The Shape of the Universe with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Delilah Gates | Cosmic Queries

What is the shape of spacetime? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice discover the structure of the universe, spacetime geometry, and relativity with theoretical physicist at Princeton Gravity Initiative, Delilah Gates.
Is spacetime stable? We explore the four dimensions and how there could be more. Why are there so many spheres in the universe? Could the universe be a closed spherical shape? Find out if wormholes can be stable and how matter warps spacetime.
Could far away galaxies be our past selves mirroring back at us? Do we live in a flat universe? Learn about tori, the golden ratio, and the geometry of spacetime around blackholes. Why can’t light escape from a black hole?
Are galaxies closer together in other places or is it just our field of view? Could spacetime be like a fluid? Finally, Is there a center of the universe? Find out why not.
Thanks to our Patrons Anna Jeter, Logan Green, Kathy McConnell, Glen A. Axberg, and dan wres for supporting us this week.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.
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 Gallery of Vancouver. inuit.com/
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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
00:00 - Intro: Spacetime geometry
04:30 - What is Spacetime?
08:18 - Why is everything a sphere?
10:20 - Can wormholes be stable?
14:20 - Are we in an open or closed universe?
20:45 - The Shape of the Universe
26:57 - Upper dimensions
31:28 - Spacetime around Black holes
36:30 - Our field of view
40:02 - Is spacetime a fluid inside an event horizon?
42:13 - Is there a center of the universe?
44:17 - Mandela Effect

[@StarTalk]

Do You Think We Live In A Multiverse?

[@jjxtra]

Probably, to say our planet is the only planet with life or ours is the only universe would be very arrogant.

[@rainmanjr2007]

No. We live within an illusion created by bonded electrons. There are other illusions but they are irrelevant to ours and do not mix (like a Caucasian beverage). I think magnetism is what you call gravity and these electrons exist everywhere at once, until bonding provides observation, within a very old circular expanse some call Tao. Our Universe is only a representation of that one's much earlier existence. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6q7hqWmn52DjLs

[@bored9260]

Sure we do. We think about the original formulation of algebraic quantification of time dilation which is (Ax+dt). Now we realized anything on a chalk board is time dilation… 😂

[@bored9260]

I mean you couldn’t possibly change time based on polarity of magnetism now these days… it’s all about the sun

[@rainmanjr2007]

@@bored9260I think The Sun is merely a representation of an electron (within our illusion).

[@lucasfff1370]

I used to sleep during high school science classes... nowadays I lose sleep because I am watching these science podcasts all night

[@dgooders1554]

Quality example of the universe providing without constraint.

[@elongatedmusk3132]

Isn't it ironic, I totally relate

[@wayando]

Just like most things. It really depends on how it is taught. I used to hate cooking, until I got a passionate teacher.

[@MrAllister9]

It's amazing what we can learn when there's an interest ...

[@Bradj07]

KZbin vids and Quora 😂

[@DrMario-su6xj]

Neil deGrasse Tyson never fails to surprise me. I just looked at his younger photos lol. Such a dynamic personality. If you see this, thank you Neil for making this world a better place. ❤️

[@lilredcummins]

I am so happy to see a young person that has such a passion about a technical subject and so well educated. Dr. Gates, you make me feel better about our future. Great show Dr. Tyson!! Love you too Chuck, you make this educational video fun.

[@AllInMedia208]

LOVE ANY EPISODE WITH CHUCK! TRUE STONER THAT LOVES LOOKIN UP!

[@alwaysblazen1369]

Lol

[@leeFbeatz]

Chuck is the bomb 💯💯💯💯💯👏👏👏👏👏

[@dsnitely]

Hmm, maybe he's an asteroid stoner ;) To Chuck Infinity & Beyond!

[@xChhriiss]

I literally only watch when Chuck is a guests and that’s a fact no offense neil😂😂👌🏽✌🏽

[@michaelallen2971]

He still needs to trim his nose hairs. They catch the coke and he gets coke boogers

[@alexiskaplan]

Dear Delilah, You are amazing, you are interesting, you make science accessible to the general public in a good and fascinating way. Makes me really appreciate you and your work

[@manny011]

What Dr. Gates said at 25:00 was simply amazing. Chuck and Neil’s reaction said it all. Great guest. Thank you guys for all you do.

