STARTALK RADIO WITH NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

Title: StarTalk Podcast: Vaccine Science Description: What’s up with the COVID-19 vaccines? On this episode of StarTalk, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice talk about getting vaccinated for COVID-19 with Dr. Irwin Redlener, Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness. Why are so many people suspicious of the vaccine? We break down why so many Americans feel distrusting and why they should not be. How have past public health projects failed certain demographics like African Americans? How can scientists and public health officials win this trust back? Plus, you’ll learn the unique way the mRNA vaccine works with the immune system. We answer burning questions about the vaccine from our patrons. Can we eliminate COVID-19 forever? Why make an mRNA vaccine as opposed to the way we usually produce vaccines? Why do we fail at enforcing mass vaccinations? You’ll also learn about vaccine trials and the years of work that made this breakthrough happen. How does the vaccine’s need to be stored at extremely low temperatures impact distribution? We talk about the differences between the three vaccines in production and the importance of the most recent Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We explain how herd immunity works and what the risk of reinfection is. We explore whether there were any technological leaps made with the development of this vaccine? What does this have in store for our disease fighting future? All that, plus we explore future solutions to our disaster preparedness through, of course, our need for science education. Thanks to our Patrons Joe Selmser, Daniel Smith, C Hough, Sheri Eaton, Jon O’Rear, Jennifer Sell-Knapp, Catherine Nelson, Wesley Karl Trevenzoli, Carl Simmons, and Chris Reynolds for supporting us this week. About the prints that flank Neil in this video: “Black Swan” & “White Swan” limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

What’s the difference between heat and temperature? In this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate the important difference between heat and temperature from an astrophysics standpoint and how that impacts our environment. We take a closer look at how atoms determine the temperature of an object. How does an atom’s vibration impact temperature? What about its mass? Can a single atom have both a temperature and a heat? Find out why this distinction is important when Neil dives into how temperature and heat interact with our environment. What has more heat, your morning cup of coffee or the ocean? You’ll also learn how climate change works with heat and temperature. What is the energy budget of a climate system? Is it how much you spend on air conditioning? How do air conditioners even work anyway? Discover where energy lurks all around us with your personal astrophysicist! Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

How is technology changing sports? On this episode of StarTalk Sports Edition, we wrap up our “Game Changers” mini-series as we look at the science that has transformed the sporting world. Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice talk with Rayvon Fouché, author of Game Changer: The Technoscientific Revolution in Sports, to explore game-changing technology. Sports are no stranger to technology, but can certain advancements ruin the spirit of the game? We explore the past, present, and future of innovative sports equipment. Will these innovations be at odds with athletic federations and even the players themselves? What about technology used by non-players? You will learn about the impact camera technology has had on sports viewing as well as sports statistics. You’ll hear about the use of computing in athletics and whether or not we can – or should – have robot umpires in baseball and allow artificial intelligence to make calls. Would we want to eliminate humans as judges? Do we secretly like subjectivity in sports? Find out why competitors in a race, even with precise timing mechanisms down to the millionth of a second, can still tie. To finish things off, we explore the grey area between what we consider sports medicine and what we consider cheating. With such innovations in medicine, are sports going to be dominated by older athletes like Tom Brady and LeBron James? Not only that, but we investigate how advancements in sports technology have helped not just athletes’ bodies but also their minds. Does that raise any ethical questions? All that and more on another episode of StarTalk Sports Edition! Thanks to our Patrons Ceasar Perez, dniel, Coleman, Raphael Zadey, Jordan Schoepke, Munnie, NAOS NARUTO, Nika Chkhartishvili, Alea Montgomery, and Gregory for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Do rocks float? On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the idea that rocks are light...in density. You'll learn more about density as Neil and Chuck dive into the evolution of ships and how asymmetric advantages would work in an alien invasion. How did Earth’s early days impact the composition of its crust? Neil explains why rocks are the third lightest stuff on Earth. You'll also learn why the Earth is like a layered cocktail, how geophysicists figure out the density profile of the Earth, and why there seem to be so many meteorites in Antarctica. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

