logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2020
11m 10s

How a miniaturized atomic clock could re...

TED
About this episode

Ask any deep space navigator like Jill Seubert what makes steering a spacecraft so difficult, and they'll tell you it's all about the timing; a split-second can decide a mission's success or failure. So what do you do when a spacecraft is bad at telling time? You get it a clock -- an atomic clock, to be precise. Let Seubert whisk you away with the revolutionary potential of a future where you could receive stellar, GPS-like directions -- no matter where you are in the universe.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Confessions of an accidental killer | Gregg Ward
Author Gregg Ward spent decades grappling with guilt from a personal tragedy before recognizing a different path forward — where purpose replaced self-punishment. What he learned about transforming regret into positive change might make you rethink your own mistakes. Hosted on Ac ... Show More
13m 44s
Jul 7
Does working hard really make you a good person? | Azim Shariff (re-release)
Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring wo ... Show More
14m 59s
Jul 6
The kind of AI we actually need | Van Jones
Social entrepreneur Van Jones believes a new human civilization is being born in real time — and that our technology is racing ahead of our wisdom. In this urgent and hopeful talk, he reframes the AI debate, showing why the real danger isn't the technology itself but rather the c ... Show More
18m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
How a miniaturized atomic clock could revolutionize space exploration
Jill Seubert is a deep space navigator who shares the intricacies involved in space travel. This talk was filmed at TEDxUCLA. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. To learn more about TEDxSHORTS, the TED ... Show More
12m 30s
Jun 2021
How do you keep time in space?
Dr. Jill Seubert is a kind of interplanetary navigator who looks at the complex ways scientists measure space time. This talk was filmed at TEDxUCLA. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. To learn more a ... Show More
7m 35s
Oct 2021
Navigation in Spaaaace
Listener Terje wants to know about space navigation. We look at how orbital velocities, special and general relativity and even stuff like solar radiation can make navigating from point A to point B a big head scratcher once you go into space. Learn more about your ad-choices at ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 2024
How gliding marsupials got their 'wings'
In this episode:00:46 Optical clocks at seaOptical atomic clocks are the most precise timekeeping devices on the planet, but these devices are huge and difficult to work with, limiting their use outside of the lab. Now, researchers have developed a portable optical clock and demo ... Show More
28m 36s
Oct 2020
Telling the time: From sundials to satnav
Many of us can find the time of day quickly and accurately but where did the idea of time keeping originate and how did our ancestors manage without the instant access we take for granted today?From ancient shadow and water clocks to the latest super accurate optical clocks, Brid ... Show More
39m 58s
Sep 2022
Space
Liz Kelly launches into her thoughts on space travel. Hosts: Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, Kate Halliwell, and Liz Kelly Associate Producer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
7m 44s
Sep 2025
How to build in space for life on Earth | Ariel Ekblaw
Is space the “final frontier” — or the perfect place to revolutionize life on Earth? Space architect Ariel Ekblaw reveals how self-assembling structures could build orbiting real estate in space dedicated to solving humanity’s greatest dilemmas on Earth, leading to scientific and ... Show More
13m 1s
Jan 2024
How to Keep Time: Time Tips From the Universe
Time can feel like a subjective experience—different at different points in our lives. It’s also a real, measurable thing. The universe may be too big to fully comprehend, but what we do know could help inform the ways we approach our understanding of ourselves, our purpose, and ... Show More
36m 24s
Jun 2025
Clowns in Spacetime
Can you slow down time by hurtling through space at breakneck speed? Could listener Saskia’s friend - currently one year older - end up the same age as her if he went fast enough? It sounds bananas, but it’s all part of Einstein’s mind-warping theory of relativity.With expert cop ... Show More
29m 57s