We need to add a Critical Thinking class to the US education system. The class would focus on using the scientific method to test and validate information and evidence.
They use to have that class in one of my local colleges. That was 35+ years ago. I don’t know if any still do. It should be a class in junior high and on that, civics classes should be brought back too. IMO
Man, you SAID it !! For Real !!!! Would that have helped my step-son with his parroting of all the crazy stuff out there? He believes the Clintons killed Jeffrey Epstein and the covid vaccine causes football injuries. I guess some people are beyond help. Sorry to say that but........
But! But! They've "done their research"! We should be grateful to them for digging through the copious amounts of information (that agrees with their confirmation bias) and enlightening us. They are the critical thinkers! (according to them).
Which would mark *the end of career* for, well, pretty much *YOUR ENTIRE ELITE* (tycoons, politicians and what-not), who depend _solely_ upon the public *immense* stupidity for their livelihood, so forget it: it shall NEVER happen under the current socio-eco-political system.
Careful there, you sound like one of those anti-theists, who claim that their gnostic form of atheism is 'rational'. You fail to realize that you have the same problem as your Christian foes, perhaps displaying inconvenient similarities.
to be fair, people DO sometimes conspire. however its important to have a solid logical and evidentiary framework on which you test your hypotheses and base your conclusions
Your comment seems a hair irrelevant. They didn’t say that there is no such thing as a real conspiracy, or that people don’t conspire. They simply brought up and explained long form the last part of your comment. That you need substantial evidence to prove substantial claims.
Man, I really enjoyed this episode, I’m glad we’re getting more of these sit down casual style of talks nowadays, makes it much easier and more enjoyable to learn new things.
So true idk what it is but all throughout school with the exception of one teacher, and I'm meaning of the core 4 subjects, if im orated at then I tend not to learn but Neil and Chuck just sitting down and just talking and joking about these big brain concepts has taught me so much more about astrophysics, the world and the universe than 18/19 years in school did.
It's so much more approachable this way, rather than the usual - "Look at how smart I am and how much I know. Listen to my esoteric words to prove it. I hope your little plebeian brain can keep up" - type of educational video.
Don't expect perceived wise men to know everything about everything. Only talking about the ridiculous theories and not about the more substantial because it isn't on brand of their fame and should be taken no more seriously than comedic value.
I understand what they are talking about .... BUT .... Its exceedingly hard to dismiss certain "conspiracies". Some I would just consider to be alternative hypothesis. And if sufficient information is given to support, then they are equally likely to be true. Otherwise we would easily believe all propaganda, all official government narratives, and all historical rewrites, et c.
Chuck is such a great little addition to these conversations. He really does explain things well. He has some great points and questions. What an amazing school science teacher he would be
It all starts getting ridiculous once chuck says... [spoiler for Chucks joke below] . . . . . . . "Once you go black, you get killed by the royal family!"
Do you all think real professors from a real USA university are conspiracy theorists? The TV won't tell you about this, but I don't know why? th-cam.com/video/LJPuWy9utss/w-d-xo.html
I am pretty sure that Chuck will never reach to this comment but I need to say after a few years following ST, that this guy is way smarter than he looks! love his humor and how he articulate questions while bringing up facts.
@@ma1ex It's not what he looks like, but his demeanor. People are perceived to be more intellectual if they're calm, and speak in measured tones. Chuck is more hyperactive and makes a lot of jokes. Of course, that has nothing to do with his intelligence, but it does affect perception.
This is the type of Host I want in a show. Knowing your Guest and their works first before starting discussing things. Neil Degrasse opened my mind about many possibilities.
I wish all of our current media talked like Chuck! I am also fascinated by human biases? One more thing programmers have to learn to think through them. Great episode. Getting your book tomorrow.
👽👽👽Yeah I do UFO and alien research and I often use NASA, ESA photos so they cannot be debunked. I found alien artifacts like buildings, bases, 10km ships, statues and so much more. Is it real? Yeah, but will nasa ever admit it no. But I am world famous just search my name. 👽👽👽
@@wolfiemuse Back in the early 80s I spent several days being tested/assessed to see if I had the right kind of logical brain required to be a programmer. Spent the next 20 years programming and in my experience nearly all of the most competent programmers were not neuro typical. I'd go so far as to say that most of them were quite obviously on the autistic spectrum. The industry changed and most "programmers" these days are combining the programming role with what used to be called Systems Analysis. Systems work requires a greater understanding of "people" and so the programmer who lived and breathed the machine was pushed into a smaller and smaller niche. Today's programmers rarely have to code the machine, they get to pick frameworks and select APIs. The really hard stuff has already been coded, by "real" programmers.
Thanks, Doc... Your conversations are informative, based in common sense and pov's logically argued and light-hearted intellect which makes your show so much fun. Thank you! Nice to see Chuck back, too!
When you I first started watching Startalk, I wondered why Neil would choose a comedian for his co-host, rather than a fellow scientist, given the context of the show. However, I must say that Chuck has repeatedly surprised and impressed me with his intellect, as demonstrated by some of his comments, which are often quite deep and truly profound! Of course, it doesn't hurt that he is routinely hilarious, as well! Thank you, gentlemen, for producing a podcast that is as entertaining as it is though-provoking; a balance which I'm sure cannot be easy to maintain!
Yeah, great comedic and profound responses.... like calling those who might be labeled conspiracy theorists, "idiots". It's funny how what some people are so impressed by, others are completely repulsed by. To each, his or her own, I suppose.
This is an amazing episode! Thank you so much for all your insights! This should be required viewing! We desperately need more people to think rationally in this extremely irrational society we live in right now.
One of the best episodes, Chuck is solid a gold statue that sprouted wings and soared above us all like a eagle, whole thing knowledgeable and got a greatly needed laugh 💯🍻✌️
I watched Citizen Kane a year before the 2020 election. The prescience of Orson Welles is utterly alien. 80 years ahead of his time, EASILY. Man was 25 when he made Citizen Kane
Kane was just a great story for the very reason that it was about a reoccurring human problem. That seems ahead of its time when the problem comes back around, as it will, but is actually just acknowledging the very old and tiresome aspects of society. I do note that Hearst's Castle continues to rake in some cash from tourists who come away impressed with him. So it goes.