[@Wooziest]

Delilah is delightful. What a brilliant mind. Really loving the show guys, incredible work.

[@enoughstuff333]

I agree. I love her mind!!!! She has so much knowledge and shares it in an understandable manner.

[@DankUrbanBoss]

Completely enjoy her information

[@StarTalk]

So glad to hear! Thanks for the feedback.

[@malabuu_1557]

I am year 1 of college. 24years old and finally doing it. 🙌 I like being around people that know more than I do and get excited about learning even more.

[@ront9435]

I like this scientist she knows how to explain things so regular people can understand well done

[@enoughstuff333]

My thoughts exactly

[@mupo1811]

Been listening since 2012. So nice they keep putting this stuff out year after year

[@StarTalk]

We're honored by your dedication. Keep Looking Up!

[@ra2186]

19:02 This is quickly becoming one of my favorite episodes. What Chuck said made perfect sense in my head. This is an excellent example of how intuition can get someone in trouble when analyzing the universe. It reminds me of the saying... The universe is not obliged to make sense. Edit: Oh snap...Neil said the line right after I dropped my comment. 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@awilmymartinez3707]

I still think the universe is a sphere but we are not trap in it like on earth, just think about it if the universe started with an explosion wouldn't you think it was going in all directions? therefore it would be a sphere.

[@justinlloyd6475]

​@Awilmy Martinez this logic is in line with flat earth logic with regards to physics...

[@motitire]

​@Awilmy Martinez maybe it didn't start with a bang. Of a truth, we are all still searching for answers...many more PhDs to earn

[@wrowe2559]

​@Awilmy Martinez Perhaps if it were a "spherical explosion." However, I don't think we really know for sure. Therefore, until we get the answer to that question we really have no idea as to if everything from the Big Bang does fly in all directions. For all we know, the explosion could have angled everything in one or two directions only. We just don't have an idea for sure.

[@justinlloyd6475]

@W Rowe yes! Especially with new evidence of black holes spewing mass from their "poles" one might assume the universe was spewed, big banged, whatever, from 2 poles cone-ing in opposite directions?? 🤩

[@soupbonep]

Deliliah was a delight. I think that she could be an excellent science communicator because her explanations were very clear to me. I hope that you have her back on the show! Chuck, I too love Little Richard! Don't let Neil poo poo your jokes.

[@enoughstuff333]

💯 agree

[@elongatedmusk3132]

She was a Delilahlight

[@soupbonep]

@@elongatedmusk3132 Yes she was! 🙂

[@maiyenish8552]

Flat Earth, is what she talked about from 17:20

[@Thoran666]

Cool episode, lots of interesting facts and theories presented by a lovely guest.

[@pablozuma1200]

"We are the universe asking questions about itself" So moving. Brilliant and enlightening video. Thank you very much.

[@JurijSlavec]

Awesome episode, love it! Great questions from Chuck, keep them coming. Thanks!

[@khyberkhan7756]

Pure majestic beauty to see two scientists speak about our universe.

[@manuwilson4695]

The universe asking itself about itself...Profound statement! 👍

[@luke515]

25:52

[@gallifreyantauri]

@@luke515 In Babylon 5, the Minbarri Delenn stated that "we are the universe, trying to understand itself." Makes perfect sense to me, especially since it took 14 billion years for the Universe to create us (and any extraterrestrial critters out there.)

[@seckora]

I'll be here for the re-upload

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Me too

[@TG-Maverick22]

Please never stop doing these videos. This channel provides the most entertaining and informative astrophysics in the world. 100/100

[@arjenbootsma6881]

Two comments, one serious, one tongue in cheek. The serious one: one of the reasons why I love watching these videos is because of the guests that are on, the Star Talk team always finds these really smart and interesting people. Tongue in cheek: is there a debate going in the astronomy / astrophysics community between flat-universers and spherical universers?

[@vidyaishaya4839]

Yes, it's not really a debate, but a discussion. So far the evidence is more on the side of flat, but the curvature could be large enough that we can't yet determine the final answer.

[@AemilianX]

Delilah Gates was a delight, best explanations of this complicated subject I have ever heard

[@arpitrawat1203]

My IQ went up by 10 points after watching this video. Now it’s 95. Great video as always!

