Confronting Neil With Our Burning Questions

Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly’s burning questions they have been saving all year about the age of the universe, the double slit experiment, and the nature of time. Is time even real?
Chuck gets specific and asks about an argument he overheard Neil have with a colleague. What is the age of the universe? Is there even meaning to that question? Learn about when Galileo tried to measure the speed of light and what the size of the universe is including expansion.
Would it ever be possible to communicate in deep space in real time? Would the delay make any communication useless? We also discuss the interference pattern in the double slit experiment and what it means. What does the observer effect really mean?
Is time a real thing? We break down time dilation, the atomic clock, what time really is. Is it a human construct? What other things measure time? What scientific breakthrough has shaped the current world the most? We discuss energy and a fundamental truth that helped unlock many fields of science we see today.
Thanks to our Patrons Jessi Strong Spear, Jeffrey Brenman, Dr. Cy (she, her, hers), Amanda Kerschen, Andrea Chitwood, Glenn Downing, and Lucas Reames for supporting us this week.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free.
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About StarTalk:
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!
#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson
00:00 - Burning Questions
01:25 - Cosmological Tension & The Age of the Universe
4:22 - Ways to Determine the Age of the Universe
6:36 - How Big is the ACTUAL Universe?
9:38 - An Infinite Speed of Light & Galileo
14:10 - Communicating in Deep Space
21:00 - The Double Slit Experiment & Interference Pattern
27:02 - IS TIME EVEN REAL???
29:53 - Understanding Spacetime
36:17 - Gravitational Time Dilation
42:57 - The Breakthrough That Has Shaped The World The Most

[@StarTalk]

What burning question would you ask Neil, Chuck, and Gary? 🤔

[@immunitycorrupts3641]

if I only had 1 question to ever ask Neil and Chuck. Do either of you want their to be alien life out there? either answer why or why not?

[@julianthegodmusic]

There’s a lot of theories as to how the universe came about. But WHY did it come about

[@ericreid8111]

If you couldnt be a scientist, pro athlete, and comedian, what would you have been?

[@ASIRA89]

What would happen if, instead of compressing matter until a black hole forms, you'd instead increase "tension?". Would a tiny rip in space form? Would nothing happen? Is it even possible to "decrease gravity" to the same degree as we can increase it? (that's all one question btw lol)

[@Highlyskeptical]

In addition to Energy, what other books would you recommend to restart civilization?

[@pdxmusl1510]

I want an episode where neil asks chuck questions! 😀

[@joseimpact]

in another universe this is already happening 😅

[@flashahhasavedeveryoneofus2824]

​@@snowice8816fr 💯I stopped watching for like a year bc of that

[@pdxmusl1510]

Idk. I think Chuck understands more than you think. And it would be neil asking. So no black jokes being asked. Black joke responces.. probably. But none asked.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

"If you ate yourself, would you disappear or grow twice as large?" - Pinky

[@ryanb6658]

Exactly!

[@Jacob-Simonsen]

So blessed to be able to listen to this man, where I want, when I want. With new great episodes almost daily.

[@izzanirfan2534]

Science made it possible

[@phoule76]

gesundheit

[@calico27]

This!!

[@eric.varillasfemss5708]

This was one of the BEST episodes I’ve ever heard! I think it’s because Chuck and Gary both hear so many great questions all the time, they are able to distill their own questions down to their essence and really get Neil thinking and explaining things explicitly. I also love their genuine fascination and reactions to Neil’s answers! I love watching Chuck lose his mind and how incredible the universe is! Priceless!!! Keep up this awesome work guys! I would LOVE to have this format be a semi-regular thing!

[@dsj82]

I love how Neil answers . The way he explain things from the bottom and eventually at some point comes to the actual question.

[@haggleboggle]

Please do make this a regular thing. Maybe around the new year? Make Gary and Chuck write down their questions as the year goes along.

[@Iammrspickley]

Make them default members of the StarTalk episodes. 🥳

[@erkinalp]

No no around April 1.

[@abstract5249]

Once a year is too infrequent. Maybe a monthly thing? Biweekly? Something like that.

