StarTalk Podcast: Science in Pop Fiction with Neil deGrasse Tyson

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On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson investigates the science of pop fiction with comic co-host Chuck Nice and astrophysicist and StarTalk geek-in-chief Charles Liu, PhD. We’ve wrangled up all your fan-submitted questions on pop fiction, which Charles describes as any type of fiction you would watch or read while eating popcorn.
To start, we dive right into speed of light communication. If two parties are communicating light years away from each other, how would they be able to share the same sense of time during the conversation? You’ll learn how Star Trek’s “subspace” solved this problem. We discuss how the Doppler effect impacts our real-life space communications today.
You’ll find out which science fiction and superhero movies Neil and Charles appreciate given their level of, or purposeful disregard for, science accuracy. We take a hard look at the 1966 Batman movie and discuss the infamous “shark repellent”. You’ll also hear about Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!, Dr. Strange, and others. And, Neil gives us details on his cameos in The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time and Ice Age: Collision Course.
You’ll hear about stealth technology and ways it could be used. We ponder the science of invisibility when a fan asks if it’s possible to disguise a city like Wakanda disguises itself in Black Panther. Neil and Charles tell us what superpower they would want that’s enabled by gene-editing. Re-visit Franz Kafka’s iconic story “The Metamorphosis.”
We explore the use of artificial gravity and centrifugal force, like in 2001: A Space Odyssey, and if they’re plausible ideas for future long-term space travel. We also investigate if the quantum realm is real and if it shares any similarities to the way it was portrayed in Ant-Man. Lastly, Neil shares what his bat signal would look like. All that, plus, discover more about popcorn and why our trio thinks it’s one of the most extraordinary foods ever.
This episode originally aired on August 2, 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!
#SciFi #StarTrek #NeildeGrasseTyson

[@aroddo2953]

15:03 "I have a guest role in Sharknado 6" "You do realize that you can say no to these projects?" 😅😅😅😅

[@jimperry4108]

If it helps with Cosmos Season 4...? Sharknado 7-15!!

[@zemoxian]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MihiraTheAce]

I'm going to watch that movie just to see NDT

[@montanamike7948]

Unpopular opinion: I cannot Fing stand chuck.

[@Nawazaahr]

@@montanamike7948 His comedic timing is the best I have heard.

[@rajgill7576]

"dont apologize for interrupting. Im from new york and where Im from thats the only way we know you're paying attention" -NDT

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

Sometimes I wish they'd just shut up with the tedious Dad jokes and stop interrupting. {:-:-:}

[@sherrymanning1116]

Lol I never thought of it that way just thought Neil really loved to hear himself lmao

[@rfmda]

@@sherrymanning1116 yg , K wv bz v

[@jeremyowen1]

"And so you have shark dragon tornadoes" This man said that with a straight face.

[@datsawesome3241]

i dont understanbd

[@infamoswordz]

That's a t-shirt

[@insane_troll]

Well it is 2020, that would go with the year's theme.

[@freddiereadie30]

After 6 sequels, it already becomes the new normal so everyone can now talk about it with a straight face.

[@floatingshoppinglist5193]

@@insane_troll failed joke cope 💀💀💀🤡🤣

[@hisroyalairness23MJ]

You find the perfect combination of personalities. Chuck , Liu and NDT are the perfect lineup for StarTalk.

[@eriklommen]

It saddens me so low amount of people are interested in videos like these. It deserves million likes

[@wootle]

I feel the same. A Taylor Swift vid will get a bazillion views and likes.

[@malcolmcanning548]

@@wootle that's because she exsists

[@chexquest87]

Most people lack the intelligence to care or be inquisitive about anything. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

[@engineeringconcepts138]

Just be happy that you, as an individual, are inquisitive enough to care about this stuff. And this stuff is hard, so its reasonable most people won't get into it. Taylor Swift is easy because its 4 chords in 4/4 time with 1 -2 syllable words that make up the lyrics.

[@tiffanyjoan2b]

Sorry we are not click-happy people like the teens who are glued to their phones, most of the time these science vids are my background audio/music.

[@wootle]

Im utterly and totally ADDICTED to this show. Its like a drug. Please never stop making them. The world needs you good people of Science.

