When I heard the news that astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was coming to Portland's Merril Auditorium, I immediately grabbed my phone and bought my tickets. I was not disappointed when I saw the sold-out show.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Who is Neil deGrasse Tyson?
Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, and one of the best science communicators in the business, describing our universe in easy-to-understand terms. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and has been with the Planetarium since 1994, working his way up to director.
He's also the person who was behind Pluto no longer being one of the planets of our solar system, but a dwarf planet. Not everyone was happy about that.
Tyson was also the host of Cosmos, a reboot of the classic PBS show that answered questions about our universe.
Read also: Space Travel: A Conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson
I'm a fan.
"Cosmic Collisions" and "Astronomy Bizarre"
Neil deGrasse Tyson was at Merrill Auditorium for his lecture on "Cosmic Collisions", where he explained black holes colliding, meteor collisions, how the moon was formed, and an impressive animation showing how many objects are whirling around Earth. The theme for Tyson’s talk in Riverside was “Astronomy Bizarre,” which is one from a menu of such talks he does in similar venues around the country.
“Astronomy Bizarre” covered a wide variety of topics from the ridiculously faked “alien mummies” to the very real dangers of asteroid impacts and black holes, leading to “the Great Rip”; the theoretical end to our universe.
Topics for “Astronomy Bizarre” included:
- Dark Matter and Dark Energy
- Quantum Entanglement
- Simulation Universe
- The very real dangers of asteroid impacts, past and present.
- The possibility of alien life, real and, um, not so much.
- In praise of humanity’s intrepid robotic space missions.
- Black Holes and the “Big Rip” (the end of the universe).
Is Our Universe Inside a Black Hole?
Top: Tyson showed a 2005 video with actual footage of the ESA Huygens probe, which piggybacked on Saturn’s Cassini mission and became the first lander on Saturn’s methane-laked moon of Titan. Huygens (named after Titan’s discoverer, Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens) was also the furthest landing from Earth yet attempted in our solar system.
Read also: DeGrasse Tyson on Civilization
Surface of Titan as seen by the Huygens probe
Bottom: Tyson discussing how wormholes may hold the key to understanding quantum entanglement.
An Engaging and Humorous Presentation
What makes Tyson so good at what he does is the way he teaches. He explains the things going on in the universe on a level we can all understand and does it with a lot of humor. He's a funny guy and he makes what could be a boring lecture about space into something very entertaining. Tyson made himself feel right at home on the stage when he was introduced by taking off his shoes, leaving just his socks. He quickly explained that if he's going to be on a stage for two hours talking about the universe, he needs to make sure he's comfortable.
Tyson went into overtime for his scheduled two-hour talk, which began around 7:30 pm and ended around 9:45 or so, but the audience didn’t mind at all, since each topic on his table of contents was delivered with his trademark frankness, wit and energy.
Dr. I’ve always appreciated how Tyson makes scientific and abstract concepts both relatable and awe-inspiring, yet he doesn’t pander. He will flat-out say when a cherished societal “belief” is simply wrong. Sometimes things are demonstrably false, no matter our sentimental or long-held attachments (looking at you, Pluto).
Read also: Voice Acting and Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson had just turned 65 two weeks earlier. Tyson also reiterated his famous catchphrase, which was even quoted by the equally logical Mr. Spock: "The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you."
My wife and I also saw Tyson speak in Pasadena , and we’d met him in person at our hotel restaurant for San Diego Comic Con, in 2012. He not only posed for a selfie with us, but he even stopped by our table after his dinner just to say goodbye.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and I think you would too the next time he's in Portland. It's a presentation you won't soon forget.