Alien Encounters with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dear Chelsea – "Alien Encounters with Neil deGrasse Tyson"

Podcast: Dear Chelsea
Host: Chelsea Handler with co-host Catherine Law
Guest: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Date: June 4, 2026
Theme: Exploring the fascination with alien life, the science of extraterrestrial encounters, misconceptions about UFOs, and the wonders (and limits) of quantum physics and scientific inquiry.

---

Episode Overview

In this rich, humor-laden episode, Chelsea Handler welcomes renowned astrophysicist, author, and educator Neil deGrasse Tyson to dissect society’s enduring obsession with alien encounters. Drawing on Tyson’s accessible new book, Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter, the conversation weaves through everything from DNA and octopuses to government secrets, quantum physics, time travel, and human curiosity. Throughout, Neil brings the science, Chelsea brings her signature irreverence, and the dialogue is both enlightening and highly entertaining.

---

Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. Reframing Alien Assumptions

• Debunking the "Humanoid Alien" Trope:
  • Tyson opens by questioning our assumption that aliens look like us, emphasizing, “Most life on Earth does not look human and we have DNA in common with it. I talk about bananas.” (08:06)
  • Quote: "An alien coming from another planet... should look at least as different from us as we and bananas look from each other." – Tyson (08:36)
• Earth’s Diversity as Perspective:
  • The octopus is a touchstone for “alien” life here—if people only heard descriptions of it, Tyson jokes, they’d treat it as Congressional testimony of UFOs.
  • Quote: “Maybe I’m jumping ahead... But just suppose only a few dozen people had ever seen an octopus... and now they testify in front of Congress under oath.” – Tyson (08:47)

2. DNA, Chimpanzees, and Human Egos

• Close Relatives, Huge Gaps:
  • Human-DNA is 98% identical to chimps, but that 2% represents an existential gulf in intelligence and capability.
  • Quote: “If an alien species that's that 2% different from us, that we are from chimps, just put them up there... we would be squawking idiots in their presence.” – Tyson (11:21)
• Are We "Intelligent Life"?:
  • Tyson pokes at human arrogance: “That presumes we’re intelligent. Well, who said we’re intelligent? We did.” (12:20)

3. Alien Visits & The Fermi Paradox

• Technological Disadvantage:
  • If aliens visited Earth, they’d clearly be the more advanced species. “They're the ones visiting us. We're not visiting them.” – Handler (12:35)
• Basics in Spacetime:
  • Tyson elegantly explains a light year: “Not a year with fewer calories!... Turn on a beam of light, four years later, the light arrives at that location.” (13:06)
• Clearing Up "Shooting Stars":
  • Shooting stars are atmospheric, not astronomical: “They're just particles of dirt... They slam into Earth... and they just burn up in our atmosphere.” – Tyson (13:33)

4. UFOs, Area 51 & Government Secrecy

• What is Area 51, Actually?:
  • “It’s a secret Air Force base. They do secret military stuff... and that became a convenient place for UFO and alien enthusiasts to say the government is hiding aliens there.” – Tyson (18:49, 18:52)
  • Tyson distinguishes top-secret activities (not a cover-up) from actual conspiracies.
• Skepticism Toward "Coverups":
  • With so many camera phones, why no good evidence?
  • Quote: “It’s really hard now to bring convincing video of an alien. So that’s why you gotta kind of bring out the alien.” – Tyson (20:18)
  • “If insiders are telling you you're covering it up, it's no longer a cover up.” – Tyson (34:43)

5. Cultural Representation & Alien Expectations

• Media Shaping Belief:
  • Tyson observes: “We're ready for aliens. All the movies, we are so pumped. Bring out the, you know, show me the aliens sitting in the corner smoking a cigarette.” (23:39)
  • But also, “We don’t have a clear representation of what an alien would even fucking look like.” – Handler (23:49)
• The Radio Bubble & Celebrity Leaders:
  • Neil riffs on the idea that, based on leaked radio/TV signals, aliens might think Taylor Swift or Beyonce is our leader.
  • “They might expect to be taken to Taylor Swift is my only point.” – Tyson (26:18)

6. Scientific Perspective: Are We Alone?

• Likelihood of Extraterrestrial Life:
  • Tyson lays out the chemistry and timescale: “Life got started pretty quickly on Earth, like, almost as soon as it could have... You would be inexcusably egocentric to suggest that we are alone in the universe.” (31:32, 32:49)
  • “We're made of the most common ingredients in the universe.” (32:49)
• Why Only Military Encounters?:
  • Tyson: “Why are they only showing up in restricted military airspace?... Why isn’t there a crash flying saucer in some place where there isn’t a government that’s going to cover it up?” (33:38)

7. Personal Encounters and Scientific Integrity

• Neil’s Own Experience:
  • Tyson, astronomer since childhood, says neither he nor his scientific colleagues have seen anything unexplainable—only laypeople lacking his background confuse clouds, weather, or artificial phenomena for UFOs.
  • “Lower than average reporting of UFOs among people who spend their whole lives looking up.” (38:05)
• On Anecdotes:
  • “None of my colleagues have ever seen anything they could not explain... If that [UFO abduction] happens again, take out your smartphone, video it.” (36:42, 44:13)
  • Regarding government whistleblowers: “I’m tired of hearing people ask, do you believe in aliens? Bring out the aliens. And then no one has to ask that question again.” (46:44)

8. Quantum Physics, Time Travel & Popular Misconceptions

• What is Quantum Physics?
  • Tyson, with his signature clarity: “The day you understand quantum physics is the day you can be sure that you don't, because everything about it is weird.” (52:20)
  • Quantum effects only matter for very small particles; matter and energy are interchangeable; the spooky notion of “quantum entanglement” connects particles instantly, possibly via wormholes. (57:08)
• Common Sense Doesn't Apply:
  • “We were forged in the plains of the Serengeti trying to not get eaten by lions... When the microscope and the particle accelerator got us to very small manifestations of nature, whole other laws of physics revealed themselves.” (52:08)
• Time Travel:
  • Time dilation—a real effect for astronauts—means moving fast makes you slightly younger than people left behind. The “time travel paradoxes” (e.g., preventing your own birth) lead to fun sci-fi, but not established physics. (65:35—67:32)
  • Stephen Hawking’s “chronology protection conjecture” suggests nature will ultimately forbid backwards time travel. (70:13)

9. Human Curiosity, Education, and AI

• Curiosity is Survival:
  • “I cherish adults who are curious.” – Tyson (51:55)
  • “The real dip (in curiosity) is coming out of elementary school ... then it goes. I think gonads kick in...” – Tyson (82:53)
  • Encouragement to remain lifelong learners—being a scientist is just an adult still guided by questions.
• AI and the Alien Perspective:
  • On current AI: “A sufficiently intelligent alien would chuckle at our AI... how charming that is.” – Tyson (77:41)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Bring out the aliens. And then no one has to ask that question again.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson (46:44)
• “If something else happens weird, like its tongue comes out and it's this long, you have some evidence.” – Tyson, on why physical proof is needed (24:24)
• “I don't like to believe in things that I have to believe in to believe.” – Tyson (47:24)
• “Look at all the alien movies we've been treated to out of the creativity of our own species... I think it might even be anticlimactic. The alien will come and say, hey, we got better aliens in the movie!” – Tyson (36:03)
• “We are prisoners of the present forever transitioning between our inaccessible past and our unknowable future.” – Tyson (64:01)
• “Always marry an astrophysicist, because you know where they are at night.” – Tyson (36:59)
• “Girl, I love your work. I love your work.” – Tyson and Handler exchanging mutual admiration (83:57)

---

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [04:37] – Neil deGrasse Tyson joins the show, friendly banter and introductions.
• [07:42] – Challenging assumptions about alien appearance and perspective.
• [11:18] – DNA similarity to chimps and thought experiment on alien intelligence.
• [13:04] – Defining a light year and correcting misconceptions about “shooting stars”.
• [18:49] – Discussion about Area 51, government secrecy, and distinguishing top-secret vs. cover-ups.
• [23:39] – Are we ready for aliens? How movies shape cultural expectations.
• [26:18] – How aliens might interpret Taylor Swift or Beyonce as our “leaders”.
• [31:32] – The scientific likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe.
• [36:53] – Tyson’s own observational experiences, and why scientists rarely report UFOs.
• [52:12] – Primer on quantum physics and why common sense doesn’t apply.
• [65:35] – Time travel, relativity, and “chronology protection”.
• [77:41] – Comparing the development of AI with possible alien intelligence.
• [82:23] – Closing remarks on curiosity, education, and gratitude.

---

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is infectiously curious, witty, and plain-spoken. Chelsea mixes in self-deprecating humor and genuine attempts at learning, while Neil’s patience and clarity make even quantum entanglement and relativity sound—well, almost—accessible. Katherine and Chelsea riff with Tyson about pop culture, movies, and the oddities of everyday life, pairing cosmic questions with human silliness.

---

Takeaways

• Believing Without Evidence Is Not Science: Tyson urges skepticism. Don’t believe—bring out the octopus.
• We’re Probably Not Special—Cosmically: Life arose quickly here and is made of common ingredients, so statistically, it should be widespread.
• Humans are Likely Not the Apex of Intelligence: The universe probably hosts beings as far ahead of us as we are from chimps (or bananas).
• Government "Cover-Ups" Are Hard to Pull Off: Too many phones, too many people—real secrets are hard to keep, and extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
• Science is Weird: Quantum physics, time travel, and cosmic scales defy intuition, but shape our reality.
• Curiosity is a Virtue at Any Age: Science thrives when adults, not just children, keep asking dumb (and brilliant) questions.

