We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every child is a scientist. Neil deGrasse Tyson childcompelenvironment Change image and share on social
If you only think of me during Black History Month, I must be failing as an educator and as an astrophysicist. Neil deGrasse Tyson astrophysicistblackeducator Change image and share on social
I think that intelligence is such a narrow branch of the tree of life - this branch of primates we call humans. No other animal, by our definition, can be considered intelligent. So intelligence can't be all that important for survival, because there are so many animals that don't have what we call intelligence, and they're surviving just fine. Neil deGrasse Tyson animalbranchcall share on social
People credit me for making the universe interesting when in fact the universe is inherently interesting, and I'm merely revealing that fact. I don't think I'm anything special for this to happen. Neil deGrasse Tyson creditfacthappen Change image and share on social
If the only time you think of me as a scientist is during Black History Month, then I must not be doing my job as a scientist. Neil deGrasse Tyson blackhistoryjob Change image and share on social
It's part of our pop culture to give animals human personalities and talents. Neil deGrasse Tyson animalculturegive Change image and share on social
Stephen Hawking's been watching too many Hollywood movies. I think the only kind aliens in Hollywood are the ones created by Steven Spielberg - 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and 'E.T.,' for example. All other aliens are trying to suck our brains out. Neil deGrasse Tyson alienbrainclose share on social
I said that if an alien came to visit, I'd be embarrassed to tell them that we fight wars to pull fossil fuels out of the ground to run our transportation. They'd be like, 'What?' Neil deGrasse Tyson alienembarrassfight Change image and share on social
I'm perennially intrigued how people who lead largely evidence-based lives can, in a belief-based part of their mind, be certain that an invisible, divine entity created an entire universe just for us, or that the government is stockpiling space aliens in a secret desert location. Neil deGrasse Tyson alienbasebelief share on social
I study the universe. It's the second oldest profession. People have been looking up for a long time. Neil deGrasse Tyson longoldpeople Change image and share on social