42. NEIL deGRASSE TYSON: The most astounding fact
Neil deGrasse Tyson (1958-) is an astrophysicist, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, TV host and one of the current rockstars of the science world. He’s gained mainstream and pop-culture fame thanks to his books, TV show and frequent appearances on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. After I discovered the work of Carl Sagan, I was desperate to find a modern equivalent who could keep giving me a science fix and Tyson was the name I kept coming across. Like Sagan, Tyson has the ability to communicate the wonders of science to a mainstream audience with charisma and a sense of humour. It’s fitting then that Tyson will be hosting the upcoming sequel to Sagan’s iconic series Cosmos, which I can’t wait to see. Tyson also has a great podcast, StarTalk Radio, which I listen to frequently while I’m drawing.
- I kept putting off trying to adapt this quote because it was too intimidating. I knew that it would require me to draw stars and planets which I’m not very comfortable with, but I loved the quote so much that I just had to try it. I spent a lot longer than usual working on the cosmic scenes and I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. I guess I was also inspired by the film The Tree of Life which connects the story of a family with the history of the Universe. I still haven’t decided if I like that film or not.
- Thanks to Tanya for submitting this quote. Tyson said it in an interview with Time magazine and it’s been adapted into this sweet video montage.
- My hypothetical (living) science rockstars band: Neil Tyson (lead vocals), Richard Dawkins (guitar), Stephen Hawking (synthesiser), Michio Kaku (drums), Brian Cox (keyboard – which he actually played in real pop band). Am I missing anyone?
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Another nice one, Gav. Great interpretation as usual.
I have to agree with you on The Tree of Life. I’m not sure I liked it. Compounded by the fact I watched it on a plane so I’m sure it was badly edited down and maybe I missed something.
But good on you for the work here!
Greg
Amazing work, I look forward to it every Tuesday(Monday for me since I’m in Cali)!.
well done (: love this.
Amazing Gavin! I’m a huge fan or you work. I love the quotes you’ve used from SF writers and scientists. Hoping to see at least one Feynman and Heinlein quote down the line
Keep up the amazing work! And by the way, do you plan to offer t-shirts in the future?
Thanks Erika – definitely a Feynman one in the future. Yes, t-shirts are planned soon!
Woot for Feyman and T-shit! Thanks!
A T-shit? Oh dear…
LOL..that’s classic!
Despite your intimidation you pulled it off and it’s great.
Whilst reading your reference to Sargan reminded me of one of his quotes from Cosmos, “we are star-stuff”, at least I think that’s what he said, its been a while since I last viewed the series.
Also, from the realm of fiction, I remember a reference from Babylon 5 along the lines of where the Minbar Delenn described the universe as breaking itself up into various pieces to better understand itself.
All very deep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9dEAx5Sgw
This?
Happy to see a fellow B5 fan while cruising the comment section on an internet site.
Amazing work Gav. I really like all of the details you put into this one. Especially the progression of life on Earth.
I LOVE IT! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
I kid you not, you have brought a tear to my eye.
I am a planetary astronomer, and an acquaintance of Neil. (Twinkle, twinkle, little star – it’s my job.)
You have taken a powerful quote and have given it wings.
Thank you.
“- My hypothetical (living) science rockstars band: Neil Tyson (lead vocals), Richard Dawkins (guitar), Stephen Hawking (synthesiser), Michio Kaku (drums), Brian Cox (keyboard – which he actually played in real pop band). Am I missing anyone?”
Dr. Brian May; astrophysicist, on lead guitar
Awesome thanks Michael, glad to hear a proper scientist likes it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_Aukerman
Don’t leave the Punk Rockers out of the band
….I’m glad I’m not the only one who had that thought. He’s certainly better known as a guitarist than an astrophysicist – but I think he counts!
Gav:
This may be your best work. I love the quote, but the art is evocative and as profound as the words that they illustrate. Thanks for this.
I have been following your work for a while now and have loved all that you have done so far (well almost all of it!). But this one just went somewhere beyond that!!
I was waiting for one that I would be compelled to order in a large print to grace the wall of the living room of my future home some day… this is it!
Awesome cartoon for an awesome quote. Thanks!
Amazing. Absolutely LOVE it. Expect an order soon.