[@ligh7foo7]

First week of the new season. Approx 4 times a year

[@zemopr7024]

😂😂😂😅😅😅

[@sharayalynice2807]

my fav combo Neil & Chuck .. and I lovee when they add Gary 🙌🏾 sooo funny so informative I love it!

[@kavorka8855]

I almost lost my stomach from laughter, Chuck is to blame 😂 and I learned soooo much! Happy New Year, Startalk!

[@andrews8031]

You must be easily amused.

[@LordOfThePancakes]

Nerd

[@kanishkaveediyabandara3028]

Man, this episode is so good! This type of wholesome entertaining can literally lift your spirits up! Please keep doing more episodes like this where Chuck gets to ask his burning quests and lose gaskets.

[@jeffffff12]

I think that's the best part of the show! And Neil's laugh!

[@Faisals_Adventures]

I am so glad to see this channel grow and have 2.7 million subscribers. Chuck’s interactions have really leveled up. He used to be as lost as I was. In my eyes, this channel is a big dea already, but I hope he gets hosting gigs for all science related shows in Netflix and all TV networks.

[@mollycinelle6046]

💯 % right, he really does get good at it

[@sharayalynice2807]

same!

[@BeamMonsterZeus]

This is a strong episode. Much more grounded and approachable than some others I must say

[@ceaarmarmolejo-zw2kb]

This was an awesome episode. Everyone needs to see this. The video felt like a minute long. it was that damn good. Many thumbs up guys. I love the content!

[@Denver_Risley]

It's amazing how things work. It's also amazing that anything works at all.

[@peglegjim57]

Nowhere else, and with no other individuals, are these subjects covered in a way that inspires side-splitting laughter. Thank you, Gentlemen. 🙏

[@KeldonA]

Chuck is the most enthusiastic physic student on the planet right now

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

I won't deny that lol but he also doesn't have to learn equations and solve physics problems on exams. He's excited about the surface of the topics.

[@frenchyproductions9692]

​@@EmpyreanLightASMR Nothing wrong with that. Not everyone can be an astrophysicist, but it's still integral to make sure laymen are involved in some way.

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

@@frenchyproductions9692 Agreed, I wasn't saying there's anything wrong with it. Anyone getting excited about physics is in for a good time. I've recently been thinking it would be cool to see Chuck go through a physics course, just to help him better appreciate the topic. It wouldn't dampen his enthusiasm, it might even elevate it. But it's not necessary.

[@emark8928]

​@@EmpyreanLightASMRTo be fair, Chuck has done exactly the same amount of academic research as Neil in the last twenty years.

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

@@emark8928 Neil reads papers and keeps up with a ton of peers, so I give him a pass for not focusing on one subject for a year

[@waliky2002]

I don’t know but we are blessed to have Neil talking about these amazing mind blowing ideas.

[@debramiller3548]

For this 70 year old with a bone head 12th grade education? I’m so happy to be listening and some what comprehending what is being “taught” here. This type of education needs to be taught from kindergarten through 12th grade. Change the antiquated teaching mythologies to real education that children learn important lessons ✌🏼💖

[@petersage5157]

Giorgio is the Italian cognate of George. (I'm surprised I didn't even have to look that one up.) It's been suggested that the reason Brian May put his academic career in astrophysics on hold was because Galileo let him go. :p Hey, maybe StarTalk might be able to get Brian as a guest.

[@eddiecampbell3514]

