Cosmic Queries - The Biggest Ideas in the Universe with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Sean Carroll

How does physics impact our free will? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host 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.
What would it mean to discover what comprises dark matter and dark energy? We discuss our theories on dark matter and how dark matter behaves. Is there such a thing as dark light? What questions keep Neil and Sean up at night? Find out about the incompatibility between gravity and quantum mechanics.
Discover how the universe doesn’t always conserve energy. If photons lose energy as the universe expands, where does the energy go? Learn why the traditional image of an atom is wrong, superposition, and why Sean thinks there are parallel universes. We discuss the role of free will in physics. Could the laws of physics make our universe deterministic? Is there free will? Will we need another once-in-a-generation genius to come up with the theory of everything?
Discover Leiman Alpha forests and whether the Big Bang was a cosmic fart from a celestial giant. We explore quantum biology and the role that quantum mechanics plays in biological processes? What will be the next big breakthrough? Are we going to keep discovering smaller and smaller particles? And finally, is everything just physics? You might be able to guess our answer…
Thanks to our Patrons aziz astrophysics, Scott Barnett, Christopher Saal, David Rhoades, and Jenna Biancavilla for supporting us this week.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.
About the prints that flank Neil in this video:
"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. inuit.com/
Get the NEW Cosmic Queries book (5/5 ⭐s on Amazon!): amzn.to/3dYIEQF
Buy Sean Carroll's 'The Biggest Ideas in the Universe': amzn.to/3BYmB86
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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
0:00 - Introduction
1:44 - The Santa Fe Institute
2:55 - Mindscape
3:31 - The Biggest Ideas in the Universe
7:37 - Dark Matter & Dark Energy
11:23 - Gravity & Quantum Mechanics
14:16 - Alfred P. Sloan Prize
15:14 - Conservation of Energy & The Expanding Universe
20:04 - Perspectives of an Electron
23:25 - Many Worlds
25:20 - Free Will
30:35 - Unified Theories
32:35 - Negin Farsad
33:38 - Lyman-Alpha Blob
35:50 - Cosmic Farts
38:49 - Quantum Biology
40:56 - Most Fascinating Thing In The Universe
44:11 - The Smallest Particles in the Universe
46:55 - Closing Notes

[@StarTalk]

If you're interested, check out Sean's book, "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe": amzn.to/3Sr5y5A

[@anthonycraig274]

Already ordered it. I have ordered your latest one too.

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

I've figured out how to change the stars by stopping hurricanes. Don't worry, I've technically already done the easy part and changed the stars. My parents were teachers and for over 3 decades, they taught their students my constellation. Those kids will teach their kids. So on and so on. See, stars changed. I just need help to make it legit and with the rest. I need to get to Texas ASAP. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, I'm serious. I get 7 things. One of them being to change the stars and remember, crazy is a compliment. Figured Neil has taken on the IAU and won. He's the best place to start. If, rather when, it works it could be converted to a larger scale and EASILY regulate temperature, end drought, stop wildfires in the west. Let me know if you're interested, please and thank you. It'd be wrong of me to not, at least, try. This is me, trying. More, hopefully, to come.

[@greatdayn4651]

You must please provide closed captions! This information is too important to sequester it from people who are hearing impaired or who speak English as a second+ language.

[@randomdazz]

Thank you so much - I need to start buying science books again as it is so fascinating

[@BeIBe42780]

We got kicked out of heaven because of free will. Think about it..

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Neil and Chuck for 2024

[@Liam-bv3ux]

Unfortunately we don’t have free will I didn’t want to pay tax for the past 15 years but I have to 😫😅

[@Mendaxxx]

We need more astrophysicists with Neil on Star Talk ❤ loved the episode

[@StarTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@ytesr]

And less comedians

[@louisesumrell6331]

"Mr. Hitchens, do you have free will?" "I have no choice."

