Neil deGrasse Tyson Uses Aliens To Make Points About Our Human Perspective

In this new book, "Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization," Neil deGrasse Tyson challenges readers to imagine they are extraterrestrials peering down at Earth and observing our world without any of the preconceived notions we humans possess. Check out Neil's book, available now wherever books are sold! #Colbert #StarryMessenger #NeildeGrasseTyson
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the premier late night talk show on CBS, airing at 11:35pm EST, streaming online via Paramount+, and delivered to the International Space Station on a USB drive taped to a weather balloon. Every night, viewers can expect: Comedy, humor, funny moments, witty interviews, celebrities, famous people, movie stars, bits, humorous celebrities doing bits, funny celebs, big group photos of every star from Hollywood, even the reclusive ones, plus also jokes.

[@chckkt893]

It's always a free day of work for Stephen when Neil is on the show 😂😂

[@petercolbert7953]

Hello I really appreciate your love and support over my dad career.

[@ThoughtfulPotato]

You should go check out the top comment on his episode with Joe Rogan!! It's essentially what you said but about Joe - when he wants a day off, he calls Neil Tyson so that he can just chill!

[@AMpufnstuf]

@@ThoughtfulPotato If by chill you mean be interrupted forty times and insulted seven times by Neil Tyson, yeah the hosts definitely get to "chill". This guy is an awful interview. Very much a modern Bill Nye. All factoids, arguments from authority and arrogance. But science or deep conversation? He's not selling that, he's selling My Simplifications For Dummies books for ten years now.

[@1D.JFanMma]

Keegan Micheal key is disappointed with you 😢

[@robertbouchard6719]

@@ThoughtfulPotato Yeah, but only for the stupid people watching the show....

[@Auroramcfarmland]

I swear, every bit of space news we get instantly makes me feel like a little kid again.

[@vryusvin3905]

It is a good time for us.

[@cheliozz3048]

I only trust space news from Neil! xD

[@PhysicsHonors]

Why?

[@WhatCanSmith]

That should tell you something

[@MarcoZamora]

@@cheliozz3048 That's what Neil is telling us not to do: the fallacy of authority. What he's pointing out is that we should be healthily skeptical, particularly of appeals to authority. I know you may have said this tongue-in-cheek, but I thought it would be good to point out.

[@nathanshritt997]

I love how every conversation with Neil is just "OH AND BY THE WAY!" every 30 seconds

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Peter Colbert 🙄 Let me guess....you want money? Scammers with bot accounts. 🙄

[@richardtheriault9121]

Strait lines are difficult in the web of knowledge...too many things are massively connected.

[@petercolbert7953]

@@daniellamcgee4251 I don't need your money am just appreciating everyone the view my dad show that all how dare you call me scamm

[@Joshua-dc4un]

His enthusiasm for science and thinking is contagious

[@petercolbert7953]

Hello sir I really appreciate your love and support over my dad career.

[@robertbouchard6719]

Too bad he's a rapist...

[@mattdavis3741]

he’s the main influence for why I'm now studying astrophysics and that started around 10 months after I broke my back. What does that say about him haha

[@germscamacho8362]

Imagine an alien watching humans trying to justify a massive killing of sentient beings just for a meal that can be sustitute by an alternative and saying "I love animals". Then, going to an hypotetical alien scenario so you can detach from what is really happening. Dont get too contagious.

[@HopDavid]

His fans have been infected with with enthusiasm for science? Then why is so few of his fans notice when he botches basic physics? I guess this enthusiasm doesn't excite them enough to open a textbook and actually study math or science. Regarding sentient plants being pissed off that we slaughter plants. You have to slaughter 16 pounds of plants to make one pound of meat. So the meat eaters crime against plants is 16 times that of those who eat plants directly.

[@a-aron2276]

People fight about stupid stuff, a Change of perspective among the general public is definitely needed.

[@JudgeDredd_]

I say this all the time. The young and ignorant part of me gets upset and angry in traffic. Then I realize how little any of this matters. I’ve started letting cars in, cutting me off, whatever. I just want to get to my destination in one piece and keep on living. I’d still say traffic is one of my biggest pet peeves hahaha

[@maximumpotential3796]

@@JudgeDredd_ Maybe the reason you (and me) gets pissed off in traffic is we follow the rules, while others violate the rules and we are left helpless on the fact that most of them will never get punished for it, while we have to witness it on a daily basis. I would like a "Judge Dredd" to identify and give punishments to those kind of people.

[@bregancool980]

Never leave Colbert when Neil Degrasse Tyson is a guest!

[@petercolbert7953]

Hello I really appreciate your love and support over my dad career.

[@malarbusto]

Loved Neil's passion. But I don't think there are many vegetarians who have not had the same thought processes about plants. Whatever we do to reduce our impact and our cruelty is just that, reduction (not eradication).

[@VasilPoleganov]

I too was surprised by his extremely amateur and shallow analysis. You would expect more from a life long academic. This goes to show what mental gymnastics humans are likely to use in order not to give up their pleasure inducing habits.

