James Webb Space Telescope with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Natalie Batalha — Cosmic Queries

What’s the deal with the James Webb Space Telescope? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen learn about the JWST and what new things it will help us discover with NASA astronomer Natalie Batalha and filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn.

Will this telescope help us find habitable planets? Another Earth perhaps? We discuss Nathaniel’s new documentary, The Hunt for Planet B, which follows scientists as they research and build humanity’s largest and most cutting-edge space telescope to date. Why was it delayed so much? Where is it being launched? What new engineering and feats of science were invented? What is it like to put your entire career into one object?

Next, we speak with Natalie and her journey to work on the JWST. Find out the two main objectives of the JWST and how it may help us glimpse into the past. We get into spectroscopy and how JWST uses infrared light. What’s the difference between JWST and other space telescopes we’ve launched in the past? Why are we looking for exoplanets? Are we planning to leave? We get into our patron’s questions: How big would a telescope have to be to see cities on other planets? Why do we choose to send up one single telescope instead of an array? What does Natalie want to discover? We explore best case and worst case scenarios. What happens if it doesn’t deploy properly?

What will JWST see that Hubble can’t? What would be the most exciting or surprising thing for it to detect? Can the telescope detect life? What about extrasolar objects like ‘Omuamua? What is the mechanism for how our moon formed? What is the usable lifespan of JWST? And finally, how will JWST further shape future generations’ vision of this world, just as Hubble had for the last generation of scientists?

Thanks to our Patrons Stefan Fox, Cortex MC, Brenton Verlo, taylor primm, Charles Shieler, Alden Doolittle, and Thomas Harshbarger for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.

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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!

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00:00 - Beginning of Part 1 w/ Filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn
2:23 - James Webb Space Telescope documentary "The Hunt for Planet B"
6:45 - What is the JWST observing?
10:48 - Where is the JWST getting launched?
11:48 - The engineering of JWST
13:17 - The process behind "The Hunt for Planet B"
15:18 - How did the documentary's focus shift during its filming?
19:56 - Where to watch "The Hunt for Planet B"
20:41 - Beginning of Part 2 w/ NASA Astronomer Natalie Batalha
21:37 - What is the Kepler Space Telescope?
26:51 - How big would our telescopes have to be to see cities on other planets?
29:28 - Why do we send one big telescope instead of multiple small telescopes?
31:22 - What is JWST's priority?
35:49 - How confident are we in JWST's success?
39:47 - What can JWST do that Hubble can't?
42:14 - What is the most exciting thing that JWST could detect?
45:55 - Will JWST help us find extrasolar objects?
48:15 - Do we understand how our moon formed?
50:05 - How will JWST shape our vision of the universe?
53:01 - What is the lifespan of JWST?

[stephanienirenberg]

This was insanely good. My 8 yr old Nicholas and I find the day horrible when we don't have Star Talk. You have brought Science to us and make us so happy. Thank You.

[matthewmadonna]

I watched every video on the Webb Telescope yesterday. I couldn’t get enough. I fell asleep listening about it! I’m no longer sad because I can watch this now!!!

[jcheezum]

Hi Neil! Great Star Talk!! I actually worked on James Webb for the last 14 years as a design engineer mainly on the Sunshield design and build. I supported the launch and the on orbit deployments. It has been a wonderful and stressful month, but the Sunshield deployed perfectly! Thank you for discussing Webb on your program, you sir are a huge inspiration to me, I always enjoy listening to you and watching you. If you ever want any details on the Engineering challenges we faced during the build of Webb, let me know! Take care and thanks again!

[Dazzling_Fox]

I feel a little more educated everyday thanks to this show. I’ve started to see and think differently thanks to you guys. I can’t go to bed without watching or listening to Startalk. Thank you for dedicating your time to do this! Greetings!

[blaccmatt]

This is ground breaking, a big step in human history that we know of, I can't wait to see what the J Webb can see 👀 🔭🌌🪐

[myleanwe]

Inspiring, Dr. Batahla 🙌🏻💞 This was a great talk, dynamics of communication styles, information, explanations, and more! Thank you Neil, Matt, and Natalie.

[anshuljain]

May be the most important 56 minutes of my life listening to these geniuses. Incredible JWST !

[SophiaAphrodite]

The 6 months once it gets to the LaGrange point and goes thorough all it's testing is going to probably the most stressful 6 months for a majority of these scientists careers ever. The JWST is a career making or ending project for many people. This thing probably has so many redundancies and precautions when it does start working is going to change so many scientific theories and explode new avenues of science. Very exciting times.

[ThompterSHunson]

The successful launch AND deployment of this amazing machine will mark a new era of human history. Let's get it up there!!!

[dontonysgarage]

Natalie Batalha is awesome! I could listen to you talk all day!

[emXietyy]

I know am not the only one that feels peace and is able to disconnect from the daily stress by going to sleep to this kind of videos ! Love Star Talk !

[mattevans-koch]

Now I know how to tell people how old I am when they ask without giving my actual age-I'm archeological. Dr. Batalha is amazing with her unreal passion for this project. It is so good to see that enthusiasm these days. Thank you Neil and Matt for this episode and looking forward to seeing Mr. Kahn's film.

[philipblessen]

This is My favorite show
I love how Neil explains everything easier to understand... thank you

[Onestringpuppet]

I'm literally so excited at the possibility of humans finally discovering an atmosphere on another planet that would confirm intelligent life in the universe! It's so mind blowing that we now have the opertunity to see this far out. I wish we didn't have to wait approximately 6 months or so until its ready to actually start checking out these earth like planets 😁 This next few years could be the time where the biggest question in the history of humanity is answered.. 😳😖🧐🤯

[lghammer]

Thank you both, Natalia & Nathaniel for being a part of this awesome interview episode 😃 I found the fact mentioned that footage gathered by JWST will be freely available, to the public, in an archive. I can totally imagine the applications for which amateur astrophysics, hobbyists & enthusiasts will be able to make use of this data, and I’m excited for all the revelations to come 👽🖖🏽 The idea of a Lunar Base being able to someday service L2 zone space-telescopes is beyond incredible to imagine 🌌⭐️🪐

[EseEilien]

I loved that she said where are not on that Colonizer mentallity lets keep that overhere and look for planets with the mindset of learning from them and appreciate our home

[pauloricardosilveira]

Natalie Batalha must be an amazing professor. The way she talks about physics is really exciting.

[rashadd]

Excited to finally see this telescope launched. I hope everything works as planned.

[platkotheungod]

Can I honestly listen to her answer questions all day. She's entertaining, knowledgeable and honest.

[angelowilkerson]

“Worry is not a particularly useful emotion” is the single greatest thing I’ve ever heard. I can’t understand folks that worry about everything all the time!