There are so many Jacobs out there, from all walks of life, that we need to nurture. I used to work as a Youth Development Specialist. This is a prime example of something I said to my peers in one meeting: "Talk to kids like they're adults. They're not stupid. They understand way more than we'd like to give them credit for. They're people, just like we are, and probably with infinitely more ideas because of their limitless imagination." "Why don't we try this?" "Because of XYZ." "Ohhh okay. Well, how about this idea?" "Oh well that's because of ABC." "Well, has anyone ever thought about THIS?" "Kid, do you wanna be the first trillionaire? Figure out how to do that, and save the world." Neil never discouraged Jacob. In fact, he fully encouraged and CHALLENGED Jacob to get it done. I love this type of stuff.

@WonderScience.

20 күн бұрын

Love this comment! Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience.

@gonnahavemesomefun

18 күн бұрын

Yeah Tyson here just kept coming with reasons why not, so much adulting 💔

@thefloop2813

16 күн бұрын

In my experience it's FAR easier to communicate complex concepts in physics and cosmology to children then adults. Far far easier. Their minds immediately start to figure things out on their own once it clicks too, rarely do you EVER have to hold a child's hand once their interest in the sciences is really peaked, they do all the work themselves by choice and passion. If you hit the nail on the head with something they are TURLY passionately interested in, very quickly a child's knowledge on a given subject will eclipse your own if they have access to the information. Information sponges with the malleability of modeling clay a child's brain be.

@MrLandslide84

15 күн бұрын

Yes, I always talk to my kids like adults when it comes to life. There is no good that comes from not telling them the truth! Let that fresh mind break down the complexities and come up with solutions we abandoned a long time ago in the face of "adult life". Also, I know this about myself, I was a smart kid. But man, did the "hood" and moving 200x make that hard. So what is smart at 9, isn't smart at 21. If someone grabbed me and took that open mind to the limits instead of what I grew up seeing... yea. This comment above is 10000%. Frost.

@gonnahavemesomefun

15 күн бұрын

@@MrLandslide84 totally agree. I was always confused why schools didn’t teach the birds and the bees free year dot. It’s natural and doesn’t take away their childhood at all. My kids just instinctively know about s3x, it’s not embarrassing or taboo.

"Imagine my clipboard is an asteroid." "You're nine and you have a clipboard?" "No, I just told you it's an asteroid now. Try to keep up Neil."

@antekpaztek

Ай бұрын

"You're nine and you have an asteroid?"

@jamesburton1050

Ай бұрын

😂😂

@n085fs

Ай бұрын

@@antekpaztek "Yeah. I hear someone your age would only have a hemorrhoid."

@IlliniDog01

Ай бұрын

He said "it's a folder"

@305backup

Ай бұрын

​@@n085fsi had hemorrhoids by the time I was 20. Not really relevant but I figured I'd share.

Hearing a nine-year-old rattle off “non-Newtonian solid,” and NDT realize he’s dealing with a kid who gets it, and then adjust his dialog to the kid’s level is just golden. NDT is a brilliant educator.

@julien5053

Ай бұрын

Non-Newtonian solid doesn't really exist, it's made up by the kid. It's non-neutonian fluids that exists. But even if it's made up, he is a brilliant kid for sure !

@asgacc8789

Ай бұрын

​@@julien5053 some places use it somewhat interchangeably. But yeah I think fluid is the official scientific term

@Mikerille

Ай бұрын

@@julien5053the term is used for both, same thing different slang

@Vgamer311

29 күн бұрын

@@julien5053it’s literally a solid and a fluid depending on context. That’s what makes it non-Newtonian.

@TheUmbroDragon

27 күн бұрын

He sure is! Id like to point out that the Closed Captions have called it a Non-Newtonian salad. I think I liked that better.

The kid woke him up. He started off ignoring his actual question and giving his pre packaged response, but the kid didn’t give up and he broke through, and Neil had to think in real time, beautiful job by both in the end

@davidc.2878

Ай бұрын

Exactly. You actually tracked the conversation.

@mhsandifer

4 күн бұрын

Being and promoting trans is more important than saving the planet from an asteroid

@yomammasaurusrex9571

4 күн бұрын

​@@mhsandifer imagine being this desperate for an argument

@MikaBoMS

4 күн бұрын

@@mhsandiferBro wtf?

@JaeohnEspheras

4 күн бұрын

​@mhsandifer I imagine your argument with one of your parents goes like this. Parent: "Clean your room!" You: "Promoting trans is more important for you than my room!"

The neat thing about this exchange is that a very young Neil had a similar talk once... with Carl Sagan. Carl treated him seriously, and set him on a career in science.

@markjaycox8811

Ай бұрын

Neither Carl or Neil have put as much space in their moment as a 5,000 year old tree has lived, so when there's more time making a stick than got stuck in your mind- you are not conscious of what is, you are conscious of where you've been put-2024. Neil has no Science and has made ZERO FACT. I have made fact no one in SCIENCE ever has, and i did it twice on LIVE TV 8-8-15, and 11-23-15. Nobody in Science has the nerve to face me, because they're ego based and are afraid of being wrong, and their reason is flawed and they're too afraid to face that fact. Ask Neil what the 2012 Apocalypse is. He can't tell you and do you know why? Neil allowed his TV to convince him that minds that carved into rock the 2012 Apocalypse over 2,000 years ago were Retards, and that is not Science, is it? Why are you not seeking what the 2012 Apocalypse is? Because you let your TV decide your reasoning process, and that fact makes you and all of 2024's Science, Retarded.

@tsalVlog

Ай бұрын

I came here to say this; despite some disappointment in how NDT expresses some of his opinions, I admire his story and what he's done for science as a communicator.

@markjaycox8811

Ай бұрын

@@tsalVlog What has he communicated? His opinion? His own blindness? His mind has never been challenged and his ego is afraid of being challenged, so that fact makes him weak, and weakness is not consciousness.

@Digital-Cajun

Ай бұрын

Not even Carl takes him seriously anymore. EDIT: I know Carl Sagan has been long dead.

@kevjd24

Ай бұрын

I loved the story of him going to Cornell where Carl gave him a tour and showed him around his lab. I also want to say that I am not here for the NDT hate. If you don’t like or agree with his methods, that’s fine. But to simply call him weak is inaccurate. Coming from someone who prefers the works of Michio Kaku, one could argue since the 21st century Neil has done more for science than anyone has. He inspired an entire generation of people who never would’ve taken an interest in science, to look up instead of down. Look at all the people who took interest in the Solar Eclipse. A lot of that had to do with him and his ability to reach people and make science interesting to the vast majority of people who never found it interesting before.

