Unlock with PatreonAbout This Episode
On this episode of StarTalk Radio, we’re exploring Earth’s oceans with some of the most influential people underwater. Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with comic co-host Scott Adsit and ocean conservationist Laure Katz to discuss his interviews with legendary explorer and oceanographer Sylvia Earle and aquanaut Fabien Cousteau. You’ll hear how Sylvia and Laure’s each had childhood experiences that sparked their love for exploring the oceans. Ponder why humans have a hard time showing empathy for certain types of ocean life. Discover why Sylvia says the ocean is “alive,” not just full of water and rocks. Find out how human activity has impacted the way the oceans function and why the acidification of the oceans is rising at an alarming rate. Actor/environmentalist Adrian Grenier stops by to discuss how he went from leading man to leading voice to rid the world of plastic, or at least to innovate our way beyond our reliance on plastic. Neil has a friendly debate with Sylvia and Laure on which is better: the romantic deep blue sea or the infinite starry night sky. Fabien tells us about his shark-shaped submarine and if he feels any pressure to live up to his legendary grandfather, Jacques Cousteau. Submarine pilot Erika Bergman gives us a tour of her boat and shares the most interesting place she’s ever explored. Learn about the work Sylvia was doing during the birth of human space exploration – it’s about as close to you can get to space while remaining on Earth. You’ll also hear how the news reported her monumental work and Scott reads some headlines from an alternate universe that treats men the way women scientists were treated during the 1970s. Turning our gaze outwards, Neil asks our explorers if they would ever consider adventuring to other oceans in our solar system like the ones found on Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus. All that, plus Sylvia tells us about her Mission Blue project to create a system of national parks, called “Hope Spots” in the oceans and Neil leaves us with a plea to protect our oceans because without them we would not survive.
NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: Exploring Earth’s Oceans, with Sylvia Earle and Fabien Cousteau.
Become a Patron
