Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Albedo

What the heck is albedo? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice have some fun in the sun with reflectivity and the definition of albedo.
What is high albedo? Are there any things that have no albedo? We talk about brightness, and objects that reflect versus absorb light. How does melanin impact albedo in humans? How bright or not bright is the moon? You’ll learn tricks on how to stay cooler in the summer. What is the view of earth like from the moon? What is earthshine? We’ll talk about our friends Al Bedo and Leonardo daVinci all 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!
#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson
0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Albedo
2:21 - Human Albedo
4:07 - Albedo of the Moon
5:34 - Clothes That Absorb The Most Sunlight
7:11 - Albedo of the Earth
9:02 - Earth As Seen from the Moon
12:31 - Da Vinci’s Discovery
13:52- Closing Notes

[@dwightk.schrute5291]

Guys we need to do something, chuck is getting smarter day by day.

[@luluxadelina8900]

Yeah I want to be smarter like Chuck. I think we just need more Niel..

[@sicfxmusic]

How about do something to yourself and become smarter than Chuck 🕶

[@AJD...]

Look who's talking

[@F_L_U_X]

We all should be...

[@grimm00002]

His reaction to lasers when he gets it was incredible. It's no overreaction, it was literally him piecing two and two together and getting mind blown by the genius of Einstein realizing this decades before lasers were actually implemented.

[@leeds85]

4:45 Look how excited Neil is when chuck comes in correctly at a different angle on something he hadn't planned on explaining in that way.

[@altosack]

I think he absolutely planned on explaining it that way, and was delighted Chuck caught on instead of him having to introduce it himself.

[@leeds85]

@@altosack yes could be right.

[@onalennasehume4586]

The conversation about the Earth's albedo in relation to the moon genuinely blew my mind. Wow, just wow!

[@alibabuche]

…and that Chuck got the average of the Albedo of The Earth CORRECT!

[@yannis650]

Very nice episode! We use albedo measurements a lot in solar power industry. Modern solar panels are made “bifacial” which means roughly that they produce power from light coming in behind them reflected from the ground. Modern solar power plants use albedo enhancements methods like white marble stones or aluminium/white plastic surfaces to enhance the albedo and give a solar panel about 20% more power!

[@rebellious6660]

I like how this comment section is split into those here for science, those here for Genshin, and those here for the one and only Lord Ainz Oal Gown.

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

There's only JUSTICE and science too

[@shironasama0445]

And Ben 10 fans

[@voxmagnus1556]

This comment deserves more likes

[@rebellious6660]

@@shironasama0445 I didn't notice any Ben 10 fans. I can hardly remember anyone named Albedo from Ben 10. Am I just forgetful or is this a new gen thing?

[@FrostBeast5]

@@rebellious6660 It was from the ultimate alien series. It was someone who tried to copy the watch, but ended up becoming like a reverse color version of ben when something went wrong.

[@PrometheanVision]

Neil is a true gift to humanity.

[@bob733333]

He's a paid actor puppet for high level criminals. Lying his face off about a lot of stuff. Mainstream Science is now a faith-based religion worshiping Man. Sorry if this bursts any illusions.

[@Chatillgbt]

@@bob733333 bruhh.. you need medical help. Your tin foil hat is on wayy too tight

[@headred76]

@@bob733333 flat earther by any chance?

[@bob733333]

@@headred76 I know earth is not a ball spinning through a vacuum going nowhere, etc. I know Tv is a satanic mind control weapon. It's mostly lies and tricks.

[@MightOfOgun]

Yeah until he start talking about race and rights for so called black people!

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

Science and Overlord, two of my favorite things

[@alexandermartin1837]

And also the exoplanets channel

[@xerxesgaming3629]

Albeedo not albedo? Sounds so much cooler in overlord

[@zachsuperfisky2154]

Glad I wasn't the only one haha

[@xerxesgaming3629]

@@zachsuperfisky2154 actually looked it up and it’s pronounce both ways phew

[@thatisthatoof]

We meet again brothers

[@RodrigoM3llo]

I love when Chuck realizes something his own way, and that makes so much sense for Neil, that we mere mortals get that even greater "mind blowing" moment, such as 4:46

[@dogoku]

i liked the joke he made at 12:13. You can see Neil was definitely impressed by how clever that joke was

[@alexandermartin1837]

Check out the exoplanets channel

[@aprylvanryn5898]

Chuck knows a lot more than he lets on. I guarantee you he already knows what albedo is because I've seen him use albedo/ libido jokes

