EP 310: Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Military Astrophysics Alliance and Trump's Space Force

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the mutually beneficial relationship between war-makers and star-gazers. He says the military often serves as a source of creative inspiration for astrophysicists and shares some of the unexpected breakthroughs that emerged from government funded defense projects. Then Neil weighs in on President Trump’s proposed Space Force. He cautions that just because Donald Trump suggested it doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad idea, and in fact, he suggested just such an idea during the George W. Bush Administration. He recommends that a Space Force shouldn’t just protect America and our Space assets from enemies but from asteroids and space junk as well. Neil describes what a full-blown space war might look like, and it’s probably not what you’re imagining. Plus we talk about a crazy scheme to weaponize asteroids, the power of the words “I don’t know,” and Neil suggests that America needs a “Truth Force” in addition to a Space Force.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military is available Tuesday (9/11/18) on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. For more fun stuff visit www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson, subscribe to his podcast StarTalk Radio wherever you like to listen, and follow Neil Degrasse Tyson on twitter at @NeilTyson. Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken, Emma Email Marketing, Bombas, and NFL Podcasts.