Morgan Freeman Hosts the Breakthrough Prize | Nat Geo Live

We begin in darkness; then a single spark, and change ripples through the world. The seed in the soil seeks light; the cell splits into the mine pulses with knowledge. Today we know so much; we have cracked the code of life, clinched the birth of the cosmos, explored infinities; and yet far more remains in darkness. Most of the universe is of unknown substance; our minds are a mystery to us. In this darkness, all we have is our ideas, so let us turn their flame until they grow and spread, expanding circles of enlightenment, sparks of creation.

Tonight, live from Hangar One and NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, the brightest stars from the worlds of sciences, technology, and Hollywood are gathered to award over 25 million dollars for excellence in life science, mathematics, and physics. [Music] This is the Breakthrough Prize: scientists changing the world. Please welcome your host, Morgan Freeman. [Music]

Welcome to the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. Let's take the journey back to the 1600s to celebrate a birth not of a person, but the birth of an idea. It began as a faint notion in a few brave minds. At the forefront was a math professor in Italy named Galileo, but he was not alone. A few other brave minds shared that revolutionary notion—it’s hard to say. Soon after its birth, this radical idea grew stronger, and it began to spread.

The idea was simple: to discover the truth, you must question everything. Every explanation you've ever been told for why things are as they are, and not merely question it, but criticize it, try to disprove it, test it on the world. If it fails the test, throw it away; think of a new explanation. Then question that explanation in your mission to get closer to the truth. And that idea is how we got here; it's how so many of you are here tonight with us. Though we're separated by mountains and oceans, it's how we cured polio, lit up the world, and walked on the moon. Silence is not merely a topic in a textbook; science is a way of thinking, the most powerful one we ever dreamed of—powerful but fragile.

Galileo lived out his old age under house arrest for claiming the Earth spins. His contemporary, Giordano Bruno, who imagined star systems beyond our own, was burned at the stake. So they’re long gone; their ideas endured today, but make no mistake: their ideas—all ideas—are not immortal. They must be nurtured in a society that values truth, or they may yet be extinguished. That is why it is time to renew our commitment to the truth. We must honor those who relentlessly seek it. We must rededicate ourselves to always questioning. We must have the courage to live in doubt, and in doing so, we celebrate what, above all else, makes us human: imagining the new.

Once, everything was new and very small. The universe and all it contains today took up about the space of a grapefruit. Over the millennia, it swelled to the scale of galaxies and released a burst of light. Thirteen point eight billion years later, a pioneering team of physicists captured that light and found within it an image of our origin: a snapshot of the dawn of time. And now it's time for them to receive their reward.

The first of the Breakthrough Prizes is a three million dollar gift to our laureates. To present it, please welcome multiple Emmy nominee and neuroscientist Dr. Mayim Bialik and the president of tech incubator Y Combinator, Sam Altman. [Music] [Applause] [Music]

As a neuroscientist who plays a neurobiologist on TV, it is a great honor to be here tonight among so many brilliant minds, and to stand with Sam and help honor an ensemble cast that has earned the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. For me, the key to tech investing is having a long time horizon. If one day cities will be built from scratch by solar-powered robots—and they will—I want to invest today.

But the physicists we are honoring tonight are working with a time horizon that makes mine look kind of lame. These guys are really taking the long view, plus they're looking backward. They built WMAP, a NASA mission that looked as far back in time as it's possible to see. With WMAP, we see a picture of the universe as it was three hundred thousand years after the Big Bang. We're looking at the universe's baby picture. This room, our entire universe, is filled with the leftover light from the Big Bang.

There are a few hundred photons in every little cubic inch of this room; those photons have been traveling for 13.7 billion years. It's the oldest light. Looking at the light, we're looking back in time. Nature has provided us with a time machine, and that is the speed of light. That radiation has streamed across the cosmos to us; it comes to us, and we just recorded it as a photograph, essentially. We designed WMAP to go study the temperature fluctuations of this light and to characterize the pattern on the sky because we knew that the pattern would unravel the recipe for the universe.

You're measuring the relative temperature of two points of the universe. You're measuring: is that one one ten-thousandth or one one-hundred-thousandth of a degree hotter than that one over there? To work with the level of precision that we wanted across such large areas of the sky, we really needed to go to space, and that's why we built the satellite. That’s why we built WMAP.