[@thelostone6981]

Haha. Anytime I see Sean Carroll’s name, I always think back to the time he debated Bill Lane Craig. It’s one of my favorite debates….except for all the Hitchens debates. Who unfortunately also debated Bill…

[@peakrider4886]

Where is this quote from? I’d like to read up on it. My own personal theory is that free will is something we think we have but within the boundaries that everything that has happened in the past was always going to happen, and everything that will happen in the future is always going to happen that way. I’ve learned there are plausible scientific concepts which say our lives are a story book and the past is the book we’ve already read, and the future is the part we are yet to read through, but it has already been written and has chapters and an ending.

[@ricardoalmeida4719]

“The boss insists upon it”

[@bipolarminddroppings]

@@peakrider4886 its a joke Hitchens used to say quite frequently

[@B1u35ky]

True free will would nullify personality

[@greggjohnson5634]

Happy BDay Neil! And Happy Teachers Day! Thanks for being there for all of us and teaching us so much!

[@katalinpozsonyi7372]

We need much much more of Sean Carroll! So refreshing to hear his smart answers to difficult questions. Greetings from Hungary!

[@shiftylad9938]

Loved this. Very enjoyable from Ireland 🇮🇪 Negin was a favorite 👍👍👍

[@eylesit9268]

I've watched a lot of Sean Carroll on KZbin, and they are all enjoyable. But in this discussion he comes across the most relaxed, funny, slightly cheeky, and good-natured that I've seen so far. Good chemistry between these three. Hope they do another one sometime.

[@MelindaKucsera]

My two favorite astrophysicists on the same podcast! This is awesome. I didn't know Sean's new book came out. I'm still making my way through his book, Something Deeply Hidden.

[@alanhehe4508]

Very interesting discussion, and I love that you all still have a good sense of humor.

[@SamayaGhar]

Attended dr Tyson’s event “ astrophysicist goes to the movies II” last night. And now here he is again just a day later on my phones screen with a new startalk episode. I love it!

[@RedHealthBlueMana]

One of the most interesting dialogues and Q&A in 2022. A must watch. The topics are so interesting, but the overall attitude is so relaxed. Just mesmerizing.

[@scottcarr8738]

Right? In its original form I spread this across my friends. More than once for that matter!

[@andypeiffer5]

Was just thinking it would be nice to have these questions time stamped and then BOOM there they were in the description. Thanks!

[@frogz]

eyes so red, topics so interesting, startalk never disappoints

[@sebastronomical]

Are you watching star talk high sir

[@frogz]

are you watching high star talk, while high?

[@sebastronomical]

@@frogz why yes, yes I am

[@cloudrouju526]

Sean Carrol and Neil! What a treat!

[@ericvulgate]

I don't think I've tried to talk someone out of their free will. I WILL say that believing we have free will must be very important to our survival for us to cling to it so strongly.

[@yeoj_]

Just not the same without chuck

[@DanceBeforeTheStorm_]

"smarticle" is my favourite new word ❤️ In my head it means little bits of information that are proven to be true i.e. making me smarter ☺️

[@tanyawade5197]

YES! I loved that lil slip of Negin’s. I’ll keep that in mind for use in everyday convos😁.

[@tanyawade5197]

This was GREAT! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fun, amusing & casually mind-blowing!!

[@SolarisBali]

Always love Sean Carroll

[@walterfristoe4643]

Sherlock Holmes's dictum: "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

[@JoeVanGogh]

That quote is on my wall

[@dqixsoss7436]

Always looking forward to these !

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Thanks, everybody! That was enlightening, as always, and fun too. :)

[@ramonortiz7462]

Really? Why doesn't GRAVITY ITSELF POSSESS one IOTA of PRESENCE, SUBSTANCE or FORM of ITSELF to DIRECTLY DETECT, IDENTIFY, ISOLATE or HARNESS on the earth!!?? Donald Hoffman and Lex Fridman admit that GRAVITY, spacetime and Quantum FIELD theory are DOOMED because they are FAKE/INTANGIBLE!! kzbin.infozSWkjhLD1lU?feature=share

[@chisquare5701]

I'm impressed with Sean's quick, informative, clear responses.

