Could there be a hidden planet lurking beyond Pluto and Neptune? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice tackle a wide-ranging grab bag of fan questions covering Planet 9, galaxy shapes, dark matter, the odds of getting hit by a meteorite, and more!
Learn about the Kuiper Belt and theories that there could be a ninth planet there lurking in the shadows. How long would the ninth planet's orbit be? Learn about the definition of planet and how Pluto’s demotion also resulted in the promotion of Ceres. We walk through the three criteria for planethood.
What dictates a galaxy's shape? Neil breaks down the different galaxy shapes and how they form and what they mean. Neil also touches on dwarf galaxies, lenticular galaxies, and the seven known dwarf galaxies currently orbiting our own. Could dark matter simply be ordinary matter hidden in a parallel universe hidden in the folds of spacetime? We discuss dark matter as gravity leaking in from other universes. We also explore whether there is a connection between relativity and semiconductor physics.
What are the chances of getting hit by an asteroid? Neil recounts his near-miss with a meteor on the Brooklyn Bridge during the Leonid meteor storm. Will you be able to see the ISS get de-orbitted? Plus, do black holes absorb dark matter, just like everything else?
Thanks to our Patrons Glenn Fiskin, A. Certain Woman, Jeffrey Schwartz, Adam Watson, Micheal Lawson, Aaron Hardy, Terje Berg, Peter Wells, Tyler, Brody Johnson, Ali, NanZan, SAMuri, Marian Bieniek, Jeff Whitney, Richard Ruffner, Adrian J Batson, Holly Grant, Amy Braden, Andrew Puente, Srihari Ravi, Eliezar Vega, Southern Tauren, Adam Tate, John Johnson, Achim Ferrandina, Rebecca Crowe, Cody May, Gary, William Green, Max_Palmer09, Dylan, Jonas and Aisté, Frank Pucino, Isaac Kinsey, Sean Whitehall, Anthony Prisco, Nathan Thornton, Alex Grzesiak, Lora Vatalaro, Manny Neto, Eric M, Robert Davies, Billy Metcalfe, Gabriel Gish, Sherry Lee Rachar, Alexander Nemeth, Ra.Spec, and Atticus Thompson for supporting us this week.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Grab Bag
00:50 - Finding Planet 9
06:04 - Hitting the Planet Requirements
17:04 - Semiconductor Physics
20:35 - What Dictates a Galaxy’s Shape?
28:56 - A Question From an Astrophysics Autodidact
33:31 - Could Dark Matter Be Stuff Hidden in the Folds of Spacetime?
36:31 - Watching the ISS Get Deorbitted
39:38 - Getting Hit By a Meteorite
44:25 - Does Dark Matter Get Sucked Into Black Holes?
Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus
Get the latest StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio
FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk
About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
#StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson