There's nothing special or original about this. I found it rather boring and utterly unenlightening. And his understanding of genetics is sorely lacking, but then that applies to most geneticists and virtually all scientists anyway (I have an undergrad degree in Physics and PhD education in genetics btw).

Tyson is just a pseudo-scientist celebrity entertainer stating things that are obvious to anyone moderately intelligent and scientifically literate. And then he makes some unfounded conjectures.

He doesn't produce original science or anything innovative, he sells popular science books to the lay public. The only reason you've heard of him is b/c you can count the number of black men that have attained physics degrees at Harvard and Columbia on one hand.

Oh ya and b/c he was the favorite of another celebrity pseudo-scientist entertainer (Carl Sagan).

Originally posted by ShockTruther
This man is talking about serious, thought provoking theories and the audience reacts by laughing like a bunch of idiots... Drooling morons indeed.

People were laughing because some of what he was saying was said in a humorous manner. Stop being so serious.

I think Neil DeGrasse tyson is in the same league as Richard feynman and Carl sagan in his ability to capture an audience's imagination. That was a great talk, nice find....

War is completely natural, noble or not, whats does a person with power want? More power.
I just hope we don't pose a big enough threat to any advanced race that they have mercy on us.

""He attracts people so he can get publicity, push his agenda, receive more undeserved awards, and sell books. ""


Thats pretty much everyone though not just him.

I can't listen to the video right now. However, based on what I can read I have a good idea what he is saying in the clip. I think that giving us the means of a superior alien race meaning technologies and advanced manipulation of energy would be like giving matches to a kid. Indeed, all of our advancements ie. gun powder, nuclear energy, study of psychology, gene manipulation, etc can be used for good or evil. Great things have come out of it but, our emotions are still what clouds our intelligence. Greed, search for glory, jealousy, gluttony to name of few are what drives the intelligence of a few. These few are enough to launch wars, create disease and manipulates peoples opinions and thoughts for the lesser evil punishing all the rest of us who just want to live fairly and freely. I know good exists in the universe and right here on earth, I have faith it does. However, I don't think they are fully in control right now.
So, yea I think aliens are holding back to share their secrets for obvious reasons. We are not ready for such advancements. To much of a big leap for certain and would temp the few to use it for their own selfish ends. Think about it: some aspire to dominate the world! How can you be a peace loving being when you aspire to that? Then we hope aliens will share their technologies. I for one hope not because in the wrong hands this would spell disaster. We need to be more at peace with each other first. Kinda like we have to spiritually grow before our brains can follow with the good knowledge. Peace

Hmmmmmm .....................an entirely pedestrian set of ideas, that any intelligent 14 yr old would know, but presented with a polished intellectual seeming showman style.

And yes - people are falling over themselves to say how brilliant this man is!

Originally posted by JohhnyBGood
Hmmmmmm .....................an entirely pedestrian set of ideas, that any intelligent 14 yr old would know, but presented with a polished intellectual seeming showman style.

And yes - people are falling over themselves to say how brilliant this man is!

I think it's his attitude...

he has the capability to get more people into it than Sagan even, connecting with a wider age group imo.

First of all, I have never heard of the theory of Panspermia and I'm glad I heard it from this man. This man, is absolutely brilliant. Not to mentioon hilarious, I just wonder what the 1^'s will think about him. He will probably have his theory put on a fridge

I must have missed the 'disturbing' part of the presentation.

I understand it is not the OP's words, but where is the disturbing part?

Oh awesome. Its nice to put a personality to the "we got a badass over here" meme.
He presents everything in an understandable fashion and i like it.
I'm wouldn't stick with the panspermia theory though. I mean, for marsian rocks to reach earth after a meteor hit would require a pretty damn precise trajectory, but still - its possible.