---

Summary by [Podcast Summarizer], June 2026

Transcript

[Chelsea Handler]

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. Let's take a quick break with one of our favorite sponsors, Vital Proteins. Vital Proteins just launched their new collagen sparkling waters in three crisp, refreshing flavors, Strawberry Blossom, Lemon, Lime and Blood Orange. Each can includes collagen peptides that improve skin health in as little as 30 days when sipped daily. With 0 grams added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and a full daily dose of vitamin C, it's an easy, enjoyable way to support your wellness goals. Get 20% off your next order at vitalproteins.com with promo code Chelsea20 at checkout.

[Advertisement Voice]

This is George Severis and Sam Taggart from Stratiolab. Let's be real Home comes with a lot of odors. Cooking, pets, everyday life. That's where Febreze comes in.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Febreze helps fight household odors and leaves

[Advertisement Voice]

behind freshness that lasts.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And with over 30 cents to choose from, you'll always find one that feels

[Advertisement Voice]

like you Febreze Freshness that fits your life, your space, your style.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Febreze is a proud sponsor of the Elton John Impact Awards, honoring those who have helped shape a more inclusive and

[Advertisement Voice]

compassionate world with their artistry, advocacy and

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

unwavering commitment to equality.

[Advertisement Voice]

You won't want to miss the Elton John Impact Awards podcast, available on June 1st on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

[Chelsea Handler]

Looking for something sweet and satisfying? Meet wonderful pistachios, chocolate Sea Salt and Chocolate Toffee. Your new Go to treats. Each pistachio is thinly dipped in dark chocolate, antioxidant goodness and let's talk flavor. Whether it's the sweet meets salty vibe of chocolate sea salt or the irresistible crunch of chocolate toffee, every bite hits the perfect balance. Snack time never tasted so good. Treat yourself to wonderful pistachios, chocolate Sea salt and chocolate toffee for a snack that's better for you. Indulgence with the protein power of pistachios and a sweet punch. Check out wonderful pistachios.com to learn more about wonderful pistachios, chocolate Sea salt and Chocolate Toffee pistachios. Check out wonderful pistachios.com to learn more. I think a lot of us have a voice in our head that talks us out of therapy. I'll deal with it later. It's probably too expensive. Where would I even start? It doesn't have to be this way. Getting help with Rula is easier than talking yourself out of it. Cost can be the biggest blocker for a lot of people with Rula Sessions cost an average of $15 with insurance, and they actually show you your cost up front so you're not guessing or worrying about some surprise bill later. With Rula, you can find a therapist for your specific needs. Rula's providers specialize in over 90 conditions and can offer support for life's major stressors. Insurance availability, different types of providers. It can feel like way too much to just access the care you need. Rula simplifies all of it. You can sign up in just a few minutes, get matched, see your costs, and even book an appointment as soon as the next day. So instead of overthinking it, you can actually take the first step. If you're ready to stop talking yourself out of finding care and making progress, then head to rula.com that's r u l a.com and take the first step. Okay, guys, here are my dates for the High and Mighty tour. In June, I will be in Saratoga Springs, New York, Port Chester, New York. I'm coming to Boston at the Wang Theater. I'll be in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and then Hyannis, Massachusetts, and then two shows in Nantucket in August, you can find me in Red Bank, New Jersey, Montclair, New Jersey, and Calgary. That's Canada. And September, I will be in Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York City, Philly, and New Haven, Connecticut. October is Atlanta, Baltimore, Saginaw, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Boise, Idaho, and Spokane. And then in November, I'll be in San Francisco. I'm coming to Salt Lake City, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Babies. I'll be there. And then in December, I am closing out my tour in Denver and Vancouver. So get your tickets@chelsea handler.com for the high and Mighty Tour. Hi, Katherine. Hi, Chelsea. It's almost Thursday. It's Thursday.

[Katherine]

It is Thursday.

[Chelsea Handler]

It's Thursday. It's our podcast. Today is Thursday.

[Katherine]

I have to tell you, I don't know if anyone can hear in the

[Chelsea Handler]

background, that's my new dog. That's my new dog, Ray J. I have to tell you, I'm just pissed, as usual.

[Katherine]

I asked you, like, oh, why'd you pick Ray J for the name? And Brad, later that night, like 10pm and he was like, in the other room, he texts me. He goes, just so you know, Ray J is a rapper.

[Chelsea Handler]

I know. I'm familiar. I saw this dog and I'm like, that's Ray J. That dog reminds me of the name Ray J.

[Katherine]

It's a perfect name.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, it is. It is.

[Katherine]

Well, our guest today is a very exciting one.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay. Is an astrophysicist bestselling Author, host of StarTalk, and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Please welcome Neil degrasse Tyson. Oh, lovely. We have. Oh, Neil degrasse Tyson is here today.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Look, this is your babe cave here.

[Chelsea Handler]

Is it? Oh, I like that. A babe cave.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That sounds better than a man cave.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, that does sound like. That does sound better. We need something like that.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You got all parts of you up there on the wall.

[Chelsea Handler]

We do. When was the last time? I'm going to take some medication since you're here.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So you waited the doctor for when. I'm dealing with some of that too. Whatever.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, it's nothing too exciting. Otherwise I'd be happy to. When was the last time I saw you?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I was on your show.

[Chelsea Handler]

It was. The Netflix show was the last one.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But before that, Chelsea lately. Have we. I don't think I've seen you since then.

[Chelsea Handler]

No, no. I would have been. The Netflix show was the last time. But we have I interviewed you before then also, I think so. On Chelsea lately.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But. But it's been too long. Pre Covid bc.

[Chelsea Handler]

Before COVID How did Covid treat you?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I was novid until like a couple of Octobers ago, so. Yeah, I didn't get it at all. Yeah. Oh, you know, I want to do that too. Can I do that?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, yeah, if I can. It's called crisscross applesauce. Get into that. I can still do that. Yeah, I bet you.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, man.

[Chelsea Handler]

If you could get into this position, that makes it pretty impressive for a man. Oh, Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Look at this. Let's see how your knees didn't even cry. Do you need a pillow to secure the area?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, I need. I need a tone.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, okay, okay, we'll do it. We'll do it with you. Look, we're all sitting like.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But I used to dance. I was a performing member of three different dance companies.

[Chelsea Handler]

Ah, I did not know that.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. So there's nothing like being in dance shape because you're nimble and strong and flexible and so I would just fold up wherever I was and.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, well, I'm glad to see it's still working.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I'm embarrassed this doesn't come well.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's okay. I think you're doing a good job. It's good.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But it's the couch for that purpose.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah. Yeah, it is. Congratulations on your new book. It's called Take Me to youo Leader Perspectives on youn First Alien Encounter. When is this gonna happen?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I can't wait Well, I mean, it's overdue.

[Chelsea Handler]

First of all, there's a really. I mean, everything. You. I'm fascinated by you as I've always been because I don't understand anything that you understand. I know you're an astrophysicist, but you also are. You are able. You have a nice knack for kind of explaining to a layman what.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, I try. I mean, I'm an educator. So any educator should have some kind of knack.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Otherwise they're just pontificate. They're lecturing rather than educating.

[Chelsea Handler]

Exactly. That's right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You can lecture. And if people are paying attention, maybe that's okay. But consider that after college, anytime someone lectures to you, you say, no, stop lecturing me. You're lecturing me. It's a bad thing after college because I think it implies that you have to meet them all the way where they are to learn what they're trying to teach you. But I think if you're a real educator, you think about what's going on in the brains of the person who you're talking to and you should be taking the biggest journey to them.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, I mean, that's what you. In this book I try is you try to take on the perspective of alien invaders and all the different realms of possibility that those could. They could choose to arrive in.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's a love letter to our fascination with aliens. That's really what that is.

[Chelsea Handler]

And to our assumptions about aliens.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I just want to challenge some assumptions. One of the biggest assumption is that it looks humanoid.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You know, most life on Earth does not look human and we have DNA in common with it. I talk about bananas.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

That we have 45% between 20 and

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

25% identical DNA as a banana with a banana. So I'm thinking an alien coming from another planet should be. It either has no DNA in common with us or no DNA at all. Right. Who says DNA is the molecule in the universe?

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Right. So it should look at least as different from us as we and bananas look from each other.

[Katherine]

When you think about anything that's on the bottom of the ocean.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Thank you.

[Katherine]

That's where aliens look like aliens.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Thank you. It looks alien. I got one for you. Maybe I'm jumping ahead. I don't know what your agenda is here, but let's suppose only a few dozen people had ever seen an octopus. Just picture this. And now they testify in front of Congress under oath. You gotta believe me. There's this squishy thing in the ocean. It's this big. It has eight legs and each leg has suction cups on it and it's got big eyeballs and it's really smart. And it could change its surface pattern to blend in, to disappear in its environment. And you just say this, they'll look at you like, okay, draw it. And no one can draw these things. Right? So you look at the drawing, it's like what? And so they would parade forward and until someone brings forth an octopus, it will always be about, do you believe in octopuses? They'll believe in them. Do you believe those testimonies? Do you believe it? So I'm saying now that high ranking people have said they've got aliens in the back 40 or in the shed, is it too much to ask them to bring out the alien?

[Chelsea Handler]

And who's to say that an octopus isn't an alien?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, yeah, well, because we can check the DNA, so it's of this Earth.

[Chelsea Handler]

So based on an octopus's DNA, it's of this planet. So we know it's not.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Correct, Correct. So that's a good check.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, that's a good check. That's good to know. And you open this book talking about bananas and chimpanzees, about our DNA makeup with chimpanzees.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. Yes, almost.

[Chelsea Handler]

Basically the same thing.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yes, yes.

[Chelsea Handler]

What's the difference?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

A chimp is perfectly comfortable sitting as we are, you know, resting an elbow, you know, looking around. And they like bananas just the way we do. It's 98 plus percent identical DNA.

