StarTalk Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson Answers Your Deadliest Cosmic Queries

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are ready to get morbid. We’ve gathered your fan-submitted Cosmic Queries that explore all things death, from the death of humanity to the death of the universe.
To start, we explore what reality would be like in an apocalypse. Neil tells us what skills he thinks would be necessary to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. We discuss the importance of having the right weapon in a post-apocalyptic world. This leads Neil to air his grievances with the lightsabers found in Star Wars. You’ll find out how a meteor strike would disrupt civilization as we know it. We also explore The Walking Dead and its emphasis on the true danger of a zombie apocalypse: human relationships.
Discover more about the death of humanity. Will we outlive the Earth? How long will humanity survive? Are artificially intelligent computers secretly waiting to take over the world? We break down the inverse relationship between intelligence and survival. Neil describes how the universe will end not with a bang, but with a whimper.
Find out how Neil and Chuck want to die! We investigate the 2005 film War of the Worlds and how it differs from the original story by H.G. Wells. Neil recites the final narration from the film and from the original story.
Then, we dive headfirst into black holes. We ponder if the universe could be victim to a collective hyper-massive black hole. You’ll also hear about Hawking radiation. You’ll learn the difference between disintegrating and decomposing. Lastly, we debate if human contact is necessary for your own survival. All that, plus, you’ll find out who might have been the loneliest person in history.
This episode originally aired as a podcast on December 27, 2019.
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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

[@NeroThacher]

Nothing like a refresher on Inevitable Cosmic Death scenarios before I go to bed. Sweet dreams all, i know i wont

[@Damnitjim7]

🤣🤣🤣 once you accept it its not so bad, just sad thinking of all the things ill never get to see in the universe that our species will have discovered by then.

[@floodsye]

The knowledge of understanding the universe and our possible futures calms me personally. I fear the death of knowledge and discovery. We shouldn't scared of discovery since the our fears stem from a lack of knowledge.

[@not_riley]

Floodsye knowledge can be scary at times, too. After all, the saying goes “ignorance is bliss”.

[@drsharkboy6568]

Sleep you will not. Many nightmares you have.

[@Synathidy]

Ah, I love contemplating the crushing despair of mortality before I drift off into a lovely sleep.

[@Rufuary]

Neil is literally genius and his way of thinking and scientific observations of situations “step by step” is astounding. Yet Chuck is so clever and swift on his feet. His comic relief is just so refreshing. They perfectly balance each other.

[@3dgar7eandro]

Yes bro agreed 😌👏🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@blove7439]

Well said sir. Well said indeed

[@MurderCraw]

Yes, I can't get enough of their dynamic!

[@simpleasthat5349]

Let me tell u a fact , Neil is possibly one of the least genius guys in the scientific(astro related) community ,that's why he is the one doing the work of providing information to the general public because the more greater minds are being used for doing the real work on experimentation and discoveries . He is just a good speaker who is able explain the already known facts better .

[@raymonddunn5744]

Concerning the end of the world/universe, Neil omits a third possibility. The Bible prophecy of Jesus and Revelation. Bible prophecies have been 100% accurate so far.

[@rhiannonemery4732]

Neil is definitely my most favorite person in the whole word. Brilliant, funny, laid back. I could listen to him reading from a phone book and still be on cloud nine.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

Me 3

[@figzip]

dont worry, ur the only one

[@brandonswinson3033]

@@figzip speak for yourself

[@Xsqber1234]

@@figzip yeah Neil is kind of arrogant and and he talks over people too much and he’s the type of person to like hearing his own voice

[@samuelsamuel180]

Its quite literally my dream to have a conversation like this with Neil. Ive never found any thing more interesting than informative things about space and the science behind it. This stuff inspires me to become an astrophysicist.

[@grouchygeek4176]

Same!

[@alexthewombat6781]

I could literally listen to this all day

[@Xpistos510]

If society propped up voices more like Neil we'd have a better world.

[@Mcccsauuce11235]

@Alex The wombat Neils voice is like hoarse and smooth at the same time it almost put me to sleep😂

[@DuckNazty]

You too huh?