You spent many years of your life designing, building, and testing this instrument, yes? Launch day—the only other thing it compares to is giving birth. It was ten-point five million miles from the Earth; it took a year of data to actually put together a high-quality map of the sky. To my surprise, we saw what we expected to see with WMAP. The tools we had were good enough to explain what the universe looked like 13.8 billion years ago, really for the first time, with precision. But just like with the baby, the genes are there already—everything that's going to make it into an adult is there, because if you have one region that's one ten-thousandth hotter than the other, by the time you get to today, that has grown to be a supercluster of galaxies that contains stars, planets, and us.

Somehow we seem to have done it; we think we understand the physics that happened in the universe's first moments. Here it is: the infant universe, with detailed maps of the early universe that reveal the evolution of the cosmos and the fluctuations that seeded galaxies. The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics is awarded to the WMAP science team and its leaders: Chuck Bennett, Gary Hinshaw, Norman Jurb, Lyman Page, and David Spergel. The W in WMAP stands for David, one of the founders of the experiment who lived long enough to see its first dramatic results. [Music] [Applause]

It’s not at all obvious that we humans on a tiny planet in the enormous vastness of space could possibly answer questions about the universe as a whole. But WMAP surveyed the patterns of the oldest light, and we used the laws of physics to deduce from these patterns answers to our questions. The result is relatively simple but strange: atoms make up only 5% of the universe; dark matter and dark energy dominate. Science has let us extend our knowledge of the universe to far beyond our physical reach.

There is still much we do not understand, such as the first moments of the universe, so there will be new breakthroughs in the future. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Climate change is an existential threat, but plants control carbon out of the air and store it in the ground. Can harnessing the power of plants save our planet? We'll need a scientist who's trying to do just that when we return with the Breakthrough Prize: scientists changing the world. Today marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. [Applause] [Music]

To vehicles, people are going to see amazing things from us here. The long road home is magnificent, unflinching, masterful. Now we visit the real events behind Black Sunday with author Martha Raddatz. I didn't realize how that day in Sadr City would stay with them. Hear from the soldiers and families who were there. "Your legs just kinda go weak; it was very hard." I don’t think the bonds that they made will ever break. Follow the courage beyond the show. If I ask, how long a road home it's been for you? Road never ends. Heroes of a long road home, December 19th at 11:00 on National Geographic.

Dian Fossey was a hero and undoubtedly saved a species. "Neither destiny nor fate took me to Africa; I had a deep wish to live among the mountain gorillas." Diane really conveyed her passion for these animals, and she had made enemies with many who didn’t believe in her. What was the motive for killing her? We did them: Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist premieres tomorrow at 9:00 on National Geographic.

Find out this January on Florence. The unknown is a seduction; science—the wonder of Startalk. You can handle StarTalk's new episodes Sunday nights at 11:00. That's kind of dope, right? That's totally dope. Only on National Geographic. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Welcome back to the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. This is my second year hosting this event, proving once again that all actors love a good sequel. This year, Breakthrough Prize co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is away; he’s taken a little family break, but he sent us this message:

"Hey, everyone! URI and I created the Breakthrough Prize to celebrate the achievements of some of the world's greatest minds—scientists, fundamental physicists, and mathematicians—whose genius has helped us understand our world and whose advances shape our future. Priscilla and I are sorry we can't be there tonight to celebrate with you, but I want to take a moment to congratulate this year's laureates for your incredible achievements and thank you for your contributions to humanity. It is because of you that we can imagine a world where all diseases can be cured in our children's lifetime and where we can all reach our full potential. The world needs your inspiration and your reminder that although sometimes it doesn't feel this way, we are making steady progress towards building a better future for everyone. Congratulations to all of you, and my deepest thanks for all you do."

A seed grows towards sunlight, then sprouts leaves to catch the rays that allow it to thrive—a process so simple a three-year-old can grasp it. Yet all of our civilization would be nothing without it. To introduce you to the scientist who worked out how it happens, we have a scientist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the current Miss USA, Kara McCullough, and joining her is Kevin Systrom, the co-founder and CEO of Instagram. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Growth for anyone with a startup is something you think a lot about, and it all seems easy until you try to do it yourself. Then you realize it’s really complicated. Our next laureate asks the same question about plants. To answer it, she designed a simple experiment, and from it, she gleaned a fundamental new understanding of plant genetics. Now she’s using plant genetics to address the existential threat that we all face from climate change.

