StarTalk Radio

What are the top myths in the health and fitness industry? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore pseudoscience, “quick fix” fads like Ozempic, and how to navigate wellness with exercise scientist, Dr. Nick Tiller.

How do supermassive black holes form? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice come to you live to learn about the history of black holes, what’s inside them, and new discoveries with cosmologist Janna Levin and astrophysicist Jenny Greene.

How will quantum computing change the world? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn about the development of quantum computing and what it means for humanity with theoretical physicist Michio Kaku.

How can we use AI to explore the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly answer grab-bag questions about simulations, black holes, warp drive and more with astrophysicist and “Geek-in Chief” Charles Liu.

What is the weirdest planet ever discovered? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice discover bizarre exoplanets like Erebus, the impacts of living on a habitable moon, hot Jupiters, and more with astronomy professor David Kipping.

Have we disproven the idea of a “goldilocks zone”? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Paul Mecurio learn about space geology, magnetic fields, volcanoes, and the origins of life with cosmochemist Natalie Starkey, PhD.

What difference does the driver make? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly break down the science of NASCAR in Neil’s interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. with the help of physicist Diandra Leslie-Pelecky.

Can you make something invisible? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Negin Farsad discover the science behind invisibility with professor of physics and optical science, Greg Gbur. What would real-life invisibility look like?

When will we create a livable habitat in space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Matt Kirshen explore the possibilities of tessellated space structures, artificial gravity, and other challenges with Founder of MIT Space Exploration Initiative, Ariel Ekblaw.

What’s the maximum human lifespan? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore how to extend your longevity, the history of medicine, and how we can live better with author of Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, Dr. Peter Attia.

What is infinity? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Negin Farsad explore whether we are in a finite universe, the issues with infinity, string theory, and more with theoretical physicist Stephon Alexander.

What does space sound like? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Matt Kirshen explore space sonification projects and Chandra x-ray data with astronomy visualization expert Kimberly Arcand. Hear what the supermassive black hole at the center of The Milky Way sounds like…

Can you predict your future health using genetics? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore advances in genetic testing, polygenic risk scores, and the future of genetics with geneticist Dr. Stuart Kim.

Is it possible to make something invisible? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore transparency, how we measure time on Earth, and how airplanes have changed.

What do the early galaxies discovered by JWST tell us about the early universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen explore the expansion of space, dark energy, and the age of the universe with astronomer, Wendy Freedman.

What's the maximum a car can accelerate? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly learn how fast cars can really go, how tires work, and the differences between combustion and electric cars with host of Engineering Explained, Jason Fenske.

Can we go to warp speed? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer a grab bag of fan questions about the expansion of space, higher dimensions, and more!

How is chemistry different in space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Matt Kirshen explore cosmic chemistry, the periodic table, and more with Kate Biberdorf aka Kate the Chemist. Is the periodic table complete?

Can machine learning predict the outcome of basketball games? On this episode of StarTalk: Sports Edition, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary O’Reilly, and Chuck Nice talk machine learning with computer scientist and author of The Factor Man, Matt Ginsberg.

What if the solar system had two suns? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice give a sneak peek into our patron-only Q&As with questions about the three body problem, galaxy formation, the alpha centauri system, and more.

What happens if Earth’s core is slowing? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore the spinning of Earth’s core, the physics of tire pressure, and the science of toast.

What if the laws of physics were different? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly answer grab bag questions with astrophysicist Charles Liu about alien heists, gravity, and space exploration.

What is the shape of spacetime? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice discover the structure of the universe, spacetime geometry, and relativity with theoretical physicist at Princeton Gravity Initiative, Delilah Gates.

Why does the universe exist? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer fan questions about black holes, wormholes, the expansion of the universe and more! What are our options to solve the crisis in cosmology?

What makes some people better at focusing? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about the neuroscience behind concentration and performance with neuroscientist Heather Berlin, PhD.