This was by far a pretty great episode as well.. you guy's always knock it out the park because I'm sure there are those of us listener's and watcher's that also may have formed the very same questions in their mind from time to time so this was great to have them both actually ask their own questions and of course Neil always give thoughtful answer even if its somehow short as possible to save time or a truthfully answered question that says, quite frankly that even Not just Neil doesnt know but a whole planet of folks that hadn't come with an answer for a question that may never been asked or thought of or neil simply admits "idk, next question" lol i love it either way because its good that folks try to learn and sometimes there really isn't an answer because whe haven't found out yet, not that we haven't tried, bit that we just havent a clue and dont know how or what to measure for the answer to be revealed in the end.. we're all human, even the really smart ones.. lol love this show and just that single book alone that Neil showed everybody, "Physics of Energy " will have many nonstudents reaching for it to find out if its an interesting subject to learn and i agree that it would absolutely be a fun area to gain some knowledge and maybe even test ourselves against our previous knowledge if any to the newly learned knowledge gained. I love the contrast sometimes and of course love that physical learning process as it develops differently for each different thing and you get a better overall understandings for all those questions we may have had along the way. I love the learning process no matter the way because it always a curve to it and the speed of it changes as well too because some information cane be pretty dense and vast compared to other things that may be true objectively or may otherwise be seeming to be true but actually the opposite sometimes.. its always funny how that plays a tricks on some of our minds until we can actually really fully grasp exactly how vast of knowledge that can be gained and also applied too in the end.. that's just great and i love watching it unfold and really come to everyone learning man boy dont we all love Sir Chucks mind being blown at time hahaha love the show and even Gary has some good ones as well..❤❤😂😂🎉🎉

[@MB-pm7jx]

I really enjoyed this video. I appreciate having an informed but non-scientist asking specific and interesting questions. Please do make this a reoccurring show!

[@theMightywooosh]

Happy New Year everybody! Thanks for all the great videos

[@cyberwolf6667]

I had to watch this twice!! I love it even more the second time Chuck, my brain is exploding, each time I listen. Your not alone Thanks to all of you Great show!!!

[@stevepaul59]

Couldn’t have said it better. 👍

[@WorldifySanity]

*you're

[@rjrnj1]

You are one of only a few I could listen to for an inordinate time regardless of whether I understand what you're saying or not. 🥰

[@anthonyjohndemaria185]

Great episode! I tune in frequently. I learned a new thesis of time. Thank you.

[@EricRoss57]

".....went down a geek hole..." Too friggin' funny! 🤣

[@oaguilera81]

This was an amazing episode. I loved it. Do it may be three or four times a year. It would be so cool.

[@Joekary5]

Let's please have an episode of cosmic queries with Chuck answering questions to the best of his knowledge.. With the support of Neil of course

[@sstacks8962]

Don't ever change what you guys have created excellent shows always appreciated

[@psychomd1939]

Being from the deep, dark past of electronic communication (having been a Ham radio operator back in the 1950s), allow me to correct a very minor, error of no consequence. "Over and out," was from the movies and those copying the movies. Technically, it was either "over" or "out," not both. You either ended the communication or returned it to whoever was on the other end for them to respond. You allowed the other party to continue or to end the communication. If the other party was finished, they could tag it over if they had nothing else to say and allow you to continue or end the communication, depending on whether you were finished. Over.

[@tikyreol978]

Out

[@lindafox1679]

I love you guys! A great way to learn. Thank you❣️

[@kristiangreer5407]

I just wanna say I was here. 👏🙏 these discussions (not just this video but all star talk videos in general) have taught me so much. Thank you Neil and Chuck

[@SkainzWorld]

The jokes and intellect. This channel is the only place i feel normal 😂 appreciate everything you guys do ✌🏿🖤🌅

[@jaymzs8221]

Something Neil said sparked a thought with me. What if light speed was not finite, but was instant. Imagine how that would change our whole view (or lack of view) of space? We could not look “back in time”. We would only see what is happening in that moment. Thank goodness light is “slow”.

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

There's articles you can google on how the speed of light may have changed since the beginning of time. (More specifically, that the speed has slowed down to what it is today.)

[@joshuadoss1955]

I enjoyed this so much. Perhaps, more to come? The relaxed form. The questions. Of course those answers. All of this capped off with the 3 of you being genuine. In my head you are MATTER ATOM PARTICLE Long live Lord nice.

[@cshaibal]

This is an Awesome podcast, so many complex concepts are explained in so easy terms. Brilliant job !!

[@DarronHalsall]

Really enjoyed this, loving the banter and some great information . Will have to watch another

[@sRoGoRs]

Chuck is the smartest person on that stage. This is no insult. I always tune in for Lord Nice. 👍

[@morbidmanmusic]

"Which" Smart!