How do we fix America’s media problem? In this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice talk echo chambers and the polarization of news with Max Tegmark, physicist and creator of AI media tool https://www.ImproveTheNews.org, and journalist Jeff Jarvis. You’ll find out why our media landscape, and by extension our democracy, is suffering because of polarization and distribution of news through social media platforms. You’ll learn what our media landscape has in common with the multiverse. Tegmark walks us through how his tool works with machine learning to aggregate news articles, and how it tries to combat polarization in the way we find news articles. What are the pitfalls of such a tool? Will it even work? We dive into the idea of objective truth, fact checking, and if big tech is trying to play big brother with our news media. Are readers trapped in their own social media bubbles? Are they willing to break out? Are people ready to challenge their own beliefs or is everybody only looking to confirm their own bias? Tegmark tells us why changing the delivery method of the news might result in less polarization. We explore the differences between scientific disagreement and political disagreement.. Then, Jeff Jarvis joins us to offer some criticisms and compliments about Tegmark’s website. Does the tool offer an accurate picture of the world? Is the material the website aggregates even capable of solving the problem? Discover why echo chambers might be a myth. Jarvis explains the transformation of mass media from the invention of the printing press to our current news climate. Do people need a single, go-to place for objective news? All that, plus, we get into a discussion about America’s epistemological war, how journalists need to take on the responsibilities of educators, and Jarvis gives us an optimistic vision of our media future. Thanks to our Patrons kbw, Mike l Ness, Ashley Finamore, Amy A, Brandon, Scott, ITinker, Mike l, CrownFire, and Luke skywalker lustila for supporting us this week. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. About the prints that flank Neil in this video: "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver: https://inuit.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

This week the Mars Perseverance rover will attempt to land on the Martian surface. On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore NASA’s latest rover and its red planet mission with NASA Chief Scientist Jim Green. Why send another rover to Mars? You’ll learn how previous rover missions inform the next. Jim tells us about the necessary redundancies that are in place when building a rover. Discover why “enabling the future” is an important aspect of the Perseverance mission.  You’ll learn how Perseverance will land on the surface of Mars and how rover landing procedures have evolved over time. Jim gives details on the robotic helicopter, Mars Helicopter Ingenuity, attached to the Perseverance rover. Then, it’s time to dive into some fan-submitted Cosmic Queries. Were there any instruments Jim wanted on the rover that didn’t make it? Find out how Perseverance’s microphones will make us able to listen to Mars for the first time. Will there be any live footage of Perseverance? What will we see on camera? Jim explains Perseverance’s sampling mission and why we might be able to find signs of past life in the rocks beneath the surface.  Lastly, we explore how NASA picks a landing spot for each rover. And, what happens to all the other rovers on Mars? Is Perseverance one of the first steps toward humans terraforming Mars? All that, plus, we discuss the expanding collection of rovers being launched from all over the globe and what Martian exploration will look like going forward.  Thanks to our Patrons Nina Barton, Yancey L Sanford, Tyrel Carson, Peter Jacobs, Laura Inger, Samuel Watts, Joshua Allen, Tom Hegedosh, Connor Haberland, and Abhay Joshi for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

What if you lived your whole life on a spaceship and never saw the final destination? On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate generational spaceships. We discuss the ethical questions posed by the idea of generational spaceships. Would you ever plan to come back to Earth? Neil and Chuck ponder the idea of artificial incubation and Chuck raves about the new show Raised by Wolves. Lastly, Chuck tells us why he wants astronauts to come back with superpowers after a long journey away from Earth. All that, plus, you’ll hear why Earth itself is a generational ship. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/​. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