What was truly amazing about this conversation is that Niel DeGrasse Tyson didn't just dismiss Jacob because he was a 9-year-old kid .. he actually had a sincere conversation with him and encouraged him to continue with his research and gave him a blueprint for his future!

@kennethcameron7401

Ай бұрын

Thing is, while the kid has what amount to child-like ideas, they aren't necessarily BAD ideas. With the recent DART mission we learned a lot about the composition of asteroids and the fact that maybe we CAN just give them a nudge in order to keep them from being dangerous. And maybe not a giant sheet of metal, but some sort of carbon fiber net with large masses on one end could potentially grab an Earth-crossing asteroid and divert it's trajectory enough to make it miss. Jacob, you keep thinking up stuff like this, one day you'll be presenting to Congress about it.

@LMBrown3900

Ай бұрын

Maybe I’m alone in the perception that the presenter was condescending and dismissive. He never answered the question, made a lot of word salad and then made an abrupt exit. If I’m wrong, please point out where or how?

@ironwolfgaming9632

Ай бұрын

@@LMBrown3900 He was showing that the idea was sound but not fully thought through - critical thinking. Jacob was learning his limited information as it went and he changed the question and the conditions - for a 9 year old that is impressive. I don't care for NDT but in this instance he showed the original possible flaw and then allowed the kid to modify the idea.

@TheSuperlobo34

Ай бұрын

​@@kennethcameron7401I was thinking the same thing but with webbing of nano tubes. Jacob is definitely on to something. Maybe NDT will mentor him in the future. 😊😊

@MagicToenail

Ай бұрын

@@kennethcameron7401We must have studied the asteroid we hit, but when we are in an actual threat of going out like the dinosaurs, we won't have time to just study the asteroid to see if we can just nudge it

A nine year old kid who understands non-Newtonian solids, confident enough to go head to head with Neil DeGrasse Tyson in a public forum. This is the kind of kid who actually might find a way to manipulate and mine asteroids. Good luck Jacob, I wish you all the very best for your future career.

When I was teaching high school science, I had a young student, 15 years old, and he asked questions like that. I hope I treated him nearly as well as Neil treated Jacob. Later in the semester, the principal told me that he was a problem student. My only response was that I wished the rest of the class could be a problem like he was. Smart, patient and pleasant.

@davidc.2878

Ай бұрын

Problems disappear when a student is absorbed by the material. Half the problem with education is all the labels-and I mean both the woke ones and the authoritarian ones-like problem kid.

@jeepliving1

10 күн бұрын

Sometimes the "problem kid" is actually a "problem teacher".

@twistysnacks

9 күн бұрын

I'm willing to bet he was an intelligent kid not being challenged enough. Or maybe one who was being abused or neglected. But either way, when schools label kids "problem children", they perpetuate whatever the problem was.

@StarMakerDvinity

6 күн бұрын

What's the saying again?... "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

@assessmenttreatment8445

4 күн бұрын

A lot of problem students are bored students…

We need more Jacobs and fewer Kardashians.

@kascension

Ай бұрын

AMEN to that!!!

@DonaldOfEarth

Ай бұрын

Correct

@michaelrichter9427

Ай бұрын

Fewer Kardashians. Not less. Fewer.

@tearstoneactual9773

Ай бұрын

@@michaelrichter9427 - You are correct. My apologies. I must have been tired when I wrote that. As a writer I do try to be precise and correct. Thank you.

@subhobroto

Ай бұрын

​@@tearstoneactual9773 I understood what you said so I think you did your job of communicating, well. I guess your brain was in the "more vs less" characteristics of the people pattern.

I was 10 years old when I met Ray Bradbury at a book signing. I asked him how I cound become a rocket designer. My told me to take every math and science class I could, and also to learn how to study science from books without the school. 30 years later, a rocket that I designed a small but important part of launced a satellite into orbit.

@Wiseman501

Ай бұрын

That is really awesome. It's amazing what a little nudge in youth can do.

@andrewt836

Ай бұрын

Legend

@jorged06

Ай бұрын

RESPECT

@billypollina7870

Ай бұрын

Damn! Great story and major congratulations!

@mjlvnv

Ай бұрын

When I was around 10, I met Ray Bradbury at a book signing at either UCLA or USC, I can’t remember, It was around 51/52 years ago.My son actually gave me a signed copy of “Fahrenheit 451” that he found at an antique store I believe. He is still one of my very favorite authors ever 😀

I got a feeling Tyson is going to be handing Jacob a Nobel in 20 years.

@jra55417

Ай бұрын

Unlikely. The King of Sweden hands those out

@keesdekarper

Ай бұрын

We aren't living in a disney movie. Talent/interest is far from enough to accomplish something. A large chunk of luck is also needed

@Iwondera

17 күн бұрын

​@keesdekarper More like realistic effort. Luck and talent are bull. I could run faster than bolt if I sacrificed the sport and hopped in a car or put on that what you ma call it kangeru leg thing. But would I ever have reason enough to do it? No

@bobmuller8806

11 күн бұрын

How Cool would that be !!

@Boure

10 күн бұрын

@@Iwonderayou’re so dumb lol

I love that Neil recognized Jacob’s questions as intelligent and thoughtful - and he may have just inspired that kid to use his forward-thinking brain for great things!

"The young do not know enough to be prudent. and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it generation after generation." Pearl S. Buck

@Oatmeal-Savage

Ай бұрын

The nano blanket idea is actually pretty advanced, and genius. It would work.

@KutWrite

Ай бұрын

Yes, and schools are there to pound those thoughts out of them.

@pinchebruha405

Ай бұрын

@@KutWritenot the schools in France; the teachers know to look for these kids natural curiosity, the daydreamers are encouraged to keep dreaming and share those dreams with everyone. The Pantheon Museum is dedicated to all their greatest dreamers contributions to societies advancements Math Science & the Arts. It’s amazing to see the notebooks of those minds on full display!

@kwhp1507

Ай бұрын

@@Oatmeal-Savageit sounds very light and easy to transport a sweeping blanket to space big enough to take an asteroid anywhere. The first astronauts was limited to very small and lightweight personal effects they could take with them because of weight and size constraints. Maybe we can put an Amish colony in space, and have them knit the blanket at the space station, and deploy it from there.

@Primatologie

Ай бұрын

@@pinchebruha405Please keep doing what you’re doing. I wish I had someone like that in my life when I was young, curious and excited about science.

3:25 The look on NDT's face when Jason dropped the "non-Newtonian solid". Priceless.

