Answering Questions About Virtual Particles, Moon Bases & Negative Gravity

Are we closer in size to an atom or the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Paul Mecurio answer grab-bag questions about Hawking Radiation, power on the moon, and whether our universe is inside a black hole.

If we only know 4% of the universe, could there be entirely new sciences yet to be discovered? Neil explains why nature resists disciplinary silos and how new fields like neuroscience and AI are still in their infancy. We explore Hawking radiation: why do black holes seem to “choose” which particle escapes? We break down virtual particles and why momentum decides the outcome.

Are we closer in size to the universe or an atom? Learn about the universe at its largest and smallest scales. What’s the best power source for a moon base, fission or solar? We crunch the numbers on watts, hair dryers, and nuclear reactors on the moon. What happens if a meteor hits the reactor? How dangerous are tiny black holes for interstellar travel? Neil explains why their lifespans are too short to be a threat and why asteroid belts aren’t as perilous as Hollywood suggests. Was the famous “Wow!” signal ever solved?

Could the JWST data support the black hole universe hypothesis? Neil explores rotation, wormholes, and whether physics would even match across parallel universes. What if primordial galaxies are really light from beyond our universe? Plus, if gravitons exist, could we cancel gravity waves?

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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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