top 200 commentsshow 500

[–]josephpalbanese 505 points506 points ago

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If you could have anyone else's job whose would it be and why?

P.S. Just bought Space Chronicles!

[–]neiltyson[S] 1024 points1025 points ago

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The astronaut selected to take the first steps on Mars.

And thanks for getting Space Chronicles. It's here if anybody else is interested:

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/buy/books/space-chronicles

[–]facelessviking 114 points115 points ago

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Good guy Neil. Doesn´t bring up his new product until someone else does.

[–]roflolcopter 1551 points1552 points ago

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Who do you look up to most?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2351 points2352 points ago

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My parents. Married 60 years. Rational. Curious. Considerate. Sensible. Moral.

[–]Baemon 1469 points1470 points ago

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What grinds your gears?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2743 points2744 points ago

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Watching and listening to people in power who believe they know what they are talking about but do not.

[–]RagingRugburn 1399 points1400 points ago

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Reddit loves you a lot by the way.

[–]Cat_Fish 842 points843 points ago

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I LOVE HIM MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

[–]lyinsteve 541 points542 points ago

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In how long, and by what means, will humanity reach Type 1 status?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1035 points1036 points ago

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You mean a type 1 Civilization, I presume? I'd give us another century. We already control rivers and coastlines. That's a start on our way to a thorough program of geo-engineering, where we tap the thermal energy of volcanoes and exploit the cyclonic energy of hurricanes, and extract the tensile energy of earthquakes.

[–]MyNewAlias86 773 points774 points ago

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For those unaware about civilization types, I'll leave this here.

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=5570

[–]xandrin 282 points283 points ago

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does anyone else get slightly saddened when they realize they won't live long enough to see any of these great parts of history

[–]DiabloConQueso 94 points95 points ago

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...all the while ignoring the great parts of history (miniaturization of microprocessors, beginnings of space exploration, etc.) that we HAVE lived through.

"I got the complete XBox 360 collection for Christmas, but I'm more sad that I didn't get a new pair of toenail clippers."

[–]thrilldigger 88 points89 points ago

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Louis CK spoke to that very well. "Everything is amazing right now, and nobody's happy."

[–]ishallsmitethee 1484 points1485 points ago

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Of all the talk shows you have been on, which host do you enjoy the most?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2210 points2211 points ago

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In order: Stewart, Colbert, Maher, Fallon, Smiley, Maddow, Leno, O'Brien. Of those, Colbert is by far the hardest interview. Stewart is a distant second. And everyone else is a distant third.

[–]swaaanson 924 points925 points ago

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You were fantastic on the Daily Show this week.

[–]wra1th42 825 points826 points ago

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"btw your globe is spinning the wrong way." lololololol

[–][deleted] 418 points419 points ago

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Yeah, I lost it when Stewart realized all at once what you said, and threw his hands up in frustration. It's like he thought for a second "Could he be wrong, no, dammit, he's Neil DeGrasse Tyson"..

It'll be funny to see if they actually fix the intro now.

[–]HomelessCosmonaut 1857 points1858 points ago

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I hope this ends up on Colbert with Stephen completely devastated that Tyson likes Stewart better.

[–]am4zon 1484 points1485 points ago

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Colbert will seize instead on the fact Tyson said Colbert was the hardest interview. "He's just intimidated by me. Jon is a pushover."

I can see it now. God I love that man. Smart and sexy. Just like AMERICA. Also, the most relevant political actor on the field for my generation, as far as the 4th estate is concerned. In the genre of Carlin, I think he must make the federal government and its more corrupt agents very uncomfortable. Colbert is scary somebitch. Ask Karl Rove. o.o

[–]irrelephantusrname 1377 points1378 points ago

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Nice try, Stephen Colbert.

[–]richdoe 392 points393 points ago

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I totally read that quote in Colbert's voice.

[–]CaptainSpauIding 1352 points1353 points ago

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"Leno, O'Brien." Ouch.

[–]NotSoFatThrowAway 1515 points1516 points ago

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Even if he moved O'Brien ahead at this point, Leno would just take the spot back..