[@kylebowles9820]

We computer graphics types like this stuff, very important for physically based rendering, best part is that scientists have measured all the things for us :)

[@spencer4685]

Legit I’m currently making the textures for my game using this video as a baseline

[@Adama_Now]

What is next Neil? UV mapping? 😂

[@MiRaje8086]

it’s the only reason i knew the word

[@RnBoy15]

Lol but let"s be honest here. Nobody in existence in our industry made the Moon Albedo 0.1 :)) black as a tyre. That surprised me the most. Middle Grey FTW

[@alejandrohaynes81]

P H O N G (but it sounds like the taco bell ding)

[@sansri]

Wow! And I always thought Albedo was the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius!

[@bertdrake]

Its amazing how well you two sync together, love it!

[@lxathu]

I'm in trouble again as usually when I want to save a Startalk episode. It's always hard to decide if it should go to my Science or to my Fun folder.

[@richardgrayson3241]

Make a S.un file and your Scifun fone files will have a home.

[@Mrecksl]

There simply isn't enough gratitude available to express how much Neil has contributed to humanity, by dumbing science down and making it so fascinating and entertaining. He leaves us mere mortals a little more enlightened with each video. Chuck and Neil are the perfect duo in making it work for viewers of every level and age. I'm awed by people who feel it's their call to spread knowledge, Neil sits at the top among the greats.

[@Flexy59]

Funnily enough i don't even really consider him explaining scientific concepts without mathematics and fancy symbols/equations and all that in a friendly and chill atmosphere, "dumbing down science". Instead, he merely disproves the widely spread notion that to be interested in science or even enjoy learning something new out of any scientific field, you need a degree or a deep understanding of mathematics or "be a nerd". More people need to understand this and more people who already understand this need to spread the word The other day i asked my sister "what do you know about the solar system?" And she laughed, as if i said something so out there, even though knowing even a little bit about the solar system is neither geeky nor difficult, it's fun even but there seems to be this inherent idea that science and all its contents are just for this small group of people who spend most of their time playing with calculators and it's sad to think about in my opinion

[@tanadarko6991]

I love chuck so much - he's the perfect co-host. I had the exact same reaction he did to the earth absorbing 70% of the heat and also when you can see the dark part of the moon!! AHHHHH

[@uzairhaider89]

Absolutely brilliant show. Loved this explainer 👍

[@willsonpena8696]

Love to see how much fun Neil has with these videos. The great Duo at it again 🥸

[@humanpudding8643]

Wow!! Great episode, instant classic! Chuck be so high in this, he be the one on the moon!!! & as result, helped make it SUCH a FANTASTIC lil explainer! Plus, as always-I learned somethin new. =D

[@Brick_Squared]

"Are you ok?" "No, but albedo."

[@alexandermartin1837]

I highly recommend you the exoplanets channel

[@tyroneballard3037]

Nahh this was actually funny af lol

[@Abs0lutZr0]

@@tyroneballard3037 literally LOL

[@BlackPlatino]

Could someone explain this joke to a humble man who speaks Spanish please?

[@ProxCyde]

@@BlackPlatino it basically reads as "No, but I'll be though (albedo)"

[@rtehcs000]

I am convinced that if Neil was my teacher/professor growing up, I would be an astrophysicist or someone of the sort. This is how learning should be! Inspiring! Interesting! Entertaining! Simply amazing!

[@leelarson1952]

Thanks for brightening my day.

[@mikee2465]

This channel is just great.. and Chuck.. I appreciate you

[@ahmedr.]

Albedo, earthshine , magnitude .. That's ABC for us as stargazers. Please, more content like this.

[@mariakasioni416]

What an amazing explainer! Thank you so much!

[@chandru9133]

This is the start talk video that blew my mind multiple times!

[@pop5678eye]

10:11 'Earth rise' was for astronauts orbiting the Moon. Sitting on the Moon would not produce an Earth rise (except at very select locations due to libration) because it has synchronous rotation.

[@user-oz9gz3dm6f]

Thanks for the comment,,, feel free to text me on📩📩 W•H•A•T•S•A•P•P•📞 +1••6••0••8••5••6••1••7••4••9••1✉️✉️ For more information and support

[@preeti3624]

“Language of Science” - that’s a cool sentence to say!

[@e1123581321345589144]

albedo is actually Latin for whiteness

[@professorscollege]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6iVZKKgmMmFZtE see how it is explained.