Climate change is a planetary emergency. As a scientist working at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, my job is to prepare for emergencies. The key is to predict how each step could unfold and work out how to minimize the fallout, and that's exactly what this pioneering scientist is doing, but on a global scale.

A lot of people will tell you who are scientists, "I did my first experiment when I was four," or something. I wasn't one of those kids. I don’t know exactly why; I was a late bloomer, but I just was a late bloomer. You have to kind of keep that sort of, "Ah, you know" when you have all about some process, and then you think, "Okay, how could it have happened?"

An experiment that I did a long time ago that turned out to be very important in the way we think about how plants grow and then how the environment can come in and modify that—what’s an easier experiment than putting plants in broad-spectrum white light versus the dark? If you really want to understand how plants grow—and the dico plant can grow for a while—you can imagine a plant in the dark, mostly; it has to grow up and find light. That’s why you have that big long stem.

We look for plants that didn’t do what the normal plant was doing; we found several mutants—plants that looked like they had been in the light even though they weren't in the light. And then we also looked for plants that, in the light, looked longer and more like these guys growing in the dark. By doing that, we actually were able to show how plants grow. It’s a very relevant question right now because of global climate change.

I actually think we have a hundred years left on this planet at most. If we don't start changing the ways we grow plants, we're trying to create an ideal plant, one that would sequester CO2, so you have less greenhouse gases because that’s what plants do really well. That’s what photosynthesis is: taking CO2 out of the air and turning that into the oxygen that we all need to breathe, plus, you know, sugars.

We’re going to make plants better at taking those sugars and sticking them deep in the soil, and I think we can do that. I’m working on saving the world; that’s right. We’re discovering how plants optimize their growth, development, and structure to transform sunlight into chemical energy. Our three million dollar Breakthrough Prize is awarded to Joann Corey. Joann Corey grew up as one of six children—four of them boys. "They toughened me up," she says her brothers; no one at work said anything nearly as mean as those guys. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Okay, follow my hands; I’m going to be moving a lot. Plants are the foundation of all life on Earth, yet we are often blind to their existence. This recognition of the discipline of plant genetics is meaningful and far-reaching, as our world edges closer to a crisis of sustainability.

I hope it will catalyze greater awareness of the positive impact that plants can have on the quality of human life; our children and grandchildren depend on that awareness. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

What defines living things perhaps most clearly is their ability to reproduce themselves. But how do they do it? We dive deep into the heart of the cell to find out when we return, live on National Geographic. [Music] [Music]

What do you want in Afghanistan? This is the war; I got what do you know about it? War ain't nothing out there like you think it is. You know, training ain't gonna prepare you; there’s no glory out there, no hero; it's just death. The long road home: new episodes Tuesdays at 10:00 on National Geographic. [Music]

We’re on the set of Mars season two. Hell is going to happen in season two. What attracted me to Mars was the human component of it; season two goes into a lot more dynamics—the drama of the characters. It's one thing to go to Mars; it’s something else to build a home. It's ten years later; we bring in a second colony with a completely different agenda. They're coming to look for resources and ways to make money. There’s going to be conflict; there’s going to be love, hatred, relationships, grief, science, exploitation, and tension.

I like when I'm in trouble, when I get in trouble a lot. These are going to be quite epic, you know; shake things up a little bit. Helmets off, because for me, the unknown is a seduction. Let’s do this: the wonder of Startalk; the universe itself is a drug. Wow, man, you flew my Startalk. New episodes Sunday nights at 11:00; that’s kind of dope, right? That’s totally dope—only on National Geographic. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Dian Fossey was a hero; she undoubtedly saved a species. Neither destiny nor fate took me to Africa; I had a deep wish to live among the mountain gorillas. Diane really conveyed her passion for these animals; she had made enemies with a lot. They didn't believe in her black mass. What was the motive for killing her?

Revisit the real events behind the long road home with author Martha Raddatz. "Probably never be the person I was for life left." If I asked how long a road home it’s been for you, road never ends: heroes of a long road home, December 19th at 11:00 on National Geographic.

I want you to imagine a single cell bobbing in an ancient sea. It splits in two, and the story of life is underway—a story whose beats are the constant and perpetual splitting of cells: one into two, two into four, four into eight. To introduce a scientist who has spent years untangling the threads of cell division, we have two film and television stars who clearly love technology and each other. She’s a Golden Globe-nominated actress, he’s an actor and tech entrepreneur who has invested in companies such as Airbnb, Spotify, Uber, and Howells. Please welcome Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Ashton and I are thrilled to be a part of the show, but the greatest show on Earth is what happens within us, and by us, I mean women. When I was pregnant, I had this app that told me every day how big my daughter was—the size of a guava, size of an avocado; eventually she got too enormous to be compared to a fruit, but thanks, guys! But the app also told me what was growing and when—the hands, the eyes, the brain. Then you realize every moment along the way requires the perfect splitting of DNA and cells.