[@frankwestphal8532]

Sean Carroll is now one of my favorite physicists. I love his depth of knowledge and flexibility of thinking. People like him and Brian Greene, appear to me, to be on the cutting edge of human understanding of the universe. And I'm sure I'm missing others that I will soon discover as well. One thing that sometimes bothers me about scientists in general, is a level of arrogance about our understanding of various systems. But we don't know what we don't know, therefore we always need to keep a partially open mind. The more I learn about the universe, the more humble I become relative to it, becasue I can start to see how much I don't know, and that some of the concepts the universe incorporates might not even be grasp-able to my (or even any) human brain at his time. When humans have lived 14 billion years, maybe we'll know it all. Until then, I'm going to be listening, learning, and ever evolving. And as always, thank you to Neil and Startalk co hosts and guests for bringing this great content to us!

[@MichaelSmith420fu]

My modern perspective on the question "do I (we) have free will?"- First.. you have have to think deep and long about what is "I" or the "self". I think that if one is willing to accept physics and spacetime then they have to admit that everything is just borrowed, re-emulated versions of what came before. I mean look at a kid who is a splitting image of their parent. Their jeans are similar, their perspectives, morals, strength, weaknesses, ability to conceptualize...even things like that.. are all related directly to their nurture,nature,and environment. So if you can accept that, once you start thinking about Free Will and the self and wear this so called Free Will is coming from you can start to get a more realistic understanding of what is going on. Remember like we were joking about.... It's complexity 😋

[@MichaelSmith420fu]

Think non-dual

[@lynnh775]

Does anyone else thing Sean sounds like Alan Alda? Love Neil and anything to do with cosmos. Loved this video.

[@Kandylanekira]

OK I love this! Although, Sean Carroll will continue to go even further if he realizes that he hasn’t learned everything there is to learn. I can tell Neil is always still thinking outside the box like he doesn’t know everything which is why I hear so he is. It’s always super fun watching these so thank you for sharing them with us!

[@HGALAXIES]

One of the best discussions on your podcast. 🔥✌️

[@slimshadyfoeva333]

Just listened to Sean Carrolls audiobook yesterday and was hyped to see Neil just had him on his podcast

[@dfloyd2279]

They are having so much fun it's Kool. This is why Mr. Tyson is such a great teacher communicator and educator. Simply the best. IMHO

[@0The0Web0]

always very interesting and at the same time enjoyable to listen to Caroll

[@buddy.abc123]

Perfect timing. Thanks

[@Salsadans123]

It is very interesting to see these kind of discussion and I have read a couple of books of Sean to. Sometimes I wonder where is their drive comes from to understand things. It could be to enhance our lives, but the more you know the more you understand that the universe do not care for us and that there is no reason for life in general. So for me it is interesting to know why we want to understand these things instead of find way’s to give life a meaning and make things better.

[@podsmagiccock6401]

What a great one everyone, Sean Carroll is brilliant and funny! thanks guys!!

[@batmanforealz4402]

I love this channel. God bless yall! Much love and respect from Austin Texas!

[@paulbarnett227]

Brilliant - as always.

[@nbd5532]

Engrossing talk as usual! Thank you, Neil, for making these videos for us!

[@garyscott4339]

this was delightfully fun!!!!!

[@slocoast5]

My favorite Theoretical Physicist 🧑‍🔬 Mr. Sean Carroll 🤩🥳 and Mind Scape is his channel

[@kwonproductions8404]

I’m so thankful for these people

[@JoyousMelancholy]

just a question. If in the vacuum of space once you start moving in any direction you will not have anything to slow you down, thus you go on forever without stopping unless you hit something (like a planet or star) because your momentum does not slow. so why is it that reaching lightspeed through "speedcreep" where we accelerate then shut off the thrusters. our momentum at that acceleration would become our new base line , thus if we then power up the thrusters again and accelerate from our new base momentum, rinse repeat. the real issue with high speed travel in space is how to controllably stop because it will take far more energy to stop then to creep up to full speed. is this accurate or am I misunderstanding something?