[–]parkernorwood 224 points225 points ago

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Poor Conan. I thought you two would've gotten along swimmingly. Or at least better than Leno.

[–][deleted] 519 points520 points ago

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What exactly is hard about Colbert's interview? What makes an interview hard to you?

[–]Dr-Mantis-Tobias 1260 points1261 points ago

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Poignant question from LickMyAsshole

[–]NovaMouser 428 points429 points ago

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It is times like this that makes me wonder if people regret their reddit names.

[–]JIGGER_MY_DIGGER 975 points976 points ago

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YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR REDDIT NAME

NO MATTER WHAT

[–]TheOneWhoQuestions 785 points786 points ago

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Should we?

[–]Khoops66 157 points158 points ago

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Character I'm assuming. Watch previous interviews he's had, Colbert comes from all angles with his questions.

[–]jusksmit 194 points195 points ago

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Yeah, I always feel like people walk into those interviews totally blind, and he knows exactly how to make even the most sensible person sound like an idiot without blowing his own character. Hilarious to watch, but I'm sure it's nerve-wracking to participate in. :P

[–]x2501x 135 points136 points ago

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Colbert is going to see this, and he's going to brag about it on his show.

[–]connorcorn 92 points93 points ago

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But Neil, you handle Colbert magnificently each and every time you're on.

[–]ParthVader 837 points838 points ago

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What's the best way to introduce someone to the beauty of science without scaring them too much? Thank you sir and please continue to be awesome!

[–]neiltyson[S] 1635 points1636 points ago

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Take them to a planetarium show.

[–]EphemeralStyle 884 points885 points ago

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Dr. Tyson, my mom just made spaghetti. Can you come over and convince my parents that going to the planetarium can be fun for them? In exchange, delicious home-made spaghetti.

[–]Bryan__ 1040 points1041 points ago

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Hi Neil,

What policy changes would you like to see the Obama administration make right now to help promote science learning in American schools?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2409 points2410 points ago

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Fully funded mission to multiple destinations in space. Which reminds me:

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea..." - Antoine de Saint Exupery

[–]Rape_Stink 1484 points1485 points ago

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And so, Neil deGrasse Tyson updates thousands of Facebook statuses.

[–]SlickNick 207 points208 points ago

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I will gladly take Facebook being full of NDT statuses over the Drake lyrics and relationship drama I see now.

[–]nathanfr 794 points795 points ago

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Read this in the voice of Leonard Nemoy after researching a technology in Civilization IV.

[–]UnnamedPlayer 299 points300 points ago

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And now my weekend will disappear without getting any work done.

[–]Randy_Manimal 161 points162 points ago

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It's thursday.

[–]abilionftw23 368 points369 points ago

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Exactly.

[–]chareth_cutestory66 746 points747 points ago

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Who is your favorite Street Shark?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1276 points1277 points ago

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Would have to be Ripster

[–]WhirledWorld 390 points391 points ago

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Jawesome.

[–]MiloMuggins 141 points142 points ago

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The safe answer.

[–]i_is_squeegee 1022 points1023 points ago

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How is progress on the next Cosmos series coming along, and when do you think it will air?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1387 points1388 points ago

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Scripting is a bit delayed - about 6 months. if that affects everything else in the accordion, then it won't air before the fall of 2013, perhaps as late as early spring, 2014.

[–]MiloMuggins 1111 points1112 points ago

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We're counting on you. Carl Sagan can't be the reddit Jesus forever.

[–]ZombieGadaffi 1536 points1537 points ago

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Yes he can. Shut up.

[–]bsparks 881 points882 points ago

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Thanks for doing another one of these!

I was wondering, what are your thoughts of your ever growing internet popularity? Your stance on the leap second?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1772 points1773 points ago

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With "popularity" comes ever more responsibility and accountability. Sometimes I regret my lost freedom to just act stupid every now and then.

Gotta love leap seconds. Evidence that the rotation rate of Earth is slowing down. They're fun and intriguing, but pointless on that scale. We should just collect an hour's worth of them (every 500 years, or so) and just add the hour. It's simpler and puts less stress on programmers.