[@blessedveteran]

Agreed

[@floatingshoppinglist5193]

Neil needs to eat some 🍄 to relieve some of that disgusting ego ☮️❤️👁

[@alexandercanella4479]

He's definitely one of my favorite guests, I'll gladly watch him in 100 more episodes.

[@ishe728]

Here's a combination of comedy and intelligence with a touch of nerd

[@-KMA-]

Who, Chuck? Lol

[@carlwillis7846]

Absolutely adore NDT but he is genuinely incapable of letting someone finish their sentence.

[@quikwidit6967]

Let me guess, the last Rogan podcast? Yea, we all know something was off for sure but damn give em a break. Yea he's known for being kind of in ur face. Bug that's usually when he's surrounded by super intellects. It's his field of work, and in his field he's a friggin rock star, it's his sport and he's good at it. Maybe u can say competitive. Rock on! Enjoy him while we have him.

[@carlwillis7846]

@@quikwidit6967 yeah that was difficult to watch for sure but as mentioned before i adore him and appreciate him but anyone who is a public figure is open for critique and that was mine of him.

[@quikwidit6967]

@@carlwillis7846 "Genuinely incapable of letting someone finish their sentence" You don't "adore" him. He's not always like that.

[@carlwillis7846]

@@quikwidit6967 I'm really not going to argue with someone i don't know on KZbin over an astrophysicist. I gave an opinion you can take it or leave it as that is your right.

[@joost199207]

@@quikwidit6967 No, not Rogan specifically, he does it all the time. Is the Rogan podcast the only thing you've seen of NDT?

[@7t2z28]

NDT: "It doesn't make sense." MCU: "I'm not obligated to make sense to you."

[@DiegoA_1992]

"Does it taco?", seems like Charles enjoys himself some GMM

New mythical idea. Will it cloak?

[@Mike-dm6nb]

And chuck likes adventure time. Both got the reaction...... "What?"

[@dylanpritchard4981]

YES!!! He even specifically mentions the packing peanuts which I’m pretty sure they tried in that GMM episode!

[@evanbrum6357]

36:36 Shout out The Fountain, one of the most visually stunning movies ever made and no one really talks about it. You could tell chuck and Neil had no idea what it was since they just moved on but would love to get Neils perspective on that one some day.

[@F_L_U_X]

The cloaking/camouflage part: You left out Predator. You also left out the fact that magicians/illusionists were hired in WWII and successfully hid entire camps and set up dummy tanks, trucks, etc.

[@theduder2617]

That may be because the Predator utilized cloaking, not invisibility. If you watch the movies again, pay attention as they go "invisible". You will see the background being imposed onto the surface of their suit. Only their thrown weapons go invisible AFTER they leave the hands of a predator. But while in their possession, even the weapons are cloaked.

[@philjones6551]

Dummy tanks, trucks, convoys, etc., were physical constructs (along the lines of theatre production set designs) with speakers playing what amounts to a mix tape of the sounds one might expect from the convoy. They were two-dimensional cut-outs, painted to look like an enticing target for the enemy, with sounds being played from speakers to make the scene more convincing. That wasn't a magician or illusionist, but rather an engineering company.

[@twofivestayalive7293]

Metamorphic Camouflage.

[@desaperu]

Neil is a fantastic personal astrophysicist and Chuck, with his great sense of humour, is a very funny and excellent complement for him. Greetings from Perú, South America.

[@gueswho1968]

Charles Liu said: "No one would make a movie about regrowing limbs..." ; One Word: DEADPOOL

[@kamallewis-gopie6956]

The Amazing Spiderman

[@theduder2617]

I'm sure he meant a good movie when he stated that. That eliminates those two movies as examples.

[@ArifRWinandar]

Deadpool isn't about regrowing limbs, it just happens to have regrowing limbs in it.

[@norman-str3ss88]

Orville aswell 😉

[@jnws30]

@@theduder2617 deadpool is excellent. Get off the crack

[@350FPS]

Can't get enough of these shows, you guys are great!!

[@djgene5621]

Chuck's getting smarter every day!

[@user-yb8ck6cf2m]

I think that this format of the show - with Charles Liu and Chuck is the greatest :).

[@puru397]

Thanks to Neil, Charles, and Chuck for a very entertaining and enjoyable talk.

