StarTalk Talks to a Star: Nichelle Nichols

Podcasts: StarTalk Radio

 

StarTalk Radio: On the Bridge to Equality: A Conversation with Nichelle Nichols

http://www.startalkradio.net/2011/07/10/a-conversation-with-nichelle-nichols

Host: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Guest: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek's Lieutenant Uhura, actress, singer, dancer, space advocate

Release Date: July 12, 2011

StarTalk Radio: NASA and Nichelle Nichols

http://www.startalkradio.net/2011/07/17/nasa-and-nichelle-nichols

Host: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Co-Host: Leighann Lord, Comedian

Guest: Nichelle Nichols

Release Date: July 18, 2011

If you're a serious Star Trek fan, chances are you've heard the story of how Nichelle Nichols submitted her resignation to Gene Roddenberry after the end of the first season. Fortunately, Nichols was dissuaded by her biggest fan, none other than Dr. Martin Luther King.

Even if you know the story, Neil deGrasse Tyson's interview with Nichols is well worth a listen because of the deep rapport the two shared during the first episode of this two part series. Weepy tissue alert: many parts of Nichol's story are deeply moving and both the guest and host (not to mention at least one listener) were teary eyed while Nichols retold stories of her time as the Chief Communications Officer (and fourth in command) of the Starship Enterprise.

The initial interview focused on how Nichols' role was a truly ground breaking part for a black woman on TV. Indeed, Dr. King emphasized to Nichols how vitally important her role was. Remember, in the mid to late 1960's when Star Trek aired, blacks were not regulars on TV shows, and they certainly were not officers on the bridge of a starship. While her mere prescience would have been significant, Nichols' grace and dignity elevated her position and inspired countless young women to pursue professional careers that were previously inconceivable.

The second part of the interview explored Nichols' instrumental role as a consultant who helped NASA recruit and hire women and minority astronauts, something NASA was not able to do before Nichols' involvement. I'm sure many super Trekkies knew of this, but I'm a more casual fan (I have not been to a convention in years) and I found Nichols' public service after Star Trek was fascinating and eye opening.

Not only did Nichols represent a key part of Gene Roddenberry's vision of a diverse future, but in our own present Nichols worked tirelessly to make this vision begin to become a reality. She deserves a lot of credit for her accomplishments, and her story is truly inspiring and worth hearing. Plus, the second hour also had more laughs than the first hour, so it's not just informative but fun.

Big Pictures and Big Endings

Podcasts: Big Picture Science (formerly Are We Alone), StarTalk Radio

Big Picture Science: The Big Picture

http://radio.seti.org:80/episodes/The_Big_Picture

Hosts: Seth Shostak, Molly Bentley

Guests: Nicolas Humphrey and others

Release Date: July 11, 2011

This past week I listened to two of my favorite science podcasts (both are radio shows), and on both I heard some interesting comments about death.

Since I discovered this show last December, Are We Alone has been one of my favorite science podcasts. The topics are fascinating, the hosts are witty and entertaining, the discussions and guests are knowledgeable and interesting. I learn a lot and have fun at the same time. It's produced by The SETI Institute, the folks who search for signs of extraterrestrial life, but the topics span all of science, not just Astronomy.

This week's show was the first episode broadcast as the new name, Big Picture Science. The topics for this first episode addressed some really big questions: "How did life begin? What’s the universe made of, and what’s the nature of consciousness?, Will the Cubs ever win a World Series? Just kidding about the last one. I think they are Houston Astros fans.

Nicolas Humphrey, the next to last guest, ended his interview with an intriguing insight about consciousness. First I should explain that Humphrey is "a theoretical psychologist, based in Cambridge, "who is known for his work on the evolution of human intelligence and consciousness." (quoted from his website). He has had positions at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and has authored several books, most recently Soul Dust: The Magic of Consciousness

After an exchange with host Molly Bentley about how consciousness gives meaning to human life, Humphrey concluded that "Consciousness made us fear death, and do everything we could not to go into that oblivion. Animals don’t think about death. They don't understand death. Humans for the first time of any animal on Earth faced up to death and do face it every day of their lives. And, of course, we fear death more than anything because we fear the loss of consciousness."

StarTalk Radio: The Political Science of The Daily Show

http://www.startalkradio.net/2011/05/22/the-political-science-of-the-daily-show

Host: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Co-Host: Leighann Lord, Comedian

Guests: Jon Stewart, Host of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central, Charles Liu, Professor of astrophysics at CUNY (City University of new York)

Release Date: May 22, 2011

Speaking of science shows that are entertaining and informative, few can match StarTalk Radio. The host, Neil deGrasse Tyson is a well known astrophysicist and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Natural History in New York. A professional comedian joins Tyson as a co-host on each show. This episode was funnier than usual because the main host, Jon Stewart, was no less comedic in his unscripted conversations.

But the banter was more than funny: at least one comment by Stewart echoed Nicolas Humphrey's point about consciousness by saying that humans fear death while animals do not. Stewart them remarked that "Because we know we are going to die, science is in essence that search we have to either come up with an answer, or to solve the dilemma, or to ease our minds about the uncertainty."

I've heard that the fear of death and the need for some kind of emotional defense against death is one explanation for why people embrace religion. But this is the first time I've heard of science cast in the same role. Hmm, that's one to ponder.

As enlightening as I found these views, I do have one small quibble with both Humphreys and Stewart. Both assume that animals lack enough consciousness to fear death. Do we really know that for a fact? Is it even possible for us to know without a doubt that animals really do lack any thoughts about their own death? Scientists recently discovered that at least five animal species (some primates, some non-primates) can actually recognize their own image in a mirror. I'm not saying your garden variety squirrel is a mental match for any human. But I would not be surprised if future research reveals even more forms of animal thought that we now have no clue about. At least that what my cat thinks, and who am I to argue?