[@leefbeatz2104]

Star talk is dope!!!!! Luv Neil and Chuck and all of the guests I’ve seen over the past two years 🙏👽 thank you for the knowledge

[@MrPaksh]

I did today :D OK still got 1h to go :D

[@D00MSDAYMACHINE]

Neil is the only person who can interrupt himself.

[@canibanoglu9643]

Do you really want to summon Chuck? Really?!

[@LewisC0298]

Alex jones

[@BradfordMelluish]

It's pretty common. As a sufferer of ADHD I have it happen pretty frequently when I get rambling, especially when my meds wear off and/or I'm a little inebriated. Not sure what other mental/physical conditions lend themselves to the tendency. Usually seems to happen to people with a habit of lapsing into stream-of-consciousness communication, which Neil often presents. Happens to all sorts of different people-I mean, it's Trump's default mode of communication, so much so that half of the time he's nearly impossible to make sense of.

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Not even Bill Nye!

[@inujosha]

Incidentally, he is also the only person ALLOWED to interupt himself.

[@Boogieplex]

The aliens in “War of the worlds” were not buried on Earth the whole time,just their machinery was.If you remember,the aliens shot down from the sky,riding lightning into the ground and into their machines. Thus,the premise of the plot preserved.

[@darthlucious1592]

You are correct, good movie.

[@ainiesta4858]

Always crazy to me how they could ride lightning

[@Boogieplex]

@@ainiesta4858 The more I think about alien life, the more im convinced it doesn’t have to be made from carbon. The universe is basically a bubbling pot of chemicals being bombarded together,seeing what molecules stick together. Stars exploding…heat,gas,ice,liquids all swirling around. I’ll bet there’s some strange stuff happening out there in the depths of space.

[@ottotater2787]

@@Boogieplex so if life is not carbon life could we even recognize it and might it have more trouble recognizing us threatening us bothering us being a problem to us being threatened or bothered by us Etc

[@RAFAROB91]

@@ottotater2787, @boogieplex So may be this so called "GOD" isn't a devine creature, but just a form of life different to us but created us in the same way we can recreate some sorts of viruses Etc?

[@matthewsierra314]

I love the chemistry these guys have with each other. Makes learning so entertaining!

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

blows me away

[@sheiladawg1664]

Not getting it, Chuck's still growing on me.

[@spicybaguette7706]

3:35 Fun fact: In Star Wars lore the Mandalorians used "primitive" "physical" bullets against the Jedi in the Mandalorian war, so that it would explode when a Jedi tried to block it with a light saber, spewing boiling hot shrapnel in their faces.

[@andrewvazzana383]

Blasters only go like 90mph so using a bullet would make it harder to react since the bullet goes faster than the speed of sound.

[@trentsmith2964]

Couldn't a Jedi stop a bullet or the shrapnel with the force?

[@ryynerwicked2762]

@@trentsmith2964 yes they could an would have been smart enough to do that even if they weren't familiar with those weapons before the first encountered then they wud have learned after the first fight against them its a huge plot hole

[@TheManWhoTypes]

@@ryynerwicked2762 could they stop them from blowing up after force stopping their momentum? 🤔

[@David_Fellner]

As someone who isn't really into Star Wars, I have to say that's a really nice image!

[@IfYouKnowYouKnow.]

Star talk episodes are the only uploads that I like before watching them all the way through.

[@Damnitjim7]

I do it for my favs star talk is one of them

[@attractedtothemetallikemag9385]

I know, that you know, that I know that you know

[@IfYouKnowYouKnow.]

@@attractedtothemetallikemag9385 😂

[@malcolmcanning548]

Is that you Mrs Tyson hahahahahahaha

[@cadosian078]

If you don’t know, now you know.

[@wakkocastaway2043]

I was having trouble focusing on my schoolwork, pulled one of these up, and was instantly able to focus a lot better. Thanks Neil

[@jzl7965]

I think you need to see a doctor for that lol

[@jartocjanror6591]

37:34 Neil, Orion is the name of the cat in the movie, and the belt is his collar, which contains literally a small universe on it like a pendant the size of a marble. You oughtta rewatch it, man hehe.

