If a scientist is not befuddled by what they're looking at, then they're not a research scientist. Neil deGrasse Tyson befuddleresearchscientist Change image and share on social
The problem is that many people operate on the assumption that NASA should go to Congress every year with hat in hand and justify it every year. Well, I see it as the greatest economic driver that there ever was. Economic drivers don't need justification. Neil deGrasse Tyson assumptioncongressdriver 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
In any city with lots of skyscrapers, lots of skyline, the moon seems bigger than it is. It's called the moon illusion. Neil deGrasse Tyson bigcallcity Change image and share on social
The partisanship surrounding space exploration and the retrenching of U.S. space policy are part of a more general trend: the decline of science in the United States. As its interest in science wanes, the country loses ground to the rest of the industrialized world in every measure of technological proficiency. Neil deGrasse Tyson countrydeclineexploration share on social
The most creative people are motivated by the grandest of problems that are presented before them. Neil deGrasse Tyson creativegrandmotivate Change image and share on social
The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In fact, we hold our highest rewards for those scientists who can prove others wrong. And by the way, they are famous in their own lifetimes. We don't wait until they're dead. Neil deGrasse Tyson caricaturechallengedead share on social
If you're a scientist, and you have to have an answer, even in the absence of data, you're not going to be a good scientist. Neil deGrasse Tyson absenceanswerdatum Change image and share on social
There is always a place I can take someone's curiosity and land where they end up enlightened when we're done. That's my challenge as an educator. No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don't ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives. Neil deGrasse Tyson challengecluelesscuriosity share on social
I've known from long ago that the universe was calling me. If you were one of those annoying adults that said, 'Oh, what are you gonna be when you grow up?' I would say, 'Astrophysicist.' And then they'd walk away real quickly. Neil deGrasse Tyson adultagoannoy share on social