A Cosmic Crisis - Cosmic Queries

How do we know the age of stars? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Paul Mecurio answer fan questions about stars, black hole collisions, the speed of light, and the present crisis in cosmology.

Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. How does the universe do it? We explore the special theory of relativity, the speed of light, and travelling using wormholes and warp speed. Are there speed limits in the universe? Does the speed of light ever change? During this journey through the universe you also learn about Paul’s journey from lawyer to comedian.

How do astronomers know the age of distant stars? We confront just how short our lifetimes are compared to stars. How do we figure out the lifecycle of a star when all we have is the equivalent of the snapshot in the star’s life? How would an insect learn about humans if it only lived for a day? What would they think about hospitals or brushing our teeth? Find out about stellar evolution and how theorists and observers combine forces to put together information on the stars.

In a lightning round, we break down what’s going on with the crisis in cosmology, who Neil thinks is right, and whether this stalemate will usher in some new physics. What happens when two black holes collide? Find out about LIGO, gravitational ripples, and angular momentum. Why send a probe a great distance when we may invent something in the meantime that could beat the original probe? Can anything pull you at the speed of light? How much of earth’s resources could get used to colonize Mars? We discuss in-situ resource utilization, terraforming, and the advantages of colonizing Mars. All that, plus, why Jar Jar Binks is actually a good actor…

Thanks to our Patrons Eric Ennis, Bill Savage, Matt Schafer, Lawrence McKay, Lowell Irvin, Chris & Michael Johnson, Steve Vera, Nicole Vorisek, Logan Shanks, and Karen Larios 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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[galacticosprey]

Obviously I still listen but I do get slightly upset whenever Chuck is not the guest. Haha

[workingguy]

Guys, this episode went beyond all my expectations. Neil did such an excellent job describing things, and Paul - I can't fault him for not joking more, this episode was probably as interesting for him as it was for us.

[Nitephall]

Paul is my favorite comedian next to Chuck. He's funny but he also offers intelligent comments and questions.

[Geezer-yfhv]

In this ever “dumbing down Idiocracy”, I desperately love Neil’s channel to pump knowledge and challenging thinking into my life!! It is very hard to find this these days, especially in the entertaining way Neil has perfected!

[sweetpeasbackyardgarden]

Dr. Tyson's communication style is amazing. He breaks this down so that a lay person like me gets geeked out. His enthusiasm is phenomenal. I mean who gives this a thumbs down? Dr. Tyson's enthusiasm alone for science is off the chain!

[RLarson]

Just to enhance what Dr NDT said... Star Wars is not from the future, it is from the past. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."
All love and respect! Favorite podcast ever!

[jasonoliveira]

To “enhance” Neil’s point on Star Wars, it was actually a long time ago, not in the future 😆

[jeanine]

Hi Neil. You are not only a exceptionally brilliant astrophysicist, but your ability to expertly craft and arrange complex concepts into a conceptual format using your infinite knowledge base and the English language, is ingenious. I love your personality and presentation as well, whether audio, video or in writing.

[nosferatu]

You Neil blow my mind and make my life so much richer and so much more interesting. If you see this; thank you for all you do. Adoring and respecting you to Andromeda and back!

[joekenorer]

I've come to deeply appreciate Neil's intro and outro consistency.

[kevinlatham]

There was several times during this episode I had to pause it to soak in the information that was just given to me what a great episode. It didn't even bother me that Chuck wasn't there

[syedhussainabbasnaqvi]

missing chuck already give the man a lifetime contract to be on every episode
he just makes the show so much more intersting

[cosmoslogic]

Neil you are one of the only people that have Genius level common sense and Genius level accidenmics on the cosmos, you always amaze me on your level of the nature of the entire system that effects us every second of our life THANK YOU SIR Big time.

[lorenzobbanotito]

I like how the comedian switched up his jokes to fit Neal's sense of humour

[MarcoPolo-jeej]

"Mmm....I'm full"
(pats belly)
*That was a big heaping plate of knowledge.*

[torstenjosephkartelmeyer]

As a German, I really love your combination of Science and "Comedy"... its so much easier to learn with a lough! There is just one Prof in Germany, called Harald Lesch, I love to follow...

[kmbrezina]

It's awesome how you can explain this, as complex as it is, to us and that you take the time to do it. Thank you.

[Atmanyatri]

I just want to say, thank you very much dr tyson for all the efforts you put to educating the public, you’re a a true hero and inspiration. Thank you

[D__Cain]

y’all so mean, he comes once in a while to cover for chuck. relax and be nice because he’s not bad and fun to watch

[mattevans-koch]

Well this episode rattled my brain. It does fit in with what my son told me-"As time accelerates you appear to become slower to others." I have become a rock. Thanks Neil and Paul for a fun evening.