[@michaelstary3463]

smarter by the day😁

[@conspiracystacker]

The only thing that went up was your brainwashing meter

[@jellybelly9662]

😂

[@RobertCro]

If IQ could be changed by simply learning new knowledge, the system would be even more pointless then it already is 😂

[@TheFlyingstop]

Girl is amazing yet so grounded with a simple way of explaining the most complexed. Thanks again people.

[@bridgetclutten1703]

Don’t diminish her by calling her a girl. She is an amazing woman.

[@jatindersingh7794]

Dr. Gates is the first guest explaining things so well that i can compare her with Dr. Tyson. Bring her back often.

[@pragmaticcrystal]

Thanks for your informative content. Your time and effort are appreciated.

[@FR-ce2tk]

Dr. Gates was amazing! Wonderful show.

[@jasminyala3231]

Yea the black one

[@justnuts3061]

One statement I would like to add into the characteristics of the Geometry of our Universe is that , 'We are not inside a bubble universe but instead we are on the surface of the bubble itself or we are the part of an expanding bubble surface.

[@stylis666]

Yeah, that's a little bit neglected I think. Dr. Gates did explain it in her balloon analogy, but not really. It's just assumed for analogy's sake and never mentioned again. I think that's a pity. I would imagine that everyone sees our existence in relation to the universe as Dr. Tyson puts it: we're in a universe. But we're part of the universe. Every particle is a little wiggle in the fields that make up the universe.

[@edwardbontrager9721]

Been watching you for a few years Neil, but I had to send my first comment today: How awesome is Delilah? She explains things in a way that us layman can understand. She’s a rising star!

[@mocafrost]

Wow. It’s difficult to wrap my mind around some of this. I’m so impressed by Delilah. Will have to watch this episode again. So much food for thought.

[@vanhavirta]

She's so natural in describing complex concepts! What a treat to listen to!

[@wdvest8333]

This is quickly becoming My favorite Cosmic Query

[@songOmatic]

5:03 THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. Brilliant.

[@genem2768]

Photographer here. Chuck, it's called shortened or compressed perspective. Depth of field has to do with shallow (large aperture) or deep (small aperture) focus. With a small aperture foreground and background are all in focus, large aperture, subject is sharp background is out of focus. Anyway, I love the show and the interactions between you, Dr. Tyson and all the guests are both fun and so educational. As a self proclaimed nerd (could you tell) I'm glad the show exists. If, of course, anything really exists. Hmmmmm???

[@jonce81]

Love Neil's face when he hears her speaking about the universe and knows she's right

[@enoughstuff333]

I was thinking the same thing!!!!! Neil is impressed!!!

[@wayando]

We all like listening to things that confirm what we know...

[@pharaoh2537]

Almost like a proud father. With Uncle Chuck.. LoL. New generation coming in ...knowing what they need to know......

[@chaos4197]

So refreshing to hear from young intelligent people who are passionate about exploring the mysteries of the cosmos. New ideas and different perspectives are surely the key to answering these questions.

[@yamigooops749]

4:20 wonderful callback Niel. That videoo had me in tears over this very topic, and I commented on that part the other day, so to see it here again has me giggling to myself again. I've had to rewind the video 3 times because I keep laughing to myself imagining an emotionally unstable universe talking in Chuck's voice about how it's "not good enough," but simultaneously "too good for everyone else so that's why no other universes have shown themselves." (Or that it's too good to talk to anyone else if the multiverse is real instead. Had to back up again once that popped in my mind and I broke down in laughter and simultaneously had an existential crisis. Always an adventure watching these.) So yeah, keep up the incredible work, and I look forward to the next one 🥰🤣

[@jamesscribner480]

I'd love a world full of people like Dr. Gates. Hopefully we see a lot more of her.

[@ealvar13]

This idea at 25:20 blew my mind. Glad I was sitting down 😅 made the whole family come and listen too. Great episode

[@xxCross2]

Thanks so much for a great episode! Keep'em coming!

[@sonofamerc]

Thank you all for this.

[@ADergal96]

Dr. Gates is amazing!! Thanks for this amazing episode!

