Spooky Science with Mary Roach

Are we losing control of AI? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore AI cyberhacking breaches, supercoordation, and the game theory of the AI alignment problem with Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology and the Earth Species Project.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-game-theory-of-ai-with-aza-raskin/Thanks to our Patrons Oliver Wehrli, Shay Rose, Bill Mazotti, William Hensel, John Draper, Stephen Guy, Tage Østbye, Ciara, Quin Cummings, Shane Combs, Alex, Kevin Shell, Tate Garibyan, Sushant Paudel, Truman, NotToday LIkeEver, tokyworld, Ben R, Abdel El Wazni, Tim Felker, and wallflower for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens to matter when the temperature gets near zero kelvin? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore things you thought you knew about Bose-Einstein condensate, high impact collisions, and how stuff burns. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/bose-einstein-condensate-collisions-the-physics-of-fire-tytyk/Thanks to our Patrons James Sym, Lyndon Crews, László Plájer, Ricardo Jaquez, David Fosse, Liam McNally, Rebecca Harris, Josh Wise, Henrik jonasson, Vamsi Krishna, Maria Falotico, Drew_Kamera, Kristopher Davis, Chris, Rafael Barão, Garrett, Deucer Doc, Danny Sharp, Hans Schenker bei Google, and Christopher Fazzino for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Could ghosts possibly be real? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Eugene Mirman explore ghost hunting techniques, spiritualism, and the non-corporeal plane of existence with Mary Roach and Joe Nickell. Originally Aired October 30, 2011. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/spooky-science/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If something is possible, has the universe tried it? Are all physical possibilities inevitable? Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with theoretical astrophysicist Janna Levin to launch “In Theory,” a new StarTalk series celebrating the weird, wacky theories of the universe and the theorists who chase them. Out on YouTube October 29, 2026!NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/in-theory-with-janna-levin/Thanks to our Patrons Elamar, Natalia Nelicheva, Kyron Laskosky, Stanley Tai, Jan, Chris Tringali, Nikki Tea, Jay Kapadia, Sean Moran, SnakeSurfer, Roddie, Sam Sillmon, Graham West, Ben Fisk, ChexVC, aitor clemente ramos, Max Forkel, George Fox, and HKRDiary for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are we doing more harm than good in the pursuit of perfection? Neil deGrasse Tyson, comic co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O'Reilly explore looksmaxxing, peptides, body composition, and the scientization of health & beauty trends with pharmaceutical scientist & medfluencer Morgan McSweeney, aka Dr. Noc.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-science-of-lookmaxxing-with-dr-noc/Thanks to our Patrons Techpack, Angela DavisGriffith, Renn, Joel Thompson, Steven Berry, Bonham Griggs, Konrad Talik, Dominik Franczyk, Jake Douglas, Ken Weiss, Gary Jordan, and CW Bushman for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Would aliens use the same periodic table as us? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Negin Farsad sit down with Kate Biberdorf, aka Kate the Chemist, to tackle fan questions about the chemistry of life, diamonds, how fire works, and spontaneous combustion.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-chemistry-of-life-with-kate-the-chemist/Thanks to our Patrons Ari, Craig Zimmerman, Alison Frey, Jimmy Melendez, A Miller, Erik Frey, Eric Wall, Jack Weekly, Hayden Waters, Darius Bakunas, Steve, Dejan Rešetar, Ellen Phillips, Dragos Stefan, Jackie Felix, Lace S, Mariusz Milka, RedShiftMyPants, Rk C, De'Anthony Rhea, Rachel Morse, Maeve O'Meara, Hammer of Dog, Abdulaziz Almehmadi, Keaton Nguyen, Daniel Lehr, Bogumila Kenney, Debra Di Blasi, Leonhard Euler, Eli, JOHN DEMASTRI, svkool, Cheyenne McAdam, Ian Soobrattee, Andy Cheng, Scarlet Matthews, deriven, Elizabeth Brandon, Rachel Hewitt, Wtv, Timothy Dragila, James Mihaychuk, Bermuda Tim, donnie, Erly Thornton, Brandon Harper, Obada Alnajjar, and Thomas M for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If the multiverse exists, where does our universe end and another begin? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice tackle a wide-ranging grab bag of fan questions covering bubble universes, the nature of now, fractals, Hoag's Object, and more.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-light-sails-quantum-scales/Thanks to our Patrons Joan Kirk, Robert Roberts, Mike Holland, Manickore, Zaki Imani, Christopher Johnson, Seb, Annette Hinkle, Bruce Davis, Geoff Hansen, Matthew Binggeli, Michael Greer, steph, Jo, Laurie Rieman, Monneke King, TakeOffYourPantsAndJacket, Catharine Hula, John, Mike, Jordan Jefferson, Bruce, Burç Ayata, Armon Jackson, and Sami Röksä for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why did intelligence evolve in the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore the nature of intelligence, information theory, consciousness, and whether AI is actually intelligent at all with David Krakauer, evolutionary biologist and president of the Santa Fe Institute.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/what-is-intelligence-with-david-krakauer/Thanks to our Patrons Vipin Sharma, Saahith, Matthew Rapp, Billy Durr, Gail Lena Martin, Mads Holm, Mothman’s Coroner, Nicholas Strang, Cirwintech - Christopher M. Irwin, Jacqueline West, Casey Gatti, Clem Carlos Schermann, Samuel Jeffman, John Lasher, Shelley Collett, Aerimis, Anthony Schneider, Lolo, Mark M., kegler718, Hayden Scheibe, J Miller, Mark Ulibarri, Mandy Lauber, John McQuiston, Don, Olivier d'Entremont, Shaun Carter, Andres Chavez, Joshua Perks, JonRueben Bubar, Marlin Mark, Michael Lee, Ash Morris, Nate, Bobby Williams, DeborahD, Ciprian Bobe, David Bailey, Boop Doop, Amirali Rabiee, jessie miller, Liva Apse, Jesse, NATE LUKAS, Chris Archer, Keith H., and Huchel for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why does string theory need ten dimensions? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Jordan Klepper sit down with Lara Anderson, string theorist and associate professor of physics at Virginia Tech, to tackle intersecting dimensions, the nature of gravity, and a unified field theory. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/quantum-anomalies-with-lara-anderson/Thanks to our Patrons Robin Billings, PhD, Christine Sizemore, Aine DeMoss, Crispy Wisp, Branden Rucker, Rowena Smith, Cory Strauss, Aubrey Etheridge, Aldarien, Philip Arno, Daniel, Kendall Rohach, ChiliPepper, Jim Phelan, Lonnie Draper, Ryan Stanley, Ziad Farhat, Idan Cohen Epstein, Marie Lauzon, Eduardo Larranaga, Dr. DJ Kehoe, Mike Greer, Karen Henton, Pixi, Kari, Mandy, That Geezer, Victor T, Susanne Otero, Dingus Fringus, Jean, Barrie Parkman, Nathaniel Naranjo, Agentm0o, Jason Adair, MJ Jamal, Gianna Williams, Philip B Stanley, Sarabjit Singh, Chuck, Antonio Macias, Kevin Sayet, Braden Gibson, Toms Grinbergs, Andrew Brodbeck, Mr. Pinky, Adam Prentice, Rich Wilkinson, Frejya of Fòlkvangr, Eric Spray, Ian Ledington, Ilona Freeman, Tarsha Fewell, and SuperKamiGrayson for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What do we do with all this space junk? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about the stuff we put into orbit with astrodynamicist and space environmentalist, Dr. Moriba Jah. Originally Aired July 5th, 2021.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-space-junk-with-moriba-jah/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.