It’s a materials world on StarTalk Sports Edition as Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly continue our “game-changers” mini-series. On this episode, our trio investigates material science and its impact on sports alongside engineer Jud Ready. Besides being an engineer, Jud serves as the Deputy Director of Innovation Initiatives for the Georgia Tech ‘Institute for Materials', an Adjunct Professor in the School of Materials Science & Engineering at Georgia Tech, and a Principal Research Engineer on the research faculty of Georgia Tech Research Institute. So, safe to say, we found the right person. To start, we discuss the importance of the strength to weight ratio. Jud tells us about his work involving carbon nanotubes. We also discuss the differences between carbon nanotubes vs. carbon fiber. We investigate different types of track including mondotrack, asphalt, and concrete. You’ll hear why using a mondotrack literally makes it a level playing field. We debate the idea of limiting technological advancements in sports. If we can use materials to make athletes run faster, jump higher, and be stronger – why limit that? Find out more about the “trampoline effect”. We investigate the current state of golf balls and how the materials used to make them have evolved since the invention of the game. Lastly, we take a look at other advancements including the poles used for pole vaulting and “sharkskin” swimsuits. We also debate how we could make baseball better if the game allowed it. All that, plus, we ponder the future of electronic-based clothing. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are answering a grab bag full of fan-submitted Cosmic Queries on topics ranging from dark matter to the end of the universe. What is dark matter? Could it be another universe’s gravity bleeding into our own universe? You’ll learn what the leading possibilities are to explain dark matter. Neil and Chuck dive into field theory. Discover more about our expanding universe. We discuss our eventual collision with the Andromeda galaxy. Neil explains how the universe might have removed chapters from its own history, forever hiding it from us. What would it be like if you grew up on Venus? Because of the thick atmosphere, would you be aware of other places in the galaxy? We ponder if we can use gravitational waves to communicate with life in other universes. You’ll also find out how the electromagnetic spectrum serves as a window to the universe. To kick off the last segment, Neil gets asked a big question: How does it all end? You’ll hear why the universe will end not in a bang, but, with a whimper. You’ll also hear about “The Big Rip.” Lastly, we explore the SN 1987A – the most recent supernova witnessed by humans. All that plus, we investigate the relationship between science and art. Thanks to our Patrons Kyle Marston, Caleb Martin, Zachary Zahn, David Liebert, Caralee Wahab, Michael Hoogwater, Robert Gowing, Tracy Skrabut, Henry Drefeldt, and Pyry Sipiläinen for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

You’ve seen the rockets blast off into space, but, have you ever wondered the science behind the launch? On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are exploring the rocket equation, space travel, and more. To start, we discuss why the application of mathematics adds to the theory of a simulation universe. Then, Neil tells us about the problem with space travel: fuel. You have to have enough fuel to get where you want to go, but, the fuel you have to carry to get to your destination adds weight, which means you need more fuel. And so on, and so on. So, what do you do? We explore how the miniaturization of electronics helped rockets shed weight. Discover more about SpaceX’s reusable rockets. All that, plus, Neil shares some of the experiments he used to do in his car to save gas. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

What time is it? When did we start keeping time? On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are exploring timekeeping with Anthony Aveni, the Russell Colgate Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies. We start with the basics of time. What’s the difference between taking the measure of time vs. using an activity as a measurement of time? If we didn’t have astronomy, how would we measure time? You’ll learn why there are places in the universe that the measurement of time would be pointless. Why did the ancients start keeping time? Anthony tells us why it, surprisingly, might have to do with bureaucracy. We investigate how we use atoms to keep the most precise time and what would happen if those atoms change their behavior. If we adjusted the scales of time to make years shorter would that make people happier? We ponder if aliens visiting Earth might have a different understanding of time. We discuss the film Arrival and explore non-linear time. You’ll learn why Judeo-Christian teachings needed a linear construct of time. Could we get rid of time zones? Anthony explains how high-speed travel created time zones. All that, plus, you’ll find out if we’ll ever be able to go backwards in time. Thanks to our Patrons Douglas Robinson, Michael Kiddy, Oskari Laine, David Frederick, Tim Shearn, Emily Lindy, Vincent Wright, Jason Kawa, Jennifer Alyssa Aiken, and Melinda Ellis for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