[Chelsea Handler]

And what is it? What is it?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But here's what we say, here's what we tell ourselves. We say, well, the chimp, a smart chimp does what they can stack boxes and reach a banana suspended from the ceiling. That's a smart chimp can do that. And whereas we have poetry and philosophy and, and science and art and, and the James Webb Space Telescope. So if you're prone to think highly of us as a species, you'll say, what a difference that makes. But I just, I pose the thought experiment in the book. Imagine an alien species that's that 2% different from us, that we are from chimps, just in the same vector, just put them up there.

[Chelsea Handler]

But doesn't that, wouldn't that have the same DNA too? If you're saying 2%.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I know, I know. So it' it's a thought experiment. It's whatever it is that separates us from chimp containing that 2% give that same separation to some other species, however that separation can be manifested. What would we look like to them, we would be squawking idiots in their presence. Just the way I don't wanna call a chimp an idiot, but a chimp is not doing long division. Right. A chimp is not building, you know, skyscrapers or airplanes or lithium farms. Or lithium farms. So very good. Lithium farm, that could be in our future. So that's only 2%. What would a 5% difference be? So when we have the audacity to say, let's go out in the universe and find other intelligent life, that presumes we're intelligent. Well, who said we're intelligent?

[Chelsea Handler]

We did.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

We did.

[Katherine]

Okay, give us a second.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So think about that. So would an alien consider us to be intelligent if we are today what chimps are to us? And so I just. It's an important thought experiment. The aliens could be way smarter than us.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, also with the argument that used also in the book, they're the ones that are visiting us. We're not visiting them.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So they got here and we only just weeks ago left low Earth orbit for the first time in 56 years. So yeah, if they visit us, they're going to be smarter, they have better technology, might even be better looking.

[Chelsea Handler]

And they might have. I mean, and we have no idea how many. First of all, let's go to the basics. First of all, can you define what a light year is?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, sure.

[Chelsea Handler]

Just for layman's terms.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, yes.

[Chelsea Handler]

Our mind.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Not a year with fewer calories. No, a light year. It's a convenient unit of distance to talk about how far away something is. So the nearest star system to the sun is four light years away. Just turn on a beam of light, four years later, the light arrives at that location and light is very fast.

[Chelsea Handler]

And that's kind of like when you see a shooting star. The same thing, right?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, no. Shooting stars are in our own atmosphere.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, so light years, not in our atmosphere.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, no. Shooting stars are not actually stars. That's the problem. They're just. It's particles of dirt and meteoroid. We call them meteoroids. They're the size of a pea typically. But they slam into Earth at 10 miles per second and they just burn up in our atmosphere. That's the streak of light you see. Some are big. They'll make it all the way down. And if you find it, make it

[Chelsea Handler]

all the way down to Earth's surface. Oh, okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And if you find. On the Earth's surface, then it's a. So if you see it streak, it's a meteor. It hits the ground. Meteorite oh, you didn't know that?

[Chelsea Handler]

No, no, no, no, no. I don't know anything about any of this stuff. So if it hits the atmosphere, then meteor and then if it hits the actual land of earth, meteorite. Okay, got that. Oh, that's good.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. And really big ones away that the really big ones don't really get burnt up at all and they'll leave a big crater. So in Arizona has a huge crater that was left by a meteor 50,000 years ago.

[Katherine]

Oh, hey, have you been thinking about writing into Dear Chelsea? Well, now is the moment. We're taking advice questions on anything that pops up. It's wedding season. Are you having wedding drama? Write in about that thing that you can't seem to agree with your spouse about, but you absolutely know you're right. Chelsea can tell you who's right and who's wrong. You can write in about a big life decision or just something small dating drama. Write in to dearchelsea podcastmail.com

[Jennie Garth]

this is Jenny Garth from I Choose Me with Jennie Garth. You know, history is full of surprising little details. And laundry turns out it's got its own fascinating story too, because not all detergents are created equal. Tide liquid laundry detergent isn't just clean, it's boosted clean for cleaner, whiter, brighter and fresher results compared to Tide simply. And those stubborn stains that always seem to show up at the worst times. Tide tackles 100% of common stains for every load every time. Now, if grease is your nemesis, think food spills, cooking splatters. Tide's got 10 times grease fighting ingredients compared to bargain brands. And it works in a machine in any water condition on all your machine washable fabrics. It's no wonder Tide was America's number one detergent in sales last year. So if it's gotta be clean and it's gotta be fresh, it's gotta be Tide. Shop now at your local retailer. Tide is a proud sponsor of the Elton John Impact Awards, honoring those who have helped shape a more inclusive and compassionate world with their artistry, advocacy and unwavering commitment to equality. You won't want to miss the Elton John Impact Awards podcast, available on June 1st on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

[Chelsea Handler]

This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devado Dolutegravir lamivudine living with HIV. Do learn about Devato Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only, only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[Advertisement Voice]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B if you have Hep B. Don't stop Divato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do learn about Devato, visit Dovato.com or call 1-877-844-8872.

[Skincare Advertiser]

Listen, I have access to a lot of things that most people don't.

[Chelsea Handler]

Top dermatologists, high end treatments.

[Skincare Advertiser]

But in those circles, the conversation has shifted. Now it's about extending youthful looking skin before invasive options. That's why people in the industry are talking about exosomes. Exosomes are disrupting the beauty world and plated skin science is leading the conversation. Plated has elite, award winning technology, clinical studies with remarkable results. Clinically proven to deliver brighter, firmer, younger looking skin in just weeks. This is more than skincare. It's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle.

[Chelsea Handler]

Visit plated skinscience.com Most canned cocktails are a chemistry experiment with a logo. I tried for years to make a real one. Fake, sweet, metallic, every single time. Then owls brew. Nailed it. Real vodka, real lemon juice, clean ingredients. No fake stuff. It's summer in a can. Go to theowlsbrew.com, use code dearchelsea for 20% off and read the back of the can for once. Cheers to us. So when people talk about Area 51, this is the area that we are historically America has used to research or study any sort of alien life or other extraterrestrial life.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I would word that differently.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, you could go ahead and word it.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's a secret Air Force base.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay. And it doesn't.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's. It's. It. And they do secret stuff. They do secret military stuff. They'll test aircraft. They'll. And that became a convenient place for UFO and alien enthusiasts to say the government is hiding aliens there. Now let's make a. Let's make sure we understand the difference between a cover, a cover up, which would be a thing that happened and no one wants you to know, versus just something that's top secret. If something's top secret, it's not a coverup. It's just top secret. You're not gonna learn about it unless someone leaks it. So it's been the supposed place where the government is stockpiling aliens, but that's never been. People have declared it again. You have to believe them. But I want the janitor. Get the janitor with their smartphone. Everybody's got a smartphone, high resolution video camera. Just take pictures of the alien and then stream it out. The janitor would lose his job immediately, but it'd be the richest, most famous janitor there ever was.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, yeah, because he wouldn't really need a job after that. And I think once you've been a janitor, you shouldn't have to work that long anyway.

[Jennie Garth]

Well, and it is kind of a

[Katherine]

catch 22 now, because everyone says, like, why aren't we seeing all these UFOs? Everybody's got a camera phone now. But then when you do see a video of somebody catching something strange, it's like, oh, well, that's fake.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So we're living tough times now because Photoshop was the first to be able to just toss in a little saucer in your picture. But now it's a command line in an AI chatbot, you know, produce a picture. So it's really hard now to bring convincing video of an alien. So that's why you got to kind of bring out the alien.

[Chelsea Handler]

So you would say that in your opinion, or you tell me. So Area 51 is just an area that has been designated to study this kind of extraterrestrial life.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, no, I'm saying it's to study secret Air Force stuff, right? But if you want to think they put aliens there, okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

But identified flying, unidentified flying objects. UFOs.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

The Air Force has studied UFOs like, since forever. I mean, there's Project Blue Book was one of the early. There have been several, but that one is perhaps the most famous of them. And what it did is studied everybody's account of things in the sky that we didn't understand. And remember, this is the Cold War, all right? And so just think of governmental motivation for this. If you crowdsource stuff in the sky because you can't look at every square inch of the Earth and you get people to report it to you, they're your radar. They'll find stuff that the Russians might be working on. So it's what a brilliant way to collate what everybody thinks. Or you might say, oh, they could be aliens. That boosts the interest that people would place in participating in such a thing and in reporting what they find. But in the final report, they said they found nothing that couldn't otherwise be explained by natural causes and that which couldn't be explained. There was no strong evidence that it was extraterrestrial. And so, but there have been other studies, but meanwhile, but kind of none of that matters now because we have high ranking people testifying in front of Congress, whistleblowers, insiders, former military, former intelligence officers, telling you, standing there flat footed with an honest face after swearing in that they got alien bodies, alien crash saucers that they reverse engineered. And so, okay, it's not just the farmer in the back 40s.

[Chelsea Handler]

I mean, Obama admitted it on a podcast recently and that was big news.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, he's scientifically literate, so he said the correct thing. He said he has no reason to doubt that there aren't aliens in the universe. And everyone said he's thinking aliens on Earth or in the, you know, but think about it. If there was a government cover up, surely the president would be in on it. So deciding whether a president is saying, speaking the truth often is only a matter of whether you agree with what the president is saying. And then you say it's the truth. Right. And so for me, I just bring out the octopus.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Bring out the elephant. Bring out elephant. Describing the elephant would be just as weird as describing an octopus. Think about it.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, when you frame it like that, I mean, you frame a lot of things in this book, which makes it so interesting. Like say we all have this idea because of all of the movies we've seen that have aliens in them and the way that aliens act.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I think we're ready. We're ready for aliens.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do you think we're ready?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. All the movies, we are so pumped. Bring out the, you know, show me the aliens sitting in the corner smoking a cigarette or something.

