Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Burning Stuff

What is BURNING? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explain what it takes for something to burn. We burn things all the time, but what does that even mean?
We break down combustion and why some things burn and others don’t. Can you ever burn water? Find out why just because something gets hot doesn’t mean it will burn. What do all things that burn have in common? We talk about carbon both for burning and eating for chemical energy. Are there any things we eat that don’t contain carbon? What’s the best wood to burn? What makes wood crackle? You’ll learn about soot and CO2 as a byproduct of burning, and other things around the campfire on another StarTalk explainer!
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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!
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[@StarTalk]

Survey: should future Explainers contain more or less singing from Neil and Chuck? 🧐

[@Hp_409]

More. Lots more 😂

[@bubblegodanimation4915]

I would like more but what would be really cool is instead of imitating songs they should make their own science based songs like ASAP Science and Hank Green do.

[@timwoodward9799]

Absolutely. You should take it on the road.

[@frye6666]

Less singing! And I would love to see a segment on attempting to explain forever. IE how did the big bang start, even if it has happened multiple times. Or even a multiverse, like a never ending wall of balloons popping and filling back up with every big bang. Where does it end or start or what is beyond that even. I just want an idea of how to grasp such thoughts.

[@bubblegodanimation4915]

@@frye6666 We always talk about WHEN the big bang was but not WHERE it was.

[@11kele]

It's funny when Chuck thinks it's a trick question and he starts thinking like he's playing chess, and then Neil just cuts him with "The answer is NO".

[@tripinout21]

Neil yelling "what the fck is wrong with you" has made my day

[@freeltamon7208]

7:31

[@PrimarilyAW]

Need to keep it PG Dr. Tyson

[@freeltamon7208]

@@PrimarilyAW This is in jest, right?

[@dannydemonic3665]

i had to go back and replay that part lol

[@anthonycraig274]

“The answer is NO!” 😂 Get me every time

[@SmDJeremy]

Can tell chuck gets so annoyed at Neil when he does this.. Neil's so oblivious to how obnoxious and ignorant he is in conversations like this.. I don't know why chuck still does this show. Neil needs to show some more respect to his guests; rather than acting like an almighty, superior human.

[@hassanmfaume4265]

@@SmDJeremy why are you watching this?, einstein.!

[@n484l3iehugtil]

@@SmDJeremy Neil likes to be the explainer in the room but they still make things work together most of the time, no need to call the show off.

[@michagabo8819]

When things were at their very worst: 2 Suns, Cross in the sky, 2 comets will collide = don`t be afraid - repent, accept Lord`s Hand of Mercy. Scientists will say it was a global illusion. Beaware - Jesus will never walk in flesh again. After WW3 - rise of the “ man of peace“ from the East = Antichrist - the most powerful, popular, charismatic and influential leader of all time. Many miracles will be attributed to him. He will imitate Jesus in every conceivable way. Don`t trust „pope“ Francis = the False Prophet - will seem to rise from the dead - will unite all Christian Churches and all Religions as one. One World Religion = the seat of the Antichrist. Benedict XVI is the last true pope - will be accused of a crime of which he is totally innocent. "Arab uprising will spark global unrest - Italy will trigger fall out" "Many events, including ecological upheavals, wars, the schism in My Church on Earth, the dictatorships in each of your nations - bound as one, at its very core - will all take place at the same time." The Book of Truth

[@anthonycraig274]

@@michagabo8819 You spell there, as their. Have you come to sell fear in a space that is championing reason. I think you need to take your rehashed goat herding stories to the place where you feel most comfortable and celebrates fear mongering.

[@KKMDStyle]

It’s easier to see you guys on KZbin than listen to a podcast.

[@katicabogar24]

Plus you can’t see Chuck thinking in the podcast 🤣

[@unnamedchannel1237]

What the F is a podcast ?

[@derickparrish833]

I like to compare the two

[@manandhiman1834]

@@unnamedchannel1237 🌝

[@alexandercanella4479]

@@unnamedchannel1237 Its when you cast a fishing line with pea pods as bait.

