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The Value of Unexpected Results

2026-01-08 Science & Technology
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StarTalk
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Description

What is the goal of an experiment? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice break down the scientific process and why unexpected results are what make science so fascinating. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Unexpected results 00:21 - The Scientific Process 02:30 - Designing an Experiment: Michelson–Morley 06:11 - Upending Expectations: Accelerating Universe & Number of Galaxies 10:55 - Closing 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)

@jemdreamz 2026-01-08

The dinner I made today had unexpected results.

200 10 replies
@StarTalk 2026-01-08

Have you ever had something go wrong in an experiment, or in life, that actually taught you something unexpected? 💡

77 21 replies
@savetheplantet5799 2026-01-08

I need one of these a day , like a multi vitamin 😊

74
@RobertNicholls-i9k 2026-01-08

So here is a great excuse for being late for a date-"Sorry I'm late. I was measuring the speed of light. There was no variation. So I had to redo it and check the results."

53
@BookBug59 2026-01-08

You know the day is gonna be great when Neil and Chuck pop up on your fyp!

37
@thesoccerarena680 2026-01-09

Thanks Dr. Neil. Thanks Lord Nice for the "Just smart enough" special

22
@CarrieTalksAbout 2026-01-11

Yes, I absolutely agree! I’m not a scientist like you, Dr. Tyson, but I am a scientist of sorts. I am a process improvement engineer, and I apply the scientific method to process improvements. The thing I run into all the time are people who are afraid of metrics because they don’t want to see something unexpected in those metrics. I see corporate professionals, either ignoring data collection or fudging their metrics so that they don’t show up as yellow on a report. How boring is that! I always get so excited when I see a red or a yellow in a metric, that means we are measuring correctly. Nothing is perfect. If it’s always green, you gotta come clean!❤❤

3
@codered93 2026-01-13

With everything going on in the US, I have little to look forward to. This is one of those few things. Thank you Chuck, Neil, and StarTalk crew for keeping me sane.

1
@Jester01 2026-01-17

Guys, we got him! He is a time traveler! 9:30 paper received 1987 August 27. Abstract says "inferred from simulations published [...] in 1988"!

1
@eugenio1203 2026-03-25

The fact that a bunch of squiggly lines on a piece of paper can confirm something like the expansion of the universe is just mind blowing

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