Let There Be Light Building an Artificial Star
A group of scientists are approaching the final steps of a machine decades in the making: an artificial star that could provide millions of years of clean energy. Are scientists about to crack nuclear fusion, or chasing a delusion?
Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the SXSW Film Festival. Winner of the University of Bergen's Gulluglen Award at the Bergen International Film Festival.
"... More thrilling than any late-90s Keanu Reeves movie." - Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail
"The movie illustrates clearly that scientific subjects are not inherently hard to understand, and that the more people who make the effort to engage with such ideas, the more likely they are to materialize." - Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
Running Time
81 mins
Year
2016
Kanopy ID
5339893
Filmmakers
Features
Alessandro Bonito-Oliva, Angela Merkel, Bernard Bigot, Charles Seife, Chuck Flanagan, Eric Lerner, Evgeny Velikov, Gunther Janeschitz, Jeffrey Harris, Ken Blackler, Laban Coblentz, Laurie Stephey, Mark Henderson, Mark Uhran, Michel Laberge, Mike Donaldson, Pranay Valson, Sabina Griffith, Sibylle Gunter, Wade Zawalski
Languages
Subjects
Show More
Related videos
The Star of Bethlehem
For centuries, astronomers have struggled to find an explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, recounted in the Gospel of Matthew. Professor Schaefer focuses on a recent theory that has taken scientists and biblical scholars by surprise, due to its success at solving problems that plagued all previous proposals.
Star Catalogs from around the World
The genius of Greek astronomy is epitomized by the star catalogs of Hipparchus and Ptolemy. Professor Schaefer recounts his exciting discovery of a star chart apparently influenced by Hipparchus's lost catalog. Close by comparing Greek star catalogs with those of China and the Arab world.
Asteroid: Doomsday or Payday?
The asteroid that exploded over Siberia--injuring more than 1,000 and damaging buildings in six cities--was a shocking reminder that Earth is a target in a cosmic shooting range. From the width of a football field to the size of a small city, these space rocks have the potential to be…
Genius by Stephen Hawking - Understanding the Universe's Toughest Questions
Professor Stephen Hawking reveals our true potential in a radical new science show which challenges a selection of volunteers and the viewer to think like the greatest geniuses and answer some of humanity's toughest questions. Using large scale experiments and incredible stunts, we'll follow the volunteers' journeys as they come…
Simple Nature
In Simple Nature, world famous physicist Dr. Leonard Susskind introduces The Anthropic Principle in an entertaining, accessible and informative way.
Proposed in the 1970's, The Anthropic Principle attempts to explain how the physics of the universe may be perfectly tuned for life to evolve. Any small tweak in gravity or…
Fastball - The Magic Behind Baseball's Fastest Pitch
Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter lead a cast of baseball legends & scientists who explore the magic within the 396 milliseconds it takes a fastball to reach home plate, and decipher who threw the fastest pitch ever. Narrated by Kevin Costner.
"A fascinating and downright lovable documentary ..." - Joe…
Can We Time Travel?
World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking gives three ordinary people a series of fun physical and mental challenges. Can they think like a genius? This is a show where as you watch you realize you actually understand concepts that you never thought you would. In this mind-bending episode - can three volunteers…
Are We Alone?
World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking sets three ordinary people a series of fun physical and mental challenges. Can they think like a genius? The task is to work out the likelihood of alien life, out there in the universe. Cue an extraordinary journey of discovery, involving tons of sand, huge machinery,…
Why Are We Here?
This episode is truly mind-bending - can they work out why they exist at all? Featuring smashed glasses, spooky castles and a truly freaky flash-mob illustration of multiple universes, Why Are We Here? takes the subjects down a rabbit hole of deeply profound realizations. During this process. Stephen Hawking helps…
Where Did the Universe Come From?
Can we work out where the universe comes from? With the help of racing cars, ice-skaters, balloons and running tracks, Hawking leads his three intrepid souls to a deeper understanding of the evolution of the universe than the average physics major.
What Are We?
In this episode a new set of volunteers take on some more extraordinary tasks. They begin with a crazy Rube Goldberg chain reaction machine, and from there the realizations come thick and fast. Self-assembling machines, light-up bacteria and the world's first physical demonstration of evolution in action conspire to totally…
Where Are We?
In this episode the volunteers take on some extraordinary tasks. To start, they visit a lake in Nevada. Using a helicopter, a boat and a powerful laser, can they prove the earth is round - and even measure it. Next they head off to the iconic Black Rock Desert to…