Can there be life on planets without magnetic fields? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice discuss exoplanets, extraterrestrials, and answer extraordinary questions from our fans with astrobiologist, David Grinspoon.

How did we achieve nuclear fusion? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn about thermonuclear fusion, the world’s most powerful lasers, and harnessing nuclear power with operations manager at The National Ignition Facility, Bruno Van Wonterghem.

What’s the fastest a car can accelerate? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore goal size to goal scoring ratios, the doppler effect, and the maximum acceleration for a car.

What do you dream of while working on Inception? Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt to explore time travel, dreams, and the science and philosophy behind his projects.

What is thermonuclear fusion? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice break down the Department of Energy’s breakthrough, thermonuclear fusion at the center of stars, supernovae, and how stars are born.

What makes ice slippery? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly uncover the complex physics of ice and cool facts we’re still learning about it with physicist and author, Laurie Winkless.

Could there be life under the icy surface of Europa? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice explore interplanetary missions, asteroid mining, and other exciting launches with the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Laurie Leshin.

What is the rocket equation? How do airplanes fly? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Chuck Nice go through some things you thought you knew about how airplanes fly, x-rays, and how to fuel a rocket.

What type of time travel is in “A Christmas Carol”? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice answer fan questions on time travel, paradoxes, and wormholes with theoretical physicist, Brian Greene. Did Ebenezer Scrooge get pulled through a wormhole?

What physics are at play in The FIFA World Cup? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore all the science of soccer with physics professor John Eric Goff. Is this year’s official ball made for scoring goals?

Is our universe inside a black hole? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about wormholes, quasars, white holes, and more with astrophysicist Charles Liu. What would a wormhole look like to us?

Is it time to update the constellations? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen dive into astrophysics, folklore, and our ancient connection to the stars with astrophysicist Moiya McTier, Ph.D.

What does it take to count cards? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore blackjack, quantitative thinking, and the journey from MIT blackjack player to angel investor with Semyon Dukach, Managing Partner at One Way Ventures.

Would you want to live forever? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and author, inventor, and futurist Ray Kurzweil discuss immortality, longevity escape velocity, the singularity, and the future of technology. What will life be like in 10 years?

How will the war in Ukraine impact future generations? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson learns about disaster relief and helping child refugees with co-founder of Ukraine Children’s Action Project and pediatrician, Irwin Redlener.

Could you play Quidditch on Jupiter? Javelin on Mars? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly answer fan questions about low-gravity physics, the weight of Thor’s hammer, aerodynamics and more with astrophysicist Charles Liu.

How did humans come to create society? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Yuval Noah Harari, historian and author of “Sapiens” & “Unstoppable Us,” discuss our species’ ability to cooperate, the role of artificial intelligence, and more.

How fast is a porta-potty slingshot? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and professional stuntman and comedian, Steve-O, break down the science of Jackass, explosions, and what it takes to survive the laws of physics.

Can you give a robot a sense of touch? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly, learn about soft robotics, sensors, and understanding human physiology with co-founders of Organic Robotics Corp, Professor Robert Shepherd and Ilayda Samilgil.

Why do rational people believe irrational things? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice break down media literacy, the psychology behind conspiracy theories, and how to combat our cognitive biases with author and science historian, Michael Shermer.

Can we bring people back from the dead? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice discuss restoring dead cells, the nature of consciousness, Frankenstein's monster, zombies, and more with neuroscientist, David Andrijevic and consciousness expert, George Mashour.

What is exit velocity? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore parabolas, measuring the speed of an object using the Doppler effect, and other physics in baseball.

Neil has his own asteroid?! On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Marcia Belsky answer fan questions about different types of asteroids with Marina Brozovic, orbital dynamicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Hey StarTalk fans! This is a special presentation of Real Good, a podcast from US Bank. It's a show all about people helping other people. If you like what you hear, head on over to their feed and subscribe today.

