#201 – Konstantin Batygin: Planet 9 and the Edge of Our Solar System

About this episode

<p>Konstantin Batygin is a planetary astrophysicist at Caltech. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:<br /> &#8211; <b>Squarespace</b>: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/squarespace">https://lexfridman.com/squarespace</a> and use code LEX to get 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>Literati</b>: <a href="https://literati.com/lex">https://literati.com/lex</a><br /> &#8211; <b>Onnit</b>: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/onnit">https://lexfridman.com/onnit</a> to get up to 10% off<br /> &#8211; <b>National Instruments (NI)</b>: <a href="https://www.ni.com/perspectives">https://www.ni.com/perspectives</a></p> <p><b>EPISODE LINKS:</b><br /> Konstantin&#8217;s Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kbatygin">https://twitter.com/kbatygin</a><br /> Konstantin&#8217;s Website <a href="https://www.konstantinbatygin.com/">https://www.konstantinbatygin.com/</a></p> <p><b>PODCAST INFO:</b><br /> Podcast website: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast</a><br /> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr</a><br /> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8</a><br /> RSS: <a href="https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/</a><br /> YouTube Full Episodes: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexfridman">https://youtube.com/lexfridman</a><br /> YouTube Clips: <a href="https://youtube.com/lexclips">https://youtube.com/lexclips</a></p> <p><b>SUPPORT &#38; CONNECT:</b><br /> &#8211; Check out the sponsors above, it&#8217;s the best way to support this podcast<br /> &#8211; Support on Patreon: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman">https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/lexfridman">https://twitter.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman">https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman">https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman</a><br /> &#8211; Medium: <a href="https://medium.com/@lexfridman">https://medium.com/@lexfridman</a></p> <p><b>OUTLINE:</b><br /> Here&#8217;s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.<br /> (00:00) &#8211; Introduction<br /> (07:17) &#8211; Overview of our Solar System<br /> (22:14) &#8211; What is the Oort Cloud?<br /> (27:10) &#8211; Life in the interstellar medium<br /> (28:42) &#8211; Are there aliens out there?<br /> (31:22) &#8211; How unique is Earth?<br /> (34:02) &#8211; Did Jupiter destroy early planets?<br /> (40:16) &#8211; How hard is it to simulate the Universe?<br /> (44:49) &#8211; Quantum mechanics in evolution of objects in the Solar system<br /> (49:15) &#8211; Simulating the first formations around the Sun<br /> (55:02) &#8211; Will it be possible to simulate the full history of the Solar System?<br /> (57:23) &#8211; How far should we go with the simulation?<br /> (59:43) &#8211; Increasing immersion in video games<br /> (1:06:09) &#8211; What is Planet Nine?<br /> (1:12:37) &#8211; The origin of life<br /> (1:15:02) &#8211; Evidence of Planet Nine<br /> (1:17:32) &#8211; Discovery of Neptune<br /> (1:18:42) &#8211; When will we find Planet Nine?<br /> (1:21:21) &#8211; Planet Nine throws rocks into the Kuiper Belt<br /> (1:25:15) &#8211; Could Planet Nine be a primordial black hole?<br /> (1:35:20) &#8211; Commercial space revolution boosts science and the human condition<br /> (1:42:46) &#8211; Solving sex in space<br /> (1:43:24) &#8211; Would humans evolve if we couldn&#8217;t see the stars?<br /> (1:49:08) &#8211; Military funding and science<br /> (1:53:11) &#8211; Is Oumuamua space junk from a distant alien civilization?<br /> (2:06:33) &#8211; Wild ideas create the future<br /> (2:14:22) &#8211; The perfect place to die<br /> (2:16:03) &#8211; Greatest song of all time<br /> (2:22:34) &#8211; Music enables science for Konstantin<br /> (2:24:51) &#8211; Music practice tips for busy people<br /> (2:28:41) &#8211; Memories of 1990s Russia<br /> (2:35:14) &#8211; Advice for young people<br /> (2:41:10) &#8211; Meaning of life</p>