[@jaylove5555]

Chuckie you got the best job ever.

[@tuneboyz5634]

Chuckie makes me chuckle 🙂

[@DanielDavies-StellularNebulla]

@@tuneboyz5634 Something about that sounds wrong...

[@MrYTGuy1]

My favorite thing to do is ask physicists about fire. Mostly because when they try to explain it in layman's terms or too in depth they sometimes start pulling their hair out. But Neil of course does it better than most and manages to keep his hair in the process.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Yes, he really is an excellent teacher, and science communicator!

[@jimmydean7353]

My grandfather was a astrophysicist. But he taught me in words that I could understand. As I got older the teaching got more where I understood. Neil is Awesome.

[@minimalgrammar1276]

I had some confusion because I didn't quite get the difference between phase changes and heat giving something the energy needed for a chemical reaction, creating fire.

[@AustinCharisma]

Tory lanes used to be a physicist until you asked him about fire

[@Raz.C]

You should ask chemists about fire, not physicists and not astrophysicists. I thought my comment was the only one where someone explained all the things wrong with what Neil "explained," but it turns out that there are plenty of other chemists all showing the same things.

[@TrotterGrottberg]

As a dry arsed sarcastic English 40 something, I chuckled lots at this. Cheers guys!

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Perhaps a colonic is in order

[@redShiftish]

I love these videos but I believe that there is something technically incorrect here. Bond-breaking due to heat is an endothermic process - it takes heat in to break the bonds. You do not gain energy by breaking apart organic molecules. The energy you gain from burning results from oxygen subsequently bonding with the now released carbon and hydrogen to make CO2 and H2O.

[@hanpanBR]

Came in for Neil... found out Chuck, who is a great co-host and makes me laugh a lot. This is an awesome channel!

[@gaylanbalaky8578]

oh my god I can't miss any of these explainer videos, I've watched every single one of them. love you guys ❤️😍

[@herbhanson1190]

Stumbled on your show today…very entertaining and informative! You have a new follower!!

[@realfoggy]

Neil and Chuck have a great dynamic. You can just feel how comfortable they are with each other. It's a fun show to watch.

[@oldcowbb]

breaking bond does not release energy, it is there are more energy released than it is absorb when the molecule form bonds with the oxygen. This is why things don't spontaneously combust themselves

[@andresgoberna1951]

This video made me think that technically the Sun is not burning, nuclear Fusion doesn't count as burning since there is no C involved neither oxygen... All my childhood believes are changing since I found this channel!!! Guys you are awesome! Keep doing it!

[@njones420]

7:31 might have to be my new email notification sound.

[@waywardgoddess7219]

I have been binging StarTalk for days now. I can't get enough! Y'all are 🔥 lol

[@mikeontherock]

You two have great chemistry

[@tuneboyz5634]

U mean physics 🥴👌

[@mikeontherock]

@@tuneboyz5634 that too 😜

[@tuneboyz5634]

@@mikeontherock 😝

[@christianschmitt-schwehla9067]

You can burn stuff without oxygen. Like sodium in chlorine gas. The "ash" of that reaction is table salt. Or magnesium in CO2.

[@andreasstrus9594]

Magnesium can be burned in a lot of fluids. Pure nitrogen works fine, and so does water. In fact I was curious if Chuck will not point it out as burning water even though it's the other way around.

[@RichardAdarkwahgh]

Niel and Chuck. This is Richard Adarkwah, an Applied Physicist from Ghana. Fingers crossed to see an episode on Space Quantization. Cheers!.

[@Mythodiir]

Burnin' is also a great album by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

[@jamesochan2898]

You have to note that other substances can burn/combust not just Organic materials. Combustion in itself is a just an exothermic redox reaction between (mainly oxygen) and a fuel.

[@sisyphyus]

I rarely watch anything with commercials anymore, but I finally saw a Chuck Nice commercial. It was nice. LOL.

