The most accessible field in science, from the point of view of language, is astrophysics. What do you call spots on the sun? Sunspots. Regions of space you fall into and you donโt come out of? Black holes. Big red stars? Red giants. So I take my fellow scientists to task. Heโll use his word, and if I understand it, Iโll say, โOh, does that mean da-da-da-de-da?
Neil deGrasse TysonThe universe has really never made things in ones. The Earth is special and everything else is different? No, weโve got seven other planets. The sun? No, the sun is one of those dots in the night sky. The Milky Way? No, itโs one of a hundred billion galaxies. And the universe - maybe itโs countless other universes.
Neil deGrasse TysonWhen we see animals doing remarkable things, how do we know if we're simply seeing tricks or signs of real intelligence? Are talented animals just obeying commands, or do they have some kind of deeper understanding? One of the biggest challenges for animal researchers is to come up with tests that can distinguish between the two.
Neil deGrasse TysonWe live in a world where not everyone has the urge to help others... It is OK to encourage others to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, but if you do, just remember that some people have no boots.
Neil deGrasse TysonAny time scientists disagree, it's because we have insufficient data. Then we can agree on what kind of data to get; we get the data; and the data solves the problem. Either I'm right, or you're right, or we're both wrong. And we move on. That kind of conflict resolution does not exist in politics or religion.
Neil deGrasse Tyson