[@VasilPoleganov]

@Memes Risos I agree. This particular instance wasn't about lacking expertise, it was about personal bias. The argument he made can be refuted by a smart 5th grader, and I'm not exaggerating.

[@ArtsyIslandGirlJamaicanVlogs]

@@VasilPoleganov I'm sure you're smarter than a 5th grader. Please refute it 🙏 🥺

[@someguy2135]

@@ArtsyIslandGirlJamaicanVlogs Vegans don't claim to be perfect. The definition of veganism by The Vegan Society (established in 1944) follows- "a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude-as far as is possible and practicable-all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals.” Neil is ignoring or is ignorant of the fact that "possible and practicable" rules out any ideas of completely avoiding incidental harm to non-human animals.

[@someguy2135]

@@ArtsyIslandGirlJamaicanVlogs Dr. Tyson implied that vegans are responsible for deforestation. Almost everyone lives in houses that include wood from trees, not just vegans. Animal agriculture is a major cause of deforestation. "While the wildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest may constitute an “international crisis,” they are hardly an accident. The vast majority of the fires have been set by loggers and ranchers to clear land for cattle. The practice is on the rise, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s populist pro-business president, who is backed by the country’s so-called “beef caucus.” While this may be business as usual for Brazil’s beef farmers, the rest of the world is looking on in horror. So, for those wondering how they could help save the rainforest, known as “the planet’s lungs” for producing about 20% of the world’s oxygen, the answer may be simple. Eat less meat."- CNN Another reason they burn the Amazon is to grow soy. "More than three-quarters (77%) of global soy is fed to livestock for meat and dairy production. Most of the rest is used for biofuels, industry or vegetable oils. Just 7% of soy is used directly for human food products such as tofu, soy milk, edamame beans, and tempeh." -Our World in Data

[@EthanShalev]

The question is not, does it grow, or have a beating heart. The question is - does it suffer?

[@jenniek8391]

Animals are sentient beings that suffer, yes.

[@clips7701]

@@jenniek8391 and plants are living things and are key pieces of our well-being

[@clips7701]

as well*

[@KazimirQ7G]

... and we could just be not smart enough to detect and understand plants feelings.

[@EthanShalev]

@@KazimirQ7G you're not wrong. But: 1. We know for a fact that animals suffer. So between knowing and speculating, the choice is clear. 2. More importantly, in order for us to eat one pound of animal based protein, many pounds of plants need to be harvested. So if we really are concerned about the potential suffering of plants, then eating them directly, rather than passing them through the gut of a cow, is still the more humane course of action.

[@jackallen9045]

I wish Neil was a weekly guest! He is so passionate and knowledgeable.

[@updem]

He has a podcast called star talk.

[@jackallen9045]

Thanks for sharing that with me! 😉

[@cabetoescobar]

Yes! More Neil please!!!!!!!!

[@siegfriedverheijke]

He is not knowledgeable about the relationship between diet and the health of humans and our planet, or veganism. He is either absolutely clueless about it, or he is a hypocrite. He is using false comparisons all over the place. It's sad to see.

[@christophertownsend3820]

@@siegfriedverheijke he is pointing out the hypocrisy between popular movements and their actual participation in a global reality of our daily choices and the resulting impact. It is sad when actual intelligence is dismissed over semantics about examples that are meant to be relatable not arguments about lifestyle. He even said as much as he began his rant.

[@McBinnagin]

I almost felt bad for Stephen for not having much room to talk about what he wanted to talk about, but oh my goodness it's so awesome to see Neil passionately talk about what he wants to talk about, he stole the show and I'm glad he did. 10/10 guest

[@KimberlyBishh]

Ari melber interviewed him and it's very very good too

[@bryanporinski5308]

its okay he's there every night

[@CADguru78]

Stephen said it the more you talk the less I have to work. Basically Neil just needs an audience, he sits down and has things he finds profound and hopes you do too. I love the guy!

[@dtschuor459]

@@CADguru78 My mother, just recently passed, always spoke of him with such reverence. Quoted him, “you knuw what Neil Degrasse Tyson said…” Yeah, he is a national treasure. Glad he gets so much exposure 🗿😘🙌

[@derrekvanee4567]

Neil does that.

[@alexanderroloff8093]

His idea with the world leaders is actually a great idea to me. It really would change the view of the Earth and humanity that could really lead to us improving our life for everyone on this planet.

[@Physicsrodrigo]

Shut up. My tribe Will steal your land and your resources. Me no like tribe with -loff. In surname.

[@vh8542]

Nah they'd find a different meaning to it and personally exploit it.

[@heather2418]

@@vh8542 Definitely the most likely scenario. If they don't manage to kill each other up there first.

[@nknh]

I like this idea too, but instead of bringing them back, we should send them into space and leave them floating out there.

