THE STARTALKER, ISSUE 49 NEWSLETTER

Issue 49, October 3, 2013 This Week's New Podcast The Joe Rogan Experience  October 6, 2013, 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT We’re not going to get political here. But we did want to recognize NASA’s birthday 55 years ago, on October 1, 1958. And for those of you concerned that the government shutdown will result in satellites falling from the sky, astronauts dying from neglect, and space telescopes spinning wildly, no longer under the control of their earthbound masters, never fear. Apparently, NASA submitted a plan for the shutdown to the Office of Management and Budget, but, unfortunately, that plan is hosted on NASA’s website, which we can’t access because the site is down. Read more. Photo Credit: ©2009 Joshua Heges. All rights reserved. Catch Up on Last Week's Podcast Cosmic Queries: Human Endurance in Space  September 29, 2013 What challenges await humanity on our journey into space, and will we be up to the task? Find out when Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice discuss why pressurized suits are required for spacewalks, how the Sun’s ionizing radiation can harm humans, and other dangers of space exploration. Find out about colonizing Mars, from food being developed by NASA to the Mars One project. Learn about conditions on Mars that allow water to simultaneously coexist as a liquid, a solid and a gas. Neil and Chuck also speculate on sports in space, and for Harry Potter fans, how zero gravity will impact Quidditch,  brooms, and the Golden Snitch. Listen now. Photo Credit: NASA. Best of the Blog Happy 55th Birthday, NASA –Surprise!  Posted October 1, 2013 We’re not going to get political here. But we did want to recognize NASA’s birthday 55 years ago, on October 1, 1958. And for those of you concerned that the government shutdown will result in satellites falling from the sky, astronauts dying from neglect, and space telescopes spinning wildly, no longer under the control of their earthbound masters, never fear. Apparently, NASA submitted a plan for the shutdown to the Office of Management and Budget, but, unfortunately, that plan is hosted on NASA’s website, which we can’t access because the site is down. Read more. Have You Seen Our New "Behind the Scenes" Video? Neil deGrasse Tyson on Corrupt Politicians and Black Holes When a fan asks Neil deGrasse Tyson for coordinates and a precise trajectory to launch corrupt politicians into the nearest black hole, Neil and Eugene Mirman discuss whether the problem is scientifically illiterate politicians or the people who voted for them. Watch now. Don't miss any of our StarTalk Radio videos on YouTube. Subscribe to the StarTalk Radio YouTube Channel.

THE STARTALKER NEWSLETTER, ISSUE 40, JULY 26, 2013

Issue 40, July 26, 2013 This Week's New Podcast The Science of Hip Hop with GZA (Part 2) July 28, 2013, 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT The role of science in hip hop culture is the theme that runs through Part 2 of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s interview with rapper GZA. There’s a spirited discussion between Prof. Chris Emdin, Neil, and Chuck Nice about the distinction between real science and pseudo-science, the importance of a creative approach to learning, and the drawbacks of the “banking model” of education. GZA raps about his early days, and schools Neil about the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan, the golden age of MCs, and the lack of lyrical creativity among current rap artists. The Science of Hip Hop with GZA concludes on our website and iTunes this Sunday, July 28th at 7:00pm ET. (Note: Portions of this podcast appeared previously in a StarTalk Radio video on The Nerdist.) Photo Courtesy of RapGenius.com. Catch Up on Last Week's Podcast The Science of Hip Hop with GZA (Part 1) July 21, 2013 If you think rap music is just about violence, then you’re about to have your expectations shattered. Columbia Asst. Professor of Science Education and hip hop culture expert Dr. Christopher Emdin joins Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice to explain how he uses rap to teach inner city youth about science. But the soul of the episode comes from Neil’s interview with rapper GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. They explore science as a creative muse, and GZA talks about the difference between how he thinks of his music and how fans relate to albums like Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). GZA talks about growing up in the hood and how violence is sometimes a choice. Part 1 ends with Neil and GZA spitting a cosmic verse together, leaving us hanging for Part 2 next week. Listen now. (Note: Portions of this podcast appeared previously in a StarTalk Radio video on The Nerdist.) Photo Credit: © 2012 David Gamble. Best of the Blog Ever Dream of Going into Space? Jim Clash Has a Ticket on SpaceShipTwo Posted July 24, 2013 Most everyone has dreamed of going to space at least once, wondering what it would be like to blast through Earth’s atmosphere, weightlessly peering at our planet from above. I know I have… The company closest to liftoff is Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Airways (Galactic tickets sell for $250,000). A few months ago, Galactic completed its first rocket-powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo. Rumor has it that the first commercial flight may go as early as Dec. 25, 2013, with Sir Richard as one of its passengers. I recently sat down with my friend Jim Clash, Galactic ticket holder #610, to chat about his upcoming trip. Clash, a fellow and director at The Explorers Club, is a seasoned adventurer who began his undergraduate studies as a physics major. Read more. Photo Credit: Space Adventures. Have You Seen Our New "Behind the Scenes" Video? Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Rogue Stars Could solar systems form in the intergalactic medium, and could they have planets with intelligent life? To answer this Cosmic Query, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how rogue stars form to comic co-host Chuck Nice. Learn all about “homeless, galactic stars” and why it’s so hard for us to discover them. Watch now. Don't miss any of our StarTalk Radio videos on YouTube. Subscribe to the StarTalk Radio YouTube Channel. Keep in touch Facebook Twitter YouTube Google + Pinterest Homepage  iTunes Shows (RSS) Blog (RSS) Subscribe to The StarTalker - click here!  Join Our Cosmic Community! If you represent an academic or scientific organization that would like to join our Cosmic Community, just click on the following link to complete and submit a short application form and we'll be in touch. Cosmic Community Sign-Up Become a StarTalk Satellite! Add the StarTalk Radio widget to your website or blog and let your friends listen to the show right from your site. Get the widget now. StarTalk Radio is now accepting corporate sponsors. If your company shares our mission and would like to support StarTalk Radio, please email: Laura Berland The StarTalk Team StarTalkTeam@startalkradio.net www.startalkradio.net Hear us on iTunes Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Forward To a Friend. Share this content