[@burns4246]

Don’t u mean chuck, chuck, and chuck, not Neil, Charles, and chuck?

[@joypanchal5753]

plz more content of these 3 the best lineup ever on startalk

[@spaceman5089]

I need more episodes with these 3.

[@raaz3338]

I don't watch any episode without chuck nice TheComedian

[@frogz]

33, born in 86 and YES, i've seen the original batman as a kid!!

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

It was on TV once or twice along with old Batman reruns. I saw it too and I'm 38.

[@greggjohnson5634]

Yep i seen it through 80s and early 90s on some channels i was born 86 too

[@lovetheory9769]

Nice is so funny!! He's a great addition to the show.

[@nateg08]

It's extremely entertaining to watch these 3 gentlemen geek out together lol

[@tehfuzzyness1]

I have so much respect for Chuck(Darker Chuck) for referencing Adventure Time... lol

[@JLHunter61]

In Thor Heyerdahl's masterwork, "Kon-Tiki"--which consisted of a handmade raft, a diary-based book, and later the Academy Award-winning documentary about Heyerdahl's and his friends' theory and subsequent expedition--the entire project depended upon, essentially, a hand-hewn balsa wood frame, a bamboo and straw "wheelhouse," and straw filler to waterproof the entire thing. And it was proven to be fairly well waterproof during a massive, insanely dangerous storm that they survived! A woven together floating raft made it all the way across the PACIFIC OCEAN! Wow. A boat that would float all the way across the PACIFIC OCEAN with little more than hope and hard work is just crazy enough to earn my respect!

[@Dax-cosmo]

Learning how not to interrupt people should be on top of your list

[@user-ng9gd4vl9s]

The optic camo bit, i was yelling "Predator!" "Over here." "Turn around."

[@BispingOHMYWORD]

Thank you Neil for your videos and educating me . Fun guy , great vibes and an absolute genius . I appreciate you

[@j-dubb614]

Chuck Nice you're my hero for mentioning Adventure Time

[@chromaticvisuelle]

For everyone who likes science fiction, go watch The Expanse !!!

[@anraemcknight7411]

Fantastic show bro

[@TwinsenR]

I REALLY was hoping they would bring up The Expanse, but I knew I would be disappointed. :( Really also wish Neil would watch it.

[@Poopinism]

Yup

[@TheReferrer72]

Or you can read the books.

[@ishe728]

My only gripe on the show is the loose explanation of the titles of the people in charge... Maybe put a little caption when we see this character of who they are and what they are in what fraction

[@MultiTomcat67]

Both Charles Liu's and Neil's superpower wishes have been used in movies. Immortality in the Highlander movies & TV series, regrowing lost limbs (& everything else) in Deadpool movies.

[@blessedveteran]

I get that you have an "expert" on to help answer, but I wish you wouldn't stop Chuck (the real one) from adding his comments because he is US, and these are the things we would be thinking. It is what makes it worth watching. You, Neil, said this yourself, Chuck is an integral part of this show for all of us ❤ plus Chuck is super smart and funny. WIN WIN WIN🎉

[@ad08star]

This is the "Holy Trinity" of the StarTalk. Prove me wrong.

[@huseinmuhammed2627]

I was just thinking the same thing 😂

[@gabrielhersey5546]

Amandeep Singh my professor isn’t there

[@quincy9908]

Amandeep Singh they're not because they are real.*boom* just proven you wrong No offense just a joke if you're Christian

[@oldschoolman1444]

Three nerds taking the fun out of syfi =(

[@mjbanan5291]

I like NDT, Chuck nice and Mike Massamino too, but yes, this is the Holy Trinity

[@InternetParadox]

Is it just me or would Chuck play the perfect Frozone?

[@stephencarter2041]

Really, Really, Enjoyed this episode of The Awesome StarTalk!!

[@MaxBeamer]

What a GREAT episode👍 laughed so much

[@scusethegoose4077]

really enjoyed this episode, please bring him back!

[@sherrymanning1116]

I learn so much from yal I wished I could finish school but glad ro learn from u helps my mental health alot ty

[@Amethyst_Dragon_]

Love the three Chuck's

[@black4pienus]

I like Charles. Great guest.