[@DianeWilliams]

@@nknh nah, we'll just make more.😬

[@SirSlimPickens]

Here's what I love about Neil DeGrasse Tyson. A.) He's infuriatingly smart. I've never, not been impressed with what he knows. B.) Not only as a scientist but as a person in general he's funny. Quick witted and can get in a joke during the most serious of conversations. C.) He's an amazing story teller. His grammar and inflections are so well formulated you can't help but be enthralled by whatever it is he's talking about even if you don't understand or can't fully follow all what he's saying. D.) His passion for what he's discussing is intoxicating. Not only can you hear it, you can feel it too. Every time I hear him talk, regardless of the situation, he makes me want to learn more about whatever the subject is or just science as a whole. He is, and forever will be, just a flat out joy to listen to.

[@mptyalln]

E.) He cuts off people when he speak due to his huge ego and narcissism.

[@user-sg6ii3eo9i]

​@@mptyalln Yeah yeah no one cares, hes very fun to watch, and his stories are interesting.

[@itubecollection1623]

​@@mptyallnthere is always somebody salty

[@thubelihlezondi5822]

Neil is out of his mind. I love it.

[@boarder6246]

I wouldn’t want him any other way!

[@norberto6005]

why is he tho? he made really good points... it is totally acceptable to eat vegetables plants fruits etc but if u dare to eat meat u r a murderer.... how is that fair?

[@dHolbach77]

Well, he is a Neil is a chronic sexual assaulter & rapist. Look into it: there's plenty of evidence (including from way before he was famous for the conspiracy/cynical nuts who think women want to go public with something like that for money) and a rational person should dispassionately come to the conclusion that these multiple women are not lying (sexual assault claims are only fabricated about 2 to 3% of the time, which is literally within the statistical margin of error. Believe Women).

[@theduder2617]

@@norberto6005 It is considered fair by some because of how humans define "alive" vs "living". Despite us having solid measurements of clear signals being sent throughout a plant that was injured in some way, just because plants do not talk, move around, or communicate with us directly, we humans do not consider plants to be "alive". We see them as "living", not actually alive. Shoot, we do not even hold ANY feelings toward "alive" beings which DO feel pain. Earthworms for example. We will, without hesitation, insert a steel hook all the way through the center of a worm's body from mouth to anus, without so much as a thought. We actually SEE the worm's reaction to pain, yet we keep on shoving the hook through. To consider humans "fair" when it comes to life in general is sadly rather inaccurate of a consideration.

[@iy3165]

He is on fire lol

[@davidsymons6426]

Neil needs to do the Colbert Questionnaire!

[@MrFancyFingers]

I don’t know, Neil is pretty loquacious, we pretty much know exactly who he is.

[@ClayLoomis1958]

He may have already done it. Usually, Stephen plays those bits later when he has a day off from the studio. If you watch, you'll see a guest on his regular show, then a month or 6 weeks later, you'll see the Colbert Questionnaire segment with that same guest, in the same clothes they wore on the earlier appearance.

[@MrAmazing00]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqLdin-vqNlsaMU

[@nepzraaz]

Man if only all educators are like him. Absolutely Love Dr. Tyson

[@Deerych]

I wish he was my teacher in K-12!!!!

[@VictorHernandez-cz1be]

I love how much fun Neil always has during these interviews 😂😂😂

[@MsTigerseye77]

He turns into a giggling big kid! Reminds you that growing up doesn't mean you give up enjoyment in life.

[@MarchOnRome]

100% on Adderall, like I'd bet any amount of money on it. It's so obvious lol.

[@masterchinese28]

Always one of my favorite guests. Always a fascinating perspective with humor and insite.

[@rodmackinnon2995]

Insight. Just sayin'.

[@masterchinese28]

@@rodmackinnon2995 Yes! Good catch. Insight :)

[@meganbyrne2138]

Not me. Never watch when he’s on. Every time he’s on I get sad that Stephen allows this. The man has multiple credible rape allegations. I don’t know what the proper action is but continuing to allow this man on his show isn’t it. Another example of how cancel culture isn’t real.

[@Heatherfether]

@@meganbyrne2138 get your facts straight. Neil has been married for decades and doesn't engage in those types of situations or even put himself in those situations. You are mistaken. You must be thinking about someone else! The woman who accused him also claimed to be enrolled in the same graduate program as Tyson... But no one can find what she was ever enrolled. She is not credible and the only one I could find who hasn't retracted their statements.

[@HopDavid]

@@Heatherfether get your facts straight. Tchiya Amet was indeed Neil's fellow student at the University of Texas graduate program. Neil acknowledged having a relationship with her but said it was consensual. Ashley Watson has not retracted her story. And Neil has corroborated it. Watson was up for a promotion. Neil invited her to a private evening at his apartment. When she showed up Neil was partially dressed. He served her wine and cheese. He was playing a seductive song by Nina Simone and kept repeating the line "do I make you quiver". He showed her an Indian handshake. Watson did not get the promotion and resigned/quit within a few days. An older married man hitting on a younger engaged woman is creepy but not a career destroying offense. However Neil was evidently trying to hold Watson's career hostage. This abuse of power should have gotten Neil fired. By saying Watson retracted her accusations you are implying Watson was lying. You are bearing false witness against Watson. So far as I know, none of Neil's accusers have retracted their stories.

[@strawbarry7834]

when he talked about launching the world leaders into space, I thought he might suggest pointing them towards the sun. "And thus, the cosmic balance is restored." - NdT, probably.

