Is the Force real? From hyperspace to parsecs, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joins us to discuss the science of Star Wars.

Unobtainium Podcast

In this episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam and Amy sit down with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to unpack the science and mythology of Star Wars. Together, they explore whether the Force resembles anything in real-world physics, from gravity and electromagnetism to quantum mechanics and multiple dimensions. The conversation dives into hyperspace travel, wormholes, faster-than-light storytelling shortcuts, and the infamous“12 parsecs” controversy, while also examining why Star Wars resonates so deeply on a human level. Along the way, they discuss the Star Wars canon, good versus evil, selflessness versus selfishness, the psychology of belief, and why the Force endures as a timeless metaphor for power, destiny, and transformation. Funny, philosophical, and deeply nerdy, the episode explores why Star Wars continues to shape modern culture nearly 50 years after its release. Follow Unobtainium Podcast!   Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod   Stay connected:  Instagram: @unobtainiumpod  TikTok: @unobtainiumpod  Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social  X: @unobtainiumpod   For Neil deGrasse Tyson:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neildegrassetyson  Youtube: https://youtube.com/@startalk  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neildegrassetyson?_r=1&_t=ZT-9736KZJtaIA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode of Unobtainium Podcast, hosts Adam and Amy sit down with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to unpack the science and mythology of Star Wars. Together, they explore whether the Force resembles anything in real-world physics, from gravity and electromagnetism to quantum mechanics and multiple dimensions. The conversation dives into hyperspace travel, wormholes, faster-than-light storytelling shortcuts, and the infamous“12 parsecs” controversy, while also examining why Star Wars resonates so deeply on a human level. Along the way, they discuss the Star Wars canon, good versus evil, selflessness versus selfishness, the psychology of belief, and why the Force endures as a timeless metaphor for power, destiny, and transformation. Funny, philosophical, and deeply nerdy, the episode explores why Star Wars continues to shape modern culture nearly 50 years after its release. Follow Unobtainium Podcast!   Website: unobtainiumpodcast.com Watch full episodes on https://www.youtube.com/@unobtainiumpod   Stay connected:  Instagram: @unobtainiumpod  TikTok: @unobtainiumpod  Bluesky: @unobtainiumpod.bsky.social  X: @unobtainiumpod   For Neil deGrasse Tyson:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neildegrassetyson  Youtube: https://youtube.com/@startalk  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neildegrassetyson?_r=1&_t=ZT-9736KZJtaIA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2026-06-09 33 min
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