Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
No payment- just pure discovery. See what’s landing on Pluto TV! Stream Now. Pay Never.
Order Take Me to Your Leader here 👇
simonandschuster.com/books/Take-Me-to-Your-Leader/Neil-deGrasse-Tyson/9781668249970
What would happen to Earth if Jupiter stopped rotating? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer a grab bag of fan questions about the challenges with space telescopes, the nature of AI, and whether aliens are funny.
Can we ever grow wine on another planet? Neil explains why grapes barely grow on most of Earth and how it could be even harder to achieve the right conditions on another planet. How big could space-based telescopes really get? Neil breaks down space interferometry, the dream of a radio telescope on the far side of the Moon, and why maintenance costs matter as much as construction. Plus, learn about how Jupiter’s spin generates its powerful magnetic core.
How can academics keep AI inquiry open when public discourse is dominated by fear? Neil explores how it's computers doing more of what computers have always done, slowly encroaching on human labor from arithmetic to language. Is AI itself dangerous, or is it what you're doing with the computing power?
Do aliens have a sense of humor? Is comedic timing a universal constant or specific to human timescales? Neil and Chuck explore whether other animals tell jokes, trace laughter back to our common ancestor with chimps, and consider whether cockroaches cleaning their antennae might be swapping punchlines. Could a Casimir effect substitute for exotic matter to hold a wormhole open? How close does Andromeda need to be before we could realistically reach it and could a wormhole get us there before the two galaxies collide and stars start stealing each other's planets?
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Grag Bag
01:23 - Sensing the Graviton
03:19 - The “Terroir” of Mars Wine
09:47 - Manfacturing Telescopes in Space
14:59 - If Jupiter Stopped Rotating
20:58 - Were Computers Always AI?
37:04 - Do Aliens Have a Sense of Humor?
43:30 - Setting Limits in a Simulation
46:25 - Opening Wormholes without Exotic Matter
50:13 - Getting to Andromeda
Thanks to our Patrons Vail Stein, Aylin Anik, Neil Graham, EZChamp OSU, M Warth, Tanner Chiplis, SeeLive, Atlas, Ajamu, Frank Rizzo, Antoinette Watson, Beautiful Nightmare, David Vi…Vail Stein, Aylin Anik, Neil Graham, EZChamp OSU, M Warth, Tanner Chiplis, SeeLive, Atlas, Ajamu, Frank Rizzo, Antoinette Watson, Beautiful Nightmare, David Villegas, Juan Molina, Sean M. Garzee, Thiru, Madeleine Hewitt, Shanleigh McStay, Tony, Patrick, Honour, Arthur Rits, Charles Harston, Maciej Palicki, Lisa Battersby, David Trotter, Reggie B, Loren Loose, Kbobabob, Michelle Barr, Garreth Walker, Frklox, Jesse, Dankslippers, Heather Adams, Max Savage, Sara Vienna, Lorrin Suzawa, William Cooney, Hector, Daniel Durling, Mark McDonald, Brian Hartman, Sir Harold, Frank Sarcia, Barbara Mathews, Salem Geddings, Harry Powell, Green Go OG22, Henry Vestgård Pettersson, Osemoka, ADK_Astro, Stephen Chapman, Koji Shimada, Kerry NC, Adam Wiley, Justin Ash, Gregory K, Martin, Tyler Reinthaler, Nameria ✨, Mantas Gervinas, Lilsprite, Devou Patel, Decath1111, Danny Rectenwald, Grey Elerson, Fawaz Al-Daihani, Robert Santee, Isabel McCaffrey, Harvey Mushman, Felix, Waffle Head, Vikk, Kiara, Brian Yambao, Alex Cook, Ayeshrin, Jalun Armenta, M Frank, Steven Groves, Matthew Isen, Abdulrahman, Jessica Hewitt, Fabricio, Emcy Tech, Terence Garrod, George Straubing, Dan Leidal, Matthew Christophers, Nocte, Anthony Fenner, Tina Gallagher, Abe Massry, Paul Kulessa, Léo B, Fenyx, Kevin, Adam Jones, and Brett Ray for supporting us this week.
Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus
Get the lates StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: amzn.to/3PL0NFn
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/startalkradio
FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:
Twitter: twitter.com/startalkradio
Facebook: facebook.com/StarTalk
Instagram: 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
No payment- just pure discovery. See what’s landing on Pluto TV! Stream Now. Pay Never.
