Cosmic Queries - Proving Einstein Right
Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice speak with theoretical physicist Jim Gates about Albert Einstein's special and general relativity, why general relativity required experimental verification, and the 20th‑century efforts to test it via starlight deflection during a solar eclipse. They then field listener questions on topics including the incompatibility between general relativity and quantum mechanics, gravitons and quantum gravity, string theory signatures in the cosmic microwave background, gravitational lensing, and the possibility of a cosmic gravitational-wave background. Throughout, Gates also reflects on the "magic" of mathematics in describing reality and the collaborative, human side of doing physics.
The Limits of Knowing with Elise Crull
Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice talk with philosopher of physics Elise Crull about the historical and contemporary relationship between physics and philosophy. They trace how natural philosophy split into specialized disciplines, how foundational concepts like space, time, and objectivity shaped classical and modern physics, and why questions raised by quantum mechanics-such as entanglement and non-locality-force a reevaluation of those concepts. The conversation also explores academic specialization, the role of philosophy in guiding cutting-edge physics, and Neil's nuanced critique of modern academic philosophy.