'Constellation': CAL experiment leaves massive impact on Jo Ericsson's life in Apple TV+'s sci-fi thriller
Contains spoilers for 'Constellation' on Apple TV+
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Apple TV's psychological sci-fi thriller 'Constellation' centers on astronauts Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace) and Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks), whose lives undergo profound changes upon their return from separate space missions.
Henry has devoted his life to the CAL experiment which is put in jeopardy when the International Space Station (ISS) experiences a space accident. Fortunately, Jo manages to recover the CAL data and safely brings it to Earth.
Henry Caldera's CAL experiment explained
Similar to its real-life counterpart, the ISS indeed houses CAL.
While in reality, CAL refers to the Cold Atom Laboratory, in Apple TV's 'Constellation', CAL is portrayed as an advanced scientific instrument designed to facilitate the creation of a fifth state of matter.
Under this experiment, subatomic particles are cooled to generate the matter, enabling their observation. The reduced gravitational force on the ISS extends the duration of interaction with the matter, although the timeframe remains relatively brief.
In 'Constellation', the inclusion of CAL aboard the ISS serves the purpose of transmitting data back to Earth, where Henry is delving into a quantum physics concept.
Henry observes that his CAL experiment is showing an interference effect. However, he is unable to prove it because the observer's effect only allows him to see the interference but not record or measure it for evidence.
Henry is led to believe that the experiment is altering the observer's perception, challenging the conventional understanding of quantum physics.
Jo Ericsson steals CAL in 'Constellation' Episode 5
Henry Caldera introduces a thought experiment suggesting that the characters in 'Constellation' exist in multiple states. After encountering Henry's CAL experiment, they find themselves in a transitional realm where their diverse states merge into one reality.
Similar to Henry, Jo also appears to occupy two states, with her realities converging post-space accident.
Struggling to comprehend the unfolding mysteries, Jo decides to access the ESA and extract the CAL from its refrigeration equipment.
To ensure its continued functionality, she encases the CAL in ice during her travels. Subsequently, she utilizes it to decrypt the recordings from the Skagerrak siblings' tapes.
As the series unfolds, we will discover the extent to which CAL has influenced Jo's life and whether she can ever return to her previous normalcy.
'Constellation' is available to stream on Apple TV+.