StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Dimensional Waterfall
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Apr 15, 2025 Dive into the cosmic chaos of merging black holes and what it really means when their event horizons overlap. Discover the humor behind gravitational and gravity waves while exploring NASA’s cosmic curiosity and its budgetary challenges. Unveil higher dimensions and their surreal impact on reality, alongside illuminating discussions on the internal structures of Mercury and Jupiter. Plus, ponder the nuances of magnetic poles and recent revelations from the James Webb Space Telescope that reshape our understanding of the universe.
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Tracking Gravitational Waves
- Gravitational waves, produced by colliding black holes, are detected when they wash over Earth.
- A research program aims to detect gravitational waves moving across the field of view by monitoring pulsars.
NASA's Budget
- Neil deGrasse Tyson points out that NASA's funding is a tiny fraction of the federal budget.
- Cutting NASA's budget wouldn't significantly impact overall spending.
Open vs. Closed Universe
- The universe is currently expanding, making it an open universe with no returning sightlines.
- In a closed universe, light would theoretically loop back, allowing you to see your past.