logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
56m 56s

Our Mathematical Universe with Grant San...

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
About this episode
Is math discovered or invented? Neil deGrasse Tyson & Chuck Nice explore information theory, talking to aliens with prime numbers, Mandelbrot sets, and why math is often called the "language of the universe" with Grant Sanderson, the math educator behind YouTube channel 3Blue1Brown. 
Up next
Feb 3
Return to Venus with David Grinspoon
Is there life in the Venusian Clouds? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice are joined by planetary astrobiologist David Grinspoon to discuss NASA’s return to Venus, our space future, and whether we’ll find life in our solar system. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen t ... Show More
51m 38s
Jan 27
Cosmic Queries – Black Hole Information Paradox
What do astrophysicists mean when they talk about “information”? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice dive into questions about the black hole information paradox, moon moons, wormholes between black hole universes, and more! NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this ... Show More
47m 31s
Jan 23
What Everyone Knows You Know with Steven Pinker
What happens when everyone knows what everyone knows? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice dive into human psychology and how recursive common knowledge is the invisible glue holding civilization together with cognitive scientist and author, Steven Pinker.NOTE: StarTa ... Show More
54m 42s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
AaS! 231: What Made the Local Bubble?
tail spinning
29m 2s
May 2017
100. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Astrophysicist) – The Only "-ist" I Am
Since 2008, Big Think has been sharing big ideas from creative and curious minds. Since 2015, the Think Again podcast has been taking us out of our comfort zone, surprising our guests and Jason Gots, your host, with unexpected conversation starters from Big Think’s interview arch ... Show More
47m 31s
Nov 12
The Sound Barrier #4: Listen to the universe
When Wanda Diáz-Merced lost her sight as a college student, she thought her dreams of becoming an astronomer were over — until she learned to listen to space instead. Wanda is one of several pioneering scientists listening to space. For this episode, we also spoke to Robert Wilso ... Show More
37m 25s
Aug 2024
Unusual Archaeology: Contemplating the Cosmos (Part 2)
Gazing up at the night sky is a universal human experience, likely as old as our species itself. But how did our ancient ancestors feel about what they saw in the heavens, and how did it shape their lives? In Episode Two of our three-part Fascination miniseries on unusual archaeo ... Show More
23m 26s
Jun 2025
Clowns in Spacetime
Can you slow down time by hurtling through space at breakneck speed? Could listener Saskia’s friend - currently one year older - end up the same age as her if he went fast enough? It sounds bananas, but it’s all part of Einstein’s mind-warping theory of relativity.With expert cop ... Show More
29m 57s
Jun 2025
You Are Greater Than Your Limits - Neil Degrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator known for making the cosmos accessible and captivating to the public. As the director of the Hayden Planetarium and host of shows like Cosmos and StarTalk, he blends deep scientific insight with cultural r ... Show More
16m 36s
Feb 2025
Saying Farewell to the Spacecraft That Mapped the Milky Way
The Gaia spacecraft stopped collecting data this January after about 11 years and more than three trillion observations. Senior space and physics editor Lee Billings joins host Rachel Feltman to review Gaia’s Milky Way–mapping mission and the tidal streams, black holes and astero ... Show More
17m 20s
Oct 2025
Neil deGrasse Tyson at On Air Presents
Neil deGrasse Tyson—world-renowned astrophysicist, Emmy-nominated host, science communicator, and author—is one of the most influential voices in modern science. In this live conversation, recorded at On Air Presents, he joins Debbie Millman to explore the role of science educati ... Show More
1h 9m
Nov 4
AaS! 259: Where Exactly is the Edge of the Universe?
Is the universe infinite? What about the cosmological horizons, the limits to what we can see? Will we ever know for sure what's beyond them? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.A ... Show More
23m 26s
Oct 2025
Chris Hadfield’s Fictional Universe Is Rooted in Real Space History
What happens when a real-life astronaut turns to fiction? In this episode, Chris Hadfield shares how decades of spaceflight and global diplomacy inspired his latest novel, Final Orbit, a cold war thriller packed with historical intrigue and technical precision. Host Rachel Feltma ... Show More
10m 52s