Finding Hidden Temples and Lost Nazca Lines with Satellites

Huge thanks to KiwiCo for sponsoring today’s video. Go to https://www.kiwico.com/startalk and use code STARTALK for 50% off your first month of monthly lines. Who really built the pyramids? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice learn about space archaeology, LIDAR, and discovering tombs, pyramids, and new Nazca lines with space archaeologist Sarah Parcak. Discover how archaeologists use space technology to find archaeological sites. Why are we using satellites to see stuff we can go to? We explore LIDAR and using the near-infrared to uncover tombs, pyramids, and more hidden under the rainforest. Find out how anyone can use NASA satellite data to discover archaeological sites. We discuss false positives and the time Sarah almost ignored a strong signature and nearly missed finding a massive Viking hall. Plus, learn about layered cities and how many Egyptian archaeological sites are left to be found. Learn how citizen space archaeologists helped discover new Nazca lines in Peru. Sarah shares her response to people who think the aliens built the pyramids and why you shouldn’t substitute imagination for science. We talk about the possibility of finding fossils on the moon from ejected Earth rock, The Drake Equation, and studying the Space Station. Plus, what is the most common thing archaeologists dig up across all cultures? Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - Sarah Parcak discusses the Cross-Pollination of Archaeology and Space 03:30 - The Role of Statistical, Mechanical, and Electronic Tools 06:00 - Curiosity as the Driving Force Behind Science 09:45 - Exploring the Frontiers from Under the Rock to Outer Space 12:30 - Applying Archaeological Methods to Space Exploration 15:00 - Bridging the Gap Between Different Scientific Disciplines 18:15 - The Cosmic Perspective on Science and Exploration 20:00 - Comparing Techniques in Archaeology and Astronomy 23:00 - Discoveries in Space Inspired by Archaeological Methods 26:00 - Technological Innovations in Both Fields 29:00 - Impact of Cross-Disciplinary Studies on Scientific Progress 32:00 - Personal Anecdotes and Experiences of Sarah Parcak 35:00 - Challenges in Both Archaeology and Space Exploration 38:00 - Future Prospects and Potential Collaborations 41:00 - Preserving Knowledge and Artifacts 44:00 - Audience Questions 47:00 - Final Thoughts on the Intersection of Archaeology and Astronomy 50:00 - Conclusion from Neil deGrasse Tyson and Sarah Parcak 52:55 - Outro and Credits 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