StarTalk Podcast: Cosmic Queries - Proving Einstein Right

Albert Einstein is, well, Albert Einstein. But, was he right? It seems like a silly question, but, in fact, there’s some history behind it. On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are investigating what it took to prove Einstein right, with Dr. Jim Gates, theoretical physicist and Professor and Center Director of the Brown University Theoretical Physics Center. Jim is also the co-author of Proving Einstein Right: The Daring Expeditions that Changed How We Look at the Universe.
We start with some history. Jim tells us about Einstein’s discoveries about space and time in 1905. You’ll learn about the “happiest thought” of Einstein’s life. We discuss how he came to his theory of general relativity and theory of special relativity. You’ll also learn why, even though he first started working on the ideas in 1905, it took him over a decade to get them right.
Find out what it takes to provide evidence for mathematical theories in the real world. We discuss Einstein’s exposure to the real world and how that informed his thought process. Jim explains why being a scientist involves swimming in a sea of information. We ponder if Einstein ever thought his theories were incorrect, and Jim tells us why math is magical.
Then, we answer fan-submitted Cosmic Queries! Is general relativity incompatible with quantum mechanics? If so, why? Is there a bigger idea that encompasses both ideas? We dive into String theory and how that might play into the equation. We investigate “gravitons” and how their existence would re-shape science.
Are the strings in String theory made of something? We explore the cosmic microwave background and debate if a cosmic gravitational background could also exist. Lastly, you’ll hear why some stars in the night sky might be duplicated due to the bending of light. All that, plus, we answer the most important question of all - who has a better mustache? Neil deGrasse Tyson or Albert Einstein?
Thanks to our Patrons Beverly Bellows, Christopher Mank, Darrell R. Scott, Eric Burgess, Pike Persons, AK Llyr, Nicholas Belsten, and Samuel D Fairchild for supporting us this week.
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.com.
Support us on Patreon: / startalkradio
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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

[@richardlouis-pierre8607]

Anyone notice that the more these two hang out together, the more Neil cracks jokes and Chuck talks Quantum Field Theory?

[@superluminalsquirrel9359]

This made me LOL

[@seafodder6129]

Things that make you go "hmmmm...."

[@Dillinger86]

Chuck is baked

[@tomq1804]

HAHAHAHAHA! YES!

[@Tsejjest]

Mere exposure effect

[@pedrofmbs]

As an avid KZbinr watcher let me recognize that this channel is the only channel I know of that implements ads right. Neil sends us to a break, we get an ad, and we're back. It feels so natural that I don't even think about skipping the ads.

[@kevanburmeister4347]

Pay the 10 bucks for premium. Especially if youre an avid youtube watcher. I haven't had an ad in 5 years.

[@wearesunrise]

@@kevanburmeister4347 agreed

[@nunomonteiro5440]

@@kevanburmeister4347 so you don't click a skip button? I hope you get other perks bro

[@kevanburmeister4347]

@@nunomonteiro5440 ok nice

[@stevegoldy2196]

I've never had a personal astrophysicist before and i must say, i'm really enjoying having one

[@joshjackson5569]

👍

[@jamsistired]

Me too

[@katiakatia2380]

Yeah 🤓, I feel privileged!

[@arturassuksta8837]

Feel the same, such a nice, inteliigent and charismatic man, although beeing a REAL STAR in our cosy planet Earth. Thank you for all content and enjoyment 🙏

[@rycktunn8488]

@@joshjackson5569 p

[@botcrack]

Chuck: makes 1st joke with Jim Jim: -_- ...yeesh, I felt that one. lol

[@hman2912]

Tough crowd

[@happosai]

after seeing the first joke I started looking at the comments and see that I am not the only one who notice it. haha...

[@AnshishRay]

😂

[@zenpremiumcannabis5670]

i had to rewatch his enthusiasm lol

[@RZFitnessTV]

I actually thought Jim Gates enjoyed the joke. I don't think you're seeing/appreciating his sense of humor.