[@TheEGCRACKER]

Just got into your thoughtness and show,, keep this going. So love learnding. 🤔 Love ya bro!

[@TheExoplanetsChannel]

Great live !

[@johnmaltbie377]

I’m honestly eating popcorn while watching this. Does that make this pop nonfiction?

[@sanjugr4853]

Hey Dr Tyson, huge fun of the show!! Please bring some computer scientists or experts from any Computer science field.

[@Valdarious]

For the first question, Star Trek also had deep space "stations" that would connect to each other though for communications purposes, probably would help with the subspace comms.

[@stephjovi]

I'm 39 and I grew up with with the reruns of the original Batman. I absolutely loved it as a kid. And that shark reppelant spray is the only scene I vividly remember. Bat anti hai spray 😂🦈

[@612Tiberius]

The movie that simultaneously made me want to scream and cry was the mid-to-late 1970's "The Black Hole", by Disney of all studios; wherein while the lead characters were falling into the titular Black Hole - IN THE VACUUM OF DEEP SPACE - , they held a conversation with each other. But granted, that was ostensibly a Sci-fi flick; not a Superhero one, which was the question. With regard to the '60s "Batman" movie, the question I kept asking myself re the Bat-Shark repellent was: was it a can of Batman-created Shark-repellent, OR a can of repellent specifically designed for "Bat-Sharks"?

[@protospace270]

The invisible car in the Bond universe was in Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan in 2002, not Daniel Craig. It was the Aston Martin v12 Vanquish which Q referred to as the Vanish. Also, Dragon Ball Z repeatedly used a gravity enhancing machine (without any spinning rooms) for use in strength training.

[@adsax1903]

Love charles + neil combo! Upsize please! ;-)

[@DieKofol]

Nice! This was like watching an episode of Big Bang where the guys just Geek out about Movies, Series, Comics, etc. EPIC

[@slipziq]

lol at the subtitles when chuck talks at the same time as neil [Drowning Neils Voice] 😆

[@kasession]

I was hoping Sharknado would get a shout out!!! Those movies are so ridiculous, and i absolutely watch them whenever they come on. :-)

[@StevenErnest]

A slight correction: the hypothetical "subspace" communication of Star Trek was not portrayed as being instantaneous, as Dr. Liu characterized it, but would take some time such as several weeks. (Depending on the era and dramatic needs.) Wonderful discussion!

[@netgnostic1627]

True - and yet there were plenty of conversational video calls to admirals at Starfleet Command from a very long distance, that were real-time, with no apparent delays.

[@AriMalatesta]

1: I love and feel absolutely represented in my pop/science geek drunken soliloquies... B: on the topic of "invisibility" you let out the Elven cloaks from the LOTR universe... It's not about not be unseen, but to blend. It's about "becoming" , in the sense that the question usually comes from the POV of the one who can't see, instead of the one that can't be seen/watched.

[@zzewt]

mental image "Do you want to play Merlin in Sharknado?" "YES"

[@Sarsour_]

Awesome idea for an episode, thanks!

[@MrPeterson74]

Egyptian reed boats. Reed is basically a large form of Straw. It floated on the Nile just fine.

[@EvilDaveCanada]

What I would love to see you talk about is the futuristic science from the PULP Fiction which is in many ways sci-fi written BEFORE the Apollo era. Examples of what I'm talking about would stories like the LensMan series, the universe created by H Beam Piper, Jules Verne, etc

[@stephanvesselinov478]

Neil you should teach how to teach, you are a treat to listen and make learning fun. Thank you.

[@melanezoe]

The cloak in Harry Potter was another example of unnoticeability. It was woven of Demiguise fur, a material of perfect camouflage. (You might enjoy reading The Science of Harry Potter.)

[@deaconstenson9450]

Great as always Neil!

[@Dooga-mm7tf]

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension 😂😱 Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Goldblum... what an amazing cast!

[@insane_troll]

One problem with instantaneous communication is that if the two parties are travelling at high speed with respect to each other, then each should experience the other as being slowed down. If a spaceship is going at high speed, then on Earth we would see it as having time dilation and everything on the ship slowed down, but on the ship they would see the Earth as experiencing time dilation, and everything on Earth slowed down.

