Neil & Chuck's Meet, Black Holes & More | Star Trek S2

One show. Infinite adventures. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns July 17, only on Paramount+.

How much do we actually know about the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer fan questions from plasma propulsion to quantum gravity to black hole escape plans.

What if you aimed gravitational waves at a double slit experiment? Could a time machine let you escape a singularity? Neil breaks down wave-particle duality, the idea of gravitons, and how stepping into a higher dimension might be your key out of a black hole, if you survive long enough.

Next, it’s plasma propulsion, 1g acceleration, and why your spacecraft would need to flip halfway through a long journey. Plus, learn the origin story of Neil and Chuck’s partnership. How did Neil and Chuck meet? What would happen if they hadn’t met? We break down the contingencies of life and how much we actually know about the universe. Neil reflects on the 4% we understand, the 96% we don’t, and whether aliens would consider us intelligent at all.

We also explore Planet X, the Kardashev Scale, edibles, multiverse mischief, black hole evaporation, and whether spinning a proton could destroy the solar system. (Spoiler: probably not, but don’t try it.)

Thanks to our Patrons Jes Cochran, Todd Buedingen, Eugene, Nana, Richard Watkins, Mike, Christopher Gardiner, ProsciuttoDiKarma, zudasworld, Sis, Mitchell Adkins, Daniel McPaddne, James DeSalvo, David Williams, Ser Xanthos, Denis Genest, Kelly, Adam, Ben, jeasterbrook78, Misty Haisfield, Michelle Slaughter, Asher Sidman, Don Nelson, Moviefiend, jamicha keaton, Braulio Bianco, Bugsta, Antonio Bshara, Daniel Grundman, Dragoste Daniel, Jonathan Ongay, Sieve Sailor, Alexander Hughes, Glen Kendrick, Aprameya, Meet Chokshi, and Georgi Rusev for supporting us this week.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Grab Bag
02:24 - Gravitational Wave in a Double Slit Experiment
06:53 - Escaping a Black Hole
12:39 - Decelerating a Plasma Rocket
21:32 - What Would Happen If Neil & Chuck Never Met?
27:03 - Our Grade on Understanding the Universe
32:02 - The Kardeshev Scale
38:35 - If We Had An Extra Planet
41:48 - Creating a Black Hole


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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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