What is a starquake? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen explore asteroseismology, the sun, and what’s happening on the insides of stars with astrophysicist Conny Aerts.

Are we nearing the singularity? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about brain machine interfaces and prosthetics you can control with your mind, with biomedical engineer Dr. Cindy Chestek and neurosurgeon Dr. Parag Patil

What do you wish you’d learned in school? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice go back to school to answer questions about simulation theory, time dilation, white holes, the sound of space, and more!

Can a whole universe fit inside a black hole? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Paul Mecurio explore grand unification, dark matter, wave function collapse, and other problems in physics with theoretical physicist and author of “Existential Physics,” Sabine Hossenfelder.

How do you prevent a heat stroke? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about stopping heat illness deaths and the challenges of increasing heat waves with kinesiologist, Bud Cooper, and climate scientist, Radley Horton.

How does physics impact our free will? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic Negin Farsad discuss quantum mechanics, parallel universes, and the theory of everything with theoretical physicist and author of "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe," Sean Carroll.

How do satellites work? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore CubeSats, space lasers, and the ecology of low Earth orbit with VP of Raytheon, Sandy Brown, and associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics, Kerri Cahoy.

Can a shoe design save your life? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore how engineering can help save the lives– and feet– of thousands with diabetes, with industrial engineer Michael DiTullo and foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Jason Hanft.

Are we rethinking the Big Bang? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore features of the James Webb Space Telescope, magnetism and how the aurora borealis works, and if the Big Bang is being debunked.

What can the climate on Venus tell us about Earth? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about climate modeling, the state of climate change, and future predictions with climate scientist, Kate Marvel.

How far back in the universe’s timeline can the JWST see? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the Coriolis Effect, hurricanes, the gridiron timeline of the universe, the physics of spinning objects, and much more!

What did dinosaurs really look like? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Marcia Belsky explore questions we all have about dinosaurs, fossils, feathers, and asteroids with paleontologist Kimberly Chapelle. Is Jurassic Park accurate?

How can we keep space safe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic-environmentalist co-host Matt Winning learn about the space industry and how we can keep debris out of orbit with aerospace engineers Jenna Tiwana and Danielle Wood, with words from Steve Wozniak.

What is Monkeypox? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice learn essential information about the history of monkeypox, how it’s spread and how people can prevent themselves from getting it with epidemiologist Dr. Anne Rimoin.

How do hormones affect us? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the body's endocrine system, steroids, hormones, and how we can hack it with an endocrinologist, Dr. Aniket Sidhaye.

Are advanced civilizations doomed to destroy themselves? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore the Cold War, The Drake Equation, and nuclear winter hypothesis with producer of Cosmos and Carl Sagan’s widow Ann Druyan and atmospheric scientist Brian Toon.

What is a heat wave? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the massive heat waves that have been sweeping the world with Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Gavin Schmidt.

What is a wormhole, really? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore things you thought you knew about the physics of falling objects, white noise, and wormholes. Why do things break when they fall?

What is the black hole information paradox? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the Higgs Boson, quantum entanglement, and black holes with particle physicist Brian Cox.

How are attitudes toward cannabis changing? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly discuss marijuana’s effects on mental health with former football pro turned cannabis professional, Ricky Williams, and Harvard neuroscientist, Dr. Staci Gruber.

Can you actually grow potatoes on Mars? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Paul Mecurio explore how to grow plants in space and whether we can farm on the Moon and Mars with space biologists Anna-Lisa Paul and Robert Ferl.

What happens when three black holes collide? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore even more cosmic collisions in space, in the quantum realm, and more!

What is the Magnus Effect? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore physics through spin, banking, and angular momentum. Why are race tracks banked?

What’s the future of space suits? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen explore innovation in space suit technology with aerospace engineer Ana Diaz Artiles.

How does lightning work? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck break down the legendary science and inventions of Benjamin Franklin, live with chief editor of The Benjamin Franklin Papers, Ellen Cohn and Benjamin Franklin himself!

