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From dying stars to dust clouds to us – star stuff, all Grant Jacobs Mar 14

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All the stuff that make up us came from stars. (Some time, ages ago.)

This meme isn’t new, Carl Sagan played it too. This is a lazy mid-week post as I’m starting to nod off toward sleep, but it’s still great to listen well-known American science communicator Neil Tyson’s excellent take on it.

(I wasn’t quite so keen on the trailing musical portion myself, but what gives?)

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7 Comments Leave a comment

1. 
   Rob Edward 462 days ago

   Nice clip. (I agree the soundtrack is pretty terrible..)

   I much prefer Sagan’s alliterative use of “Star stuff” over Tyson’s somewhat prosaic “Star guts”

   I think this Sagan quote sums it all up with stunning brevity.
   “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”

2. 
   Michael Edmonds 462 days ago

   Grant,

   Is this part of the new series of Cosmos which Tyson is hosting?

3. 
   Grant Jacobs 462 days ago

   Rob,

   I prefer Sagan’s line on that one myself. I missed that, might be my hearing – I have a hearing loss and sometimes miss things like that! I occurs to me that it might be an ‘Americanisation’ – ?

   I think the overall presentation of Sagan’s is a bit dated now – good for buffs like us, perhaps, but probably not so good for those that have never heard it – ?

4. 
   Grant Jacobs 462 days ago

   Michael – I’ve no idea! Seems likely though, thanks for pointing it out.

5. 
   Rob Edward 461 days ago

   Alas I think you are right Grant, The visuals in Cosmos are a bit on the tired side. Though Sagan’s poetry is still as good as ever.

   I really like Tyson’s enthusiasm but he also reminds me of one of the Thespians (Mossop I think) in Sense and Senility.

   I look forward to seeing what the new series of Cosmos comes out like.

6. 
   Michael Edmonds 460 days ago

   The visuals in Cosmos are a bit dated but the man certainly knew how to communicate. His turns of phrase could be pure gems

   http://sciblogs.co.nz/molecular-matters/2011/09/10/what-is-your-favourite-sagan-quote/

7. 
   Michael Edmonds 460 days ago

   “guts” certainly lacks the elegance of Sagan. I wonder if they are trying to appeal to boys who they think “guts” might appeal to, or perhaps it is a term American culture might appreciate more??