
Legislative Updates, Behavioral Health Event, Gamma Rays
Season 2023 Episode 87 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
Legislative updates from the recent session, recent gamma ray bursts, behavior health expo
Representative Andrés Cano joined us to discuss any updates from the Legislative session. Assistant Professor Kate Alexander discussed the gamma ray burst and information gathered of the aftermath. Presiding Judge Joseph C. Welty and Dr. Carol Olson joined us to discuss the upcoming Behavioral Health Expo occurring on May 6th.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Legislative Updates, Behavioral Health Event, Gamma Rays
Season 2023 Episode 87 | 27mVideo has Closed Captions
Representative Andrés Cano joined us to discuss any updates from the Legislative session. Assistant Professor Kate Alexander discussed the gamma ray burst and information gathered of the aftermath. Presiding Judge Joseph C. Welty and Dr. Carol Olson joined us to discuss the upcoming Behavioral Health Expo occurring on May 6th.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL HAVE OUR WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AS WE HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS ON THE LATE FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.
THIS WEEK IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN.
A FREE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPO FACING ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
AND THE RECENT DISCOVERY OF THE BRIGHTEST GAMMA RAY OBSERVED.
THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THE ARIZONA SENATE TODAY APPROVED A BILL THAT ALLOWS THE STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM TO SPEND OVER $1.5 BILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY PROVIDERS FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THE MONEY WAS TIED UP IN THE SENATE BUT WORD YESTERDAY THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS WORRIED WORKED TO FREE UP THE FINDS FROM THE 2020'S FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT.
THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS LEAD TO THE PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.
>>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAISED INTEREST RATES AGAIN.
THIS TIME BY A QUARTER OF A POINT AND IT'S THE FED'S TEND TENTH STATE INCREASE.
THE CENTRAL BANKERS PUSHED RATES BETWEEN 5 AN 5% SINCE 2007 AND JEROME POWELL SAYS RAISING INTEREST RATES IS NECESSARY TO TAME INFLATION.
>> MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE ACUTELY AWARE THAT HIGH INFLATION POSES SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP AS IT ERODES PURCHASING POWER TO MEET THE COSTS OF ESSENTIALS LIKE FOOD, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.
>> Ted: BY NOTHE LEFT OPEN BY HOLDING OFF ON FUTURE HIKES.
THIS AS THEY WATCH JOB'S REPORT RELIED SHOWING PRIVATE SECTOR HIRING SPIKED AND PAYROLL COMPANY ADP ESTIMATES EMPLOYER ADDED 296 JOBS AND IT WAS IN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY.
>>> THE F.D.A.
APPROVED A FIRST VACCINE TO PROTECT AGAINST THE RESPIRATORY VIRUS, RSV.
IT'S A MILESTONE IN THAT RESEARCHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE VACCINE FOR SIX DECADES.
THE DRUG IS DESIGNED TO BE GIVEN AS A SINGLE SHOT TO ADULTS 60s OLDER.
IT CAN BE DANGEROUS OF SENIORS KILLING THOUSANDS EACH YEAR.
IT COULD BE AVAILABLE AS EARLY AS THIS FALL.
>>> IT'S WEDNESDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IN WHICH WE HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS.
TONIGHT IT'S THE DEMOCRAT'S TURN AND WE'RE JOINED BY THE MINORITY LEADER AND A REPRESENTATIVE, ANDRES CANO.
GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AND NOTHING GOING ON IN UNTIL MAY 8th.
>> WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO A BUDGET AND I'M SO PROUD FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, LISTENING TO GOVERNOR HOBBS ON A BUDGET AND I'M EXTATIC WE'RE MOVING TO GET US CLOSER IN CLOSER TO A BUDGET DEAL AND THERE'S COMMON INTEREST TO SUPPORT K12 TO ENSURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS HOUSING CRISIS AND WE'RE PROTECTING ARIZONA'S WATER SECURITY FOR YEARS TO COME AND SO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO -- WHAT HAPPENED, TED, AT THIS POINT, SPRING BREAK, WHERE MAYBE WE VOTE ON SOMETHING AND MAYBE WE DON'T AND NO POINT TO SEND LAWMAKERS TO THE CAPITOL UNTIL A BUDGET IS REACHED AND IT'S CLOSE.
>> Ted: IT'S CLOSE AND THERE'S OPTIMISM.
ARE NEEDS BEING ASKED?
>> WE LISTENED TO GOVERNOR HOBBS AND SHE SAID, LET'S LOOK PASSED OUR DIFFERENCES AND COME TOGETHER.
THE LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE MAJORITY ONLY HOLDS THE MAJORITY BY ONE SEAT.
IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE TO COMPROMISE AND WORK TOGETHER IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY.
THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN THE LAST SESSION.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LAY OUT WHAT OUR CLEAR PRIORITIES HAVE TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA AND OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT.
LET'S FUND OUR SCHOOLS, ENSURE THAT HOUSING IS ADDRESSED AND PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT, AS WELL, FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL THAT IS CRITICAL FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
>> Ted: WE'LL SEE HOW THEY ARE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET THAT COMES OUT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER STUFF HERE.
AN ETHIC'S COMPLAINT ABOUT A DEMOCRAT HIDING BIBLES AND STASHING THEM UNDER CUSHIONS AND THAT BUSINESS.
THE CLAIM IS THAT SHE VIOLATED STATE LAW BY COMMITTING THEFT.
SHE CREATED A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BOUGHT DISREPUTE TO THE HOUSE AND REMEMBER THAT FROM THE LIZ HARRIS EXPULSION AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
>> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE HAMILTON'S APOLOGY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
SHE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE AND LOOKED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COLLEAGUES IN THE EYES AND APOLLIZED.
I AM FRUSTRATED I LEARNED ABOUT THIS ETHIC'S COMPLAINT THE SAME WAY I DID ABOUT THE MISSING BIBLES AND I LEARNED ABOUT THAT THROUGH TWITTER.
I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY COULD HAVE HANDLED IN A COMPLETE DIRECTION AND NOW THAT THE ETHIC'S COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED, WE'LL STAY CLOSE IT WORKS ITSELF OUT.
THE LARGER CONVERSATION THAT I'VE CONCERNS ABOUT, SEPARATE FROM THIS, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED WITH A PHONE CALL BY THE SPEAKER AND THE MAJORITY.
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A POLITICAL GOTCHA MOMENT.
IT WAS AGAINST LIZ HARRIS AND REPUBLICANS ENCOURAGED US TO PROCEED IN THAT WAY.
I HOPE WE CAN RECOGNIZED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT POLITICAL RETRIBUTION AND I'M WORRIED WITH WHAT I'M SEEING SO FAR.
>> Ted: SHE DID APOLOGIZE AND CALL IT A PLAYFUL PROTEST.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IN THE COMPLAINT, THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING PLAYFUL AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HOLD WATER.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
>> I WANT TO LISTEN TO HER APOLOGY.
SHE'S BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE BIBLES STAYED IN THE BUILDING AND THERE'S ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THIS ETHIC'S COMPLAINT AND I JUST WISH THAT WE WOULD HAVE -- WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT, RIGHT, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE ISSUES FOR THE STATE.
ARIZONANS NEED SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR THEM.
WE'RE CLOSE TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL DISTRACTION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ETHIC'S COMPLAINT PROCESS WORKING ITSELF OUT.
>> Ted: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH BIBLES IN THE HOUSE LOUNGE?
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE CAMERA SET UP WITH WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE LOUNGE?
>> I STAND WITH THE JOURNALISM COMMUNITY THAT'S ASKING FOR THE THREE WEEKS OF TAPE THAT WERE IN THE MEMBER'S LOUNGE.
WE CERTAINLY WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS PRIOR SO THAT WE CAN HANDLE THIS LIKE THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
I THINK THAT THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE NOW AND I PRESENTED THEM TO SPEAKER TOMA.
WHERE IS THE LINE ON TRYING TO ADDRESS A VALID CONCERN WHILE JUST LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND ADOPTING VERY MUCH LIKE BIG BROTHER-LIKE FEELS WHERE YOU CAN INSTALL A CAMERA.
WHERE CAN YOU INSTALL A CAMERA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT'S A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT THE MAJORITY, PERHAPS, DID NOT CONSIDER IN ADVANCING THE POLITICAL GOTCHA MOMENT.
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MANY FAITHS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF CULTURE CHURCH AND STATE.
I'M EAGER TO HAVE IT.
>> Ted: EXPECT TO HAVE IT?
>> I'VE NOT GOTTEN ANY INSURANCE THAT THE TEXTS THAT ARE SUPER IMPORTANT TO ARIZONANS AND AMERICANS OF THIS WORLD WOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR MEMBER'S LOUNGE.
>> Ted: BEFORE YOU GO, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOUSE FAILS TO OVERRIDE THE TAMALE BILL, IF YOU WILL.
HOW DID YOU ORIGINALLY VOTE ON THAT BILL AND WHAT DID YOU VOTE AS FAR AS AN OVERRIDE?
>> I VOTED NO TO BOTH.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT FOR MANY WEEKS NOW ON THIS COTTAGE FOOD BILL.
