Building a tower to space sounds like the ultimate sci-fi dream, but in reality, it would be a total disaster. First off, the sheer weight of the materials would be impossible to support—it would collapse under its own weight before even getting close to space. Then there’s the fact that the Earth spins, so anything sticking straight up would have to deal with insane forces pulling it sideways. Even if we somehow built it, weather, like hurricanes or earthquakes, would tear it apart in no time. And don’t forget space debris—tiny bits of junk zooming around at crazy speeds could shred the structure like confetti. Credit:
Ad Astra / New Regency Productions and co-producers
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra / Paramount Pictures and co-producers
Fahrstuhl in den Weltraum: by ZDF/Terra X/ T. Schultes/ pro in space, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gibt_es_einen_Fahrstuhl_in_den_Weltraum_(CC_BY_4.0).webm
Space elevator: by Skyway, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Space_elevator_in_motion_viewed_from_above_north_pole.ogv
Nasa space elev: by NASA/Pat Rawlings, https://images.nasa.gov/details-0302060.html
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Ad Astra / New Regency Productions and co-producers
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra / Paramount Pictures and co-producers
Fahrstuhl in den Weltraum: by ZDF/Terra X/ T. Schultes/ pro in space, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gibt_es_einen_Fahrstuhl_in_den_Weltraum_(CC_BY_4.0).webm
Space elevator: by Skyway, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Space_elevator_in_motion_viewed_from_above_north_pole.ogv
Nasa space elev: by NASA/Pat Rawlings, https://images.nasa.gov/details-0302060.html
Animation is created by Bright Side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music by Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com
Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz
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Our Social Media:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official
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https://www.eastnews.ru
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FunTranscript
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!