The Jesus vs. Darwin debate seems to me a very U.S. one. My father is a devout christian, but he would never claim Charles Darwin was nonsense. In fact, he is very much into phylogenesis, and when I was young, he was often explaining to me which birds are more closely related to each other than to other birds, or that the rock hyrax belongs into the same group as the elephants, and not to the hares.
Yes. I love your explanations and insights of why people believe in conspiracy theories. Well done. I've always said that those who believe in conspiracy theories don't think critically and aren't showing the intelligence I'm sure they have. I left politics a long time ago because everwhere you look, there is some kind of ridiculous conspiracy theory. If you're going to be in politics or be a politician, you can at least think rationally and objectively about things instead of through the lens of biases, religion, and feelings. Those only cause problems as we have seen. It's human nature to want to find someone or something to blame for problems but it doesn't make it logical.
Can't be out of time! Great show I wish it could go on for another hour, already followed Michael on Twitter and excited for the next episode that comes across my feed ✌️🕊️🙌
This would be a lot more enjoyable if they’d actually let their guests finish their thoughts and answering questions, instead of constantly interrupting them.
Intriguing, I always knew there was more to life and i have also been looking for a way to find not only protection but a way to be influential to the human society, wish to do more and give more than i am doing now, always feel like i was born for something greater. .
oh well you can achieve that by being a part of the illuminatus brotherhood, i know it sounds like a mystery but there are ways you can actually get in contact with them
@@haynesatteh4463 Well it is not and you can't actually expect it to be open to everyone, but if you want to know more you can look up ANTHONY MARK SZYMON online you will find something interesting.
The dismissive way Neil deGrasse Tyson has acted towards both recent revelations regarding unidentified (cross-domain) anomalous phenomena and recent advances in artificial intelligence and his speaking on both issues with both ignorance and unearned authority have diminished my respect for him, even though I still think he is among the best science communicators we have today. I just wish he would educate himself better on these topics and approach them with more humility.
Tyson's one-time (or current) employer, National Geographic Partners, recently released a series about unidentified anomalous phenomena that is as compelling as the related article from "The New York Times," the "60 Minutes" story, and the other inquiries into this topic that many prestigious institutions are now providing and that the U.S. Congress has been pursuing, as of late. Tyson, meanwhile, has gone out of his way to appear on several programs and, in so doing, to seemingly try to perpetuate the stigma around this issue that prevents more data from being collected. Thankfully, researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University, among others, are now treating these questions with the seriousness they deserve.
Hi Gentlemen. I do enjoy listening to to your facts and show. I do wish your guest would look into a case of a lady that worked at Tennessee driver license office in Memphis. That had issued drivers license to some of the 911 hijacker’s. She was arrested after the month of 911. Sorry I don’t have dates. It’s been awhile since. But anyway my only concern is I am a Truck driver of many years and I was on my way back to Memphis on Hwy 78 20 miles from Memphis Tn. At around 1 am at the time it was only a two lane road so all traffic was stopped. Well I found that the lady that was arrested was released from Jail at midnight was the lady in a car that had just burned up on a car. Someone wanted her dead for some reason. But anyway thanks for listening this really did happen. Love the show👍
Initially, I saw the phrase “conspiracy theories” in the title and was disappointed. The vast majority of the crazy beliefs and fabrications of the conspiracy mongers do not qualify as a “theory”. Further discussion of what constitutes a valid theory would have been helpful, as the issue was not confronted directly.
This is part of the conspiracy to make conspiracy theories appear to all be crazy to provide cover for real conspiracies. (LOL) On the serious side, not all conspiracy theories are totally off base. People do conspire and those that do often say "Do not question us." When there is evidence of people being forced to not speak out or "canceled" for speaking out instead of evidence being offered to the contrary then that is where distrust grows. In other words, some behavior promotes distrust even if there isn't a conspiracy. On the other side of the coin, some people like to feel they know something others don't. It makes them feel powerful in an overwhelming world.
It happens. Bias can form on people who decide all conspiracy theories are false, they won’t look into information because they assume it’s false just because the last conspiracy was false.
What if you’re a promoter of a conspiracy that you falsely think is based on a fact and are here to increase doubt to the opposition? What ifs can get you to a lot of conclusions, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct.
I think people love conspiracies because they are usually more interesting than the real explanation, add on top that it might side with their perspective or views of the world.
And when you counter their argument you need to be really delicately careful and not step on eggshells? This sounds like more snowflake sensitivity than I thought.
You can add to that people needs to be special, to see and understand people that the "sheep" won't, be smarter than anyone else, not all people have that need, but some those
But in many cases it is not more interesting. Like how is aliens magically building the pyramids more interesting than ancient humans building them with primitive tools? It is just a fantasy, nobody knows which aliens; how they did it, why they did it. But with humans you can find all kinds of information, like their tools, their society, the religion, etc. any why will lead you down a lifetime of information. With conspiracies every why leads to “well why not?” and that is the end of it.
Yeah, the correct way to discover the rule at 33:31 is to also go into descending numbers. 9, 8, 7. I actually saw the Veratasity channel do a video on this, and one guy out of maybe half a dozen actually figured it out.
25:00 He says this as if Trump was a Republican, rather than independent until forced to pick a party in order to receive campaign funds. Maybe look into it. The Republicans as a group tried to bar Trump from entry.
the only thing more dangerous than believing all conspiracy theories, are believing theyre all false. neil, you are so smart in your field but as a scientist surely you should have the attitude of doing research on a subject before speaking on it! something you clearly have not done here!
There's a marked difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy. We used to accept conspiracy theory for what it was, a hypothetical possibility. Now it is immediately embraced as fact by people armed with social media and a paranoid suspicion of all things "establishment". The Sandy Hook massacre was not fake just because some people don't like the government.