LOOK, HOUSE AND SENATE DEMOCRATS STAND WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WITH OUR ENTREPRENEURS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WHAT THIS TURNED INTO IS A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT TRYING TO EMBARRASS THE GOVERNOR.
GOVERNOR DUCEY HAD SEVERAL VETOES WITH THE SAME SUPER VOTER ONCE.
NOT ONCE DID HIS REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OVERRIDE GOVERNOR HOBBS.
WE OFFERED LANGUAGE THIS SESSION BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, VANGS OUR ECONOMY, SUPPORT INDUSTRY.
AT THIS POINT, I THINK WHAT I REFUSE TO DO IS ENGAGE IN THE POLITICAL RHETORIC THAT THE MAJORITY HAS NOW GRASPED ONTO THIS.
THIS ISSUE, TED, NOW, IS AN ISSUE WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BILL NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN DAYLIGHT?
IT SOUNDS GOOD, GETTING INTO THE DETAILS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ASK FOR.
TO DATE, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY ON THIS OFFER TO GET THIS BILL BACK TO THE GOVERNOR.
>> Ted: LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, DOES IT SUGGEST, THOUGH, THERE'S A DISCONNECT OF SORTS BEFORE HOUSE MEMBERSHIP, LEGISLATORS, DEMOCRATS AND THE GOVERNOR?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, LET'S NOT JUST PASS BILLS BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY WANTS TO HAVE A SOUNDBITE.
ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT, THIS BILL SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATION WITH AIRBNB'S, WHERE WE ALLOW A BLANKET LAW TO GO COMPLETELY UNREGULATED, WE HAVE TO ENSURE WE PAUSE, WE'RE STILL IN SESSION, IF THE MAJORITY WANTED TO HANDLE PLAN B, THEY WOULD AND HAVE NOT.
SO I DO THINK THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY -- THERE'S TIME AND THE MAJORITY WAS SERIOUS, THEY WOULD MAKE TIME FOR IT.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDRES CANO, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Ted: A FREE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EVENT THAT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS UP NEXT.
>> MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE SUPERIOR COURT IS TEAMING UP SET FOR MAY 6th AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN PHOENIX AND DESIGNED TO FOLKS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS JOSEPH C. WELTY, THE PROVIDING JUDGE AND DR. CAROL OLSON.
DOCTOR, WE'LL START WITH YOU, THIS IS A STAND-UP BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPO AND WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
>> I THINK IN GENERAL, THE COMMUNITY IS OFTEN NOT WELL INFORMED ABOUT HOW TO GET BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR, SAY, FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES WHO ARE HAVING HEALTH DIFFICULTY.
THE IDEA WAS TO TRY TO DO A PRESENTATION FOR FREE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT OFFER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT.
IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER AND NOT SURE TO TURN FOR HELP, THERE IS A SETTING TO FIND OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
>> Ted: GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
>> YES.
>> Ted: JUDGE, FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH JUSTICE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> I THINK THE TERM IS REFERRING TO A FOCUS BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND COUNTY LEADERS ON INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HOW IT IS WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB COLLECTIVELY IN PARTNERING WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM TO GUIDE THOSE FOLKS THROUGH THE SYSTEM BETTER FOR BETTER OUTCOMES.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND FEDERAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS RECIDIVISM.
THERE'S A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS RECIDIVISM JUST AS MANY OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE SYSTEM.
WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT IF WE CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY HAVE GREATER AWARENESS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THEN FOLKS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE TREATMENT AND MORE LIKELY TO AVOID EPISODES, WHICH RESULT IN INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THIS IS A STEP TOWARD AVOIDING PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT END.
OR HOPING WE DON'T HAVE EPISODES WE HAVE DIVERSION.
WHERE WE HAVE EPISODES, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON DIVERTING FOLKS OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BECAUSE TREATMENT IS A BETTER OPTION FOR MANY OF THOSE FOLKS, ESPECIALLY LOW-LEVEL NONVIOLENT FIRST RESPONDERS.
>> Ted: TRYING TO GET THAT TWO ON ONE ARIZONA RESOURCE LINE, WHAT ARE THOSE?
>> THE 9-8-8 LINE WAS TO BE A RECOGNIZABLE NUMBER FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, EMERGENCIES OR EVEN NONEMERGENCIES, THE SAME WAY THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE 9-1-1 NUMBER AND INTRODUCED SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET IT MORE WIDELY KNOWN SO PEOPLE WERE NOT STRUGGLING WITH THESE SITUATIONS.