[@pinkluigienjoyer]

I love how utterly unenthused Jim is by Chuck’s jokes and Neil is cracking up over them.

[@joshjackson5569]

😂 Keeping The Peace & Keeping It Fun.

[@williest1]

yeah the jokes were mostly terrible. he was NOT amused lol

[@joshjackson5569]

@@williest1💪 They Are Men Of Knowledge, It Was Pretty Funny & Nice To See The Communities Feed Back, No Matter What They Said, Golden Moments 💖

[@fwd79]

This professor Jim failed a bit in reading _his_ crowd aka Neil and Chuck. Jim went into university classroom mode. Pretty boring to be honest. 😒

[@joshjackson5569]

@@fwd79 😂 Interesting, Non The Less, Funny 💖

[@crontemisto8994]

"What do we want?" "Racecar noises!" "When do we want them?" "...Nnnneooowwwwww"

[@DJLiddle]

👏🏼

[@kenkumon6099]

🤣

[@ArnfinnRian]

I love these late nights listening to Chuck, Neill and whoever he has as guest. Thank you, thank you thank you. Stay healthy guys!

[@ilyassel-hilali7501]

i literally listen to this in bed before sleeping

[@joshjackson5569]

Every Day 💖

[@paulvamos7319]

I'm binge watching the Star Talk shows. They are as informative as they are funny!

[@boadicea5856]

Neil has to be the happiest Astrophysicist I have ever watched , heard and enjoyed!

[@jasonbrowning8414]

I would love to see an episode where they quiz Chuck, he seems to have picked up quite a bit!!!

[@joshjackson5569]

😂 He'd Do Great I'm Sure 💖

[@mattpeoples3753]

Chuck only pretends to be dumb for comedic effect. He knows his stuff

[@rbarnes0469]

Chuck Nice is not only very smart, but hes very humble! Follow him!

[@kallofkthuluz5922]

Yes!

[@gerardob7364]

There's a study that says funny people are probably more smarter than the average.

[@Duececoupe]

Right folks, who here would've loved to have Neil and Chuck as science teachers, with the occasional guests in the classroom....I know that I would! 🖐🏻

[@joshjackson5569]

Thank Goodness For KZbin, Teacher 24/7 365

[@TheEtAdmirer]

They already are. However, to talk to them would be so awesome .

[@joshjackson5569]

@@TheEtAdmirer It's Awsome How They Answer Alot Of Viewer's Questions, Neil Is From New York. You Can Go Study With Him I'm Sure. You Can Do It 💖

[@chrissonofpear1384]

Although, out of interest, if General Relativity is right, is Special relativity also as ironclad... What about the proposed 'doubly special relativity' model?

[@TheEtAdmirer]

@@chrissonofpear1384 special relative really is right. As someone who was once a skeptic there is no question at all about any of Einstein's work. The only question is how to complete it. Was Newton incorrect? No Newtonian gravity was built upon with relativity. Same goes from Einsteins relativity to what what it is that is going to be added. And also the reason why I'm trying to reach out to dr. Tyson because I want him to be a part of it for two reasons one I can't do it on my own the other reason should be obvious the guy is a genius.

[@birajkc8956]

Jim is that uncle at the party who doesn't like jokes.

[@knarfx4732]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@StevenErnest]

Yeah, but you should see his theoretical work.

[@kirkhope0205]

He laughed a couple times, or at least cracked a smile. The only jokes he didn’t laugh were the cheap one liners. Like I’m not saying they weren’t funny but they are one of those things that either make a person laugh or not and it doesn’t make you lack a sense of humor for not laughing like Janna does at every one liner Chuck throws out.

[@ericparrish1515]

I can't tell it

[@jimmybellmon1268]

You can tell he honors Einstein, he did laugh at jokes and made a few himself, but he didn't laugh at anything about Einstein 😆

[@GodOfNoice]

Dr. Gates is epic! At first I thought he was going to be boring but the man is a damm legend.

[@otakuman706]

Yeah, I kinda felt similar at the start, even after he talked for a bit. But after a while I found that I had warmed up to him.