[@michellejester9734]

I instantly thought about Star Wars and all of the leaders gathered

[@jimmyispromo]

He's so passionate on a casual conversation. Imagine when he's REALLY into it.

[@Maya_Pinion]

I know! He's a trip.

[@realitywave]

I think he has only that one speed for everything. :)

[@cdsecor]

This morning, after watching this before work I looked up and saw the moon peeking through the color of dawn and thought "one day sooner than later lines will be drawn on the moon like maps of the Earth... but it will always look like the one I've known my whole life". I love how these two get the thinking juices flowing 🥰

[@dr.crypto1212]

Neil deGrasse Tyson rules! Loved his story about him meeting Carl Sagan as a young boy in another interview. He sure carries on the torch handed to him after Sagan died. Not only the series Cosmos but also to educate the public in a way even I can understand!

[@dHolbach77]

Sagan in his personal life was not a very good person (arrogant, fantastic temper, cold, ignored loved ones, etc...read biographies about him) but at least he wasn't an actual rapist* like Tyson. Sagan deserved better than Tyson running around pretending to be the next Sagan...Sabine Hossenfelder is much better, and she isn't ignorant of the philosophy of science which is superior to mere science anyway as it provides deeper explanations/is more unlimited in explanatory power (also, a lot of "science" really is philosophy of science...done poorly by scientists who lack the intelligence/training to be philosophers and don't even realize that they are doing philosophy of science, and, worse, often just devolve into nonsensical, unmoored speculation that they erroneously think are valid ideas or conjectures). *Neil is a chronic sexual assaulter & rapist. Look into it: there's plenty of evidence (including from way before he was famous for the conspiracy/cynical nuts who think women want to go public with something like that for money) and a rational person should dispassionately come to the conclusion that these multiple women are not lying (sexual assault claims are only fabricated about 2 to 3% of the time, which is literally within the statistical margin of error. Believe Women).

[@aphotosyntheticworld]

He's a great ambassador for science but he has way too big an ego to even be in the same breath as Sagan who was humble as hell.

[@porfiriato84]

Dude quit w the copy paste comment smh

[@TomRathborne]

Sagan would have grown an ego like that, too, in a world like this one.

[@odradekk]

Sagan was a socialist, like Einstein.

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

To be fair Neil, there are tree farms that are planted specifically to be used for lumber. We're not out clear cutting 100+ year old forests for 2x4s from Lowes.

[@johnhipp8267]

Nor anymore we're not.

[@kathrynwilson5201]

Yes we are. Sorry. Research

[@snuffysmif9801]

Tell that to that nutjob, Bolsonaro who, for profit, is clear-cutting a great deal of our CO2 collection & oxygen supply from rain forrests on Brazilian indigenous lands.

[@dannac_8888]

The Amazon Forest just entered the chat...

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

If you can find construction lumber cut from trees harvested in the amazon rain forest, let me know. I'll reiterate, we're not clear cutting forests for construction lumber. With the rate we're building homes, there wouldn't be any forest left.

[@katrinacole6741]

I love Neil. His show years ago, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey truly peaked my now "geek out" for all things space I love him. He explains all things space so the common man can understand.

[@user-wp4jk2or8w]

Sustainable forestry is a real thing. We don’t have to cut old growth forests. Trees are a renewable and easily managed resource.

[@cefngwyn]

I freaking love both of these guys! One makes you laugh, the other makes you think and then laugh.

[@arobatto]

Mr. Tyson’s zeal and enthusiasm is contagious and I’m fully infected!

[@JWentu]

Baby carrots are just pieces of a fully-grown, regular adult carrot, cut into two-inch fragments by a machine. Once cut up, another machine rounds off the edges, so that the carrots end up looking like the ones you buy at the grocery store. (internet says so... it must be true) They are not infant carrots

[@Derekzparty]

You will have plenty of time to explain that to the space plant aliens!

[@aleckelsey2663]

Neil is such an enthusiastic learner and inspiring lecturer.

[@jansteuart9396]

Just give me a week of listening to Neil and I shall die laughing and filled with the cosmos

[@HopDavid]

Filled with B.S. more like it. A lot of what Neil says is wrong.

[@RealBradMiller]

Oh Jan, you were the cosmos the whole time!!

[@jimmystewart1974]

@@RealBradMiller oh brad you are the cosmos.

[@jimmystewart1974]

Jan You can watch his channel #startalk you know just saying

[@barath4545]

Startalk on KZbin (he even answers questions if you aren't a dick and have something reasonbly to ask) Or watch the series Cosmos (2014) and the new Cosmos series, but the new one is hard to find.

[@darkbrandongamer]

Watching Neil go full on nerd is what I'm here for. That guy is one of the smartest humans on the planet.

[@defikidsmusic]

And his perspectives are pretty much outta this wOrld.

[@dutchwhitlock9341]

Every time I listen to him, I end up going into an out-of-body experience just contemplating what he talks about lol

[@heffo67]

And he's very entertaining and very likeable. The dude is a legend!