@@moggpiano8043 thats because the ""establishment" has misused the term and put all conspiracies under the conspiracy theory tag in order to discredit the actual credible ones. this video proves that. they have placed all these things under the conspiracy theory tag when there are legitimate reasons for people questioning the official stories of these things, IE the third building that collapsed miraculously on 9/11, the magic bullet regards to jfk and being british the princess Dianna one, which if you look into the inquest into her death opposed to what the media put out as the cause are totally different. if theyre going to have a discusion about these things they cant just pick and choose what to mention that suits and ignore the main reasons people disbelieve
The problem is that people DO NOT see the patterns and the symbols and the connections. Most people are oblivious to it all and just go to work , have kids, and pay, pay , pay til they’re sick and dead. Then they have to pay to be buried into the ground!!
I’m a little worried at everyone’s ease at joking about the “others” who are conspiracy obsessed. Everyone here believes something that is completely false/conspiratorial, but because of your own biases you will argue that what you believe is truth.
The last question was by far the most important one. A longer discussion on that topic would be nice to hear. I do believe that the range between (believing in science and institutions) and nihilism is a bit broader than shermer seems to think. But what do i know? I am probably in the lower scale of the bottom 50% and concidered by many (probably even less intelligent) as a conspiracy theorist.
Get hard, cold, scientific based facts about the topic your concerned with. Get them yourself from highly respected sources. Do this, and your tendency for conspiracies will start to go away
Unfortunately the people who need to listen to this will be the people who try and avoid this type of video like their conspiracy filled life depended on it...
@@dissidentexpression8692 Conspiracies are just not revealed by internet sleuths arriving at preconceived conclusions. Revelation always comes from within..... Declassified documents, whistle blowers, accident or carelessness, or breakdown between the conspirators.
generally 'skeptics' are just annoying it seems lately, i grew up thinking i was a skeptic, but they seem to prefer their doubt bias over just learning new information. where as i just never assume anything as fact, and am always curious about new information
I think the confusion between correlation and causation also has a lot to do with it. For example, the people who think 5G towers cause covid will point to maps showing that the earliest covid outbreaks were in areas with the greatest number of 5G towers, which is true. But the 5G didn't cause the outbreak. Instead, it was because those are also the areas with the highest population density; therefore it is natural that the towers would be built there in greater numbers, and also that disease spreads faster there. John Oliver did a great video a while back where he pointed out that there's also a correlation between covid outbreaks and number of Domino's Pizza locations-- because there are also more pizza restaurants where there are more people.
Heh. I had an emergency appendectomy after eating Domino's once. For a long time I believed that their pizza caused it. Stopped believing due to insufficient evidence. How hard is that for some folk to do,unless it's part of their identity and lifestyle?
The NIH published a study that confirmed that 5G microwave radiation disrupts the negative charge that naturally occurs between red blood cells to prevent them from clotting unnecessarily .
Thank you so much for this excellent discussion. I, along with so many others are thankful for such intelligent thinking. I will share this with as many as possible.
Belief in conspiracy theories often stems from psychological needs for control, certainty, and coherence in a complex world. These theories can provide simple explanations for complex events and satisfy a desire for insider knowledge. When it comes to aliens and extraterrestrial beings, such beliefs can be fueled by curiosity about the unknown, fears of a hidden agenda, or the allure of secret knowledge. How might these factors influence our understanding of the universe and our place within it if new evidence about extraterrestrial life were to emerge?
I still remember reading online a "weather control machine" conspiracy theorist asking why tornadoes seem to be more common and more powerful in the "red states" of the central plains. So I replied that it was because that's where the cold, dry air coming over the Rocky Mountains runs into the warm, moist air coming off the Gulf of Mexico. I don't know why I was taken aback by the follow-up question of why that was. All I had to that was "geology and meteorology."
The problem with the old dudes view is the majority of "conspiracy" theories become fact 6 months later..... this guy has a CIA handler 🤣 conspiracy theory 🤣🤣
"Rosebud." Reply if you know why I placed this "quote" on here. Another great episode guys!!! I love to back and forth of Neil and Chuck! Great chemistry and Neil makes it easy to understand even the hardest of questions or topics!
My grade 6 science teacher told us that summer is not hotter because the Earth is closer to the sun, but because the tilt of the Earth receives direct rays. And that was in the 70s!!
Chuck hit the nail on the head. Sometimes if you hear these conspiracies and try to forget some of the facts you already know. The conspiracies make sense. But then you realize you know the facts and realize how some people could indeed fall for some of these conspiracies
Yes, like the FBI pushing a Russia collusion hoax for 2 years, or interfering in elections via Twitter and censorship, or calling Hunter's laptop Russian b.s. The way DemonRATs dismiss proven facts is 🤣😂😆😂😆
My first time watching this show. It was the longest 56 minutes of my life. Nothing worse than grown men giggling for a whole hour while trying to sound serious.
Hilarious how they start with "half are below..." basically joking 50% of the human population is dumb and I bet everyone watching this is laughing and saying haha yeah I'm part of the "other" 50% not considering they are, in fact, one of the dumb ones 🤣🤣 loved this vod, super entertaining and interesting
A recent mind blower for me is that intelligence in the human race is not an even bell curve, It is a RIGHT WEIGHTED bell curve, meaning most humans are in fact, dumb. So if this were a lottery, you'd win money betting that you (we) were the dumb one.
20 years ago I saw a little girl around 12 years old moving something with her mind on an episode of Ancient Aliens when I went to Hulu years later the episode was still there about the gifted kids that were studied by the Chinese in the late '80s , over 300 of them. but the piece of footage was of course gone from the episode. so when it comes to proving you're not crazy you better tape it the first time it airs " so to speak"
For my Psych project (physics major, but everyone has to take social sciences), I tested the correlation between education level and belief in conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and so on. The subjects ranged from students to faculty, all of whom filled out a questionnaire about their education and yes or no on various beliefs. Would you believe it if I told you that education level had a strong inverse correlation with belief in conspiracy theories etc? (for the dumb, that means the lower the education level the more likely the person is to believe in conspiracy theories). Color me shocked/sarcasm.
I wouldn't have really thought an actual "Inverse" - To me, I could see undergrad and grad having less of a belief in conspiracy theories because they were actively at the...I'll say "Learning to Learn" stage, of education - whereas lower educated (especially without a High School diploma) might simply not have the education, or even intelligence, to really think the concepts through, and Highly-Educated Docs and Post-Docs, might get into a certain "I know what I'm talking about" mindset.