@incubrian

Ай бұрын

he didnt make "a look" because he did not want to correct the kid by pointing out there is no such thing as a non-Newtonian solid. there are non-Newtonian fluids. the kid is in the ballpark of somewhat correct physics, but none of this is "brilliant" as the video clickbait title says...

@ironwolfgaming9632

Ай бұрын

@@incubrian sure - he was 9. When he is 10 he will solve it and know the difference.

@incubrian

Ай бұрын

@@ironwolfgaming9632 lol solve what? Give credit where it's due. It's not here.

@ironwolfgaming9632

Ай бұрын

@@incubrian science is NEVER solved to an end - it is all theory - given his limited information he was offering solution and not trolling a comment section.

@incubrian

Ай бұрын

@@ironwolfgaming9632 lol no he wasn't, and I'm sorry you fell victim to a click bait video.

This kid just got motivated for life. He will Never stop pursuing Science.

@A_Stereotypical_Guy

14 күн бұрын

By an idiot that didn't answer his question?

That 9 year old spoke out for the 9 year old inside of all of us.

I'm tired of people hating on Neil who don't realize that he made science cool for millions of kids who then went on to become engineers, educators, researchers, communicators, etc.

@LethalOwl

Ай бұрын

I dislike him for his involvement in politics, I like him for making science cool to kids. You can appreciate and dislike a person at the same time. He’s smart on some topics and dumb on others.

@reasonabledictator8993

Ай бұрын

The science stuff is awesome. He doesn't get hate for that.

@wmason1961

Ай бұрын

He doesn't get hate for science. He gets hate for his politics.

@deolihp

Ай бұрын

Neil is not political at all. People just hate him because he’s smarter than them

@Nodeninja

Ай бұрын

@Dbl4Sllivn Endorsing a candidate and telling people who to vote for aren't the same thing. If you are going to waste energy hating on that type of thing then you might as well hate on people who only vote for someone because another person tells them to. At least you didn't say you hated him because you disagreed with his politics.

I hope I see him on a talkshow someday telling a story about asking Neil a question when he was nine. We need more kids like that.

@rodschmidt8952

Ай бұрын

I hope I see Neil on a talkshow in ten or twenty years telling a story about that time he met Jacob

@kealiimaxilom2465

Ай бұрын

We need to enhance the armies of kids like this..guys like Neil aren't connecting to kids like Jacob commonly.

@katiekat4457

Ай бұрын

Neil does this everyday and has been for decades. Luckily, for a child like this, Neil's favorite thing in the world is his own voice talking. He seems like a really, really nice guy.

@Axxis270

Ай бұрын

We need more NDT's who are willing to sit down and talk with a 9 year old and acknowledge that kids are smarter than we give them credit for.

The grin on my face when the kid said "non-newtonian solid". I don't have kids, but I'd be so proud to be Jacob's mom

@daryls212

2 күн бұрын

Or dad. 😊

I dont care what people say about Tyson. If you make science cool and interesting for the youth, you're doing humanity and the whole planet a huge service. The current century is a turning point for humanity and this is exactly what we need.

@Jacqueline_Thijsen

16 күн бұрын

Came here to say exactly this, but you put it more eloquently.

@StarMakerDvinity

6 күн бұрын

Not really a science field thing but... I've often wondered about what the world would be like if instead of getting a patent to profit off of "new" things (that enable people to change the way a hinge works on a jewelry box and make millions ::ahem::) but what if that knowledge was instead shared with everyone with the inclination to learn it? The idea of being visited by an extra terrestrial intelligence made me realize just how stupid our species would be perceived if an alien with a superior intellect were to visit and ask us what might seem like simple questions but the majority of our species is ignorant about, like, "What is a lamp and how does it work?" Can you imagine the sort of society we would live in if everyone who owned a toaster, lamp, microwave, TV, radio, toilet, etc knew not only how it worked, but how to repair it if it breaks? Why is such knowledge (that in some cases is literally over a century old, technologically) considered "specialized" knowledge? Why shouldn't we want such knowledge and expertise to be passed on and shared with the masses, rather than those who decide to go into certain fields of study? Isn't there a point in time where some of these things should be considered COMMON knowledge?? The pursuit of profit is so limiting to human evolution and progress and allows people to take credit for such petty and inconsequential and unnecessary pursuits. Who CARES if you can make a jewelry box open with a different sort of hinge when the only reason for the change is a way to profit off something that already works fine without it? Proprietary gains seem like such a waste of time in the long run when we could be doing things to benefit mankind overall rather than a select few...

@Jacqueline_Thijsen

6 күн бұрын

@StarMakerDvinity A patent does make the knowledge publicly available, you have to disclose the process and end result in detail for the patent to be granted. It merely makes it illegal to use that knowledge for profit without consent from the patent holder. This is why any business holding a patent or copyright will generally clamp down on such use. Because if they don't, it's seen as implicit consent. The reason nobody knows how to do all of those things anymore is because there's simply too much to learn these days. The last European who was considered knowledgeable in all fields of the sciences of the time was Leonardo da Vinci. Not the turtle.

@StarMakerDvinity

6 күн бұрын

@@Jacqueline_Thijsen the process for these things may be disclosed but such things should be taught in our grammar and middle schools rather than reserved for specialized trade schools etc... there's really no reason in 2024 that every school-age kid shouldn't graduate with a basic understanding of electronics and basic home maintenance, regardless of the field they choose to go into. Especially when we should have implemented free energy that goes beyond solar and wind decades ago >.> Hell, if they are going to be paying the equivalency of a mortgage payment for utilities at least teach them how to set a thermostat and why it's a bad idea to run the heat and air with the windows open. Maybe we need to open schools of common sense rather than colleges of so-called higher learning. Every home should have a solar driveway and have a photovoltaic covering to convert into energy by design and these things should be written into basic building codes and even have water collection and rooftop or greenhouse food gardens that offer some practicality and improved quality of life instead of worrying about the aesthetics and height of the grass growing in our yards with picket fences to placate some HOA dictatorship. Appliances like washing machines and convection ovens were invented to make life easier and allow people more time for leisure, rather than devoting their entire day to the cooking and washing... I'm not sure when exactly it was decided that our technological advances should only be used as a means to collect revenue rather than a way to provide a better standard of living for future generations to benefit from rather than seeing future generations as just another profitable exploit.

@falconquest2068

6 күн бұрын

@@StarMakerDvinity Can you imagine the sort of society we would have if the government would just be honest and open about non-human intelligence!

If an asteroid comes, I’m gonna spend my final 12 hours saying “C’MON JACOB!” Over and over.

@cefngwyn

Ай бұрын

I'll be with you at the beach barbeque cheering Jacob on, dude! I'll bring a barrel of Purple Moose Beer and my big 'scope, you supply the wieners and rolls.