Hey Gav,, great work as always and I love what you’ve done with the quote. I do have a bit of concern though. Here in the states, there’s a huge misconception that evolution means that humans descended from apes, which is not true and a big reason why evolution is disregarded. Unfortunately, I think the panel you have with gorillas kind of perpetuates that myth because it makes it seem like they were part of the evolutionary line that we come from. Any way to fix that? If not, its still a great piece.
have you seen the meme? “watch out, we have a real badass graphic designer over here”.
seriously, congratulation for your great work, I have enjoyed a lot browsing your web site. It’s terrific.
Greetings from Mexico
cool! thanks for this inspirational quotes Mr. Gavin
Once again you amazed me!
Fantastic work, Gavin!
OK, this is my favorite. I have always been a astronomy fan and your rendition of the beauty of the Universe is just astounding ! Many many thanks and congratulations on your awesome work !
Please, make prints of this one available soon! I’ll be first in line for an order!
You’re missing Feynman on bongos and Brian May (guitarist to queen who’s an astrophysicist) on guitar.
We are all made of stars.
Phil Plait, the “Bad Astronomer” on the harmonica.
I was going to suggest Phil doing spoken word vocals a la the following clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpg0BVfGVAQ
Fantastic. Wonderfully done. And as an about-to-be father, the last part was moving.
wonderful interpretation of a wonderful quote! Btw, you are missing Feynman on the bongos!
Great Job! He’s just not a meme, (Watch out, we got a badass over here) it’s wisdom condensed in one man. It’s interesting that many people will remember him by a image when he has at least a movie of knowledge to share with us. The key is have the need to know more.
By the way, I would add Peter Atkins (bass) on the scientist supergroup. We need someone to keep the rhythm
You forget Brian Greene (string Theory and more ) playing Anything instrument with strings
This is an amazing comic and I love what you’ve done with Dr. Tyson’s words, but I have a tiny issue worth noting. As a birth worker, I’m troubled by the image of the woman birthing on her back in stirrups. Birthing in that position is the least natural, most difficult, and most dangerous position for childbirth. It’s common in western hospital births involving epidurals, but the human body evolved to birth in a crawling or squatting pose. Lying on her back like that, the mother’s pelvis is 30% smaller and she has to push against gravity to deliver her baby. Back birthing is an invention to make birth more convenient for doctors, who do none of the work pushing out a child. Images of doctors in masks like this perpetuate the idea that women are not capable of delivering their child safely without someone watching up close from a comfy seat. I realise that it’s too late to change it now, but, if you depict birth again, please consider showing a birth that shows an empowered mother.
Just thought you should know.
Thanks for the info Amanda
There’s an easy rationalization for this that makes everything okay.
The end of the comic takes place in the past.
The baby is Neil deGrasse Tyson.
(What a tweest!)
Nice one gav, you make me shivering by reading this comic :3
Am I the only one who had a “2001 moment” from the last panel?
Excellent piece.
Nope!
I hope this is one that will eventually become a print. The post would look awesome in my office
Fantastic website you have here! I love the style of your artwork and you pick some very inspirational quotes! I going to buy a poster or two this summer to deck out my dorm room.
I also have a suggestion for a poster: The final speech from the movie The Dictator, written and performed by Charlie Chaplin. Here’s a link to youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo
I would love to see this as a poster!
Thanks for everything you do!
I think you’re missing a female vocalist. May I suggest Professor Alice Roberts.
Great work. Very inspiring.
Cheers!
Great work and congratulations.
While you prepare anther, please take a look at my Facebook so that you can know about a stary actiity that is about to hapen at Planet saturn, for over there on my Facebook I have an very very important explanation about Saturn and its mysteries.
I am an Astronomer by nature from Brasil, who is inviting the world to watch the amazing and awesome styarry ativity to happen at the red planet.
Thanx!
you are on another plane gavin! this is the best one you have ever done.
WOW. just WOW.
last frame is simply chilling because of how deeply it resonates with what we all know is true, but afraid to admit sometimes. Thanks.
The cosmic scenes are stunning. I can’t believe it’s your first attempt at that kind of imagery, well done Gavin!
Awesome awesome awesome, just like all the others. Still not as shivering as Invictus – specially as that one reminds of the film – but your art adds a lot of meaning and deepness to the quotes.