[Chelsea Handler]

We are so pumped. But we're not ready because we don't have a. I don't think based on everything you say in this book, I don't think we have a clear representation of what an alien would even fucking look like.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's correct. That's. That's correct.

[Chelsea Handler]

Or it's Donald Trump could be an alien. He could be. Or he could be dressed as a human.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay, so I comment on that in there. Not Trump specifically, but if an alien were Masquerading as a human as they did in the movie Men in Black. You could do that, but you would not survive a medical examination. Okay. Your heart is in the wrong place or you're.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, what if they're able to mimic being a human being?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

If you mimic it, then what does it matter at that point? If it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, walks like it, then just call it a duck. If it looks human and you put all the organs in the right place and it's got bad breath in the morning, it's a human. Right. I mean, if something else happens weird, like its tongue comes out and it's this long, you have some evidence.

[Chelsea Handler]

But what if it was operating on behalf of a whole other culture? You know, like, say. Say, like Bugonia. You saw that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yes, I did see Bugonia.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, so say that's what's happening, right? They come down.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You know what I didn't like about Begonia?

[Chelsea Handler]

Which part?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, no, it's fine. Okay. I didn't have the one part. She finally meets. She goes back to her alien friends and whatever is their spaceship. And so they're there and they're surrounding an illustration of the flat Earth. It's like, no, I'm. I'm gonna give you an alien, but I'm not gonna give you the flat Earth.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay. Yeah, we have NASA.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's interesting. Why do you think they did that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Because I think they wanted to bring together multiple conspiracy theories into one narrative. Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I don't know if you noticed that at the end.

[Chelsea Handler]

I didn't.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, they're around a circle.

[Katherine]

I wasn't thinking about it that way.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, yeah, no, I caught that immediately. Cause the flat Earthers say there's Earth, and then Antarctica is the edge of Earth and it's around, so you can see that in there. So I think they just. They had a catch bin and they put everything in it. But that's a spoiler alert.

[Katherine]

Well, I'll put it in a spoiler alert in audio. So, like, fast forward 30 seconds.

[Chelsea Handler]

I don't have time to accommodate these people. If they haven't seen Begonia, that's their fucking problem. Yeah.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Get off your couch. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

But I like the way you posited in the beginning of the book where you're like, if aliens were to come to Earth and say, okay, take me to your leader, we might confuse. We might think that leader is Donald Trump. We might think that leader is Taylor Swift. We might think that leader is you.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, no, no, no. We Know, our leader is our official leaders, the Pope, the primary.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right, right, right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But the alien might not. Because they're seeing our leaked radio signals and they're seeing who we worship. And there's Taylor Swift, there's Beyonce, there's people, the Dalai Lama filling the airwaves. And they're thinking those are the important people who these. So they might expect to be taken to Taylor Swift is my only point.

[Chelsea Handler]

So what do you believe?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Because the radio waves are escaping at the speed of light. So we're in the middle of a radio bubble, which is the broadcast signals of our culture expanding at the speed of light. And it's gone out. It's about 80 light years.

[Chelsea Handler]

And each light year is a thousand years or each light year is one year.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Light years. Six trillion miles.

[Chelsea Handler]

Six trillion miles.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Miles. That's how far the light has gone. Okay, so write that down, Kathy, if you've only ever been on cable, you're not in those airwaves. If you did anything on tv, they'll get a little piece of Chelsea coming, by their way.

[Katherine]

Chelsea lately is not going out, right? It was on cable, wasn't it?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I think.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes, I was on cable. That sounded like a dig, Neil.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Are you sure? No, I'm just so. You know. You know what else is not out there is Beavis and Butthead. I think we should be perhaps thankful for that. If the aliens first encounter with humans are these shows, it would be just a little weird.

[Jennie Garth]

This is Jennie Garth from I Choose Me with Jennie Garth. You know, history is full of surprising little details. And laundry turns out it's got its own fascinating story too, because not all detergents are created equal. Tide liquid laundry detergent isn't just clean, it's boosted clean for cleaner, whiter, brighter and fresher results compared to Tide simply. And those stubborn stains that always seem to show up at the worst times. Tide tackles 100% of common stains for every load, every time. Now, if grease is your nemesis, think food spills, cooking splatters. Tide's got 10 times grease fighting ingredients compared to to bargain brands. And it works in a machine, in any water condition on all your machine washable fabrics, it's no wonder. Tide was America's number one detergent in sales last year. So if it's got to be clean and it's got to be fresh, it's got to be Tide. Shop now at your local retailer. Tide is a proud sponsor of the Elton John Impact Awards, honoring those who have helped shape a more inclusive and compassionate world with their artistry. Advocacy and unwavering commitment to equality. You won't want to miss the Elton John Impact Awards podcast, available on June 1st on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

[Chelsea Handler]

This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir Lamivudine Living with HIV DO learn about Devato Divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines.

[Advertisement Voice]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and Hepatitis B if you have Hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medication medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do learn about Devato visit devato.com or call 1-877-8-448872.

[Skincare Advertiser]

Listen, I have access to a lot of things that most people don't top dermatologists, high end treatments. But in those circles the conversation has shifted. Now it's about extending youthful looking skin before invasive options. That's why people in the industry are talking about Exosomes. Exosomes are disrupting the beauty world and plated skin science is leading the conversation. Plated has elite award winning technology in over 10 clinical studies with remarkable results. Clinically proven to deliver brighter, firmer, younger looking skin in just weeks. This is more than skin care. It's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle. Visit plated skinscience.com My summer involves a

[Chelsea Handler]

pool, friends I like and zero responsibilities. Not a canned drink that tastes like a battery. So I made my own. Real vodka, real lemon juice, clean ingredients, no fake stuff. Owls brew. Nailed it. Go to theowlsbrew.com, code dearchelsea to get 20% off stock the cooler. Your summer just got handled. After studying this stuff for as long as you have been, what do you think really with regard to aliens?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So you look At. Life got started pretty quickly on Earth, like, almost as soon as it could have.

[Chelsea Handler]

How old is planet Earth? Thirteen.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, four. That's the universe. 13.8 billion years. Earth came much later. Four and a half billion years.

[Chelsea Handler]

Four and a half billion.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And we spent a half a billion years. Very hot. Because we're getting slammed because the solar system is forming. And so you don't want to start the clock yet.

[Chelsea Handler]

So nobody's alive.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, no, you can't.

[Jennie Garth]

There's no.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Molly. You can't even have big molecules. Then start the clock. When we're cool enough to have big molecules. Life got underway within 100 to 200 million years. Sounds like a long time, but it's 5% of the timeline of the Earth, so it's almost as soon as it could have. So, A, B, we are made of the most common ingredients in the universe. Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen.

[Chelsea Handler]

Peroxide.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. So peroxide is. I think peroxide is. Oath. What is peroxide?

[Chelsea Handler]

You're not asking the right people.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So we got underway quickly, and we're made of the most common ingredients in

[Chelsea Handler]

the universe, but did we get underway quickly? I thought you just said.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, no. Life. Life. Humans are much later.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, so things. Organisms.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Single cell organism.

[Chelsea Handler]

Correct.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So if that's the case, you would be inexcusably egocentric to suggest that we are alone in the universe. Because the universe is vast. There's hundreds of billions of stars in the galaxy, the Milky Way galaxy, and hundreds of billions of galaxies in the observable universe. So don't run around here saying you're the only thing happening. If we were made of some rare ingredient, you could say we're special, something special happened here, but we're not. And so you can't. And so, yeah, no one is going to deny that there's life. Else. That's a separate question from whether we have been visited. And what I do in the book is I just ask other sets of questions that other people aren't. I say, all right, if we've been visited by aliens, why are they only showing up in restricted military airspace? Why are they only coming into the grips of our government? The government is not everywhere. We have the whole surface of the Earth. Why? Why isn't there a crash flying saucer in some place where there isn't a government that's going to cover it up? They're just questions I'm asking.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, I've asked this question too, because I thought Area 51 was just stupidly. Unless this is also what you're saying. I Assumed. Wait, why is extraterrestrial life only going to this one area?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's my point. You would have to. The alien would have to land. They'd have to secretly grab it and take it to the. With no one seeing this, they'd have to take it to the now. They solved that in Men in Black because they had that little light that you look at and then it takes away your memory of what just happened. So that they needed that solution.

[Chelsea Handler]

Or. But. Or is it this or versus alien life and extraterrestrial life happens and is rampant and then they just put everything in the Area 51 to study it

[Skincare Advertiser]

in that little section.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You have to somehow get it there no matter where it landed.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right. So. But what's the problem with that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, you mean you have to get there with no one noticing it.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And the number of people who would be in on it. There's a quote from. Somebody's gonna leak a quote from Benjamin Franklin in his almanac. Three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead. He wrote that in 1785. The boy knew something about people's inability especially juicy. You can keep a secret. If it's not juicy, then no one cares. You don't have these urges to say you want to hear a secret. So that's why I don't have a problem imagining we're stockpiling aliens. But since we've had insiders saying that they're there and so it's no longer a cover up. You can't say you're covering something up. If insiders are telling you you're covering it up, it's no longer a cover up. So there. So is it too much to ask to bring out the alien?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, bring it out. Cause I don't feel like I don't think anyone. Well, actually, I don't know what people think. I mean, people are about to vote for Spencer Pratt for mayor of la. So I don't know what people are thinking, but as a general idea in the world, I think like, you know, extraterrestrial life and aliens is more like of an understanding now. Like, of course something else must exist. Of course we're not the only people.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's why those who said the reason why the government doesn't want to show because they're afraid the public would freak out. Look at all the alien movies we've been treated to out of the creativity of our own species. Just look at, like I said, what the insiders are saying. I think it might even be anticlimactic. The alien will come and say, hey, we got better aliens in the movie. Spielberg came up with better aliens than that. So, yeah, I'm just sitting back, eating popcorn, waiting for the presentation of the alien.

