Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Albedo

What the heck is albedo? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice have some fun in the sun with reflectivity and the definition of albedo.

What is high albedo? Are there any things that have no albedo? We talk about brightness, and objects that reflect versus absorb light. How does melanin impact albedo in humans? How bright or not bright is the moon? You’ll learn tricks on how to stay cooler in the summer. What is the view of earth like from the moon? What is earthshine? We’ll talk about our friends Al Bedo and Leonardo daVinci all on another StarTalk explainer!

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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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0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Albedo
2:21 - Human Albedo
4:07 - Albedo of the Moon
5:34 - Clothes That Absorb The Most Sunlight
7:11 - Albedo of the Earth
9:02 - Earth As Seen from the Moon
12:31 - Da Vinci’s Discovery
13:52- Closing Notes

[dwightk.schrute]

Guys we need to do something, chuck is getting smarter day by day.

[rebellious]

I like how this comment section is split into those here for science, those here for Genshin, and those here for the one and only Lord Ainz Oal Gown.

[leeds]

4:45 Look how excited Neil is when chuck comes in correctly at a different angle on something he hadn't planned on explaining in that way.

[yannis]

Very nice episode! We use albedo measurements a lot in solar power industry. Modern solar panels are made “bifacial” which means roughly that they produce power from light coming in behind them reflected from the ground. Modern solar power plants use albedo enhancements methods like white marble stones or aluminium/white plastic surfaces to enhance the albedo and give a solar panel about 20% more power!

[xxvaltielxx]

Science and Overlord, two of my favorite things

[kylebowles]

We computer graphics types like this stuff, very important for physically based rendering, best part is that scientists have measured all the things for us :)

[onalennasehume]

The conversation about the Earth's albedo in relation to the moon genuinely blew my mind. Wow, just wow!

[RodrigoMllo]

I love when Chuck realizes something his own way, and that makes so much sense for Neil, that we mere mortals get that even greater "mind blowing" moment, such as 4:46

[sansri]

Wow! And I always thought Albedo was the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius!

[xtremeakim]

Comedian Chuck acts dumb... but super smart, he gets everything, even the most complex concepts.

[Brick_Squared]

"Are you ok?"
"No, but albedo."

[saiharsha]

If teyvat had internet, this'd probably in sucrose's yt feed.

[hw_yozoraVODS]

"ita gonna warm to 28 degrees in the arctic" i got very worried there a second, until i remember you guys like using feet to measure stuff aushasu (its a joke, no need to get flustered)

[thechosenone]

I got kicked out of a Flat Earth Facebook group for asking if the social distancing rule pushed anyone over the edge yet

[Tanay_Tibrewal]

And I thought Albedo from Genshin Impact 😂🤩

[googlemechuck]

fair skin is a charming phrase... It means my darker skin is faring less...unfair skin

[peterholmes]

Basically, Albedo is a support character from Genshin Impact who wields a sword and the Geo element.

[lxathu]

I'm in trouble again as usually when I want to save a Startalk episode. It's always hard to decide if it should go to my Science or to my Fun folder.

[tanadarko]

I love chuck so much - he's the perfect co-host. I had the exact same reaction he did to the earth absorbing 70% of the heat and also when you can see the dark part of the moon!!

[RantCraft]

Al Bedo has a brother Lee, he's got 15 kids.