SOMETIMES WITH A CRISIS OR OTHER TIMES WHEN, MAYBE, THEIR REGULAR DOCTOR WASN'T AVAILABLE, THAT PEOPLE KNEW A NUMBER TO CALL AND GET SOME HELP.
>> Ted: AND JUDGE, BACK TO YOU, I KNOW YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THIS MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE AT THE GROUND FLOOR HERE, WHAT IS THAT AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS?
>> THE MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE WAS IN 2019 AND I CHAIR THIS WITH SUPERVISOR BILL GATES IN MARICOPA COUNTY.
THE DESIGN OF THE TASK FORCE IS REALLY TO BRAY ALL BRING ALL OF THE SOUTH OF THE BORDERSOF THESTAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CORRECTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER WITHIN THE JAIL.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY.
WE TOOK A TWO-YEAR PERIOD TO STUDY EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY FROM A 9-1-1 CALL TO A PRISON RE-ENTRY SERVICES AND TRIED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHERE FOLKS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WOULD HAVE TROUBLE AT THOSE PARTICULAR NODE AND ATTEMPTING TO GO BACK INTO EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND WHERE CAN WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND WHERE CAN THERE BE A SOFT HANDOFF FROM SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THEY SPEND MORE TIME IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAN THOSE THAT DON'T.
IT'S VASTLY OVERREPRESENTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
TODD >> Ted: ONGOING DOWN THE SILOS IS A BIG THING.
>> TO GET OUT OF THOSE SILOS RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND IN THE COMMUNITY TO BRING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.
>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, DOCTOR, LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE BEHAVIORAL MENTAL HEALTH, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, THAT'S A PROJECT AND THAT NEEDS AWARENESS, AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU'VE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, IT CAN SOMETIMES BE MIND BOGGLING TO GET HELP, YOU KNOW, CALLING MANY, MANY PLACES AND TRYING TO FIND A PLACE THAT HAS AN AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT.
ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING THE 9-8-8 NUMBER, YOU'RE CALLING THE APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY SERVICES VERSUS CALLING ANYONE AND GETTING A POLICE RESPONSE.
WE WANT TO USE THE POLICE FOR WHEN THE POLICE ARE NEEDED AND USE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE NEEDED.
>> Ted: MAY 6th, PILGRIM'S REST BAPTIST CHURCH, 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M., ALL OF THAT IS CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> Ted: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
♪♪ >> Ted: THE STRONGEST GAMMA RAY EVER DETECTED BY ASTRONOMERS WAS NOW LATE LAST YEAR AND ONE IN A TEN THOUSAND YEAR EVENT.
RESEARCHERS ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE MASSIVE SHOT OF ENERGY AND AMONG THIS IS KATE ALEXANDER, THE DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY AND KATE, GOOD TO HAVE YOUA THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> EXCITED TO BE HERE.
>> Ted: I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THIS KIND OF STUFF.
WHAT IS A BAMA GAMMA RAY?
>> THIS IS A VERY LARGE FLASH OF GAMMA RAY RADIATION AND WE THINK THAT IS IT IS CAUSED WHEN THIS FORMS A BLACK HOLE AND POWERS PARTICLES TO HIGH SPEEDS, THE SPEED OF LIGHT WHICH BLASTS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE UNTIL WE SEE IT ON EARTH WITH OUR SATELLITES.
>> Ted: THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF BETWEEN THAT BLACK HOLE AND WHERE THAT STAR WAS AND US AND WE'RE IN THE WAY OF WHATEVER IS BEHIND US AND DOES THIS GO AROUND US, THROUGH US AND SHOULDN'T IT BE BLOCKED IN SOME WAY?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE AS THE LIGHT IS TRAVELING THROUGH SPACE, AS THE PARTICLES ARE TRAVELING THROUGH SPACE, IT DOES RUN INTO STUFF.
WHEN IT DOES, IT PRODUCES LIGHT THAT WE CAN SEE ACROSS THE ENTIRELY MAGNETIC SPECTRUM.
WE CAN SEE VISIBLE LIGHT LIKE YOU CAN SEE WITH YOUR EYES AND RADIO TELESCOPES AND BY PUTTING EVERY TELESCOPE TOGETHER, YOU CAN FORM A WHOLE PICTURE OF THIS EVENT AND EVERYTHING IT PASSED THROUGH.
>> Ted: WHEN IT MAKES THE LIGHT, IS THAT WHEN IT'S DETECTABLE AND DISCOVERED?
>> SO INITIALLY, WE'LL SEE THE GAMMA RAY LIGHT AS A FLASH LASTING A FEW SECONDS AND THIS INTERACTION WITH THE SPACE THAT IT'S PASSING THROUGH CAN LAST LONGER.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DISCOVERED LAST FALL, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE IT WITH SPECIALIZED TELESCOPES TODAY AND WATCHING THIS, WHAT WE CALL THE AFTERGLOW LIGHT.
