The Mystery That Keeps Neil deGrasse Tyson Up At Night
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert・2 minutes read
Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the arbitrary nature of the New Year, the astronomical basis for various holidays, the establishment of the Gregorian calendar, and the implications of dark matter and dark energy on the universe's future. He expresses concern about future generations' limited understanding of the universe's history due to galaxies accelerating beyond our horizon.
Insights
- The New Year's celebration lacks astronomical significance, being merely a point on the calendar with no cosmic importance.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson expresses concern over the potential future scenario where galaxies accelerate beyond our observational reach, leaving a gap in understanding the universe's history for future generations.
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Recent questions
Who is Neil deGrasse Tyson?
Astrophysicist, author, director of Hayden Planetarium.
What is the significance of the New Year?
Arbitrary spot on the calendar, no astronomical significance.
How was the Gregorian calendar established?
By Pope Gregory in 1582 to correct Julian calendar.
What is dark energy?
Mysterious pressure in space accelerating universe's expansion.
What did George Lemaitre propose?
Big Bang theory using Einstein's equations.
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Summary
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"Neil deGrasse Tyson: Universe's Mysteries Unveiled"
- Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History.
- He has been a guest on the show nine times, holding the record for the most appearances.
- The New Year has no astronomical significance, as it is an arbitrary spot on the calendar.
- Various holidays like Chinese New Year, Jewish New Year, Ramadan, Easter, and Lent have astronomical bases.
- The Gregorian calendar was established by Pope Gregory in 1582 to correct the Julian calendar's 10-day discrepancy.
- George Lemaitre, a Catholic priest, proposed the Big Bang theory using Einstein's equations.
- In 2018, Neil is excited about missions to understand dark matter and dark energy, which make up 85% of the universe's gravity.
- Dark energy is a mysterious pressure in the vacuum of space that accelerates the universe's expansion.
- Neil worries that in the future, galaxies will accelerate beyond our horizon, leaving future generations with limited knowledge of the universe's history.
