Cosmic Queries – Curiosity, Conspiracies & the God Particle with Jordan Klepper

About This Episode

Are we in the center of the universe? Or does it just feel like it sometimes? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Jordan Klepper tackle a grab bag of fan questions on curiosity, conspiracy, and cosmology.

They start with why we use the word “queries,” why kids are such natural experimenters, and why facts alone rarely change minds. Jordan recalls interviewing a January 6 pardon recipient, Neil shares a moon landing skeptic story, and they discuss why trust is so hard to build. Is curiosity a choice or a trait?

Are we in the center of the universe? We explain the cosmic microwave background and how it reveals our motion toward Andromeda. Learn about the mass-giving property of the Higgs boson, why it’s called the “God particle,” and Jordan’s improv lessons for particle physicists. Is political unrest a function of political entropy? They discuss why anger is an easy way to find meaning and Jordan’s experience talking to people at rallies. We turn to reforming education, why science is a posture rather than a set of facts, and why art deserves defending for its own sake, prompting Neil to wax poetic about Starry Night. Finally, how do you stay hopeful? They explore unplugging, family, and optimistic realism, plus confirmation bias, why people turn anti-vaccine, space mirrors, and satellites ruining the night sky. Plus, what would you do with your last eight minutes if the Sun vanished?

Thanks to our Patrons James Isminamo, Michael Kahn, Mathew Anderson, matthew yatsko, George Crenshaw, Cathy Ferreira, Friend, Lou Incognito, Halo, Tjerk Eikmans, Darlene Elkins, Antonio Jr Mangia, Paul Stumbo, John Adames, Ken Hedden, Jason Pennington, James Meler, Brian Melcher, Hoda Vala, Sazonao, Griff, Matthew Tucker, and Aaron Egigian for supporting us this week.

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