StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – The Big Stretch
Oct 22, 2024
Harrison Greenbaum, a comedian known for his clever humor, joins Neil deGrasse Tyson to tackle cosmic conundrums. They dive into the mysteries of supernovae, black holes, and the curious behavior of photons. The duo breaks down the significance of gravitational waves and Einstein's theories, mixing scientific insight with laughter. They also discuss the fascinating distinctions between dark matter and black holes, and even shade light on energy sources like solar and tidal power, all while keeping the conversation lively and engaging.
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Photon Origins
- Photons are pure energy packets moving at the speed of light, created when atoms or molecules lose energy.
- This energy loss occurs when electrons drop to lower energy levels, particles de-excite, or vibrations decrease.
Wax Fire Incident
- Neil deGrasse Tyson describes his experience with a wax fire, emphasizing the importance of not putting water on it.
- He explains that covering the pot with a lid is the correct way to extinguish the flames due to thermodynamic principles.
Gravitational Waves
- Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity.
- These ripples are created by massive objects moving and were first detected in 2015, a century after Einstein's prediction.