[@fwd79]

No I didn’t feel like that whole interview. Bit of a dud this interview. 😐

[@TC-xd3gq]

Dr Gates is the professor you don’t want to take . He has no sense of humor and is detached from the student body .

[@otakuman706]

@@TC-xd3gq Just curious, you basing this on just the video, or did you actually have a class with him?

[@johnyepthomi892]

@@TC-xd3gq I wouldn’t trust your opinion either. He works hard and doesn’t deserve someone just say something like that unless you actually know him as a student . And even then need more data as this is just one opinion. This is cancel culture all over again. One video, one interaction and you assume the worst.

[@jaymontealegre143]

"Some people like reality TV, I like rela-TV-ty" Chuck Nice 2020

[@abdullah82m]

Underrated joke

[@bluthammer1442]

you know - living in a world where news continuously murders any kind of hopeful thought - this is so wonderful to watch. Thanks crew.

[@prathamj]

The world needs more educators like Niel and Chuck. Mind blown with every Star Talk episode.

[@hasoonnine]

I always listen to your videos when I'm trying to sleep, I feel like your soothing voice helps me relax and go to sleep

[@twonumber22]

He's too loud.

[@theclown6550]

Brooooo I’m listening to this while trying to sleep rn!!!! 😴

[@ivanjdrakov1957]

@@theclown6550 lol

[@azzazz430]

@@twonumber22 turn the volume down?

[@Dan-tp6hi]

Always!

[@lanatrzczka]

I just ordered the book Proving Einstein Right because of this Star Talk. Thank you for turning me onto a book that I might never have known of otherwise.

[@Orion225]

Same here except I'm gonna download it.

[@andrasveg7913]

...and another copy sold. Can't wait to read it!

[@pascalabessolo5350]

Me too.

[@thattwodimensionalant4626]

Every time I learn more about Einstein’s work, the more amazed I am.

[@joshjackson5569]

👍

[@metri0n]

dude.. same

[@gaoutkast5847]

I LOVE THEIR CHEMISTRY! It's Literally a comedian wit social background and love of science a scientist with a social persona with This Beautifully socially akward scientist! I just love it!

[@coleskuxx4474]

Chuck killed it this episode, someone get this man a raise

[@electrikjimmy608]

At around 17 minutes in. Right before the cosmic queries segment. I loved the way they described math as a form of magic. The first thing that came to my mind was is math like a window into other dimensions. The "things" we can't see. Like dark matter. We can observe how it affects gravity

[@asadbadri8636]

"This is the Only piece of Magic, that I have ever experienced and seen in reality" Dr.Jim Gates said. "I love that, oh...I love that, it is magic!"

[@asabelesabelo1060]

Greetings, I am Asabele Sabelo, an undergraduate at UKZN doing my BSc in Applied Math and Physics. I love your show, or as I like to call it, "The fountain for curious minds." What if actually light and time had the same speed and light relative to time is not moving, but with our scale of how time passes, we see the light traveling at 2.998*10^8m/s? hence what you said the photon perceives its journey from the sun to us, on Cosmic queries the deep part 2.

[@Krish-jm6ve]

Chuck just solved Schrodinger's uncertainty principle. Just Don't open the box to see if Cat is alive or not. Just check the litter box in the corner 🤣🤣🤣

[@kenbee1957]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@austinmarius850]

I love love this show soooo much. What a great format. Chuck we love you. Your humor, comments, and presence ads so much to the show and the way you and Neil work together ads gravitas to the subject matter. Thank you all!

[@popped.colonel]

i loved todays queries! learning while laughing. doesnt get much better 📚☺

[@tommygunz6760]

This guy is way to serious for Neil and Chuck. 😂

[@t.o.o.smooth5870]

😂

[@scholarshipsnmiy7692]

That guy is a genius, so soft spoken and so humble

[@danielcuffie]

I too am impressed by chuck paying attention to that black hole particle lesson

[@TheEtAdmirer]

I used to believe that Einstein wasn't all that he was cracked up to be. Boy was I wrong. The more I learn about him the more I realize how much of a fool I really am. Einstein was brilliant beyond unite of measurement equal to the scale of my stupidity.

