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Diamonds may be forever... but gold is more reflective and a better conductor of electricity.
I am Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ask Me Anything... (self.IAmA)
submitted 1 year ago by neiltyson
Third in the trilogy of AMAs
[–]josephpalbanese 505 points506 points507 points 1 year ago
If you could have anyone else's job whose would it be and why?
P.S. Just bought Space Chronicles!
[–]neiltyson[S] 1024 points1025 points1026 points 1 year ago
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 points116 points 1 year ago
Good guy Neil. Doesn´t bring up his new product until someone else does.
[–]roflolcopter 1551 points1552 points1553 points 1 year ago
Who do you look up to most?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2351 points2352 points2353 points 1 year ago
My parents. Married 60 years. Rational. Curious. Considerate. Sensible. Moral.
[–]Baemon 1469 points1470 points1471 points 1 year ago
What grinds your gears?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2743 points2744 points2745 points 1 year ago
Watching and listening to people in power who believe they know what they are talking about but do not.
[–]RagingRugburn 1399 points1400 points1401 points 1 year ago
Reddit loves you a lot by the way.
[–]Cat_Fish 842 points843 points844 points 1 year ago
I LOVE HIM MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
[–]lyinsteve 541 points542 points543 points 1 year ago
In how long, and by what means, will humanity reach Type 1 status?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1035 points1036 points1037 points 1 year ago
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 points775 points 1 year ago
For those unaware about civilization types, I'll leave this here.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=5570
[–]xandrin 282 points283 points284 points 1 year ago
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 points96 points 1 year ago
...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 points90 points 1 year ago
Louis CK spoke to that very well. "Everything is amazing right now, and nobody's happy."
[–]ishallsmitethee 1484 points1485 points1486 points 1 year ago
Of all the talk shows you have been on, which host do you enjoy the most?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2210 points2211 points2212 points 1 year ago
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 points926 points 1 year ago
You were fantastic on the Daily Show this week.
[–]wra1th42 825 points826 points827 points 1 year ago
"btw your globe is spinning the wrong way." lololololol
[–][deleted] 418 points419 points420 points 1 year ago
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 points1859 points 1 year ago
I hope this ends up on Colbert with Stephen completely devastated that Tyson likes Stewart better.
[–]am4zon 1484 points1485 points1486 points 1 year ago
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 points1379 points 1 year ago
Nice try, Stephen Colbert.
[–]richdoe 392 points393 points394 points 1 year ago
I totally read that quote in Colbert's voice.
[–]CaptainSpauIding 1352 points1353 points1354 points 1 year ago
"Leno, O'Brien." Ouch.
[–]NotSoFatThrowAway 1515 points1516 points1517 points 1 year ago
Even if he moved O'Brien ahead at this point, Leno would just take the spot back..
[–]parkernorwood 224 points225 points226 points 1 year ago
Poor Conan. I thought you two would've gotten along swimmingly. Or at least better than Leno.
[–][deleted] 519 points520 points521 points 1 year ago
What exactly is hard about Colbert's interview? What makes an interview hard to you?
[–]Dr-Mantis-Tobias 1260 points1261 points1262 points 1 year ago
Poignant question from LickMyAsshole
[–]NovaMouser 428 points429 points430 points 1 year ago
It is times like this that makes me wonder if people regret their reddit names.
[–]JIGGER_MY_DIGGER 975 points976 points977 points 1 year ago
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOUR REDDIT NAME
NO MATTER WHAT
[–]TheOneWhoQuestions 785 points786 points787 points 1 year ago
Should we?
[–]Khoops66 157 points158 points159 points 1 year ago
Character I'm assuming. Watch previous interviews he's had, Colbert comes from all angles with his questions.
[–]jusksmit 194 points195 points196 points 1 year ago
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 points137 points 1 year ago
Colbert is going to see this, and he's going to brag about it on his show.
[–]connorcorn 92 points93 points94 points 1 year ago
But Neil, you handle Colbert magnificently each and every time you're on.
[–]ParthVader 837 points838 points839 points 1 year ago
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 points1637 points 1 year ago
Take them to a planetarium show.
[–]EphemeralStyle 884 points885 points886 points 1 year ago
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 points1042 points 1 year ago
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 points2411 points 1 year ago
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 points1486 points 1 year ago
And so, Neil deGrasse Tyson updates thousands of Facebook statuses.
[–]SlickNick 207 points208 points209 points 1 year ago
I will gladly take Facebook being full of NDT statuses over the Drake lyrics and relationship drama I see now.