[@azurestream7816]

Anyone notice how Chuck is picking up on these concepts over time and, as such, his comments have become more and more relevant? I'm a newcomer to star talk and, as I watch more and more videos, I can clearly observe the, "Evolution of Chuck"! Kudos! 🙌🏾

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

Yes! His answers are smarter haha but even in the most recent episodes his ignorance is still charming and funny

[@jongoff7829]

When I die, I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like the people in the car he was driving.

[@nadiamillones9979]

I-

[@np7145]

Lame joke

[@ivespoken8902]

@@np7145 he got you

[@arthursdacosta536]

This joke is older than your grandfather, but still, nice one

[@kharvinwashington8709]

Dude!🤣

[@HeaDzmold]

I've been keeping track, and so far I've sat through 1.25 hours of ads for StarTalk. Keep em coming!!

[@buckrichards3965]

To fight his lightsaber argument, the idea of the lightsaber was that the jedi used the force in tandem with the saber. They would use the force to guide their movements in combat, so a normal person would have trouble deflecting the lasers unless they have amazing reflexes and training

[@mishaldurrani125]

"There are people who will be fine without any human contact for months and even years" - literally me. We knew I could be suitable for a solo Astro mission.

[@TheOJDrinker]

I see things like Castaway where he goes nuts alone and talks to a volleyball and I think "I would be perfectly fine not having people around... maybe I'd starve to death but I wouldn't go crazy."

[@orionred2489]

There is an old Issac asimov story called the martian way. Sounds like you're one of the characters!

[@TheOkieLife]

TheOJDrinker Castaway was a terrifying thought. I could see that type of living, INTENTIONALLY, but due to a crashed plane... nope! 😂

[@soldierboy8326]

WE CAN GO TOGETHER

[@amlan7502]

Trust me kid, you wouldn't like it

[@AoSRejects]

I work at Home Depot and I'm an Eagle Scout... does that make me dangrous? 😂

[@joecarle4824]

No, that makes you a target. 😎

[@michaelodell4862]

Makes you my friend 😂

[@rodcon75025]

No but you will probably survive longer than I will. AT&T Computer guy that does satellite broadcast transmission here/

[@doge8430]

😎

[@insaincaldo]

Are you a saviour, or will you be a tyrant?

[@nickns732]

“We’re just ingredients.” Full metal alchemist would like a word.

[@nirabhra-neel9863]

The whole thing where he talked about people getting hungry for power in an post apocalyptic world and how do you decide which person gets a place in the arc is all portrayed best in The 100. One of the best post apocalyptic series.

[@NivarnaMonk]

The best post apocalyptic 💀

[@WildernessGirl21]

2012. That movie was crazy!

[@maple6894]

In the most respeectful way, Neil loves his own voice.

[@jacobpena5849]

Neil is the only person who can interrupt himself.

[@Taskuvesku]

@@jacobpena5849 Indeed! :'D

[@02pumpkinhead]

To be fair, it is indeed a show about Neil deGrasse Tyson talking 😅

[@meghanmonroe]

I love it too 😍

[@gloriannepapolis6525]

I don't agree, he just has soooooo much information he wants to share that it just spills out , he is always 10 steps ahead, and since the speed of light(his thought process) is faster then the speed of sound( his speech)

[@not_riley]

There should be a drinking game where you take a shot every time Neil touches Chuck’s arm with his hand. 😂

[@christianmckee3614]

I had to rewatch the video to actually see how much he did it 😂

[@evolution031680]

That would be a dangerous game.🤣

[@ahumancrow3839]

It’s because you want them to keep being engaged with the conversation

[@2ManyGoats]

I tried that. Just got out of intensive care this morning.

[@christianmckee3614]

Blair Churchill Get OOFED FAM

[@jonkelley4694]

25:30 This question IS what keeps ME up at night 😂

[@LEDewey_MD]

The time this video was live was April 23, 2020 - one month into the Pandemic. "The Death Edition" of StarTalk, a perfectly apropo title. This show rocks!!