Also, about the band (which _have_ to turn in a T-shirt!): Bertrand Russel as the bassist (the undertone that rythms every skeptical and science thinker), Carl as second voice and composer, and John Boswell (from Symphony of Science) as electronica composer
Brian Greene at the harmonica and Bad Astronomer somewhere are awesome additions, too!
Being from South Africa, I was very lucky to meet Neil Degrasse Tyson in 2009. He is extremely inspiring.
Brian May has a PhD in astrophysics. While not in the same league as a scientist, he would more than make up with his guitar skills.
It would be cool to hear him set Tyson’s words to music.
Once again, you have come up with something absolutely amazing. Awesome work as per usual!
I’ve played this game with each of my nephews as they’ve grown old enough: I take one of their hands and spread it open and tell them to look into the palm. Then I explain to them that whole idea – that every single atom in their bodies has its origins in the original moment. That although their existence as a person began a few years ago, their bodies are, in an absolutely real sense, 15 billion years old. It never fails to blow their minds.
Appreciate all the kind comments people – The Bad Astronomer showed this to NdGT and he said he really liked it … woohoo!
My father said: “The most distant star is deep boned with my most internal cell”
Number forty two (42) of course…
Ha, wasn’t planning that – just a happy coincidence. Love Hitchhikers.
Prints please. This is beautiful.
You’d never know that you were uncomfortable drawing the planets and stars, because they’re BEAUTIFUL. So beautiful.
Nicely done, sir. Reminds me of the end of “Gattaca.” Great movie (in case you haven’t seen it).
Will you guys be making this a print available for purchase?
Yes, hopefully soon
When I first heard about the film “Tree tree of Life” when it came out the title inspired me to go and see it. . .Many years ago I saw a tremendously inspring movie on human nature: “A Tree grows in Brooklyn”, with Cliff Robertson(?). . .Cliff featured also in “Charly”. . .(also a tremendously inspiring film). I was greatly disappointed with the “Tree of Life”. . .It had great technical quality, sure, but its ending had a predominantly and overpowereing religeous message without actually giving it that name. Sure, a great portion of mankind identifies with such a view of the unfolding of the universe(wishful thinking) but such an ending makes the movie an undermining religous propaganda film. . .many people will be using this sort of a view as “evidence” that religion get the “thumbs” up from the scientific community, while in fact good science does not make any statements on religion at all. . .science simply is a search for information: “Let the facts speak for themselves” would sum that up. Any interpretation beyond demonstrable evidence of facts is up to the beholder. . .not up to any scientist. With that in mind the movie “Tree of Life” is religeous propganda as if it is is science, just like Joseph Goebles preached the Nazi nonsence quite effectively. For the rest, your effort: “The most astounding fact” deserves a “thumbs up” as an educational science effort!
Amazing work.
I would suggest the inclusion of Dr. Carolyn Porco in the band. Ask Dr. Bridget Landry to do their costumes.
Just discovered you’re stuff through one of the science/science fiction blogs I peruse. It’s all fantastic. I’ve printed out a couple in black and white today for my cubicle, and as soon as I get home I’ll be ordering the prints!
Any possibility of this one turning into a print? I’ve got my wallet out already! ;p
I read those words, and I weep. Same as I do for “pale blue dot”. Neil DeGT is the PERFECT person to do the next series of Cosmos.
nice one! breathtaking as usual
You did the quote justice and literally brought a tear to my eye.
You do that a lot with this project.
Thank you for that.
Beautiful cartoon and thanks for yet another podcast to add to my inking list (you tipped me off about WTF, didn’t you?). Yes, if we could bring back Richard Feynman to play bongos, that would be grand.
And I only started to like Tree of Life when I watched the DVD extras. Need to see it again. Maybe when stoned.
I think you left out Prof. Leonard Susskind. He could fit in nicely in the rhytm section.
One interesting site that has various quotes done to music with a techno-electric feel is: http://www.symphonyofscience.com/
I found parts of the quote used here in the ‘We are Star Dust’ and hope that the viewers of this site might enjoy.