[@Ri-ver]

She is clearly the most well versed on the math and physics rather than just the concepts. I am a huge fan of this video

[@darnellanderson462]

Thank you for this! I hope that more households have more conversations like this💯

[@fatmahamdi36]

Interesting 🤔 never get bored keep going thank you ❤️👏

[@joebushnell143]

Bring Dr. Gates back. What a wonderful and delightful person. 😊

[@o_a8656]

Oh wow, i re loaded the vid like 20 times and the audio finally worked

[@iyaoyas54]

Outstanding episode and to Dr. Gates bravo 🙌🏽 on using the the black hole to answer another previous question brilliant. Humanity might have a chance. Thank you again.

[@Yodaddyandmommagreen]

These are good people, talking about subjects they’re passionate about. ❤

[@ZenRyoku]

this is an amazing topic that is far overlooked...💯

[@emmanuelbeaucage4461]

I'm so happy Delilah Gates said time was related to physical dimentions and not that it was a dimention! ❤

[@ray_ray_7112]

Chuck comes up with some good points and questions that are still unanswered.

[@juliam7056]

I love you guys!! Binge watching/ listening all your videos. We need more smart and intelligent people like you !!!

[@bernieflanders8822]

His new book “starry messengers” is really good. Plenty of beautiful content that is easy to conceptualise. Really good read.

[@charlottefradieu-nelson]

Enjoyed Dr. Gates, hope you guys invite her again🕳💫

[@pcatful]

I hope Dr. Gates gives talks (TED etc.) in the future. So great to hear her perspevtves. 24:18 Have her back!

[@WholeFoodPlantPeople]

Delightful Delilah, so glad we have new, up-and-coming, personable PhDs to put astrophysics into plain English, so we can all enjoy and wonder.

[@LoneDebater7]

Hey Dr. Tyson, Dr. Gates, and Lord Nice, I love the show and watch both on KZbin and listen to the podcast while commuting to work on Spotify. I like to think about physics, space, engineering, and science in general and currently work as a process automation engineer in Livermore, CA. I know that a true anti gravitational force would behave differently than this. However, wouldn't a negative differential of gravity between two points on a gravitational wave potentially yield a similar force (in direction, but would have a small magnitude) to negative gravity/negative energy? The negative differential conditions would be possible if you choose a point upon the gravitational wave that is close to the minimum of the wave as the relative observation point and then select the maximum of the wave as the other point of comparison. If my math is correct and a gravitational wave behaves like a sine or cosine wave then this should result in a negative differential in gravity. Am I thinking about this wrong, and if so what did I miss?

[@ayinke4551]

Dr Gates is amazing 👏🏽 great eposide - I will definitely go watch the Netflix series 👍🏽

[@Nate-hw1nc]

Love this pod!! Keep looking up! ALWAYS!!!!

[@TheBnzr]

Dr Gates is a delight and so brilliant! I also can't wait to show my students another scientist who looks like them ❤️

[@oilerfreak]

one of my favorites!!! Thanks.

[@quasar4601]

Amazing guest from Princeton!! Very fascinating and kind lady ❤

[@marianameneses1250]

Great episode, and wonderful guest! I can imagine the nervousness of being interviewed by Neil deGrasse Tyson less than 2 years after one's PhD... But the interview was amazing!

[@larrenwade9535]

Proud to see this young PHD from prestigious Princeton. Neil it's good to know we have others in the wings to continue this legacy of information given to the masses about our Universe. So freaking Kool!👀🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@BushaBandulu]

@Delilah. What is your Twitter handle? And in a separate note. You have good TV/video presence as well as the skill to simultaneously explain concepts and hold attention. The camera loves you, too. Do more TV/video spots like these. You also have a future in this domain

[@jmanj3917]

25:10 Yes, Ma'am; And it's a testament to the consistency, from the small to the large, of the physical laws as we understand them.

[@dunderwood4444]

To have an American Lord as a co host , now that's gangster 😎. Lord Nice is the perfect co host. Dr. Gates Welcome and congratulations on your academic success. Outstanding episode Doctors and your Lordship. Big up from Brooklyn

[@gumunduringigumundsson4315]

I... she answered many questions faster and better than I could.. if she's not taken... dibs on her! Wow! Great 👍 👌 👍

[@nicksotiropoulos1469]

I enjoy watching you, even if some topics are more than familiar to me.