[@KrakenPlayPiano]

Niel: "We don't have time for this but i wanna do it anyways, figure it out* The audacity lol 42:54

[@chicken_grease_salt]

It was the thrill of my life to get to shake your hand Mr. Tyson. You came to Kent State in Ohio and gave an incredible talk a few years ago. On your way to a VIP reception I grabbed your attention from the stage for a second and asked if it was okay to shake and you said, "Usually I'm more of a hugger!" Super kind! This is my new favorite channel on KZbin!

[@goober5713]

I've known about Dr. Tyson for a while but I just found out about this channel and I'm so happy.

[@petarnedic9179]

Omg where are u living ?

[@goober5713]

@@petarnedic9179 Iraq. I was deployed to Iraq where we didn't have the pleasure of KZbin where I was...

[@petarnedic9179]

@@goober5713 poor u

[@landscapingspecialist]

The AI question is actually something I’ve never considered in that type if context. Really gets your mind humming, I like it 👌🏻

[@lisriver1]

These two are so hilarious, smart and interesting!!! I can listen to them all day long! ❣️

[@abhaschandrakumar]

The ending on the question about Isolation is so apt to these times.

[@sparshsukralia9791]

28:30 loved this part, the man knows what he's talking about. He's so thorough with everything.

[@moer6025]

This is what I choose to watch when my insomnia keeps me up. Gonna need a weekly episode or more.

[@gypsyqueen1339]

You are my favorite person in the world. As a geek who is constantly learning and asking questions, I will never get tired of your enthusiasm and information. Thank you🌟

[@LittleLightCZ]

"Our universe might be a giant black hole and we live in it" -- My mind is blown

[@jerelterry1765]

I never thought of that or heard that. You right mind fu$ked 🤯🤯

[@TomiTapio]

Neil said approximately: Universe can be thought of as a contained, boundary having lump, like a black hole. One lump in the multiverse?

[@RMAJGaming]

same here 😵

[@jonashansen8907]

Well it got me wondering: What will happen when something falls into "our black hole" from the universe outside of it ? Would we be able to detect it or would it disrupt whatever is at the point it enters our universe? Or will whatever falls into "our black hole" be 'spaghettified' and nothing would come out in our universe? But if this is true, then every universe would lose mass over time that can never be restored? So many questions!!

[@Slowmotion650]

I always thought that was interesting too. That would mean all the black holes in our universe also create other universes and so on.

[@diamondedevil]

this has quickly become my fav yt series, perfect for binging while studying :)

[@TheGreenSweater]

It’s in the Young Adult section of the “library”

[@joppadoni]

This is the best Chuck and Neil i've ever watched. I love them both so much.

[@ogenevieve]

This was one of my favorite conversations ever. And, I agree Neil, the original H.G.Wells quote was soo much better!

[@Hussein_Nur]

This episode originally aired as a podcast on December 27, 2019.

[@g.victorpaulson8836]

I love it! My favorite astrophysicist talking about survival skills and tactics in a SHTF scenario! Awesome!

[@WildernessGirl21]

I love Neil's laugh! And Lord Nice is absolutely 😂😂😂

[@ty-dieo4746]

Thats cold, were waffles, space geese! Long live chuck, an his lazy boy on the moon!

[@909sickle]

Btw, the explanation is that the light saber is a defensive weapon, so long range attack is not needed. Also, the Jedi use the force to predict where the blaster bolt will be in the future and then block with the saber. Yes, they could also duck the bolt, but the saber can be quickly spun to block several shots, where moving the body to duck would quickly become ineffective.

[@gothsauceproductions5243]

I was about 17 when I first told someone if I could chose my death any death it would be by traveling through a black hole. Ever since I learned about the singularity & becoming Godlike human spaghetti monster. Great to hear Neil on the same page, lol

[@HanTheProphet]

I love how this man takes the wolverine question very seriously

[@swedishchef9781]

I've just discovered this and I'm so glad i have i love Neil Degrasse Tyson so much

[@michaelg7076]

Loved how he never flinched when called one of the most recognized voices on the planet, didn't try to sound humble.