[@johnyepthomi892]

He and others like him are admired for a reason. Because if we actually start talking about them, i’m afraid there’s many that would seem like fools. That too without the help of technology like we have now.

[@serotoninsyndrome]

Just out of curiosity, what was it that made you feel that he wasn't all that was cracked up to be? Was it just an incomplete understanding of all that he did, or something else?

[@TheEtAdmirer]

@@serotoninsyndrome yeah, basically it was a incomplete understanding of everything he did.

[@trekkert2017]

“My first language is mathematics” I love that sentence.

[@Sean-ff9ic]

Chuck and Neil make an amazing team! Love the show!

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

This video made Flat Earthiers mad lol thanks Dr. Tyson

[@MeeMee-gz5vp]

Mad as in more delusional than they already are? Or mad as in emotionally out of control?

[@Gibberish97]

@@MeeMee-gz5vp Both

[@HellaUtube]

Oh my goodness this 53 minutes episode felt like 10.

[@zerobalance369]

I've never laughed, and learned that much. Very few can mix humor, collaboration, friendship, and physics.

[@ignorasmus]

Dr. Jim Gates is brilliant and and he knows it and likes to flaunt it!! One of the (deservedly) less humble guests on Startalk...

[@HugoAscencio]

I always perceived Dr. Gates as someone serious, someone who's all business... Seems like nowadays he's into a more fun, relax mode. I enjoyed this very much

[@rayaterry5365]

I can’t tell you how much I love the fact that dude uses his son’s research as his background.

[@julianhart2247]

This was fun. Jim don’t like all Chucks jokes though? 😂

[@corazoncubano5372]

Excellent show. I would love to see Dr Gates on the show again.

[@mimiv3088]

I think Jim has to be one of the best ever guests you've had on your pod cast. He reminds me of my father in law. Totally math. Looks at the world and communicates in numbers. Learned really quick not to ask for math homework help. 😆 WAY WAY WAY over my simple human brain.

[@barbaghetto5168]

i really find your video inspirational for life!! The Universe is amazing and so are you!

[@vldmaiden]

can never get enough of chuck

[@catherinetoomey-flynn1624]

At the beginning of the video I was unsure of Jim's seriousness but by the end of the video he was making me chuckle. I think I'm used to a certain type of demeanour in the usual choice of guests but Jim is totally cool in his own way.

[@user-cf2pl9uy5k]

I truly enjoyed this one, Dr. Jim Gates is amazing!

[@Tate1577hg]

This is startalk

[@HossSwayerpr]

Man, I wish I could retain info like Chuck does. Very nice!

[@paulvamos7319]

Thank Dr. Jim, Dr.Neil and Dr.Chuck for this informative discussion. I enjoyed it immensely.

[@msmith53]

Only true genius can make the complicated, simple! Understanding the complicated completely makes “simple” possible! TWO geniuses in this video with comic relief added! That is also genius!

[@jpmartcan7450]

"I never knew Einstein was wrong" LOL Gotta love Chuck!!

[@whodatdere]

I want to hear more about this faith in mathematics!

[@ravevx4947]

Also , Chuck's Being the best supporting Host 🔥😍

[@OkOk-tt2dg]

This is one of my favorite episodes so far . great work gentlemen

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Thank you, Dr. Gates, Neil, and Chuck. Fascinating conversation, and I'd like to hear more from Dr. Gates at some point.(s) Take care!

[@joshjackson5569]

👍

[@johnyepthomi892]

Really enjoyed listening to Dr. Jim. Will definitely check out his book. I love the idea behind the book.

[@hoouwit1]

Neil is the perfect blend of astrophysicist and personality.

[@honestly_7724]

I feel this video and this channel in general should get much more views. Always entertaining stuff! You should learn something that blows your mind every single day.