We know the Earth rotates…but why can’t we feel it? On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate centrifugal force and the Earth’s rotation. What is centrifugal force? Well, if you’ve been on a carnival ride, you probably know. However, Neil tells us why there is really no such thing as centrifugal force. Find out why you weigh less when you’re closer to the equator. You’ll learn what speed Earth has to be rotating so that the centrifugal force balances out the gravitational force causing you to hover just above the surface in what Chuck calls “super-low Earth orbit.” All that, plus, Chuck uses this to invent a new diet. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Portions of clips used in this video are credited to Team USA. Full clips can be found here: https://youtu.be/2fdp8SVOSF4 https://youtu.be/h65WfjEdriw How do you change the game? On this episode of StarTalk Sports Edition, we begin our “Game Changers” mini-series where we look at techniques, technology, and materials that have changed the sporting world. To start, Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice, and astrophysicist Charles Liu are exploring the techniques that have re-shaped sports. We kick things off by exploring Simone Biles performing a “Triple Double.” We discuss how Simone raised the bar on difficulty and technique while gracefully demonstrating how physics works. Charles takes us behind the physics to explain the gravity and rotation happening during the move. Then, we move on to a clip from Neil’s interview with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You’ll find out how Kareem pioneered the sky hook. And, we discuss why, when performed exceptionally, it’s illegal to block a sky hook. We head back to the Olympics as we discuss the “Fosbury Flop” and how it changed the high jump forever. Why does the Fosbury Flop work? Charles tells us how Dick Fosbury basically took his center of mass outside his body. We ponder if there will be another technique that improves on the Fosbury Flop or if that’s the limit in the high jump. Then, you’ll hear how Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses used math and physics to run a “shorter” race in the 400 meter hurdles. Lastly, we re-visit our show with Sasha Cohen as she takes us through the process of pulling off a quadruple jump. You’ll learn how some athletes have to make “in-routine” adjustments. All that, plus, we investigate the importance of psychology when it comes to pushing past what you thought was possible. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Force and Pressure...are they the same thing? On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate force vs. pressure. Neil explains how, although in colloquial terms there are many different meanings, force and pressure have precise definitions and equations in physics. What is force? You’ll learn how force is created and why it’s all about balance vs. imbalance. What is pressure? Neil tells us why pressure needs force. We discuss how pressure makes things like snow shoes able to work. Lastly, you’ll learn how pressure works when it comes to tornadoes, explosives, and the destruction they can cause. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Join the Trends Community today. Get your first seven days for just ONE dollar. Go to https://Trends.co/startalk to get started. How do you know you’re happy? What can you do to be happier? Can we scientifically measure happiness? On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Negin Farsad investigate the science of happiness with Laurie Santos, PhD, psychologist and host of The Happiness Lab. To start, we take a look at how we measure happiness. Laurie explains why the two key questions are: how do you feel in your life? And, how do you feel with your life? We discuss if anecdotal happiness correlates with being chemically happy. We also ask, what role do other emotions play in being happy? Then, we dive into some fan-submitted Cosmic Queries. Laurie explains the importance of social connections and even connections with animals. Neil wonders about people having emotional support robots. We explore the benefits of comedy and how that makes for stronger memories and experiences. We ponder whether there’s any truth to the statement, “Ignorance is bliss” and we investigate the concept of “flow.” Laurie tells us how having our phone notifications on all day can suck away our happiness. We also discuss how having too many choices can diminish happiness. Are there different kinds of happiness? We look at the science behind seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Can we fool ourselves into being happy? Lastly, you’ll learn if there are any long-term scientific methods to generating happiness. All that, plus, do we want to be happy, or, do we need to be happy? Thanks to our Patrons Victor Sanchez, Austin Douglas, Sara George, Maxwell Freitag, Glenn Hunter Lusk, Roch Venne, Vladimir Tkachenko, Robert Gilmore, Glenn Camhi, and Albert Holk for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Is the sun yellow? Like in those pictures you drew as a kid? The answer is no. On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate the true color of the Sun. Neil explains why the Sun’s true color is white. You’ll learn how the atmosphere takes the Sun’s white light and turns it into something else. You’ll also learn why the blue sky is stolen sunlight. Lastly, Neil gives us a photography lesson and tells us how photographers deal with different light. We investigate indoor vs. outdoor light. All that, plus, Neil explains why snow being white is evidence of the Sun’s white light. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson, comic co-host Chuck Nice, and cosmochemist and author Natalie Starkey answer fan-submitted Cosmic Queries about ‘Oumuamua, the first detected interstellar object that passed through the solar system.  To start, Chuck wonders why we even study space rocks if they’re all the “same.” Natalie tells us how studying space rocks helps us understand our solar system when studying Earth only tells us so much. You’ll learn why asteroids might be the leftover building blocks from planets. We ponder what might be hiding in the Oort Cloud and why ‘Oumuamua is basically an interstellar vagabond.  You’ll find out more about ‘Oumuamua’s discovery and how it got its name. We also talk about the only other interstellar object we’ve documented (so far). What is the likelihood we will see another interstellar object? Natalie explains the difficult task of looking in the right place at the right time since interstellar objects can, literally, come from anywhere.  How do we differentiate an interstellar comet from a comet that came from the Oort Cloud? We explore the idea of panspermia. Could life survive such a perilous journey similar to ‘Oumuamua’s? Lastly, Natalie helps us understand why ‘Oumuamua’s shape is so peculiar. All that, plus, we ask the obvious question: was it sent by aliens? Thanks to our Patrons Christopher Sukhanenya, Dmitry Pugachevich, Eugenio Barrera, Colton Cichocki, Brad Sofka, Atle Beckmann, Alex Prieto, Dorothy Papadakos, Steven Bunevitch, and Johnathan Bynog for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are answering fan-submitted Cosmic Queries about lunar geology alongside planetary scientist Raquel Nuno. And as Raquel says, she’s here to change your mind about the Moon! As it turns out, we don’t know very much about the Moon. Raquel explains how the Moon has been a celestial witness to everything Earth has experienced. Learn about some surprising discoveries we’ve made from moon rocks and other samples. You’ll hear how our views on the Moon changed from it being a piece of primordial dust and rock to a place with an incredible geologic history. We also discuss why we currently can’t go back to the Moon. Next, we explore the Moon’s craters and why Earth has far fewer craters. What would we find if we extracted a core sample from the Moon? Raquel tells us about finding Moon samples on astronaut space suits. Are there still bacteria alive on the Moon left from the Apollo missions? We explore where the ice on the Moon comes from, and Raquel gives us details on creating “water out of thin space.” You’ll learn more about Theia and the “giant-impact” hypothesis. Explore the Moon’s magma ocean of the past. Uncover the “truth” about the dark side of the Moon. Ponder what would happen if the Moon broke apart. Lastly, we discuss the true color of the Moon, and, whether we can terraform the lunar surface. All that, plus, we ask, can a moon have a moon? Thanks to our Patrons David Frederick, Jennifer Aiken, Jamie Boneleye, Kyle Walker, Evan Blackburn, Jon Mack, Wyatt Smith, Cole Smart for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

