How Every Mass Effect Biotic Power Works! (Because Science w/ Kyle Hill)

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The biotic powers of Mass Effect seem supernatural, but could they actually work in real life? Kyle discusses the dark matters on this week's Because Science!
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Because Science every Thursday morning.
Learn more:
• DARK MATTER: bit.ly/2mKg89L
• DARK MATTER GRAV. FORCE: bit.ly/2n13tlf
• DARK MATTER IN YOUR HANDS: bit.ly/2nbunHi
• THE EVIDENCE FOR DARK MATTER: bit.ly/2mKe7KT

[@Nerdist]

Mass Effect Andromeda finally understands "boob plate" armor! New mini-ep over on my Insta (instagram.com/sci_Phile/). Thanks for watching! -- KH

[@Nickm-gy9kj]

Nerdist u look like Thor...

[@Nerdist]

You must be new here, welcome! -- KH

[@chiragyadav1533]

Nerdist how luffy stretch himself so much without lossing any weight

[@jefferyspurlock4272]

Personally more interested how he can eat so much and not gain an once of weight.

[@WuHo]

But practical armor plates are not sexy.

[@erbgorre]

why become a biotic warrior when you could become a biotic GOD

[@Nerdist]

I let that dude take a nap. -- KH

[@porkyvonchop6458]

ahaha niftu cal FTW

[@porkyvonchop6458]

i let him charge

[@teds8860]

I THINK THINGS AND THEY HAPPEN

[@ivanarmas6915]

WHY BECOME A KING WHEN YOU CAN BE A GOD.

[@stefanorolando6674]

This episode almost seems like a tutorial that teaches students how to use these biotic abilities!

[@jamesroper4952]

Vanguard is my favorite class, the first time I tried the biotic charge. I was like oh shit, this is awesome. The mass effect 3 just made my favorite class even more fun. Really makes my old soldier character seem kinda boring in comparison.

[@Aitenass]

It's actually pretty close to how they explain it in game. According to the codex, Element Zero, upon being electrically charged, can increase or decrease the mass of things around it. Biotic powers would come from small nodes or Eezo on a subject's brain, activated by the electric impulses of the cortex.

[@vinniecarvalho86]

you should have told garrus to go calibrate some stuff =D

[@xiLoveYouix]

Vinicius Monteiro Carvalho haha, you're so funny! Haha, oh wow, I'm in tears after that one

[@vinniecarvalho86]

yay for me.

[@theashenstorm5509]

Garrus: I have spent days on these calculations

[@Nerdist]

If you're going to WonderCon this year...it's finally happening. The one and only MatPat and I will be talking the science of Mass Effect together. Maybe I'll convince him to do a collab for you all here! -- KH

[@seanpeery7780]

Fangasm!

[@erbgorre]

the time of year when it sucks not to live in the US

[@anupambhagat8304]

Hell yeah!!

[@TheOrangex88]

Sentinel and Vanguard were my main classes for a while. But now that I can mod ME1,2 and 3 I now have tech armor with biotic charge, with throw, warp, cryo blast and overload and pick and choose which ever 2 abilities I want…I love modding.

[@leobargianni377]

mass effect has so much cool physics related things! I remember that on the normandy the comunication system, in order to be instantanous, used couples of entangled particles,and by changing the quantum state of one of them,the other would change consequently, giving the possibility to comunicate live from one edge of the galaxy to the other, so fuckin cool

[@LmaoEnazOld]

Best show the Nerdist does. 10/10 as always.

[@logansmith7517]

EnazAF I love the Dancave as well.

[@AifDaimon]

EnazAF it's actually the main reason I subscribed to Nerdist in the first place, tbh

[@blindguardian8599]

The only one I watch on Nerdist as well

[@spartankittygames]

EnazAF this and natural selection and sometimes Dan cave are the only things are watch on this channel

[@brandonmoore5260]

That sounds like the force from Star Wars doesn't it?

[@rewrose2838]

Hey Kyle, won't you do an episode on how -to grow majestic hair like yours- loud Black Bolts loudest scream would be?

[@fireflyer97]

Funny, also genuinely curious how loud his voice is.

[@MarcosSilva-kv9ej]

Rew Rose I would like to see that

[@mdx3020]

Vin Diesel will be Black Bolt in the inhuman movie, so wait a little

[@SethtiferGore]

mauricio guz The Inhumans movie isn't happening, its now just a TV show. Black Bolt has been cast, and it's not Vin Diesel. Check out Dan Casey's last Dan Cave about it.