[@ignorasmus]

I know Carbon is one of his favorite elements (for good reasons!), still just a little bit disappointed to see that Neil left of other kinds broader kinds of 'Burning' like Rust is burnt Iron, water is burnt hydrogen etc. Any kind of oxidation process can be termed as burning technically.

[@silaskelly604]

I wish Neil and Chuck would expand the burning process to explain how the energy is released - heat. Photons? Mostly infrared below the visible spectrum? But some in the visible - light? Ultraviolet? So what are flames? Vapor being burned? Plasma? Heated gas? Heated carbon? What exactly is the flame I see, from a candle, for instance? Isn't rust and aluminum oxide, the ashes of burnt iron and aluminum? And because they 'burn' at room temperature, we don't see any flames????

[@SurrealNotion]

Always lovin these twos energy, Carbon Exchange, here for all to see..lol... Thanks guys for yet another eye opening video!😊

[@coachdubz7533]

The other day I was sitting around watching the fire burning in the fireplace... and I was thinking.. what is actually happening to that wood when it is catching fire and burning. I'm so eager to listen to this video.

[@GregKletschka]

Adele said she set fire to the rain 🤣

[@yoitsunoookami]

She must be on Titan, because it rains methane.

[@antcowan]

I always heard it as '"set fire to Lorraine"

[@derickparrish833]

I had a thought but I've forgot.

[@mrs.joannem.fortier]

I watch every day what time do u do show?

[@kamakshishiv]

I want to learn enough to be able to come on this show and talk to Neil, Chuck, and other super minds/ professors

[@ComplexSkepsisvehementalbeats]

its so fun to learn with you guys

[@TranceXZero]

This is my favorite episode of the year 😂

[@terrywbreedlove]

I am following you here on KZbin and the Apple PodCast app

[@StarrTile]

Burning is slow oxidation...rust on steroids. Also not just removing oxygen puts it out, remove fuel, remove heat, it's a triangle.

[@helloitsnicko]

The title reads as if Neil's committed arson and he's giving his reasons

[@abhivirsingh9938]

What about Hydrogen? Do we not call it’s reaction with oxygen as burning, there’s no carbon there contrary to what Neil said🤔

[@derickparrish833]

Water for ash

[@juliaf_]

Same with thermite!

[@jameskennedy4117]

Excellent as always... except it's the formation of chemical bonds in the products that releases heat energy in combustion, not the breaking of chemical bonds in the reactants.

[@evesoto99]

Thank you for this keeps me from the news

[@kathryntate6809]

Thanks for this!!

[@NielvanSteenderen]

I would love to hear more about the actual process of burning.

[@Ralesk]

Ow. I mean it is a fun bit about organic stuff burning, but inorganic materials can oxidise as well, even violently with flames - magnesium would be the first to come to my mind and there's plenty of more examples. Heck, even hydrogen, hardly an organic compound, and it will gladly oxidise into water vapour. Don't play with matches where you have an abundance of H2.

[@G_Dagh]

I just love the universe talk and it excites me learning cosmic science

[@MusicalMadman1two3]

I love Neil with my whole body heart and soul

[@ranonampangom2185]

@@HopDavid Lol you are so obsessed with him, it's laughable.

[@davidevans3227]

i often put these on thinking i'll do something else at the same time.. lol.. always interesting.. thankyou for sharing this 🙂

[@oahc1052]

Hmm, but what about magnesium? It most definitely burns, but does not contain any carbon, and subsequently turns white and not black afterwards.

[@Lanhoj]

*We need more explainer videos from Chuck...* @2:40

[@ronaldlogan3525]

so we could prevent forest fires by simply replacing all the trees made of carbon with trees made of aluminum.

[@whoofianbrony8804]

Uh no. Aluminum oxidizes, and is VERY flammable. We literally make fireworks with it. Thermite is 1/3 aluminum powder, and 2/3 iron oxide powder (rust powder)

[@YungJay0]

@@whoofianbrony8804 he was being sarcastic

[@mariannm3634]

This hits different living in CA right now 🤣 But very interesting 🖤

[@MrVaishakh]

Just for chuck I subscribed..😀

[@hamclapper2654]

You guys make my day

[@achrafabouras2118]

Can you please explain geodynamic and how it creates the earths magneticfield

[@GauravPassiTV]

You guys are awesome! Hilarious and educational 😁

[@simohammedboussekri1719]

Hello Neil , can you please do a video explainer about the essence of fire , is it really a plasma ?

