STARTALK RADIO WITH NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

How do you beat the odds and become an astrophysicist? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice sit down with astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi to discuss his path to becoming an astrophysicist and his new book A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey From The Streets to The Stars. To start things off, we find out why Hakeem decided to write a book in the first place. How did he go from a life of crime to the world of astrophysics and academia? We break down his two quantum states: being a nerd and being a gangster. Discover his journey through crime, the navy, college, being a janitor, and what ultimately led to him earning his PhD. Can you teach a subject just because you learned it? How do you approach talking to people who you regard as brilliant, but who never had the opportunity to pursue a higher education? Hear Hakeem’s daydream about four big bangs and how he transitioned from physics to astrophysics. Is astrophysics where the natural world meets weirdness? We discuss obsessive compulsive counting and other numerical habits. We also break down different models for how to look at the universe. How do you experience the wonder of the universe? Learn about Ibn al-Haytham, Islam, and the invention of the scientific method. Discover why Hakeem changed his name and how it’s connected to hierarchies within the US. All that, plus, find out what Hakeem’s new book has to do with Chadwick Boseman. Thanks to our Patrons EMILY RIVERA, Jocelyn Sailas, Nickalos Early, zach hughes, Shawn Shortridge, Ghokul S, Emily Long, Vijay Ramani, and Joe Means 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 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

What is a sonic boom? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explain how a sonic boom works. You’ll learn the definition of mach one. How does sound work? We talk about airplanes and the noise they make at different speeds. What happens to sould when you break the sound barrier? You’ll find out what a supersonic plane and the crack of a whip have in common. Why don’t we have commercial supersonic planes? All that, plus, discover what a “light boom” is and what it has to do with diamonds. 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

Do heat shields actually shield you from heat? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explain how the heat shields on spaceships work. What are heat shields really for? We explore objects entering Earth's orbit. Do these objects always heat up when they enter our atmosphere? We talk about retrorockets versus aerobraking and how they are both used to land spacecraft in different places. How does landing on Mars differ from landing on Earth or the Moon? Discover our world in another episode of Things You Thought You Knew! 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

Can AI have a poker face? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice discuss poker and playing against...the machines. Joining them are former poker player and science communicator Liv Boeree and artificial intelligence expert Matt Ginsberg. Is there a strategy behind a poker face? We break down strategy, game theory, and probability in poker. What is state space complexity? What does it have to do with AI? Learn about Nash Equilibrium and how it is used in games such as poker. How long would it take to become a perfect poker player? How have styles of game play changed over the years? Is playing online poker different than in person? How about playing against a computer? Find out about statistics, artificial intelligence, and Liv’s work in effective altruism. Continuing with Matt, we go over his champion crossword-solving AI, Dr. Fill, and break down how it plays. We continue with the Nash Equilibrium and ask: can a computer bluff? Is using AI considered cheating? How do you enforce the use of computers in a game with breaks? Should competitions even allow computers to play? Do casinos have AI programs to tell if you are cheating? Discover the future of AI in competition. What prevents people from using AI to win? Could it be used by casinos to catch cheaters? We philosophize on whether people care if humans win these competitions and what it would be like to have a chip in your brain. Does AI have the capacity to guess? All that, plus, find out what term fooled Dr. Fill’s vocabulary! Thanks to our PatronsRicardo Torres, Mason Dickson, Alireza Sefat, Henk Van der Merwe, Derek Eilertson, Erdem Memisyazici, Sriram Govindan, Christian Murmann, Derrick Thurman, and Cayman Freeman 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

