Horizon Season 2008 Episode 15 Do You Know What Time It Is?

In this episode of Horizon from 2008, titled “Do You Know What Time It Is?”, the concept of time is explored from multiple angles. The show starts with an interview with a professional clock restorer, who talks about the complexity and precision involved in creating and maintaining clocks. Viewers are then taken to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where scientists are studying the behavior of the smallest particles in the universe, including those that make up atoms and subatomic particles. This research has led to the discovery of the Higgs Boson, which scientists consider to be the key to understanding the origin of mass.

The episode then shifts to the concept of time as we know it. The idea of a 24-hour day is explored, and the origin of the concept is traced back to ancient times when early humans used sundials to track the movement of the sun. The show explains how the concept of a 24-hour day was adopted by the Romans, and eventually by society as a whole. The idea of time zones is also discussed, and viewers learn why they were established and how they work to keep people on the same schedule when traveling across long distances.

The next segment of the show focuses on the human body’s biological clock. Scientists explain the importance of the circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that regulates the body’s internal processes, and how external factors such as light and food can disrupt this cycle. The detrimental effects of shift work on the body are explored, and viewers are given insights into how to mitigate these effects.

The episode briefly mentions the problem of time dilation, a phenomenon that occurs due to the theory of relativity, where time appears to move more slowly closer to massive objects like planets and stars. The concept of time travel is also mentioned, but the show emphasizes that this is just a concept and that traveling through time is not considered possible by scientists.

The show then takes viewers on a journey to the Greenwich Royal Observatory in London, where the first atomic clock was invented. A scientist explains how these clocks are able to measure time with an accuracy of a billionth of a second, and how this has led to a revision of the definition of a second.

The final segment of the show takes a more philosophical turn and delves into the concept of time as a human construct. Psychologists and philosophers are interviewed, and viewers are given insights into the subjectivity of time, and how people experience time differently based on their individual perceptions. The question of whether time exists independently of human experience is explored, and viewers are given different interpretations of this question.

Overall, “Do You Know What Time It Is?” is a fascinating exploration of time from various perspectives, touching on scientific, historical, biological and philosophical aspects. The show manages to convey complex ideas in an accessible way and provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of time that will leave the viewer with a newfound appreciation for this abstract concept.