I can confirm that Mila was totally obsessed with the fruit app, and actually someone here tonight probably invented the UI for that, so thank you. Those were fun nights. As our children grow up, it is truly amazing to see what could be shaped by the microscopic process of cell division. What we can see is how delicate and how difficult that process is.

We all grow up, you know, and we listen to the teacher; you either hear something or you read something, and you don’t understand it. Your first reaction from school is, "Oh, well, I’m stupid." After many decades of feeling that, I realized that most of the time they don’t understand it themselves. Realizing that something doesn’t make sense—that is the key thing.

Something is out there for everybody to see, but you are the first person who doesn’t accept that the conventional explanations don’t work. The way you pass things on from generation to generation, whether you sell an oak tree or a human cell, is continuity of cells dividing and producing two new cells. It was a complete mystery that had been described for a hundred years. How do the two DNAs disjoin from each other? How do you ensure that one goes to the left, one goes to the right; the silver bites down the middle? There are two meters of DNA in every one of our cells; how on earth does the cell know which of that tangled mass of DNA needs to be held together?

It requires that creative step to imagine something that, if it did exist, you could now explain things that can’t otherwise be explained. I got back from a very long climbing trip, having spent days dealing with ropes and carabiners and clips, and I had probably the most important idea in my entire scientific career. You want to assemble this DNA into one structure and this one into a separate one. Even though you’re going to separate them apart, you must still hold onto them in certain places.

What we realized is that they’re all held together by cohesion rings; then it’s broken open and this is one way, this goes the other way, and the two DNAs go for the start of the solo. You think, "Gosh, so that’s how it works." It is incredibly difficult to get in the truth; you can’t explain the world in terms of what we already know. You’ve got to have to imagine something new.

For revealing the mechanism that controls the separation of chromosomes in cell division and prevents genetic diseases such as cancer—no big deal, guys—our next Breakthrough Prize goes to Kim Nasymi. When he's not exploring frozen zones or climbing mountains, Kim Naith is. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

The world we live in was forged by the Enlightenment, which stressed reason over tradition. Now the medium by which ideas are evaluated has just undergone a profound change. This has been accompanied by a tendency to think that what you say matters more than what can be demonstrated. My experience is that discovering the truth is not easy but immensely rewarding.

Getting back to the facts is crucial if we are to survive long enough to find out that we are not alone in this universe. We will then discover if the laws of biology are as universal as those of physics. [Music]

How many Albert Einsteins and Marie Curies have come and gone unknown because they lacked the ability to describe their own ideas? Sadly, the brightest spark will die if it does not catch. That’s why we need not just great scientists but great communicators who can tell nature's story in a way that grips us. In so doing, they expand their circles of enlightenment to encompass thousands.

To introduce you to an incredible young science communicator, please welcome one of the founders of the Breakthrough Prize, Julia Milner, and Golden Globe nominee and author Lily Collins. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

In my advocacy for anti-bullying and self-empowerment causes, I have found that the biggest gift a child can be given is the opportunity to communicate. By having the chance to express themselves, kids not only discover who they are; they can change the entire culture.

We wanted to inspire the next generation with big ideas in math and science, and the people who really know how to talk to kids are kids themselves. That’s why three years ago, together with Priscilla Chan and with the support from Khan Academy, we established the Breakthrough Junior Challenge video competition for high school students. The winner this year is a remarkable science communicator.

Now is a very, very great time to live for science since there are so many unknown questions around the world that need answers. "Exactly what number is this?" She says it's six; she says it’s nine, so who's right? In my video, one of the recurring themes is how I apply physics to your life. It makes people relate to the concepts on a much deeper level.

The really mind-blowing idea here is that observers in different frames will perceive different versions of the same reality, and every observer's frame is equally valid. Hilary has a really bright future. What makes her special is that she asks questions beyond our lesson. Sometimes she finds the answer by herself; she goes beyond.

