StarTalk Radio – Cosmic Queries: Get Some Space

Host: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Co-host: Chuck Nice
Date: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of StarTalk Radio is a Cosmic Queries: Grab Bag Edition—what Chuck dubs “Galactic Gumbo.” Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice field a wide range of listener-submitted questions on black holes, the universe’s mysteries, the future of space exploration, the intersection of science and government funding, and more. With Tyson’s trademark wit and clarity, and Chuck’s light-hearted banter, the episode dives into deep astrophysical concepts in an accessible, entertaining fashion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What (If Anything) Can Survive a Black Hole?

[03:15–12:43]

• Question: Is there any material or form that can withstand the gravitational forces of a black hole, or avoid being “spaghettified”?

• Neil’s Response:

  • No substance known to physics—whether human flesh, steel, or even atomic nuclei—can withstand a black hole’s tidal forces.
  • "Gravity wins over atoms." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [06:17]
  • As you approach a black hole, tidal gravity stretches anything entering, sequentially tearing apart molecules, atoms, and eventually nuclei (and probably quarks), until nothing recognizable remains.
  • The fate of matter falling into a black hole—whether it's compressed into a singularity of infinite density or described by some as-yet-unknown physics—remains unresolved. String theory is one promising avenue, but “still needs work.”

• Memorable Quote:

  • "Everything falling into a black hole gets spaghettified. Except spaghetti. It's already spaghettified." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [53:51]

2. Black Holes & Information: Hawking Radiation

[09:28–12:46]

• Topic: Does material entering a black hole simply vanish or is it conserved?
• Insight:
  • According to quantum mechanics and Stephen Hawking’s theories, black holes emit “Hawking radiation,” eventually evaporating—releasing information about the material that fell in, encoded in the emitted particles.
  • The implication is that matter and information are not lost but are transformed and eventually returned to the universe, much to the chagrin of science fiction writers hoping for black holes as inter-universe portals.
  • Memorable moment:
    • "There is some communication in the system where the entire system remembers what matter it had eaten." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [12:19]

3. Dark Matter vs. Life Beyond Earth: Which Discovery Would Be Bigger?

[13:04–17:16]

• Question: What would be a more significant discovery: understanding dark matter or finding life beyond Earth?
• Neil’s Analysis:
  • Discovering what dark matter is would be a milestone, but unless it rewrites deep physics (e.g., being evidence for a parallel universe), it could be just “another particle in the particle zoo.”
  • The discovery of life elsewhere—especially if non-DNA based—would force a revolutionary rethinking of biology and our place in the cosmos.
  • Memorable quote:
    • "If we find life thriving under conditions undreamt of with a chemistry unimagined... that would be a far greater discovery than just finding out another particle to add to the particle zoo." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [17:16]

4. Future of Human Space Colonization

[21:11–26:54]

• Question: Will we see humans colonizing other planets, or encounter intelligent extraterrestrial life in our lifetime?
• Neil’s Argument:
  • "The answer is no." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [22:00]
  • Mars is as inhospitable as Antarctica (or worse)—and we’re not lined up to move to Antarctica.
  • Other planets (Venus, Mercury) are even less suitable.
  • Permanent settlement would require terraforming—a humongous undertaking.
  • Historically, colonization analogies (like Columbus arriving in the New World) don’t map to space: you can’t breathe the air or expect ready resources.
  • NASA’s planetary protection efforts are designed to prevent contamination both ways.

5. Military vs. Science Funding—What If Priorities Were Switched?

[27:51–32:14]

• Question: How advanced would science be if the funds allocated to the US military were invested in science?
• Comparisons:
  • US annual science spending: ~$70–100 billion
  • US military spending: ~$600 billion per year
  • Doubling science budgets could accelerate progress, but discovery often requires as much time and intellectual “germination” as money.
  • Centuries have been “lost” in human progress due to periods of denying or suppressing science (e.g., dark ages).