We've got one coming this June 30. I'll be tweeting about it. So stay tuned.

[–]crossfire87 645 points646 points ago

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As a programmer, I approve this message!

[–]prezjordan 587 points588 points ago

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Hi Neil! Thanks for doing this again!

Not-so-serious question: Do you need/want an intern?

Serious question: What's the best decision you've ever made?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1204 points1205 points ago

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I am currently internless. What I currently do does not make good use of one.

Best decision I ever made? To be true to my lifelong interests even in the face of naysayers who are always there to tell you what you cannot or will not achieve.

[–]dwaxe 1779 points1780 points ago

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So what you're saying is I should keep on applying to be your intern?

[–]zzyzxeyz 289 points290 points ago

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The best possible response.

[–]semiotic 282 points283 points ago

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Do you have any advice for someone heading to Graduate school in September?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1121 points1122 points ago

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Answers are a luxury enjoyed only every now and then. So early on, learn to love the questions themselves.

[–]Breadness 1266 points1267 points ago

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If you could live in any sci-fi universe, which would you pick and why?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2605 points2606 points ago

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StarTrek. For the warp drives. And the story lines were often deep, and rich in social consciosness and accountability. I was also impressed that Captain Kirk could have sex with aliens.

[–]Semen-Thrower 1709 points1710 points ago

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We share something, Neil.

[–]stevedaws 1582 points1583 points ago

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Judging by your name, it just might be the only thing.

[–]smibly 1737 points1738 points ago*

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Three questions

1) did you ever struggle with your classes in college, grad school, etc. or did it all come easy to you and you just had to do the work?

2) Do you still have time to do any actual work in physics or do you mainly work as a spokesman for the sciences now?

3) How do you hold your life together with how busy you must be as a celebrity?

[–]texanwill 331 points332 points ago

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He left The University of Texas PHD program before going on to Columbia. But then again, it might have been the chops: http://alcalde.texasexes.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SteveJackieNeil1980-Crop1.jpg

Original article: http://alcalde.texasexes.org/2012/02/star-power/

[–]seanl2012 206 points207 points ago

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Sort of an offshoot of # 1:

Have you ever failed miserably at something that was extremely important to you? If the answer is yes, what was it and how did you get over it?

[–]quippe 747 points748 points ago

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Anything in biology/life sciences that really impresses you/blows your mind?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1866 points1867 points ago

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That within one linear centimeter of your lower colon there lives and works more bacteria (about 100 billion) than all humans who have ever been born. Yet many people continue to assert that it is we who are in charge of the world.

[–]LOLERCAPS 1212 points1213 points ago

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I'd call that a fair assertion. My colon bacteria outnumber me 100 billion to 1, yet I'm not the one living in a colon.

[–]fatfrost 194 points195 points ago

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"I'm not, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, the one living in a colon."

And they probably don't know it either. Also, it might be nice down there. The universe holds many mysteries.

[–]Igortastic 114 points115 points ago

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Clearly you're not living in Albany, Western Australia.

[–]astrobeen 180 points181 points ago

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Check... and mate.

[–]guitard00d123 748 points749 points ago

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How do you think we can encourage politicians to support education and science initiatives?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1597 points1598 points ago

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Threaten to no re-elect them. That works every time.

[–]Fissioninferno 1055 points1056 points ago

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Do any political candidates in the US (not just the presidency but as a whole) put enough effort into promoting science and, if so, can you name a few?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1937 points1938 points ago

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Rush Holt. Representative from NJ. He's got a PhD in Physics. I have an interview in queue with him for StarTalk radio. Will likely air in march or April. In it we talk about all the Members of Congress who are scientifically literate -- and all those who are not.

[–]TubbyCustard 2285 points2286 points ago

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Rush Holt!

[–]LOLERCAPS 1435 points1436 points ago

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Maeby a little too subtle.

[–][deleted] 704 points705 points ago

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Babysit me!

[–]foo1219 537 points538 points ago

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What's the status on the James Webb Telescope?

[–]neiltyson[S] 961 points962 points ago

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Currently funded at its higher (over-run) cost, but that did not happen without casualties in the NASA budget for other projects. A bitter sweet victory for a telescope that was almost cancelled.