[@nickbisson8243]

Look up the rocket equation. You'd need a gigantic rocket to start plus you'd need to carry enough fuel to eventually slow you down. More fuel = more weight. More weight means you need to add more engines which again adds more weight which needs more fuel.....which is more weight. It's a revolving door lol

[@JoyousMelancholy]

@@nickbisson8243 why would weight matter in space where there is no gravity to create weight from the object's (in this case the ship) mass. if we were talking about in atmosphere, your right. the rocket equation would help but not for this scenario. once in space and "fair enough away " from the earth to be effectively outside its gravity, weight is nothing more then what you get from going to close to a planet or near a star. in my question I specified we start in the vacuum of space. once in space the "weight" of said fuel means nothing. so to reiterate (this time using numbers to help get the idea) when in space why wouldn't thruster cycling lead to incrementally faster and faster speeds? like if we have (just using simple numbers don't read into it) a 100kg drone with a thruster set that produces 147.1N's of force in the same direction and we cycle it ten times in space once we start with momentum we don't stop with out effort(IE: reverse thrusters) thus would cycling the engine not be the same performance wise to having had a thruster set capable of 1471.0 N's from the start? Sorry if this is doesn't make sense, writing is not my forte.

[@christinley5213]

That was fun:) congratulations again sean!!:) thank you for all you have taught us! I dig your point about us being able to determine seconds after the big bang… the human mind.. just as interesting as what you study!;)

[@gX-sp3to]

Great episode 🎉

[@stephanieburgess5190]

Even got time to watch it before getting the kids today! Thanks 👽👽

[@PedroAmA]

I love this format

[@HuJaime13]

Loved this one!!! Amazing explanations Mr Tyson im a really big fan of you, your ideas and knowledge!

[@MrcACrl]

Informative and hilarious. More philosophical discourse please.

[@tom-kz9pb]

When anyone asks whether we have "free will", they should be asked in turn what exactly they even mean by "free will". That we sometimes make decisions free of any *external* influence at the moment? Of course we do. That we sometimes experience momentarily indecision and have internal impulses simultaneously in conflicting directions? Of course we do. That we are somehow "free" of the internal workings of our own brains as we make a decision? Of course we are not. So the bottom line answer is, "No, we do not have 'free will'. It is a sentimental illusion surrounding a fuzzy, poorly defined concept."

[@noahyes]

yup.

[@FrankIsom]

This was great, I watched it thrice!!

[@kariannecrysler640]

I loved this episode 💚 Thank you so much for the effort and time from all of you.

[@caloski]

this kind of discussion really sparks my interest more with astrophysics

[@simplyme922]

3:46am. Literally keeping me up at night thinking about these things.

[@ilkoderez601]

Great episode. I love you people! Sean is so damn good and when Neil and Sean get together, it's a big deal!

[@jourdansarpy4935]

Complex is a description of the system and the amount of parts and connections it has. Complicated is about how difficult it is to live with the truth of the system. A complex relationship is one with a lot of different pieces that interact. A complicated relationship is like the one I have with sugar. It’s just me and sugar, but it’s hard to live with the fact that I love something so much that it’s not always good for me.

[@kylehart6893]

Sean Carroll is an *awesome* guest! And I like his take on free will / compatibilism

[@feedingravens]

Just came to my mind recently, like there is matter and energy, and gravity makes matter attract each other, maybe Dark Energy (that quasi pushes matter apart large-scale) is simply Anti-Gravity, that separated from Gravity some time after the Big Bang. Not that I know a lot concrete about physics, but who knows?

[@Sin_Of_Greed]

Tes, it has been theorized. It's actually some what likely, as my personal hypothesis, that Big Bang created such a large force, that I pulled the Universe apart so greatly it's ripping it apart, leaving behind Dark Matter. Or another way of putting it, it's possible that, that's the way another universe is showing it's face to us.

[@abeautifuldayful]

@@Sin_Of_Greed ...or if not its face, then maybe its cosmic farting rear?

[@skylark8828]

Or the quantum effects within spacetime itself create what we call dark energy Spacetime is pulling itself apart. There's also something called inflation which started the Big Bang.