@rellikinvictus1057

27 күн бұрын

In Jacob we will trust

@wadeebert13

11 күн бұрын

Save us kid. We need ya.

This kid is going places. At 9 years old he can listen, question, and understand better than the majority of adults. I think we will see more of him in about 10-15 years.

@braces11111

Ай бұрын

Kids are actively encouraged to ask questions about everything. As an adult you are expected to know everything and asking too many what if questions makes you look like you don't know anything. It's OK for a child to know nothing but not an adult. In reality these are hard unsolved questions and it's ok to go off on a tangent that ends up leading nowhere because sometimes it leads to solutions that noone realized before.

@kamikeserpentail3778

Ай бұрын

If only you knew how this horrible world works. Odds are fair this kid ends up working on a grocery store hating everything about his failure to live up to his potential

@jlt131

Ай бұрын

@@braces11111 When I went back to school in my late 20s, I had gotten into the habit of asking all the questions all the time. so in lectures, I was the one asking for clarifications when the subject matter was confusing or difficult. All my 18-yr-old classmates would groan, especially if it was near end of class and they wanted to be leaving. But I was paying those profs to teach me, so I was going to make sure they did. and later several other quieter classmates also thanked me for speaking up. I will never be afraid to ask a question. even "stupid" questions can start discussions and thought processes that otherwise wouldn't have happened.

@mrcrowz8614

Ай бұрын

This kid doesn't watch tiktok and drain his mind

@fredgervinm.p.3315

Ай бұрын

Kudos to his Parents...

I know some people dislike Neil, but his role in just getting more people interested in Science is invaluable.

@KermitSF

24 күн бұрын

People hate what ohers have they don't

@Recipe_For_Disaster_TV

4 күн бұрын

Neil is crap towards adults but he is great with kids that’s how I remember him. Kids ask smart questions and Neil and Bill live in a world full of stupid answers

3:22 -- Jacob informed Neil that non-Newtonian solids happen, not only just the non-Newtonian fluids. Neil was operating at such a high level that he understood and was able to keep up with Jacob's process. It's good to have a buddy in science. 💖

I was already loving this conversation before Jacob's "non-Newtonian solid" mic drop. That kid's going places. He actually listens, studies, questions, and learns. I knew Neil wasn't going to say or do anything to smother his curiosity, but it was great to witness the meeting of those minds. That's how you encourage children to wonder, imagine, and dream.

@KutWrite

Ай бұрын

Yeah, but if Jacob had questioned the "settled science" on "Climate Change" or "C0V1D," watch Tyson change gears.

@Sauvenil

Ай бұрын

@@KutWrite Trump is definitely a better scientist than Tyson is, you should just follow Trump instead. Make sure to take your Ivermectin so you don't get worms.

@thesedaze2381

Ай бұрын

W​hile the science concerning both is burgeoning and there is still much to learn, we know that those who reject the progress we have made on both find themselves on the wrong side of informed. And I am putting that very kindly.

@todydn

Ай бұрын

​@@Sauvenilno but there are actual sound conflicting theories based in science that sorta debunk the stabdard ideology of both historical timelines and climate change. Heres a real simole one if sea levels have risden about an inch or alittle more then why is plymouth rock wich is in the same spot it was in in the 1700s when pilgrims came here still only have the tide come up to it i mean its only a few inches tall if they are corr3ct about icemelt it should nearly be underwater

@KutWrite

Ай бұрын

@@Sauvenil: My Sar-Cas-o-Meter is going bonkers!

This kid is way smarter than I was at 9. He is asking questions and getting the answers.

@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life

Ай бұрын

The kid could possibly be very smart, or it could just be the coaching from his parents standing right behind him telling him what to say to impress the room. I'm not sure which is the case.

@mickylawless1941

Ай бұрын

​@@BaritoneUkeBeast4LifeSmart! Just a sweet, brilliant young kid!

@incubrian

Ай бұрын

he isn't smart. he incorrectly threw around some terms based on a loose grasp of basic physics, a lot like you hear polticians do. don't doubt your own intelligence either. at 9 years old you were also learning about the world around you, and excelled at things this kid does not excel at. we're all built differently and that's a great thing :)

@Kilovotis

Ай бұрын

​@@incubrian I'd still say he's smart for 9 years old, but yeah he did make some mistakes so it's not like it's Young Sheldon or Matilda level. And yes, like you said, everyone excels at different things, I 100% agree that that's a great thing, but I think that smart in this context might be more specifically applied to academic stuff.

@bishop51807

Ай бұрын

​@@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life now he seems too well spoken on his own for that

To me,the mind of a child is precious and I absolutely love listening to them talk and ask questions about the world from their perspective.

I’ll never understand why people talk or act down to kids. Just act normal and talk normal. You don’t have to act like a 9 year old in order to communicate with them.

@BossLevelPro

12 күн бұрын

You'll need to engage with a suitable amount of knowledge and terminology they recognize. That goes for any audience.

@MrBrineplays_

12 күн бұрын

I agree, but 9 year olds don't know a few terms. Try explaining algebra to a 9 year old and he'd be confused what variable or coefficient means. You can explain the term meanings to him so he understands, but it's best you explain it to him in a way he understands first, then slowly use the terms until he remembers it

@Gquain

2 күн бұрын

Sometimes you overestimate the adult audience, some may not even know what a non-newtonian object is and what this implies. Tyson breaking down the terms and generalizing it (bread dough, blanket) helps to lower the scientific entry level and increase attention and engagement. He is also entertaining but never demeaning his much younger conversation partner

This reminded me of when I introduced my students to the Trolley Problem. The kids (ages 10-12) kept offering workarounds. They wanted to attempt to stop it manually, crash cars into the trolley, knock it off the tracks, etc. They simply refused to accept the outcome, even though they understood the guidelines. It was remarkable, watching them relentlessly attempt creative solutions outside the guidelines of the thought experiment. When I introduced this to a number of adults who had not heard of it, they all gave straight forward answers of sacrifice with no thoughts to a workaround. Even though the adults followed the guidelines, it was chilling to see how willing they were to sacrifice a life after watching a group of kids endlessly search for a way, even though it appeared to be hopeless. I think that is why Neil often speaks on the importance of kids hanging on to that wonder and passion as they grow up, rather than mindlessly working their way through school on subjects they do not care about.

@takumi2023

Ай бұрын

i think the problem with that is adults tries to work within the prompt as we've been drilled by exams all through our lives while kids just see it as a question to be answered any way possible.