"I was 14 at the time. In eighth grade, we were really, really surprised when just suddenly the water came crashing down on our windows. Everything broke; we had to rush to the attic. The Pacific Ocean just crashed inside our house and filled the entire house within about three minutes or so. After the typhoon, everything was gone, so we had to start from scratch."

That was tough, having no school facilities at all. It's a great honor for me to have a lab provided for the school. I get to help people tangibly through this lab, and it feels especially great since it aligns with one of my biggest advocacy: to extend science education to others.

Once we come to understand physics, we will start to get deeper and deeper into understanding the universe. That’s one of the skills that I think would make for a better society—people who can think deeper than what it is at face value. [Music]

And tonight, we have a surprise for Hillary; he just arrived to celebrate your achievement. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the director of Philippine Science High School, right now, though gotta say! [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

"Splendid evening, ladies and gentlemen. Hillary, remember this song. This is your quest: to follow the star, to reach the unreachable star. Truly you have imbibed in you the vision of the school, a passion for excellence, pursuit of truth, and service to the nation. I congratulate you and your family for this feat. We’re all in this together. Your dream is now a reality. Let your stars shine and be the best scientists and expert you can be. Salamat po at magandang gabi!"

For her short film "Relativity" and the equivalents of reference frames, the winner of the 2003 junior challenge is Hillary and Alice. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

I've always looked up to two kinds of stars: those that shine at night, enchanting my mind about the universe, and those that shine before me now—these amazing scientists— inspiring me with their genius and tenacity to pursue the truth. I'm grateful that this award has allowed me to become a rising star with even bigger dreams. May this inspire more young people, especially my dear Filipinos, to look up and become scientists themselves—the stars that we all should look up to.

Thank you to all those who supported me throughout this journey. Maraming salamat po. [Music]

Musical worlds joined together when rap superstar Wiz Khalifa performs a once-in-a-lifetime version of his number one smash hit "See You Again" with Chinese superstar cellist and actress Nana A Yong when the Breakthrough Prize continues.

We’re on the set of Mars season two. Hell is gonna happen in season two. What attracted me to Mars was the human component of it; season two goes into a lot more dynamics—the drama of the characters. It's one thing to go to Mars; it’s something else to build a home. It's ten years later; we bring in a second colony with a completely different agenda. They're coming to look for resources and ways to make money. There’s gonna be conflict; there’s gonna be love, hatred, relationships, grief, science, exploitation, and tension.

I like when I'm in trouble; when I get in trouble a lot, things are gonna be quite epic, you know? Shake things up a little bit. Helmets off because revisit the real events behind the long road home with author Martha Raddatz. "I’ll probably never be the person I was for my life left." If I asked how long a road home it’s been for you, the road never ends. Heroes of a long road home, December 19th at 11:00 on National Geographic.

The unknown is a seduction—the wonder of Startalk. You can handle StarTalk’s new episodes, Sunday nights at 11:00. That’s kind of dope, right? That’s totally dope—only on National Geographic. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Welcome back. This is a celebration of science, and as we know, every celebration needs music. To share their talents with us are the youngest cellist ever to make a solo recital debut in the National Concert Hall of Taiwan and Beijing, and a Grammy Award-nominated rapper whose song "See You Again" has been viewed on YouTube over three billion times, accompanied by the Stanford Everyday People Choir. Here are Hu Yong Nana and Wiz Khalifa. [Applause] [Music]

"Damn, who knew all the planes we flew? Good things we’ve been through that I’ll be standing right here talking to you about another path. I know we loved to hit the road and laugh, but something told me that it wouldn’t last. Had to switch up, look at things different, see a bigger picture. Those were the days; hard work forever pays. Now see you in a better place."

"Talking, you were standing there by my side before the last ride."

"For what you wake in the fibers, fillers, druggable small to bridge of oppression turns over, but that one will never be broken. The love will never be barred."

"I saw that we've got everything, you were standing there beside for the last ride."

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!"

"Happy birthday!"

"But I'll see you again." [Music] [Applause]

When we return, the Breakthrough Prize continues live on National Geographic. [Music]

Today marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. [Applause]

This is what we [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

To vehicles before going to see amazing feats from us here. We’re on the set of Mars season two. Hell is gonna happen in season two. What attracted me to Mars was the human component of it; season two goes into a lot more dynamics—the drama of the characters. It's one thing to go to Mars; it’s something else to build a home. It's ten years later; we bring in a second colony with a completely different agenda.

