Neil deGrasse Tyson
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This year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of the first telescope. On this week's show, we reflect on how telescopes have changed our perception of our place in the universe, how small we are in size, space and time. Our guests include Dava Sobel, author of The Planets, Vatican Astronomer Father Chris Corbally, and astronaut Paul Richards. We also discuss how they help astronomers discover new and interesting aspects of the universe, from...
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Do viewers know that electrons have never actually been observed by scientists to this day? Or that quarks cannot be studied in isolation? Or being in stronger gravity or traveling rapidly slows the ticking of time relative to the rest of the universe? Delve into these and other mind-warping facts about the fundamentals of matter in a episode that covers everything from particle physics to quantum tunneling.
25) Space Spin-Offs
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Technology tuned to the stars, brought down to Earth. Learn about the many products in our lives that were developed because of the space program. Space is now big business. Technology originally developed for the space program sometimes ends up in products for use on Earth, often in surprising ways. The 40,000 certified 'Space Products' range from mattresses to medical devices, and have turned space into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Inspired...
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Turn now to some inexplicable aspects of physics and the physical world. Among the many eye-opening topics viewers will learn about in this episode are the discovery of more and more elements on the periodic table; muon neutrinos, tao particles, and the three regimes of matter; the secrets of string theory; and even the hypothetical experience of traveling through a black hole.
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Join Professor Tyson on a fascinating investigation of the possible origins of life in the universe. Why was Jupiter believed to be a good environment for life in the 17th century? Why is there only one single 'tree of life' on Earth instead of multiple ones? Could life have come from another planet? And what exactly is meant by scientists who hope to find examples of life that is 'intelligent'?
28) Summer Skies
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Star light, star bright, what will I find over the rainbow? Take a tour of the summer skies of the day and night. Starry starry nights, stormy and sun-filled days. Long summer days of picnics and ballgames are played out under a vast and gorgeous canvas of astronomical and meteorological curiosities. From the stories of the stars told by the ancients, to a recent mammatus cloud over CitiField in New York, learn about the phenomena in the summer skies...
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Shoot off into the stars for an investigation of some perplexing aspects of space that science has uncovered in the last half-century. Learn about the mysterious trajectory of the Pioneer spacecraft (known as the 'Pioneer anomaly'). Explore two of the longest-standing problems in modern astrophysics: dark matter and dark energy. And even try to map out the shape of space-time itself.
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Forty years ago, on the dusty plains known as the Sea of Tranquility, Neil Armstrong stepped off a lunar module and into the pages of history. That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong spoke these words after placing his foot down onto lunar soil, and throughout the course of the Apollo program, eleven other astronauts also walked on the Moon. In this show, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and many others share their memories...
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Viewers should brace themselves for a fascinating trip through dimensions higher than their own. They will discover how quantum physics and string theory have opened eyes to the possibilities of quantum foam, the multiverse, and antimatter. Join Professor Tyson for a preview of the fate of the universe (including the collision of galaxies, the burning out of stars, and the decay of orbits into black holes).
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What's so funny about space and science? Our season finale features the incomparable comedian Joan Rivers. In this episode, she provides color commentary for a Red Carpet parade of previous show topics, including space tourism, the anniversary of Apollo 11, and the search for alien life (both in space and in Hollywood). Guests: Joan Rivers, comedian.
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Attempts by scientists and artists to reveal deep truths about the universe may take different forms, but they often end up agreeing with the poet John Keats that 'truth is beauty.' Geometry, physics, and the other sciences describe the world we live in, and artists often play with these properties in their own imaginative investigations. From the drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci to high tech computer graphics, Neil and Lynne paint a picture of how science...
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Richard Branson has formed Virgin Galactic and is now taking reservations aboard the maiden voyage of SpaceShipOne. Would you spend the estimated $200,000 for a 45-minute trip into space? Neil and Lynne also discuss the mechanics of sex in space. Co-host: Lynne Koplitz. Guests: Robert K. Weiss, President and Vice Chairman of the X Prize Foundation, film and television producer. Charles Simonyi, Space tourist and Microsoft co-founder. Bill Nye, Engineer,...
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Special guest Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's 'Colbert Report' talks about the joys of being a science geek. Brilliant scientific discoveries and cutting edge technology have transformed our world, yet many people are turned off by science. Where has the excitement for science gone, and how can we get it back? Stephen Colbert developed an interest in science at a young age, and now he shares that fascination by inviting scientists to appear on...