William Shatner Has Questions for Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Published 2024-03-28
What is William Shanter's favorite Star Trek episode? Learn about the question Stephen Hawking had for Bill and the secret power of science fiction. Bill talks about what it was like to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon after Star Trek was originally canceled. We discuss Artemis, our return to the moon, and how we can create a base there. Will there be enough water on the moon for people to use?
Neil breaks down how water can be used for fuel and how humans have harnessed the power of physics. We discuss Bill’s new documentary You Can Call Me Bill and some philosophical points about science. Are electrons lonely? We explore the difference between being lonely and being alone and the nature of curiosity. Is human curiosity a double-edged sword? Is there anything left on Bill’s bucket list? Plus, Bill asks if living beings like mycelia could be analogs for the universe's structure.
Why is it spacetime and not space and time separately? What is the vacuum of space made of? Discover virtual particles and how the fabric of spacetime may be a web made of wormholes. We break down dark energy and dark matter, and why their names may be misleading. To end, we discuss old age and wisdom: do they go together?
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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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00:00 - Introduction: William Shatner
01:41 - What is Bill’s Favorite Star Trek Episode?
6:15 - Star Trek’s Cancellation & Walking on the Moon
10:54 - Water on the Moon & In-situ Resource Utilization
17:53 - Harnessing the Power of Physics
19:12 - You Can Call Me Bill, William Shatner’s Documentary
21:31 - Are Electrons Lonely?
22:42 - More on Loneliness
26:14 - On Curiosity: Is It Good or Bad?
33:04 - Are Trees and Analog to the Structure of the Universe?
42:10 - StarTalk Patreon
43:51 - Why is it Space-time?
49:20 - The Mystery of Dark Energy & Dark Matter
51:35 - On Wisdom & Getting Older
All Comments (21)
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Order Vaonis's new Hestia telescope at vaonis.com/StarTalk
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William Shatner is 93 and still very sharp and youthful. Space-time has been good to him. Perhaps its because of years of traveling at warp speed.
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I’m 66 years old and I was a kid watching Star Trek when it first aired and I still watch it .
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Mr. Shatner has just helped me clarify my own thoughts on Humanity, Trees, and Loneliness. For many years, I have seen what we do to the planet and each other, and it breaks my heart. I never thought about it as curiousity before. That's so perfect. We're curious animals; but we don't know when to stop. Bringing up the fact that there is slightly more positive than negative matter does give me hope that we might carry on. I have often thought that Mother Earth would be so much better off without us. I don't understand why we don't realize that we can't survive without her and act accordingly. I am 63. I have watched Shatner almost my whole life. I've had many opinions of him over the years. Right now, he has my deepest respect and love. If I make it to 93 and above, I can only hope to still be wondering and asking questions like he does. Thank you, Bill and Neil.
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93 years old ! Unbelievable how young William Shatner looks. 🙏🏻 legend ❤
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William Shatner is out there in our world challenging, rethinking and pressing on... and making light of himself at 93. I'm 63 yrs old and in awe of Bill's own unexplainable dark energy of fun, sharing, asking vulnerable questions, and then carrying on appreciating everywhere he goes.😊
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My dad lived to 95 and was still pretty sharp up till the end. Live long and prosper William Shatner!
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"I don't understand anything you just said." Thank You Bill!! That was epic!
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Dude, you have no idea. I watched star trek when I was like 10 in 1974, in reruns of course, did well in math, during 7-8 th grade, built model rockets and many other machines, rebuilt dirt bikes engines etc, on the way to 17. Got my degree in Electrical engineering it took awhile happened in 91. Went to wor for a few places, then ended up at NASA Michoud Assembly facility in 1998, building the rockets for real this time. Bill, I have to give you credit for the inspiration and Mr Nimoy, all the best to you, thanks so much for being there at a kep point in my life.
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My Father was born just 4 days before William Shatner. When I talk to my Dad, he is so much like Bill right now. I couldn't watch this without thinking of my Father.
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i am 71 and i am alone most of my time by choice but i am never lonely. I in fact love being alone.
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We all need to be like William Shatner, CURIOUS! May he live to be 150 yrs and more.🙏🙏🙏
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William Shatner’s mind is so sharp at 90+. You took “Live long and Prosper” literally! 😀
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I’m 61. I learn new things every day. The day I stop learning is the day I’m dead. I can’t conceive of a person who is not curious about anything. It must be a truly dull existence.
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The mental clarity of this guy is amazing that’s the way I want to be in my last years on the earth
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"We are slightly ahead because we are alive" I love that line
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Amazing that my favorite episode of the TZ was his episode. Shortly after that, i was in front of the tv every saturday at 12pm for Star Trek. Now, here i am, 55yrs old and STILL watching this guy!😊😊😊 Thank u Neil.
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Two legends discussing the mysteries of the universe? Count me in
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I'm always amazed how this man is 93 YEARS OLD and is still so mentally sharp.
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I remember, back in the early 2000s playing Paintball along side William Shatner playing as Captain James T Kirk against The Borg in a huge paintball scenario game. He is and always will be a great man with a huge heart.
