Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization (2022) is a nonfiction book by Neil deGrasse Tyson. An influential astrophysicist, author, and educator, Tyson is known for presenting scientific content in an entertaining way to help increase science literacy among the general population. The topics and themes in Starry Messenger differ from Tyson’s usual commentary in that he takes a sociological approach, examining current and historical sociopolitical views on topics such as gender, diet, justice systems, and intelligence. He suggests that evidence-based thinking and a cosmic perspective should guide society forward.

This guide is based on the 2022 Henry Holt & Company first edition e-book.

Summary

Tyson introduces the concept of a cosmic perspective, criticizing social divides as irrational, arbitrary, and damaging. He suggests a rational, evidence-based approach to social organization: Adopting the scientific method as a foundational thinking pattern could help society avoid fallacies and biases. While research is integral to the scientific process, individual studies do not prove fact. Facts and theories arise through steady scientific consensus. Consensus differs from conformity, which is harmful to the scientific process. To create a society that values science and evidence-based thinking and thus foster a cosmic perspective, science literacy among the general population must increase.

According to Tyson, three types of truth exist. Objective truths are true regardless of perception and are discoverable or measurable through the scientific process. Personal truths, as the name implies, are things a person believes are true without evidence (or despite evidence to the contrary). Similarly, political truths lack evidence, but their repetition through the media and propaganda create an illusion of truth, and they often imply social superiority. Tyson holds that truth and beauty connect because objective truths are beautiful. He cites the beauty in various scientific truths, including Einstein’s E=mc², pi, the chemical composition of table salt, and the shared genetics of all life on Earth, and even sees beauty in dangerous natural phenomena like storms, volcanoes, and asteroid impacts.

Many criticize space exploration as superfluous, arguing that humanitarian issues should take precedence, but Tyson disagrees, likening such opinion to a scenario in which cavemen refuse to leave their cave before solving all cave-related issues. While humans are adept at linear thinking, they struggle to comprehend exponentials. For example, most would choose $5 million up front instead of a penny doubled each day for a month; however, the second option yields a higher sum. Embracing exponential growth and size, as well as adjusting time perception, is crucial to a cosmic perspective. Evolution strongly exemplifies time perception because of the difference between the human lifespan and evolution’s vast time scale. Exponential growth and time combined show that human knowledge and progress are exponential too: Social and technological rates of progress constantly increase and rely on fundamental research. For instance, the global positioning system (GPS) relies on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

A more literal cosmic perspective—viewing Earth from space—can enhance the broader cosmic perspective by revealing a planet free from borders and inspire a sense of unity. Two borders are visible on Earth with from space: the divide on the Korean peninsula and the separation of Israel from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Tyson saw something similar while flying over South Africa: An area of a city was completely dark, and he first thought it was a lake but realized it was a “shantytown.” After the Apollo missions sent back the well-known Earthrise image, society changed, and people felt more protective of Earth. The moon has long held cultural significance, though many superstitions based on it are irrational.

Wars over political and religious disagreements stem from us-versus-them group mentality and behaviors. Scientists are less susceptible to this mentality because they value data and objectivity; their disagreements are generally mild and easily resolved or inspire new discoveries. Science could generate peace and help solve humanitarian issues. Tyson recalls a government assignment that required him to work with international scientists, including Russians; initial sociopolitical tension dissipated when they started discussing science. Many countries collaborate on space exploration projects, including the International Space Station; the US and USSR even worked together in 1972 during the Cold War on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. On White House commissions, while working with both liberals and conservatives, Tyson learned to reject labels and common political tropes because they lack evidence and are thus irrational.

Most humans are unable to intuitively comprehend statistics, a branch of mathematics critical for evidence-based thinking and a cosmic perspective. Arab mathematicians laid the foundations for statistics in Golden Age of Islam, and Carl Fredrich Gauss developed important statistical methods, including the bell curve. The human tendency to apply meaning to coincidences (likely an evolved survival trait) leads to irrationality in modern life. Scientists avoid irrational behaviors like gambling because of their extensive statistics training; however, this math is not widely taught in schools. To demonstrate the public’s lack of statistics knowledge, Tyson cites Ben & Jerry’s decision to switch to non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) corn after glyphosate was found in GMO corn; however, the sugar content in ice cream is about 20 times more deadly than trace amounts of glyphosate. Statistical information is often misinterpreted, and time impacts perception, as evident when people continue to smoke despite well-known long-term health effects. Morality impacts decisions too, as in opting not to control deer populations via natural predators even though it would reduce highway deaths.

Likewise, Tyson considers vegetarian and vegan diets irrational: All food is obtained through killing, whether of plants or animals. Research has discovered the mycelium, an underground fungal network, and identified plant behaviors associated with sentience. Thus, Tyson argues, vegetarian diets are biased against plants. Next, he examines the irrationality of the binary perspective on sex and gender, noting that gender distinctions occur on a spectrum throughout the animal kingdom; the perceived gender binary is a social construct. Racism is equally irrational. Humans evolved in Africa, spreading throughout the world and adapting to their environments through melanin levels, expressed in skin color. Distinguishing separate races to enable sociopolitical oppression uses biased science, falsely claiming meaningful racial differences, which demonstrates the great need for scientists to commit to eliminating all bias from their research.

Both historical and modern justice systems are criticized for a lack of objectivity. Tyson notes that lawyers are trained to manipulate an audience (and most politicians have a legal background). He witnessed the justice system’s disregard for objectivity when he was called for jury duty; all three times, he was eliminated from the jury pool because of his scientific background and focus on evidence. Tyson and others conceptualized an online country named Rationalia, where all policy would be based on evidence. Several media outlets rejected the idea, but Tyson firmly believes that objectivity would vastly improve on the current system. Additionally, he asserts that humans are biological organisms and that no proof exists of continued consciousness after death. Advancements like prosthetics, measurement devices, and computers outperform humans, and he challenges the concept of disability, citing numerous people who achieved great feats not only despite but because of their disabilities. Human intelligence, he suggests, may pale in comparison to that of aliens, and humans are arrogant to think they could communicate with alien species when they cannot meaningfully communicate with other species on Earth. In closing, Tyson suggests that the inevitability of death gives meaning of life, inspiring humans to achieve and to love.