[–]AtomShell 297 points298 points ago

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It'd probably be better to have funded it through kickstarter.

[–]hollaback_girl 56 points57 points ago

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Would it help if I got out and pushed?

[–]8gigcheckbook 531 points532 points ago

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Given a nation behind the effort, how soon do you think we as a people could colonize another solar system?

I understand there are a lot of unknowns, not least of which "where", but I'm curious as to your thoughts.

[–]neiltyson[S] 1201 points1202 points ago

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Without an new understanding of the fabric of the space-time continuum, enabling wormhole travel, the answer is never.

[–]albinobluesheep 730 points731 points ago

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All my dreams, crushed, with one bolded word.

TO THE STARGATE

[–]Chiponyasu 916 points917 points ago

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If a scientific genie offered to correctly answer any three mathematical questions, what three would you ask and why?

[–]darwin2500 37 points38 points ago

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This depends a lot on whether the genie supplies proofs or just answers.

[–]yourflysopen 2263 points2264 points ago

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What can you tell a young man looking for motivation in life itself?

[–]neiltyson[S] 4256 points4257 points ago*

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The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.

For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And along the way, lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.

[–]L_Ront 1117 points1118 points ago

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I like that everything he says can be prefaced with "...a great man once said."

[–]mistermoo33 756 points757 points ago

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I think the ellipsis would go on the other side.

[–]L_Ront 241 points242 points ago

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I think you're right.

[–]whitesummerside 1652 points1653 points ago

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Well now I'm feeling much more motivated than I was this morning. Thanks Dr. Tyson.

[–]cluelesspuma 155 points156 points ago

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As a young person who has been going through a lot recently, Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.

[–]drgath 349 points350 points ago

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Better phrased: "Hey Neil, what is the meaning of life?"

[–]ProfGuava 602 points603 points ago

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First off, hello! I love your work, you fantastic man!

Second, what advice do you have for highschool students who are aspiring scientists?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1548 points1549 points ago

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Hang out with others who are also aspiring scientists. That way the huge supply of interstitial time in your life is spent not on watching American Idol, but on geeking out on things like memorizing digits of Pi, or testing each other on obscure science trivia. The most successful people in life are those who recover all those lost hours per day and use them for enlightenment.

[–]MCHammersPants 1214 points1215 points ago

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If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.

[–]DivinelyFlawed 164 points165 points ago

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Unless you're teaching.

[–]bapzannigan 41 points42 points ago

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plenty of teachers hope they arent the smartest person in the room (at least the best ones do)

[–]TheAethereal 18 points19 points ago

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Also...

"If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people. And if you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you." - Aaron Sorkin

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]nomsville 208 points209 points ago

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Nice try Cerberus.

[–]Glonn 1522 points1523 points ago

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You sent me this when I emailed you and would like to say your advice is something I like to keep in mind now.

[–]OneRobotMotherfucker 551 points552 points ago

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that's a seriously awesome email response.

[–]criticalhit 638 points639 points ago

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where were you when you heard about the large magellanic cloud supernova in 1987?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1117 points1118 points ago

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University of Maryland, College Park. A lecturer in the Department of Astronomy there. A non memorable moment for people of the Earth since it was visible primarily from the Southern Hemisphere.

[–][deleted] 1195 points1196 points ago

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Australians win again.

[–]ctwombat 524 points525 points ago

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You are such an inspiring speaker. I just saw you on the daily show from Monday night.

How did you become such a powerful orator?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1376 points1377 points ago

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Thanks for the compliment. I pay close attention to the body language of who I am communicating with. While I am speaking, are they bored? excited? indifferent? curious? If you don't take notice of all this then you are just lecturing. If and when you do, then you are empowered to discover the conduits of contact that can maximize the value and meaning of what you are saying to others.

[–]js3ph 277 points278 points ago

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TIL how to talk.

[–]dwaxe 50 points51 points ago

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This piece of advice works for any conversation you will ever have. Thank you so.

[–]IMakeHumanCentipedes 68 points69 points ago

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You could describe an apple and I would learn forty different things I hadn't considered.