[@RandomNooby]

He is a fairly average astrophysicist, but is however exceptional at translating to non-experts in an educational and informative manner.

[@rlud304]

How many international smart humans do you know of?

[@sudipchatterjee]

Neil’s the best guest on any talk show! Love him! Humbleness, rationality, and childlike enthusiasm are his forte. But it is his craziness for which I love him!

[@Ajs3371]

Just to offer another perspective: wood/lumber framing as building construction is the most sustainable method of construction we have, WAY more than steel and WAY more than concrete.

[@Sarsour_]

What a pleasant man to listen to. Love the guy and his personality!

[@richardeljay]

Brilliant, passionate, articulate and damning of our selfish way of life and dreadful over exploitation of nature.

[@nicholassmith2159]

Beyond the monologue I barely watch. But this. Worth it

[@whaleymom76]

My house is made of stone; I've had a mouse living in my room for years; and I've been a vegetarian most of my life. I thought I was solid on my embracing of the importance of preserving life. Since it's now been made quite clear that eating plants is brutal also (even though my Celtic heritage had already taught me that plants have feelings and "souls" also), I'd say weight loss won't be a problem anymore because I'm reasonably certain Styrofoam doesn't have calories.

[@alexkaapa]

well plants have no soul and no feelings, so eating them is in no way brutal. the prcoess of harvesting them can be, but on that front meat is still worse, because they are fed cops that we grow and harvest brutally, and in waaay larger numbers

[@heather2418]

@@alexkaapa I would not be so sure about that 'no soul' and 'no feelings' part. I'm fairly sure everything alive has a soul of some sort. And feelings would be quite hard to determine. They may not have human feelings, but you can't prove they don't have a plant version of feelings.

[@echepr]

So you destroyed a mountain to build your stone house? I dare you.

[@alexkaapa]

@@heather2418 everything we know about feelings is tied to a nervous system. plants don't have one. also, feelings like pain has a function evolutionarily, in this case to make you avoid certain behaviours and actions that cause this pain. plants don't really have a capacity to avoid anything, because they typically can't move. so there is already a question as to why pain WOULD even arise in plants. yes, we can't know for certain because feelings are per definition subjective, but with the assumption that they feel specifically pain doesn't rest on any solid basis.

[@chelok7805]

@@alexkaapa how do you know that plants don’t have a nervous system to feel? A nervous system sends signals to the brain through receptors. When the sun shines, the leaves open up, when it is cold they shrink or roll up. They react to heat and to cold. Flowers open up when it is warm, closing when it is night time and cold. some plants react when you touch it. Some plants develop defense mechanism if you cut or hurt them. Some react to sounds and some to movements. They change colour when they are sick, they bloom bright and colourful when they are healthy. How do they do that if they don’t have receptors which connects to a whole system, hence a nervous system? You make it too easy for yourself.

[@glomontero6011]

I love Neil’s mind! I’m getting his book asap

[@Snaakie83]

You can find his audiobook here on YT... It's glorious.

[@Kim_Miller]

I've never seen Neil so manic. He's like an eight year old telling his Mum about seeing a Roy Rogers movie back about 1960. 🙂

[@Farmhandjosh]

Mania and happiness are often confused. Passion is also mistaken for mania.

[@luciditykitty2960]

I think we need more passionately positive people. Goodness knows, we have enough maniacs in the world today who are definitely not positive, but greedy and immoral.

[@michaelvaladez6570]

Buck Rodgers...

[@TheLemon333]

I'll take animated over calculated any day.

[@lexyswope]

I saw Gene Autry on stage at the Corn Palace.

[@planetdearth6371]

The passion is unmatched. If every teacher was like this we'd have reached other galaxies by now.

[@ladykatnip7698]

Zucchini bit was hilarious 🤣This is one reason I love listening to Neil's podcast because to paraphrase a cosmic perspective is just another way of a the things you know. It isn't about what's true and not true, or what you believe, it is about mentally exploring other possibilities.

[@BrosNecessaryVideosOfficial]

that quick "ah je comprend" lool

[@danzwku]

Just goes to show you that you can intelligent and educated on one topic, but not another. Nobody's right about everything folks!

[@danzwku]

nope

[@SammieMousie]

@@davidrele I think he's implying that his mouse theory is flawed.

[@danzwku]

Who was describing him as occasionally unintelligent?

[@justinwoodward3413]

There’s a difference between scientific fact and opinion. Sometimes he mixes the two because he bases his life on science. But the man reserves the right to offer a perspective on something free from absolute truth, if for nothing else but to get you to think.

[@jamestragle9504]

Two of the best humanity has to offer on stage together.

[@emailperusahaan4721]

niel is the only person whom i could listen all day and not get bored. how can he do that ? hahahaha

[@Wis_Dom]

Me too. He makes science fun

[@stupidveganworld]

Yea, lol, his comments on sentient plants coming from another planet. That was pretty entertaining. Like I’m going to make my decision based on that.

[@Rolf-farmedfacts-supervisor]

Norway NEEDS their own Neil! Wooooow!!