Beautifully sketched. Btw “…the film The Tree of Life which connects the story of a family with the history of the Universe. I still haven’t decided if I like that film or not.” Same here! Still can’t make up my mind
I didn’t know the quote but was very familiar with the concept that we are “stardust” or “made of stars” having read Sagan, Hawkins and Brian Cox.
I have to say that when I reached the final frame, tears came to my eyes.
Thanks for your wonderful work.
nice quote. based on flawed science in my opinion. but hey, the creator of the universe is in us, so… hm.
truth and beauty
Chills man! Chills down my spine!
I know the quotem but the way you visualized it, especially the ending sequence. You are truly a rockstar!
YES! I was waiting for a Neil DeGrasse quote. This man has led a pretty eventful life and is very inspirational with his language and prominent appearances on various media. Great job!
Hi! nice sketches, with what program do you work? I love them!
I only recently stumbled across this site, and I love these illustrations. I’m a sucker for quotations, and seeing them illustrated like this is just fantastic.
As for the scientist band, I’d suggest adding Professor Harald Lesch to the mix, basically the German equivalent to Neil deGrasse Tyson. Oh, and Bill Bryson as the #1 fan – his “Short History of Nearly Everything” serves as a fantastic introduction to the world of science, written by someone who by his own admittance never really cared about science before starting work on that book.
I read Short History of Nearly Everything years and years ago and don’t even remember what was in it. I should dust it off and read it again.
Beautiful!
By any chance, have you read Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’ ?
Just after I made this comment, I noticed the comment two comments above mine!
Can’t wait to get my giant framed print of this comic to hang on the wall across from my computer for inspiration!
I love all your work, but this one is definately your best one yet! Although being from one my favorite current people probably gives it an extra push.
Thanks for all the inspiring work you’ve done Gav
Amazing work!
This one had always given me goosebumps when I watch the video, same effect with your illustration =)
I just want to say: you’re doing a great job…. drawing powerfull pictures to powerfull statements… sometimes you bring a tear in my eye…:’) thx
For your hypothetical science rockstars band you should have Newton on bass. Yes, he is dead, but no one can ever hear the bass player anyway so it works out.
Please keep me posted if this becomes available as a print. I’d love to buy one for my daughter’s room. If you’re open to selling me a digital with an agreement not to distribute, I’d even print myself locally at my favorite lab.
It is available Chris, see BUY THE PRINT button under the post.
Oh jeez. Thank you!!!
No worries, appreciate the support
Hi, Gavin! I love your work, and this drawing was definitely my favorite! That’s why I bought a couple of prints last year for me and my sister, but now I was looking forward to acquire the larger print for our office and can’t seem to find the print button anywhere here or the canvas at the printing website… Is it out of print? Can it be “on print” again? Is there any way I can buy this poster? Please? Thanks a lot!
The only person I would say you missed is Brian May, of Queen, on lead guitar. (Dawkins can play rhythm) Mr, ahem, Dr. May rocked the world for 25 years as the lead guitarist for Queen, but before that he was well on his way to earning is Doctorate in Astrophysics. After his illustrious career with Queen, he finished his degree.
Love the tribute and the interpretation. Great stuff on “The Most Astounding Fact”.
LOL @ Hawkins on synthesizer. I see a Youtube parody coming.
You are missing someone for the band!
Richard Feynman on Bongos!
He said “living” science rockstars.
I don’t hope this comes as a surprise to you, but altough his work is still very present and somewhat relevant today, he died more than 20 years back.
Sorry man
John Lennox as a singer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UIbd0eLxw
I’ve been emotionally dead for a long time until I stumbled upon here… Now I’m crying, your art woke me up. Thank you.
Hi, Gavin! I love your work, and this drawing was definitely my favorite! That’s why I bought a couple of prints last year for me and my sister, but now I was looking forward to acquire the larger print for our office and can’t seem to find the print button anywhere here or the canvas at the printing website… Is it out of print? Can it be “on print” again? Is there any way I can buy this poster? Please? Thanks a lot!
Actually he finished the quote by saying “… so in theory we are star stuffs”.
Hi Gavin
I bought this poster some weeks ago, but made a mistake about the size, so I wanted to buy it again larger and its not on sell anymore, how could i get this poster ? in a larger size … please help !
Beautiful.
Feynman on bongos?Or frigideira?
Keep up the good work!