[@DoFoT9]

What’s up with your cameras frame rate, Neil? You look so much better in 60FPS vs 15 :) Awesome topic! Thanks for everything.

[@andro8206]

NDT at Seans podcast would be as amazing as this cosmic queries

[@nickns732]

If we can’t change the past, and everything happening now is determined by the past, then we have no free will. Your decisions now will always be framed from past events and experiences.

[@danzactivaballaja6083]

Great and enjoyable. Thanks.

[@baldrbraa]

Best answer yet, by Sean, on free will.

[@simonflyboy]

Great to have Sean Carroll on the show ❤️ watched both channels all the way through COVID....have U ever seen Neil having to think so hard...🤣

[@paximaxi]

I really love and respect Neil but; don’t mess with Sean (and most of all stop interrupting him), as he is on another level…

[@tarmstrong9906]

Decided to read the description under show title,I was surprised. Who wrote the description is a really good writer. Really good.

[@user-xh2fg4wo7j]

This is a geeky conversation 😆 I’m enjoying it. Thank you Startalk!

[@walterfristoe4643]

I love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me - been listening to it for many years!

[@screwstone6148]

Absolutely wonderful.

[@Bwondema]

Neil, Your guest is articulate and terrific.

[@karinamcconell1828]

I'm learning the truth about our quantum universe ✨️ and I ❤️ it ✨️

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

12:55 That's an intriguing concept. How odd that there is the possibility of a world we couldn't eventually understand with enough time and resources.

[@nikhatriazrasool]

Loved it...the lighter tone of such a hard, complex matter. From Pakistan

[@alexhigginbotham8635]

I would say that to a degree we all exist (if you can call it that) within a set of parameters... albeit broad ones. Some might call it a simulation. Therefore we have 'free will'... within said parameters.

[@ubercoo]

Probabilistic & opportunistic will, might be better description for "free will". As game theory using a chess board as an example. There are a finite amount of moves (choices) within the standard rules of our given world. There are many factors such as awareness, response, emotions etc. If you were a piece on the chess board which has no awareness about how many moves you could make then that may not allow you to move. This is acquired through education & expanded thought to see further across the board. Another concept is a river & a fallen tree. The animal could not cross the river until the tree fell across allowing a bridge to be created. In life, we need more education bridges across problems instead of street signs already designed to keep you running in circles.

[@ryanrutledge922]

Thank u for teaching me about Sean's mindscape show . ❤ U Neil

[@walterfristoe4643]

How many of what we call "constants" aren't really constant at all? For example, I just recently learned that the fine structure constant has been decreasing since the big bang.

[@skylark8828]

It depends on "when" after the Big Bang, as the electromagnetic was supposed to have merged with the other forces ie. weak and strong nuclear forces moments after the Big Bang. It hasn't changed since that happened.

[@marchalthomas6591]

On free will, each choice seems to be the result of an evaluation. Two options are weighted, but with our own metrics. Those metrics depend on our past experiences and our character, also build by our past. It seems very mechanical and predetermined. Sure we have will, like trying to explain my point of view or accepting it as valid. But nothing shows that it constitutes free will. Free will seems like you could go against all odds and do what you will not do, which is never happening by definition. And if by chance there was a brain circuit that gives random output, there again, it would be random will, and not free will. So even if you wake up one day and decide to do a parachute jump for the first time, it is the result of your life's experience, not a free choice.

[@isaackitone]

Welcome back Negin and Sean.

[@twalrus1]

"...photons Red Shift away...." that phrase alone explained a whole concept to me...as if I took a whole semester...the phrase added a whole layer (instead of just one block) to my pyramid of knowledge.

[@Nico_Dica]

41:42 Quite mind blowing indeed 😲

[@justinrice5669]

I love quantum physics it's just absolutely interesting how when u get into it with the whole multiverse theory and the fact that every reaction has and equal reaction and how when Neil was saying something about how the theory of intanglement and how worm wholes work I could go on and on physics has got to be the most coolest thing ever cause there's no limits to physics

[@justinrice5669]

Or and unequal reaction to I believe don't quote me on that

[@subhamprasad1373]

Really wanted to see Sean Carrol here at startalk

[@mbrockstar420]

Please do an episode on the book The Law of One !!!!!

