PBS Space Time Season 2018 Episode 34 How to Detect Extra Dimensions

PBS Space Time season 2018 episode 34, titled "How to Detect Extra Dimensions," explores the concept of extra dimensions beyond the three spatial dimensions we experience in our everyday lives. The episode delves into the history of scientific discovery surrounding extra dimensions, including the theories of Kaluza-Klein and Einstein's general relativity.

The episode also examines the possibilities of detecting the presence of extra dimensions through a variety of scientific methods. For example, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can potentially detect the existence of extra dimensions through the production of miniature black holes. The episode explores the hypothesis that such black holes would evaporate quickly, leaving behind a tell-tale signal of extra dimensions.

In addition to exploring the potential for detecting extra dimensions through particle physics experiments, the episode also delves into the possibility that anomalies in astrophysical phenomena could be explained by the existence of extra dimensions. For example, the previously unexplained excess of positrons in cosmic rays could be explained by the annihilation of dark matter particles in an extra dimension.

The episode also explores less conventional methods of detecting extra dimensions, such as studying the cosmic microwave background radiation left over from the Big Bang. In this scenario, it is possible that the existence of extra dimensions could be manifested in anomalies in the patterns of cosmic microwave background radiation.

Throughout the episode, the host explains complex scientific concepts in accessible language, making it easy for even non-scientists to understand the possibilities and limitations of detecting extra dimensions. Ultimately, the episode highlights the ongoing quest to understand the fundamental nature of our universe, and how concepts like extra dimensions could eventually lead to even deeper insights into the nature of reality.