Got a problem? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the world of puzzles and problem-solving with neuroscientist and clinical psychologist Heather Berlin featuring Soleil Saint-Cyr, the youngest woman to publish a crossword puzzle in the New York Times. First, we dive into crossword puzzles with Soleil. What makes people want to construct them? How do you make one? Find out what it takes to get a crossword puzzle into the New York Times. We explore the connection between crossword puzzles, vocabulary, and pattern recognition. Why do people even like crosswords? Next, we get to our patron questions with Dr. Berlin. What goes on in the minds of people who do puzzles? Why does anyone want to solve them? Discover our problem-solving roots and why our brains crave it. How far do games and puzzles go back? How does this activate our reward centers? We look into primary and secondary reinforcers and how different games and puzzles work within our minds. Are our brains hardwired for certain games? Why do puzzles seem to have a calming effect? We continue with our patron questions, learning how doing puzzles and gaming connects to addiction. Why can’t we stop playing games on our phones? Is this linked to gambling and other addictions? We break down how easy or hard puzzles are and what they do to our brain. Do brain games help us keep our mind sharp as we age? Which ones? How come some puzzles seem to get easier over time? How does the unconscious mind help us solve problems? All that, and we break down the different parts of the brain involved in different types of problem-solving! Plus, hear a special announcement from Chuck! Thanks to our Patrons Ken Abe, Oscar h, Travis Mansfield, Skyler Pierce, C Hough, Sunny Day, Ashlynn Iglesias, Shain Dholakiya, Joy Jane, and Elena Grab 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

Do you feel the need… the need for speed?! On this Explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice break down why this might actually be a need for acceleration. What’s the difference between speed and acceleration? Find out about vectors, velocity, and the motion of the earth. Have you ever timed how long it takes for a car to go from zero to 60? You’ll learn about “jerk” as a change of acceleration and what it does to the human body. What does it mean to “feel” speed and the road? We talk cars, planes, and why you can drink a glass of water in a turning airplane without spilling. All that, on another StarTalk explainer! 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

Why isn’t the U.S. on the metric system? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explain the past, present, and future of the metric system. What even is a meter? Discover the history behind the meter and its connection to the French Revolution. Are there any problems that arise, since we’re not using the same units? Are we already inching toward the metric system? We break down why we may be using the metric system more in our daily lives than we originally thought. All that, plus find out where Neil lands in the metric system debate! 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 stop anti-science? In this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins to talk about religion, the importance of science communication, and Dawkins’ new book, Books Do Furnish a Life: Reading and Writing Science. How does the public receive scientific information? You’ll learn about the role of being a science communicator and what lessons Neil and Richard have learned over the years. What’s the difference between the written and the spoken word? How do you get the attention of people who don’t read often? We discuss the value of social media from a scientific perspective. We get into religion, and the meaning of faith-based belief and evidence-based belief. What tactics do you use to convince someone to trust science? Is it worth it? Why does it matter? We philosophize about truth, what it means to live in a free society, and Richard’s other book The God Delusion. What is a secular humanist? What does morality look like without a higher power? How do you create a code of ethics based on scientific thought? Discover the cost of pseudoscience and what the future of religion is in society. Is atheism catching on? Or if you take away someone’s religion is it going to be replaced with something else? Find out about B.F. Skinner’s superstitious pigeons and how we misuse intuitive statistics every day. What sort of ethics exist for different types of scientists? We break down ethical lapses in biology, like the eugenics movement and Tuskegee study. And what happens if scientists fail to communicate well with the public? How has this impacted the pandemic? We also discuss the public understanding of science, the role of academia, and how people approach statistics and risk. Are you approaching risk wrong in your life? Plus, we ask, are we hardwired to think religiously? Find out, on another episode of StarTalk! Thanks to our Patrons Tariq Shureih, David Matthews, Jordna Sisinni, Bryan Paschal, Ivan Karpan, joann lovan, Joe Selmser, Robert Pierce, Ash (Æ), and Daniel Smith for supporting us this week. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. 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

