Are Aliens Here? Black Holes, Life On Other Planets & Big Bang Theory Myths | Janna Levin

BLACK HOLES, THE BIG BANG & ALIEN LIFE: Astrophysicist Janna Levin Breaks Down the Universe

Ever wondered what existed before the Big Bang? Or why all planets are different, and why Earth is so perfectly suited for life?

In this mind-expanding episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, renowned astrophysicist and author of Black Hole Survival Guide, Janna Levin (Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University), takes us on a cosmic journey through the deepest mysteries of the universe, and how they reflect back on what it means to be human.

From the terrifying truth about black holes to the surprising science behind moons, planets, and even nuclear weapons, we're answering space questions you didn’t even know you had.

Janna Levin breaks down:
- Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About the Big Bang: What came before it, myths, how it created space and time
- What is Time and how do black holes bend it?
- Why planets are round
- What moons really are (and the wild origin of our Moon)
- How stars give birth to planets
- What black holes are, what happens inside, and their role in the fundamentals of physics
- Why some stars become black holes and others don’t
- How Einstein and Oppenheimer cracked the code on black holes and how we observe them today
- What would happen if our Sun became a black hole and could we actually fall into one?
- Spooky effects of black holes on time & space (Could they teach us to age slower?)
- Why there’s likely a black hole at the center of every galaxy
- Why Janna Levin believes we’ll discover alien life within 50 years & what it could look like (it will likely be on moons, not planets!)
- Will our tragic reliance on tech destroy us, or save us?
- Can we make tech more compatible with nature?
- Why advancing tech increases the generational gap
- Why Janna doesn’t believe AI will ever become truly conscious
- Why the universe is considered left-handed
- What would happen if the Sun were knocked out of our system
- Nuclear weapons & how they were invented through studying the Sun
- Parallels between nature and cosmic phenomena across the universe

This episode of MBB is really all about the growing hunger in society to understand the cosmos, and therefore, ourselves. Don’t miss this mind-blowing journey into the heart of space, time, existence, and our place in it all!

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
16:27 - Origin of the Universe
23:10 - Evidence of Universe Expansion
41:13 - How are Planets Formed?
42:40 - Why are Planets Round?
44:28 - Why is Earth So Special?
49:20 - Emergence of Life
52:40 - Will Alien Life Be Discovered in the Next 50 years?
1:09:21 - Black Holes 101
1:21:30 - Observing black holes
1:25:46 - First Image of a Black Hole
1:31:23 - Manhattan Project Overview
1:43:25 - What Happens if We Fall into a Black Hole?
1:51:11 - Black Holes: The Key to Slowing Aging?
1:55:50 - Recent Surprises in Science

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Find Janna Levin:
Substack: https://jannalevin.substack.com/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JannaLevin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JannaLevin

Janna Levin's latest book, Black Hole Survival Guide: https://jannalevin.com/books/black-hole-survival-guide/

If interested in partnerships please contact mbb.sponsor@impacttheory.com

Theme Song Written, Produced, and Performed by Ed Robertson. Mixed by Kenny Luong.

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