[@markwallace1727]

The timing on me watching this is amazing (a win for the "recommended" algorithm). I was looking at the crescent moon last night, wondering about seeing the dark area. Thinking I should get my telescope out, since the brightness is so bright that a pretty decent filter is needed to see anything usually. Even with my "moon filter" I find it can be too bright at times, so I went to an adjustable filter. Nice to now know why, and have some figures too. Thanks gents. Lovely work.

[@milkywayandromeda1613]

It's amazing how much you can learn watching a video of Mr deGrasse, and laughing at the same time with Chuck. Love this channel.

[@ricaard]

Love when he always drags out the Ssssssss when he gets intense.

[@trishayamada807]

I’ve never asked myself how much of the sun’s energy do I want today when picking out clothes, it’s usually more like it’s clean, no wrinkles and fits.

[@Flexy59]

"Does it smell already? *sniff* ... hm, this will do"

[@jingyitay6179]

How do u know if it’s clean?

[@Flexy59]

@@jingyitay6179 no easily visible stains

[@MrCanis4]

Albedo 0.39 I learned this about 45 years ago through VANGELIS. Never forgotten.

[@astrahl1]

This is one of my favorite words too! Professor Orman Granger at UCB was the first person to introduce me to the word/concept. I love this word.

[@jericomagsombol8883]

"The moon is point 1--and is dark as the tires of your car." -- mind-blown

[@HutcH68]

Ditto

[@shylleth]

Super fascinating

[@carultch]

Yeah, it's between 8 and 12%. Ironically, the "dark side of the moon" (more accurately called the far side of the moon) is on average more reflective than the near side of the moon, because it doesn't have as much land filled with lunar seas. It does have more permanently shadowed regions, but it is more reflective overall.

[@jericomagsombol8883]

@@elijahjohn8868 i didn't do that. i just found out when you pointed it out. probably another one of those science stuff.

[@ejmtv3]

SCIENCE RULES!

[@Roodneyfb]

A "moonshine" called "Albedo" is a genius idea and an ever better joke!

[@ltravail]

In human terms, having an albedo of "1" makes you an albino.

[@muthuk]

As usual another extremely infotaining one...every single time....👏👏

[@cmac8722]

I have always wondered why we can see the rest of the outline of the moon on a crescent moon. Never would I have thought of light the double reflection. This is why I love this channel.

[@stellybrah]

Honestly, this is the greatest duo I’ve ever seen.

[@GP1080HD]

By end of this series, Chuck will be awarded a PhD

[@harpalvaghela2798]

full of suspenses,excellent stuff

[@Tubeytime]

Decided to randomly lookup the definition of albedo on youtube and what do I see but this video uploaded a day ago. This day just keeps getting better.

[@user-ry7ik9gj5k]

Lucky time lol

[@jinan_hwasal]

Is it from the nazarick tomb or the other one? Im confused

[@BlackPlatino]

the "n-YES YES YEEESSSsss" at 4:47 killed me XD

[@selvakumarjawahar]

one of the best explainer video kudos!!!

[@lghammer778]

Awesome episode! Watched this one while making oatmeal hahaha 😃🥣 Cheers, really interesting concepts to think up of right before going to continue reading a novel from the Dune series 📖

[@hw_yozoraVODS]

"ita gonna warm to 28 degrees in the arctic" i got very worried there a second, until i remember you guys like using feet to measure stuff aushasu (its a joke, no need to get flustered)

[@hw_yozoraVODS]

@@JohnyG29 yes, i know, its a foot joke.

[@nemoschmitz2374]

Me too, I was so confused for 10 seconds

[@ingydegmar2060]

Hundred degrees on the moon, that's bullsh...oh yea Fahrenheit.

[@sf4137]

I dont understand anything in this comment tree

[@Mike_droptv]

So glad you stopped for the "that's hot" joke xD Cudos, Chuck ;)

[@ejmtv3]

I love this series! Food for my brain and my soul!

[@megamaus85]

i always wonder what's wrong with those who put the thumbs down to clips like this one... thanks startalk for all these amazing explainers :)

[@FreakyD83]

I came here expecting a rundown about Albedo from Genshin Impact and ended up learning something. Didn't stop me from memeing it tho, lol

[@rosadel1329]

Gimme that Id.

[@mr.j2415]

What she said lol

[@saiharsha5353]

If teyvat had internet, this'd probably in sucrose's yt feed.

