May 12, 2017 3:34 pm

Tonight, Neil deGrasse Tyson talks Star Trek and Science Fiction with William Shatner

Although I am too young to fully appreciate the nuanced importance of Star Trek: The Original Series, I do understand when we have an icon on StarTalk Radio.

In this week’s podcast, Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with William Shatner to talk all things Star Trek and discuss the enduring power of science fiction. Joined by comic co-host Chuck Nice and astrophysicist Charles Liu, Neil and the gang warp into conversation on the legacy of Star Trek.

The discussion covers a lot of topics like William’s favorite episode, why Star Trek: The Original Series was more popular during syndication, the design of the bridge, the first televised interracial kiss between Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura, Star Trek’s social commentary on American race relations during the 1960s, and much, much more.

Later on in the episode, David Batchelor, Aerospace Technologist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, stops by to discuss his article “The Science of Star Trek.”

The article is fascinating. Using the technology of Star Trek, David provides “a list of the standard Star Trek features, roughly in order of increasing scientific incredibility.” I recommend giving it a read.

I also really enjoyed when William gets the chance to ask Neil any question he might have about the universe. What happens next results in a passionate, wonder-saturated conversation about particles, protons, relativity, and the speed of light. It’s truly a listener’s delight. It’s especially cool to hear an icon of the science community (Neil) and an icon of the science fiction community (William) share the same passion in trying to unlock and understand the mysteries of the universe.

You’ll also hear fan-submitted Cosmic Queries about neutron stars, distant galaxies, the disappearance of the sun, and the similarities between warp fields and gravitational waves.

All that, plus, Bill Nye drops in to share his appreciation for Star Trek’s optimistic views of the future and technology.

So lay in a course to join us tomorrow night for The Power of Science Fiction, with William Shatner at 7pm EDT right here on our website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and TuneIn. And if you’re an All-Access subscriber, you can watch or listen to this episode ad-free at 7pm, too, along with Neil’s full, extended interview with William Shatner.

That’s it for now. Keep Looking Up!
–Ian Mullen