[Chelsea Handler]

And what are your firsthand experiences that you've heard of from other people in your community that have stayed with you?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay, so none of my colleagues have ever seen anything they could not explain. I spent my whole life looking up. I was a geek kid from age nine. I had a telescope at age 11, at age 12. And so.

[Chelsea Handler]

So you didn't have sex for a long time. It's okay. You're able to give back in other ways.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Always marry an astrophysicist because you know where they are at night. Like that. And we used to have these geeky things, bumper stickers. Nobody uses bumper stickers anymore.

[Chelsea Handler]

Speak for yourself.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I love heavenly bodies. You know, this sort of thing. Black holes are out of sight. There's like the geek bumper stickers. So I care about observing the night sky. So I know about the sun, moon, stars and planets. And you know what else I know about weather. Because it gets in the way of me looking at the night sky. So I know all kinds of weather patterns, cloud patterns, what twilight light can do, how it can deceive you. So I would say a few percent of the things that I've seen that were really weird, I only knew what they were because of my extensive background in the subject, telling me that other people would just report that to the police, whatever. So lower than average reporting of UFOs among people who spend their whole lives looking up. And that's the astronomy community, because you

[Chelsea Handler]

understand what you're looking at. Like, I recently went to Finland and saw the northern lights.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Beautiful.

[Chelsea Handler]

And so once that was broken down.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Your first time.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Imagine if you didn't know what it was. Imagine.

[Chelsea Handler]

I would think that was alien.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, completely. And in fact, the very name Aurora, I think through. Through. That's the official name of the northern lights, Aurora Borealis. And in the south, it's Aurora Australis. If you didn't know that, I think it was. Is it. In Greek mythology, there's an aurora. A colorful. Yeah. So it's beautiful and it's fully explained.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, yeah.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Another one. There are clouds. So I have to be Professor Neal for a moment. Okay. You have warm, moist air going horizontally across the ground, and it hits a mountain, and then the air goes up the mountain. It's cooler on mountains than it is at the bottom. If you have moist air, that moist Moisture condenses out of the air and makes clouds. That's why it's common to see no clouds anywhere in a mountain. And clouds right on top of the mountain, those are called orographic clouds. And depending on how they're made, they can look like a disk, like a cap on top of the mountain.

[Chelsea Handler]

Because they. Not because they get stuck.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, because that's the only place they form. Because it's cold enough there to take the moisture. Because right near this humidity in the air here. But it's not a cloud. If you take it high up, it'll condense and make a cloud. Wait, hang on. Right at the top of the mountain now. Now the sun sets for you. So you're in darkness, but the top of the mountain still sees the setting sunlight. And so the cloud takes on this reddish orange hue and you're in darkness. And there's this glowing cloud at the top. That's the mothership, of course, but that. In fact, my book, I have photos of this just so you can see.

[Chelsea Handler]

But if. Also. There's your book. But why is the cold air get stuck there when heat rises?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. So what happens is that sun doesn't heat the air. The sun heats the ground and the ground heats the air. And that air will rise. And so rising air, if it has any moisture at all, eventually condenses out and makes clouds. That's why clouds are generally well above your head and not down here. A cloud can form at ground level. We have a different word for that. Isn't that great? A fog. That's just a cloud that's like it on the ground. And when you're in a fog, you're never hot. Fogs are always kind of dank and a little cool. Yeah, right, right. Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

I like the word dank. Actually, we need to be using that more.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Dank. It's a great word. Single syllable.

[Chelsea Handler]

But if heat always rises, why are mountaintops so cold?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, because. Yeah, there's less ground around you to be heated. It's the ground that heats the air. You've been in an airplane. Have you seen the temperature? You know, where are you in the route? And what's the outside temperature? It's 40 below zero outside. This is the same Earth where you were just down here, and it's 75 degrees. While you go up a little, you're closer to the sun. How does it get 40 degrees below zero? Cause the sun is not heating the air, the sun is heating the ground. So the hottest part of Earth's atmosphere is just above the Ground.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, yeah. Okay, this is good.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Now take a look at these clouds. Okay, Sorry, it's just in black and white, but those are holographic clouds.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Now imagine that twilight lit from below because you're lower down. Your sun is set for you. It sets later for people higher up. Now, on the previous page, so that cloud was made by a rocket in twilight because its rocket plume is high enough, it still sees the sun. Evidence that Earth is curved because you're high up. You see?

[Chelsea Handler]

Please don't point at me when you say that. I wasn't the one who. I didn't push that theory forward.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

Thank you.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Thank you for that.

[Chelsea Handler]

I think that was Sherri shepherd or something.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I was just being articulate with my finger, my hands. So that's still in sunlight and you're not. So it's just glowing against a darkened sky. People freak out when they see that. That's a SpaceX launch, by the way.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, okay. I mean, it makes a lot of sense. What you're saying is because you have an eye, a keen eye that has studied this. So when you're looking at these things that another layperson may look at and say, oh, what is that? That's got to be an identified flying object or whatever. Identifiable, blah, blah, blah. You know, because, yeah, I know more

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

than most people when I look up.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But that doesn't mean that some of them may have no explanation at all. I'm not denying that. But even UFO enthusiasts recognize that most people, when they're identifying most things, will have a natural explanation. They want to sift through all of that and get to just the bottom, the few percent that might have no obvious explanation. That's all. And if those are aliens, I would then ask other questions and.

[Chelsea Handler]

But do you have, like. Have you heard either in.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Not from any of my colleagues.

[Chelsea Handler]

Nothing. You've never heard anything that you were like, oh, my God, this is my. This blowing my mind?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. I have a cousin who, while in Puerto Rico, said that there was a spaceship that was hovering over the nearby homes, and it stayed there for a while, and then it shot off into the distance, and I don't know him to hallucinate. He did, like, drugs at the time, but not to that extent. Yeah, so do many people, but they're not talking that way. Right. And so. And he said someone else saw it with him, so. Okay, okay. That was the early 1970s. You realize there are only two kinds of people who carry cameras back then, Tourists and journalists. We didn't have cameras. In fact, Most people, you're in show business. Most other people are photographed once a year for the school picture. Okay? That's it. So access to cameras. So all I'm saying is if that happens again, take out your smartphone, video it. I have a colleague who's head of a committee who said, appointed by Congress, by the way. He wants to set up a, do I call it a task force, an app that everybody has on their phones. If you see something, you go inside the app. And when you take pictures in the app, all the metadata is preserved. What direction you were looking, the elevation, the altitude, the color balance, all of this. So that if multiple people do it, you can triangulate on the thing that you saw and establish its authenticity and not being something in your head. Even without that, everybody's got a high resolution phone. We don't have pictures of people getting abducted. Why not everybody? It was all the rage in the 70s. Everybody's getting abducted. There's stories written about in the papers and National Enquirer. That's half their sales. We're talking about abducted people getting abducted by aliens. So show me the alien walking towards you, abducting you, and live stream it. That'll go viral. Kitten videos go viral for less. Right.

[Chelsea Handler]

I feel like, though, if there is. If there are aliens and they are so much more intelligent than we are, since they're the ones studying us, not the other way around, then they would be able to make sure that that footage never was released.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's what they said in the days when they had cameras. They said, oh, I did take pictures, but they blanked out the camera.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right, right, right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But if you're live streaming, okay, you see it and you start live streaming. That's. And the app would probably make that easier, by the way. So here's another thing. There used to be these flying saucers along the roadside that people had pictures of it. Again, why would you have a picture of it? Because no one had cameras. But let's say you did happen to have a camera. And so there's a flying saucer. There it was clear as day. There it is, usually dark against the light sky. And all those went away when cars stopped using hubcaps. There are no roadside flying saucers. Pictures of roadside hubcaps. These were separate things from your wheel that you'd hammered on, and they were kind of decorative sometimes. And every road is guaranteed to have a pothole. You hit the pothole hubcaps, you lose a hubcap, you don't even know it. And you. So the hubcaps were strewn along the freeways. And so if you find one and fling it, take a picture, you've got a ufo. We don't have those anymore since cars don't have hubbs.

[Chelsea Handler]

So then what is your rate? What do you think now?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I think picture. People took pictures of hubcaps, but what

[Chelsea Handler]

do you think now? So do you think there is not an intelligent life like other. In other places or in other places, but we just haven't witnessed it? Like, what do you. What's your assessment of bring out the alien?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

They're people who say they've witnessed it. And so we've taken away the surprise factor because of that and people of high rank. There was a nearly two hour documentary on this the day of disclosure that just came out like last year and the end of last year, a whole parade of people, including government officials. So I'm tired of hearing people ask, do you believe in aliens? Bring out the aliens. And then no one has to ask that question again. You don't have to believe in octopuses, you don't have to believe in elephants.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do you believe we have aliens that we're holding or hiding in this country?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I don't like to believe in things that I have to believe in to believe.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, copy that. Okay, let's pivot.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Does that make sense?

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes, yes, it actually did.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It felt like it made sense while I was saying.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, it did.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Did.

[Chelsea Handler]

It did. And it's gonna have a lasting impact. That sentence.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay. Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

A reverberation, if you will.

[Jennie Garth]

This is Jenny Garth from I Choose Me with Jenny Garth. You know, history is full of surprising little details. And laundry turns out it's got its own fascinating story too. Because not all detergents are created equal. Tide liquid laundry detergent isn't just clean, it's boosted clean for cleaner, whiter, brighter and fresher results compared to Tide Simply. And those stubborn stains that always seem to show up at the worst times. Tide tackles 100% of common stains for every load, every time. Now, if grease is your nemesis, think food spills, cooking splatters. Tide's got 10 times grease fighting ingredients compared to bargain brands. And it works in a machine, in any water condition, on all your machine washable fabrics, it's no wonder. Tide was America's number one detergent in sales last year. So if it's gotta be clean and it's gotta be fresh, it's gotta be Tide. Shop now at your local retailer. Tide is a proud sponsor of the Elton John Impact Awards, honoring those who have helped shape a more inclusive and compassionate world with their artistry, advocacy and unwavering commitment to equality. You won't wanna miss the Elton John Impact Awards podcast, available on June 1st on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

[Chelsea Handler]

This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir Lamivudine Living with HIV DO learn about Dovato. Dovato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Divato is as effective with two medicines.

