Startalk Radio – Cosmic Queries – Wormhole Universe

Intro

In this episode of Startalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer un-themed cosmic queries from listeners. They cover a wide range of topics, including gravity in space, the mysteries of chocolate fillings, subspace in Star Trek, the nature of black holes, time dilation, entropy, the possibility of wormholes causing gravity, and more.

Main Takeaways

Gravity and Space

• Contrary to popular belief, there is gravity in space.
• Black holes create a divot in the fabric of space.
• Black holes cause time dilation, not planets.
• Planets with higher gravity could lead to stronger physiology.
• Giraffes and other spindly-legged animals would struggle on high gravity planets.

Black Holes and Hawking Radiation

• When a black hole is done with Hawking radiation, it disappears and leaves behind nothing.
• The space around the black hole reverts to its original form after the black hole is gone.
• Black holes evaporate through Hawking radiation, with the size of the event horizon shrinking as the black hole gets smaller.
• The nature of the Hawking radiation changes to become higher and higher energy radiation, with gamma rays being emitted in the last instant before the black hole disappears.
• Black holes open up to another universe, another spacetime system, according to mathematics derived from Einstein.

Entropy and Time

• Entropy is a way to measure how disordered a system is.
• The concept of entropy explains the universe’s transition from high order to high disorder as it expands.
• Time is created to measure sequences of events and intervals between them.
• Higher beings in higher dimensions could manipulate time in lower dimensions.
• Recent thinking suggests that time may also emerge from quantum phenomena, specifically quantum entanglement.

Wormholes and Gravity

• Wormholes are currently in the realm of science fiction, as we do not know any substance such as negative matter.
• Can wormholes be the cause of gravity?
• Are denser bodies more likely to have more micro-wormholes?

Other Interesting Topics

• High-quality chocolate is expensive, and cheaper alternatives often contain corn syrup instead of real chocolate.
• The origin of putting gooey fillings in chocolates is a mystery, but it is likely a cost-saving measure by the sugar industry.
• Subspace in Star Trek is a plot device that allows for real-time communication across galaxies.
• Stars are divided into populations based on their heavy element abundance.
• K-pop is a genre of music that can elicit girl screams at concerts.

Summary

Gravity and Space

Contrary to popular belief, space has gravity, and black holes create a divot in the fabric of space. While planets do not cause time dilation, higher gravity on planets could lead to stronger physiology, but spindly-legged animals like giraffes would struggle on high gravity planets.

Black Holes and Hawking Radiation

Black holes evaporate through Hawking radiation, with the size of the event horizon shrinking as the black hole gets smaller. The nature of the Hawking radiation changes, emitting higher energy radiation such as gamma rays in the last instant before the black hole disappears. According to mathematical models derived from Einstein, black holes open up to another universe or spacetime system. However, when a black hole is done with Hawking radiation, it disappears, leaving behind nothing, and the space around it reverts to its original form.

Entropy and Time

Entropy is a measure of the disorder in a system. As the universe expands, it transitions from high order to high disorder. Time is a concept created to measure sequences of events and intervals between them. Recent thinking suggests that time may emerge from quantum phenomena, specifically quantum entanglement. Higher beings in higher dimensions could manipulate time in lower dimensions.

Wormholes and Gravity

Currently, wormholes are in the realm of science fiction as we do not know of any substance such as negative matter that could create them. The possibility of wormholes causing gravity is still uncertain, and it is unclear whether denser bodies are more likely to have more micro-wormholes.

Other Interesting Topics

In addition to the scientific discussions, the podcast touches on other interesting topics such as the mysteries of chocolate fillings and the use of subspace in Star Trek for real-time communication across galaxies. Stars are categorized into populations based on their heavy element abundance, and K-pop is a genre of music that can elicit enthusiastic reactions from concert-goers.

Conclusion

This episode of Startalk Radio covers a wide range of cosmic queries, providing insights into gravity in space, the nature of black holes, time dilation, entropy, and the possibilities of wormholes. Listeners also get to enjoy discussions on chocolate fillings, Star Trek’s subspace, stellar populations, and the excitement of K-pop concerts. Tune in to expand your knowledge of the universe and satisfy your curiosity.