Why do humans have butt cheeks? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about the biomechanics of running with professor and running specialist Dr. Irene Davis, featuring Neil’s interview with Born to Run author, Chris McDougall. Are we living the lives our bodies have adapted us to lead? We discuss the “mismatch theory of evolution” and the biological markers that enable us to become good runners. If our feet have adapted for running does that mean they’re perfect? But aren’t we slower than most of the animal kingdom? We break down the history of running shoes and how they impact our performance and injuries. You’ll learn about barefoot running, ancient and modern. Are we trying to retrofit evolution? Find out about Neil’s father’s running career and what the proper running form looks like. Are you a heel-striker? Discover how our bodies differ from one another, and the motions that can cause injury. What do a Greek urn and the Boston Dynamic robot, Atlas, have in common? Are we in the pocket of Big Shoe? We talk about running shoe addiction and how we can get out of it without getting “sensory input” all over our feet. Can people with fallen arches change their feet? Can a shoe really make people faster? What about those weird toe shoes? How can lessons from running help us in other places? All that, plus, Neil’s convex feet and whether we are trying to out-engineer the human body! Thanks to our Patrons Stephan Hoffmann Arvidsson, Louis Palen, Kara Young, Nick Skibicki, Jennifer Magnus, Ceasar Perez, Cameron Bishop, dniel, Pouneh Golabian, and Coleman 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

What do aliens look like? In this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice talk aliens with astrobiologist David Grinspoon, “Dr. Funkyspoon,” featuring Neil's interview with The Martian author, Andy Weir, on his new book Project Hail Mary. To start, we discuss what astrobiologists think aliens look like and the fractal architecture present on Earth. Getting into Andy’s book: could microbes live on our sun? What would happen if the sun dimmed? Find out about the oxygen catastrophe that created snowball Earth early in our planet’s history. Are carbon, liquid water, and metabolism always necessary to life? We break down Andy’s invention of “astrophage” and the concept of panspermia. What would happen if something cooled the Earth? Discover scenarios where we would have to accelerate our greenhouse effect and other real-life theories on geoengineering. Would plans to shade the sun really help fight global warming? Also find out what species will exploit our changing earth as it gets warmer. Is there life on venus? Acquaint yourself with the cloud people of venus as we explore alternative ways life may exist in our own solar system. What would happen if we needed to invent things very quickly, could we do it? We also discuss SpaceX and driving down the price of getting to low-Earth orbit. Once we start sending people into space, will we have space diseases? The Andromeda Strain? You’ll learn the difference between microbes adapted to space and those adapted to a planet. We beg the question, how dare we enter into another world at all? You’ll also discover why we purposefully crashed Casini into Saturn and the Planetary Protection Protocol. All that, plus we talk space exploration, generational spaceships, and space lasers accelerating mini spacecrafts! Thanks to our Patrons Jason Mahoney, Connor Snitker, Stephen Fosmark, Christopher Orzechowski, Tony Baker, Mike l Ness, Daniel L Thompson, Ashley Finamore, Luigi Santiago-Villa 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

Gasoline pipeline hack? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explain how gasoline burns and why it’s such a convenient, and powerful, fuel. We start off with a reminder of how dependent we are on gasoline and its role as a strategic commodity. How does gasoline combust? We explain what makes gasoline flammable and how you can technically extinguish a match in liquid gasoline. How does that work?? Find out about gasoline vapors and why you should be careful throwing it on an open fire. You’ll learn what volatile means (in multiple contexts) and much more on another StarTalk explainer! 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 climate change? In this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice sit down with Senior Advisor on Climate Science at NASA, Gavin Schmidt, for the Broward County School District Youth Climate Summit to answer questions about climate change and what we’re doing about it. To kick things off, we discuss the hurricanes in 2020 and how they were classified. Then we go to who first noticed global warming. Was it earlier than we think? We explore glaciers, how fast they’re melting, how NASA tracks glaciers, and what all this extra water is doing to our oceans besides making them bigger. What can kids do to help slow the progress of climate change? What two planets in our solar system have also experienced different kinds of massive climate change? What happened that made them uninhabitable? We dive into what sort of jobs exist for people who are interested in fighting climate change. You’ll learn that climate science is very interdisciplinary and what catastrophic things will happen if we choose to take no action. Plus, find out what happened during the last ice age. What are laws that could help slow climate change? What should we be asking of our government? Are we headed in the right direction? We also break down how climate change results in extreme weather events, the global domino effect, and what weird weather we have observed. All that, plus, find out what originally interested our scientists in their given fields that led them here today! Thanks to our Patrons Jason Johst, Ava Spurr, Andrew Kodama, Ben Daumler, Ds Tillbrook, Dmitry Kucher, Daniel Hamburger, Jason Jones, Bryan Hurley, Javier Rodriguez for supporting us this week. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. 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