[@sekaramochi]

Love this. Please please please never stop ♥️

[@bjs001001]

I can't believe that's DJ Chuck Nice from back in the day. Right on, brother. So cool to see him in this discussion.

[@calico27]

When Chuck's mind blew.. so did mine, and I wanted to jump up and down, screaming like him! This is awesome.. why isn't everyone running around screaming, trying to make sense of this!!!!

[@humanform5354]

Could NOT think of a better way to end the year for Star Talk. Cannot thank you guys enough for this 👏👏👏

[@creaminmycookie]

Absolutely one of my favorite episodes! you guys are awesome

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

What is going on with your username and channel image lmao gotta admit, I was curious

[@creaminmycookie]

@@EmpyreanLightASMR tbh I forget it's even that lmao it's been my gamertag on Xbox for forever it's just supposed to be funny lol

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

@@creaminmycookie It is, it's hilarious. I thought it was about coffee... then I did a double take and it said "cookie," and then it's either super naughty or ... an Oreo cookie lmao. No, it's a great name!

[@KaityWorldXYX]

Thank you Mitch, as Always!!

[@andrewtaylor-fq5vg]

What a great episode! Fantastic questions and comic interludes that makes you smarter and entertained. I loved it. On a side note, great thanks to Dr. Neil for the double slit experiment explanation regarding how photons interfere with electrons turning them into particles, not consciousness!

[@patordie]

we really needed one of these, feels like a legit podcast and chuck has the best questions

[@brianalper1825]

I LOVE it when you guys mix it up like this! Four letters: E P I C 🤩🤩🤩 (And “thank you”; keep bringing the fun!) Happy New Year!! 🥳💥🌄🎆🎊

[@xxzerobalaxxx229]

I appreciate you all You all always do my day you all smart and funny i love watching the trust and approval you guys have to each other

[@VirtuosoVII]

“… where everything you say is delayed a half a second before the person replies you can’t, for example, interrupt them.” This is a major problem for Neil 😂

[@Rising_Pho3nix_23]

The best analogy I've heard for time dilation is a ball bouncing back and forth between 2 paddles. If the system is moving, it takes longer for the ball to reach each paddle, and we call the paddles the ticking of the clock.

[@francisjohnson665]

Love this show . ❤

[@JMoroccoMisterBoy]

Gary, Chuck, Neil et al. : Tks., much appreciative.

[@CasualMutoi]

As always, Dr. Tyson ... Amazing show!

[@80sGamerLady]

The double slit experiment is wild. That demonstration you did on Cosmos blew my mind

[@Naptosis]

It's a real blow to the ego when one _observes_ that experiment; to realise that you really don't know anything about anything.

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

KZbin takes my comments down if I include an incomplete youtube link lol but for ANYONE who's interested in understanding the double slit experiment a little more in-depth, Astrum just uploaded a video 8 days ago discussing this and a whole slew of things about light (I'm still making my way through it cause I want to understand it)

[@Svensk7119]

​@@EmpyreanLightASMRIs that the proper spelling of "slew"? That is the past tense conjugation of "slay". Would that "slew" instead be "slue"?

[@TheMonkeydood]

​​@@Svensk7119slew is correct (meaning a large number of)

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

@@Svensk7119 Of course it's the proper spelling of slew.

[@bethwhite2857]

So much information 🤯 So funny 🤣 Thanks again 💕🌴🤠

[@scottallencolorado]

Loved it. Thanks for doing this video.

[@MsSunstoned]

I love this format. Hello everyone. Thanks for sharing. I'm with Chuck on Space Force.

[@theinfamousjohnleonard]

His name is Chuck Nice although Neil hates to admit it, he’s learning astrophysics and Neil doesn’t know how he does it

[@dougb3699]

Great show. Neil has a way of explaining normally inconceivable concepts.

[@mmattel]

The best explanation of time delution ever heard. It demystifies things and gives at least me a better understanding of what this is about. I am not a physisist but interrested in the world.

[@S1M0N3-AI]

I was waiting for this one.