[@mageshwaran7489]

In Next explainer, please do how fire is created?

[@jackxander1944]

Please keep Chuck forever

[@MrBisforbrian]

So every time the fire pops it is because a wet spot? Or can there be other reasons?

[@Chris-op7yt]

speaking of which, i'd like to use weak carbonic acid whilst watering all my pot plants but, dont want to be using expensive carbonated water. is there a cheap/easy way to produce weak carbonic acid? burnt wood steeped in water?

[@petrmasek4506]

Funny and informative as always :-)

[@AmanSingh-nw7lw]

My chem teacher always says, "Master carbon, you master life, it's all about the balance of carbon that maintains life"

[@gibblespascack1418]

I liked that you explained the difference between 40 year old carbon and million year old carbon when thinking about adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. We should not be using this level of oil, gas, or coal as we are using now because they are adding to atmospheric carbon, just like burning the rain forest.

[@theduder2617]

Salt is soo not flammable that we use salt to cover titanium fires to prevent them from spreading. You can NOT put water on a titanium fire unless you want a hydrogen fire. And in a titanium plant, a hydrogen fire means more titanium fires. Titanium burns so hot that most times it is MUCH better to cover the fire with salt and allow the titanium sponge and dust to burn itself out slowly. Even a tow motor fork catching a piece of sponge and dragging it across concrete is enough to ignite it, so fire fighting/prevention was a regular training event.

[@EJeremyStern]

Where I've heard "Burn baby burn" The Notorious BIG - Who shot ya "I burn baby burn like disco inferno" Kendrick Lamar - The blacker the berry "Six in the morn. Fire in the street. Burn baby burn. That's all I wanna see"

[@victornjeru4682]

what about metal powders like iron powder?

[@kamuroshow4884]

I have to react to this. As a pyrotechnician i can say Metals can burn. Like the burning Mg ribbon you saw in chemistry class. Al, Fe, Ti.... all burn. Or react with oxygen to become oxides, to say it in another way. The only difference is how much energy (heat) you put in it. But metals will burn!

[@guillermonassercibils6538]

all videos are.. but this one was awesome

[@adi-ndr]

Chuck's expression when trying to come up with some smart (kinda) answers.... 😁✌🏼👍🏼

[@terryallen6688]

Dynamite "BOOM" all the way to iron rusting is all entropy. Burning

[@Jriffe108]

So, does the carbon content of an item directly correlate to the BTU rating?

[@cynthiawiley8411]

HELLO Dr. Degrasse Tyson, and Sir Nice✴ I am enquiring about the range, mass ,and varied gravity predictions for the star Betelgeuse and the encompassing nebulae. I am not able to get a projected foci. Your thoughts.? I'm right here in Manhattan ,so share some azimuth 🎇

[@joergbock1976]

Thanks for all the triggers, guys. Now I HAVE TO watch The Trammps (the 11mins version, gimme those funky horns!), Kingpin (Don't do a Munson!), You don't mess with the Zohan and get a silky smooth haircut...

[@coololdluke3905]

Yep Neil first gave this explanation speech at 12 years old when he caught the couch on fire and Mom walked in.

[@sbccmichaelkelly]

This must be the video that inspired that teacher to set some fires in California, Chuck was showing the beauty of nature.

[@stevdor6146]

0:27 we're only the HOTTEST science podcast that there is 10:02 I'MMA GO BURN SOMETHING DOWN

[@WasabiSniffer]

ahhhh but now we need a sequel for magnesium and dry ice...

[@maxtremblay]

What about the carbon in the steel pan? 😯

[@amandamathis7689]

Why does salt spark?

