Cosmic Queries – Black Hole Escape

About This Episode

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.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free.