@CampingforCool41

Ай бұрын

I mean I think it’s more about the fact that adults understand the concept of hypothetical questions than children, who think in much more literal terms. If you posed the same question to adults but said they could also come up with a method to save everyone there would be no shortage of viable answers. The purpose of the trolley problem is to question morality in a situation where all possible outcomes are bad, when there is no possible happy ending. Its maybe not the absolute best hypothetical because as the children show, in a real world setting there would be more than just two possibilities (unless I suppose the decision had to be made within mere seconds with no other tools whatsoever to stop the trolley.

@ephgm

Ай бұрын

​@@CampingforCool41Just like the Kobayashi Maru.

@Domarius64

Ай бұрын

There's a balance, there's a reason why adults are like that, because the trolley problem is a time based one. If you're frozen up with the idea that someone is going to die no matter what, then everyone dies. It's great to not lose the passion and wonder of childhood but there's a practicality to the hard decision making of adulthood. And it shouldn't be surprising or shocking either.

@rabidsamfan

Ай бұрын

The trolley problem always annoys me because that is not how tracks work.

One of the best technical conversations I've ever had was with a kid who was about 10 and according to his mom, has Asperger's. I had a display up and was demonstrating Linux and the power, versatility, efficiency and security advantages it had versus other commercial operating systems. This little kid walked up to me and started a conversation. Without a doubt, he was the smartest kid I've ever met. He clearly didn't function normally socially, but I understood immediately what kind of cognitive gift he had. He understood things most adults in my field struggled with. He was like a kindred spirit. I skipped several grades in school. I was the kind of kid who sat in the attic and read middle English when I was 8, and this kid was able to keep up with me and even challenge me. To be honest, I think he was measurably smarter than me. I would love to know what his IQ was. Eventually his mom found him, and apologized profusely for him "bothering" me and taking up my time. I thought that was a terrible thing to do. I understood why she did it, but I also understood from my own experience what it was like to have people try to make you stop thinking because it was "annoying". I told her never to apologize for him, because what he had was a gift, not a curse. He should be encouraged, not discouraged. Unfortunately, his mom was "normal" and would never be able to understand him. He needed contact with people who could think like him and appreciate his mind. He was brilliant, and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. I truly regretted that she interrupted when she did. Never underestimate someone just because they're young. That's the age their potential needs to be nurtured, and not crushed in the interest of normalcy or because we're too lazy to parent properly.

@chojin6136

Ай бұрын

I remember reading a cartoonised book about black holes when I was about 6-7. I read all sorts of factual books at that age, but the school told my mum that I should pick up more fiction books, and unfortunately she listened to them. I have found my way back to that path, but now I'm almost 30 years behind where I would have been had she not listened to the school

@ChrisM-tn3hx

Ай бұрын

@@chojin6136 I know how you feel. I was raised in a cultish religion by someone who believed the earth was only 6000 years old, and that education was Satan's way of keeping me from spending my life preaching the bible. Meanwhile, every interest I had was in history, old books, astronomy, archaeology, paleontology and physics. Everything God hated, according to her. I spent most of my life completely isolated and being punished for thinking. Brutal.

@umwhatamIdoinghere

Ай бұрын

That story sounds similar to the introduction scene of the character Ralph, from the TV series Scorpion.

@vaticancartel136

Ай бұрын

@@ChrisM-tn3hx Science is an extension of religion.

@newforestobservatory9322

Ай бұрын

@@chojin6136 I am an Emeritus Professor of Physics at a Russell Group University and I can tell you that schools are a complete and utter waste of a kid's time - and as for getting any sort of education - just forget it.

This was adorable. Niel probably just made Jacobs life. Hearing this super famous astrophysicist tell him you can be the one to save us and you can be the one to figure out your problem. That would give me so much inspiration and I would hold onto it for the rest of my life. ❤❤

Neil sat down to talk to the kid on his level. This is sincere respect and a genuine conversation. ❤

Its so interesting that the kid on the fly, in response to Neil answers figures out things that are already been thought of, like the blanket around asteroid. Incredible kid.

@majorjohnson8001

Ай бұрын

I hadn't heard of the blanket solution before, but yeah, smart kid.

@All_Knowing_Truth

Ай бұрын

@@majorjohnson8001 Seen it in the TV show expanse, science fiction at best

@silasstryder

Ай бұрын

@@All_Knowing_Truth Not really? Don't we already have the materials and tech available? You'd just need 4+ rockets that can operate individually in zero G space all connected to some sorta kevlar/carbon nanotube mold-able sheet that has a surface area as big or bigger than the asteroid. The biggest issue technologically is getting software to control the rockets in a reliable and predictable fashion, but that can be resolved through a bunch of simulation training. Assuming we have the time to be able to get the rocket blanket nearly caught up to it, then reverse at nearly the same speed as the asteroid so its relative speed would be as fast or slow as the rocket blanket makes it, the material of the sheet doesn't even need to be that strong and actually it could be a net to save weight and be even stronger since basketball sized chunks of the asteroid slipping through the net would just burn up in the atmosphere

@Wolfy11188

Ай бұрын

@@silasstryder I think the problem with this blanket idea is that some of these meteors are 20+ miles wide, some far greater than that and simply making a sheet that big is in itself an almost impossible task, not to mention how heavy it would be as well. I dunno how much a 20x20 mile Kevlar net would weigh but I'd assume more than anything that has ever been sent into space before. A typical space shuttle from what I've read weighs something in the region of 80 tonnes and is capable of carrying up to about 16 tonnes of cargo weight. The only solution today would be to somehow send up multiple smaller loads and assemble it within space itself. You go through all of that only for a 40 mile wide meteor to be approaching earth. Perhaps it would be a better idea to make more of a slingshot rather than a net and create the same thing but instead of 20x20 make it something like 50x10 so it has enough of a grasp and a much wider gap to allow for many bigger meteors. With that being said there have been meteors discovered in space that are a quarter of the size of the moon so I don't think there's much hope in stopping that one.

I was a junior in high school in 1968 and one of our required classes to take was Chemistry. I had this growly middle-aged guy for our teacher, and he got me hooked on chemistry. This was in a poor area of Milwaukee, 1400 kids were crowded into a high school that was built back in the late 1800s for 800 or so students. I was always in that teacher's face, asking him tons of questions - why this, why that, why doesn't this work, blah blah blah. Looking back, I thought at the time I knew what I was talking about, LOL. But that teacher, he took me seriously, he never made fun of me or shut me down. At the end of the semester, the teacher asked me to stay after class. He told me that I was one of the best students he'd ever had, and that I should go to college and consider a career as a scientist. I was floored. There I was, a 16 year old girl with no thought of going to college. We were poor, girls in my neighborhood at that time got married right out of high school to their "sweet hearts." But that teacher, he started a fire inside of me. I went to work after I graduated from high school, but in 1975 I started going part-time to college, and graduated in 1981. I didn't study chemistry or science, I was into political science and history. I went to law school instead, and never regretted. I still remember that teacher. He's long gone and I'm 72 now and retired since I was 63. But you never forget those who open your eyes to possibilities.

