StarTalk Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson Answers Your Deadliest Cosmic Queries

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are ready to get morbid. We’ve gathered your fan-submitted Cosmic Queries that explore all things death, from the death of humanity to the death of the universe.

To start, we explore what reality would be like in an apocalypse. Neil tells us what skills he thinks would be necessary to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. We discuss the importance of having the right weapon in a post-apocalyptic world. This leads Neil to air his grievances with the lightsabers found in Star Wars. You’ll find out how a meteor strike would disrupt civilization as we know it. We also explore The Walking Dead and its emphasis on the true danger of a zombie apocalypse: human relationships.

Discover more about the death of humanity. Will we outlive the Earth? How long will humanity survive? Are artificially intelligent computers secretly waiting to take over the world? We break down the inverse relationship between intelligence and survival. Neil describes how the universe will end not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Find out how Neil and Chuck want to die! We investigate the 2005 film War of the Worlds and how it differs from the original story by H.G. Wells. Neil recites the final narration from the film and from the original story.

Then, we dive headfirst into black holes. We ponder if the universe could be victim to a collective hyper-massive black hole. You’ll also hear about Hawking radiation. You’ll learn the difference between disintegrating and decomposing. Lastly, we debate if human contact is necessary for your own survival. All that, plus, you’ll find out who might have been the loneliest person in history.

This episode originally aired as a podcast on December 27, 2019.

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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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[NeroThacher]

Nothing like a refresher on Inevitable Cosmic Death scenarios before I go to bed.

Sweet dreams all, i know i wont

[alexthewombat]

I could literally listen to this all day

[Rufuary]

Neil is literally genius and his way of thinking and scientific observations of situations “step by step” is astounding. Yet Chuck is so clever and swift on his feet. His comic relief is just so refreshing. They perfectly balance each other.

[SithMasterMick]

Neil is definitely my most favorite person in the whole word. Brilliant, funny, laid back. I could listen to him reading from a phone book and still be on cloud nine.

[matthewsierra]

I love the chemistry these guys have with each other. Makes learning so entertaining!

[azurestream]

Anyone notice how Chuck is picking up on these concepts over time and, as such, his comments have become more and more relevant? I'm a newcomer to star talk and, as I watch more and more videos, I can clearly observe the, "Evolution of Chuck"!
Kudos! 🙌🏾

[IfYouKnowYouKnow.]

Star talk episodes are the only uploads that I like before watching them all the way through.

[jongoff]

When I die, I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like the people in the car he was driving.

[scrappysam]

Its quite literally my dream to have a conversation like this with Neil. Ive never found any thing more interesting than informative things about space and the science behind it. This stuff inspires me to become an astrophysicist.

[Boogieplex]

The aliens in “War of the worlds” were not buried on Earth the whole time, just their machinery was.If you remember, the aliens shot down from the sky, riding lightning into the ground and into their machines.
Thus, the premise of the plot preserved.

[not_riley]

There should be a drinking game where you take a shot every time Neil touches Chuck’s arm with his hand. 😂

[DMSDAYMACHINE]

Neil is the only person who can interrupt himself.

[spicybaguette]

3:35 Fun fact: In Star Wars lore the Mandalorians used "primitive" "physical" bullets against the Jedi in the Mandalorian war, so that it would explode when a Jedi tried to block it with a light saber, spewing boiling hot shrapnel in their faces.

[Familydude-ctpn]

12:58 high pitched Neil sounds like Neil doing an impression of Kevin Hart doing an impression of Neil lol.

[juanpablogonzalezs.v.]

Nurse here. 1 year in hospital. Many people die not in peace but quietly in pain. That's why nursed often talk about they want to die with all the comfort meds to not feel any pain. Hospice is a blessing. And most cases where we see someone die peacefully in a hospital it is because all Comfort measures are taken, and it's probably the last dose of morphine that does it. Which is why if ur not hospice patient u gotta wait a few hours between doses even if pain is supper bad because morphine depresses ur respirations.

[AoSRejects]

I work at Home Depot and I'm an Eagle Scout... does that make me dangrous? 😂

[mishaldurrani]

"There are people who will be fine without any human contact for months and even years" - literally me. We knew I could be suitable for a solo Astro mission.

[lisriver]

These two are so hilarious, smart and interesting!!! I can listen to them all day long! ❣️

[wakkocastaway]

I was having trouble focusing on my schoolwork, pulled one of these up, and was instantly able to focus a lot better. Thanks Neil

[KrakenPlayPiano]

Niel: "We don't have time for this but i wanna do it anyways, figure it out* The audacity lol 42:54