Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
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16:46
Author sits down one-on-one with MSNBC’s Ari Melber
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Sep, 2022
Spoiler:
The author emphasizes the importance of putting aside hate and entrenched belief systems and relying instead on objective facts, statistics, and data. He says that all of society could benefit from “an infusion of science literacy and critical thinking,” and that better science literacy would lead to both sides of an argument either realizing that they’re both wrong or that they agree more than they previously thought. He also warns against having laws and legislation that force one group’s belief system on the rest of society.
4:11
CBS Morning News sit-down interview with author
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Sep, 2022
Spoiler:
The author says he has collected “a life of observations,” starting when he became “scientifically literate” in middle school. He cautions that most people get too embedded in personal belief systems even when they don’t match what is objectively true, while scientists strive to think about things without bias, relying on the data. He says scientists generally don’t gamble because they understand that the odds are against them, and that state lotteries are “a tax” on people who didn’t do well in math.
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Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, cosmologist, and science communicator. Since 1996, he has served as the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Tyson received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Public Welfare Medal from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for his exceptional efforts in promoting science.
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The Washington Post: Neil deGrasse Tyson tries punditry, with less-than-stellar results
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