@kathleen88863

Ай бұрын

Speaking the truth. Thanks.

@user-bj1zv1um8b

Ай бұрын

I'm not trying to be rude. But how old are you cause I'm 25 and my dad was born in 75. And you speak almost perfect English. How come most of the older generation can't spell but you can your a genuis?

@rikk319

Ай бұрын

My mother was similar. Put herself through college in the late 60s as a divorced woman with a son. Became a chemist at a pharmaceutical company where she was the only woman in the laboratory--most of the other women in the company were receptionists or secretaries. She had a similar story of a teacher inspiring her.

@rikk319

Ай бұрын

@@user-bj1zv1um8b She said in her post that she was 72. I'm 54, so I'm Gen X, not a Boomer, but even when I was a teen, when personal computers were first coming out and my mother bought one because she felt like computers were going to be a huge part of life some day, I worked on my keyboard skills. Even as the internet and social media became a thing, I've always written things out full, no leetspeak or textspeak...even when I game online or post comments on KZread. Saying that, I think most older people can't spell well online because their hands don't work as well as they used to. I once could type 115 words/minute with very few errors, but now at 54 I notice a slowdown and more errors when I type. Add to this that there is a significant segment of older people who dislike change and are scared by it, and it gives them a distaste for adapting to new things, and makes them more prone to display their ignorance of technology proudly, including such basic tech as managing to be literate (language is technology).

@Taima

Ай бұрын

@@user-bj1zv1um8b You should work on your literacy if you're going to insult a whole generation. She said she was 72. She also went to college, not to mention law school. You don't get to do those things without knowing how to write well and intelligbly.

The biggest shock, Tyson stopped talking for 10 seconds

@nickwilcox3648

Ай бұрын

My, you really are a pessimist if that was your take away

@fvlse_

Ай бұрын

@@nickwilcox3648 my, you really are dull of you didn’t get the joke. r/wooosh

At nine years of age (1965) the space race was on at full speed and my head was in the clouds just like Jacob. I consumed everything at my local library about the space program but always knew there was more to be had out there. I might have taken a different path in life had I been given the encouragement to pursue those dreams from someone who saw my enthusiasm. Neil did a solid for that kid!💪🏻

This is why NDT is so likeable. Way to go Jacob, I hope you go far. As a kid like Jacob, NDT used to go to Carl Sagan's home on a regular basis. Now you know where this comes from.

@WacKEDmaN

Ай бұрын

likeable? he just shattered that poor kids dreams...and filled his head with capitalist nonsense...its been proven they can move an asteroid... but neil continues to talk crap

Far too often we get stuck on the politics and complications of advanced physics and engineering solutions, but the creativity in a child’s mind can be the best solution and the shortest path to the answer. Then! We figure out the math.

@markjaycox8811

Ай бұрын

All the Time made before you got made has Math that you have not defined. 2024 has an opposite and where you "are" has an opposite, and that's where you "aren't", and the math of where you "aren't" is positive, making where you "are" the negative. Did the Sun ever make a negative day? Then why do you measure the light it's made in a negative way? Why can't you answer? BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT CONSCIOUS YOU ARE NOT CONSCIOUS. It is the distance between where you "are" in Time and where you "aren't" in Time that is your conscious reach, and until you measure that distance by defining 2024's opposite, YOU DON'T HAVE CONSCIOUSNESS.

@Icantbelievethisshit2

Ай бұрын

That's how science happens; imagination of what might be possible and figuring out how it could work! I wish more kids could catch that "science bug". Jacob also has the confidence to ask NDT a question and pose counter questions! Love it 😍

@PaleRider54

Ай бұрын

You're right. The first step is identifying the problem. The next step is working on the solution(s). The last step is determining how to pay for it. Too often politicians want to ask the last question immediately and, without giving it any thought, dismiss it out of hand simu because THEY can't see a way to pay for it (without increasing taxes on those who can most afford it.)

@PaleRider54

Ай бұрын

​@@Icantbelievethisshit2Yes. He was not at all star-struck. He saw Neil as a conduit to begin addressing answers we need for the future in the same way Neil saw Carl.

Love how Tyson takes kids seriously and doesn’t just shoot them away because of their age. We need more kid scientists like Jacob and more adult listeners like Tyson

I can't even begin to describe how happy this makes me. Seeing a 9 year old this interested in science and already dreaming big is just awesome!

YAY ! A grown-up who LISTENS ✨🤗 Nicely Done both of you 👍💕

@JZsBFF

Ай бұрын

Yeah, except that NDT isn't very good at it.

@callummcintyre95

Ай бұрын

@@JZsBFF normally he's terrible, always interrupts - i don't think he always means it though. He seems to be more patient with children :)

Can I borrow this kid for a week? He and my kid can just come up with all our solutions while drinking juice boxes....

@linebrunelle1004

Ай бұрын

not if you think the orange smurf is jesus

@suzydoodle6348

Ай бұрын

​@@linebrunelle1004 ???

@ephgm

Ай бұрын

​@@suzydoodle6348they are talking about Trump. Always gotta be political.

@jwvandegronden

Ай бұрын

Can I add my kid to that party? Kids are awesome, Every day my heart sings when I listen to my kid go into orbit on some detail of something. What a gift those kids have!

@FaithTheSlayer

Ай бұрын

@@ephgm I know right, Since when do republicans or trump give a flying f*** about science.

Mr. Tyson. YOU ARE AWESOME. This world is a better place with people like you. THANKS

This truly was a meeting of TWO brilliant minds!

@ashwilliams4959

Ай бұрын

1 brilliant and 1 that follows books and theory too much. Let's not forget about nasa's dart mission, where they launched an object at an asteroid to see if they could move its orbit away from earth...

@bwolos

Ай бұрын

1 brilliant and Neil DeGrasse Tyson

We need to get a GoFundMe thing started to send Jacob to MIT, Purdue, Georgia Tech, or where ever he can get the proper education to accomplish his dream!

@glennroberts1852

Ай бұрын

Let’s send him to wherever NDT is so he can get the engagement and support he needs to bring his ideas to reality.

@marvinmartin4692

Ай бұрын

Yes!

@incubrian

Ай бұрын

i guarantee you this kid's family and upbringing does not have ANY issues with money for a VERY comfortable life and the best schools. instead, focus your comment's energy towards the endless amounts of kids out there who actually NEED finiancial help, free education, and access to learning materials.

