Neil deGrasse Tyson

Could you travel to the past and visit Julius Caesar? Could you travel to the year 4000 and see what the future is like? Find out about the possibilities and paradoxes of time travel. Time marches on except in astrophysics. Einstein taught us that time is a coordinate in space, and it's all relative. Learn about the weird physics of our universe that could make time travel possible. Standing in for Lynne Koplitz this week is J. Richard Gott, author...

This year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of the first telescope. On this week's show, we reflect on how telescopes have changed our perception of our place in the universe, how small we are in size, space and time. Our guests include Dava Sobel, author of The Planets, Vatican Astronomer Father Chris Corbally, and astronaut Paul Richards. We also discuss how they help astronomers discover new and interesting aspects of the universe, from...

Viewers should brace themselves for a fascinating trip through dimensions higher than their own. They will discover how quantum physics and string theory have opened eyes to the possibilities of quantum foam, the multiverse, and antimatter. Join Professor Tyson for a preview of the fate of the universe (including the collision of galaxies, the burning out of stars, and the decay of orbits into black holes).

Shoot off into the stars for an investigation of some perplexing aspects of space that science has uncovered in the last half-century. Learn about the mysterious trajectory of the Pioneer spacecraft (known as the 'Pioneer anomaly'). Explore two of the longest-standing problems in modern astrophysics: dark matter and dark energy. And even try to map out the shape of space-time itself.

Asking questions is a tried-and-true component of scientific thinking. Neil talks about the processes behind informed skepticism as well as how to evaluate incoming scientific data.

Join Professor Tyson on a fascinating investigation of the possible origins of life in the universe. Why was Jupiter believed to be a good environment for life in the 17th century? Why is there only one single 'tree of life' on Earth instead of multiple ones? Could life have come from another planet? And what exactly is meant by scientists who hope to find examples of life that is 'intelligent'?

Neil presents his case for why scientific thinking and effective communication strategies are necessary for the progress of society-and why everything he's discussed is just the beginning of what's important to consider.

Every personal system of belief contains identifiable biases that impact the ability to think scientifically. Neil talks about two of these biases and how inner beliefs can have a significant societal and scientific impact.

Knowing what drives your audience can set you up for communication success. Neil reviews some of the key "tool belt items" he uses when speaking to groups.

If you are human, then you are susceptible to cognitive bias. Neil defines some of the most common cognitive biases and reveals how our need to feel special may be getting in the way of our search for objective truths.