[–]MeaneBroGreene 1188 points1189 points ago

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what can I do, as a citizen and college student, to help push for a stronger space program?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1566 points1567 points ago

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Write letters to the editor and OpEds. The easiest way for broad audiences to learn about, and if well-argued, agree with your sentiments on any subject at all.

[–]TheBetterOP 1149 points1150 points ago

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Push with your legs, not your back.

[–]clayvn 409 points410 points ago

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What is your stance on Japan's idea of building a space elevator?

[–]scientist_shmientist 747 points748 points ago

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Do you read sci-fi? If so, who is your favorite author, and what's your favorite series?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1479 points1480 points ago

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No, not generally. But I love expensive SciFi movies. Contact. Deep Impact, 2001: A space Odyssey. I prefer science fiction to science fantasy. Hence my preference of Star Trek over Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

[–]StupidButSerious 286 points287 points ago

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How about Stargate?

[–][deleted] 1204 points1205 points ago

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He was an actor in Stargate, so I think that already answers the question...

He also played himself to be a douchebag.

[–]Bovice1 287 points288 points ago

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That was awesome

[–]Novo_Scotia 75 points76 points ago

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my favorite episode of stargate ever.

"Way to make all the little kids cry, Neil."

[–]eMan117 113 points114 points ago

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Dat Jewel Staite.

sigh.

[–]dogsarefun 84 points85 points ago

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Bill Nye kicked ass in that.

[–]St-Moustache 118 points119 points ago

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Stargate -> alright Bill Nye -> cool NdGT -> awesome JEWEL STAITE -> head explodes for too much awesome

[–]chobit 176 points177 points ago

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I hope he likes it, considering he was on Atlantis once.

[–]Projectile_Muffin 114 points115 points ago

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[–]jconnormcl 1387 points1388 points ago

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Twitter verified

Again, so that Neil doesn't have to be a meanie, read up the other AMAs before posting to try and prevent any repeat questions.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/mateq/i_am_neil_degrasse_tyson_ama/

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/ngd5e/i_am_neil_degrasse_tyson_ama/

[–]lahwran_ 406 points407 points ago

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he's done this TWICE!? and he got >1000 points in 20 minutes!?

mother of god ...

[–]fluoromethane 440 points441 points ago

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The man does a fantastic AMA.

[–]cadencehz 76 points77 points ago

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He's very un-ramparty.

[–]philosoraptor45 798 points799 points ago

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Sir, what do you think of the recent wave of weird legislation Congress has been pushing? See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9cp7aVH7OE and http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/29/ndaa-danger-american-liberty

Is our democracy circling the drain?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1761 points1762 points ago

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Yes. It's as though we have forgotten fundamental founding principles of the Nation. Every American should read the Constitution at least once per year. it will help us all to keep politicians honest.

[–]niftyjack 1058 points1059 points ago

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Hello!

First I want to say how much of a great human you are in general.

Now, the question: If the President offered you a position like being the Secretary of Sciences, would you take it? Why/why not?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1902 points1903 points ago

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No such post. Of all the cabinet slots in the US Government, science is not represented. It is, however, in other developed countries. The US has a President's "Science Advisor", though.

I am an educator, not a politician. So I think I am at my best when I compel people to demand science literacy from their elected officials. That would make a much stronger country than me holding one post or another.

[–]DPZ3D 215 points216 points ago

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Hello, I'm a huge fan of everything you've done and I want to congratulate you on your recent book release- Space Chronicles. I intend to pick it up in the next few days! My only question for you is.. what is the story about how you first met Carl Sagan?

[–]neiltyson[S] 617 points618 points ago

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[–]9001 111 points112 points ago

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Just watched this again, even though I've seen it before. It's still one of the coolest stories I've ever heard.

[–]Blackbalisong42 622 points623 points ago

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If you could say one sentence to the entire world, with everyone guaranteed to listen, what would you say?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1512 points1513 points ago

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Be just to one another, and never forget how to dream.

[–]alpacaBread 1426 points1427 points ago

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"Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!"

[–]SeedyOne 740 points741 points ago

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[–]SportsPanties 90 points91 points ago

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George Carlin would be proud.

