Cosmic Queries – Science Epiphany

About This Episode

What would a wormhole actually look like? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice break down a grab bag of questions about nothingness, the nature of miracles, the role of AI in scientific discovery and more!

What would a wormhole look like in space, if one existed? Learn about the math of spacetime and how the idea of a wormhole came about. Is the idea of a wormhole connected to blackholes somehow? We also discuss Superman and what it would be like to have instantaneous travel.

Has Neil ever had a spiritual epiphany while studying science? We discuss so-called religious experiences and what it means to be “in awe” of the world. We also explore how science ruins miracles and how true miracles are actually just new laws of physics. Plus, what would Neil say to someone if they contacted him from beyond the grave?

Is it possible for there to be nothing? Learn about nothingness, virtual particles, and vacuum energy. Does artificial intelligence have the ability to make scientific discoveries? Find out about what AI can and cannot do, plus, how quantum computing could change the AI game. All that, plus, we break down how to foster a love of science in a young person.

Thanks to our Patrons Alan j weiner, Eric DeCarlo, Christian Sava, Joseph Eugene Renner, Nathan Neal, Chandra Cirulnick, and Craig I Hounsell for supporting us this week.

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