I saw Neil deGrasse Tyson last night. His lecture didn't have a title (that I know of) but he said that by the end of the evening we would understand that this was The End of America as we know it. He actually talked about how the failure to focus on science leads to the downfall of the society as a world/intellectuall power.
It was a fascinating lecture, where he talked about the importance of science in the cultures/countries around the world. He pointed out that the "golden age of Islam" was from 800-1100 AD, and Baghdad was the scientific center of the world, where people of varied religions (including atheists) could come and discuss scientific and mathematical concepts. From this came huge advances in science and math, while at the same time in Europe, they were killing witches.
Here is a good video of Dr. Tyson talking. It's not the subject of the lecture I saw, although there is a lot of it that was the same. Like all his stuff, it's really good. It's an hour long (and there are a couple of commercials) but it's well worth your time.
After the presentation, it was announced that Dr. Tyson would be autographing copies of his book(s) in the lobby. I didn't have any of my copies with me (didn't think this one through), but decided to get in line anyway. When Beenie found out that I would be going, he asked me to ask Dr. Tyson a question for him. I told him that I didn't think I would get that chance, but had him write it down anyway. Here was that chance.
I got in the (huge!!!) line, and waited patiently. When I got to the table, I asked him Beenie's question - "If you were to send uranium into a black hole, would it spaghettify and cause a nuclear explosion?" Dr. Tyson told me that it would spaghettify, but it wouldn't cause a nuclear explosion. I then asked if he would autograph the question for me to give to Beenie. He said of course, and to make sure that I continued to encourage him in his scientific curiosity. He even volunteered to answer the question in writing on the paper for Beenie.
The thing I found the most interesting is what Dr. Tyson did next - he felt the paper. Determining the texture of the paper, he then selected the appropriate pen from the several he had on the table and signed the question. Very cool.
It was a fascinating lecture, where he talked about the importance of science in the cultures/countries around the world. He pointed out that the "golden age of Islam" was from 800-1100 AD, and Baghdad was the scientific center of the world, where people of varied religions (including atheists) could come and discuss scientific and mathematical concepts. From this came huge advances in science and math, while at the same time in Europe, they were killing witches.
Here is a good video of Dr. Tyson talking. It's not the subject of the lecture I saw, although there is a lot of it that was the same. Like all his stuff, it's really good. It's an hour long (and there are a couple of commercials) but it's well worth your time.
After the presentation, it was announced that Dr. Tyson would be autographing copies of his book(s) in the lobby. I didn't have any of my copies with me (didn't think this one through), but decided to get in line anyway. When Beenie found out that I would be going, he asked me to ask Dr. Tyson a question for him. I told him that I didn't think I would get that chance, but had him write it down anyway. Here was that chance.
I got in the (huge!!!) line, and waited patiently. When I got to the table, I asked him Beenie's question - "If you were to send uranium into a black hole, would it spaghettify and cause a nuclear explosion?" Dr. Tyson told me that it would spaghettify, but it wouldn't cause a nuclear explosion. I then asked if he would autograph the question for me to give to Beenie. He said of course, and to make sure that I continued to encourage him in his scientific curiosity. He even volunteered to answer the question in writing on the paper for Beenie.
The thing I found the most interesting is what Dr. Tyson did next - he felt the paper. Determining the texture of the paper, he then selected the appropriate pen from the several he had on the table and signed the question. Very cool.