[–]serasuna 333 points334 points ago

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He answered this in a previous AMA.

Q: One bit of advice/text you wish you could broadcast to the world?

"Get over yourselves."

[–]Incursus 301 points302 points ago

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Neil, what are your thoughts on the private space flight industry, such as Space X, seeming to be taking over manned space flight while NASA focuses more on research? Do you think this is a good approach and will further technology and innovation as NASA continues to get its budget cut? I'm currently an Aerospace Engineering student and hope to work for one of these companies one day and would love to hear what you think.

[–]Sethmanok 607 points608 points ago

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Who is your celebrity crush?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1440 points1441 points ago

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Back when I was in shape, I had the body fitness that he has. And we are about the same size. So perhaps it's a bit narcissistic. Also, I've always been enchanted by Jamie Lee Curtis.

[–][deleted] 1456 points1457 points ago

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[–]kcell 715 points716 points ago

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DAT SIDEBURN

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]hallowedsouls 1258 points1259 points ago

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[–]mr_marmoset 127 points128 points ago

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Holy....shit.

[–]Kill_Welly 173 points174 points ago

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...because ours is you.

[–]Rumleskaft 869 points870 points ago

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Can we get your take on Khan Academy?

[–]masterofstuff124 64 points65 points ago

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Some people just want to watch the world learn.

[–]legoktm 341 points342 points ago

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How effective do you think programs like the FIRST Robotics Competition are to spreading STEM to American teenagers?

[–]neiltyson[S] 654 points655 points ago

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I think they are a bit over-rated. It's certainly fun to do -- for all parties involved: Students, Teachers, Parents. But robotics is such a narrow slice of the totality of STEM that I worry other dimensions of learning might get sidestepped in the process.

[–]Jayvis 420 points421 points ago

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What is one thing you do everyday that has made your life better?

[–]yorko 526 points527 points ago

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HOW IS IT CAKE DAY FOR US?!?! There was no Feb 29 in the year 2011!!!!

WHAT THE FUCK AND ARE WE DYING

[–]DeathSteak 98 points99 points ago

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It just adds 365 days to your start date. So every 4 years every reddit user is 1 more day off of a real cake day. Lazy programming ftw.

[–]UVdogastrophe 104 points105 points ago

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What is your best scientist related joke?

[–]goinunder0390 231 points232 points ago

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My physics teacher told me I had a lot of potential;

then he pushed me off a roof.

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points ago

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Ask me if I know any jokes about sodium.

[–]DaBobScotts 33 points34 points ago

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Na...

[–]Artgum 1373 points1374 points ago

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What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2363 points2364 points ago

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"Dammit Artgum, I'm an astrophysicist, not an ornithologist."

[–][deleted] 1721 points1722 points ago

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You are everything to us.

[–]tightspandex 1532 points1533 points ago

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only on reddit can LickMyAsshole praise Neil deGrasse Tyson.

[–]Nipples_R_us 1111 points1112 points ago

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only on reddit can LickMyAsshole praise Neil deGrasse Tyson

tightspandex speaks the truth

[–]apopheniac1989 1005 points1006 points ago

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I love the internet so much right now.

[–]SCVannevar 301 points302 points ago

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Hello again, sir! My question is, what is the dumbest thing a member of the general public has ever said to you, and how did you respond? (Or how WOULD you have responded, if you could go back and do it again, as many of us have often wished?)

[–]neiltyson[S] 828 points829 points ago

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I'm being called for dinner right now, and so I must end the session. Sorry that this time was only 1/3 the length of my first two, each of which were nearly 3 hours. This was a good set. Thanks for your persistent interest in my work and for your energy to spread the love of science literacy. Signing off. -Neil deGrasse Tyson, New York City

[–]TubbyCustard 534 points535 points ago

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Wait wait wait, uh, what are you eating for dinner??...... don't leave us!

[–]achievable_chode44 738 points739 points ago

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Science

[–]ConwayPA 136 points137 points ago

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A dish best served cold.

[–]MiloMuggins 181 points182 points ago

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Wait, is this a meta-answer to SCVannevar?