[@wfryco9246]

Neil deGrasse Tyson "went there" on vegetarianism, with not one but two of the silliest, least informed, most juvenile rhetorical arguments I have ever heard. Love the space bus idea though.

[@HM-ob7ju]

The mouse/tree argument was weird. You can care about both at the same time. Also, people only pick male zucchini flowers to eat and leave enough to fertilize the female ones.

[@dorkwell]

I agree. However, it's simply an exercise in expanding your considerations with anything you do. Teaching how to think, rather than what. Veg/vegan isn't the target, rationalisation is, and that applies to us all.

[@wfryco9246]

@@dorkwell I understand that's the framing, but the actual exercise seemed purely reductive--like a conversation with as toddler--all for the low bar we call entertainment. Perhaps the book is more thoughtful. Hackneyed arguments of whether it is better to release a mouse, snap its neck, or let it live in your basement feels like scraping the floor philosophically. I get it, it's a late night talk show, but Neil is normally so thoughtful, erudite. Maybe I'm wrong. It sounded to me like Neil's doctor recently told him he cut down on red meat.

[@farmergiles1065]

Well, NGT is opinionated. But his scientific opinions are well-founded. And his scientific ideas are worth considering because of his expertise. (Love the space bus idea!) And otherwise his opinions are usually entertaining, and some are thought-provoking. What do you want? An oracle? Just take him with a grain of salt. In moderate doses then, because salt ... Nah. Don't go there.

[@Ruintheus]

@@wfryco9246 Something tells me you have a special relationship with vegetables that you haven't divulged yet in your comments. It's the emotional barrier that screams out for you to respond that should be temporarily muted first before you consider these ideas. You don't have to change what you think. But you should, at the very least, consider the matter from another perspective, wholly bought into the idea rather than merely as an exercise in thought. That's what NDT is saying here, man. It's like you walked the road a little bit, enough to see the signs further down the road and then said, "alright well I can see into the horizon and the signs from where I'm standing so I'm not going to bother going all the way.". You've stopped yourself from engaging yourself in a mental walk for what? Some emotional reason? A limitation of the imagination? Be braver. Don't hold onto any idea so dearly that you wouldn't discard it in the face of a better, more advanced (or in NDT's words, "informed") one.

[@JuanFecit]

If Neil cares about plants and believes that from a cosmic perspective they have as much or more value than sentient beings (including humans), he should keep in mind that animals in farming not only do not feed on air but they are the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon, in addition to the laws of thermodynamics several kilos of plant foods like soy are needed to produce a single kilo of of animal flesh. As Peter Singer pointed out in a conversation with Richard Dawkins, even people who are not believers in deities can retain a prejudiced ethics of the creationist order where the life of human animals is superior to that of other animals.

[@GlennTillema]

Clearly we should make our houses out of mice.

[@RLSchanneltwo]

I could listen to this man forever.

[@S2ZT]

Loved the don't cut the trees rant. Quick question though, what are your best selling books made of again?😂

[@dmcloren]

I'm sure you can buy it in e-book format.

[@davidchrist1037]

There made of knowledge, thoughts, Science, and humor. Their construction material is the same thing they build houses with lumber. The most plentiful and valuable commodity in the world. Next to clean drinking water. Trees absorb c°2, and produce clean oxygen.

[@afg122602]

I love watching interviews with Neil. he is so passionate, informative and entertaining.

[@joycemoore8098]

I could listen to Neil deGrasse Tyson all day long any day of the week.

[@antonydefato]

Day of the Triffids 1962, Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956, and The Thing From Another World 1951, all plant based aliens.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

Little Shop Of Horrors..

[@robertmcmanus636]

Every species associated with humans thrives, even if we consider them pests and weeds. Plants provide us with what we want in the way of food and beauty, etc, which benefits them. Plants WANT you to eat their fruit in order to spread their progeny. In this sense it's difficult to see whether humans are manipulating plants for our needs or whether they are manipulating us.

[@stupidveganworld]

Interesting points. Plants attract animals in nature, and used to attract us. Although now we selectively grow plants.

[@robertmcmanus636]

@@stupidveganworld Actually, many people still harvest some foods directly from nature, such as the black raspberries I pick every July.

[@stupidveganworld]

@@robertmcmanus636 I know. Although we still grow them on a very large scale. It’s still more common to eat ones planted by people.

[@worldpeacepatriot9448]

Absolutely necessary that in order for our species to survive , flourish and evolve toward becoming an enlightened global civilization we need to grow towards a new Cosmic Perspective !

[@Rozemarijn97]

I love how he makes science less remote and more accessible/relatable.

[@johnmclaughlin2392]

I’m always ready to blow the universe off and then this guy comes along and helps me see it in the cheapest way I can understand.

[@barbehrhart]

Ok so it’s not just vegetarians that eat plants

[@rachelmcdonald5370]

Love this man...it becomes difficult to think about the universe and your place in it. But, somehow he makes life simpler.

[@aveb2641]

What if the sentient plants saw all the copies of Neils books? I get the point Neil makes, and I love his wit. I am just surprised Stephen did not point that out.

