True Crime & Forensic Pathology with Neil deGrasse Tyson

How can you get away with murder? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore forensic pathology, autopsies, and crime scene science with medical examiner and author Jonathan Hayes, featuring an interview with international best-selling crime writer and author of Autopsy, Patricia Cornwell. How do you interpret wounds in a gruesome murder? Why do we need to know exactly how people die? We discover what it’s like working in a morgue, the path to becoming a medical examiner, and how to deal with facing death on a daily basis. Find out CSI’s impact on the field of forensics and some of Jonathan’s experiences in the field. What do crime investigation shows get wrong? Could you do forensic pathology in space? We discuss a scene in Patricia’s new book: What would be different about a crime scene in space? Could space forensics someday become its own specialty? You’ll learn about the science behind how the body decays, rigor mortis, and whether a medical examiner could really commit the perfect murder. How are bodies stored? How long does it take to perform an autopsy? Is there a future for artificial intelligence in forensic pathology? Could robots someday conduct investigations? What would happen if you buried someone on the moon? Would they decompose normally? All that and more on another episode of StarTalk! Thanks to our Patrons Victor Beaton, GamerSaSsS, Heather Rae, Kasheia Williams, Tim Woodward, Charles Anglesey, and Mike Smalling for supporting us this week. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. Get the NEW Cosmic Queries book (5/5 ⭐s on Amazon!): https://amzn.to/3dYIEQF Get A Hard Death by Jonathan Hayes: https://amzn.to/3nluyxG Get Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell: https://amzn.to/3nq4gdI Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: 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! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson 0:00 - Introduction 03:05 - What does a Forensic Pathologist do? 09:49 - How does one maintain their spirits as a Forensic Pathologist? 10:58 - Patricia Cornwell on how to add authenticity to a story 14:10 - Jonathan Hayes on writing from experience 18:14 - Does science fiction help or hurt the field of Astronomy? 18:54 - Television s role in glamorizing the field of Forensics 21:27 - Patricia Cornwell on a space-based crime novel 23:45 - Will the future of Forensics encompass space crime? 27:49 - What is rigor mortis? 31:40 - How bodies are stored 35:22 - What happens to our bodies after we die? 38:11 - Is there such a thing as an undetectable murder? 40:51 - The future of AI in Forensic Pathology 50:09 - Closing Notes