@@eliteteamkiller319 Primary education is about accepting input without question. Those who question input don't do well in our route learning system. Thinking is not conducive to education in our system.
Isn't it weird that we've come to accept governments lying and hiding things from the public? - Think about it. Who is the government and what is their function? The government is us and their function is sustain and improve different aspects of our day-to-day life.
"They" always refers to persons unknown. If they were known we would have grounds for investigation and the finding of evidence. Every inquiry begins with a "they" or "it" of sorts until a search for evidence begins.
In terms of the Kennedy assasination, I will always believe that Oswald didn't act alone. On the other hand, it would have seemed that someone would have made a death bed confession or something. Then back to the conspiracy theory that Oswald didn't act alone, why is the government holding back secret documents about that day in Dallas? That just propels the theory that there's more to that day in Dallas.
I surmise the gene that Dr. Kaku mentions is the metaphorical part of us that experiences fear. As mentioned, we find comfort in explaining things that frighten us. There is a type of person who does experience fear more acutely. Perhaps it is physiological as in having an enlarged amygdala, or maybe it is environmental as in upbringing or tribal associations, but for whatever underlying reason and to varying degrees, there are people who are governed by their fears. Such a person will more readily accept falsehoods in order to seek comfort. Confirmation bias sets in and said person will then fortify their position, perhaps by claiming they have an open mind. Then along comes a spider, a personality who preys upon those fears, confirming and magnifying fears while profiting. Our society is full of these types.
Like we're going to remember what we're taught 20 years ago, in 2nd or 3rd grade.. Why we have seasons.. We aren't taught how to survive, the only thing that matters; and that's even if you got a Ph. D.. And the more we loose, the more secure the rich and powerful are at the top..
To be a conspiracy theorist you have to either an individual, critical thinker or an absolute loon. But you can also be a loon and believe everything politicians and media tells you. That would make you an absolute fool in theory. Just found Michael on Peter Baghosians page. Much respect to him and Michael Schellenberger. Two educated adults. Now I can’t wait to watch this. Cheers from Toronto
They're too playful in this but I don't mind the brief "intermissions" because sometimes these small interactions sets it apart from those boring political discussions.
Confirmation bias, personal incredulity and other human traits are a constant threat to science and rational thinking and I find that the majority of those that have those traits and allows those traits to overwhelm their rationality have a lower standard of education.
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We need to add a Critical Thinking class to the US education system. The class would focus on using the scientific method to test and validate information and evidence.
They use to have that class in one of my local colleges. That was 35+ years ago. I don’t know if any still do. It should be a class in junior high and on that, civics classes should be brought back too. IMO
Man, you SAID it !! For Real !!!!
Would that have helped my step-son with his parroting of all the crazy stuff out there? He believes the Clintons killed Jeffrey Epstein and the covid vaccine causes football injuries. I guess some people are beyond help. Sorry to say that but........
But! But! They've "done their research"! We should be grateful to them for digging through the copious amounts of information (that agrees with their confirmation bias) and enlightening us. They are the critical thinkers! (according to them).
Which would mark *the end of career* for, well, pretty much *YOUR ENTIRE ELITE* (tycoons, politicians and what-not), who depend _solely_ upon the public *immense* stupidity for their livelihood, so forget it: it shall NEVER happen under the current socio-eco-political system.
If you can believe in an invisible sky daddy, then your brain is simple/indoctrinated and it can be led to believe anything else.
Like that one lady who thinks she can scare away hurricanes with a stick
More like religioun and the way it taught!
@@DayonBledsoe2000Jesus is watching your blaspheming
Careful there, you sound like one of those anti-theists, who claim that their gnostic form of atheism is 'rational'. You fail to realize that you have the same problem as your Christian foes, perhaps displaying inconvenient similarities.
@@denny414Are you being ironic right now or did you not comprehend the discussion they were having?
to be fair, people DO sometimes conspire.
however its important to have a solid logical and evidentiary framework on which you test your hypotheses and base your conclusions
oh ok. They only explained this in the video, but go ahead and write the comment too.
Nope. Everyone is good and were all fine.
@@chadd990 lol came to say the same thing.
So true, but a hypothesis is merely an educated guess. So...even a child can have one on familiar subject to them.
Your comment seems a hair irrelevant. They didn’t say that there is no such thing as a real conspiracy, or that people don’t conspire. They simply brought up and explained long form the last part of your comment. That you need substantial evidence to prove substantial claims.
Man, I really enjoyed this episode, I’m glad we’re getting more of these sit down casual style of talks nowadays, makes it much easier and more enjoyable to learn new things.
Check out my conspiracy and theories like the universe is sand and water
So true idk what it is but all throughout school with the exception of one teacher, and I'm meaning of the core 4 subjects, if im orated at then I tend not to learn but Neil and Chuck just sitting down and just talking and joking about these big brain concepts has taught me so much more about astrophysics, the world and the universe than 18/19 years in school did.
It's so much more approachable this way, rather than the usual - "Look at how smart I am and how much I know. Listen to my esoteric words to prove it. I hope your little plebeian brain can keep up" - type of educational video.
Don't expect perceived wise men to know everything about everything. Only talking about the ridiculous theories and not about the more substantial because it isn't on brand of their fame and should be taken no more seriously than comedic value.
These three actors are being so rude and come off as ignorant..not a good way to convince someone
I understand what they are talking about .... BUT .... Its exceedingly hard to dismiss certain "conspiracies".
Some I would just consider to be alternative hypothesis. And if sufficient information is given to support, then they are equally likely to be true.
Otherwise we would easily believe all propaganda, all official government narratives, and all historical rewrites, et c.
The Pine Street vs Elm Street part made me think of Bugs Bunny.
"I knew I should have taken that left at Alba-koiky."
I thought of a guy in a striped sweater wearing a fedora. . .
Chuck is such a great little addition to these conversations. He really does explain things well. He has some great points and questions. What an amazing school science teacher he would be
Little addition? Or addition?
"Conspiracies? You're a DIMBASS!" LOL!
The point about Elm Street was good.
People put extra significance on decisions and things in hind site.
