StarTalk Podcast

Scientists Who Got In Trouble for Being Right, with Matt Kaplan
Explore how groundbreaking scientists, from Galileo to the Nobel-winning mRNA pioneer, faced ridicule, exile, and even fraud for their discoveries, revealing the powerful non-scientific forces shaping scientific progress.

Exploring Hidden Dimensions with Brian Greene
Theoretical physicist Brian Greene unpacks the universe's most mind-bending concepts, from the many-worlds multiverse to the fabric of spacetime woven by quantum entanglement, with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The StarTalk Team Has More Questions for Neil | Burning Question Pt. 4
Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles burning questions from his team, covering everything from the weight of Earth and the simulation hypothesis to AI, education reform, and a cosmic perspective on life and death.

How We’re Trying to Detect Dark Matter Particles, with Katherine Freese
Theoretical physicist Katherine Freese reveals cutting-edge methods for detecting dark matter, from billion-year-old rocks to 'dark stars' observed by the James Webb Telescope, and challenges prevailing theories on dark energy.

The Books That Shaped My Childhood
Neil deGrasse Tyson recounts the pivotal books from his childhood and college years that ignited his passion for science, shaped his communication style, and even led to the coining of 'Manhattanhenge'.

Space Solar Farms, Blue Straggler Stars, & Earth’s Escape Plan
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle cosmic queries, from the physics of black holes and artificial gravity to the viability of space solar farms and moving Earth from its orbit.

Are We Creating Objective Reality or Finding it? With Charles Liu | Cosmic Queries #107
This episode explores the philosophical and scientific implications of observation on reality, the nature of information and entropy, and the cutting-edge methods astronomers use to decipher the universe's most profound mysteries, from the Big Bang to distant galaxies.

Ask Neil Anything, January 2026 | Free Patreon Exclusive
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle listener questions ranging from simulation theory glitches and black hole physics to the etymology of 'nice' and Star Trek's vision of a conflict-free future.

Do We Need New Math to Understand the Universe? With Terence Tao
Mathematician Terence Tao discusses how pure and applied mathematics drive scientific discovery, from accelerating MRI scans to grappling with the universe's biggest mysteries and even the simulation hypothesis.

Is AI Hiding Its Full Power? With Geoffrey Hinton
AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton explains the foundational mechanics of neural networks, reveals AI's emergent capacity for deception and self-preservation, and outlines the profound, unpredictable societal shifts ahead.

Scientific Martyrs, Life Beyond Our Planet & More! | Cosmic Queries #106
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle diverse cosmic questions, from the physics of light and gravitational waves to the philosophical implications of extraterrestrial life and humanity's future on Earth.

Science at Warp Speed: StarTalk Live! @ The Novo Theatre
Neil deGrasse Tyson and a panel of astrophysicists and comedians dissect the scientific realities and fictional liberties behind iconic sci-fi concepts like warp drives, dark matter, and antimatter.

The Problem With Uploading Your Consciousness | Cosmic Queries #105
Neil deGrasse Tyson and guests explore the universe's biggest mysteries, from the nature of dark energy and the reconciliation of quantum mechanics with general relativity to the philosophical implications of quantum consciousness and the dangers of scientific misinformation.

Why We’re Going Back to Venus, with David Grinspoon
NASA is launching two new missions to Venus, Da Vinci and Veritas, reigniting the search for life in its extreme atmosphere and providing new insights into the origins of life across the solar system.

Incoming Asteroids, Moving Black Holes, & More! | Cosmic Queries #104
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle cosmic mysteries, from the black hole information paradox to the physics of time travel in 'Back to the Future' and the dynamics of accretion discs.

How Common Knowledge Shapes the World, with Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker explains how 'common knowledge'—the shared awareness that everyone knows something, and knows that everyone else knows it—is the invisible force behind everything from the value of money and government power to personal relationships and societal polarization.

The Complex Universe, with Sean Carroll
Cosmologist Sean Carroll joins Neil deGrasse Tyson to unravel the universe's biggest mysteries, from the arrow of time and black holes to the reality of dark matter and the multiverse.

Alcubierre Drives, Antimatter Multiverses & More! | Cosmic Queries #103
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle listener questions ranging from the feasibility of reviving the sun with nukes to the physics of black holes, warp drives, and the multiverse.

Your Brain is a Time Machine, with Dean Buonomano
Neuroscientist Dean Buonomano explains how the human brain functions as a 'time machine,' distinguishing its dynamic, non-oscillatory timekeeping from man-made clocks and exploring its role in mental time travel, consciousness, and the perception of reality.

An Interview with the Winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, John Martinis
Nobel laureate John Martinis unpacks the profound implications of macroscopic quantum tunneling, revealing how his work enables quantum computers to perform parallel computations exceeding the number of atoms in the universe, and challenging long-held beliefs about quantum tunneling's instantaneous nature.

Confronting Neil with Our Burning Questions… Yet Again!
Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles fundamental physics questions, from the true nature of gravity to the emergent property of free will and the practical implications of cosmic rays on modern technology.
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