Incoming Asteroids, Moving Black Holes, & More! | Cosmic Queries #104

What do astrophysicists mean when they talk about “information”? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice dive into questions about the black hole information paradox, moon moons, wormholes between black hole universes, and more!

Why do astrophysicists worry about lost information, and what actually happens when a molecule meets a singularity? If something goes in and never comes out, does that information leave our universe forever? Neil explains the role of entropy and how particle-antiparticle pairs at the event horizon might just hold the inventory of what the black hole ate. From there, the duo heads into cislunar space. What are the odds of a 2032 asteroid impact, and is it possible for our Moon to capture a moon of its own? Neil explains the energy required to slow down a passing object and why the Moon remains a solitary companion.

Things take a turn for the heroic, and the villainous, as Neil and Chuck debate their comic book alter egos. Why are villains inherently cooler than heroes? If Neil were a superhero, would his signal be the digits of π? Between Chuck’s dreams of Dr. Manhattan-style duplication and Neil’s mission to save the "geeks" from bullies, the duo explores the cultural shift that turned nerds into the richest people on Earth.

Why would the time circuits in Back to the Future lead Marty McFly into the vacuum of space rather than Hill Valley? We break down the orbital mechanics of the Gregorian calendar before shifting to the thermodynamics of the laundry room. If heat makes things expand, why do your clothes shrink in the dryer?

The show wraps up with a lightning round: Is our universe actually inside a black hole? Could Rick’s portal gun from Rick and Morty actually navigate a multiverse with different laws of physics? Finally, Neil explains the mechanics of accretion disks and those massive black hole jets. If a black hole were headed toward our solar system, would we have any defense at all, or is it time to kiss your ass goodbye?

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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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