Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains How Quantum Physics Can Spoil Food

How can quantum physics spoil food? You know how food usually spoils, but quantum physics?! On this StarTalk explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are here to fill you in on the physics of what’s going on in your fridge.

First, we need to know how most food commonly spoils. Neil tells us about the “normal” way food goes bad which involves microbes, bacteria, and temperature. We explore unpasteurized milk vs. pasteurized milk.

Then, Neil explains how quantum physics can spoil your food (after a really long time). We discuss “quantum tunneling.” You’ll learn about the behavior of molecules and their continual quest to be “happy.” All that, plus, find out if there’s anything you can do to stop this quantum phenomena.

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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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Background Image Credit: NASA Goddard/ESA/ Hubble

About the prints that flank Neil in this video:

[ZsS]

Niel has this perfect combination of making a teasing intro, than giving you something interesting, than something to think about and than spicing it up with debunking something. And thanks to Chuck you see someone also being curious and learning, and adds a lot of jokes. Perfect storm...

[spicysaucysweet]

I laughed out loud when Dr.Tyson described the lowest energy form a molecule can take is a crystalline form. As a scientist, he pretty much laughs at all the new-age mumbo jumbo that crystal's have high energies. I just love learning something new !! And thanks for the laugh Dr.Tyson!

[Terinije]

65, 000, 000 year old Himalayan Salt
Expiration date: 2021

Man, they got that out of the ground just in the nick of time.

[teruelryanpaul]

" Mom, this food is moving. "

[francescosabatini]

This made me think about the fact that honey doesn't get bad, it just crystallizes, which is really fascinating to know why now
(If that is the reason maybe it isn't)

[thomasosagie]

Am Nigérian, watching all ur star talk on France, DR NEIL n CHUCK, respect.

[Killshot_RC]

Neil is absolutely mesmerizing. No matter what subject hes on!

[MGPL_]

Neil: explains how molecules decompose
Me: searches for “potato salad gun”

[GetUpTheMountains]

Thanks for bringing Chuck back. The show is not the same with the other co-hosts.

[everblu]

The explainer with the least interruptions by Chuck. Thank you, loved it. 💙

[conred]

Stak talk is hands down one of the best educational channels on youtube. Neil, Chuck and all the great people you have on here thanks for educating us!

[JjVa]

How does he come up with all these super interesting topics we didn´t know we wanted to know about? Genius!!!

[FourthRoot]

I just read that Neil is 62. I'm convinced between interviews he secretly travels at close to light speed because clearly he's only 43.

[rawgster]

Sorry, I had to put this on hold. To catch this show Called Cosmos: Possible Worlds. I think you know who hosting. You should all check it out. A excellent show.

[ICKY]

11:15 chuck got that look in his eyes like "im gonna MESS UP some facebook posts about crystals, they wont even see it comin!"

[FourthRoot]

Actually, biological activity stops completely when water freezes. This occurs slightly below zero C because some bacteria will excrete alcohols to lower the melting point, but when even those microbes freeze they are abruptly immobilized.

[aseelmlies]

The real thing that I liked about your show is that you not only talking about astrophysics you’re talking about almost everything and that’s what I like it about this show

[mattpeoples]

I guess my understanding is way off, but I always thought it was the latent heat from being at room temperature that made sterile food eventually go bad. The heat from the room through random chance sometimes coellesces enough on on molecule that it pushes it over that activation energy to the lower energy state. First time I've heard it being described as quantum tunnelling

[MultiRarry]

I can’t survive another week without mr. Tyson’s voice nd explanations

[Mr_Rabbit]

Can't lie I was beginning to miss chuck, he was in the first episode I watched so some episodes don't feel the same without him