[@Cabriellopez]

Remember kids, "The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you" - Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@powerofdreamx]

Gates is so refreshing and dialed in. /pleasant It is nice to see a scientist that doesn't seem tense and stereotypical in speech style.

[@davidwilkinson1480]

one of my favorite StarTalks!

[@markdavies3032]

Love the show guys. Can’t believe you all said there was no golden ratio action in the universe. If you use the golden ratio to create a logarithmic spiral, that is the exact spiral you see in many galaxies!

[@ibentTube]

There’s an episode of Be Smart/smarter that goes into the fact that the golden ratio isn’t all that common in nature. Check it out!

[@cassianodj200]

Who listens to these podcasts before falling asleep?😁

[@Acirno]

I really like this lady, Dr. Gates may not have had all the complete answers, and yet was able to give us something to think about in a deep meaningful way. I found myself thinking things out in ways I didn't even think I was capable of. A hole new light. I look forward to seeing where she goes and how many she inspired to make it where they end up.

[@theklaus7436]

What might have been a surprise some years ago is the enormous interests for the universe, and said short all the mysteries which are bound to be a part of it. As a fellow physicist I find it so difficult because I want to learn everything now. But hard work

[@romanieo]

Delilah is Delightful. And Gates is Great! More, more, more!

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

I started the startalk podcast I think a couple years ago and I'm still only at 2015. This show is so prolific, I'll never be able to catch up (I also listen to other podcasts) 😂

[@kalinystazvoruna8702]

To quote the Minbari Delenn from Babylon 5, "We are the thinking part of the Universe, trying to understand itself."

[@aishashaw5885]

What does our geometry appear like from a higher dimension.? For instance, does it seem like all of past, present and future seem like a single moment.?

[@keithbell9348]

Dr. Gates truly enjoys this topic.

[@highvibrational2007]

hey. Excuse my ignorance, but I have a couple of questions: 1. If we are seeing everything in the past because of the limitations of light speed, how do we know that the universe is no longer expanding? 2.If we are located within a void, could this be why everything seems so far away? 3. are there any study or pursuit of space travel that can be solved by utilizing higher dimensions?

[@lemoncryptonfa4980]

Chuck is the funniest and most suitable partner co host of StarTalk, and prof Neil calculation won’t be off from mine 😀

[@Orion225]

Delilah is so cute. I like how she explains complex topics with ease.🥰

[@alexandraamihan]

Whoah, what an awesome episode.

[@keithjohnsonYT]

Cool. So, what wisdom is there in a black hole being the center of our universe? …and, what IS in that black box in Mecca?! (Great show!)

[@samuelsomit3947]

@neiltyson pls can you do an explainer on the Aphelion Phenomenon ongoing?!..I have kinda done a bit reading, but I love it, when you explain!!!...thanks in advance!!!.. Pls let @neiltyson Neil deGrasse Tyson (my personal astrophysicist) see this!!..

[@DmytroHolub]

Thanks! not 'depth of field' but 'compression of perspective' :)

[@MrBeltaine]

Wow! Nice show guys.

[@tommyshaw25]

Fascinating ❤

[@davsaa33]

Shout out to Chuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@reedtheline]

Love any episode that starts with ‘Heyyy Neil’

[@WholeFoodPlantPeople]

I like this one more than most, because it stayed a little more serious.

[@christianosminroden7878]

On the topic of tori: „It’s the plural of tourists.“ - Gotta love those automatic subtitles.

[@chadbettin9468]

Is it possible that the shell around the universe is a protective layer of fluffy sparkling carbon made from the past. My theory is based on the fact that we don't see "time" lingering around us like the trail of energy behind a Tron light-cycle. I think the past leaves us every moment like a quark and blinks away to the ever growing shell of the immutable past to protect the future existence of everything everywhere all at once ❤️

[@s.h.y.g.h.o.s.t.d.o.l.l]

19:00 I think this question is great! A little bit of a close minded, contradictory answer he received on my opinion.

[@albertmarc8117]

Very informative 🎉

[@KramerEspinoza]

Really lovely episode

[@ThaMetalMan]

Another fantastic episode