And he's very intelligent in his own right. He plays the fool but he's a very smart guy.
he looks a bit orange in this video, he been eating with DT?!
1 part Learning, 1 part Laughing bonded with passion and love is StarTalk.
Great show….well put together….agree with You…..
It all starts getting ridiculous once chuck says...
[spoiler for Chucks joke below]
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"Once you go black, you get killed by the royal family!"
@@xEvilRaptorx using the race card for a cheap joke. Telltale sign of a weak comedian
Do you all think real professors from a real USA university are conspiracy theorists? The TV won't tell you about this, but I don't know why? th-cam.com/video/LJPuWy9utss/w-d-xo.html
Check out my conspiracy theories like the universe is sand and water
I am pretty sure that Chuck will never reach to this comment but I need to say after a few years following ST, that this guy is way smarter than he looks! love his humor and how he articulate questions while bringing up facts.
I agree. He is likely very smart. Otherwise we would find himself out of place with the kind of guests that come on the show.
What does he look like?
@@ma1ex It's not what he looks like, but his demeanor. People are perceived to be more intellectual if they're calm, and speak in measured tones. Chuck is more hyperactive and makes a lot of jokes. Of course, that has nothing to do with his intelligence, but it does affect perception.
I hope he never reaches this comment. What about him doesnt look smart? and how can you gauge intelligence on looks? and what does smart look like?
Back handed compliment if I ever read one.
This is the type of Host I want in a show. Knowing your Guest and their works first before starting discussing things. Neil Degrasse opened my mind about many possibilities.
We can progress as humans so much if first we understood each other first and where we come from
I wish all of our current media talked like Chuck!
I am also fascinated by human biases?
One more thing programmers have to learn to think through them.
Great episode.
Getting your book tomorrow.
Real programmers just don't have them. Of course programmers these days aren't selected for that trait anymore, so maybe you're right.
👽👽👽Yeah I do UFO and alien research and I often use NASA, ESA photos so they cannot be debunked. I found alien artifacts like buildings, bases, 10km ships, statues and so much more. Is it real? Yeah, but will nasa ever admit it no. But I am world famous just search my name. 👽👽👽
@@radman8321 it’s ignorant to say that “real programmers” don’t have human cognitive bias…
@@wolfiemuse Back in the early 80s I spent several days being tested/assessed to see if I had the right kind of logical brain required to be a programmer. Spent the next 20 years programming and in my experience nearly all of the most competent programmers were not neuro typical. I'd go so far as to say that most of them were quite obviously on the autistic spectrum.
The industry changed and most "programmers" these days are combining the programming role with what used to be called Systems Analysis. Systems work requires a greater understanding of "people" and so the programmer who lived and breathed the machine was pushed into a smaller and smaller niche. Today's programmers rarely have to code the machine, they get to pick frameworks and select APIs. The really hard stuff has already been coded, by "real" programmers.
@@radman8321 None of that has anything to do with cognitive bias. Everyone is susceptible to them.
Thanks, Doc... Your conversations are informative, based in common sense and pov's logically argued and light-hearted intellect which makes your show so much fun. Thank you! Nice to see Chuck back, too!
Check out my conspiracy and there is like the universe is sand and water
When you I first started watching Startalk, I wondered why Neil would choose a comedian for his co-host, rather than a fellow scientist, given the context of the show. However, I must say that Chuck has repeatedly surprised and impressed me with his intellect, as demonstrated by some of his comments, which are often quite deep and truly profound! Of course, it doesn't hurt that he is routinely hilarious, as well! Thank you, gentlemen, for producing a podcast that is as entertaining as it is though-provoking; a balance which I'm sure cannot be easy to maintain!
Yeah, great comedic and profound responses.... like calling those who might be labeled conspiracy theorists, "idiots". It's funny how what some people are so impressed by, others are completely repulsed by. To each, his or her own, I suppose.
I totally agree..Chuck is the ying to it's yang..
Comedy is remedy and science is educational.. together, they keep me intrigued
Thank you guys! I feel very flattered to be teased buy you guys! It made my day!
Min 29:35.
Lol did you mean flattered? Btw I'm attempting to say your name like Chuck too.
Hi Cicero!
Hi Cicero, you have a beautiful name😘
Flattened? 🤣
Great to hear that you're such a good sport about it! But could you change your comment back to "flattened"'? That was EPIC!
One of the best episodes. Anytime Michael Shermer comes on, its always has been a must listen.
This is an amazing episode! Thank you so much for all your insights! This should be required viewing! We desperately need more people to think rationally in this extremely irrational society we live in right now.
An amazing episode of portraying great ignorance and stupidity. I agree.
Intelligence should be graded on the "bell" curve because many people lost their clappers and are simply "dumb" bells - LOL
There's something very wrong with this country and our leaders keep making terrible descisions that make it even worse
One of the best episodes, Chuck is solid a gold statue that sprouted wings and soared above us all like a eagle, whole thing knowledgeable and got a greatly needed laugh 💯🍻✌️
is that you Chuck lmao
I agree 100% just a cool episode. 💫💥💫
You guys are the best 😂❤🎉
What's the difference between conspiracy theories and the truth?
About 6 months.
I watched Citizen Kane a year before the 2020 election. The prescience of Orson Welles is utterly alien. 80 years ahead of his time, EASILY. Man was 25 when he made Citizen Kane
Kane was just a great story for the very reason that it was about a reoccurring human problem. That seems ahead of its time when the problem comes back around, as it will, but is actually just acknowledging the very old and tiresome aspects of society. I do note that Hearst's Castle continues to rake in some cash from tourists who come away impressed with him. So it goes.
As an actual blacksmith I can confirm that steel starts to soften before it's even glowing, at 800°F it starts to glow.
The Internet took over where the grocery store tabloids left off a few years ago.... eg: the Nation Enquirer which my father read religiously
My favorite tabloid was “Weekly World News”! lol
The "hot sheets" from men in black.....
Because we are being lied to every day by people we are supposed to trust. This video proves this.
