Cosmos “ratings” disappear into a black hole . . .

[as seen on tv]

I was going to devote this top post to Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s attempts to keep creationists at bay. Biblical literalists are complaining that “Cosmos” hasn’t afforded them equal time to refute evolution. But Tyson’s defense was actually ineffective. He told them to go back to their caves, which on the face of it doesn’t sound that bad of an idea. But it pales in comparison to the more highly “evolved” response of pointing out that neither are fundamentals inviting scientists on Sundays to share the pulpit (equal time) and give their views on religious matters, either.

But the real – and inexplicable – story is that Cosmos ratings are tanking as the series enters its 3rd week. I honestly don’t see why. Tyson is no Carl Sagan, but he’s good enough, The graphics are highly detailed, even if the basic script isn’t as refreshed as we deserve.

How bad did Cosmos perform? Here are some viewer numbers from Sunday night . . .

In the 9pm time slot, Cosmos came in last, with 4.9 million viewers, trailing “Resurrection” (10.8, ABC); “The Good Wife” (8.3, CBS); and “Believe (6.5, NBC)

If you move to preceding time slots, it looks even more tragically like the end of the universe; Cosmos was outperformed by such highbrow shows as “funniest home videos”, “the voice” and “the amazing race”. Cosmos did edge out "Bobs Burgers" however. (Figjam alert)

I’m no network exec, but my theory is that you don’t lose viewers by featuring controversy, you gain them. If Cosmos’ ratings continue to tank, they may actually want to reconsider and invite a few flat earthers on the show to grapple with Tyson. He won’t win any converts among the cave dwellers, but at least the network will attract more eyeballs.

Full disclosure – ASOT is waiting for Neil DeGrasse Tyson to provide answers to some or all of the following:

· What existed before the big bang?
· Does the universe really have 11 dimensions, and what proof supports this?
· Any emerging theories on what “dark energy” is? The stuff that’s making the universe fly apart
· Alien autopsy home movies – fake or real?

 

[ITALIA]

You can take the average American to water but you can't make them drink.
I'm still waiting for the answer to what created God and why. Well actually I know generally who and why. Don't you want to know about dark matter too?

 

[as seen on tv]

You can take the average American to water but you can't make them drink.
I'm still waiting for the answer to what created God and why. Well actually I know generally who and why. Don't you want to know about dark matter too?

there are plausible theories behind "dark matter" - cosmic particles and dust which never coalesced into stars; planets/asteroids which don't give off any inherent light of their own; black holes, etc.

the explanatoins of "dark energy" seem weaker, and involve "anti-gravity" or anti-matter which wasn't destroyed in the big bang. the fact that dark energy is more powerful than either gravity or dark matter is the conundrum.

 

[ITALIA]

there are plausible theories behind "dark matter" - cosmic particles and dust which never coalesced into stars; planets/asteroids which don't give off any inherent light of their own; black holes, etc.

the explanatoins of "dark energy" seem weaker, and involve "anti-gravity" or anti-matter which wasn't destroyed in the big bang. the fact that dark energy is more powerful than either gravity or dark matter is the conundrum.

I don't know of any plausible theories on dark matter. They just don't know what it is and can't detect it. I forget the exact amount but giving the fact it keeps galaxy's from flying apart they figure there is maybe 6 times as much dark matter as normal matter.

 

[as seen on tv]

I don't know of any plausible theories on dark matter. They just don't know what it is and can't detect it. I forget the exact amount but giving the fact it keeps galaxy's from flying apart they figure there is maybe 6 times as much dark matter as normal matter.

they can detect it. just not enough to account for "all of it". the amount of detectable "dark matter" has risen dramatically from 20-30 years ago. back then, there was barely any understanding of how many black holes there are. now we know that not is there a supermassive black hole at the center of every galaxy, there are evidently billions of "smaller" ones roaming the universe randomly.

 

[marvin martian]

I don't know of any plausible theories on dark matter. They just don't know what it is and can't detect it. I forget the exact amount but giving the fact it keeps galaxy's from flying apart they figure there is maybe 6 times as much dark matter as normal matter.

So dark matter is unknown and undetectable, but you claim it comprises six times the amount of "normal" matter? This is like global warming logic...

 

[ITALIA]

they can detect it. just not enough to account for "all of it". the amount of detectable "dark matter" has risen dramatically from 20-30 years ago. back then, there was barely any understanding of how many black holes there are. now we know that not is there a supermassive black hole at the center of every galaxy, there are evidently billions of "smaller" ones roaming the universe randomly.

Aren't black holes made up of normal matter? I mean that is what went into them so they should still be part of normal matter.