[@robertschetlick8946]

From an apocalyptic (or in my case gamer's) perspective, I was told and now believe these words. "If you must die, die LOUDLY. Better chance of someone finding you and you maybe not dying. If it's zombies you are dead any way so why not attract as many zombies to you, so your party can escape." Comical for the zombies but the saving part is no less valid.

[@arltforcce6979]

The intro to startalk reminds me of videos I would watch in class with the big ole TV you'd have to bring into the room.

[@NoOtherOption_PrepN]

I listen to star talk everyday on my way home , you guys are awesome ! Or wait am I just imagining listening to it everyday?

[@jincoltrane3314]

Not gonna lie we’ll need comics like chuck for the zombie apocalypse

[@RobAndTheChaps]

Up at 4am, work till 12ish, but I get to tune into star talk, perfect.

[@jbarr5835]

I looooove how this is the opposite of those "no jumper" podcast. Sheesh, such a breath of fresh atmosphere.

[@shadowkras]

8:00 you guys summed up why I only watched the first season of the walking dead.

[@sixstringmarauder]

A boy and his dog. Crazy movie. Best line was the dog saying " you can't say she didn't have good taste ".

[@adamreecemusic160]

Pretty awesome having the combination of comedy and intelligence. The flow is able to entertain both my humor and my cosmic Intellect at the same time and both are being fed by the comedian and the scientist. They’re both intelligent and humorous at the same time.

[@richmon0177]

Crazy way to go Neil! gotta give you points on the originality! greetings from Costa Rica!

[@arlanbergoust]

A relative, personal favorite, inspiring, entertaining, delightful conversation. Congratulations!

[@Cold2413]

Y’all are so entertaining! I been binge watching y’all for the last couple days.

[@janicepedroli7403]

Loved Peabody and Sherman. Never missed Rocky and Bullwinkle.

[@giga7471]

They make amazing duo for podcast neil educate us and chuck always makes us laugh

[@kamma44]

27:05 Nope wrong! He over thought the movie. In the movie the things that laid dormant were the machines. The aliens sent their machines and hid them underground. Then much later the aliens arrived and piloted the machines. It wasn't as if the aliens themselves hid underground for a period of time allowing themselves to develop any immunity.

[@chicken_grease_salt]

Also, aren't there small tribal populations on Earth that are left completely alone, in part, because they aren't immune to things like the common cold? So, its completely possible that you can live here and never be immune, if you isolate yourself!

[@NankitaBR]

Yes, and then they arrived is those lightning pods.

[@David_Fellner]

@@chicken_grease_salt The common cold wouldn't be one of those, since we're all still susceptible to it, but other diseases like smallpox yes. "Modern" humans might accidentally wipe out uncontacted tribes that way. I think the premise in War of the Worlds was that there are (fictional) bacteria drifting around the atmosphere that all life on Earth is immune to.

[@andrewcarr2431]

@@chicken_grease_salt has been proven, as races conquered the Globe (Spain exploring the America's, etc) they brought germs that crippled the native peoples of that region. Hence the racial bias. "Some white man put a demon inside of us" An accurate analogy given the level of scientific understanding of the time.

[@andrewcarr2431]

And you have to respect the fiction at the time. Late 1800's/Victorian era. Where science at it's level was simply amazing echoing the modern day achievements of today. Telsa harnessing lighting was just as fantastical (though proven) as walking on the moon. War of the Worlds would be reversed in the modern age. The Humans will be the invaders of some planet and be susceptible to some extraterrestrial biological agent. Hence the space suits and so forth. In the Speilberg version of the story it was the digesting of the human race that made the Aliens sick, their immune system could not cope quickly enough to disease to compensate. Which is an interesting concept. going back to some astronaut walking on Planet X and tasting a mushroom....Again it happened in real life when explorers were colonizing different parts of the World. "Here m'Lord, try this. It's a potato! Gasp that is foul. Give this to my Belgian Chef, he may be able to do something with it....And "Do you want fries with that?" is born.

