StarTalk Podcast: Cosmic Queries – Black Hole Survival Guide

You’ve fallen into a black hole! Quick, what do you do? On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice investigate black holes with Janna Levin, PhD, astrophysicist and author of the new book Black Hole Survival Guide.

Janna starts off by telling us about how her new book Black Hole Survival Guide is “dispelling misconceptions about black holes.” You’ll get a quick refresher from Neil and Janna about “spaghettification” and if there’s any way to prevent that from happening to you if you were to fall into a black hole. Janna gives us a detailed description of what happens when you fall into a black hole and why it’s “safer” to fall into a bigger black hole.

Find out why you create a “storm” when you head into a black hole. Discover what it would be like to watch someone cross the event horizon from a distance. We discuss “time dilation.” You’ll learn what happens when there’s a “ring down” between two black holes.

If the multiverse is true, can super massive black holes enter other universes? Can we jet between the multiverse using black hole portals? Can you stitch together a black hole and a white hole? You’ll find out what black holes have in common with Doctor Who’s TARDIS. We explore the Black hole information paradox, Hawking radiation, and whether black holes are actually an illusion made by quantum-entangled wormholes.

Lastly, we discuss why we might have to look beyond general relativity to understand the singularity. We reflect on the Eddington experiment. All that, plus, we end by pondering the Big Rip.

Thanks to our Patrons Ryan Bariteau, Dan Snider, Shelia Hutson, Austin Cope, Zachary Keirstead, Chris Goshorn, Cory Flanagin, Jacob Lackeym, Adam Albilya, and Russell Konicki for supporting us this week.

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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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[stephenc]

I love how passionate Janna is about black holes, she’s so cool.

[vihashah]

I love when Janna is on the show! She is my fav guest!

[tomtheflutist]

This episode really highlights how integral Chuck is to my understanding of any of this.

[guyfromthesky]

These three are a great combo to deliver knowledge and fun.

[bruceneeley]

Truly one of the most engaging episodes. Thank you Janna Levin. I'm sold on your new book.

[MikeJamesMedia]

As a non-physicist, Janna's talks about black holes always grabs my interest. I wouldn't pretend to understand the math, but I often feel that I have at least a general understanding of what's going on in the universe, thanks to her ability to explain things. Thanks, Neil, Janna, and Chuck.

[Saberlus]

please dont ever get rid of chuck! ive watched him go from not knowing a thing about what youre talking about, to learning, understanding and liking it since the beginning of these episodes, its been great! he is not just the comic relief any longer

[barbaralachance]

I love Janna, it's always an amazing episode when she's around.

[cathjerabkova]

Cosmic queries are my favourite too!! 😍 I always click so fast haha, also, love Jenna being on again!!

[tahntongkfen]

I love when Neil goes “Let me make things nice...I can’t have chuck loose a brain gasket”. I love how Neil explains phenomena in the simplest possible way!

[namuwooki]

Dr. Levin is the BEST guest you guys have. I love listening to her! I would love to take a class with her.

[KeelanJon]

Haha chucks face at 25:30, I think he's amazed he's said something smart. Love you Chuck.

[NoahFroio]

It has been said before; but worth saying again, it is AMAZING watching Chuck's knowledge of astrophysics grow year by year, to the point where he is no longer really the comedic guest, but a participant in the discussions and brings with him a more than worthy intellectual repository for the topics at hand. Love me some Star Talk!!!

[lambertch]

One more episode like this, and I’m gonna be head over heels in love with Janna! :)

[matchingfingerprints]

31:50 one of my all time favorite star talk moments. Chuck's reaction is my reaction to every episode.

[Nefville]

Jana is probably one of the best science educators out there, I have spent the last 20 years reading about physics and cosmology and I feel like I have kind of heard it all but then she comes on and its like its all new again. A whole new perspective and makes me think in ways I never imagined, very inspirational as well. Up there with Neil and Sagan, truly one of the best in the world. I actually spent quite a while trying to find a video with her in it, I wish I would attend one of her classes.

[AlinOrza]

I'm starting to think I watch this show only for Chuck

[arborlawns]

Jen Is one of my favorite guests because I can tell how genuine she is as a person🥰

[kenbee]

"It's like the Blues played on a Ukulele"


Dude
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥰

[sadiqmohamed]

I had to watch some of this twice because I got distracted by the interesting stuff behind Janna. That lamp, and the high end HiFi speaker, and mysterious stuff at the back. Looks like an industrial space with overhead sprinklers and ducts.

Janna is the most engaging explainer about black holes and quantum theory. I studied physics a long time ago before getting diverted into electronics and have tried to keep up, but she explained a couple of things in this episode that I had never understood before. Now I do. Thank you for having her on Star Talk, again.