Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains The Three-Body Problem

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Published 2024-04-16
What is the three body problem? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice break down why the three body problem is unsolvable and what makes it mathematically chaotic.

Is the solar system unstable? Find out about Isaac Newton’s worries about the solar system, Pierre-Simon Laplace’s calculus, and perturbation theory. Would a binary star system be chaotic? What about a star system with three suns? Four suns? Five? Learn about the restricted three body problem and how the Jupiter-Earth-Sun system could be chaotic down the line.

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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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00:00 - Introduction: The Three-Body Problem
00:31 - The Chaos in Our Solar System
3:29 - Laplace & A New Branch of Calculus
6:21 - Orbiting Two & Three Suns
8:45 - The Restricted Three-Body Problem
10:09 - Chaotic Systems

All Comments (21)
  • @StarTalk
    Are you watching “3 Body Problem” on Netflix?
  • @RelativelyBest
    I had a three body problem once. Luckily, I know people who discreetly take care of that sort of thing.
  • @WordToMomsYo
    I love that these two are still doing their thing, and I hope we get to continue watching them educate and entertain the both young and young at heart for many years to come.
  • @clagen7027
    Thanks so much for this vulgarisation. It really is great to make these issues understandable for people like me (who suck at Maths and the Hard Sciences). You are a great educator.
  • Goes perfectly with the saying, "Two's company, three's a crowd".
  • @moonchile245
    "where is your gravitational allegiance?" with no context is my new fav question to ask people
  • @eolsson
    Question for Chuck: Do you get a backgrounder first on anything discussed on StarTalk, or do you approach each topic cold like most of the audience does? Really enjoyed this one!
  • @raphlin7
    Isaac Newton solved it in a cave! With a box of apples!
  • @Masebook
    Chuck is me in my high school science classes: “right, right, uh huh, it’s the… got it yeah because of the thing — right, okay…. Ahhhh….”
  • I found Neil DeGrasse Tyson in a speaking event streamed on YouTube last year, and then seen him appear in another guest speaking somewhere else (I cannot remember the location, I just remembered the feeling I had when he spoke). Each time I thought he was clever, charismatic, and made things easier to understand when it comes to astrophysics. I'm not anywhere near as smart as most who've commented, but I do have a little more knowledge than I would had I not found this channel.
  • Watch 3 Body Problem!!! SUCH an awesome sci-fi story!!! The first season barely even scratches the surface!
  • @PhaseControlDNB
    I love it how Chuck sometimes says "Gotcha" but his face tells you "I don't get it" 😃
  • @spidalack
    "i had no need of that hypothesis" Still one of the best burns in history.
  • @D_isco_D_ancer
    Ive seen this video like ten times. I understand it the first but NDT and his pal are so compelling and entertaining that I can watched it multiple times and not be bored.
  • @adarsh4764
    Restricted 3 body problem happens in the Triple star system of Centauri. Alpha Centauri A, B and proxima centauri.
  • All I heard in my head was Christofer Walken saying, “I need more calculus.” 😂😂
  • @JustXavier
    "I'm in love with two stars and I don't know what to do. Which way do I turn?" 😂😂😂😂😂😂
  • @Trakester3
    I do like the conversations these guys have.