[@LeilaKincaid]

I hear you about the leaf blower outside the window on Saturday morning... arghh!!! lol love you guys

[@daviddavies5322]

Lots of education, I .Q., and big brains. Thanks Neil.

[@PestOnYT]

Thanks for all the laughter!

[@ivanjdrakov1957]

These guys are so awesome and amazing and funny, love them all!!!

[@marthajuliafernandezsalina3206]

Hola, no se si entiendan este comentario, pero me gustaría decir que admiro mucho a los Astrofísicos, Físicos, Cosmologos. Es un exelente trabajo, y lo más importante las únicas formas de tener un futuro próximo es con Ciencia y tecnología. Aprenderé inglés😆😊😊😊

[@Sage93x]

Tu puedes entiendes poquito inglés o no?

[@luernios9075]

Il est interdit d'écrire autrement qu'en anglais.

[@matiasrivera2087]

Usa el traductor de google y despues copia y pega :v

[@darkeravocado6598]

No uses el traductor como comentó la persona arriba. Mejor aprende, es el lenguaje universal. La mejor manera es practicándolo, como escribiendo ese mismo comentario lo mejor que puedas en inglés!

[@marthajuliafernandezsalina3206]

@@darkeravocado6598 Gracias por el punto, pero no utilize el traductor

[@Nextwavegamez]

The bending of starlight during an eclipse had to be an interesting concept and the experiment had and still might provoke interesting questions!

[@Onio_Saiyan]

I come for Chuck's dry humor and the knowledge, and I stay for the banter.

[@erdemmemisyazici3950]

This was incredible. I couldn't help but think about Professor Wernstrom and Farnsworth at the beginning 😂😄

[@brianjones6500]

Jim is a person you cant argue with. This dude excretes MOXY. I Love that NDT humbles himself in the presence of what this man narrates and presents his ideas.

[@Rajivpsn]

Hi Dr Niel and hi Chuck. Love this show and thank you for starting such a platform and I hope more people could join us. Anyways my question is 'Does time also have a frame of reference?'

[@susanjimenez5500]

Education and entertainment! I love it!!! 🙂

[@Ibrahim-co4uc]

These video's are very educational and so much fun keep making them thank you unisverse

[@SCEndbringer]

I'd be happy with just Neil talking for an hour without the joking around. I really do love listening to him to learn.

[@thisistheescapeplan]

That one part about math actually blew my mind. Like... that actually makes sense. You put one rock on the ground, and then separate from that, you have 2 rocks, and then a pile of three, then 4, etc. That is a perfect way to (assuming an alien race that came here spoke a language foreign to earth and had no understanding of our languages) start communication. Its so basic, but it never even crossed my mind

[@davidmumford367]

This is so cool to see two brotha's talking physics

[@surfLBABNY5017]

Loved this discussion!

[@astrospect]

I wanted to see them finish that talk about faith in mathematics. That was incredible to hear and I would like more understanding.

[@sandeebrooke5623]

Thank you for this podcast. The three gentlemen are amazing to listen to. Dr's are so interesting. I plan to watch it many times to understand it.

[@patrickfields1640]

I wonder if Chuck could just be an actual astrophysicist at this point...

[@SavageDarknessGames]

Shh it’s a secret, he’s really the smartest man alive but he knows comedy makes more money, for less work. 😉

[@joshjackson5569]

😂 Awsome

[@johnlitwiniec3206]

Can he do the math?

[@AshWednesday1]

he is degree worthy

[@thecreativegod7450]

@@johnlitwiniec3206 He already did

[@mikepetro98]

I’m amazed at how these keep getting better and better! 😂

[@draven_kx7]

This was one of my favorite episodes!! We definitely need Jim on these more often.

[@garynovak5632]

Really appreciate and dig Star Talk. I really enjoyed ☺ this particular episode your guest was very 😎 🆒️.

[@massmanpro]

Three Black men talking science this is EXCELLENCE!

[@OgpBosnia]

About time...took them about million years

[@pascalabessolo5350]

@@OgpBosnia You think math has been invented by whom?

