StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Death of a Black Hole
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Oct 14, 2025 What is nothing? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice dive into the mysteries of black holes and the concept of a dying black hole potentially causing a Big Bang. The discussion covers lunar eclipses and the precise conditions needed for them to occur. They also explore Hawking radiation, explaining how black holes can emit high-energy gamma rays. Other intriguing topics include Jupiter's protective role for inner planets and the intriguing question of whether we should rename 'black holes.' Join the fun as science meets cosmic curiosity!
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Why Lunar Eclipses Aren't Monthly
- The Moon's orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic, so full or new moons usually miss Earth's shadow or the Sun's line and no eclipse occurs.
- Eclipses require the Moon to be at or near the ecliptic crossing during a full or new phase, so they do not happen every month.
Final Burst From Evaporating Black Holes
- Hawking evaporation makes black holes lose mass faster as they shrink, ending in an intense gamma-ray burst as the final 'gasp'.
- That final explosion leaves nothing of the black hole behind and cannot refill space to cause a Big Bang-like expansion.
Why External Gravity Isn't Dark Energy
- External gravitational pulls from beyond our horizon would not naturally produce a vacuum-energy-like effect that grows with volume.
- Dark energy behaves like a vacuum property that becomes more significant as the universe's volume increases.
