Why Physics Can't Predict When Particles Decay
January 9, 2026
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11:19Now PlayingWhy Physics Can't Predict When Particles Decay
YouTube Description
as posted by the channelIn this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice speak with physicist Brian Cox about the fundamentally probabilistic nature of reality. The discussion explores why particles decay at random times, how quantum mechanics embeds probability into nature itself, how the weak nuclear force drives particle decay, and how relativity alters decay rates at high speeds. The conversation then expands into deep limits of measurement, explaining the Planck length, why probing smaller scales creates black holes, and how this reveals a fundamental boundary to observing spacetime itself.
From 'Are We The Universe’s Way of Knowing Itself? With Brian Cox'
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