[Advertisement Voice]

It is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and Hepatitis B if you have Hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Dovato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do learn about Devato. Visit Dovato.com or call 1-877-844-8872.

[Skincare Advertiser]

Listen, I have access to a lot

[Chelsea Handler]

of things that most people don't top

[Skincare Advertiser]

dermatologists, high end treatments. But in those circles, the conversation has shifted. Now it's about extending youthful looking skin before invasive options. That's why people in the industry are talking about exosomes. Exosomes are disrupting the beauty world and plated skin science is leading the conversation. Plated has elite award winning technology and over 10 clinical studies with remarkable results. Clinically proven to deliver brighter, firmer, younger looking skin in just weeks. This is more than skin care. It's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle. Visit plated skinscience.com you know what's in

[Chelsea Handler]

most canned vodka drinks? I don't either. Nobody does because the back of the can is a chemistry experiment and a lie. I tried for years to make a vodka lemonade I'd actually drink every brand I partnered with served me fake lemon, fake sweet and that metallic aftertaste that lingers like a bad axe. I gave up. Then I met the founders of owls brew 9am in my hotel room. Dozens of samples, and they finally nailed it. Real vodka, real lemon juice, clean ingredients you can pronounce. No fake stuff. Just the perfect hint of sweetness. It's the drink for your pool, your patio, your boat, and your bad decisions all summer long. Go to theowlsbrew.com and use code dearchelsea for 20% off stock the cooler before the weekend.

[Katherine]

Chelsea, I feel like you need to

[Chelsea Handler]

go home with Neil. No, I don't mean in a romantic sense. I meant for, like, a learning song.

[Katherine]

But I feel like you need to dive into quantum theory. We've got weather now.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I cherish adults who are curious.

[Chelsea Handler]

Let's talk about quantum physics. Break it down.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Bring it on. Bring it on.

[Chelsea Handler]

Break down what that means.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay, so you want a little. A little primer on.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, I want. Yeah. To make it digestible for our audience and our listeners.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Sure.

[Chelsea Handler]

This has been an ongoing kind of curiosity of mine because I can't really seem to wrap my head around it. So I was looking forward to seeing that.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay, so let's start out with the. I forgot who said this famous physicist might have been Max Planck, who said, the day you understand quantum physics is the day you can be sure that you don't, because everything about it is weird. You know? How do what to you? What makes sense? What makes sense to you? We were forged in the plains of the Serengeti trying to not get eaten by lions. So that's how we evolved. So we have a certain sense about that. Something with big teeth is chasing you, you run the opposite direction. You pretty much don't have to think about that. All right? That's what forged our senses. When the microscope and the particle accelerator got us to very small manifestations of nature, whole other laws of physics revealed themselves that we didn't evolve under. Yes, it matters in us, in our molecules, but in our sense, our sensory system does not experience it. And so it's not part of what we call common sense. I just want to start with that. Okay.

[Chelsea Handler]

Common sense.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's not common sense. It's common sense that I let something go and it drops.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Gravity. You push something.

[Chelsea Handler]

And it's also. Common sense is an understanding that we all share.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yes. Because we're all growing up in the same world.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

All right. So here's what we find. You're sitting there. If I shine light on you to take a picture, you're still sitting there. Okay. That's because you are much bigger than the photons of light that are striking you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay. So they hit you, they reflect off. They go to my camera. There's Chelsea and Chelsea and Chelsea and Chelsea seven times on your wall. Okay, what happens if I make you smaller? Half this size, a hundredth this size, a billionth this size. Here's what happens. The moment you're the size of particles and I say is the particles sitting there on the couch. Let me find out. And I shine light on it. The photon hits the particle. The particle pops to another state of existence. You don't have access to matter on that scale because to even know what it's doing requires shining light on it, popping it into some other place, some other state of its own existence. And so. So what it means is when we describe matter at its smallest scales, we describe it statistically. The particle is somewhere there, and you want to find out exactly where it is. You can shine light on it, but it's going to be somewhere else. Just keep doing this. You can create a statistical understanding of nature at that scale. And Einstein hated that. He said on multiple occasions, God does not play dice with the universe statistic. And so it turns out Einstein is wrong. What the universe doesn't play is poker. It'll play dice. The universe doesn't play poker. So that's one feature of very tiny particles. We are so big. It doesn't do that to us. It just doesn't. Okay, another thing. That particle can behave as a particle and as a wave. That's kind of weird. We have no way to wrap our brain around that. We tried. We tried inventing a new word. Wavicle. Never caught on. You ever hear that word?

[Chelsea Handler]

No.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Never caught on. I thought it had a chance. I thought it back in the 70s, maybe 60s. I thought I had a chance. Never caught on. Wavicle because you now have to put in your head the existence of something in two completely different manifestations of itself simultaneously. That's not how everyday life works. You're not sitting there as a human being one moment and a candle in the next moment, not knowing which you are at any. No, you are persistently this. But a wave. Particle duality is fundamental to quantum physics,

[Chelsea Handler]

meaning that the two things can be happening with your person at the same time or with any matter to the

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

particle to the matter. Matter. I feel bad myself. Foot came off the couch.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, you feel bad for your foot or your foot. That is a particle.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So other things it does. You can create two particles at the same time because matter and energy are interchangeable. So you can take energy equals matter

[Chelsea Handler]

and energy are interchangeable.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Equals MC squared since 1905. Right, understood that.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay,

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

so that's another duality thing. It's just the same thing, different sides of the same coin. Matter and energy. So a particle, you can take energy and create a pair of particles that are complementary to each other. A matter antimatter pair. There are other ways. You. You can create particles in this way and then separate them. They know about each other. They. I don't want to call them the same particle. I'm going to say they're entangled with

[Chelsea Handler]

each other because of proximity, because of

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

how we made them.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

How we created. Now, we can put one here and the other one across the room. If I make a measurement on this particle, I will immediately know the properties of the other particle with which it was entangled, because it has complimentary properties. And so. Well, is there a limit to this distance? No. They can be quantum entangled across the universe, and when you measure one, the other one gets known instantly. So this is something moving faster than the speed of light. In the vacuum of space, there are what we call virtual particles, pairs that come in and out of existence, and they're entangled. I spoke with a colleague of mine who studies this. He said there's emergent thought that the entangled particles are connected via wormholes and that those wormholes are the stitching in the fabric of spacetime. So it's like, whoa. Okay, so, again, this is quantum physics just being out there. By the way, there is no creation, storage, and retrieval of digital information without the quantum. The entire it revolution exists because we figured out how Quantum physics worked 100 years ago in the 1920s. Watershed decade in science. Oh, my gosh.

[Chelsea Handler]

The 1920s.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

1920s. Oh, my God. If you have to pick a decade in the history of our species, that's the decade. Because in that decade, we discovered that the whole universe is not just the stars in the night sky. They're whole other galaxies that have stars of their own.

[Chelsea Handler]

But aren't we still discovered? I mean, I don't want to throw any shade to the 1920s.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's not a matter of the number of these things. It's the nature of the truth. Okay, okay. The nature of the truth is the stars of the night sky are not the entirety of our universe. There are other groupings of stars out there that are galaxies just like ours, but they're far away. They just look like fuzz. And there are billions of those, hundreds of billions of those.

[Chelsea Handler]

And we don't. We haven't even discovered all of them yet.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, We've seen them, but we don't go there because we can't. Okay, so there's that. That was 1923. In the mid-20s, then, 1929, Edwin Hubble, the man, discovers that these galaxies are flying apart from each other. So we're in an expanding universe, and in the 1920s, we discover what particles do when poked and prodded. And we came to finally understand the atom. That is quantum physics. And all of our electronics depends on it. It exploits it, it understands it, it uses it. And so.

[Chelsea Handler]

So what is the particle to the atom?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, right. So you have an electron in a traditional atom, and then you have the nucleus, which will have protons and neutrons. Typically, okay, nucleus protons have a positive charge, electrons negative. So you'd think they would. You would think the electron would just collapse into the nucleus because it's got opposite charges attract, right? But no, it stays out here. And, and, and we. We so desperately wanted the atom to look like the solar system. It was. Wait a minute. There's a nucleus and there electrons going around it. Maybe it's the solar system all over again, but just on a small scale. And so you look close, it's like, no, the electron is not orbiting. It's like hanging out in these clouds described by the wave that it also is. Okay, so. But so badly did we want to analogize it to the solar system, that we called it not an orbit, but an orbital. So electrons are in orbitals around the nucleus of the atom. So now you have an atom. Electrons can come and go, but the atom is the nucleus and the electrons. Then the electrons can share their orbitals with other atoms. They can give one donate share. Then you make a molecule. So a molecule is more than one atom joined.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And here's what's completely mindfuck, okay? Hydrogen is a flammable gas. Oxygen promotes fire. Okay? No smoking near oxygen tanks. You put them together, it makes H2O, which is water, which extinguishes fires.

[Chelsea Handler]

Wow.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Take sodium, a metal that's soft enough to cut with a knife. That's explosive if you put it in water. In fact, labs are always immersed in oil. It would explode if you put it in water. Chlorine, a deadly poisonous gas used in chemical warfare in the first World War. Chlorine gas, okay? You take sodium, combine it with chlorine, and you get table salt, sodium chloride. So the behavior of molecules is so different from the individual behavior of the atoms themselves. It's like a circus. And this is why chemistry is an entire field unto itself. And all that is enabled, empowered and manifested because of the rules of quantum physics.

