Neil deGrasse Tyson Breaks Down the Science in Marvel Movies

Avengers, assemble! We revisit our episode on Avengers: Endgame where Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice answer fan questions about the science of the Marvel Universe. What would happen if half of the life on Earth suddenly disappeared?

Rae Wynn-Grant, Ph.D., conservation scientist and National Geographic Society fellow, joins us to talk about the ecological impact of Thanos’ snap. Learn about resource loads, Earth’s carrying capacity, and the periodic table of fictional elements. Is the vibranium in Black Panther anything like a real element? Why is Neil such a fan of Captain Marvel? We explore quantum tunneling, entanglement, the EPR paradox, and the significance of a Mobius strip. Break down the science and the fiction of the Marvel Universe with us!

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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
0:32 - Scientific Backgrounds of Marvel Characters
1:54 - Periodic Table of Fictional Elements
2:30 - Vibranium
3:58 - What Happens if Half of All Life Disappears?
7:51 - Captain Marvel
8:40 - Quantum Tunneling
11:07 - Mobius Strip
14:01 - Biggest Scientific Inaccuracy
14:28 - Captain America’s Shield
15:23 - Antman & Thanos
15:36 - EPR Paradox
16:41 - Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
17:41 - Groot
18:04 - Closing Notes