[@Jeffjutzu]

Rew Rose actually yes, I would like to know this

[@jarzz3601]

the reaper sound still makes my heart beat a lot faster

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

I guess Nova isn't mentioned because it wasn't in the first ME, but the Charge-Nova combo is the best.

[@Nerdist]

I'm a charging monster in Andromeda right now -- KH

[@jacobgillispie1175]

Can you explain Omni blade and omni-gel ?

[@Nerdist]

Omni-blade video coming soon! -- KH

[@mikekuzmicz8408]

Nerdist HELL YES!

[@fredericororiz6500]

Im nerdgasming all over the place

[@Oli_Thompson]

First saw Kyle like a week ago! I've been missing out! Awesome work man, love the videos

[@thatsalargejpeg]

I love the rant in the end! It was empowering.

[@nicolegagneux9919]

Never ever did I think I'd find a video this cool with the keywords "mass effect lore". Thank you sooooo much for this. I loved it, thank you for making it Cousin of Thor.

[@ibeenthere]

Great episode Kayle!

[@phantommanass]

Explain the science of the faces of Mass Effect Andromeda

[@replay2020]

😂no Garrus I'm with Liara now

[@mazman117]

This is a very interesting video but there are other abilities that you haven't explained. Reave and Dominate. How would you explain those? You also didn't mention Barrier but that could be explained as negating the energy of any projectiles that enter the field.

[@OrangeRomka]

i think these powers are not trully biotic, im pretty sure they are exclusive for asari who have connections with ardat yakshi, only who can manipulate your nerve systems. It was shown than Morinth could pretty much manipulate people, and as far as we know it all asari can do that with their looks being different for different species, so dominating someone completely is not hard for a biotic who is as skilled as morinth plus the whole ardat yakshi thing that adds to the power. As for reave, my opinion is that its basically just distanced simulation of sex with ardat yakshi, Samara is the ardath yakshi mother of three so i think it is possible for her to tap into that power, connecting to the nerve system of people and siphoning their strength. Shepard can use them just for gameplay purposes though. But its just speculation on my part.

[@Samuraiedge2]

Reave isn't exclusive to Asari though. Kaiden and Miranda are capable of using it and even Drell with Biotics.

[@shingshongshamalama]

Biotics also doesn't explain why Asari are psychic. Everything else is psychokinesis, which is easily handwaved away with "your brain chemoelectrical impulses generate mass effect fields." But Asari can fucking read minds. The game just sorta throws it out there and pretends you won't notice that it's completely unexplained.

[@1215298]

Samuraiedge2 But they aren't supposed to be able to; they even joke about it in the Citadel DLC. Kaidan: "I worked really hard....I even learnt how to reave" Miranda/Jacob: "What? No..." Liara: "That's a bit strange...."

[@zacharyglossop5514]

How would you eject the Dark Matter? How would you guide it to a specific location? Great video as always.

[@stuchly1]

you are the sole reason I'm subscribed to nerdist :D

[@darrayturner814]

words of wisdom at the end!!

[@SheosMan117]

Also, to anyone who thinks this could explain the Force in Star Wars, it could explain some things but not everything. General telekinesis and choking would be easy to explain. Lightning however, would be harder to explain with dark matter. Also, not to mention the Force acts as a 6th sense, alerting to danger among other things. I fail to see how dark matter can do that. I also fail to see what about dark matter could allow communication with animals (yes, that's a thing, light side power only), or the classic one, Force Ghost. And that's not even talking about the biggest part, the 2 sides of it. What about dark matter would turn someone evil and cause some bodily decay and eyes changing color by using only "dark" powers, or animal communication by only using "light" powers.

[@rsoul9158]

SheosMan117 That'd be cool to explain

[@sleepyostrichthing3599]

I read a thing somewhere that controlling the electromagnetic forces could lead cover things like invisibility and lightning throwing, I can't really remember how it was explained but maybe it ties into what you are saying... Another argument which is kinda lazy is to say that the force is a mystical... energy? i.e. not something that can be explained by science

[@hyperdeath84]

SheosMan117 If the force was some kind of sentient being that covers the breadth of the universe, then that might account at least for the differences in light and dark powers since a sentient being could bestow powers as it sees fit. The rest of it, I'm not sure. For the fiction of the Star Wars world it's a power best left mysterious in my opinion.

