Things You Thought You Knew - Stars, Speed, and Energy in the Sun

How is energy different from matter? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice breakdown what energy is and where it comes from, ancient theories about sight, and how wheels keep us moving. Explore physics, thermodynamics, and more! What is energy? How did the idea of energy come to be? Learn about how early scientists thought about energy, kinetic versus potential energy, and how energy gets released. We discuss energy in food, fuel, bombs, and the sun. It is energy that built civilization, but will it also destroy it? How did Greek mythology influence the stars? We explore the myth of Medusa and what it shows about ancient theories about sight. Learn about discovering the mechanism of sight in the golden age of Islam. Are there other examples of misconceptions about sight in mythology? We explore the constellation of Perseus, the head of Medusa, and the variable star that is her eye. What part of a moving train is going backward while the train is going forwards? We delve into the physics of wheels and how they move us. Did you know that when you’re driving there is a part of your car that’s going 0 mph? Find out the physics that’s happening in your wheels. What part of the car is going twice the speed? Learn how the wheels of trains and different wheel shapes. Is there only one usable shape for a wheel? Thanks to our Patrons Matt Smith, Matthew Tolbert, benjamin flanders, Nick Davis, Joseph, and Hemant Sudiwala for supporting us this week. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. 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 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - What Part of a Car is Going Zero Miles Per Hour? 3:41 - The Speed of the Wheels 7:56 - Tricking a Radar Gun 10:24 - Different Shaped Wheel 13:00 - Discovering Energy 15:58 - Potential Energy 18:05 - Heat, Friction, & Converting Energy 19:40 - How Do You Get Energy From a Molecule? 21:48 - Chemical & Nuclear Energy 22:46 - Using and Storing Our Energy 25:20 - Solar Energy 27:56 - Algol & The Myth of Medusa 31:20 - Ancient Misconceptions 35:28 - Making Sense of Our World