

You might be surprised that antimatter is governed by the same rules as
You might be surprised that antimatter is governed by the same rules as

ordinary matter, there's nothing all that unusual about it. you can make an antimatter
ordinary matter, there's nothing all that unusual about it. you can make an antimatter

world,
world,

an antimatter universe,
an antimatter universe,

even an antimatter me.
even an antimatter me.

Why look, there's an antimatter me now!
Why look, there's an antimatter me now!

Hello anti me!
Hello anti me!

Hello, me.
Hello, me.

So how the heck are ...
So how the heck are ...

Oh - wait! That might not be a good idea.
Oh - wait! That might not be a good idea.

Anti-me: What what's the problem?
Anti-me: What what's the problem?

Me: Well remember what happens when you combine matter and antimatter?
Me: Well remember what happens when you combine matter and antimatter?

I see what you mean... So tell them about it
I see what you mean... So tell them about it

One interesting thing about antimatter is what happens when a combines with
One interesting thing about antimatter is what happens when a combines with

matter.
matter.

That's when things get exciting.
That's when things get exciting.

You've probably heard Einstein's famous equation equals m_c_ squared.
You've probably heard Einstein's famous equation equals m_c_ squared.

If you cared to dig into what it means
If you cared to dig into what it means

you've heard that it means that energy is equivalent to matter,
you've heard that it means that energy is equivalent to matter,

and vice versa,
and vice versa,

and that's true.
and that's true.

However, that statement is incomplete.
However, that statement is incomplete.

When we convert energy into a particle of matter we must at the same time create
When we convert energy into a particle of matter we must at the same time create

an identical number of particles of the antimatter.
an identical number of particles of the antimatter.

It's always the same.
It's always the same.

So what Einstein's equation means is that you can convert energy to matter and
So what Einstein's equation means is that you can convert energy to matter and

antimatter and you can combine matter and antimatter
antimatter and you can combine matter and antimatter

to make energy.
to make energy.

Let's take another look at Einstein's equation.
Let's take another look at Einstein's equation.

E stands for energy, m stands for mass but the c squared term is just a number,
E stands for energy, m stands for mass but the c squared term is just a number,

actually a very
actually a very

big number.
big number.

In the usual metric system it is a nine followed by sixteen zeros.
In the usual metric system it is a nine followed by sixteen zeros.

This means a little mass
This means a little mass

is a lot of energy.
is a lot of energy.

We can work out just how much.
We can work out just how much.

Suppose we had an antimatter paper clip and touched it to a matter paper clip ...
Suppose we had an antimatter paper clip and touched it to a matter paper clip ...

Can you help me out, anti-me? Sure!
Can you help me out, anti-me? Sure!

We'll take these matter and antimatter paper clips and touch them together.
We'll take these matter and antimatter paper clips and touch them together.

The energy that would be released when these two things are
The energy that would be released when these two things are

combined is enormous ... about twenty times as much energy as it takes to launch the space
combined is enormous ... about twenty times as much energy as it takes to launch the space

shuttle into orbit.
shuttle into orbit.

That's sounds dangerous! I think I'll get out of here. Bye.
That's sounds dangerous! I think I'll get out of here. Bye.

Good idea. I'll see you later.
Good idea. I'll see you later.

It's natural question to ask if antimatter is dangerous. The answer is, no - or
It's natural question to ask if antimatter is dangerous. The answer is, no - or

more accurately, we can't make enough to be dangerous.
more accurately, we can't make enough to be dangerous.

The easiest way to answer this question is to visit the Fermilab antiproton
The easiest way to answer this question is to visit the Fermilab antiproton

source, the world's most powerful antimatter production facility.
source, the world's most powerful antimatter production facility.

This facility made antimatter protons for about twenty five years.
This facility made antimatter protons for about twenty five years.

In fact, we worked very, very hard
In fact, we worked very, very hard

to make as many antiprotons as possible.
to make as many antiprotons as possible.

So how many antiprotons does twenty-five years of tireless effort bring us?
So how many antiprotons does twenty-five years of tireless effort bring us?

Well, if you were able to store all the anti protons ever made
Well, if you were able to store all the anti protons ever made

and combined them all at once with the equivalent amount of matter,
and combined them all at once with the equivalent amount of matter,

we've got about enough energy to warm the coffee in this urn from room temperature
we've got about enough energy to warm the coffee in this urn from room temperature

up to something drinkable.
up to something drinkable.

That's just not a lot of energy and clinches the argument that mankind's study
That's just not a lot of energy and clinches the argument that mankind's study

of antimatter poses no credible danger.
of antimatter poses no credible danger.

However antimatter does pose one very interesting mystery.
However antimatter does pose one very interesting mystery.

We believe that matter and antimatter are created in equal quantities from energy.
We believe that matter and antimatter are created in equal quantities from energy.

In the beginning, when the universe was much younger and hotter,
In the beginning, when the universe was much younger and hotter,

the energy available at that time
the energy available at that time

should have created matter and antimatter equal quantities.
should have created matter and antimatter equal quantities.

Yet today, our universe consists entirely of matter.
Yet today, our universe consists entirely of matter.

Why is that?
Why is that?

The answer is rather simple, we just don't know.
The answer is rather simple, we just don't know.

In fact, this question is one of the most important puzzles of fundamental physics
In fact, this question is one of the most important puzzles of fundamental physics

in the twenty first century.
in the twenty first century.

As usual a mystery of this magnitude results in many physicist working on it.
As usual a mystery of this magnitude results in many physicist working on it.

We haven't found the answer, but we will.
We haven't found the answer, but we will.

And when I hear something,
And when I hear something,

I'll be sure to let you know.
I'll be sure to let you know.

Hey me! Yeah, what? Good job, guy! High Five!
Hey me! Yeah, what? Good job, guy! High Five!