Celebrity scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson appeared on CNN, Sunday, to lecture those he deemed too stupid to accept the linkage of climate change to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Proving he should stick to science on TV, deGrasse pompously botched history: “Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, signed into law in 1963 — a year when he had important things to be thinking about — the National Academy of Sciences.”
Of course, Lincoln had been dead for 98 years in 1963. (The bill creating the National Academy of Science was signed by Lincoln on March 3, 1863.) Tyson added, “Because he knew that science mattered and should matter in governance.” History and getting your dates right also matter.
Later, Tyson offered the ultimate doom and gloom on climate change: “I worry that we might not be able to recover from this because all our greatest cities are on the oceans and water's edges, historically, for commerce and transportation.”
The celebrity scientist flat-out linked the hurricanes to climate change:
CNN Howler: Abraham Lincoln Was Pro-Science Back in... 1963?
Of course, Lincoln had been dead for 98 years in 1963. (The bill creating the National Academy of Science was signed by Lincoln on March 3, 1863.) Tyson added, “Because he knew that science mattered and should matter in governance.” History and getting your dates right also matter.
Later, Tyson offered the ultimate doom and gloom on climate change: “I worry that we might not be able to recover from this because all our greatest cities are on the oceans and water's edges, historically, for commerce and transportation.”
The celebrity scientist flat-out linked the hurricanes to climate change:
I think this 50 inches of — I can't even picture -- how many rain drops was that? Fifty inches of rain in Houston, this is — this is a shot across our bow. A hurricane the width of Florida, going up the center of Florida — these are shots across our bow.
What — what will it take for people to recognize that a community of scientists are learning objective truths about the natural world and that you can benefit from knowing about it?
What — what will it take for people to recognize that a community of scientists are learning objective truths about the natural world and that you can benefit from knowing about it?
CNN Howler: Abraham Lincoln Was Pro-Science Back in... 1963?