A day is 24 hours, right? Right?!?! On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate the length of a day. To start, Neil explains why a “sidereal day” is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds and a “solar day” is, on average, 24 hours. You’ll learn why Earth’s orbit around the sun impacts how we measure the length of the day. Should we re-define the length of a second? Discover more about leap seconds and how we decide when to add them to the calendar. Find out more about atomic clocks and sun dials. Neil explains why the Earth is slowing down and why the Moon is spiraling away from us. We also discuss how tides serve as a counter-balance to the Earth’s rotation. All that, plus, we explore the many things that can impact Earth’s rotation including seasonal animal migrations, earthquakes, melting land glaciers, and more! Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Happy 2021! On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are looking at the year ahead, reminiscing on the year past, and answering fan-submitted Cosmic Queries. Before we get into questions, Neil and Chuck chat about the turbulent year that was 2020. We explore other turbulent times in history including 1968 and World War II. Neil tells us why he thinks NASA saved 1968 with Apollo 8. We look back on 2020’s total solar eclipse and The Great Conjunction. Neil explains why humanity’s handling of COVID-19 was a testing ground for an actual alien invasion. Then, we dive into some questions! Can a light particle travel through space unhindered? Does it travel forever? You’ll find out why, in our universe, the answer is no, but, in an alternate universe that’s static, the answer is yes. Discover more about the speed of light. What if the speed of light was different? Neil tells us why, if the speed of light was different, everything would change. You’ll hear the advantages and disadvantages of living on or near a gas giant. We explore Jupiter’s moons Europa and Io. Could we live on these moons? Could we live on Jupiter or Saturn? All that, plus, take a peak behind-the-scenes when a fan asks Neil how StarTalk originally started and how we ended up where we are today. Thanks to our Patrons Cristina Magistrali, Toren Wallengren, Eric Huffman, Z. Reese Downing, Sondra Ballegeer, Chris Ziegenhagel, Matthew H Cooper, Jonathan R. Brown, Yakov Goldberg, and Michael Blevins for supporting us this week. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio "Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com/. FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/startalkradio?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalkradio/ About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson