Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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From StarTalk. What’s the science of what makes humans special? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore how we evolved to be different from eachother, what’s up with Neanderthal DNA, and humanity’s superpower with Herman Pontzer, evolutionary anthropologist and author of Adaptable: How Your Unique Body Works and Why Biology Unites Us. Is…
From StarTalk. The interview explores the complex world of protein folding—how chains of amino acids spontaneously form intricate 3D shapes in our cells, enabling proteins to act as dynamic molecular machines. The conversation emphasizes how modern AI, particularly AlphaFold, has revolutionized our ability to predict these structures, aiding in drug design and deepening our understanding…
From StarTalk. Why is enriching uranium such a big deal? Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down uranium at an atomic level, its isotopes, and the science of how it gets enriched for uses in nuclear power plants, nuclear-propelled submarines, and for making atomic bombs. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Uranium Enrichment Programs 00:14 – Uranium in Nature…
From StarTalk. The discussion explores how the human brain processes revenge. It explains that the pain of being wronged is registered in the anterior insula, a region linked to physical pain. This activates the dopaminergic reward system, giving pleasure when fantasizing about or enacting revenge. It concludes by highlighting how self-control via the prefrontal cortex…
From StarTalk. One show. Infinite adventures. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns July 17, only on Paramount+. Could a new telescope one day spot city lights on exoplanets? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen answer questions about the frontiers of exoplanet science with astrophysicist and NASA Exoplanet Science Ambassador, Anjali Tripathi. Anjali explains how…
From StarTalk. The discussion centers around the challenges in solving Einstein’s equations in higher dimensions, especially in the context of string theory and extra compact dimensions. It highlights how modern techniques—particularly AI and machine learning—are now being used to solve complex differential equations that were previously only solvable on supercomputers. The conversation evolves into how…
From StarTalk. Theoretical physics explores extra spatial dimensions and the limitations of time travel, but preserving causality remains a fundamental constraint in viable models. Multiple time dimensions, while fascinating, generally break the rules that make our universe logically consistent. From ‘Is The Universe Made of Tiny Vibrating Strings? With Lara Anderson:’ https://youtu.be/fplTT3IrxDw?si=Zas4TljjmZtrkUhF Get the StarTalk…
From StarTalk. Go to https://ground.news/startalk to stay fully informed on the latest Space and Science news. Save 40% off through our link for unlimited access to the Vantage plan this month. Can we build an elevator to space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice break down what it would take to complete this engineering marvel…
From StarTalk. String theory is a bold attempt to unite gravity and quantum mechanics by modeling particles as vibrating strings, where gravity is not added but naturally emerges—yet this elegant theory demands extra dimensions and remains experimentally unreachable with today’s technology. From ‘Is The Universe Made of Tiny Vibrating Strings? With Lara Anderson:’ https://youtu.be/fplTT3IrxDw?si=Zas4TljjmZtrkUhF Get…
From StarTalk. The interview explores the philosophical differences between Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Newton saw space and time as a fixed "stage" where physical events occurred, influenced by Descartes, while Einstein challenged that view by proposing a dynamic interaction between matter and spacetime in his general theory of relativity. This discussion transitions into how…
From StarTalk. Why do we die? Do we have to? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore the paradox of death, the science of aging, and the search for immortality with Nobel Prize-winning structural biologist Venki Ramakrishnan, author of the new book Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest…
From StarTalk. The interview examines whether philosophers still have a meaningful role in advancing modern physics, especially given the rise of hyper-specialization in science. It argues that deep philosophical thinking is still essential at the frontiers of theoretical physics, despite institutional and educational barriers. From ‘The Philosophy of Physics, with Elise Crull’: https://youtu.be/BHO_glbVcIg?si=Gdb719iuRI9386NU Get the…
From StarTalk. Why is the Earth spinning faster? Neil deGrasse Tyson explains what’s up with Earth’s rotational velocity and how different factors can add or subtract leap seconds to our year. Is climate change affecting Earth’s spin? Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: What Up With Earth Spinning Faster? 00:12 – Standardizing Time & Adding Leap Seconds…
From StarTalk. The conversation explores the scientific effort to reconstruct the brain’s sensory pain circuitry using lab-grown neurons, enabling researchers to observe how pain is processed and why some people are hypersensitive or entirely insensitive to it. They used CRISPR to replicate patient mutations and observed how neurons behave differently depending on pain sensitivity. The…
From StarTalk. One show. Infinite adventures. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns July 17, only on Paramount+. How much do we actually know about the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer fan questions from plasma propulsion to quantum gravity to black hole escape plans. What if you aimed gravitational waves at a…