[@MerlinsDrAgon]

**The electron interference pattern doesn’t change simply by looking it at, it changes where you take the measurement - whether you decide to measure it or not**

[@user-yu9lr7wb6z]

"Mr Tompkins in Wonderland" is another must-read!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Great stuff, guys. Thanks as always.

[@AndiRAin1]

Time is awesome. Love it.

[@user-ri6rn7ti5h]

How long have time and you have been together

[@jc4418]

That light behaves like a particle and a wave

[@user-ri6rn7ti5h]

But not at the same time only when observe it

[@shaunakbaradkar]

Awesome stuff ! Please do more of this

[@KaterinaTalantliva]

the sweetest video ever!!!! thanks for noticing them!

[@PaulStSmith]

Hey, Neil, how would communication work in deep space if we could use quantum entanglement?

[@TheMonkeydood]

Information cannot be sent faster than the speed of light

[@OrneryElephant]

Speaking of faster than light communication, Neil, can you speak on quantum entanglement and the possibility of using entangled particles to communicate quicker than the speed of light. Thank you, love the show!

[@boredscientist5756]

To our current knowledge, faster than light communication is IMPOSSIBLE! No information is shared when 2 particles are entangled!

[@OrneryElephant]

@@boredscientist5756experiments have been done where entagled particles will stay entagled over vast distances. So if one is spinning up, the other is spinning in the opposite direction and will change if you alter the first. If we know that status quo is Up, Down and we change it to down, up. In an instant, faster than light, someone on the other side of the globe can receive this change and therefore infer the message. Thus, a message was sent, in a fast than light means.

[@boredscientist5756]

@@OrneryElephant you understand entanglement wrongly. I repeat, there is NO information travelling FTL.

[@OrneryElephant]

@@boredscientist5756 okay 🙄

[@boredscientist5756]

@@OrneryElephant not my fault if you lack the physics knowledge to understand.... For a fact, entanglement is NOT FTL information transfer... It would take you 30 seconds to verify it (spoiler alert: it is all about the wave function collapsing during the measurement and the uncertainty of the quantum state measured, I strongly invite you to dig in....).

[@metroIex]

Great episode guys! Thanks

[@foxshot97]

chuck is the only person i know of who reacts to this stuff the way i feel like everyone should. people are way too calm when they describe the nutty way the universe works. everyone should be blowing a gasket the same way chuck does🤣

[@ismailnyeyusof3520]

Neil’s really special, a wonderful combination of brilliance, humour, humbleness and just enough edginess to be extremely attractive. The way he laughs and speaks about fundamentals is unmatched and he’s certainly an outstanding member of the pantheon of great scientific human beings that include Carl Sagan, Arthur C. Clark and Isaac Asimov. Of course there’s more but these names are at the top of my mind!

[@nurnberghossnuggets1559]

George in Italy is Giorgio

[@karlxmit]

Goosebumps knowing how relativity affects halflife. Although I knew time is not just something we can only measure on clocks, its still fascinating. Thank you.

[@user-rf1kh4uo4g]

I'm buried under a veil of coming on senses. It feels to me like people in this area are conflicted about privacy v. secrecy while they're yearning to announce something they don't all want to, or don't feel they should announce. My poking at others has gotten a lot of clarity but not enough. In my opinion, if the situation runs around in metaphor and begets sides at one another's inputs, then too much secrecy is wreaking havoc. I'm here because I grew up in this spot so I don't want to abandon who were always here. I'll stay here no matter what feelings and I'll hold on together until I'm 85, like my mom did. If anybody hurts my feelings I'll stay true to them, anyway.

[@johannhuman532]

Great show! About the double slit experiment, I guess we have actually some explanation. It is that the electron has a probabilistic presence rather than a punctual position. And this probabilistic presence behaves like a wave in a vacuum. Until the particle interacts with something, there are situations where it can spread in space. So a more specific answer could be that the electron doesn't really interfere with itself, but its density of probability does interfere with itself.

[@andrearaimondi882]

Chuck’s questions are 🔥

[@mestinks]

What was great for me about this podcast was it seeved as some revision for all the physics youtubes ive tried to follow so I dont just forget the ideas

[@chrisclayborn4963]

I watched you on everything u get on your so real and straightforward I learned a lot of things because of you so thank you

[@cybervoid666]

Thanks for feeding my brain! 🤗🤗🤘

[@theElrin]

Now THAT was an informative ep.!

