Neil deGrasse Tyson coming to State College for one night only
The show, titled 'An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies – Part 1,' will feature Tyson looking at the science in some popular films, such as Star Wars, Titanic and Armageddon, along with other films you might not have realized have science throughout.
Tyson will hit the stage at Eisenhower Auditorium Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
For more information and tickets, click here.Tyson rose to fame as an expert with History Channel's 'The Universe,' which soon led to him hosting a remake of Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' for two seasons. He's also an accomplished author and the host of the popular YouTube series 'StarTalk.' You can read more about Tyson by clicking here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
2 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Walmart Restocked LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon at an All-Time Low While Amazon Sits Empty
Spaceships never really go out of style, and LEGO has a way of turning a table into a tiny hangar. The LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Building Set lands right in that sweet spot. It looks fierce when finished, sure, but the best part might be the build itself, that clicky rhythm of brick to brick while everyone calls dibs on favorite parts. You clear a little space, open a couple of bags, and suddenly the evening has a plan. Head over to Walmart to get the LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Building Set for just $145, down from its usual price of $180. That's a discount of $35 and 19% off. See at Walmart This kit is equal parts play and display. Eight minifigures set the stage right away, so a quick skirmish can break out before bag two is even finished. Heroes, villains, a few surprises, all ready to crowd the cockpit or argue near the ramp like it is a scene straight out of a Saturday morning rewatch. Panels lift, little spaces open, and there is room to tuck characters inside for the next plot twist. When quiet returns, the ship parks on a shelf and looks like it belongs there, all angles and attitude. The build moves at an easy pace. Numbered bags keep chaos at bay, the booklet gives clear steps, and the shape of the ship shows up faster than you expect. One person can power through while the snacks disappear, or you can tag team it and trade the instructions back and forth. There will be at least one brick that tries to escape under the couch. That is part of the charm. Thankfully, those tiny extra pieces in the box have your back. Finished, the Dark Falcon has that sturdy feel that invites swooshing. You can fly it down a hallway, skim a coffee table canyon, and return it to base without pieces raining down. Textured details catch light nicely, which gives the hull a lived in look even before you start making spaceship sounds. Kids get a new flagship for the toy box. Grown fans get a centerpiece that draws curious questions from anyone who walks by. Gift wise, it is a crowd pleaser. Big enough to feel special, manageable enough to complete over a weekend, and fun to revisit when the urge to re-stage a scene hits. The LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Building Set is still available for $145 at Walmart, down from the regular $180 price. See at Walmart
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Alan Tudyk says he was more popular than Will Smith in 'I, Robot' tests
Alan Tudyk's role in "I, Robot" was so popular it got him kicked off the movie's press run. During an appearance on the "Toon'd In! with Jim Cummings" podcast, Tudyk said his character tested better in screenings than Will Smith's character, which led to his ouster from much of the publicity around the film. "A lot of people didn't know I did Sonny, and there's a reason for that," Tudyk told the legendary voice actor. "They were doing test audiences with the movie, and they score the characters … And I got word back, 'Alan, you're testing higher than Will Smith.'" Smith played Del Spooner, a detective prejudiced against robots in a future where the semi-autonomous androids are commonplace. Tudyk played Sonny, a robot who helps the cantankerous detective uncover the truth behind his creator's death. The pair have a combative relationship throughout the film, as Del remains suspicious of Sonny and the robots due to a robot once saving his life over a child's. "I was gone. I was done. There was no publicity and my name was not mentioned," Tudyk, 54, continued. The "Andor" voice actor said he "put a lot into" the character, suggesting he did motion capturing for the role and discussing how the film and his character are still referenced today with the rise of artificial intelligence. "At the time, I was very upset," he added. USA TODAY has reached out to Disney – the parent company of the film's studio, 20th Century Studios – and Smith's reps for comment. Tudyk also plays another robot in the "Star Wars" universe, K-2SO, including in "Andor" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." The actor said it feels like "cheating" to be in award consideration for his voiceover roles like "I, Robot" and "Andor," because they're a collaborative effort. His other notable voice performances include "Moana," "Ice Age," "Harley Quinn" and "Zootopia." His live-action roles include "Resident Alien" and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story."
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
There's one ‘SNL' impression Bowen Yang tried to talk his way out of. (It didn't work.)