👍👍👍
The Jesus vs. Darwin debate seems to me a very U.S. one. My father is a devout christian, but he would never claim Charles Darwin was nonsense. In fact, he is very much into phylogenesis, and when I was young, he was often explaining to me which birds are more closely related to each other than to other birds, or that the rock hyrax belongs into the same group as the elephants, and not to the hares.
Yes. I love your explanations and insights of why people believe in conspiracy theories. Well done.
I've always said that those who believe in conspiracy theories don't think critically and aren't showing the intelligence I'm sure they have. I left politics a long time ago because everwhere you look, there is some kind of ridiculous conspiracy theory. If you're going to be in politics or be a politician, you can at least think rationally and objectively about things instead of through the lens of biases, religion, and feelings. Those only cause problems as we have seen.
It's human nature to want to find someone or something to blame for problems but it doesn't make it logical.
I'm with Chuck, this one was really good!
Can't be out of time! Great show I wish it could go on for another hour, already followed Michael on Twitter and excited for the next episode that comes across my feed ✌️🕊️🙌
1:00 minute in, and that's all we need to hear. Tell em' Chuck!
This would be a lot more enjoyable if they’d actually let their guests finish their thoughts and answering questions, instead of constantly interrupting them.
This was a great episode like many others. Always educative.
Intriguing, I always knew there was more to life and i have also been looking for a way to find not only protection but a way to be influential to the human society, wish to do more and give more than i am doing now, always feel like i was born for something greater. .
oh well you can achieve that by being a part of the illuminatus brotherhood, i know it sounds like a mystery but there are ways you can actually get in contact with them
@@jamesbennett3843 hi, isn't the brotherhood a myth??
@@haynesatteh4463 Well it is not and you can't actually expect it to be open to everyone, but if you want to know more you can look up ANTHONY MARK SZYMON online you will find something interesting.
@@jamesbennett3843 oh really, i just saw his website, interesting.i will leave him a message.
I love how they can talk about my side bias while displaying my side bias lol
The dismissive way Neil deGrasse Tyson has acted towards both recent revelations regarding unidentified (cross-domain) anomalous phenomena and recent advances in artificial intelligence and his speaking on both issues with both ignorance and unearned authority have diminished my respect for him, even though I still think he is among the best science communicators we have today. I just wish he would educate himself better on these topics and approach them with more humility.
Tyson's one-time (or current) employer, National Geographic Partners, recently released a series about unidentified anomalous phenomena that is as compelling as the related article from "The New York Times," the "60 Minutes" story, and the other inquiries into this topic that many prestigious institutions are now providing and that the U.S. Congress has been pursuing, as of late.
Tyson, meanwhile, has gone out of his way to appear on several programs and, in so doing, to seemingly try to perpetuate the stigma around this issue that prevents more data from being collected.
Thankfully, researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University, among others, are now treating these questions with the seriousness they deserve.
Chuck summed it up perfectly in the first minute.
Rationality is the core reason for the existence of conspiracy theories
Hi Gentlemen. I do enjoy listening to to your facts and show. I do wish your guest would look into a case of a lady that worked at Tennessee driver license office in Memphis. That had issued drivers license to some of the 911 hijacker’s. She was arrested after the month of 911. Sorry I don’t have dates. It’s been awhile since. But anyway my only concern is I am a Truck driver of many years and I was on my way back to Memphis on Hwy 78 20 miles from Memphis Tn. At around 1 am at the time it was only a two lane road so all traffic was stopped. Well I found that the lady that was arrested was released from Jail at midnight was the lady in a car that had just burned up on a car. Someone wanted her dead for some reason. But anyway thanks for listening this really did happen. Love the show👍
Chuck's clapbacks are on point!
Initially, I saw the phrase “conspiracy theories” in the title and was disappointed. The vast majority of the crazy beliefs and fabrications of the conspiracy mongers do not qualify as a “theory”. Further discussion of what constitutes a valid theory would have been helpful, as the issue was not confronted directly.
Happy to see Chuck great episode 👍🏽
This is part of the conspiracy to make conspiracy theories appear to all be crazy to provide cover for real conspiracies. (LOL)
On the serious side, not all conspiracy theories are totally off base. People do conspire and those that do often say "Do not question us." When there is evidence of people being forced to not speak out or "canceled" for speaking out instead of evidence being offered to the contrary then that is where distrust grows. In other words, some behavior promotes distrust even if there isn't a conspiracy.
On the other side of the coin, some people like to feel they know something others don't. It makes them feel powerful in an overwhelming world.
As far as no evidence for a theory goes...until it is investigated there can be no evidence.
Was there no evidence of planes crashing into the building without an investigation? There can be evidence without an investigation.
What a great episode! Keep them coming!
What if some are based on proven fact? And this man maybe controlled opposition.
It happens.
Bias can form on people who decide all conspiracy theories are false, they won’t look into information because they assume it’s false just because the last conspiracy was false.
What if you’re a promoter of a conspiracy that you falsely think is based on a fact and are here to increase doubt to the opposition? What ifs can get you to a lot of conclusions, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct.
@@SupremeSquiggly I would dismiss it because there is no proven fact.
@@thisoldminer So you agree that “what ifs” don’t have any credit and you need to prove the “what if”?
@@SupremeSquiggly Absolutely
I think people love conspiracies because they are usually more interesting than the real explanation, add on top that it might side with their perspective or views of the world.
My brother in law pointed out to me that the most boring answer is usually the right one.
And when you counter their argument you need to be really delicately careful and not step on eggshells? This sounds like more snowflake sensitivity than I thought.
You can add to that people needs to be special, to see and understand people that the "sheep" won't, be smarter than anyone else, not all people have that need, but some those
But in many cases it is not more interesting. Like how is aliens magically building the pyramids more interesting than ancient humans building them with primitive tools? It is just a fantasy, nobody knows which aliens; how they did it, why they did it. But with humans you can find all kinds of information, like their tools, their society, the religion, etc. any why will lead you down a lifetime of information. With conspiracies every why leads to “well why not?” and that is the end of it.
@@TheJunmengo🤡💉😷🐑
Yeah, the correct way to discover the rule at 33:31 is to also go into descending numbers. 9, 8, 7. I actually saw the Veratasity channel do a video on this, and one guy out of maybe half a dozen actually figured it out.