[Chelsea Handler]

So when we talk about something like. I think what we've been talking about more on this show has been like simulations. Right. With regard. When we talk about. I think we kind of missed. We think we're talking about quantum physics, but we're actually not. Because when people talk about time travel or space travel, like, what, what. What purview does that fall under?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, I mean, you can travel forward in time using Einstein's relativity.

[Chelsea Handler]

And do you believe in that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, no, no, no. We can. We've.

[Chelsea Handler]

That's real.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's.

[Katherine]

We're doing it right now.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

It's. Well, we're traveling forward in time one second per second. Yes. But we are prisoners of the present forever transitioning between our inaccessible past and. And our unknowable future. And so the Holy Grail in there would be to step out of that prison cell and access your timeline either forward or backwards. I talk about that in a book as a possible alien power where their relationship with time is different from ours. And if they're living in, like, a fourth, a higher dimension, then. You know how you can move around in this room? Up, down, left, right, and you can repeat that. All right? You're not a prisoner in any given spot. Imagine your timeline stepping out of it and then rejoining it. And then you can. Someone says, well, when were you born? No, I'm always being born. Right, then when did you die? I'm always dying right here. And I'm always doing all these things at all times. So it changes how you think about time. Now, with Einstein's relativity, if you go fast, time will tick more slowly for you than people back here on Earth. So that when you come back, you might have aged. Depending on how fast you go, you could age a year, and Earth would have aged 10 years. This was famously shown in the movie Interstellar. Did you see that film?

[Chelsea Handler]

I did, but I don't really remember that film.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, it's a lot of really crazy sciencey stuff.

[Chelsea Handler]

His theory of relativity means that you can travel to the future.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yes.

[Chelsea Handler]

But you can't go backwards.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

No, you can't go backwards. Right. You can travel into the future of the people who used you were hanging out with.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay. And how. Because. Because when you're traveling fast, time ticks more slowly for you.

[Chelsea Handler]

But traveling fast at the speed of light.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

But speed of light, time stops. So you don't want to go that fast.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You want to go 99. Well, you don't Even just half.

[Chelsea Handler]

Half of that.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Be greedy. But how are you half the speed of light?

[Chelsea Handler]

But how are you traveling like that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You got a spaceship.

[Chelsea Handler]

You have to be in a spaceship

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

or a rocket, I presume. Otherwise, you know, space is not very, very good for you. But.

[Chelsea Handler]

But, I mean, people in space aren't

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

time traveling when they are, they traveled. So astronauts moving 5 miles per second, that's how fast they are in the International Space Station.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, oh, okay.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's small compared to the speed of light. But you can calculate when they come back how much younger they are compared with a twin that they might have left on Earth.

[Katherine]

No way.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And so you can say, well, is it just a theory? How do we know?

[Chelsea Handler]

Wait, wait. They're younger than their counterpart because they

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

didn't age as fast, so therefore they're younger. Yeah, they're not younger than when they left. They're just not as old as they would have been had they stayed on Earth.

[Chelsea Handler]

Oh, wow.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah, I know, I know.

[Chelsea Handler]

But if you can go forward, then you should be able to go backward.

[Katherine]

Well, except Scott Bakula did promise us this in Quantum League.

[Chelsea Handler]

I mean,

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

the issue is going back in time because. So suppose you go back in time and prevent your parents from meeting each other.

[Chelsea Handler]

That would be a great idea, by

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

the way, or as was shown in at least one film, and I forgot which one it was, might have even been a rival. If you go back in time and delay your parents for having sex for 10 minutes, probably a different sperm would have fertilized the egg and you would be someone else. You'd be one of your siblings, but not you.

[Chelsea Handler]

But I bet I'd still have a podcast.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So it doesn't require the gore of the Terminator to kill people to prevent someone from being born, just prevent two people from meeting. Watch, if you did that, then you'd have never have been born to have gone back in time to prevent them from meeting each other. Just think it through. Think it through. So there is a paradox of backwards time travel that is not entirely resolvable unless the universe splits into a whole other world. And so the multi universe, people who think this way, they did talk a

[Katherine]

little bit about that in Dark Matter, Blake Crouch's novel. And then there was a show that came out last year or last couple years where, you know, he is sort of. It's a multiverse thing. He's like, well, in this other universe, my wife and I conceived our child a few minutes different, and it's like a boy instead of a girl, or it's you know, a totally different kid.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So in that way, whatever timeline you disrupted, it became its own timeline and its own future. So because you would have prevented your parents from meeting, and therefore you would not have been born to go back in time to prevent your parents from meeting, the only real way out of that is to have the universe split and you create a whole other timeline of events.

[Chelsea Handler]

But why does going back in time necessarily preclude you from being born?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Only if you happened, either on purpose or by accident, prevented your parents from meeting each other.

[Chelsea Handler]

But isn't it a scientific theory? And maybe it's not. Tell me that for every. Like, for every thought or every action, there's a reaction.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, in forces, yeah. There's a force. There's a.

[Chelsea Handler]

There's an opposing force.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Correct.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right. So if you could go into the future, you could go to the past.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. Except it's not so much that you're stepping out of your timeline and then rejoining the future. Your time is just going more slowly. It's going forward for everyone. I understand that, but just at a different rate. That's not the same thing as stepping out and rejoining.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay, yeah, because I got that.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

To your point, if you could do that, then why not go to the past? But if you go back to the past, you're going back to a predestined event. Event, whereas that has already happened and you're not going to change it. Okay, okay. So now Stephen Hawking came out with a chronology protection conjecture, which is he's suggesting that maybe one day in the future, we will discover a law of physics that says why that's impossible to happen.

[Chelsea Handler]

And what is that called?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

A chronology protection?

[Chelsea Handler]

Erection. Protection. Erection.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. I didn't say erection.

[Chelsea Handler]

I said erection did not come out of my mouth. No, I know. Don't worry. I won't pin that on you.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So this time travel thing is. It's no end of storytelling in science fiction. People love it. Now, here's a scenario that I just want you to think about. There's a hypothetical particle called a tachyon, from the Greek root tachios, which is fast, like tachometer measures how fast your engine is turning. So we invented that word for this hypothetical particle that lives faster than the speed of light. Okay. If it did that, it would live backwards in time. So let's look at what that world would be like. And let's assume one day in the future, we harness these tachyons, and I can send you a text. With tachyons, you would then get the text before I sent it. That's kind of cool. So watch what happens. You're my friend. I care about you. You're walking down the walkway, and you slip on a banana peel and get hurt. And I say, okay, I can prevent that from happening. All I have to do is text you with tachyons. So you get a text before that happened. Okay. So watch what happens. I send you the text and I say, chelsea, watch out for the banana peel. While you're reading the text, you step on the banana peel because you weren't looking where you were going. So the banana peel fate is built into that timeline.

[Chelsea Handler]

Okay.

[Katherine]

Because it already happened.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Because it already happened. Because, in a way, I made it happen. I created that loop. And there's something called a gin particle. Since you're going there, I'm going to take you all the way. Can you go all the way?

[Chelsea Handler]

You got the river.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Okay. A Djinn particle is something that was never created nor destroyed. It only exists in a time loop. And it's freaky to think about this. Do you remember the movie Somewhere in Time? There's a love story that Christopher Reeve in it. Okay, if not, let's go to message in a bottle. No. Well, let me describe this Somewhere in Time just because it was so romantic. He's a professor at a university, and an elderly woman comes up to him and hands him a beautiful jeweled locket and says, come to me. Come back to me. And then she disappears. And he gathers some information. Like, what is this? He goes to a physics professor friend of his and said she was around 60 years ago, and she is asking you to come visit her when they're in their 20s. Okay. But I don't know how to time travel. But this professor has a way to time travel. So he time travels, goes back and meets her. She doesn't know who he is, but she said, come back and meet me. So he meets her in this, like, beach hotel, and they befriend one another. They fall in love. And he so much feels for her, he gives her this locket that she had given him in the future, and she cherishes that until she hands it back to him 60 years later. It's a beautiful love story. No action or anything, no chase scenes. It's just a. You know, it's. And so that locket was never created nor destroyed. It only exists in this loop. You see what I'm saying? Okay. And the Back to the Future Michael J. Fox version of that is. I presume we remember this movie.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yes.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Of Course, he's at the school dance and he's performing Johnny B. Goode. And the person who was hired to be the band that night is the cousin of Chuck Berry. Okay. And so he hears Michael J. Fox's character, Marty, perform this, and he calls up Chuck Berry. It's a. Chuck. Chuck, this is your cousin Marion, or whatever. Not Marion. Marion Berry was your mayor here. Whatever the guy's name was. Marvin. Marvin. Marvin. Thank you. I was close. Chuck. Chuck, this is your cousin Marvin. This is that sound you've been looking for. And he puts the phone out to the stage and he hears Johnny B. Goode, played by Michael J. Fox. There it is. Johnny B. Goode was never written. It exists in this time loop.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right, but you've only given us two examples. In movies.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I know, because it's a more subtle but for me, highly interesting example of how a time line can trap something in a loop.

[Chelsea Handler]

So that would be a time warp, right? No,

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

next week I'm seeing Rocky Horror on Broadway. Time warp. Anyhow, so time. It's fun to talk about time. And in the chapter Alien Powers, I explore the powers that aliens have had in famous movies and to mind reading. And I look at what's the physics of it? How would that manifest? What you should be cautious of. If they can put a thought in your head, game over.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, it feels like that's already happening. But it's not aliens. It's just computers. But computers and algorithms. I mean, that is putting a thought in your head.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So we've already displayed our susceptibility. But if they can do that neurologically, game over. So do you know what can prevent electromagnetic penetration of your head? A metal shield over your head. Because electromagnetic energy can't pass through the metal. Okay. Which is a tinfoil hat. The tinfoil hat.