[–]iGilmer 125 points126 points ago

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So are you saying that SCVannevar just asked the dumbest thing a member of the general public has ever said to you, and you answered by excusing yourself to dinner?

P.S. I love you.

[–]freefalliguana 62 points63 points ago

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What is something that we will not find the answer to in the next 100 years?

[–]tabledresser 156 points157 points ago*

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Questions Answers
What can you tell a young man looking for motivation in life itself? The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation. For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And along the way, lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.
What grinds your gears? Watching and listening to people in power who believe they know what they are talking about but do not.
If you could live in any sci-fi universe, which would you pick and why? StarTrek. For the warp drives. And the story lines were often deep, and rich in social consciosness and accountability. I was also impressed that Captain Kirk could have sex with aliens.
What policy changes would you like to see the Obama administration make right now to help promote science learning in American schools? If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea..." - Antoine de Saint Exupery.
Who do you look up to most? My parents. Married 60 years. Rational. Curious. Considerate. Sensible. Moral.
Now, the question: If the President offered you a position like being the Secretary of Sciences, would you take it? Why/why not? No such post. Of all the cabinet slots in the US Government, science is not represented. It is, however, in other developed countries. The US has a President's "Science Advisor", though. I am an educator, not a politician. So I think I am at my best when I compel people to demand science literacy from their elected officials. That would make a much stronger country than me holding one post or another.

View the full table on /r/tabled! | Last updated: 2012-03-05 09:44 UTC

This comment was generated by a robot! Send all complaints to epsy.

[–]unlucky_cat 46 points47 points ago

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Hello! Are you a patron of the arts? If so, what is your favorite art style, artist, movement, even your favorite color?

Thanks, and happy Leap Day!

[–]dscn 168 points169 points ago

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I love space!! Thank you Neil!!

[–]neiltyson[S] 401 points402 points ago

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"I need my space" too!

[–]jimbobble 407 points408 points ago

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In the likely event that the Sun will die, how possible is it that by then we would have developed a synthetic Sun?

[–]neiltyson[S] 1184 points1185 points ago

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By then (in 5 billion years) it'd surely be easier to just move to another star system than to solve that problem.

[–]Nsinr8 566 points567 points ago

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5 billion years is an obscenely long time. I'd be impressed if we managed to stick around for even a tiny fraction of that amount of time.

[–]anOKgirl 584 points585 points ago

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"You lot, you spend all your time thinking about dying, like you're gonna get killed by eggs, or beef, or global warming, or asteroids. But you never take time to imagine the impossible. Like maybe you survive."

[–]RounderKatt 101 points102 points ago

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you NEVER forget your first doctor

[–]yettibeats 589 points590 points ago

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Will you be attending the Reason Rally on March 24th?

[–]neiltyson[S] 2031 points2032 points ago

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No. I am big supporter of reason as a way of life and of thought. But I do not join movements or attend rallys. Often they got bogged down in group-think. Something I assiduously avoid in life.

[–]foo1219 43 points44 points ago

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Have you read Dr. Krauss' A Universe From Nothing? What are your thoughts?

[–]foxual 215 points216 points ago

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Neil, I'm an English teacher. Have any ideas about how best to incorporate the kind of rational, logical, analytical, scientific thinking you specialize in into other fields?

[–]serasuna 294 points295 points ago

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This answer from his previous AMA is relevant:

Q: Neil- As a new social studies high school teacher, how can I best impart a love and respect for science and the importance of learning to my students who see school as a waste of their time? I struggle with this aspect of teaching more than any other.

A: I thrive on exploring all the ways science impacts life, society, and culture. It's the founding principle of StarTalk radio: http://startalkradio.net/ So a goal as teacher, perhaps ought to include knowing as much as you possibly can about pop culture and referencing it at every turn as you teach the syllabus. I am there with my Tweets: http://twitter.com/#!/neiltyson Takes a while to build up that utility belt of songs, TV shows, harry potter, etc. But it pays great dividends.

[–]WizardBlue 42 points43 points ago

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What are your views on privatized space exploration vs. a more traditional government funded approach?