6. The Horizon Problem and the Center of the Universe

[32:32–37:17]

• Question: Why does it seem as if every point is the center of the universe, and what is the horizon problem?
• Explanation:
  • Like being at sea, every observer perceives themselves in the middle of their horizon.
  • The “horizon problem” refers to the uniformity of the cosmic microwave background temperature in all directions, which suggests parts of the universe were connected early on—giving rise to inflationary theory.
  • All places look like the "center" because the universe has no unique center—every point looks essentially the same in all directions.

7. Will Additional Space Dust or Meteoric Matter Change Earth’s Orbit?

[39:29–41:18]

• Question: Is the mass accumulated by Earth from meteor dust significant?
• Answer:
  • No. Hundreds of tons fall every day, but compared to Earth's mass, it's negligible.
  • Meanwhile, the Sun is losing mass through the solar wind, causing Earth's orbit to slowly expand, but these changes are extremely gradual and not a concern.

8. The Observable Universe’s Size

[41:43–43:11]

• Question: How can the edge of the observable universe be 43 billion light years away if the universe is only 14 billion years old?
• Explanation:
  • The light reaching us is 14 billion years old, but the universe has been expanding in the interim. The sources emitting that light are now about 45 billion light years away due to cosmic expansion.

9. Creativity, Newton, and Solitude During Crisis

[44:19–49:14]

• Question: How did Isaac Newton flourish creatively during the plague—and how can we be creative when facing modern distractions?

• Insight:

  • Periods of enforced solitude (e.g., Newton during the plague, Darwin’s long walks) have historically led to great creativity.
  • Modern life is full of distractions—TV, streaming, internet—that inhibit such deep thinking.
  • Creativity often requires less productivity, fewer distractions, and more solitude.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • "The greatest impediment to creativity is distraction." — Chuck Nice [49:25]
  • “If you want to be more creative, become less productive.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [49:29]

10. Miscellaneous Cosmic Queries—Quick Hits

• Do particles falling into a black hole reach the speed of light?
  • No; depends on distance and energy, but they do not.
• What about quarks, do even they get “spaghettified?”
  • Neil: "I think the answer is yes. Nothing, nothing survives a black hole." [53:37]
• Simulation Hypothesis:
  • Neil’s views have changed; he now thinks it's less likely we are in a simulation than he previously did. [54:44]
• How can science be elevated politically to prevent mass extinction events?
  • Perhaps through better “advertising” of its tangible benefits; ideally, science should be embedded in the systems we value and teach, so its importance is always understood.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Gravity wins over atoms.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [06:17]
• “There is some communication in the system where the entire system remembers what matter it had eaten.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [12:19]
• “If we find life thriving under conditions undreamt of with a chemistry unimagined... that would be a far greater discovery than just finding out another particle to add to the particle zoo.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [17:16]
• On colonizing Mars: “Antarctica is wetter and balmier than every location on Mars. Yet I don’t see people lining up to buy condos in Antarctica.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [23:49]
• “Everything falling into a black hole gets spaghettified. Except spaghetti.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson [53:51]
• "The greatest impediment to creativity is distraction." — Chuck Nice [49:25]
• "If you want to be more creative, become less productive." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [49:29]
• "Every disaster movie begins by people ignoring the warnings of a scientist." — Neil deGrasse Tyson [32:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Housekeeping & Query Format Introduction: [01:43–03:13]
• Black Holes and Spaghettification: [03:15–12:46]
• Dark Matter vs. Life Discovery: [13:04–17:17]
• Colonizing Planets & Mars: [21:11–26:54]
• Military vs. Science Funding: [27:51–32:14]
• Horizon Problem & Observable Universe: [32:32–37:17], [41:43–43:11]
• Creativity and Newton’s Solitude: [44:19–49:29]
• Rapid-Fire Cosmic Queries: [39:29–54:05]

Tone and Style

Neil and Chuck blend rigorous scientific explanation with humor and relatable analogies–from “spaghettification” to likening the cosmos to a grandma’s photo album. Tyson’s erudition is approachable; Chuck’s quips ensure nothing gets too heavy.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers concise yet deep explanations for complex topics in cosmology and astrophysics, along with reflections on science’s role in society and human creativity. Tyson’s and Nice’s interplay ensures the science sticks and the mood stays light—even in the face of cosmic annihilation.

Keep looking up!