The Black Hole Detection Project That Just Got Defunded, with Kelly Holley-Bockelmann

Could LISA detect primordial black holes or gravitational waves from the Big Bang? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice explore LISA and the future of gravitational wave astronomy with astrophysicist Kelly Holley-Bockelmann. Save LISA: https://www.savelisa.org/ How does LISA differ from LIGO? Learn about LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, and how these spacecraft will help us detect gravitational waves from space. Why does it need three spacecraft millions of kilometers apart, linked by laser beams? And how can orbiting cubes of gold and platinum reveal the secrets of colliding black holes? Kelly explains why supermassive black hole mergers are her favorite cosmic events, how LISA could detect EMRIs–tiny black holes orbiting giants–and why the mission’s three-node triangular design matters. We explore the engineering challenges, from solar storms to relativity itself, and why interferometry is one of the most precise measuring tools ever invented. The conversation turns to funding, politics, and why U.S. withdrawal could leave China to take the lead. What technologies might spin off from LISA? Could we one day have GPS, but for the entire solar system? And could LISA finally detect primordial black holes or the faint gravitational hum of the Big Bang itself? Thanks to our Patrons Bobby, Ron Abernethy, yogesh job, Jared Richardson, cgillies87, John .A, Russell Hughes, Andy Revans, Darkeiser, TRacey Rankin, Anna Elliott, Andres Ortiz, Vavilov, Jeremy Nadeau, Mr Wolfgang, NorCalPhys, Advait Aithal, Alii Torres, Cody Pflieger, David Mauricio Perez de la Peña, Tommy Hadden, Kayce Rawlins, Ryan, Brian Hendershot, jenna Mich, smopeh, Boris Bendikov, Eileen, Matt Zullow, James Pickney, Micheal del Campo, Marsya, MomShikib, Syaz S., Jacob Harasymenko, Kevin Ingalls, Tom Reed, Paul S AKA Paul Biberdork, Treven Price, Tatiana, The Eye Child, STEPHEN R SMALL, Jedi_B0mbadil, Milton Flávio S. Teixeira, Davey_D, Mathys Marselis, fungus finder, Micheal French, Ngakora Beal, Mike Schaar-Ney, Robert Lima, Adam Small, Gonzalo Galetto, Nathan, DC, DGS DGS, Don, Mike McClelland, Arthur Pew, Matthew Vierra, Jeppe Fjordside, Sydney Wolf, and Caleb Carter for supporting us this week. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Kelly Holley-Bockelman 05:50 - LIGO vs. LISA 12:13 - Launching LISA 13:10 - Detecting Massive Black Holes, Binaries, & More 18:18 - The LISA Test Masses 23:30 - Correcting for Relativity & Noise 28:21 - Funding 34:03 - Solar System GPS & Lazer Communication 37:49 - US Place in Science 39:05 - Interferometry 42:48 - Building the Spacecraft 47:20 - Primordial Black Holes 51:12 - A Cosmic Perspective 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