>> Ted: AS YOU SEE THIS, HOW WAS IT RECORDED AND DISCOVERED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> IT WAS DISCOVERED BY SEVERAL SALTS AND THEY DETECTED SUCH A BRIGHT BURS OF THE GAMMA RAYS AND SATELLITES TO SEE IT, AND IT WAS THE VOYAGER ONE PROBE.
THE SIGNAL ARRIVED THERE A WHOLE DAY BEFORE HERE ON EARTH.
>> Ted: I'M GUESSING THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MASSIVE STAR THAT BECAME A BLACK HOLE THAT SHOT OUT ENERGY.
ARE THEY JUST INUNDATED BY THIS AND WE DON'T KNOW IT?
>> WE'VE BEEN STUDYING GAMMA RAY BURSTS FOR 50 YEARS.
WE FIND THEM EVERY DAYS AND MOST NOT THAT BRIGHT OR DRAMATIC.
WHILE THEY'LL BE PICKED UP BY SATELLITES, THEY DON'T USUALLY MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT HERE ON EARTH.
THEY'RE NOT DANGEROUS.
>> Ted: NOT DANGEROUS, NO, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAD BLACK HOLES ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE, I WOULD THINK?
>> WE DO, YEAH.
IT'S RARE FOR ONE OF THESE EVENTS TO GO OFF AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE WAS 1.9 BILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY AND ALL THE WAY SO FAR.
THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF GALAXIES OUT THERE AND A THOUSAND OVERALL.
>> Ted: 1.9 BILLION YEARS AGO, THE LIGHT THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW EXPLODED FROM THAT BLACK HOLE AND THAT BLACK HOLE COULD BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.
>> MUCH LESS EXCITING TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO IT NOW THAN IT WAS NINE BILLION YEARS AGO.
[ Laughter ] >> Ted: SAFER BUT MUCH LESS EXCITING.
WE SEE IT, COMING THIS WAY AND LOOK OUT, HERE IT IS AND THERE IT GOES, DOES IT GO BEHIND US AND KEEP GOING UNTIL THE EDGE OF THE NEXT FRONTIER?
>> KEEP GOING PASSED EARLY OUT PATPAST ININFINITY.
ONCE >> Ted: ARE WE SEEING THESE THINGS WITH MORE FREQUENCY?
>> I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TEN THOUSAND YEARS TO SEE ONE AS DRAMATIC AS THIS.
WE'LL SEE MORE GAMMA RAY BURSTS, BUT WE WERE EXCITED BECAUSE SINCE IT'S SO BRIGHT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STUDY THIS MORE ENCOURAGELYTHOROUGHLY AND MORE MODELS OF NOW THIS WHOLE PROCESS WORKS TO TEST IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T BEFORE AND WE'RE FINDING SURPRISING THINGS, THAT WE HAVEN'T MATCHED THESE TO EXPLAIN THESE KIND OF EVENTS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS AS A TEST BED TO REFINE MODELS AND HOW THIS LAUNCHES JETS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
>> Ted: HOW DOES A SUPER NOVA PLAY INTO THIS?
>> IN ADDITION TO THESE STREAMS OF PARTICLES, WHEN THE STAR EXPLODES, THE OUTER LAYER PUFFS INTO SPACE AND SO NORMALLY, YOU WOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL LIGHT COMING FROM THIS EXPLOSION A FEW WEEKS AFTER YOU SEE THIS GAMMA RAY BURSTS.
IN THIS CASE, THEY WERE SO BRIGHT, WE DIDN'T SEE THE SUPER NOVA AND WE EXPECTED TO.
WE KEPT LOOKING AND WE USED THE TELESCOPE IN ARIZONA AND JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE FINALLY THINK WE MIGHT SEE A HINT OF THE SUPER NOVA UNDERLYING THE ORIGINAL EXPLOSION.
SO IT TOOK THE BIG TELESCOPES IN ARIZONA AND WE'RE USING THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF STAR THAT CREATED THIS BLACK HOLE.
>> Ted: EXCITING TIMES IN ASTROLOGY AND LOTS OF RESEARCH AND THINGS FOR YOU TO DO, HUH?
>> DEFINITELY!
LOTS TO KEEP US BUSY.
>> Ted: KATE ALEXANDER, DEPARTMENT OF ASTROLOGY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RESEARCH AND BEST OF LUCK IN HELPING TO INFORM US WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Ted: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
I'M.
>> Ted: AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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