“I have way too many slides,” opens Neil de Grasse Tyson on the stage of the Ohio Theatre. The man is nothing if not honest.
What did he not talk about to a packed house?
* The demotion of Pluto from planet to dirty iceball.
But he’s maybe the only guy in the universe who can make the periodic table of elements seem fascinating.
What did he discuss? In detail, with humor and humility and intelligence?
* Why countries speak certain languages.
* Why scientists are pictures on certain countries’ currency (naming rights) & why is there no sign on our currency that Ben Franklin was a scientist.
* Why are 2/3 of the known stars named in Arabic? They thrived during the years 800-1100 when most stars were discovered.
* Why are 25% of all science Nobel Prize winners are Jewish? They value science, technology, engineering & math.
* Why did only .5% of the Nobel Prizes in science go to Muslims? What secrets lie undiscovered because Muslims are not participating in scientific discovery since 1100?
* Why are Americans so afraid of the number 13 that all all our elevators are missing the 13th floor?
* Why a politician can’t change their view 360 percent on an issue.
* Why Katrina didn’t cause the levees to break in New Orleans? Faulty engineering caused it.
* Why the asteroid Apophis, when it hits the our country, will take out most of the West Coast of the U.S..
* Why if you won’t bend over to pick up less than a quarter, Bill Gates won’t pick up less than $45,000.
If you get a chance to be in the presence of Neil de Grasse Tyson, take it. It’s like spending time with the world’s best science teacher.
Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson was presented as part of the William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage series at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square on 9/21/10. Next up is Jeannette Walls on 10/26/10, author of “The Glass Castle,” and “Half Broke Horses: A True Life Novel.” http://www.WritersCenterStage.org