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Neil deGrasse Tyson Strongly Disagrees with Steve-O - Wild Ride #183

Steve-O's Wild Ride! - Podcast・75 minutes read

Neil deGrasse Tyson discussed gender-neutral language, critiqued astrology, and explained phenomena like Mercury in retrograde and tides while exploring beliefs, history, and scientific concepts, delving into consciousness, time, conspiracy theories, scientific truths, faith, and the importance of objective truths and preparation for potential asteroid impacts. The dialogue concluded by touching on human understanding of the universe, the limitations of the brain, and the significance of individual and collective consciousness, with a humorous exchange on climate change and future possibilities.

Insights

Using "humanoids" instead of "ladies and gentlemen" promotes gender-neutral language, as suggested by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Tyson critiques astrology, debunking the ego-centric belief that celestial bodies influence personal traits based on birth dates.
The discussion delves into the limitations of human understanding in the vast universe, questioning the brain's capacity to comprehend all aspects of creation.

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Recent questions

What is Neil deGrasse Tyson's stance on gender-neutral language?
Tyson suggests using "humanoids" instead of gender-specific terms.

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Summary

00:00

Neil deGrasse Tyson on Language, Astrology, and Tides

Neil deGrasse Tyson provided insights on gender-neutral language, suggesting using "humanoids" instead of "ladies and gentlemen" to address all humans.
He discussed the specificity in advertising, using the example of Worcestershire sauce listing various foods it complements to cater to individual needs.
Tyson critiqued astrology, highlighting the ego-centric belief that celestial bodies influence personal traits based on birth dates.
He explained the concept of Mercury in retrograde, emphasizing that it's a perspective shift due to Earth's orbit around the Sun, not a backward movement.
The discussion delved into tides, clarifying that the Moon's gravitational pull remains constant daily, with the Sun's influence creating variations in high and low tides.
Tyson elaborated on extreme tides in places like the Bay of Fundy, attributing them to the Earth's rotation slowing due to the gravitational pull of water.
The conversation touched on the historical significance of planets in naming days of the week, with Tuesday named after Mars in various languages.
Tyson recounted the demotion of Pluto from the planet status, leading to a reevaluation of the planet count and the cultural impact of planetary names.
The discussion explored the evolution of beliefs over time, prompting reflection on current beliefs that may be viewed as antiquated in the future.
A humorous anecdote about contemplating the collective noun for marijuana led to a reflection on historical fears of sailing off the edge of the Earth, sparked during a marijuana-induced state of mind.

16:10

"Exploring Time, Earth, and Consciousness"

Initially, the belief was that the world was flat, with an edge, depicted as a circular disc on old maps, with Jerusalem at the center and demons or monsters at the edge.
Over time, the understanding shifted to the world being round, eliminating the fear of falling off the edge, distinguishing between a belief in a flat Earth and the fact of a round Earth.
The concept of time being round was introduced, contemplating the idea of time looping back if the expanding universe reversed and started anew.
The discussion delved into the notion of an edge of time, with the beginning and end of time potentially converging at the same point, prompting deep contemplation.
Time measurement was explained through atomic vibrations, defining a second based on cesium atom transitions, highlighting the Earth's rotation changes and the impact of external forces like earthquakes and melting glaciers.
The slowing down of Earth's rotation was measured, leading to the addition of leap seconds to account for the changes, with the potential for further slowdown as polar ice caps melt and redistribute mass.
The Moon's influence on Earth's rotation was discussed, with the prediction that Earth will eventually only show one face to the Moon due to this effect.
The limitations of the brain in processing information were highlighted, emphasizing the complexity of perception and the subconscious awareness of details beyond conscious recognition.
The concept of biocentrism, suggesting that consciousness creates the universe, was introduced, contrasting with the idea of life existing elsewhere in the vast universe.
The discussion concluded with a humorous exchange on the potential offensiveness of biocentrism and the consideration of multiple possibilities for the existence of life beyond Earth.

32:09

Debating Collective Consciousness and Individual Differences

Collective Consciousness is questioned due to individual consciousness differences.
The credibility of Collective Consciousness is debated.
The Far Side of the Moon sketches are discussed in relation to individual consciousness.
Science emphasizes objective truth over individual consciousness.
The Double Slit Experiment is explained, focusing on observation and measurement.
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The Double Slit Experiment is further discussed and clarified.
The Observer Effect and Consciousness's impact on experiments are debunked.
Simulation Theory is explained, suggesting we might be in a simulated universe.
Reincarnation is debated, with a lack of concrete evidence discussed.

48:24

Tik Tok sparks skepticism in conspiracy theories.

Tik Tok is mentioned as a source of information, leading to skepticism about the credibility of stories.
A story on Tik Tok discusses blue houses in Hawaii that didn't burn due to a specific type of blue paint.
The conspiracy theory suggests the Hawaii fires were caused by a space laser, sparing blue items from burning.
The discussion delves into the scientific approach of questioning the fire-retardant properties of the blue items that survived.
Conspiracy theories are noted to stem from people wanting to believe something is true despite lacking evidence.
The conversation touches on the reluctance to admit not knowing and the tendency to create conspiracies to maintain beliefs.
The discussion shifts to the concept of time as a fundamental coordinate in meeting and communication.
The removal of the spatial coordinate in virtual meetings highlights the importance of time in coordination.
The conversation explores the limitations of human understanding in the vastness of the universe.
The dialogue concludes with a question about the capacity of the human brain to comprehend all aspects of creation.

01:04:39

John Glenn and Neil deGrasse Tyson's Legacy

John Glenn's legacy in the space community is significant, with cultural and historical ties.
Neil deGrasse Tyson expresses his favorite musicals, including "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Bach's Mass in B Minor."
Tyson discusses his views on faith, stating that being agnostic is the only logical stance.
He highlights discrepancies between religious texts like the Bible and scientific truths about the Earth's position and motion.
Tyson argues that faith is believing in something without evidence, not something that cannot be proven.
The discussion shifts to different categories of truth: personal, political, and scientific truths.
Tyson emphasizes the importance of basing laws on objective truths that apply universally.
He delves into the completion of the periodic table of elements and the discovery of new elements.
The conversation transitions to a recent scientific achievement involving the return of a sample from an asteroid.
Tyson explains the process of collecting the asteroid sample and the significance of studying it for potential organic molecules and amino acids.

01:20:38

"Preparing for Potential Asteroid Collision in 2182"

The individual stopped smoking weed and drinking a few months ago, and hasn't taken mushrooms for about a month.
A person in the conversation is praised for being the sharpest and a master storyteller, emphasizing the importance of imagination in storytelling.
The discussion shifts to the importance of objective truth in scientific endeavors, particularly in the context of experiments and experiences that benefit individuals.
The conversation delves into the topic of an asteroid with an orbit that crosses Earth's orbit, posing a potential collision risk in 2182, with a 1 in 3,000 chance of impact.
Plans are discussed to build a defense system against the asteroid over the next 160 years, highlighting the need for preparation and the possibility of deflecting the asteroid.
The conversation concludes with a humorous exchange about climate change, the potential for building homes on the moon in 2025, and the importance of smart individuals in solving complex problems.

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