StarTalk Podcast: Cosmic Queries – Kitchen Sink Edition

Summary

The Star Talk Cosmic Queries podcast episode features Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answering questions from their Patreon members about space and astronomy. The hosts discuss various topics, including their favorite star, Betelgeuse, which is a red supergiant that has recently dimmed significantly. They also discuss the possibility of the Star of Bethlehem being a supernova and the lack of evidence to support this theory. Additionally, the hosts explain the difference between gas giants and stars and how black holes can lose mass through Hawking radiation.

The episode covers a range of questions, including the number of planets in our solar system and the concept of black hole evaporation. The hosts explain that the number of planets is determined by tracking the gravitational force on spacecraft and that there may be objects beyond Pluto that affect comets but are not considered part of the solar system. They also discuss the process of black hole evaporation, which is slow and takes longer than the current age of the universe. The question of free will is also raised, and the hosts suggest that recent neuroscience research challenges the idea but it is still enjoyed as an illusion.

The hosts answer more listener questions, including the possibility of using stars to forge elements for ourselves and why gravity is so weak compared to other forces. They also discuss the possibility of dark matter being ordinary matter in a parallel universe spilling into our universe. Overall, the hosts encourage listeners to keep asking questions and exploring the mysteries of the universe.