@michaelccopelandsr7120

Ай бұрын

And fairly tax the rich so we could ALL have free health care and education

@jlbarrera

Ай бұрын

I second that!! But there is a lot of smart kids out there!! Can you imagine if we can help all those kids?? This country and the entire world from us little people to the entire country in general, and the world will be benefited!! We have the talent, we just need to educate and support the talent we have literally at hand!!

One of the the many qualities I just love to see in action, from anybody, is the ability to talk to anyone at any level about anything and make the person feel heard and respected. Thank you Mr. Tyson.

This kid is the best of what humanity has to offer. Gives me hope.

Kids are amazing, their questions are truly sincere and sometimes defies the established knowledge in a very smart way. I never dismiss a Kid question, saying "you will not understand if I explain". If you cannot explain something to a kid in a way that he can understand it's because you also don't know.

@wordforger

Ай бұрын

Sometimes kids ask questions or come up with solutions adults never think of.

@Tashishi0

Ай бұрын

@@wordforger They haven't learned what they "can't" do yet

This conversation was just FUN.

@linebrunelle1004

Ай бұрын

it was intelligent

@noahgraff-uw8rs

Ай бұрын

Better than many adult coversations

@jlt131

Ай бұрын

@@noahgraff-uw8rs more adult than most adult conversations!

Jacob is a very intelligent and well spoken young man, very respectful, and Neil Degrasse Tyson talked to Jacob with great respect. He explained things very well in ways that a child coule easily understand. This was quite fascinating.

Wow, that made everyone's day. Thanks Jacob.

It will not surprise me to find out that kid gets into asteroid mining on some level in his lifetime. That conversation might have pushed him into working into leading the way into just that.😎

I literally have tears in my eyes listening to this brilliant kid have this incredibly intelligent conversation with Neil. He’s a complete stranger to me but I’m somehow proud of him. Way to go Jacob! Keep thinking and asking the good questions!

@JuggernautXXL

12 күн бұрын

Brilliant? This shit is basic af

@dreadbull5039

12 күн бұрын

@@JuggernautXXL He’s a kid you clown

The kids idea about intercepting an asteroid with basically a metal net to solidify it sufficiently to push or pull it away was well thought out, even if it may not be feasible from a "can we do it" perspective at present, but in the future? Maybe. I think Neil's proposition of finding them soon enough that we can launch a countermeasure to nudge it off course distant enough it misses us is still the most feasible, but detecting all the millions of objects out there buzzing around is not an easy feat either.

@Chazulu2

17 күн бұрын

People are thinking about this compleatly backwards. Say you go out there and "mine" some asteroids. What then? The metal is useless unless you send it back to a factory, all of which are on Earth. So, what you're wanting to do is push a few small asteroids rich in rare Earth metals towards Earth, not away. Maybe find a nice solid bowl shaped asteroid to act as a heat shield, put some rare Earth asteroids behind it, net or weld the whole thing together and push it towards a big empty spot in the middle of a desert on Earth. You could even hook some parashoots up to it to increase the payload while keeping the impact forces down. Heat shields are simply better than retrothrust landing because they are cheap and easy, and way better than rebuilding all of industry up in space for no reason when Mountain top removal already proves that bringing stuff down is better. Plus, industry in space would screw recycling, and responsible stewardship of the environment is necessary anyway, which a bunch of rocket launches would just make more difficult. You probably only need to do that like a few times anyways and the the whole industry is dead because rare Earth metals are only expensive due to them being rare on Earth after having sunk to the core while it was still molten, but are much more common in space. Basically comes down to blowing them into little chuncks, giving them a little push, and letting gravity do most of the work, just like on Earth with mountaintop mining.

@acestealth1354

17 күн бұрын

@@Chazulu2 For resources we need on Earth, sure, but the ideal method would be to start manufacturing on the Moon or Earth Orbit. The cost of moving materials through the atmosphere is immense. We also need to start a foundation for our eventual colonization and further exploration outside of Earth, or we will die here as a species.

@Chazulu2

17 күн бұрын

@@acestealth1354 Reply was shadowbanned because it's long and KZread insider trades with Twitter and others. I Recommend suing them for anticompetitive practices.

@Chazulu2

17 күн бұрын

@@acestealth1354 Your last sentence is a false dichotomy. If some technology or medical advancements made you and your body immortal, then you would be taking care of your body well enough for the cultures of microbacteria in your digestive system to never go extinct. They wouldn't need to colonize another body. Similarly, we need not colonize outer space as long as AI and machines take care of Earth while acting on our behalf out in space.

@Chazulu2

17 күн бұрын

@@acestealth1354 Your last sentence is a false dichotomy. A hypersymbiotic relationship between humans and machines will allow us to stay safe on Earth with rescources and energy brought down feom them into perpetuity similar to how cows deliver rescources to the microbacteria in their stomach.

Neil perfectly shows here what is so cool about good scientists... He doesn't just say it's a stupid question and dismiss it quickly... because a good scientist knows theres no such thing! Instead, he ensures that the young man is furnished will all the knowledge he needs to have his question answered for now, but in a way that leaves it open for future exploration... Such as what if we DID know the material? what if we COULD calculate where the pieces would go? What OTHER options are there? etc etc It's those question that this kid could go on to obsess over, and eventually build the world first asteroid defence system... who knows, but this is one way that scientists are made. Love this!

Jacob, the first to build a ladder to the asteroid belt.

@charlielynes

Ай бұрын

Well, his name checks out for laddership... 🫡

@WorthlessDeadEnd

Ай бұрын

Jacob's ladder. Good one 😉

@Kalkirain

Ай бұрын

"Jacob's Ladder" septupled entendre: 1) A high-voltage traveling electric arc, or 2) a gym stairmaster machine, perhaps operating in reverse as an escalator, or 3) this kid rides a space elevator whip really far out, or 4) in the Bible, Jacob's dream about a ladder/stairway from Earth to heaven, for angels, or 5) metaphor for The Advancement of Learning (F.Bacon, 1605), science and logic, or 6) silly adult piercings, or 7) 19th century adult anatomy. Ok then. This research study requires more funding.

I like that NDT sat down to talk with this boy not to make himself more comfortable, but to be completely engaged with the boy. And shows respect.

Jacob wasn't even born when I first watch a Neil DeGrasse Tyson show, I'm 21 now and I am so proud of Jacob

It truly brings tears to my eyes seeing this... that kid is going to remember this moment for his entire life, and he will be going places, not exactly the beach to get drunk, I can assure you that. Amazing moment

This kid will be going places in life! It might be worth while to remember his name because we'll hear from him again in a few years if we're still around!