[@SheosMan117]

True, true. Let us not forget the M word. L dropped the M word on us, and we hated it. So trying to scienceify the Force any more than that would be bad, and impossible, all things considered.

[@Zurenza]

Electromagnetism is currently one of our least understood fundamental forces of the universe, even though we can create Electromagnetic feilds(Electromagnetism and magnetism are the same force by the way.). We know that somehow it repels both Nuclear Forces, but we also know it can create electricity and even transport it, the things we don't understand is how it can mimic gravity if there's a strong enough electromagnetic force. We also don't know why electromagnetic forces can copy, and memorize eachother, that means that if a human being were to walk through a VERY strong electromagnetic feild, it would create a pseudo "Hologram" of that person by using their magnetic feild, we don't know how it works, but it does happen. Electromagnetism is also the general accepted explanation, or the most sought after one, of the Paranormal due to how little we know about it but also due to how much we've seen it do. Edit: The four fundamental forces of nature are Strong Nuclear Force, Weak Nuclear Force, Gravity and Electromagnetism.

[@bigolbearthejammydodger6527]

awesome vid chap.

[@MrPcTroll]

Amazing Kyle, as usual

[@HammarPwnsYourFace]

Can you do the one that describes the mass effect field for spaceships and how they get around the time dilation going up to speed light and how it is circumvented?

[@ephemeralmiracles]

Mkndblown, - Congrats for making such great and interesting videos and trying to make people love and learn more about science!

[@eyadabdellatif3115]

I am disappointed, no surprise light saber.

[@ChrisCarterWanderinChild]

SURPRISE OMNI-BLADE!!!

[@eyadabdellatif3115]

Also! surprise double blade/saber

[@Nerdist]

Hey man I can't have it every time or it won't be a surprise anymore! -- KH

[@KaliTakumi]

It's becoming more like an expected lightsaber at this point

[@joshbarker8100]

Honestly, I'd be more shocked to see a Surprise Laser Sword!

[@andressalazar7749]

great message

[@TheWereparadox]

Yesssss! Im going to promote the heck out of this vid. Next quantum communication.

[@WeAreGRID]

the main evidence for dark matter is the bullet cluster, a bunch of galaxies warping space which we use to detect gravitational lensing to see where the mass of colliding galaxies is. galaxy spin happens to be one of the first phenomena we noticed and attributed to dark matter, but galaxy spin might just be an effect of spatial distortion, and not related to dark matter at all.

[@Hedshodd]

Good video, thorough explanations ^^ I think the whole Dark Energy part in the Biotics part of the Mass Effect is there, because the writers didn't know that Dark Energy and Dark Matter are, as far as we know, actually don't have anything to do with each other. The name's just confusing ^^

[@EaglesFastAndLow]

Hey Kyle. Love your video. What about short-distance teleportation? The N7 Vanguard can do that, and even teleport through some solid objects.

[@blackvial]

been wondering when you would do this

[@kaelside]

Was sold on the vid at "Embrace Eternity" and the eyebrows :D And then the science. Poor Garrus.

[@Neriezz]

A video about The Witcher. Please. I would love if you could explain Roach's behaviour.

[@xxgrimriverxx9845]

I always loved using singularity and combo it with throw for that boom.

[@mjstory1976]

Awesome video

[@calebmcgee4239]

If you had that kind of control to begin with our at all really then you would quickly find out how to place a area of effect limit or counter power so that you only effected your intended target. Which makes the powers all the more impressive because the mental power and focus required would be immense.

[@RobsDHyrule]

Keep making Mass Effect videos please!

[@Dwesterio13]

I love this! This video just made the games even better for me!!!

[@TeslaMaster2]

I just recognized the scream sound effects used @ 1:17 from Command and Conquer, and now I feel really old...

[@carloscastanheiro2933]

I'm playing Mass effect Andromeda right now. Cool video bro.

[@ITZBABYJAMES]

Kyle a Perfect video that would be hard yet interesting to cover would be the science behind a Senzu Bean. A super drug essentially break it down Bro haha

[@schrodingerscat5382]

Hi! I have an idea: Do an episode about Nanobots. Or Microbots like in Big Hero Six.

[@MovIePaddy]

Awesome videos!!! Can you make a video about: “what happen with the Pokemon in the poke ball? “

[@scottboudreau3965]

I was wondering if you could do an episode on how strong Jaws, from the James Bond franchise, is? Both his physical strength and his jaw strength.

