What happens when three black holes collide? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore even more cosmic collisions in space, in the quantum realm, and more!

Do photons experience time? We think about all the unseen photons and the science of lightsabers. Photons can cross but not hit each other? Can you make light interact with itself? We discuss: Could there be a time particle? What’s the smallest unit of space? Learn about the quantum field: Could dropping the temperature slow a radioactive element’s half-life? Could you keep food in the freezer forever?

Could the moons of outer planets have been born from inner rocky planets that were ejected? What should qualify as a moon? We know what the collision of two black holes is like, what about three? Find out the history of Albert Einstein, gravitational waves, and lasers. How frequently do black holes collide?

Could you join two bodies of ice together in a collision? Do any of these space collisions show light when they happen? Discover the electromagnetic spectrum, sonic booms, and the science behind why diamonds sparkle. All that, plus, are atoms actually just tiny solar systems?

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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!

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0:00 - Introduction
1:43 - Is a Photon Deterministic?
7:45 - Neil & Brian Cox’s Twitter Feud
9:35 - Is Dark Matter a Time Particle?
15:00 - Radioactive Elements & Half-Lives
22:34 - How Moons Are Formed
28:38 - Black Hole Collisions
34:22 - Brain Games: On The Road
34:47 - Can Ice Merge By Colliding?
37:47 - Do Collisions Emit Light?
43:51 - Can An Impact Create Particles?
46:06 - Closing Notes