For the first episode of 'Saturday Night Live's' 50th season, Bowen Yang dressed up as Moo Deng, a baby hippo the internet was then obsessed with. Yang's all-in appearance during the series' 'Weekend Update' segment conflated Moo Deng's journey with that of reluctant pop star Chappell Roan — a surprising combination that captivated the audience. 'I was surprised by the way it took off,' Yang says, speaking over Zoom from New York. 'We were juxtaposing these two cultural things, the ways that people were pushing through any sense of boundaries that these two living beings had. It was observational, and I think the response was this force-multiplying thing where people did not think these two lenses could be stuck on top of each other.' As with many of his popular sketches, Yang found it fascinating to follow the trajectory of the appearance after the episode aired. On one hand, he was thrilled by its levity. But he also describes having 'a self-flagellating instinct' to worry it would lose its relevance. 'It has all these different directional tensions to it, and I'm proud of it,' he says. 'But a sketch is such a disposable medium that is both great and that feels like there is no bottom, so you constantly have to keep filling it.' Since joining 'SNL' as a writer in 2018 and then as a cast member in 2019, Yang has delighted viewers with his willingness to play everyone from a famous hippo to George Santos to Charli XCX. He's sung with Lady Gaga, kissed Ariana Grande and portrayed the iceberg that sank the Titanic. His eclectic approach has not only earned him four Emmy nods for supporting actor in a comedy series but also solidified him as a fan favorite. 'My only intention at the show has been to try as many things as possible,' he says. 'With impressions, I'm like, 'Let me just try it. Let me try my hand at these little dishes and go from there.' That was my approach even when I could have really specialized. And I have the show to thank for giving me an opportunity to try out different things.' There was one impression that Yang was less sure about. In Season 50, 'SNL' creator Lorne Michaels asked Yang to play Vice President JD Vance. The comedian says he 'very intentionally' tried to talk Michaels out of it, but he wouldn't budge. 'So I put my best foot forward,' Yang says. 'I hired a dialect coach. I requested a screen test to get the beard right. I tried color contacts. I feel like I've developed this reputation where I will do my best even if I don't think I'm the best person for it.' Yang says he will step back into Vance's beard again for Season 51 if he's called on to reprise the role, even if he would prefer to put his energy elsewhere. 'It might sound like a complaint to say I really didn't want to do it, but it truly just is me reflecting on it,' Yang says. 'I'm really honored and proud to have done it. And I thought a lot about the legacy of other cast members who have done vice presidential impressions in the past, like Beck Bennett, Jason Sudeikis and Tina Fey. Those are all heroic comedians to me.' Being part of 'SNL' has helped to hone Yang's comedic instincts, as well as his ability to pitch and write sketches on an impossibly fast-paced timeline. He's not sure if being on the late-night show has made him funnier, but it has made him quicker. 'You are absorbing every kind of comedic sensibility and every kind of production instinct,' he says. 'I don't think I'm a better comedian, but I do think I have a sense of how to bring something to the finish line.' This year, Yang made Emmy history by becoming the most-nominated Asian male performer, with a total of four acting nominations. The accolade wasn't something that occurred to Yang until it was published in a headline, but he is nonetheless pleased, calling it a 'genuinely singular thing.' He remembers Michaels telling him that 'people won't know what to make of you' during his first season in the cast, and it's gratifying to know that his Asian and gay identities resonate with the audience. 'The best thing about 'SNL' in the last few years is that it's this really representative cross-section of all different schools of comedy,' Yang says. 'We have club comedians, alt comedians, people who came up on TikTok, sketch people, improv people, Black people, queer people — every kind of comedy has a place in the show.' In November, Yang will return as Pfannee in 'Wicked: For Good.' He also hosts a podcast, 'Las Culturistas,' with Matt Rogers. But after the whirlwind of 'Wicked' going to the Oscars and 'SNL' celebrating its 50th anniversary, Yang is not planning to add anything else to his plate as he prepares for the next season of 'SNL.' Still, he admits that he has considered what he might do next. 'Everyone starts thinking about life after 'SNL' as soon as they start 'SNL,'' he says. 'You constantly think about the outcome once you call it or once it's called for you. I could end up on the chopping block, who knows. That was brought to the fore during 'SNL 50.' No matter what happens here at this place, no matter what the political climate is or the cultural climate is, there's something beautiful about being able to gather and reflect and appreciate each other. I can't wait to be on a porch with James Austin Johnson or Sarah Sherman one day, decades from now, and be like, 'Wow. What a trip.''
