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The StarTalk Team Has More Questions for Neil | Burning Question Pt. 4

2026-03-28 Science & Technology
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T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. https://T-Mobile.com/HomeInternet Are we living inside a computer simulation? Is artificial intelligence truly conscious? And what happens to us when we die? Neil deGrasse Tyson and cohost’s Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly tackle more questions from inside the StarTalk team. How do you weigh a planet? Can you? Neil breaks down why Earth is technically weightless before walking us through how to weigh a heavy truck using nothing but tire pressure and contact surface area. A question about Google's quantum chip sparks a discussion on simulation theory. What signs are there that we could be living in a simulation? Did our cosmic programmers walk away from the experiment and are surprised by what they found? The conversation shifts to AI consciousness: does it matter whether a mind is made of silicon or neurons? Neil invokes the Turing test, Asimov's three laws of robotics, and the philosophical case that behavior is what defines intelligence. The group debates AI in governance, guardrails, and whether a fully rational AI officeholder would actually appeal to voters. A question about education prompts Neil to lay out his vision for schools that teach students how to think rather than what to know. Finally, a deeply personal question about faith, agnosticism, and facing death leads Neil to share his most reflective thoughts: on stardust, non-existence, and what it means that the energy of every life continues cycling through the universe long after we're gone. Thanks to our Patrons Ian, Alexander Kaponen, Natasha Schaal Davis, Paul Guyton, Mike Disher, MsJenniJennJenn, Platte Valley Woodworks, Baimobile, Thayer, Jim Mewborne, Joshua Ely, Robert DeCandido, Joshua Gallatin, Pablo Olivera, J Weaver, Dan Lewis, velda mugerauer, James Zandes, martin simard, Michael Lorenzetti, Carlos Durango, N3TWRK R3AP3R, Ray Miessner, Pendar P Madavi, The Lost Petrol, Jason, Seth Bourne, Matthew Davis, Daniel Magallanes, TheWhizz, Frederick Thomas, Steven Powell, Dejan, Saty, Devon Spiegelberg, Dustin White, Doc Wilky, Rat Root, Marcus Munzlinger, vince, Mystekal, JohnathanE, Jennifer, Zack, Elite, anders gaarder, Gladys Valles, Paul, Akeem Williams, Juan Pablo Acosta, Denis, Mike Hall, Kay CHEEMA, Dr. K, Kevin Runnels, Matthew Landreth, Ian Smith, terry, Kimmy Russell, Autumn Lopez, Daniel Harding, Crystal Ryan, LegallyGoth, Paul, Michael G Shannon, Alex K, yorg Cooper, Jake Atwood, bert kaplan, Cyn, Jason Smith, David Scott, Rajeev Tiwari, Alex P., Wayne, shane sinden, Bob Meyer, Jose Diaz, MuddaFudda, Bryon, James Post, Kari Snyder, ChasingBear, Nathan Lindsey, Kenny, Patrick, Antonio Vargas, Mac G, Pierre Siebentritt, Joe Spraga, Jill DeRose, Peter Tanner, bryan oliver, Jeffrey Comeau, Tom Hyde, Ulanka Beckom, and Mickael Gault for supporting us this week. Timestamps: 00:00 - More Burning Questions 02:15 - How Heavy is Planet Earth? 08:32 - Are We A Civilization That Can Simulate Other Civilizations? 15:51 - AI in Machines vs. Biology 25:39 - Electing AI to Office 28:28 - What Would Neil Change About Education? 36:48 - AI in School 40:38 - ASMR Style 48:12 - How Does Neil Position Himself with Religion? 55:17 - How Do You Approach Dea Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Top Comments (10)

@dontheruler7017 2026-03-28

Im a young black male from south central la, California. I’ve been watching your videos/ shows you’ve been attached to all my life. Thank you for offering a safe place for a person with interests like mine even while living in a dynamic environment that doesn’t “always” produce productive thoughts. I will preach to my kids the echoes of not only Einstein, newton, etc; but also of you

343 46 replies
@debbiecunningham3594 2026-03-28

When I watch your podcasts, I always feel like I'm a better person after watching.

143 6 replies
@tkonzl6059 2026-03-28

Education and curiosity begins at home.

95 1 replies
@two4orty5s 2026-03-28

Dr Neil you are a blessing to mankind. Yous wisdom, your way of thinking, the way you articulate your worlds it’s beyond imagination. Thank you for always teaching us. The end of this episode was soo touching it’s moved my world. Just wow.

73 4 replies
@raymoundcornett5311 2026-03-29

Truck driver here. Long time listener and watcher. Big rig tires are 100 psi for drive tire (rear tires)

61 5 replies
@apexerman1 2026-03-28

I always liked Neil's answer about death. "I shall let the flora and fauna feast upon me as I have feasted on them." 🙂

45 7 replies
@DarcyBarton 2026-03-29

I'm a trucker, all tires are between 110psi and 130psi

36 1 replies
@neoconvampyr 2026-03-28

"Like I told you Franc, some of this stuff is junk!" I spit my drink out. Perfect comedic timing. Just hilarious.

33 1 replies
@OldieBugger 2026-03-28

I remember when I was doing the acceptance test for IT studies, I noticed I had forgotten my calculator home. Rats! For one question I had to remember how to do the long division with pen and paper again. I think it was conversion of decimal numbers from base-10 to base-16 or something. Well, I went and got me a few extra sheets of paper (available on the front desk) and I managed to be the 3rd out of 400+ applicants, so it didn't go all wrong.

18
@beatz45 2026-03-29

The ending was a very profound perception of life and death

15 2 replies

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