[@OgpBosnia]

@@pascalabessolo5350 far as i know greek also number zero has been added by the arabic world.

[@jarlbalgruufthegreater1758]

Why does it metter if they are black or not

[@mythxqzth8444]

21:19 the nyooom is back everybody 😂😂😂

[@Stephenphillips29UK]

Chuck and Neil work so well together, great show guys as always 😀

[@heresthethingyouguys]

I became a fan of this man after watching this episode of the show. Then I watched the conversation with Lex Fridman. He's a brilliant person!

[@manpreetbhattee9732]

I am afraid that I am enjoying Chuck more than Neil these days.

[@grizzlehatchet1]

@StarTalk i love the new look of the channel! Great job 👍

[@apeiceofgarbage9848]

Yess i love this stuff so much and I love the community, because in my real life no ine is curious but in the community I can be around all the curious people I love. Have a wonderful day.

[@joshjackson5569]

@@apeiceofgarbage9848 You Can Do It. Stay Healthy & Stay Safe

[@v.k.2320]

I love the beef Jim and Neil have. Would love to see a discussion of them both.

[@nicodarthkrom9534]

Hello Neil, Chuck and Professor GATES. I just want to tell that subtittles are "off" and as a french , I can understand because I study english at university but I think it's hard for others... By the way, thank for your work and "BRAVO"!

[@Rabanus]

Soo...when is Micho Kaku coming on!?! I need the trifecta of my favs!!!!

[@doburu4835]

He's a hack.

[@dennistafeltennis1190]

Dr. Jim Gates used to have an awesome Darth Vader haircut. You can see it in some older videos he's in.

[@alexanderjohnson2309]

This is my favorite episode so far.

[@stephenanthonybailey]

He’s one of the best guests ever. Giving NDT a nice rib jab. So fun to watch them play. I want smoking jackets and cigars and bourbon next time!

[@joeyshofner639]

This was awesome! Thanks.

[@musashi06]

Chuck's joke at 35:12 was actually quite genius, but he just said it wrong! lol rela-TV-ty hahaha

[@howardsmith1111]

Love the way Dr Gates reacts sarcastically to Neil "getting something" in the same way Dr Tyson reacts to Chuck grasping a fact of science!

[@TheOldHippiebilly]

I struggled and was always weak in math (much to the consternation of my math teacher mom) and therefore had a bit of a negative feeling towards the subject. Thank you, Dr. Gates, for helping me see the "magic" in mathematics! Beautiful!

[@geggs13]

Dr. Jim Gates, not reacting to jokes, remindes me of Sheldon Cooper.

[@_noxiousadze_7396]

You hit the nail right on the head

[@Synster73]

Neil with the car sounds 🤣 👌 niiiiooowwwwww

[@joshjackson5569]

👍

[@fireice27]

Time well spent. Thank you gentlemen.

[@CaliforniaBushman]

I saw Stephon perform at the 55 Bar years ago. He sang or whistled the head of the tune while playing piano chords simultaneously. He blew everyone away!

[@joshjackson5569]

Awsome

[@jesusquinones5457]

I love you both! It’s my first time I get to comment before y’all got a million comments!

[@mrlonely5835]

@rrobertt13 no you

[@ivanjdrakov1957]

@rrobertt13 it's Jesus bro, can't you see his name!?

[@joshjackson5569]

😂 Same, Awsome 💖

[@arah8998]

But StarTalk videos rarely even get to 1 million views

[@joshjackson5569]

@@arah8998 It Doesn't Matter. If You Can Do It. All The Best 💖

[@AidenCassaroArt]

I just assume that anyone who dislikes these type of videos are either: Flat earthers, or young tik tok types

[@twonumber22]

oh no, there's a new type

[@AidenCassaroArt]

@Chronic Mind Not on Tik Tok

[@sagnorm1863]

Its most likely extreme Christians that dislike these videos.

[@BR00TALPEGGY]

Police academy was a great movie

[@groundhogsday6731]

@@BR00TALPEGGY IT IS A GREAT MOVIE CHARLIE!