StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – The Complex Universe with Sean Carroll
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Jan 20, 2026 
In this enlightening conversation, theoretical physicist Sean Carroll, a specialist in cosmology and quantum mechanics, joins Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice. They delve into concepts like Hawking radiation and what it would look like for a falling observer. Sean discusses the significance of invisible fields in tech, the mystery of dark matter, and the intriguing many-worlds theory. He also shares insights on entropy’s role in time and critiques the possibility of a complete theory of everything. A fascinating exploration of our complex universe!
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Fields Are Real And Predictive
- Fields (electric and magnetic) are real entities filling space, not just math tricks, inferred from consistent predictions and effects.
- Faraday's lines of force became Maxwell's field equations that unify diverse phenomena like light and radio waves.
Gadget Moments That Feel Like Magic
- Neil recounts monthly moments of wonder when gadgets seem like magic as wireless signals change distant devices.
- Sean and Neil note remote controls and phones exploit electromagnetism, showing fields' everyday power.
Horizon Radiation Is Unobservable Locally
- Hawking radiation seen from far away and a smooth horizon felt by a falling observer are both encoded in the same equations.
- High-intensity radiation exists at the horizon but you cross too fast to observe it, so it appears uneventful.