[@twothree4]

43:57 charles be like, what am i doing here? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@zorianm7329]

omg salted when they said "you know, you can say no to some of these movies." LOL

[@TwinsenR]

I would totally watch a spin-off of StarTalk titled, Chuck Cubed. Who's with me?

[@AtmasImpaler]

One guy

[@kiminthemix4251]

infarct the best video i saw on the internet today about compression

[@varuntulsyan2558]

I sooo want Dr. Charles to be my professor even tho I took biology for my undergrad.❤

[@darkROAM1]

And for the stealth “technology” in regards to other applications, I have an idea. In the idea of absorbing different electromagnetic signals or even, to some extent, deflecting, it could be applied to solar power. I think this is something also thought about when thinking about applications for vanta black (if it could be mass produced)

[@helljason]

Neil's chuckle gets me everytime.

[@StevenErnest]

Charles said Star Trek's subspace radio is simultaneous. But I believe there was a delay of some time, like weeks or so; this is a bit more realistic, and adds to the drama of Capt Kirk having to make decisions without backup from starfleet.

[@11kele]

I don't know why I have watched this... ... five times during the last 2 days since it was published. You guys are awesome.

[@SidekickSam24]

It was Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day with the invisible car

[@zaimahbegum-diamond1660]

I thought so too

[@vovacat1797]

I suddenly imagined a sci-fi world in which no FTl communication is possible, but FTL travel exists, so all the communication is done with a use of tiny fast postman drones that are constantly jumping between systems.

[@cardquest2118]

Ily Neil! You’re my hero

[@ziggy_425]

"Is that the one where they dont have elbows" omg🤣🤣

[@lavidamodernadeyimi]

Amazing! So interesting and funny!

[@zaimahbegum-diamond1660]

Love Professor Lu🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🌠

[@Eseibio__]

That DC UNIVERSE LINE WAS FIRE 🔥

[@juggalo1702]

"No one is going to make a movie out of [regenerating limbs]"... Deadpool?

[@michaelkrenciprock6145]

This was funny, nicely done. I didn't appreciate Chuck Nice until I seen 'stand-in' comedians try to do his job.

[@sherrymanning1116]

I think cause he actually is interested in science

[@ToddLarsen]

My favorite Guest is Back! Thank for sharing and as always keep building👍

[@Dergishmere]

Title should have been: "StarTalk Podcast: Science in Pop Fiction with Chuck, Chuck, and Chuck"

[@Santiago_Handle]

I'm 36, in south america, and I saw that 1966 Batman movie. I remember clearly when I picked it up from the video rental store in the early 90's.

[@anieanton7266]

In the movie “Ghost Dad”, he DID fall through the floor down to the foundation. He struggled for a while, if I remember correctly, to stand on the actual room floor. Once he figured it out, he was fine. I think... it’s been about 30 years since I’ve seen that movie, or when ever it first came on video

[@NEEDCheese]

I'm with chuck.. I want a bowl too.

[@kenallen5054]

I keep looking up with you!

[@Saeryfim]

I love that Chuck is like "Princess Bubblegum said that too.", haha.

[@andromidius]

In Star Trek they do in fact use micro wormholes to send long range messages. And even then there's a delay. Mass Effect 3 introduces the contrivance of quantum entanglement to send messages across the galaxy - essentially quantum strings linking the two points.

[@HussainFahmy]

*_Amazing Charles_*

[@Grygong555]

Neil: „where I can open my mouth 5x wider than my head, so I can finally... Chuck: „(silently) suck it” Hahahah pure gold Chuck

[@BrokenSoul79x]

There is a Canadian company out of BC that is working on invisibility shielding using layered lenticular lenses that is coming along great

[@brian102024]

Lol got that reference to good mythical morning

[@modscientist9793]

I'd love to hear you guys review Killer Klowns from Outer Space LOL

[@theBlueFox2]

Also hollow man when he was injected with chemicals. I've always liked that one.

[@joseimpact]

lol the mars rover joke got me

[@reaszczepaniak1117]

I learned and laughed more on this one 😂 then Ever. Comfort in the akwardness is a beautiful thing to get to experience

[@jesusc137]

there should be a thousand likes button

[@Batini]

Charles mentioned Dune and the Fountain in one go? I am a fan now.