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Between the Lines: Neil deGrasse Tyson

The astrophysicist and author of Letters from an Astrophysicist discusses the worst ever sci-fi films, what would keep him sane on a space voyage and of course, Brian Cox.

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born in New York City the same week NASA was founded.

As a 17-year-old kid from the Bronx, he dreamed of being a scientist when Carl Sagan invited him to spend a Saturday together in Ithaca at Cornell University. That meeting changed his life. After completing a degree in physics from Harvard followed by a PhD in astrophysics from Columbia, deGrasse Tyson became the Director of the Hayden Planetarium.

The astrophysicist has dedicated his life to exploring and explaining the greatest mysteries of the universe. We quizzed him for our video series Between the Lines to find out why Armageddon is one of his least favourite sci-fi films, how pepperoni pizza would be his salvation on a space voyage and the moment he was most star-struck – by something truly out of this world. 

Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson is out now. 

 

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