[–]nathanfr 794 points795 points796 points 1 year ago
Read this in the voice of Leonard Nemoy after researching a technology in Civilization IV.
[–]UnnamedPlayer 299 points300 points301 points 1 year ago
And now my weekend will disappear without getting any work done.
[–]Randy_Manimal 161 points162 points163 points 1 year ago
It's thursday.
[–]abilionftw23 368 points369 points370 points 1 year ago
Exactly.
[–]chareth_cutestory66 746 points747 points748 points 1 year ago
Who is your favorite Street Shark?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1276 points1277 points1278 points 1 year ago
Would have to be Ripster
[–]WhirledWorld 390 points391 points392 points 1 year ago
Jawesome.
[–]MiloMuggins 141 points142 points143 points 1 year ago
The safe answer.
[–]i_is_squeegee 1022 points1023 points1024 points 1 year ago
How is progress on the next Cosmos series coming along, and when do you think it will air?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1387 points1388 points1389 points 1 year ago
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 points1113 points 1 year ago
We're counting on you. Carl Sagan can't be the reddit Jesus forever.
[–]ZombieGadaffi 1536 points1537 points1538 points 1 year ago
Yes he can. Shut up.
[–]bsparks 881 points882 points883 points 1 year ago
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 points1774 points 1 year ago
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 points647 points 1 year ago
As a programmer, I approve this message!
[–]prezjordan 587 points588 points589 points 1 year ago
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 points1206 points 1 year ago
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 points1781 points 1 year ago
So what you're saying is I should keep on applying to be your intern?
[–]zzyzxeyz 289 points290 points291 points 1 year ago
The best possible response.
[–]semiotic 282 points283 points284 points 1 year ago
Do you have any advice for someone heading to Graduate school in September?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1121 points1122 points1123 points 1 year ago
Answers are a luxury enjoyed only every now and then. So early on, learn to love the questions themselves.
[–]Breadness 1266 points1267 points1268 points 1 year ago
If you could live in any sci-fi universe, which would you pick and why?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2605 points2606 points2607 points 1 year ago
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 points1711 points 1 year ago
We share something, Neil.
[–]stevedaws 1582 points1583 points1584 points 1 year ago
Judging by your name, it just might be the only thing.
[–]smibly 1737 points1738 points1739 points 1 year ago*
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 points333 points 1 year ago
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 points208 points 1 year ago
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 points749 points 1 year ago
Anything in biology/life sciences that really impresses you/blows your mind?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1866 points1867 points1868 points 1 year ago
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 points1214 points 1 year ago
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 points196 points 1 year ago
"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 points116 points 1 year ago
Clearly you're not living in Albany, Western Australia.
[–]astrobeen 180 points181 points182 points 1 year ago
Check... and mate.
[–]guitard00d123 748 points749 points750 points 1 year ago
How do you think we can encourage politicians to support education and science initiatives?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1597 points1598 points1599 points 1 year ago
Threaten to no re-elect them. That works every time.
[–]Fissioninferno 1055 points1056 points1057 points 1 year ago
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 points1939 points 1 year ago
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 points2287 points 1 year ago
Rush Holt!
[–]LOLERCAPS 1435 points1436 points1437 points 1 year ago
Maeby a little too subtle.
[–][deleted] 704 points705 points706 points 1 year ago
Babysit me!
[–]foo1219 537 points538 points539 points 1 year ago
What's the status on the James Webb Telescope?
[–]neiltyson[S] 961 points962 points963 points 1 year ago
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 points299 points 1 year ago
It'd probably be better to have funded it through kickstarter.
[–]hollaback_girl 56 points57 points58 points 1 year ago
Would it help if I got out and pushed?
[–]8gigcheckbook 531 points532 points533 points 1 year ago
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 points1203 points 1 year ago
Without an new understanding of the fabric of the space-time continuum, enabling wormhole travel, the answer is never.
[–]albinobluesheep 730 points731 points732 points 1 year ago
All my dreams, crushed, with one bolded word.
TO THE STARGATE
[–]Chiponyasu 916 points917 points918 points 1 year ago
If a scientific genie offered to correctly answer any three mathematical questions, what three would you ask and why?
[–]darwin2500 37 points38 points39 points 1 year ago
This depends a lot on whether the genie supplies proofs or just answers.
[–]yourflysopen 2263 points2264 points2265 points 1 year ago
What can you tell a young man looking for motivation in life itself?
