Could nuclear fusion be the answer to our energy needs? The hosts tackle this alongside fan questions about Star Trek's transporters and the zeptosecond—a measure of time that challenges our understanding. They discuss cosmic expansion, the complexities of cosmic motion, and the significance of the cosmic microwave background in the Big Bang theory. With humor and insight, they make complex ideas accessible, exploring the dance between science and our future in space.
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Fusion Energy
Nuclear fusion offers unlimited clean energy by fusing small atoms like hydrogen into larger ones.
This process, unlike fission, has no harmful byproducts like nuclear waste.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Longest Word
Neil deGrasse Tyson recalls learning the longest word in his childhood dictionary: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
This word, meaning "black lung," highlights the dangers of coal mining, contrasting with nuclear energy's potential.
insights INSIGHT
Universe Expansion
Objects farther away in the universe recede faster due to expansion, as described by the Hubble constant.
This expansion is accelerating, not slowing down, contrary to initial assumptions.
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In *Astrophysics for People in a Hurry*, Neil deGrasse Tyson provides a broad selection of topics in astrophysics, including the evolution of the universe, dark matter, dark energy, and the search for life beyond Earth. The book is based on essays Tyson wrote for his Universe column in *Natural History* magazine between 1995 and 2005. It offers entertaining insights into the challenges in science and the implications of understanding our universe, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for busy readers.
The first three minutes
Steven Weinberg
In this book, Steven Weinberg describes the first three minutes of the universe's existence, detailing the Planck Epoch, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the Hubble Red Shift, and the detection of the Cosmic Microwave Background. These discoveries form the foundation of the standard model of the universe's origin. The book is an accessible explanation of cosmology and particle physics, making it a classic in popular science.
Can nuclear fusion become the ultimate renewable energy source? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice answer fan questions about transporters, the smallest unit of time, expansion, and other ideas that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
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Thanks to our Patrons Day53, May Jo Williams, Tisha Bernal, Jeff Holcombe, Lorenzo & Elisabetta, C Hahn, Charles Maluf, Paul Levine, Crystal Barnes, and Peter Brush for supporting us this week.
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