[@adrindratazainal7115]

so Force Choke could possibly just a jedi applying some quantities of Dark Matter against the target's throat?

[@josephwaller2035]

That's an awesome idea but I prefer the idea of the force

[@adrindratazainal7115]

could it be that Force Lightning is just Siths applying microscopic dark matters over electrical charges in atmosphere and redirect it to the target general direction..

[@josephwaller2035]

Adrindrata Zainal That is some call stuff, my friend

[@jamiemccready6005]

I know he has done a video on Titan physiology, but I'd like to know if any of the colossi from Shadow of the Colossus could ever function? Some of them are humanoid in shape but others follow different rules of nature....would be interesting.

[@stevenirizarry1304]

Dark matter could explain it

[@snazzyfeathers]

I just about lost my mind when he said he'd be breaking the biotic powers down individually You're the man!

[@MrCaptainNoodle]

I typed " because" in the search bar and instead of" because i got high " i found your ":Flash's almost infinite but not because it doesn't need to be infinite infinite punch video" great content kyle and team,

[@Killer08C]

Yay Mass Effect almost out!

[@limeshredder]

Hi, I was wondering if you could do a video on teleporting. Like nightcrawler Could you do 1. What would happen if you teleported into a wall? 2. Is teleporting instantaneous? 3. And if momentum is carried when you teleport? I have been thinking about these for a while so it would be great if you did a video!

[@DMJ94UC]

He made a video about nightcrawler and the flash. Not all of your questions are answered there but its something.

[@mrgrandi]

hey Nerdist can u explain the science behind Gambits powers

[@MarcDufresneosorusrex]

didn't know you could use the words "gradient" and "velocity" together... thats crazy (those two galaxies are well made. thank you)

[@lloydfromfar]

It all makes sense now! :D

[@Komamura821]

Speaking of future aliens civilizations and space and galactic treaties, I had a question about Futurama! In the episode "Crimes of the Hot", bender and the other robots use their exhaust to push the push the earth slightly farther away from the sun, directed by the Professor! This cooled the earth slightly and gave an extra week or so to the year! Could this actually work, and how much force would be needed, and how much force did Bender contribute?

[@WhyDidYoutubeDoThis]

Does this guy have his own playlist on the Nerdist channel? I don't care for any of the other people, but I like his explanations.

[@thetreeroots]

Could you do an episode on Dead Spaces Kinesis and Stasis modules? Would really be interesting to see what the theories are.

[@thetreeroots]

Hell, or even bioengineering through the RIG system.

[@notalexc840]

do a Because Science on how Danny Rand's Iron Fist works!!!

[@thomasparkin259]

You can get around the catastrophic collateral damage by remembering the basic application of Mass Effect, the manipulation of Mass, or at least relative mass. Remember how the Tantalus core works with it's stealth mobility? It creates a pocket of high relative mass ahead of the Normandy so she can 'fall' into it. The same applies here, first the biotic lessens the target's mass before manipulating the conditions around them. It can't be pure Dark Matter manipulation as mass effect can explicitly reduce the mass of an object.

[@MikefromTexas1]

*FINALLY!!!*

[@SouthernersSax]

Fully upgraded Singularity in ME1 was game-breakingly overpowered :D

[@fplaysdm74]

Hey Kyle. WITH SCIENCE can you explain how Danny Fenton got his powers, or how he became Danny Phantom?

[@Randoman590]

It's a great theory, but there's just one thing. Warp's ability description says it rips targets apart at the molecular level, which doesn't really line up with the idea of setting up several forces around them - it wouldn't be anywhere near precise enough to force individual molecules away.

[@personwhodoesntcare6140]

Is tech armor the same as the omni tool video or is that different I want to know how it works also the invisible cloak works as well and the shields

[@unevenlizrad2211]

This makes me want to see an episode on the abilities of the sirens (lilith & maya) from borderlands franchise

[@Adrian-hz3fd]

Nerdist Would love to see your explanation for question: "What would've happened if Earth stopped spinning for 1 sec. ? "

[@brandonleecross468]

Vanguard is the funniest for me! :D

[@vincediscombe7360]

Good breakdown. Now, explain Reave. How on earth does it siphon the enemy's health into you?

