Can a sandworm really zoom like that in Dune? 😂 Had to set Colbert straight on the science

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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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[Zapscallion]

They are sand rockets, they consume sand and forcefully expel it from the rear.

Also read the book it explains it better.

[rhov-anion]

That joke was FIRE, but there are 4 kinds of snake propulsion. There's serpentine as Neil is picturing, sidewinders, concertina (so named because they work like an accordion) and what we see in "Dune" is rectilinear motion, also known as HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THAT SNAKE IS TORPEDOING STRAIGHT AT ME

(My friend being huge into snakes comes in handy suddenly.)

[MrSocks]

That dude caught me off guard with that hilarious joke 😂😂😂😂

[HenriqueErzinger]

That depends on the type of snakes. Some move with muscle contraction instead.

[finn-excn]

The thinking behind it is that the worms are so long that they can push themselves like an earthworm

[Aaron]

Rectilinear: Snakes move in a straight line, using muscles that connect their skin to their skeleton to lift and pull their belly scales. This mode of locomotion is most common in heavy-bodied snakes, such as boas, pythons, and African adders

[comedianking]

The gaboon viper moves in a straight line if im not mistaken

[robertbuzby]

One can place a snake inside of a straight tube slightly larger than the circumference of the snake at its fattest part and it can still slither through the tube...because snakes have broad ventral scales which move in a coordinated motion similar to millipede legs/segments...

[-cq]

Loved this episode, too bad it was so short.

[ezee]

Ever see how a Gabon Viper moves? check it out. It does NOT slither. Moves straight.

[theshogunsimonpayne]

That pride joke came outta nowhere man. Plus he just slid it in so smoothly
🤣🤣🤣

[amir_kn]

They move by liquidation of sand using their vocal cords

[chocolatepotato]

The parade man must be protected at all costs lmao.

[codename]

Oh, Mr. Neil don’t break my heart like this.

[DesignedByMayo]

Oh Neal so smart you are. They use the rapid vibration of each individual scale as legs. Like a rowing team on a lake.

[wsjustice]

The worm moves by mental telepathy or telekenesis. It move the particles in front of it rapidly out of the way as it just moves forward.

[bhaveshshah]

It's a giant sci-fi sandworm Neil

[darkdraconis]

the worms move by using "rectilinear locomotion" which snakes use too

[therealaustink]

There's snakes like ball pythons and gaboon vipers that don't slither to the sides they crawl straight using their belly scales to move forward and pull themselves along in a straight line. I hate it when ppl confidently say false statements

[rikk]

Man that joke at the end got me, I have to admit it