[@Familydude-ct7pn]

12:58 high pitched Neil sounds like Neil doing an impression of Kevin Hart doing an impression of Neil lol.

[@Tre2_Crispy]

You gotta be willing to learn and love learning to watch Neil he teaches you like 7 different concepts in 1 explanation I love this guy 👍🏾💯

[@JustArry]

7:40 The Walkiing dead - "Fight the dead, Fear the living"

[@rohitlohar8614]

Solid mic +incredible voice+interesting topics! ❤

[@cliveg72]

Man I love your show. Just love it. Keep it coming.

[@jdturkdrcox]

We need shows like this so people learn that science isn't just learning the periodic table or just know what photosynthesis is, this was all I learned from school.... And I forgot the periodic table anyway.... 😅

[@ridetheapex]

3:05 Shout out to my fellow Eagle Scouts!

[@NankitaBR]

"The souffle isn't the souffle, the souffle is the recipe." - Clara Oswald

[@simsfamily298]

Replace souffle with human being

[@texabara]

Excellent reading of the original ending!!! I ❤️It!!!!

[@chrisbussonnais9673]

Keep it up Mr Tyson. You're a very smart man. I like to see you talk about the possibility of alien life. I think the mathematics support other life without a doubt myself. The Joe Rogan podcasts you were on were great!

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

NDGT the UPPER end of HUMAN EVOLUTION!!! He remembers Bullwinkle!!!

[@anthonydavis4829]

Neil Degrass Tyson, the Stevie Wonder of space.

[@darrinschultz6918]

“Will humans arise on other earth like planets?” is what I think he was asking

[@Stormclowe]

@Startalk I just watched this (RE: falling into a black hole, spaghettification). How does that apply to quarks that are created as they're pulled apart (as you reference in a much more recent video on a similar topic - cosmic collisions, I believe)?

[@alvinahoya8028]

I never get tired of listening to Neil.

[@Arbaaltheundefeated]

I actively avoid human contact for my survival. Especially now!

[@Poldx]

24:55 I know I should not, but I'm laughing tears right now... xD

[@mnmmnm8321]

Sweet show: Neil and Chuck you're both so special to this planet 🤪🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🇭🇲🏏🦘🍿🤔😇✨✨✨✨✨⚡❤️❤️

[@Lunarlexxx]

this has to be one of my favorite episodes

[@thomasjohnson1778]

I think in the war of the worlds with Tom cruise the aliens came down through the lightning.

[@MrScalman]

yes they did, they had there only those machines buried , not living aliens. and now we have like 2 new tv series called war of the worlds.

[@ericparrish1515]

Oh we're burying things now? Giddy up

[@chaz921dren8]

Thomas Johnson kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIDNaZZ3eNt9i68 case dismissed @ericparrish

[@thedoctorofplagues4569]

they rode the lightning

[@thelizardking6300]

Just what I needed, during my existential quandary that has arisen from quarantine 😂

[@padbrit]

Neil, one of the world's great communicators.

[@briangill23]

Neil - another talk made me think of this but your talk on the possibility of us existing within a black hole gives me a visual of universes strung together like a string of black pearls that shimmer with flecks of color from the inside

[@alfonsopallan8208]

28:50 optimus prime is that you?!

[@iansandridge8523]

"Hit a flock of geese, gotta put it down"

[@insaincaldo]

That whole thing about waking someone, about to die peacefully. Reminds me of Henrik Ibsen. To a nurse reassuring he was doing better, he replied "On the contrary"

[@streetcodes]

Also it was indeed space cowboy. Your knowledge always amazes me. Thank you.

[@hsaccount_]

love how Neil gets mad at the lightsaber hahahaha

[@seb.evidente7328]

I actually misheard the segment as Startalk: Mormon Edition 🤣🤣🤣

[@alysgrant6732]

First time I heard this show. Very enjoyable!