[@allisterpeterson7616]

Hey Kyle, I was hoping you could answer a question I have: how does the hair of the trolls in the movie work? In that they can grow and shrink their hair at will and change the colour of their hair and skin at will or according to their emotions

[@Kathrynerius]

Those C&C 95 sound effects!

[@giovanifs15]

On the paragon/renegade part I was expecting a surprise omni blade for renegade...

[@giggityguy]

Hey Kyle here's a (hopefully) quick Mass Effect question. Given the massive pressure differentials and concussive shockwave involved, how LOUD do you think the various biotic powers will be?

[@lillazi902]

I have a recommendation you should make a video of what would happen if you were hit by a Rasengan...

[@fUtal1mistake]

Applause for using sounds from C&C series ;)

[@wesleyjudson599]

One way to reduce the negative impact of individual gravitation control is to reduce distance between the target and the gravitational force. In other words, make the dark matter "coat" the target in amounts less than a "blob" above their head would need.

[@Adam-uf3uy]

Which way do you see the cube 1:12. Front up or front down.

[@larrackell]

I was never confused by how the powers work but holy crap. KNOWING makes playing a biotic feel way cooler.

[@zazoreal5536]

Omg that Garrus part xD

[@charlierundquist8016]

This is the Force!! Obi-Wan tells Luke in Episode One the the force "surrounds us, it penetrates us, and in binds the Galaxy together." Dark matter fits this description, because, like Kyle said at the beginning, there are millions of dark matter particles zipping through us at any given point. And, although Kyle also said that dark matter is what is making the universe expand, dark matter is why galaxies spin the way they do, so it keeps them together with their unseen mass. Some of the other Force powers can be explained with other reasons, but the telekinesis-like abilities the Force grants totally match Kyle's description of the abilities given by Element-0.

[@omniac5783]

Hey Kyle, do you have any input on alternative theories to dark matter? Like TeVeS, MOND, or Conformal Gravity? I recently did some research into Conformal Gravity and tbh I'm less and less convinced by dark matter, though I'm only an amateur physicist :P Just wondering if you had any thoughts, thanks!

[@MeMe-th5yu]

What shampoo and conditioner do you use for those luscious locks?

[@herpderp5727]

Wait, what about flare and smash? These two create a sort of construct, the former generates a fireball the latter forms whips. Other than that, awesome video.

[@J-Q4726]

Hey kyle. I wonder if this could also explain the force in star wars

[@Hofhole]

Kyle, how much do you know about the Warhammer 40K universe. I'd love some episodes on it's pseudo science.

[@marcoottina654]

2:00 more or less Some theory I read about states that the "force" keeping galaxies in the current shape is NOT a "missing amount of mass like dark matter", but .. just massive Casimir forces coming from "outside" each galaxy. What do You all think about?

[@mikedorband6961]

I don't have a Twitter, but I was wondering if you could do a video on how long it would take the aliens (from alien) to take over the earth using the same science you used for the zombie infection rate video?

[@LouieLaCompte]

6:45 - I got so depressed the first time I learned about the eventual heat death of the universe, thanks to the Steven Baxter sci-fi novel, Raft.

[@mariejussome2020]

is it ironic that a mass effect commercial came up before the video

[@CovenantD]

No irony, but rather targeted advertising. "They" know what you clicked on.

[@justiciar1964]

Why would a Mass Effect commercial be unintended on a video about Mass Effect? That's how ads work. You show interest in Mass Effect, and youtube tosses a Mass Effect ad your way. Because they're spying on you...And because science. Dumbass. EA and Google watch you poop.

[@dracotias]

Irony would be more an ad promoting the game and making it look really cool before a hate video or bad review etc

[@MrCaptainNoodle]

i haven't been the same since i saw that speedster living more in the present than every one else, it's got me enjoying life more

[@nathankindle282]

you should do the propulsion systems in Mass Effect

[@Audiotrocious]

Command and Conquer death sounds for the win

[@PrdiChlp]

Please, please PLEASE, make video about true unused power of telekinesis in movies and comics :3 About untapped potential to defeat emebies just by squshing their brains in their heads etc. :D

[@y0ung_loco131]

could you do a vid on flash and how he avoids air resistance

[@DpNemo]

my favorite class

[@notrickc-1379]

Because science is the only reason I'm subscribed to nerdist 🤘🏻

[@grimrenaissance]

Kyle keeps going deeper and deeper, is String Theory the next topic?

[@Nerdist]

My Ghost in the Shell episode is going to get kinda heavy... -- KH