[@HoshikawaHikari]

Oh hey, another Genshin player~ When I searched for this video, I typed in 'albedo', the first 3 results? Genshin stuff XD

[@nizakaladharan]

Really enjoyed❤thank you

[@marcusdupree3517]

I'm an artist and I'm going to draw the Luna during the day with moonlight and earthshine... oh my God..I EVOLVED BIG TIME TODAY. so blessed. STANDING O 100%

[@gokhansozeri]

I made an albedo joke to my girlfriend about her makeup. The following argument was intense. Thank you Dr. Tyson for this video. It was worth it😈🤣😂

[@hellaswagga2205]

A menace to society

[@generalgrievous5452]

MENACE

[@alexandermartin1837]

*StarTalk and The Exoplanets Channel are my favorite ones!!*

[@fooltimer]

What about What da math? 🤔

[@alexandermartin1837]

@@fooltimer yeah too, both sometimes collaborate together

[@fooltimer]

@@alexandermartin1837 oh rly? I never saw Anton colab with someone, must have been before i started watching him 😱

[@mansoorsiddiqui7396]

What a delight! Thanks guys.

[@ahmadshakibsahak2316]

thank you so much dear Dr.

[@timgerard262]

So funny, Neil did an impersonation of a brother when he said "why is we doing this!"

[@Tanay_Tibrewal]

And I thought Albedo from Genshin Impact 😂🤩

[@ruggieswife]

That’s how I got this reccomendation cuz I’ve been watching too much Albedo mmds 😂😂😂💀💀💀

[@keatongrafton673]

I saw chuck on a commercial on tv the other day and it made me so happy

[@sosheeanand3537]

11:50 Earthshine 😇👏🏽I am really fascinated with this fact. Thanks you are my personal astrophysicist.

[@gregv.8564]

Albino, Libido, Albedo hmm love Neil and Chuck combo ! Always makes a day!

[@shaquillesunflower4291]

Neil got the jet black hair to match his shirt! Chuck took time out from his Tide commercials to join us!! 🤣😂🤣

[@sf4137]

Phat tide commercials, he got the right product at least.

[@andersonanderson2557]

Thanks for answering my question 👍

[@janestruan5679]

Thank you,Dr Tyson! What an educator

[@Smegheid]

10:13 might be a throwaway comment from Chuck, but you dont’t get an earthrise from the moon, right? It’s tidally locked, with one side always facing the earth. The earth will wax and wane between a new earth to full earth and back as seen from the moon, but from any point on the moon the earth will largely stay in the same spot in the sky.

[@JohnSmith-wo7fs]

100% correct

[@RantCraft]

Al Bedo has a brother Lee, he's got 15 kids.

[@shaan702]

lol nice one

[@theoneandonlyguyallikian1190]

That's an amazing concept. That's such a good idea. I wonder how different this world would be if we described skin tone with an Albedo scale as opposed to using just basic colors.

[@user-cr9wn4ti6c]

All I have to say is thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@steve-o6413]

Albina was my Mother's name, in Italian the last Vowel determined if it was Male or Female. An A was for Female an O was for Male. Just a little bit of trivia...

[@harleyfroment1989]

albino?

[@steve-o6413]

@@harleyfroment1989 you have to remember about Latin derivatives...

[@a_dolph808]

Thank you for sharing!

[@xtremeakim]

Comedian Chuck acts dumb... but super smart, he gets everything, even the most complex concepts.

[@pogz1]

most comedians are smart... neil might picked him since his a critical thinker

[@WilliamRodgers]

@@pogz1 I found this to be true as well, you got to be smart to put together complex understandings in a comical way.

[@sleepygander]

This presentation blew my mind. 😲

[@DownwithEA1]

That was fun & super interesting.

[@salazarkennethgabrielb.6013]

Albedo is a Geo character and the mysterious alchemist that hails from Monstadt. To all my genshin players.

[@ruggieswife]

Yaaaaas

[@Eternal_Genin]

Hold on albedo like in genshin impact?

[@petercrayton267]

These two are outstanding together.

[@carlstawicki1915]

I have a background in photography, printing, color management, etc. The Albedo scale reminds me of the Lightness channel of the LAB color space.

[@Kwzk_]

Any SOLAR ISOTOMA in chat?

[@knarfx4732]

Man, now I want to go to a party where someone ask, Does anyone knows what albedo is ? 😂🔥

[@faceless_6972]

She is my waifu🤣🤣🤣

[@hazbaska1]

Go to an Earth Scientist party - they’ll LIGHT up your night!

[@insane_troll]

Albedo is the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius.

[@Explorer724]

@@insane_troll I was looking for this comment.