Are we “wired for weed”? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly weed out the myth from the science behind marijuana with neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School and director of the MIND Program, Dr. Staci Gruber.

Mining on the moon? Owning an asteroid? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about the private space industry, the role of NASA, and the future of space law with former Deputy Administrator of NASA, Lori Garver.

What happened before The Big Bang? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen answer questions about inflation theory, multiverses, the cosmic microwave background, and the possible end of the scientific method with cosmologist Brian Keating

What’s the best shot in basketball? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly break down the physics behind what makes the Skyhook so effective, as well as one of the greatest eras with basketball greats, Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

What are the oceans like on Enceladus? Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the oceans of other planets in the search for alien life with planetary scientist Kevin Hand, oceanographer Julie Huber, and comedians, Eugene Mirman, Ellie Kemper, and John Mulaney!

What happens when two galaxies collide? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic cohost Chuck Nice answer questions about explosions, asteroids, quarks, and all things that go BOOM. Was our Big Bang someone elses Big Rip?

How is CTE different from a concussion? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discuss concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, with former NFL lineman, Leonard Marshall, and neuroscientist, Heather Berlin, PhD.

How do you identify human remains? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore DNA and the task to identify the remains of missing soldiers with biomedical scientist Tim McMahon and forensic anthropologist Franklin Damann. What is the DPAA?

Is Western science always the best science? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Marcia Belsky discuss Indigenous methods to combat climate change with Indigenous scientist and author Dr. Jessica Hernandez.

How fast does cheese roll down a hill? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly walk us through the physics behind the weirdest sports: cheese rolling, belly flopping, face slapping and more with astrophysicist Charles Liu.

What properties are fundamental to the universe? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice take a deep dive into multiverses, inflation theory, wormholes, and quantum entanglement with particle physicist Brian Cox.

What is the science behind meditation? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Marcia Belsky discuss mental health, meditation, and the theory of consciousness with former news anchor, Dan Harris and neuroscientist Heather Berlin, PhD.

Say it with us: mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover the original horse power, equine physiology, and the science behind the Kentucky Derby.

What if the dinosaurs had a space program? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore what Earth Day meant for the dinosaurs, how batteries work, and changing our infrastructure, with creator of Atlas Obscura, Dylan Thuras.

What solutions exist to fix climate change? On this Earth Day, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer Qs about real-world solutions and aspects of climate change you might not be thinking about, with atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe, PhD.

Are human bodies good for space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover the effects of space on the human body and if we are ready for long-haul missions with astronaut Leland Melvin and space doc, Dr. Sheyna Gifford.

What kinds of ologies are out there? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore and answer questions about the vast world of niche sciences with science communicator and host of "Ologies," Alie Ward.

What science concepts have we not seen in fiction? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice sit down with actor and national treasure LeVar Burton to discuss future science, storytelling, and to answer fan questions.

What are Van der Waals forces? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the fascinating world of surfaces, biomimicry, and Formula 1 with physicist and author of Sticky: The Science of Surfaces, Laurie Winkless.

What does your brain do when watching movies? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice discover the field of neurocinematics and the difference between fiction and reality with neuroscientist Heather Berlin, PhD.

Who proved the existence of dark matter? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice learn about hidden figures of science you need to know about with author and science communicator Danni Washington.

How do you bowl a perfect 300? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover Euler’s Equations of Motion and the cheat codes to bowling with physicist Dr. Dave Alciatore.

Is anything at the end of the rainbow? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice break down how rainbows work, the history behind zero, and what Zoom calls and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity have in common.

Is anything real? Is time just a construct? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen answer your far-out questions about black holes, dark matter, and the universe with astrophysicist Janna Levin.

Can artificial intelligence predict the future? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice & Gary O’Reilly explore algorithms, computing, and how to win Warren Buffett’s March Madness money and beyond with AI expert, Matt Ginsberg.