[@suziperret468]

Chuck, you are so nice! Funny too!! Thanks to you and Neil for a wonderful show…

[@neiltessier3520]

Dr. Tyson: "if I WERE YOU I would find a way to be useful so you could go on the ark." I guess Neil was given his seat already 😆😆

[@meyerlemon3776]

No question he gets on that ark. He is way important

[@craigdougan8484]

26:53 The aliens in War of the Worlds came down in the lighting strikes and were not pre-burried as Tyson says. It was their 'tripod' machines that were here for "millions of years." From Wikipedia: The tripods have force shields to protect them from human weapons, and the tripods' pilots traveled to Earth within the lightning storms as a way to enter their machines, which are assumed to have been buried underground for millions of years. My problem with the plot is that if they're sophisticated enough to traverse light years, then surely they'd know all about the "germ theory of disease" and not be dumb enough to not take precautions. Even *our* relatively backwards species takes interplanetary cross contamination into consideration.

[@omarlors]

You're right, in the book it's stated that the aliens doesn't have any germs in their planet, that they get rid of them a long time ago, so long that they don't have an inmune system in their bodies and apparently they forgot entirely about the diseases

[@Raz.C]

Wasn't it the case that the machines were underground for however long, but the alien occupants were 'beamed down' in the lightning? edit - hang on... That's exactly what you said...

[@brazdamnit]

They descend by lightning, but if they have already installed the machine underground, then they have already had contact with our germs.

[@Raz.C]

@@brazdamnit Maybe, maybe not. I think it was mentioned that the machines had been there for a long time (perhaps millions of years). It's possible they were fired much the same way missiles are and simply followed inertial guidance towards earth.

[@barthoving2053]

@@omarlors The problem with no idea of germs/micro organism is that the Tripods were bio forming the planet using the capture humans as fertilizer. You can have a micro organism free species if it set itself completely apart from nature. However any biological ecosystem needs microbes. This is for decomposing the dead bodies and making nutrients available.

[@PrimeTimeMike]

this is so good to have on on the background

[@ArmoredCricket]

44:00 I feel like a lot of people may feel this way when they loose appreciation for the small interactions they do have with others. Even simply the interaction with a clerk at a store. So given a choice, yes people may choose solitude. But remove "option" from the equation and give them enough time to become bored, they may start to change their tune when left with nothing else besides the void of space.

[@Muk1R1]

This was amazing. Also, that reading of the War of the Worlds by Neil was Epic🔥

[@cardshark38]

He should’ve had the AskaMortician lady on for this one about death 💀

[@TheeBrassMonkey]

40:10 Best Neil Degrasse Tyson sound ever 👌

[@barbaralachance5836]

Watching this in 2022... And I miss Neil having people in his office. I got used to the remote version but its not the same

[@schoolcraft8807]

they used lightsabers because it was more "civilized"

[@marrs1013]

Civilezed...? Ever stabbed anybody?

[@3allz]

Well they missed a few important points with Lightsabers imo! First of all, Jedi's are the only ones who can use them, so they come with Force powers (dark, grey or light) and can manipulate space/time at range (grips, push, pulls, mind control, extreme dexterity and jumping) and secondly, not only can they deflect with their Lightsabers, the more trained Jedi/Sith can deflect bullets/lazers at a precise target. Look at Vader scene from Rogue One, hes a slow dude but he doesn't need speed with his control over the force and his ability with his Lightsaber.

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@marrs1013 If you stabbed anybody with a lightsaber, you would know how civilized that is. So cool! Younglings, generals, Jedi masters, whatever comes. Swish, swosh, no physical force, no blood, everything clean. everybody looking at you as if you were a Sith lord.

[@brendanchrietzberg149]

3allz You don’t have to be force sensitive to use a lightsaber you need training and obviously you’d never beat a Jedi who is force sensitive in a fight but you’d be a bigger threat to anybody else, also deflection applies to blasters not “bullets” slugthrowers as an example, when they were shot Jedi would try to deflect it the metal would melt which would cause molten hot metal to fly at them at rapid speeds.

[@brendanchrietzberg149]

3allz also I don’t really care just letting you know for the future but Jedi and Sith are already the plural versions of themselves you don’t need the ‘s at the end of Jedi to be plural.