[@SteveC38]

Nice One EveryBody!

[@anthonyv4678]

We can never have free will. The second you give us free will, you're taking away the choice of free will. What if I don't want free will?

[@RfdMusicOfficial]

I really LOVE the brilliance and intellect of Sean Carroll, but I simply can't get over the question, what if we're just wrong :((?

[@jonathanskurtu7384]

Yes we have free will.

[@dwayne_dibley]

That’s what they want you to think

[@leonardocastellanos5214]

Professors Happy Holidays for you and your Love ones

[@pdxmusl1510]

There's a lot of new thoughts about free will, but not from a physics perspective. What we notice in brain scans is a thought will occur. Then you become aware of it after the fact. And your brain stitches this together to make it seem seemless as though you thought of it in a free will context. That's not to say we don't have free will. It's that we likely don't have as much as we think we do. Although some think we don't. So take something like starting to learn to play the piano. You start by basically mashing the keys incoherently. With time (preferably with an instructor), you sort of program in the mechanics into your brain. Then when your trained. You only need to give your brain simple cues. And it just performs that task of playing the piano. Making you feel like your doing it. Learning become more about training your brain. The choices you have are fairly limited. It's interesting because often times people think they need to enjoy something in order to start. Nope. Thats not how the brain works typically. You start something. Train your brain. Then you enjoy it. So the next time you think "I can't do this". Or "this isn't fun" stick with it for about 30 days at least. I mean really stick with it. Not half but it. Put effort into it for 30 days minimum before you "give up". It will take at minimum that amount of effort for your brain to adjust.

[@Bostonceltics1369]

Dr. Lenny did an interesting presentation at the world science festival to try to reconcile quantum mechanics and relativity using the holographic principle and quantum entanglement I hope y'all mention this.

[@johnpetkos5686]

I really can't get what compatibilists are arguing. You have free will, because that's the best way you can describe your experience... Like really??? "Our perception of what's going on is completely compatible with the idea that we have free will". And that gives us free will?? Are you serious? Our perception is also completely compatible with the idea that the earth is not moving or with the impression that we are something special or with a lot of stuff that's actually not true! If your perception is completely compatible with some idea, that lends by no means that idea credibility. You can have an idea that is completely compatible with your perception, but your perception could very well be wrong - and that would render your idea wrong as well.

[@md.noorulkarim5542]

Science is so beautiful!

[@asan1050]

Thanks!

[@randywayne3910]

Free will is much more than just a choice, it’s a metaphysical ability. Free will is the brain’s ability to focus or not to focus. Philosophers have answered the question years ago, most scientists have yet to catch up.

[@dwayne_dibley]

You were always destined to make that comment. If choices are not determined, they are random as anything that isn’t randomflects some underlying disposition or necessity that determines it.

[@randywayne3910]

@@dwayne_dibley the underlying disposition is a natural ability of the human brain - focus. The ability to focus, or not to focus, results in a concept we call free will. Claiming we are mentally determined, is to claim we can both focus, and not focus at the same time, on the same idea. Are you focusing on refuting my comment, or not refuting it? You cannot be both. Like infinity, random is an abstract concept, it does not exist.

[@15ragematt]

Could you do a video on the Fine Structure content 1/137

[@d.a.b.2336]

This could have been perfect; instead we have Nadeen or whatever. That's just wonderful...

[@tokajileo5928]

please invite David Albert I wish to see a discussion with him

[@ballapalleballe]

Pure gold, thank you!

[@davidt3956]

Quantum and gravity? Recently read Frank Close's biography of Higgs. He seemed to give a good non-technical description of the Higgs field and the quantum creation of particles that drive gravity. I know there's not a clear explanation yet, but it seems to be more of a search rather than a wonder.

[@F_L_U_X]

I loved Sean Carroll in Clue.

[@derrick211000]

Love startalk.