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HarveyDarkey

(9,077 posts) Mon Mar 17, 2014, 10:54 AM Mar 2014

Neil deGrasse Tyson on "Cosmos," How Science Got Cool, and Why He Doesn't Debate Deniers [View all]

The host of the stunning new Fox series wants you to understand how science works.
By Chris Mooney
Fri Mar. 14, 2014

Last Sunday's debut of Cosmos, the rebooted series from Fox and National Geographic, made television history. According to National Geographic, it was the largest global rollout of a TV series ever, appearing on 220 channels in 181 countries and 45 languages. And, yes, this is a science show we're talking about. You will have to actively resist the force of gravity in order to lift up your dropped jaw and restore a sense of calm to your stunned face.

At the center of the show is the "heir apparent" to legendary science popularizer and original Cosmos host Carl Sagan: the impassioned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who appeared on this week's episode of the Inquiring Minds podcast to talk about what it's like to fill Sagan's shoes (stream below). On the podcast, Tyson discussed topics ranging from what we know now about the cosmos that Sagan didn't (top three answers: dark matter and dark energy, the profusion of discovered exoplanets, and the concept of parallel universes, or the "multiverse&quot to why science seems to have gotten so supercool again. After all, not only has Cosmos garnered such a reach, but The Big Bang Theory is currently the No. 1 comedy on TV.

"I wake up every morning saying, 'How did I get 1.7 million Twitter followers?'" Tyson joked while discussing science's newfound popularity. "Should I remind them that I'm an astrophysicist? Maybe I should tell them, 'Folks, I'm an astrophysicist. All right? Escape now.'"

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/neil-degrasse-tyson-inquiring-minds-cosmos

42 replies

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on "Cosmos," How Science Got Cool, and Why He Doesn't Debate Deniers [View all] HarveyDarkey Mar 2014 OP

Maybe we should also thank Peter Griffin for this show, although he'd never watch it himself. valerief Mar 2014 #1

GREAT point! When we were watching last Sunday, it was neat to see Seth MacFarlane's name on there. calimary Mar 2014 #2

I love his music, too, but I've always been a closet music-swinger. valerief Mar 2014 #3

MacFarlane was on Maher's show this week. Skidmore Mar 2014 #28

Science has always been cool... Blanks Mar 2014 #4

But like SF books and movies... Blue_Adept Mar 2014 #7

The multiverse is a good example of that nxylas Mar 2014 #11

You also have the early start of it in The Flash Blue_Adept Mar 2014 #13

I stoll can't visualize multiverses. Skidmore Mar 2014 #29

And I first coined 'multisexual' in my first (and very crappy) novel back in 2000. valerief Mar 2014 #37

I was singing the praises of comic books... Blanks Mar 2014 #26

He is a great host wheniwasincongress Mar 2014 #5

The first two episodes of this show were great Gothmog Mar 2014 #6

I have watched every minute oldandhappy Mar 2014 #8

I watch the new show and turnaround and watch the same episode number exboyfil Mar 2014 #42

The Big Bang Theory is to science as what The O'Reilly Factor is to news. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #9

I think you're giving O'Reilly too much credit. white_wolf Mar 2014 #12

A bit unfair to a good sitcom brislington Mar 2014 #17

I think it's an apt comparison. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #18

Naah, I think the Big Bang Theory is more Amos and Andy than O'Reilly. CBGLuthier Mar 2014 #32

+1 Jamaal510 Mar 2014 #20

And that laugh track! Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #21

The laugh track that isn't there is super annoying? Huh? brislington Mar 2014 #22

The article in the OP called TBBT a show about science. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #23

I find Sheldon charming. Heidi Mar 2014 #31

Yes. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #33

Bless your sensitive heart. Heidi Mar 2014 #35

Sheldon doesn't have Asperger's. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #38

That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does about the Sheldons of the world... Hekate Mar 2014 #34

Indeed. Heidi Mar 2014 #36

My 9 year old nephew had "science stuff" on his xmas list. cui bono Mar 2014 #10

If you want to give a child a fun high quality science toy kmlisle Mar 2014 #14

The podcast is very interesting. longship Mar 2014 #15

That it is, was the point of my OP HarveyDarkey Mar 2014 #41

Science is cool: God speaks to scientific creationists Jack Rabbit Mar 2014 #16

Cool Pic, but I also see ... Martin Eden Mar 2014 #19

I love Cosmos... ohheckyeah Mar 2014 #24

Dumb question: How can I see a rerun of Episode 1? Hekate Mar 2014 #25

Easy easy. Blue_Adept Mar 2014 #27

My son said he saw it on YT Trajan Mar 2014 #40

Has he ever had a guest shot on Big Bang? KamaAina Mar 2014 #30

Yep. temporary311 Mar 2014 #39