[@JuliusRCost]

Hi Ave

[@aveb2641]

@@JuliusRCost i wasnt high when i wrote that. Just drunk. Hello Julius.

[@JuliusRCost]

@@aveb2641 oh! Lol funny….. how are you doing now

[@JuliusRCost]

Good morning to you Ave

[@allennopphotography]

"Stephen Spielberg told me in my office" If that's true, man what a legend to even be able to say that lol.

[@andrew348]

Many of his podcast episodes are recorded in his office so it is likely very true

[@Artaimus]

With the mic(book) drop as well!

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

He's told the story at least twice on his podcast, both times with much less fanfare. I think once was to Leighann (I forget her last name, she's a co-host in the old days) and once to Chuck Nice. In one example, he says "I have it on good authority." The other thing he didn't mention was that E.T. is not a plant now; it was originally a plant. He made it sound like E.T. is a plant in the final iteration in the movie lol. And maybe it is, and I misunderstood haha

[@TomRathborne]

I'm going to watch E.T. again with this perspective. It's like watching The Matrix with the "humans are not batteries, but computation units" perspective ... which I had the first time since it was obvious for anyone who understands entropy and computation.

[@utubeSome]

@@Artaimus gold that one 🤣

[@DanielTsosie]

Clearly, the aliens would be like "I AM GROOOOOT!!!"

[@purple_gangyt2275]

winner winner, chicken dinner!!!

[@ivanterrible7362]

"Did you smoke any baby plants to develop this hypothesis?" No answer. I see you Neil.

[@violetqueen450]

I always love when Neil is on! I love the banter between the two of them. This was kind of a mind-blowing visit though!

[@JuliusRCost]

Hi Becky, can i ask you a question if you don’t mind?

[@Josh1OD]

I feel infused with life and joy when I listen to these two.

[@simond.455]

The Late Show with Neil deGrasse Tyson. And Stephen Colbert. They should make this a special without the constraints of a tight schedule.

[@shelleycoopersmith855]

Maybe they could do a podcast series of extended conversations, would be awesome...

[@edgardosantana]

I loved every minute of this. More importantly, this (re)examination of perspective is so essential in these times. Thank you both!

[@kyougruber44]

He is my all time favorite guest on any show!! I can tell Stephen enjoys the back and forth banter with N.D.T.

[@aguynamednathan]

That scientist can PREACH!

[@zenon3021]

that's not a compliment... preachers are anti-intellectual dullards who base their lives around fantasy and feelings (rather than evidence)

[@mauricemitchell4053]

Always entertaining and thought provoking!!!

[@gabrielgozaincolina646]

We all love these guys. Thank you SO MUCH for all the talk, fun and science. I love you guys!!!

[@julieandrews730]

Just love Neil! Have heard him in person and he's just as engaging as this = even more! Am buying his book!

[@krystofdayne]

Neil is funny and charismatic but this whole rant seemed like he just really wanted to go off on vegans and vegetarians 😅

[@jenniek8391]

Yep. He isn't interested in learning and having his mind changed by science. He just loves the sound of his own voice. Carl Sagan would have had a much more enlightened approach to this issue.

[@kiranb814]

Didn’t expect Neil to be presumptuous that all vegetarians are eating vegetables only because they are trying to save animal life. This assumption is fundamentally not true at all. All life on this planet is sustained by consuming another form of life, be it animal life of plant life. Food is basically fuel for our system. It’s only that what’s the best fuel for our system, what fuel makes it efficient. Just experimenting with yourself will reveal it to you. Try vegetarian diet for few weeks and pay attention to how your body and mind feels. See if it feels energized or if it feels like a drag on your system.

[@andresmontgomery5368]

Best advertisement for a book I’ve ever seen, and I love Neil’s passion! And maybe we don’t let the “space bus” come back to Earth?

[@rockyjohnson9243]

He's just awesome. Need to have him on more regularly.

[@dmcloren]

I love Neil's vest!

[@JuliusRCost]

Hi can i ask you a question if you don’t mind?

[@jackie627]

I could listen to him all day.

[@ayhay4686]

The world definitely needs more of Neil Degrass Tyson's optimistic perception of our planet.

[@Emeraldnite-if7vo]

I like how he said that he is just providing perspective and not forcing others to match his way of thinking. I know people in general don't like to be corrected or explained to about how something works, but how else do people learn and make more informed decisions?

[@CoxTalksbyCatSheffler]

This isn’t explaining how anything works, it’s all false equivalence. Vegetarians are far more informed about their decisions than anything “provided” in this argument. Eating meat requires far more deforestation and killing of plants than just eating plants, so his entire point makes no sense.

[@stupidveganworld]

LOL, talking about sentient plants is supposed to be informative?

[@ladydeerheart1]

I've been pointing out that we surround ourselves with dead trees for decades! It's great to hear someone else notice it. He gets clapping and cheers. I did not. I, personally, would rather come upon a planet that slaughtered it's baby carrots than a planet where they've slaughtered all of their animals then hung their heads on the wall for decoration.

[@alexkaapa]

yeah, weird how Neil doesn't understand what sentience, pain, conciousness etc. are. Killing plants is literally amoral.

