StarTalk Podcast: Making Stuff with Adam Savage and Neil deGrasse Tyson
StarTalk・48 minutes read
Adam Savage discusses his book "Every Tool is a Hammer" on a StarTalk episode with Neil deGrasse Tyson, exploring the importance of failure, learning from mistakes, and the iterative process of science and art. The conversation highlights the value of negative results, the role of creativity in innovation, and the inspiration drawn from existing ideas for invention and discovery.
Insights
- Adam Savage's book "Every Tool is a Hammer" is described as a reflection of his thought process and a map of his brain, showcasing the personal and intricate nature of creative endeavors.
- The conversation highlights the importance of failure in innovation, viewing mistakes and negative results as valuable data that can lead to successful discoveries, emphasizing the iterative and experimental nature of both science and art.
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Recent questions
How does Adam Savage overcome writer's block?
By copying writers he loves.
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Summary
00:00
"Adam Savage on Building and Creativity"
- StarTalk episode sponsored by CuriosityStream, featuring Adam Savage discussing building.
- Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, with cohost Chuck Nice.
- Adam Savage, a repeat guest, discusses his new book "Every Tool is a Hammer."
- John Hodgman's comment on Savage's book, "This is a map of his brain."
- Anecdote about Savage's wife's journal and privacy.
- Discussion on accidental inventions, like the discovery of water filtration through sand on a beach.
- Jamie Hyneman's experiment on water filtration using sand on "Duct Tape Island."
- Explanation of chirality and its impact on assembly in making.
- Mary Karr's method of overcoming writer's block by copying writers she loves, applied to making in Savage's shop.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson's reading of "The Greatest Wits of All Time" to stimulate creativity.
10:29
Exploring Words, Creativity, and Material Science
- The conversation revolves around the impact of words and phrases on mood and creativity.
- Neil discusses his approach to overcoming writer's block by reading books on writing.
- A sentence from "The Great Gatsby" is shared, highlighting the admiration for the author's writing skills.
- Various literary quotes are exchanged, appreciating the beauty of language and similes.
- Adam Savage is introduced due to his new book, "Every Tool is a Hammer: Life is What You Make It."
- A humorous discussion on the most important tool leads to the conclusion that money to hire someone is the ultimate tool.
- The importance of mechanical knowledge versus advancements in material science for future inventions is debated.
- Adam Savage shares insights from his show "Savage Builds" on 3D printed titanium and its strength.
- The conversation delves into the evolution of materials like plastic and the potential of new materials to transform society.
- The impact of material science on innovation and the discovery of new properties in materials are highlighted.
22:40
Exploring Octagon, Superconduction, Consciousness, Armor, Movies, Merlin
- Discussion about the Octagon and UFC fans, with confusion over names like Mike Pumaking.
- Speculation on future technology, focusing on room temperature superconduction and its potential impact on space travel.
- Exploration of the relationship between computer power and understanding human consciousness.
- Anecdote about building a suit of armor with Terry English, the master armorer from Excalibur, in Cornwall.
- Mention of favorite movies, including The Matrix, All That Jazz, The Conversation, West Side Story, and Excalibur.
- Humorous banter about dancing, publishing books, and pen names like Merlin.
- Neil's interest in the Merlin Arthurian legends and possession of the Malory book in velum.
- Appreciation for The Conversation as a well-done film without explosions or chase scenes.
- Neil's connection to West Side Story due to his Puerto Rican heritage and admiration for its music.
- Mention of CuriosityStream as a streaming service for viewers with inquiring minds, with subscription starting at $2.99 a month.
34:22
"Exploring Science, History, and Creativity with CuriosityStream"
- CuriosityStream offers shows on science, history, nature, and society with notable personalities like Sigourney Weaver, Jane Goodall, and Sylvia Earle.
- Visit CuriosityStream.com/StarTalk for unlimited access to documentaries and nonfiction series.
- Use promo code STARTALK for a free 31-day membership.
- Adam Savage discusses his book "Every Tool is a Hammer: Life is What You Make It" on StarTalk.
- Failure is a popular concept in Silicon Valley, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes.
- Science and art are iterative processes involving wrong turns that lead to success.
- Rocket launch failures are seen as experiments rich in data.
- Negative results in experiments provide valuable information and should be highlighted more in publishing.
- MythBusters once discovered an explosive material with terrifying properties, deciding not to disclose it to the public.
- Creativity is inspired by existing ideas and personal desires, guiding the process of invention and discovery.
45:50
"Timeless Inspiration: Unquantifiable Creativity Unleashed"
- Olivia Waits from Instagram asks about the time taken to come up with a new idea, which is deemed impossible to quantify.
- The range for the shortest and longest time to generate a new idea is between one minute and 17 hours, with a humorous mention of two days.
- The question about unique inspiration leads to a discussion on finding inspiration in unexpected places, with a mention of Fizeau's speed of light experiment as a thrilling source.
- If unlimited resources were available, the individual would build a spaceship for interplanetary exploration, specifically aiming for the moon and Mars.
- The discussion concludes with reflections on creativity, suggesting that great inventors and geniuses are individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experiences waiting to be assembled into new ideas.