They're coming to look for resources and ways to make money. There’s gonna be conflict; there’s gonna be love, hatred, relationships, grief, science, exploitation, and tension. I like when I'm in trouble; when I get in trouble a lot, things are gonna be quite epic, you know? Shake things up a little bit. Helmets off because the anticipation, the pursuit, the capture—our filmmakers get you up close. Look here all week long—Incredible Big Cat Week begins Sunday at 9:00 only on Nat Geo Wild.

A good king will do anything to secure his throne, but what if his very own sons are the ones who linger and plot and threaten to steal it all? Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and numbered are his days. Savage Kingdom: Uprising—new episodes Fridays at 9:00 on Nat Geo Wild. [Applause]

The anticipation, the pursuit, the capture—our filmmakers get you up close. Look here all week long—Incredible Big Cat Week begins Sunday at 9:00 only on Nat Geo Wild.

I thought you wanted Afghanistan; this is the war I got. What do you know about it? War ain't nothing out there like you think it is; you know, training gonna prepare you; there's no glory out there, no hero—just death. The long road home: new episodes Tuesdays at 10:00 on National Geographic. [Music]

For me, the unknown is a seduction—the wonder of Startalk; the universe itself is a drug. Wow, man, you flew my Startalk. New episodes Sunday nights at 11:00; that’s kind of dope, right? That’s totally dope—only on National Geographic.

The anticipation, the pursuit, the capture—our filmmakers get you up close. Look here all week long—Incredible Big Cat Week begins Sunday at 9:00 only on Nat Geo Wild.

The unknown is a seduction—the wonder of Startalk; I don’t know if you can handle StarTalk’s new episodes, Sunday nights at 11:00. That’s kind of dope, right? That’s totally dope—only on National Geographic. [Applause] [Music]

Welcome back—this is a celebration of science. As we know, every celebration needs music. To share their talents with us are the youngest cellist ever to make a solo recital debut in the National Concert Hall of Taiwan and Beijing, and a Grammy Award-nominated rapper whose song "See You Again" has been viewed on YouTube over three billion times, accompanied by the Stanford Everyday People Choir. Here are Hu Yong Nana and Wiz Khalifa. [Applause] [Music]

"Damn, who knew all the planes we flew? Good things we’ve been through that I’ll be standing right here talking to you about another path. I know we loved to hit the road and laugh, but something told me that it wouldn’t last. Had to switch up, look at things different, see a bigger picture. Those were the days; hard work forever pays; now see you in a better place."

"Talking, you were standing there by my side before the last ride."

"For what you wake in the fibers, fillers, druggable small to bridge of oppression turns over, but that one will never be broken. The love will never be barred."

"I saw that we've got everything; you were standing there beside for the last ride."

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!"

"Happy birthday!"

"But I'll see you again." [Music] [Applause]

When we return, the Breakthrough Prize continues live on National Geographic. [Music]

Today marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. [Applause]

People are going to see amazing things from us here. The long road home is magnificent, unflinching, masterful. Now we visit the real events behind Black Sunday with author Martha Raddatz. I didn't realize how that day in Sadr City would stay with them. Hear from the soldiers and families who were there. "Your legs just kinda go weak; it was very hard." I don’t think the bonds that they made will ever break. Follow the courage beyond the show. If I ask how long a road home it's been for you? Road never ends. Heroes of a long road home, December 19th at 11:00 on National Geographic.

Dian Fossey was a hero; she undoubtedly saved a species. "Neither destiny nor fate took me to Africa; I had a deep wish to live among the mountain gorillas."

Diane really conveyed her passion for these animals, and she had made enemies with a lot. They didn't believe in her black mass. What was the motive for killing her? Revisit the real events behind the long road home with author Martha Raddatz. "I'll probably never be the person I was for my life left." If I asked how long a road home it's been for you, the road never ends: heroes of a long road home, December 19th at 11:00 on National Geographic.

Every moment is a beginning; every new idea that grows can trace its birth to a spark of inspiration. As 2017 comes to its end, let us look forward to the breakthroughs of 2018 and celebrate the new. As we do so, let us never forget that the search for truth is never over, and the survival of truth is never assured. We have to choose: do we stand with those who wish to suppress the truth or stand with those who seek it? The answer is clear to me, to us, and to those who love knowledge and whom we honor tonight.

And now let us welcome back to the stage those men and women who have dedicated their lives to championing everything and searching for the truth—this year's Breakthrough Prize laureates. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]