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StarTalk Podcast: Cosmic Queries: Galactic Grab Bag, with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Iliza Shlesinger

StarTalk・49 minutes read

Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts a cosmic queries edition with comedian Iliza Shlesinger, discussing topics like black holes and space smell, while exploring the potential of alien encounters and the search for Dark Matter in the universe. The conversation also touches on the fear of enslavement by advanced alien civilizations, with Tyson countering Stephen Hawking's concerns by suggesting aliens may be more advanced and benevolent.

Insights

  • Black holes have an escape velocity greater than the speed of light, making them incredibly powerful cosmic entities that defy common understanding of physics.
  • Concerns about potential alien encounters, including fears of enslavement by advanced alien civilizations, are debated, with Neil deGrasse Tyson countering Stephen Hawking's apprehensions by suggesting that aliens may be more benevolent and advanced than humans, offering a different perspective on interstellar relations.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Iliza Shlesinger?

    A comedian and winner of Last Comic Standing.

  • What is Cosmic Queries?

    Comedians answering fan questions about the universe.

  • How do light sails work?

    By bouncing light off a sail to propel spacecraft.

  • What is the Crab Nebula?

    The remnant of a supernova with a pulsar at its core.

  • What is Dark Matter?

    A mysterious substance crucial to astrophysics research.

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Summary

00:00

Iliza Shlesinger: Comedy, Space, and Science

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts Startalk, a cosmic queries edition with comedian Iliza Shlesinger.
  • Iliza Shlesinger is the youngest person and first woman to win Last Comic Standing.
  • Iliza Shlesinger has a show on TBS called Separation Anxiety.
  • Separation Anxiety involves quizzing people for a chance to win a quarter million dollars.
  • Cosmic Queries involves comedians reading questions from fans about the universe.
  • Black holes have an escape velocity greater than the speed of light.
  • Smell in space requires molecules, so you can't smell in a vacuum.
  • Space suits need proper ventilation to prevent smelling oneself.
  • Photon propulsion using lasers can propel spacecraft to Alpha Centauri and Mars.
  • Light sails work by bouncing light off a sail to propel a spacecraft forward.

13:18

"Film student explores pulsars, stars, and SETI"

  • The individual studied film in college, leading to their current involvement in a project.
  • The conversation transitions to pulsars, quasars, and various celestial bodies like neutron stars and black holes.
  • Different types of stars are discussed, including white dwarfs and the fate of the Sun as a white dwarf.
  • The conversation delves into planetary nebulae and the beauty of these cosmic displays.
  • The Crab Nebula is mentioned as the remnant of a supernova, housing a pulsar at its core.
  • Initial confusion about pulsars being signals from intelligent civilizations is clarified.
  • The discussion humorously touches on the size of potential extraterrestrial beings.
  • The conversation shifts to the movie "Avatar" and the missed potential of nature's power in the story.
  • The topic of nuclear bombs being tested in space is explored, along with the concept of ground zero.
  • The risks and implications of active SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, are debated, considering the potential consequences of announcing Earth's presence in the universe.

28:08

"Alien Contact: Fear vs. Hope in Space"

  • Traveling 80 light years is equivalent to traveling 400 trillion miles.
  • The distance is vast, but the significance lies in the potential contact with exoplanets.
  • Exoplanets may harbor intelligent life that could detect signals from Earth.
  • Concerns arise about the nature of potential alien encounters.
  • Stephen Hawking expresses fears of enslavement by advanced alien civilizations.
  • The fear is based on assumptions of alien behavior mirroring human tendencies.
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson counters Hawking's fears, suggesting aliens may be more advanced and benevolent.
  • The discussion delves into the potential physical characteristics of advanced aliens.
  • Gravity on the moon is one-sixth that of Earth, affecting the trajectory of objects.
  • The search for Dark Matter and life in the universe are current frontiers in astrophysics.

42:55

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Arts, Music, Antimatter, Earth

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson is deeply inspired by the arts, particularly music, and values the contribution of artists to society.
  • He listens to a wide range of music genres but particularly loves the blues, feeling a deep connection to its soulful expression.
  • Antimatter, which annihilates when it comes into contact with matter, is a real phenomenon with potential for powerful and efficient engines if harnessed.
  • Earth gains mass daily from meteor dust, outweighing the loss from evaporating gases and launched spacecraft.
  • The speed of travel isn't what poses a danger to passengers; it's the acceleration and deceleration that can be harmful.
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson humorously signs off, encouraging viewers to watch his shows and stand-up performances while sharing astrophysical insights.
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