Science of Survival with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Dr. Teimojin Tan – Cosmic Queries

Can science help you survive in the Arctic? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about what happens to the body during starvation and harsh conditions from someone who’s been there with survival doctor, veteran, and contestant on Season 9 of Alone, Dr. Teimojin Tan.

We discover Arctic warfare and what it takes to survive in the wild. What will kill you first in a survival scenario? We rank the things you need to survive and explore the importance of companionship. Teimojin tells us about his experience living alone in the Arctic for 63 days and what methods he used to avoid drop shock. What is the hardest mental aspect of surviving alone?

Learn the stages of what the body goes through during starvation. What is it like to be a doctor and knowing exactly what's happening inside your body as it's happening? We discuss ketosis, the body’s metabolic rate in the Arctic, and what happens when your fat stores deplete. How do you prevent sickness in the wild? How would we deal with isolation and intense environments in space travel?

What are best practices for designing a shelter for extreme cold? We discuss fluid dynamics and how best to retain heat. Can humans survive on drinking their own urine? Learn why that’s not such a good idea in a survival situation. We explore the law of the end of the world, the realities of self-amputation, primitive methods for staving off infection, and even more…

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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 - Intro to Survival
7:00 - Death Sequence Ranked: Our Needs to Survive
10:30 - Experience on Alone
14:43 - Coping with Confinement
20:40 - Hallucination, Mentality, & Genghis Khan
24:32 - Stages of Starvation & Ketosis
30:35 - Preventing Sickness in the Wild
34:09 - Applying Survival to Space Travel
41:15 - Best Practices for Designing Shelter
43:51 - Is Drinking Urine Ever a Good Idea?
45:33 - Hallucinations at Altitude
48:48 - Apocalypse Preparation
50:35 - Staving Off Infection & Survival Medicine
54:28 - Can You Cut Off Your Own Limb?

[StarTalk]

How long do you think you could survive alone in the wilderness?

[johnandrews]

Working at a Max security prison for 13 years, watched as we released Max prisoners that spent years in solitary confinement, with no more than a small amount of money, a bus ticket and some new clothes, and folks wondered why they were back in less than a month. It had to be terrifying to leave your home for years getting meals, some minor counseling, and then sent out to fend for yourself.

[silvershadow]

Great episode!! But, just to be clear..NEIL AND CHUCK don't keep interrupting the host!!!!

[benjaminpreal]

I only watch episodes if chuck is there. Neil and chuck the best combo fr

[Mona_Lisa]

Please get this guy on again. I grew up watching Survivor Man, and have always been enamored by the way a single person is able to survive any kind of natural element thrown their way. Fantastic episode!

[worshipingIAM]

absolutely one of my favorite episodes so far!

[frankwestphal]

"Inexorably tethered to the corporeal" And this is why Chuck is known as Lord Nice... He just expanded my vocabulary :)

[Tree-thingz]

This was an engaging discussion. 🕺 Practicing gratitude and asking for what you need makes for a great daily practice.

[worshipingIAM]

more of this guys please!!! fascinating!!!

[bredemeijer]

Chuck is such a great question asker. Perfect together with Neil. Not only for comedic relief.

[Wis_Dom]

9:42 I love to be alone. I don't need a dog or a pet, i'm emotionally content. From my experience, people who like other people are parasitic. And that's the reason they need to be around others (whether it's emotionally or financially). But i believe if you are a leader and self efficient in every way, then you end up not liking people at all. Of course, there are way more followers than leaders, so that explains the favoring statistics on why the masses of people need others.

[MistSoalar]

It was interesting and scary at the same time. Mad respect to Dr.Tan for what he's done.

[JustAndreaEdna]

I can't help but think that this has to do with the celebrations of the solstice and how people will travel such great distances just to gather together in huge numbers to celebrate something they agree on.

[kubek]

About that loneliness part. I LOVED that about pandemic that I didn't have to meet other people. My parents and brothers cancelled easter because of pandemic so I didn't have to visit anybody and could stay at home (I live alone, never been in a relationship, never even dated) it was awesome! I wish they'd make a holiday commemorating the pandemic like one day full lockdown. But that won't happen because most people die when they don't have anyone to talk to.

[mitseraffej]

Dr Tan’s advice to wash wounds is spot on. I recently had a fight with a power tool and the treating doctor spent significant time irrigating the wound. Unfortunately it still became infected and I required antibiotics.

[jmanj]

7:50 Stop the Bleeding is the second step in lifesaving. The first is Clear the Airway.

[bigdre]

It’s a difference in choosing to be alone rather than forced to be alone . I can choose all day to stay to self but if something catastrophic happens and I see I’m a lone survivor that may mess with me a bit .

[iwayansuandi]

I feel gratitude from his experience. Thank you startalk🙏

[paulheartsongs]

Loved this episode! So many different influences in this discussion. Thank you Dr Tan.

[jeremymoses]

😂😂😂 Chuck slipped a few more IQ points than Neil was expecting