[@joseimpact]

what a great episode and im half way through watching it

[@jones1351]

Size of the Universe; that was mind blowing. Communication thru wormholes. I always assumed that was what Picard meant when he'd order up a 'sub-space frequency' for communications. And how The Enterprise could talk to Star fleet across galaxies in real time. Gr8 questions and answers.

[@garyluciani1082]

Interesting, instructive and very entertainig for someone like myself who has a surface level understanding of the questions asked here.

[@user-po7wp2yz7z]

I love you guys! Great information and great humor.

[@joyboricua3721]

Such a great team! 😊

[@evhwolfgang2003]

Keep listening, Chuck!

[@GAMEOVERTBH]

Chuck needs his own KZbin channel 👀 ❤️

[@user-xh2fg4wo7j]

Oh I enjoyed how passionate they became for their burning questions! Thank you so much Neil for explaining in layman’s terms!

[@mulindwamuhammad9866]

I loved this so much......👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@ericdary8041]

⭐️ Starry Night is one of my favorite paintings.

[@lurx2000]

Love you Neil, love you Chuck, and Gary O’Reilly makes a great addition to the discussion panel. I like it.

[@marcglebocki6444]

Gary is such a square

[@Nunya_Bidnez]

We love you Chuck Nice. You are in fact a stellar Human.

[@Late_not_on_time]

Good stuff, love this episode

[@DavidRodriguez-yh7et]

Hello. I loved this episode. In addition to learning about the established laws of science, I love challenging that same science. Always considering as real what has been correctly demonstrated. About the double slit experiment and the delayed decision experiment, Neil once said that it is difficult to imagine what it means for a particle of light to go at that speed and that for that particle time does not exist. To me that means that that particle can be everywhere at the same time, but when you measure it you only take note of one of its states. That's why it can interfere with itself. Very much like what the moving helixes of an helicopter look like. Additionally, I would consider the possibility of a particle going back and forth in time if it can move faster than light. I know this last sentence goes against relativity, but what if our time is local? If our time is like a video that you can rewind and fast forward when you are in the course of the Universe's real time (Much like the difference between the timeline and TVA time in the second season of Loki). What would this fact change if it is proven correct? This theory of local measurements comes from another of your podcasts when you talk about the multiverse and someone said that if the Universe is infinite, then it covers all kinds of possibilities. So it is likely that some parts of our Universe have different laws of physics, maybe what we think are the limits of our Universe is just the wall, the event horizon with another bubble in space that has other laws of physics . Different speeds of light, different gravitational accelerations and different forces, all of this is possible under this premise. Sorry for all the pseudoscience, i just want to know what all these would mean if is real.

[@jakeschleeve9205]

I've always been obsessed with the stars and planets but 39 and just an obsession at this time 😢 Love the videos I've learned a ton

[@torstendiekhoff]

@Prof. Tyson, love your insights on science! Quick burning question: At the equator, time is both faster (being further from Earth's center) and slower (due to higher velocity around Earth's center). Which effect is more dominant? Thanks for making science so engaging!

[@maxigen]

Absolutely AMAZING!

[@R1CH130]

On the question about the size of the universe and the observable universe to us, I always wonder where the centre point of the big bang is! Also, how close are we to the centre, where the big bang took place? I guess we'll never know, but its always fascinated me! The idea that we could be relatively close to the centre, with even distance to the edge of the universe in all directions, or we could be right out towards the edge so that the universe is one direction, could expande many many more times further, than it does in another!

[@extravagantpanda7962]

There is no center of the universe or any one point where the big bang happened. Think of the universe at the moment the big bang began as the surface of a very tiny sphere (not necessarily accurate but this is just an analogy). The big bang is just the rapid expansion of this sphere (like blowing up a balloon). The surface expands at each point in all directions simultaneously, and there is no one point anywhere on the surface that can intrinsically be called the center.

[@phyllissanfiorenzful]

Love the art on the walls 😊