Why do we eat some animals and not eat others? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice discuss their thoughts on the animal kingdom. Are we biased towards species that seem more like our own? Did some species have an easier road through evolution? We talk dolphins and confront our species bias with regards to what we decide to take in as pets and what we decide to eat. Are some of the branches in the tree of life “more valuable”? Aren’t plants just as alive as animals? Find out how we should redesign the circle of life, if we could, on another StarTalk explainer! 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! 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/ #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

This is all Greek to me! On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explain the meaning of the Greek alphabet within science. Ever seen an equation with Greek letters all over the place? What does alpha mean? Delta? Lambda? Are they just letters for a frat? We break down what each letter means and the difference between the Greek alphabet and our own Roman alphabet. How do you spell the letter H? What words in science do we get from the greek alphabet? All that and more on another StarTalk explainer! 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 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/.

How do our brains learn? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host David Bakker and Chuck Nice learn about learning at the Pocketlab Science Is Cool Virtual Unconference with neuroscientist Heather Berlin. What happens to our brains when we learn something new? Learn about the changes in the brain and how it creates pathways to help us learn. How do some people seem to learn faster than others? Discover how emotions and neurochemicals play their part in learning and developing memories. How do dopamine and serotonin help us remember? We ask, does humor help you learn? What’s the difference between learning and creating? How do people think of things that have never been thought of before? What is creativity? We discuss the definition of genius, rules of calculus, and if there is a best way for our brains to receive information. Are there different types of learners? What does neuroscience say on the matter? We break down experiential learning and the effectiveness of science museums. Can Neil guess your favorite exhibit? How has the pandemic affected students’ learning? What does remote learning do differently for our brains? Can technology help us? Can you use video games to teach effectively? How does being active help us learn? We debate nature versus nurture and the ethics of IQ tests… Is Neil going to disclose his IQ score? Find out, on another episode of StarTalk! Thanks to our Patrons Steve Vera, Mike Ness, Stephan Greenway, Jovanni Mendoza, Luke Cadman, Shenaye Dawson, Mathew Green, Angelo Dower, Zachary Zahn, Brandon Diamond 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

What is space? In this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore the boundaries of space...the definition that is. We talk about space a lot, but what is it? You’ll learn about different levels of orbit, where we draw the line of where earth ends and space begins, and how far the International Space Station is from the surface of the earth. Is the ISS always in space? Should our definition of space be based on our planet’s atmosphere? Should we change our definition? How many astronauts have actually been to space? All that and more on another StarTalk explainer! 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

Are you ready for the cicada invasion? In this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Negin Farsad sit down with evolutionary biologist and entomologist Jessica Ware to answer your questions about the millions of cicadas expected to emerge this summer after 17 years underground. To kick things off, we talk about how one even gets involved in entomology– the study of bugs– dragonflies, and the basics of what the heck is happening with cicadas this summer. Why do they stay underground for 17 years? Is there a strategy? How do they keep time to know when to come out? We explore what cicada broods are, what they eat for 17 years, and what cicada puberty looks like. Are there any positive consequences to the cicada invasion? How do cicadas impact the environment? How does our changing environment impact cicadas? And most importantly, what do cicadas even do? Discover why cicadas even emerge from the ground in the first place. You’ll also find out what cicadas taste like and whether they’d be a good source of protein. Will the skies be filled with swarms of cicadas? You’ll learn how many cicadas there will be, why their underground stage is not actually hibernation, and how long they will be joining us on the surface. In classic StarTalk fashion, we ask ourselves if there are any lessons from cicadas to be taken for human space travel. How have human settlement impacted cicadas? All that, plus, learn everything you need to know about this summer’s cicada takeover and above all: would Neil be willing to eat a cicada or two? Thanks to our Patrons Kaz Barnes, Philippe Dewindt, M. Tristan Moody, Dan Hadfield, Wavezzz, Tony Le, Kyle Marston, Colten Judd, Rafael Ignacio Aguilar Carrillo, Caleb Martin 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 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