[–]neiltyson[S] 4256 points4257 points4258 points 1 year ago*
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 points1119 points 1 year ago
I like that everything he says can be prefaced with "...a great man once said."
[–]mistermoo33 756 points757 points758 points 1 year ago
I think the ellipsis would go on the other side.
[–]L_Ront 241 points242 points243 points 1 year ago
I think you're right.
[–]whitesummerside 1652 points1653 points1654 points 1 year ago
Well now I'm feeling much more motivated than I was this morning. Thanks Dr. Tyson.
[–]cluelesspuma 155 points156 points157 points 1 year ago
As a young person who has been going through a lot recently, Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.
[–]drgath 349 points350 points351 points 1 year ago
Better phrased: "Hey Neil, what is the meaning of life?"
[–]ProfGuava 602 points603 points604 points 1 year ago
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 points1550 points 1 year ago
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 points1216 points 1 year ago
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
[–]DivinelyFlawed 164 points165 points166 points 1 year ago
Unless you're teaching.
[–]bapzannigan 41 points42 points43 points 1 year ago
plenty of teachers hope they arent the smartest person in the room (at least the best ones do)
[–]TheAethereal 18 points19 points20 points 1 year ago
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] 1 year ago
[deleted]
[–]nomsville 208 points209 points210 points 1 year ago
Nice try Cerberus.
[–]Glonn 1522 points1523 points1524 points 1 year ago
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 points553 points 1 year ago
that's a seriously awesome email response.
[–]criticalhit 638 points639 points640 points 1 year ago
where were you when you heard about the large magellanic cloud supernova in 1987?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1117 points1118 points1119 points 1 year ago
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 points1197 points 1 year ago
Australians win again.
[–]ctwombat 524 points525 points526 points 1 year ago
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 points1378 points 1 year ago
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 points279 points 1 year ago
TIL how to talk.
[–]dwaxe 50 points51 points52 points 1 year ago
This piece of advice works for any conversation you will ever have. Thank you so.
[–]IMakeHumanCentipedes 68 points69 points70 points 1 year ago
You could describe an apple and I would learn forty different things I hadn't considered.
[–]MeaneBroGreene 1188 points1189 points1190 points 1 year ago
what can I do, as a citizen and college student, to help push for a stronger space program?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1566 points1567 points1568 points 1 year ago
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 points1151 points 1 year ago
Push with your legs, not your back.
[–]clayvn 409 points410 points411 points 1 year ago
What is your stance on Japan's idea of building a space elevator?
[–]scientist_shmientist 747 points748 points749 points 1 year ago
Do you read sci-fi? If so, who is your favorite author, and what's your favorite series?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1479 points1480 points1481 points 1 year ago
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 points288 points 1 year ago
How about Stargate?
[–][deleted] 1204 points1205 points1206 points 1 year ago
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 points289 points 1 year ago
That was awesome
[–]Novo_Scotia 75 points76 points77 points 1 year ago
my favorite episode of stargate ever.
"Way to make all the little kids cry, Neil."
[–]eMan117 113 points114 points115 points 1 year ago
Dat Jewel Staite.
sigh.
[–]dogsarefun 84 points85 points86 points 1 year ago
Bill Nye kicked ass in that.
[–]St-Moustache 118 points119 points120 points 1 year ago
Stargate -> alright Bill Nye -> cool NdGT -> awesome JEWEL STAITE -> head explodes for too much awesome
[–]chobit 176 points177 points178 points 1 year ago
I hope he likes it, considering he was on Atlantis once.
[–]Projectile_Muffin 114 points115 points116 points 1 year ago
This is Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson on the TV show Stargate: Atlantis.
[–]jconnormcl 1387 points1388 points1389 points 1 year ago
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 points408 points 1 year ago
he's done this TWICE!? and he got >1000 points in 20 minutes!?
mother of god ...
[–]fluoromethane 440 points441 points442 points 1 year ago
The man does a fantastic AMA.
[–]cadencehz 76 points77 points78 points 1 year ago
He's very un-ramparty.
[–]philosoraptor45 798 points799 points800 points 1 year ago
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 points1763 points 1 year ago
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 points1060 points 1 year ago
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 points1904 points 1 year ago
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 points217 points 1 year ago
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 points619 points 1 year ago
[90 sec] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqrN3Bfro8
[–]9001 111 points112 points113 points 1 year ago
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 points624 points 1 year ago
If you could say one sentence to the entire world, with everyone guaranteed to listen, what would you say?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1512 points1513 points1514 points 1 year ago
Be just to one another, and never forget how to dream.