[Chelsea Handler]

All right, Well, I guess you're gonna. Did you bring some of those before you leave? I mean, we only had an hour, but it feels like I talked to you for 30 seconds and I think I'm in a time warp or a time loop.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So the tinfoil hat would resist penetration of electromagnetic energy, which is what they would need to use to read your mind. Because your mind is creating electromagnetic. We know. We generate brainwaves because you have electrochemical activity in the brain. And in principle, that's readable. In principle, an advanced alien technology. Why wouldn't they just be able to read it like that? So. But you can't cheat physics. And the physics. You can't send waves through metal. So the tinfoil hat, which of course, in the old days was made of tin. Now it's aluminum. Aluminum foil hat is what you would need in order to not have an alien either read your mind or implant your mind with their thoughts.

[Chelsea Handler]

Well, and also it's confusing now because artificial intelligence AI has become such a big part of our culture and our future. And that's what our it's like AI is being blurred or blunted by other AI like now we have self made.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yeah. AI is AI ing itself. So in there I talk about a sufficiently intelligent alien would chuckle at our AI because for us, our great measure of our AI was can you simulate our intelligence? But an alien that's much more intelligent than us would just laugh at that.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right?

[Katherine]

Because why do you want to do that?

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

If we're saying that I'm way beyond you anyway, how charming that is. Yeah,

[Jennie Garth]

this is Jenny Garth from I Choose Me with Jennie Garth. You know, history is full of surprising little details. And laundry turns out it's got its own fascinating story too. Because not all detergents are created equal. Tide liquid laundry detergent isn't just clean, it's boosted clean for cleaner, whiter, brighter and fresher results compared to Tide simply. And those stubborn stains that always seem to show up at the worst times. Tide tackles 100% of common stains for every load, every time. Now, if grease is your nemesis, think food spills, cooking splatters. Tide's got 10 times grease fighting ingredients compared to to bargain brands. And it works in a machine, in any water condition on all your machine washable fabrics. It's no wonder Tide was America's number one detergent in sales last year. So if it's gotta be clean and it's gotta be fresh, it's gotta be Tide. Shop now at your local retailer. Tide is a proud sponsor of the Elton John Impact Awards, honoring those who have helped shape a more inclusive and compassionate world with their artistry, advocacy and unwavering commitment to equality. You won't want to miss the Elton John Impact Awards podcast, available on June 1st on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

[Chelsea Handler]

This ad is brought to you by Vive Healthcare, the makers of Devato Dolutegravir lamivudine living with HIV do learn about devato divato is a complete HIV treatment by prescription only for some people 12 and older. Your doctor will determine if Devato is right for you. No other complete HIV pill contains fewer medicines than Dovato. Most HIV pills contain three or four medicines. Dovato is as effective with two medicines

[Advertisement Voice]

it is unknown if Dovato is safe and effective if you have HIV and hepatitis B. If you have Hep B. Don't stop Dovato without talking to your doctor as it may get worse or harder to treat. Don't take Dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or taking Dofetilide due to serious or life threatening side effects. If you have a rash or allergic reaction symptoms, stop Devato and get medical help right away. Other serious or life threatening side effects include severe liver problems and lactic acid buildup. If you're female or obese, you may be more at risk. Tell your doctor about your medicines or supplements, medical conditions, liver or kidney problems, pregnancy, breastfeeding or planned pregnancy.

[Chelsea Handler]

Do learn About DeVato, visit Dovato.com or call 1-877-844-8872 Listen, I have access to a lot of things that most people

[Skincare Advertiser]

don't Top dermatologists, high end treatments. But in those circles the conversation has shifted. Now it's about extending youthful looking skin before invasive options. That's why people in the industry are talking about Exosomes. Exosomes are disrupting the beauty world and plated skin science is leading the conversation. Plated has elite award winning technology in over 10 clinical studies with remarkable results. Clinically proven to deliver brighter, firmer, younger looking skin in just weeks. This is more than skin care. It's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle. Visit plated skinscience.com My summer plans involve

[Chelsea Handler]

a pool, a lounger, three friends I actually like and zero responsibilities. What it does not involve a canned cocktail that tastes like a battery. I have been trying for years to make my own vodka lemonade and every brand got it wrong. Fake lemon, Too sweet. Weird aftertaste. But then I met the founders of owls brew. 9:00am Hotel room, dozens of samples. They absolutely nailed it. Real vodka, real lemon juice, clean ingredients, the perfect hint of sweetness. So now my pool has a drink, my friends have a drink and my summer is officially handled. Yours can be too. Go to owlsbrew.com, use code dearchelsea for 20% off and have it at the door or before Saturday. The lemonade stand is open. Adults only. Well, the book is called Take Me to youo Perspectives on youn First Alien Encounter by Neil Degrasse Tyson, blessing us with another work of his.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, thank you for your interest.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, I'm always interested in talking to you. I like the way you explain things. Thanks for coming and talking to us.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I'm enchanted by your curiosity. It's an educator's dream. To be surrounded by people who are. Continue to ask questions well into adulthood, long after childhood. Because the real dip is coming out of elementary school. You go into middle school and high school, the kids have such charming curiosity. And then it goes. I think gonads kick in, you know, and it's like, there's a gap.

[Skincare Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Maybe it resurrects again.

[Chelsea Handler]

I think it does in college. I think the classroom isn't always the best place for learning. For so many people it is.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You're right.

[Chelsea Handler]

Just the environment, like, sometimes you just have to. Like, there's so many other social aspects and, like, things that can distract you that you really like. I know. Like, I. Yeah. I think a lot of my friends also feel the same way. Where you become curious when it's not. When you're not being forced to.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, okay. Because then it would naturally gurgle up within you and it's not being suppressed.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You're like, social reasons or anything about this. Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

Now I have the patience to learn. Whereas before I was, like, trying to forget a boy boyfriend in school, I had other things going on. You know, there's a pecking order. I was trying to get to the top of it. So there was other distractions.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Right, right. That's what I'm saying. So. So I think a person who retains their curiosity through there and into college, I think they're primed to become scientists. Because then the world is your oyster.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And. And if you care that other people are as excited as you, then you become an educator on top of that.

[Chelsea Handler]

Love it.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

So. Yeah.

[Chelsea Handler]

Love it.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

There it is.

[Chelsea Handler]

Great. Awesome.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Girl.

[Chelsea Handler]

I love your work.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I love your work.

[Chelsea Handler]

Right back at you.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You are. You are. Just stay, stay, stay.

[Chelsea Handler]

I'll stay on top of things.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Irreverent, I will.

[Chelsea Handler]

No problem.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

We need that.

[Chelsea Handler]

Yeah, we do. We do. We do. It'd be great if. I mean, I'm actually looking forward to aliens coming and rescuing us and just being like, listen, we're so sorry about all of this. We're actually going to take over. I feel like. Thank you. Thank you.

[Katherine]

If you want advice from Chelsea, write in to dearchelsea podcastmail.com Dear Chelsea is a production of I Heart Media. Follow Chelsea on all socials elseehandler and find Catherine on TikTok lashkadabra. Dear Chelsea is edited and engineered by Brandon Dickert executive producer Kathryn Law. Find full video episodes and minisodes now on Netflix and get tickets to see Chelsea live at Chelsea. Handle handler.com.

[Skincare Advertiser]

Listen, I have access to a lot

[Chelsea Handler]

of things that most people don't top

[Skincare Advertiser]

dermatologists, high end treatments. But in those circles, the conversation has shifted. Now it's about extending youthful looking skin before invasive options. That's why people in the industry are talking about Exosomes. Exosomes are disrupting the beauty world and plated skin science is leading the conversation. Plated has elite, award winning technology and over 10 clinical studies with remarkable results clinically proven to deliver brighter, firmer, younger looking skin in just weeks. This is more than skincare, it's a cosmetic treatment in a bottle. Visit plated skinscience.com My summer plans involve

[Chelsea Handler]

a pool, a lounger, three friends I actually like and zero responsibilities. What it does not involve a canned cocktail that tastes like a battery. I have been trying for years to make my own vodka, lemonade and every brand got it wrong. Fake lemon, Too sweet. Weird aftertaste. But then I met the founders of owls brew. 9:00am Hotel room, dozens of samples. They absolutely nailed it. Real vodka, real lemon juice, clean ingredients, the perfect hint of sweetness. So now my pool has a drink, my friends have a drink and my summer is officially handled. Yours can be too. Go to owlsbrew.com, use code dearchelsea for 20% off and have it at the door before Saturday. The lemonade stand is open adults only in New Zealand. Quality is an acclaim. It's the standard K9 Natural baked and coated. Starts with premium animal ingredients from grass fed red meat to cage free poultry and sustainably sourced fish. With 40% high protein and no meals, fillers or grains. Every bite delivers real nutrition. Light, crispy pieces are baked then coated in rich bone broth for incredible taste and whole body health support. Baked and coated from K9 natural use code Chelsea20 for 20% off your first [e-mail] you're probably hearing a lot about longevity right now.

[Jennie Garth]

And when it comes to skin, aging is associated with a decline in cellular energy. As that energy decreases, skin doesn't regenerate or renew itself as effectively, which is why you start to see dullness, fine lines and loss of firmness. Obagi Medical has been trusted by dermatologists for over 35 years. Their new gen Cellular Renewal Serum is powered by NAD and supports skin's natural renewal process. In clinical testing, skin appeared up to six years younger after 12 weeks. Learn [e-mail] and new customers can use code TPOD15 for 15% off qualifying orders. Terms apply.

[Chelsea Handler]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.