From StarTalk. One show. Infinite adventures. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns July 17, only on Paramount+. How much do we actually know about the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer fan questions from plasma propulsion to quantum gravity to black hole escape plans. What if you aimed gravitational waves at a…
From StarTalk. The interview explores the self-organizing nature of neurons and brain cells, emphasizing how biological systems inherently carry instructions that guide their development and structure—without requiring detailed blueprints like in engineering. The discussion highlights how brain organoids (3D cultures of brain cells in a dish) can self-organize and even track developmental time with surprising…
From StarTalk. The interview discusses the scientific breakthrough of creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which allows scientists to reprogram adult cells—such as skin cells—back into stem cells without using embryos. This advancement bypassed ethical concerns and enabled researchers to generate patient-specific neurons in the lab to study complex neurological disorders like autism. Over time,…
From StarTalk. What’s up with the Vera Rubin Observatory? Neil breaks down how this telescope is making a movie of the night sky, helping us discover what could be millions of asteroids and more. Can we one day have a dark matter map of large-scale structures in the universe? Check out Vera Rubin Observatory’s ‘First…
From StarTalk. NASA takes great care to avoid contaminating extraterrestrial environments while exploring them, using techniques like remote sensing and controlled spacecraft destruction. The potential discovery of alien life—especially macroscopic organisms—raises major scientific and ethical considerations. From ‘Astrophysicists Discuss Issues with Gravity, Dark Matter, and the Unsolved Mystery of the Sun’s Heat’: https://youtu.be/kjFMnWjo6D4?si=wtugwSu7khTTUF34 Get the…
From StarTalk. When will the last supernova be? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore types of novas, freaky binary star systems, core collapse, standard candles, and the explosive future of Betelgeuse with astrophysicist Michael Shara. What’s the difference between a nova and a supernova? We explore the taxonomy of stellar explosions: dwarf novae, supernovae,…
From StarTalk. The conversation revolves around the nature of gravity, questioning whether it is a force or the result of spacetime curvature, as described by general relativity. The hosts also explore the challenge of integrating gravity into the Standard Model of particle physics, highlighting the hypothetical graviton, and touch on how quantum theory might relate…
From StarTalk. Are we addicted… to revenge? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly break down the neuroscience behind revenge-seeking, what motivates violence, and how science can help stop it with James Kimmel, Jr., lawyer, lecturer in psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, and author of The Science of Revenge. We explore new research…
From StarTalk. The conversation debates the practicality and ethics of geoengineering versus natural carbon removal methods, highlighting how urgent, complex, and uneven the global response to climate change remains. The speakers stress that although many solutions are possible, none are simple—and public awareness and engagement are critically lacking. From ‘Changing the World (Literally), with Daniele…
From StarTalk. What happens when physics meets the big questions of philosophy? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice sit down with Elise Crull, philosopher of physics at CUNY and author of The Einstein Paradox, to explore physics, philosophy, and how thought experiments shape real science. Why did 20th-century physicists like Einstein, Schrödinger, and…
From StarTalk. Aerosols, while harmful to human health at ground level, can also reflect sunlight and cool the planet—raising the controversial question: can we deliberately inject them into the stratosphere to fight climate change? This interview explores the science and ethical implications of that possibility. From ‘Changing the World (Literally), with Daniele Visione & Holly…
From StarTalk. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice try to get to the bottom of TikTok’s new STEM feed, reacting to videos about space, physics, and more! Are TikTok creators revolutionizing the way we learn? And how does TikTok ensure the science it serves up is legit? Learn about the TikTok STEM feed and how…
From StarTalk. The discussion challenges the scientific fixation on preserving information in black holes and debunks the practicality of Dyson spheres as energy-harvesting structures, proposing natural explanations for signals that some attribute to alien technology. From ‘Answering Questions about Hubble Tension, Dyson Spheres, & Relativity’: https://youtu.be/y8b93R3kfso?si=00o3TaIY9RJifycM Get the StarTalk book, ‘To Infinity and Beyond: A…
From StarTalk. Go to https://ground.news/startalk to stay fully informed on the latest Space and Science news. Save 40% off through our link for unlimited access to the Vantage plan this month. Can we fix the news? On this minisode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Gary O’Reilly sit down with Harleen Kaur, former space engineer and…
From StarTalk. Gravitational waves can distort space and time, but their effects on humans are imperceptible unless the source event is catastrophic—by which point, it would already be too late to notice. The nature of time and simultaneity is relative, and the concept of "now" loses meaning at cosmic scales. From ‘Answering Questions about Hubble…
From StarTalk. The discussion revolves around the mystery of dark matter and whether our inability to understand it stems from limitations in our current physics models and detection tools. The conversation critiques various theories and explains why dark matter likely doesn’t travel faster than light, highlighting the scientific process of ruling out hypotheses through observation…
From StarTalk. What is string theory, really? Why does it need extra dimensions? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice welcome theoretical physicist and mathematician Lara Anderson to guide us through string theory, higher dimensions, and finding a unifying theory of everything. Could it be the long-sought bridge between quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of…
From StarTalk. The universe’s expansion rate doesn’t match across different measurements, suggesting either our models are incomplete or there are undiscovered forces or fields affecting cosmic evolution. This "Hubble tension" challenges our current understanding of cosmology and may hint at new physics. From ‘Answering Questions about Hubble Tension, Dyson Spheres, & Relativity’: https://youtu.be/y8b93R3kfso?si=00o3TaIY9RJifycM Get the…
From StarTalk. Is the whole universe actually a jinn particle? Neil deGrasse Tyson and cohosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly hang out with astrophysicist Charles Liu to answer questions about the nature of gravity, dark matter, and why we don’t actually know how the solar corona gets hot. We explore some of the universe’s deepest…
From StarTalk. The conversation explores how identifying "super emitters" (individuals who spread airborne diseases more than others) and violent crime hotspots can challenge our ideas of fairness and equality in public policy. It addresses the tension between targeted interventions versus uniform solutions, using parallels with mask mandates during the pandemic and policing strategies in urban…
From StarTalk. Is our universe inside a black hole? Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down intriguing new evidence along with other curious parallels that could point to the universe being inside a black hole. Is the edge of our universe an event horizon on a black hole in some other universe? Timestamps: 00:00 – What is…
From StarTalk. In this lively and insightful discussion, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Janna Levin explore Einstein’s groundbreaking paper on stimulated emission of radiation, the quantum phenomenon that ultimately led to the invention of the laser. They break down how photons interact with electrons in discrete energy levels, describe the strange but elegant mechanics of stimulated…
From StarTalk. Go to https://ground.news/startalk to stay fully informed on the latest Space and Science news. Save 40% off through our link for unlimited access to the Vantage plan this month. Can you measure time without something moving? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice tackle your cosmic questions, from the Silurian Hypothesis to singularities…
From StarTalk. In this interview, Malcolm Gladwell revisits the central thesis of The Tipping Point. He explains that his experience reporting on the AIDS epidemic led him to think about how ideas and behaviors spread like infectious diseases. Inspired by an academic article by Jonathan Crane, he applied epidemiological models to understand social phenomena like…
From StarTalk. Astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson and Janna Levin discuss the surprising origin of black holes in Einstein’s equations—despite Einstein himself not believing in their physical existence. They dive into Karl Schwarzschild’s groundbreaking discovery during WWI, explore Newton’s and Laplace’s views on cosmic stability, and share a memorable anecdote involving Stephen Hawking that ends with…
From StarTalk. How does lightning actually work? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice get corrected on how lightning works after having gotten it wrong with lightning expert Amir Rizk. Learn about the anatomy of a lightning strike, what not to do during a lightning storm, and more. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Neil Getting Lightning Wrong…
From StarTalk. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Janna Levin explore the astonishing achievements of Albert Einstein during his annus mirabilis—the "miracle year" of 1905—when, at just 26 years old and working in a patent office, Einstein published four revolutionary scientific papers that reshaped the foundations of modern physics. They discuss how Einstein first shocked the world…
From StarTalk. The universe’s structure—galaxies, stars, and even us—emerged not from perfect symmetry, but from tiny quantum fluctuations during inflation, suggesting that randomness is not chaos, but creation. We are the result of cosmic imperfections seeded by quantum fluctuations in the early universe. From ‘Brian Keating on Losing the Nobel Prize & Origins of the…
From StarTalk. The interview explores what might have existed before the Big Bang and whether another universe preceded ours, highlighting how scientific curiosity drives cosmological research—even without immediate practical rewards. From ‘Brian Keating on Losing the Nobel Prize & Origins of the Universe’: https://youtu.be/xIM9hfbSJWU?si=TQYqESYoaILfH3g_ Get the StarTalk book, ‘To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of…
From StarTalk. In a conversation between Neil deGrasse Tyson and Dr. Brian Keating, they revisit the 2014 announcement from the BICEP2 experiment that claimed to detect primordial gravitational waves, or “ripples in spacetime” from the early universe—a discovery that made global headlines, including the front page of the New York Times. Keating, a key figure…