25:00 He says this as if Trump was a Republican, rather than independent until forced to pick a party in order to receive campaign funds. Maybe look into it. The Republicans as a group tried to bar Trump from entry.
Great episode. I feel like we need more videos on this topic especially these days.
Great session as always! 🎉
the only thing more dangerous than believing all conspiracy theories, are believing theyre all false. neil, you are so smart in your field but as a scientist surely you should have the attitude of doing research on a subject before speaking on it! something you clearly have not done here!
There's a marked difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy. We used to accept conspiracy theory for what it was, a hypothetical possibility. Now it is immediately embraced as fact by people armed with social media and a paranoid suspicion of all things "establishment". The Sandy Hook massacre was not fake just because some people don't like the government.
@@moggpiano8043 thats because the ""establishment" has misused the term and put all conspiracies under the conspiracy theory tag in order to discredit the actual credible ones. this video proves that. they have placed all these things under the conspiracy theory tag when there are legitimate reasons for people questioning the official stories of these things, IE the third building that collapsed miraculously on 9/11, the magic bullet regards to jfk and being british the princess Dianna one, which if you look into the inquest into her death opposed to what the media put out as the cause are totally different. if theyre going to have a discusion about these things they cant just pick and choose what to mention that suits and ignore the main reasons people disbelieve
The problem is that people DO NOT see the patterns and the symbols and the connections. Most people are oblivious to it all and just go to work , have kids, and pay, pay , pay til they’re sick and dead. Then they have to pay to be buried into the ground!!
I’m a little worried at everyone’s ease at joking about the “others” who are conspiracy obsessed. Everyone here believes something that is completely false/conspiratorial, but because of your own biases you will argue that what you believe is truth.
The last question was by far the most important one. A longer discussion on that topic would be nice to hear. I do believe that the range between (believing in science and institutions) and nihilism is a bit broader than shermer seems to think. But what do i know? I am probably in the lower scale of the bottom 50% and concidered by many (probably even less intelligent) as a conspiracy theorist.
Get hard, cold, scientific based facts about the topic your concerned with. Get them yourself from highly respected sources. Do this, and your tendency for conspiracies will start to go away
Great guest!
Unfortunately the people who need to listen to this will be the people who try and avoid this type of video like their conspiracy filled life depended on it...
Yes. Conspiracy never happens anymore. That's all left behind and in the history books now.
@@dissidentexpression8692 🤣
@@dissidentexpression8692 Conspiracies are just not revealed by internet sleuths arriving at preconceived conclusions. Revelation always comes from within..... Declassified documents, whistle blowers, accident or carelessness, or breakdown between the conspirators.
I can imagine flat earthers watching this ,scoffing and just throwing sub par insults and jokes around.
I go with “stupidity” as well. That intelligence bell curve theory has legs too.
generally 'skeptics' are just annoying it seems lately, i grew up thinking i was a skeptic, but they seem to prefer their doubt bias over just learning new information. where as i just never assume anything as fact, and am always curious about new information
I think the confusion between correlation and causation also has a lot to do with it. For example, the people who think 5G towers cause covid will point to maps showing that the earliest covid outbreaks were in areas with the greatest number of 5G towers, which is true. But the 5G didn't cause the outbreak. Instead, it was because those are also the areas with the highest population density; therefore it is natural that the towers would be built there in greater numbers, and also that disease spreads faster there. John Oliver did a great video a while back where he pointed out that there's also a correlation between covid outbreaks and number of Domino's Pizza locations-- because there are also more pizza restaurants where there are more people.
Heh. I had an emergency appendectomy after eating Domino's once. For a long time I believed that their pizza caused it. Stopped believing due to insufficient evidence. How hard is that for some folk to do,unless it's part of their identity and lifestyle?
The NIH published a study that confirmed that 5G microwave radiation disrupts the negative charge that naturally occurs between red blood cells to prevent them from clotting unnecessarily .
Thank you so much for this excellent discussion. I, along with so many others are thankful for such intelligent thinking. I will share this with as many as possible.
Belief in conspiracy theories often stems from psychological needs for control, certainty, and coherence in a complex world. These theories can provide simple explanations for complex events and satisfy a desire for insider knowledge. When it comes to aliens and extraterrestrial beings, such beliefs can be fueled by curiosity about the unknown, fears of a hidden agenda, or the allure of secret knowledge. How might these factors influence our understanding of the universe and our place within it if new evidence about extraterrestrial life were to emerge?
It is refreshing to have you 3 saying these things because there is so so so much crazy things in the metaverse. It's definitely majority crazy
Great content guys. Always a good time learning and laughing. thumbs up.
We as humans are so quick to simplify an event that we were not directly involved in
I still remember reading online a "weather control machine" conspiracy theorist asking why tornadoes seem to be more common and more powerful in the "red states" of the central plains. So I replied that it was because that's where the cold, dry air coming over the Rocky Mountains runs into the warm, moist air coming off the Gulf of Mexico.
I don't know why I was taken aback by the follow-up question of why that was. All I had to that was "geology and meteorology."
The problem with the old dudes view is the majority of "conspiracy" theories become fact 6 months later..... this guy has a CIA handler 🤣 conspiracy theory 🤣🤣
"Rosebud." Reply if you know why I placed this "quote" on here.
Another great episode guys!!! I love to back and forth of Neil and Chuck! Great chemistry and Neil makes it easy to understand even the hardest of questions or topics!
Do we wait for the evidence to come forth or do we use conspiracies and hunches as a drive to acquire the evidence?
The conspiracy theorists have been right a little to much lately
Wrong
@@user-br2gi8kh5s lab leak was right, problems with the jab were right, us funding it was right, feds being involved in certain events.
Because they tell you want you want to be truth. You are a sheeple
Which ones?
My grade 6 science teacher told us that summer is not hotter because the Earth is closer to the sun, but because the tilt of the Earth receives direct rays. And that was in the 70s!!
the teacher was right
I had heard talks by Michael and of Course Neil plenty of time, but I love the adition of Chuck to this
Chuck hit the nail on the head. Sometimes if you hear these conspiracies and try to forget some of the facts you already know. The conspiracies make sense. But then you realize you know the facts and realize how some people could indeed fall for some of these conspiracies
Yes, like the FBI pushing a Russia collusion hoax for 2 years, or interfering in elections via Twitter and censorship, or calling Hunter's laptop Russian b.s.
