Spacetime, Premonitions, & Brachistochrone Problem with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Charles Liu

Is our experience of time a result of our perpetual movement? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore spacetime, metaphysics, the Brachistochrone problem and more with astrophysicist Charles Liu.

We explore space and time graphically, what the experience of time is for a light photon, and the tired light hypothesis. Charles argues why we’re moving at the same speed of light. How do people age in a spaceship going warp speed? We discuss how warp speed creates a breakdown in causality.

We talk about linking the universe to metaphysics and whether dreams hold significance. How is the cosmic microwave background constant when there are hot stars? How are some black holes bigger than others if they are infinitely dense?

Why do rockets launch up instead of horizontally like an airplane? We break down the Brachistochrone problem and the fastest minimum energy path. Could you launch a rocket to space through spinning? All that plus, we discuss our favorite inventions from Star Trek that came true.

Thanks to our Patrons Marcus Karlstad, Vincent Zimmerman, Ryan Lambert, Carolyn K, Stefan C. Villafana, and David Churn for supporting us this week.

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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!

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00:00 - Introduction
2:50 - Does Time Come From Movement?
10:42 - How Would People Age at Warp Speed?
15:28 - Science, Dreams, & Metaphysics
25:10 - Foreground Contamination & Cosmic Microwave Background
27:10 - The Size of Black Holes
33:20 - The Launch Path of Rockets & The Brachistochrone Problem
42:40 - Favorite Technology from Star Trek