logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2023
54m 9s

Engineering the World’s Fastest Cars wit...

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
About this episode
What's the maximum a car can accelerate? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly learn how fast cars can really go, how tires work, and the differences between combustion and electric cars with host of Engineering Explained, Jason Fenske. 
Up next
Yesterday
Conquering Fear with Alex Honnold
Is the fear of heights innate or learned? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O'Reilly explore taking risks, the neuroscience of fear, and how to overcome it with freestyle rock climber and subject of the film Free Solo, Alex Honnold, and neuroscientist Heather Berlin. NOTE ... Show More
57m 51s
Jun 9
Quasar Quirks & Sky Surveys with Matt O’Dowd
Did the Milky Way used to be a quasar? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore quasars, the high energy universe, and the movie we’re making of the night’s sky with astrophysicist & host of PBS Space Time, Matt O’Dowd. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can ... Show More
55m 22s
Jun 5
Physics & Philosophy with Sean Carroll
Why is the past different from the future? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice explore the universe’s deepest questions like why is there anything, how we know we are in the real present, if there could be a unified theory of physics and more with theoretical physicist Se ... Show More
47m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2022
OK, Car Computer
<p>Modern cars are giant computers. They're packed full of chips and bits, all working toward the goal of making your ride smoother, safer, and more comfortable. But when it comes time to take these technical marvels in for repairs, all the code under the hood becomes more of a n ... Show More
31m 40s
Apr 2022
Steve Nichols: engineering domination with McLaren
Creator of an iconic F1 car, with an inside view of a ferocious racing rivalry: Steve Nichols has witnessed some extraordinary things. The American engineer designed the McLaren MP4/4, the car which stormed to 15 wins in 16 races in 1988. He tells Tom Clarkson the story of the MP ... Show More
1h 31m
Nov 2018
Formula One engineer Caroline Hargrove
How do you convince Formula One racing drivers that they are speeding round the race track at Le Mans when, in fact, they are sitting in a simulator in the McLaren offices in Woking? Apparently it’s all about getting the vibrations right. Racing drivers really do drive by the sea ... Show More
27m 45s
Apr 2023
Dan Fallows: directing Aston Martin’s rise
In 2023, Aston Martin took a leap to the front of Formula 1. They went from midfield battlers to podium finishers, ahead of Mercedes and Ferrari. How? As the engineer who led the creation of the team's car, Technical Director Dan Fallows, is one of many possible answers to that q ... Show More
55m 47s
Jan 2022
The Electric Car Race! Vroom, Vroom!
Electric cars can help reduce greenhouse gases and companies are taking note — racing to become the next Tesla. Today on the show, guest host Dan Charles talks with business reporter Camila Domonoske about how serious the country is about this big switch from gas to electric cars ... Show More
14m 24s
Mar 2022
Alpine tech boss Pat Fry: 35 years at the top of F1
Name a top F1 team or driver – Pat Fry is probably a big part of their success. He’s spent 35 years winning with Benetton, McLaren, Ferrari and Alpine, racing with world champion drivers Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. In that time he’s seen F1 ch ... Show More
51m 51s
Jul 2022
Jody Egginton: a journey to AlphaTauri tech boss
Before he started, as he puts it, ‘playing with racing cars’, Jody Egginton trained as a schoolteacher. His love of motorsport led him to Formula 1, and he worked his way up from Tyrell during the early years of computer-aided design (CAD) to Technical Director at AlphaTauri toda ... Show More
1h 6m