[@a_dolph808]

I'd let anyone in a party ask me anything, just as long as I get to feel like I'm not the dumbest person in the room.

[@andyplimmer4081]

the thought of seeing the darker side/silhouet during a crescent moon, and knowing that its somewhat viewable due to our own planets Albedo, blows my mind. I LOVE IT!

[@xXScissorHandsXx]

All for the albedo level being subbed in 😜 11:15 mind blown... and will be waitin' to see that Albedo Moonshine Chuck!

[@martf4701]

🎶Albedo for youuu🎶 🎶 if it asnt been your day, week, month or even your yearrrr🎶 ALBEDO FOR YOU!!!

[@papagrounds]

Only Neil can talk about skin color with such comfort in 2020's 😂

[@jasonruffjr3107]

True 😂

[@xeyon]

I wish everyone could. It's literally just melanin levels. Race is a social construction

[@sf4137]

@@xeyon You afraid?

[@Sigma1_969]

Brilliant episode.

[@pitvargas2414]

Albedo class ..interesting. Thanks

[@murasaki848]

"I can call you Betty, and Betty when you call me you can call me Al(bedo)..."

[@latonyagreen-warner7402]

I love that song and video. The song always puts me in a great move.

[@tammystockley-loughlin7680]

Dudududu...why am I short in the middle...😁 Positive vibes from New Hampshire and remember to be kind to each other and yourself

[@arpitchoudhary2821]

Genshin players are super excited about this video haha 😆

[@kunaikilla]

Why? I played thst game once.

[@SpiritDragoness]

@@kunaikilla coz Albedo is one if the 5* characters in the game with his own story quests. Can't wait for the continuation of his story. Very mysterious chap.

[@daffyduck1937]

As I'm watching this there is a Crescent Moon right now and I clearly see the outline of the rest of the moon nice one Neil and Chuck!

[@necrophiliacin_lace628]

Rush wrote a song called Earthshine back in 2009. I'm so glad to have a better understanding of the origin of that title.

[@busch6538]

Hi Chuck and Neil, you guys are a great team.

[@elwinkristian5149]

5:01 Agreed. That's romantic. LOL

[@likithstochastic]

Wow! I never knew about the double reflection which makes the dark side of the moon visible! I always wanted to know the answer for this phenomenon when I was a kid and now Dr. Tyson explains it.

[@trollwholivesu7258]

Im simultaneously trying to learn about climate change, albedo, feedback loops, transfer of heat throughout the hemispheres, as well as deciding if I want to pull for albedo in a few weeks

[@zukophantom5856]

Hahah I’m here for Genshin impact

[@kunaikilla]

Why?

[@go_guerrero]

it is also my favorite character from ovelord

[@andregeuze]

Arubedo yes, I like her

[@abdu8204]

Me too

[@Criss315]

I was thinking that too when I heard it lol

[@TailAbNormal]

Came here looking for this.

[@popaandrei4422]

She has a nice sig item at +30 😂🤭 who knows, knows.

[@RenNewtonStonez]

It would be awesome for the show, if yall have (for the next year, or so) a volume measuring device connected to Chucks microphone, and yall take an average measurement of his voice tbroughout the year and use the median range as the center. If, and when Chuck during a show next year (after measurements) voice goes above the center, it echoes, with reverb for all your viewers.

[@Nanchoforce2012]

Brillant! After this explanation, next time I will pay more attention to that contour of the moon

[@alexanderjohnson2309]

So if I left a white shirt and a black shirt outside in 100 degree heat...would they not just be the same temperature as the outside?(100 degrees?) Does the black shirt actually heat up more? Why is this confusing...?

[@cleverlilvixen]

Sounds like the beginnings of an experiment to me......

[@gssbruno]

There is an experiment on KZbin already, yes the black shirt will absorb more heat.

[@BondiAV]

If the sun is shining on them and there's no wind, the black one will get hotter. If it's windy or cloudy, the difference won't be that significant. If it rains, they'll get equally wet.

[@rdspam]

Is the sun out? If not, they will both equalize at 100. If the sun is out, yes, it will be hotter. Go outside in the sun with your bare feet and straddle the light sidewalk and black asphalt.

[@alexanderjohnson2309]

Wouldn't they both be 100 degrees though?

[@thechosenone8523]

I got kicked out of a Flat Earth Facebook group for asking if the social distancing rule pushed anyone over the edge yet

[@lemoncryptonfa4980]

Very entertaining both of you. Especially Lord Chuck

[@sudeepupreti1996]

Love this one....