These two would have a blast spending a day together discussing hypothetical physics situations. ❤

@WonderScience.

Ай бұрын

I agree!

This is beautiful, space is so wonderful, and seeing someone so young falling in love with it and speaking to a real space genius will only inspire him further. The universe is truly incredible

Planting the seeds by inspiring and nurturing the youth should be the highest priority of an educational system

This kid is GOOD! The future of mankind is on display here! Atta boy!

Boeing needs to fire all their bean counters and engineers and hire a bunch of kids like this one .

@subhobroto

Ай бұрын

The product managers at Boeing will squeeze the life out of this kid and make him wish he flipped burgers for minimum wage instead

Got to see Dr. Tyson speak in downtown Detroit last week at the fillmore and it was amazing! One of my childhood heroes and the reason I wanted to become an astronomer

Don't know why he didn't answer, "That's the plan. There was a mission to test it and it worked better than we thought it would. Not blowing it up, but pushing it out of the way." And then describe the results of the DART mission. It's interesting, and it would be respecting the kid's actual question.

I love NDT, but it was kinda acute watching Neil start talking to Jakob like he's a normal 9-year old, then finding out that the kid is WAY ahead of 9 years! It would be interesting to see them together not on stage where Neil would not feel the urge to patronize but could talk to Jakob as to a college student interested in astrophysics.

Listening to NDT is always a pleasure. He’s just so passionate about the subject that it makes you engaged. Never a dull moment.

Love it.!! Jacob gets it. He obviously takes the subject seriously. What a great kid. Sometimes seeing the world through the innocence of a child's eyes is more clear than through the eyes of an 'expert'.

this is beautiful. watching kids learn is absolutely priceless. you can hear the enthusiasm in Jacobs voice and Neil knew it and motivated it. keep dreaming Jacob, our future is counting on all people like you.

That kid is astoundingly smart for his age, and that makes me so happy. What a brilliant young man, he's gunna go places. And Kudos to Neil. He may be a big ol" goofball, but you can't deny he works well with kids, and even seems to truly enjoy teaching them, hell, and the rest of us too. Edit: and the last words he said were "get home safely." What a guy

I think he has a very good point, and obviously thinking on his feet Brilliant!

Just gave him the best chance of a lifetime to express his thoughts. Very intelligent for his age. Hope his parents keep pushing him to succeed . Jacoube has a bright future.

Brilliant, engaging 9 year old boy named Jake. Must have great parents raising him. God bless them all. Love the way Neil DeGrasse interactions with Jake.

@cyberpete1

Ай бұрын

Jake? Jacob

Talk to me like I'm 9, going on university graduate..."its a non newtonian solid" what a 9 year old. Perhaps the world isn't doomed after all lol

Amazing. He translated Jacob's 9-year-old words into solid concepts and had a simple and clear discussion to answer the question. Well done!

I lovve how happy he is talking to the kid. Its not just taking the time to talk its the joy and excitemen he has while discussing this with Jacob

He's having a blast and the best time ever. And Jacob too 😂. That was heartwarming to watch.

The kid has the correct mindset. He is problem solving the obstacles. We know we can land on a moving asteroid. Placing an engine on the surface with thrust in varying vectors could steer or push. We learned from smashing into them that there is a fracturing or debris factor even if the trajectory is changed. This Young Sheldon will continue to put his skills to use and solve this conundrum.

@ironwolfgaming9632

Ай бұрын

Mass and inertia - if we can learn to cancel inertia - then all would be easy.

@rodschmidt8952

Ай бұрын

@@ironwolfgaming9632 see: "just boil the ocean"

Love seeing an extremely smart man sit down and help a 9 year old with his questions. First class.

So nice to see society doesn't discourage scientific discussion among the younger generation

3:30 its a non-Newtonion solid !!!!!!!!!! I love that kid. He educates Neil and brings him UP to his level. So stand back up Neil, you went down to the wrong level.

Love how encouraging he is of the kid. Doesn't just dismiss him but talks to and understands him. Hope Jacob goes places and stays curious.

Whoever added background music to this should be ashamed of themselves

@WonderScience.

Ай бұрын

I know right!? How could they do such a thing? Crazy.

@Nia-zq5jl

Ай бұрын

@@WonderScience.No it’s cool! Do you have the name for the track? Source?

@kasperd

Ай бұрын

Came here to get the soundtrack.

This could be the most important thing Neil ever does. I'm keeping my eye out for a great scientist/engineer named Jacob coming up in a couple decades.

Niel Degrasse just inspired the next NASA scientist, interactions like this change lives at a young age

Go, Jacob!

How gracious and respectful Neil is here. and how brilliant this kid is, and confident enougn to put his question forward.

It was very inspiring to see a great astrophysicist take the time to discuss things with, and listen to, a 9 year old kid. My science teacher did the same for me in school when I was that age. Because of this, I have been able to gain lots of knowledge in many areas of science and technology, and also the ability to apply it in my daily and professional life after having changed careers from structural engineering technology to computer science. Now I am self-employed as a computer specialist and being well paid for my knowledge. All thanks to Mrs. McLennon, that science teacher who cared enough to give me a chance.

Thank you, Jacob, and parents, for giving this kid a future for himself and perhaps for all of us. The future is hopeful with people like Jacob.

What an adorable future scientist! ❤

Samesies. I was 9 when I was introduced to science thanks to Mr. Miller and Carl Sagan. Been in love with all things science, ever since.😃 RIP to both Mr Miller and Carl Sagan. 🌈🌌

I wish I was as smart today as that nine year old. Today's children need mentors dedicated to them learning awesome stuff. Thank-you.

Protect both these men at all costs. Neil is one of a kind educator and speaker, and young Jacob is going places with that inquisitive mind of his.

I love this! Neil meeting him at his level, and fostering his interest and enthusiasm. One generation to another generation. This young man is incredible 👏 ❤ Best of luck in your future Jacob!

Jacob’s mind is already focused on the future he has an intention to better the atmosphere when it comes to avoiding objects entering into our atmosphere and making havoc on earth. Amazing his focus and attention to detail in his study at such a young age! Truly beautiful and inspiring. I pray more Jacob’s are being born and inspired to concur the Universe and be guided by being inspired by people like Neil . What a great interaction ❤🌘🌑🌔👏🏻🙌🏻🙏🏼

Great to hear the positive response and encouragement

A great 9y old talking to Neil discussing how to protect earth from asteroids and an interstellar like soundtrack is playing in the background 😮 That was just cool to watch ❤ ty for sharing

This is bold and interesting 🤨 to have a conversation with a child about how to solve problems in space