[@ScoopofScience]

Wow, the ending was interesting, never thought a fireplace was carbon neutral!

[@LexLifeRaj]

The only thing I saw burning was Neil’s patience with every interruption 😂

[@derickparrish833]

It happens when you're in the middle of a thought.

[@derickparrish833]

Depending on a bunch of variables or how many variables you're narrowing down.

[@MeeMee-gz5vp]

Man I love this show.

[@luv.sharma28]

What about magnesium? It burns with flame?

[@ihabkahil]

After a few minutes in youtube physics experiments watching, we saw that Magnesium and lithium also burns . if everything that contains a flame , burns, then what is said was wrong . do we miss anything ?

[@manslaughterinc.9135]

I had Organic for "What do they all have in common." You have to take byproducts into account, coal, oil, manmade hydrocarbons, alcohol. Also, for water, isn't it the fuel for the flame when you dump water into hot oil? I thought the heat separated the molecular bond and the hydrogen caught fire. Oh wait, Hydrogen burns without Carbon. Also, don't some acid/metal reactions create flame as well?

[@AsBi1]

Neil just pretends to be enjoying Chucks jokes while in reality he always waits to continue his explanations, he never likes being interrupted.

[@anujtuladhar8318]

Soo what about burning of magnesium ribbon actually means ??

[@TaterFarmer]

I’m subbed

[@Yes_I_c4n]

H2 and NH3 also burn and they don't have Carbon in them, fhough the latter has weaker combustion properties when compared to say gasoline, h2, LPG, etc.

[@andreask.2675]

Btw: Steel wool DOES burn - you can even set it on fire by touching it with a 9V battery! ;)

[@warrenmassey4029]

Please explain smoke as the bi product of fire

[@Revouz]

Talk about tachyons!

[@BePositiveMindset]

I love oxidation talk just because I get to use the words Endothermic and exothermic.

[@rayb1091]

You gotta love Chuck.

[@derickparrish833]

That's funny👍

[@NovaSixSix]

How would you characterise the burning of Thermite and along those lines, wouldn't the act of rusting be considered a form of burning?

[@theduder2617]

Neil can explain MUCH BETTER, but here is a rough idea. Rust is the direct result of oxidation, not burning. Thermite is also an oxidation event, only more extreme. Better classified as an oxidation reduction reaction.

[@essahsaeidi5543]

hahahah!! What a funny explainer video! so many jokes cracked me up , this is how I love to learn about science!!

[@feedingravens]

When I wrote my diploma thesis that had to do with leak detection in gas distribution networks, I said to my monitor "shouldn't be that critical when an oxygen pipeline breaks, and he replied "Don't think that. When the tube ruptures, you have pure, absolutely unoxidized iron in a pure oxygen atmosphere. Under these condition iron burns." Don't know whether it really burns self-sustaining, but it will sure get red hot. I once forgot that the oven plate was on when I put steel wool (you use for cleaning) on it. With the additional energy, and the large surface, at some spots the wool got white hot and melted.

[@G6Tyrantula]

PLLD CSLD, DPLLD 😎

[@feedingravens]

@@G6Tyrantula Different approach: That was a simulation of the complete network, where the timely distribution of the various inputs and outputs was known and the expected pressures in the system were calculated from that. And when one of the values was too low, the simulation was used to estimate which and at which location along one of the pipelines the leak occured, so you can drive directly there. That is beyond 30 years ago, the original program was written in FORTRAN, and still had the identity codes of each punch card on it.

[@angelowilkerson1469]

I’m from Cleveland and I think we beg to differ about water burning 🤣🤣

[@Kilgorio]

wow

[@terrybowser6646]

It's funny I watch this video as I sit on the toilet and go number two.

[@shakira.rahman8786]

Guess y i liked the comment?😆

[@LexoG33]

Can't you burn aluminum and form aluminum oxide?

[@nolan4339]

So, Is it still burning, if it is with chlorine or fluorine instead of oxygen?

[@fagoperu]

Is the Tie Fighter new?

[@anthonycharlier1416]

but what are flames made of?