Star Talk, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Skeptic Ginger said:
My new favorite science show.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/startalk/

I've seen a couple of these now and they are fantastic!
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That is the problem. They are fantastic. The authors have not paid attention to any science in the real world. Star Trek is every bit a fairy tale as 'Dr. Who', 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' or 'The Prose Edda'.

Many misconceptions are propagated by fantasy shows. For instance, these shows regularly mangle the the process of biological evolution. They keep on mixing mystical interpretations of Darwin's theory with actual genetics. Creationists regularly use straw men theories taken from fictional stories to disprove evolution.

I knew a 'homeopathic physician' (a misleading title for conman) who kept on using Star Trek metaphors to justify his science. He identified the signals seen by the tricorder with the 'electromagnetic field' that 'potentiates' a medicine.

Scientists should not 'endorse' fantasies past a certain point. Hey, there is good thermodynamics in the Prose Edda. But that doesn't mean I want Tyson in a Thor movie.
 
I don't understand your comment, Darwin123. Have you seen the program? Tyson makes real science interesting.
 
I've seen a couple, and I liked the "star talk" aspect of it -- that is, the section where he chats with the star. The live segments with the studio audience and the unnecessary comedian just rings a little too Howard Stern for me.
 
alfaniner said:
I've seen a couple, and I liked the "star talk" aspect of it -- that is, the section where he chats with the star. The live segments with the studio audience and the unnecessary comedian just rings a little too Howard Stern for me.
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It also comes out as a downloadable podcast, because it started out as a radio show (the early episodes include local news/weather reports that were not cut out). That seems to mitigate those concerns. Though I have cringed at some things said by "celebrities."

Also, I don't get the National Geographic channel, which is okay since I prefer to not be tied down watching something if I can listen while doing other things (like going for a walk or gardening).

Forgot link: http://www.startalkradio.net/
 
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