[–]alpacaBread 1426 points1427 points1428 points 1 year ago
"Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!"
[–]SeedyOne 740 points741 points742 points 1 year ago
Had to be done.
[–]SportsPanties 90 points91 points92 points 1 year ago
George Carlin would be proud.
[–]serasuna 333 points334 points335 points 1 year ago
He answered this in a previous AMA.
Q: One bit of advice/text you wish you could broadcast to the world? "Get over yourselves."
Q: One bit of advice/text you wish you could broadcast to the world?
"Get over yourselves."
[–]Incursus 301 points302 points303 points 1 year ago
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 points609 points 1 year ago
Who is your celebrity crush?
[–]neiltyson[S] 1440 points1441 points1442 points 1 year ago
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 points1458 points 1 year ago
Obligatory young Neil
[–]kcell 715 points716 points717 points 1 year ago
DAT SIDEBURN
[–]hallowedsouls 1258 points1259 points1260 points 1 year ago
Obligatory Neil Young
[–]mr_marmoset 127 points128 points129 points 1 year ago
Holy....shit.
[–]Kill_Welly 173 points174 points175 points 1 year ago
...because ours is you.
[–]Rumleskaft 869 points870 points871 points 1 year ago
Can we get your take on Khan Academy?
[–]masterofstuff124 64 points65 points66 points 1 year ago
Some people just want to watch the world learn.
[–]legoktm 341 points342 points343 points 1 year ago
How effective do you think programs like the FIRST Robotics Competition are to spreading STEM to American teenagers?
[–]neiltyson[S] 654 points655 points656 points 1 year ago
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 points422 points 1 year ago
What is one thing you do everyday that has made your life better?
[–]yorko 526 points527 points528 points 1 year ago
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 points100 points 1 year ago
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 points106 points 1 year ago
What is your best scientist related joke?
[–]goinunder0390 231 points232 points233 points 1 year ago
My physics teacher told me I had a lot of potential;
then he pushed me off a roof.
[–][deleted] 25 points26 points27 points 1 year ago
Ask me if I know any jokes about sodium.
[–]DaBobScotts 33 points34 points35 points 1 year ago
Na...
[–]Artgum 1373 points1374 points1375 points 1 year ago
What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2363 points2364 points2365 points 1 year ago
"Dammit Artgum, I'm an astrophysicist, not an ornithologist."
[–][deleted] 1721 points1722 points1723 points 1 year ago
You are everything to us.
[–]tightspandex 1532 points1533 points1534 points 1 year ago
only on reddit can LickMyAsshole praise Neil deGrasse Tyson.
[–]Nipples_R_us 1111 points1112 points1113 points 1 year ago
only on reddit can LickMyAsshole praise Neil deGrasse Tyson
tightspandex speaks the truth
[–]apopheniac1989 1005 points1006 points1007 points 1 year ago
I love the internet so much right now.
[–]SCVannevar 301 points302 points303 points 1 year ago
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 points830 points 1 year ago
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 points536 points 1 year ago
Wait wait wait, uh, what are you eating for dinner??...... don't leave us!
[–]achievable_chode44 738 points739 points740 points 1 year ago
Science
[–]ConwayPA 136 points137 points138 points 1 year ago
A dish best served cold.
[–]MiloMuggins 181 points182 points183 points 1 year ago
Wait, is this a meta-answer to SCVannevar?
[–]iGilmer 125 points126 points127 points 1 year ago
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 points64 points 1 year ago
What is something that we will not find the answer to in the next 100 years?
[–]tabledresser 156 points157 points158 points 1 year ago*
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 points48 points 1 year ago
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 points170 points 1 year ago
I love space!! Thank you Neil!!
[–]neiltyson[S] 401 points402 points403 points 1 year ago
"I need my space" too!
[–]jimbobble 407 points408 points409 points 1 year ago
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 points1186 points 1 year ago
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 points568 points 1 year ago
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 points586 points 1 year ago
"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 points103 points 1 year ago
you NEVER forget your first doctor
[–]yettibeats 589 points590 points591 points 1 year ago
Will you be attending the Reason Rally on March 24th?
[–]neiltyson[S] 2031 points2032 points2033 points 1 year ago
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 points45 points 1 year ago
Have you read Dr. Krauss' A Universe From Nothing? What are your thoughts?
[–]foxual 215 points216 points217 points 1 year ago
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 points296 points 1 year ago
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.
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 points44 points 1 year ago
What are your views on privatized space exploration vs. a more traditional government funded approach?
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