Quidditch in Space? Badminton on Mars? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice answer a grab bag of patron questions about all things athletics with our geek-in-chief astrophysicist Charles Liu. To kick things off, we investigate human motion’s relationship with gravity and how to create risk in zero-G sports to keep them exciting. Where’s the fun if you don’t hit the ground? We explore what type of equipment and arenas would be necessary for sports in space. What fundamental physics would change in zero-G that we would need to adjust for? What about on a planet with a different atmosphere than us? We break down gravity, lift, and the ideal gas law. Discover the difference between the slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscles. Which one would be more useful in a zero-G environment? You’ll learn about how physicists approach acceleration. What does the material of your equipment do to the physics of a ball’s motion? What impacts does our own planet have on our motion? Find out about the coriolis effect and how we can use it to our advantage. Why do baseball players spit on their hands? We delve into moisture, grip, and static electricity. Then we ask, will there be a day where there are no more world records? Can humans keep getting faster indefinitely? Will we have to cheat? We break down the 4-minute mile, the 2-hour marathon, and what we can do to keep improving. Learn your physics fundamentals on another episode of StarTalk! Thanks to our Patrons CNASTY!, Jilam Dickson, Aden Hahn, Sam O'Neill, Austin Allen, Devan, Phil Brady, Bruce Ryan, Rose, William 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

How clean is your electric car? In this Earth Day explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian co-host Chuck Nice break down the emissions from generating electricity and how electric vehicles really are cleaner. Aren’t we burning fossil fuels to get electricity? So are the emissions from your car just transferred elsewhere? We break down coal fire power plants and how much of our power is supplied by fossil fuels. Neil asks, how much does salt cost? We discuss the history of salt as a strategic commodity and how to turn power into salt in the eyes of Americans. How did innovations in food preservations change our view of salt? You’ll learn how this connects to the commodification of oil and how our society is similarly dependent on it for life. Doesn’t a car really just need power? Should we be more or less casual about our electricity usage? What transportation issues do we face with alternative forms of energy? How does our choice to use electricity impact the energy marketplace? All that and more, on another StarTalk explainer! 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

Are we entering the age of designer babies? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice sit down with biographer and writer of The Code Breaker Walter Isaacson to explore Neil’s interview with Nobel Prize-winning biochemist, Jennifer Doudna, about her pioneering work with CRISPR technology. Are molecules the new microchip? You’ll learn about the life sciences revolution and the potentials of genome editing through CRISPR technology. We discuss Doudna’s early work with RNA and it’s core questions: how do you go from organic molecules to RNA? Did life start elsewhere? But if it did, how did it start there? Doudna explains how CRISPR works, along with its capabilities and limitations. Could CRISPR be used to eliminate genetic conditions? Create super soldiers? We break down the difference between somatic and germline editing and the ethical challenges that come with the latter. Is editing DNA unethical? Are there instances where it would be unethical not to? Find out how CRISPR should be regulated and if it would even be possible to police. What happens when the government makes reproductive decisions? We examine society’s definitions of disability and the risk of this technology falling into eugenics. Is society ready to handle this power? Discover why Doudna won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and not biology. We explore the importance of competition and duty in science. How is CRISPR technology helping in the fight against COVID-19? We explore current uses of CRISPR with Doudna’s Innovative Genomics Institute, and where the future of this technology is going. How do we use this technology to solve real-world problems while preserving diversity and respecting individuality? Are fears about designer babies justified? All these big societal questions, plus, find what Jennifer Doudna and Benjamin Franklin have in common. Thanks to our Patrons Miguel Santana!!, Cristina Magistrali, Phillipe Dewindt, Toren Wallengren, Eric Huffman, Christopher Sukhanenya, Dmitry Pugachevich 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