StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Expanding Bubble Universes
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Jan 13, 2026 Explore the fascinating concept of time dilation and whether we might be living in a cosmic simulation. Dive into discussions about saving the Sun and what happens if Earth launches nukes at it. Discover the intricacies of generational spaceships and the idea of faster ships rescuing earlier crews. Unpack mind-bending theories on black holes, bubble universes, and the nature of dark matter. Plus, consider the implications of warp drives and the tantalizing possibility of traveling beyond light speed!
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Nukes Won't Restart The Sun
- Sending Earth's nuclear bombs into the Sun would have negligible effect because the Sun's energy comes from fusion, not fission. Neil de Grasse Tyson explains the Sun's huge scale and that nukes are tiny by comparison.
Reignite Fusion By Mixing The Sun
- To prolong solar fusion, drive deep convection to bring hydrogen into the core and remove helium. Neil de Grasse Tyson suggests recycling the Sun's own hydrogen rather than importing fuel.
Temperature In Space Is Radiative, Not Atmospheric
- In space temperature depends on radiative flux not air; a shielded craft will face deep-space cold on one side and intense radiative heating on the sun-facing side. Neil de Grasse Tyson explains rotisserie-style shielding to balance heating.