[@Razorgirl]

No, he’s pointing out the hypocrisy of someone that claims to value life not appreciating all the lives of all the creatures that are killed when trees are cleared for lumber. He wants people to think their moral stances through and to challenge their ideologies to make sure that they stand up to scrutiny, rather than holding onto ideals that they perhaps haven’t thought through. If you have an internally consistent paradigm that can stand up to scrutiny, then you’re not the sort of person he’s talking about.

[@alexkaapa]

@@Razorgirl there is no inconsistency here though that vegans may be committing. either the argument he makes is one from futility, where the suffering a meat eater causes is not worse BECAUSE we all cause some suffering to animals, which is basically a recipe for justifying any and all violent crimes. or he is trying to point out that the amount of suffering that vegans cause with their lifestyles comparable to what meat eaters cause, which is completely baseless. all the things he pointed to was instances where the supposed act of hypocrisy is not something that vegans tend to do worse, let alone exclusively (e.g. 1. if we grant everything he says, setting up humane mouse traps and setting the into the wild is ONLY worse than just letting them live in your house, which is something meat eaters are NOT more likely to do by any stretch. 2. buying a house and all that entails is not suffering that only vegans cause; heck, he even says life in the wild is a lot more dangerous for animals, so wouldn't it be plausible to assume that building a house reduces the overall suffering on that land, ACCORDING TO HIS LOGIC!). he also commits the naturalistic fallacy or commits to utter moral relativism, by pointing to what nature "cares" about. nobody cares what nature "wants", what matters is what causes or reduces suffering. no other action CAN be moral. can we start agreeing on that?

[@victorl3969]

@@alexkaapa I am surprised that a man who is so knowledgeable like Neil still does not understand that the core of the vegan argument is about practically reducing the suffering of animals on the bases that they are sentient. Plants are not sentient.

[@MauroNigro]

stephen got him with one sentence!love it!

[@zenbabe69]

Oh my God! I love Neil deGrasse so hard! Watching him geek out is my favorite thing❤❤

[@Darkmountaindweller]

I enjoy listening to Neil I learn something new everytime.

[@icecub3]

Neil's always such a joy to listen to

[@Jack0fAllTrades]

Amen 🙌

[@NateTheUnGreatful]

Love it when Neil starts spitting facts!

[@jenniek8391]

Which facts are you referring to exactly?

[@nikolinamihaljevic8640]

Best guest every time. Always. Everywhere.

[@Xiannv.]

Now I am so looking forward to reading his book.

[@neilrybadecosul613]

Neil is the moment😍. It's such a treat whenever him and Stephen geek out about our place in the universe.

[@EveryCrazyDay]

This is all great if you’re a vegetarian for moral reasons. For me it’s more than that. It’s the environmental impact. I’m not vegetarian but if I can eat more plants I do. Also eating whole foods would be great. But ya know be a cynic I guess Neil.

[@CatatonicImperfect]

Nah. I love the guy, but that was a weird rant. Clearly he must see that there's a moral case for not killing/make suffer animals just for pleasure i.e. taste. Equating plants to animals in that regard is just dishonest.

[@Funsiestype]

Yeah, Neil went on a weird rant with weird comparisons

[@justinwoodward3413]

@@CatatonicImperfect there’s a huge genetic similarity between most animals and plants, specifically trees and mammals. And we’ve just now come to know of a level of consciousness we can’t fully understand between mycelium and all the plants around them. So I don’t think it’s super dishonest to make comparisons between them.

[@desireeholloway3353]

I love when NGT is on this show. It’s so much fun watching these two together. They should have their own show. Just fun discussion and excitement. 🤗💜😁🧬🌎💫🌈

[@cumincalamity9867]

Wow, Neil's point about mice just made me realize and analogy: a mouse in your house is like a refugee trying to escape a dangerous and war torn country by crossing the border into your (relatively) safe country. Releasing him back into the wild is like deporting him. I never thought about it that way.

[@akhilpremk]

Aren’t fruits and vegetables meant to appetizing to animals so that they would consume it and spread the seed? Sounds like this guy got into an argument with a vegan and wrote a chapter of his book out of resentment.

[@thomasfarrenkopf7292]

When there is a genuine relationship between Stephen and his guest, it's easy to see. Every time NDT comes on, we can see the friendship that exists between these two people. Likewise, when Stephen has a guest he wants nothing to do with, it's just as easy to spot. Thanks, NDT for keeping it real... real depressing. lol

[@edithdlp8045]

When Neil speaks everyone listens because everything he says is so amazing.

[@thomasmleahy6218]

Mr Tyson, excellent presentation, and I admire your mental prowess and agility whilst interacting with Mr Colbert 👍👍

[@levelcapgames8524]

When those two are together, the information delivered (in a freaking funny way) is guaranteed.

[@yawoelevn]

This guy is just brilliant

[@ursidae8619]

I can listen to Neil deGrasse Tyson all day, the guy is a treasure to America, good stuff.

[@johancakep]

There's got to be 2 hours of uncut version of this interview and I want it now.