Order Take Me to Your Leader here 👇
simonandschuster.com/books/Take-Me-to-Your-Leader/Neil-deGrasse-Tyson/9781668249970
What would happen to Earth if Jupiter stopped rotating? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer a grab bag of fan questions about the challenges with space telescopes, the nature of AI, and whether aliens are funny.
Can we ever grow wine on another planet? Neil explains why grapes barely grow on most of Earth and how it could be even harder to achieve the right conditions on another planet. How big could space-based telescopes really get? Neil breaks down space interferometry, the dream of a radio telescope on the far side of the Moon, and why maintenance costs matter as much as construction. Plus, learn about how Jupiter’s spin generates its powerful magnetic core.
How can academics keep AI inquiry open when public discourse is dominated by fear? Neil explores how it's computers doing more of what computers have always done, slowly encroaching on human labor from arithmetic to language. Is AI itself dangerous, or is it what you're doing with the computing power?
Do aliens have a sense of humor? Is comedic timing a universal constant or specific to human timescales? Neil and Chuck explore whether other animals tell jokes, trace laughter back to our common ancestor with chimps, and consider whether cockroaches cleaning their antennae might be swapping punchlines. Could a Casimir effect substitute for exotic matter to hold a wormhole open? How close does Andromeda need to be before we could realistically reach it and could a wormhole get us there before the two galaxies collide and stars start stealing each other's planets?
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Grag Bag
01:23 - Sensing the Graviton
03:19 - The “Terroir” of Mars Wine
09:47 - Manfacturing Telescopes in Space
14:59 - If Jupiter Stopped Rotating
20:58 - Were Computers Always AI?
37:04 - Do Aliens Have a Sense of Humor?
43:30 - Setting Limits in a Simulation
46:25 - Opening Wormholes without Exotic Matter
50:13 - Getting to Andromeda
Thanks to our Patrons Vail Stein, Aylin Anik, Neil Graham, EZChamp OSU, M Warth, Tanner Chiplis, SeeLive, Atlas, Ajamu, Frank Rizzo, Antoinette Watson, Beautiful Nightmare, David Vi…Vail Stein, Aylin Anik, Neil Graham, EZChamp OSU, M Warth, Tanner Chiplis, SeeLive, Atlas, Ajamu, Frank Rizzo, Antoinette Watson, Beautiful Nightmare, David Villegas, Juan Molina, Sean M. Garzee, Thiru, Madeleine Hewitt, Shanleigh McStay, Tony, Patrick, Honour, Arthur Rits, Charles Harston, Maciej Palicki, Lisa Battersby, David Trotter, Reggie B, Loren Loose, Kbobabob, Michelle Barr, Garreth Walker, Frklox, Jesse, Dankslippers, Heather Adams, Max Savage, Sara Vienna, Lorrin Suzawa, William Cooney, Hector, Daniel Durling, Mark McDonald, Brian Hartman, Sir Harold, Frank Sarcia, Barbara Mathews, Salem Geddings, Harry Powell, Green Go OG22, Henry Vestgård Pettersson, Osemoka, ADK_Astro, Stephen Chapman, Koji Shimada, Kerry NC, Adam Wiley, Justin Ash, Gregory K, Martin, Tyler Reinthaler, Nameria ✨, Mantas Gervinas, Lilsprite, Devou Patel, Decath1111, Danny Rectenwald, Grey Elerson, Fawaz Al-Daihani, Robert Santee, Isabel McCaffrey, Harvey Mushman, Felix, Waffle Head, Vikk, Kiara, Brian Yambao, Alex Cook, Ayeshrin, Jalun Armenta, M Frank, Steven Groves, Matthew Isen, Abdulrahman, Jessica Hewitt, Fabricio, Emcy Tech, Terence Garrod, George Straubing, Dan Leidal, Matthew Christophers, Nocte, Anthony Fenner, Tina Gallagher, Abe Massry, Paul Kulessa, Léo B, Fenyx, Kevin, Adam Jones, and Brett Ray for supporting us this week.
Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus
Get the lates StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: amzn.to/3PL0NFn
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/startalkradio
FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:
Twitter: twitter.com/startalkradio
Facebook: facebook.com/StarTalk
Instagram: 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