The way DemonRATs dismiss proven facts is 🤣😂😆😂😆
Why can’t I push the like button 10 times. This truly was a great episode! Thank you
My first time watching this show. It was the longest 56 minutes of my life. Nothing worse than grown men giggling for a whole hour while trying to sound serious.
Just watched Michael Shermer on the Joe Rogan podcast.
I shall look this up!
Hilarious how they start with "half are below..." basically joking 50% of the human population is dumb and I bet everyone watching this is laughing and saying haha yeah I'm part of the "other" 50% not considering they are, in fact, one of the dumb ones 🤣🤣 loved this vod, super entertaining and interesting
No u
Peolpe tell me i m smart but. I m smart enought to know im not smart
You can be below the average intelligence but still be a rational minded thinker 😜
A recent mind blower for me is that intelligence in the human race is not an even bell curve, It is a RIGHT WEIGHTED bell curve, meaning most humans are in fact, dumb. So if this were a lottery, you'd win money betting that you (we) were the dumb one.
@@funkyd04 that sounds correct based on my anecdotal experience 😅 but where did you hear that from? Just curious
Great show with a very important subject, specially these days.
Wish the Fairness Doctrine would get reinstated. It would get rid of the BS from news spreading the BS
20 years ago I saw a little girl around 12 years old moving something with her mind on an episode of Ancient Aliens when I went to Hulu years later the episode was still there about the gifted kids that were studied by the Chinese in the late '80s , over 300 of them. but the piece of footage was of course gone from the episode. so when it comes to proving you're not crazy you better tape it the first time it airs " so to speak"
100% with Chuck on this one.
For my Psych project (physics major, but everyone has to take social sciences), I tested the correlation between education level and belief in conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and so on. The subjects ranged from students to faculty, all of whom filled out a questionnaire about their education and yes or no on various beliefs. Would you believe it if I told you that education level had a strong inverse correlation with belief in conspiracy theories etc? (for the dumb, that means the lower the education level the more likely the person is to believe in conspiracy theories).
Color me shocked/sarcasm.
Although religious beliefs only had a slight inverse correlation with education level. Forgot to point that out.
I wouldn't have really thought an actual "Inverse" - To me, I could see undergrad and grad having less of a belief in conspiracy theories because they were actively at the...I'll say "Learning to Learn" stage, of education - whereas lower educated (especially without a High School diploma) might simply not have the education, or even intelligence, to really think the concepts through, and Highly-Educated Docs and Post-Docs, might get into a certain "I know what I'm talking about" mindset.
I have a 3rd grade education and I’m pretty sure you are working for some dark government agency “acting” like you are administering “psych exams”
That is just proof that education brainwashes you into Big Academia and denying the obvious truth.
Checkmate.
@@eliteteamkiller319 Primary education is about accepting input without question. Those who question input don't do well in our route learning system. Thinking is not conducive to education in our system.
Isn't it weird that we've come to accept governments lying and hiding things from the public?
-
Think about it.
Who is the government and what is their function?
The government is us and their function is sustain and improve different aspects of our day-to-day life.
"Two or more business persons meeting with one another could be considered a conspiracy against the public."
Love this show, it’s so funny and as your laughing your learning interesting facts!
"They" always refers to persons unknown. If they were known we would have grounds for investigation and the finding of evidence. Every inquiry begins with a "they" or "it" of sorts until a search for evidence begins.
Great show and a book that I plan to own.
Naw but we appreciate you so much Dr. Tyson
Michael is skeptical about his own life lol
The people who try to think outside of what we are taught are not dumb
In terms of the Kennedy assasination, I will always believe that Oswald didn't act alone. On the other hand, it would have seemed that someone would have made a death bed confession or something. Then back to the conspiracy theory that Oswald didn't act alone, why is the government holding back secret documents about that day in Dallas? That just propels the theory that there's more to that day in Dallas.
Howard E Hunt said that Cord Myers was in charge of the assassination on his death bed. That Kennedy had slept with his wife.
I surmise the gene that Dr. Kaku mentions is the metaphorical part of us that experiences fear. As mentioned, we find comfort in explaining things that frighten us. There is a type of person who does experience fear more acutely. Perhaps it is physiological as in having an enlarged amygdala, or maybe it is environmental as in upbringing or tribal associations, but for whatever underlying reason and to varying degrees, there are people who are governed by their fears. Such a person will more readily accept falsehoods in order to seek comfort. Confirmation bias sets in and said person will then fortify their position, perhaps by claiming they have an open mind. Then along comes a spider, a personality who preys upon those fears, confirming and magnifying fears while profiting. Our society is full of these types.
This needs a sequel
1000 years ago Everyone knew the world was flat, By thinking it was round was a Conspiracy Theory. What we know today as fact can change in a Moment
Like we're going to remember what we're taught 20 years ago, in 2nd or 3rd grade.. Why we have seasons.. We aren't taught how to survive, the only thing that matters; and that's even if you got a Ph. D.. And the more we loose, the more secure the rich and powerful are at the top..
To be a conspiracy theorist you have to either an individual, critical thinker or an absolute loon. But you can also be a loon and believe everything politicians and media tells you. That would make you an absolute fool in theory. Just found Michael on Peter Baghosians page. Much respect to him and Michael Schellenberger. Two educated adults. Now I can’t wait to watch this. Cheers from Toronto
Not all conspiracy theories are equal some are based on facts .
As soon as Chuck is gone I will subscribe to this channel
I would like to hear Neil talking about Pyramids. That never stopped dazzling me.
They're too playful in this but I don't mind the brief "intermissions" because sometimes these small interactions sets it apart from those boring political discussions.
Confirmation bias, personal incredulity and other human traits are a constant threat to science and rational thinking and I find that the majority of those that have those traits and allows those traits to overwhelm their rationality have a lower standard of education.
going to pick up the book this Friday and check it out
Thanks for mentioning Scientology as a conspiracy. ❤❤❤❤