 

[justoffal]

I was going to devote this top post to Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s attempts to keep creationists at bay. Biblical literalists are complaining that “Cosmos” hasn’t afforded them equal time to refute evolution. But Tyson’s defense was actually ineffective. He told them to go back to their caves, which on the face of it doesn’t sound that bad of an idea. But it pales in comparison to the more highly “evolved” response of pointing out that neither are fundamentals inviting scientists on Sundays to share the pulpit (equal time) and give their views on religious matters, either.

But the real – and inexplicable – story is that Cosmos ratings are tanking as the series enters its 3rd week. I honestly don’t see why. Tyson is no Carl Sagan, but he’s good enough, The graphics are highly detailed, even if the basic script isn’t as refreshed as we deserve.

How bad did Cosmos perform? Here are some viewer numbers from Sunday night . . .

In the 9pm time slot, Cosmos came in last, with 4.9 million viewers, trailing “Resurrection” (10.8, ABC); “The Good Wife” (8.3, CBS); and “Believe (6.5, NBC)

If you move to preceding time slots, it looks even more tragically like the end of the universe; Cosmos was outperformed by such highbrow shows as “funniest home videos”, “the voice” and “the amazing race”. Cosmos did edge out "Bobs Burgers" however. (Figjam alert)

I’m no network exec, but my theory is that you don’t lose viewers by featuring controversy, you gain them. If Cosmos’ ratings continue to tank, they may actually want to reconsider and invite a few flat earthers on the show to grapple with Tyson. He won’t win any converts among the cave dwellers, but at least the network will attract more eyeballs.

Full disclosure – ASOT is waiting for Neil DeGrasse Tyson to provide answers to some or all of the following:

· What existed before the big bang?
· Does the universe really have 11 dimensions, and what proof supports this?
· Any emerging theories on what “dark energy” is? The stuff that’s making the universe fly apart
· Alien autopsy home movies – fake or real?

 

[ITALIA]

So dark matter is unknown and undetectable, but you claim it comprises six times the amount of "normal" matter? This is like global warming logic...

They can measure the amount of normal matter and they use models that show the galaxy's would fly apart under those conditions. They have to add that much dark matter for the galaxy's to stay together.

 

[GordonGecko]

Curious... what did you mean "doesn't sound that bad of an idea" here, ASOT?

He told them to go back to their caves, which on the face of it doesn’t sound that bad of an idea.

 

[fairsheet]

Comparing Cosmos's ratings to those of the broadcast networks'- no matter how shitty the latter's programming is - is a little misleading. It's like comparing Fox News with the "Big 3" broadcast networks.

Still though...I can see how much of his series might fly over most peoples' heads. Take "dark matter" for instance. To a very considerable exent, the average viewer has to take the idea of dark matter "on faith", in order to keep up with where he's going with all this.

I'm sure that the idea of dark matter makes perfect sense to some. But for most of us, it ain't that simple. The problem is....he could spend 2-3 shows on JUST dark matter, if he were to fully explain the concept to we rabble.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

You can take the average American to water but you can't make them drink.
I'm still waiting for the answer to what created God and why. Well actually I know generally who and why. Don't you want to know about dark matter too?

Isaac Asimov explained that in his Foundation series...

'A circle has no end'.


Nor beginning.

 

[as seen on tv]

Aren't black holes made up of normal matter? I mean that is what went into them so they should still be part of normal matter.

dark matter IS "normal" matter - its simply not visible with optical telescopes, the way a star is. that's why the gravity equation remains out of balance.

 

[ITALIA]

Isaac Asimov explained that in his Foundation series...

'A circle has no end'.


Nor beginning.

And his proof was? Because he said so?

 

[as seen on tv]

Comparing Cosmos's ratings to those of the broadcast networks'- no matter how shitty the latter's programming is - is a little misleading. It's like comparing Fox News with the "Big 3" broadcast networks.

Still though...I can see how much of his series might fly over most peoples' heads. Take "dark matter" for instance. To a very considerable exent, the average viewer has to take the idea of dark matter "on faith", in order to keep up with where he's going with all this.

I'm sure that the idea of dark matter makes perfect sense to some. But for most of us, it ain't that simple. The problem is....he could spend 2-3 shows on JUST dark matter, if he were to fully explain the concept to we rabble.

the basic problem with Cosmos 2.0 is that we've had 25 years of "the discovery channel"; Nova; PBS; national geographic; "beyond the wormhole with Morgan Freeman", etc since the original cosmos. The amount of truly new "cosmos 2.0" textual material isn't that much.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

And his proof was? Because he said so?

Science is based on proof. We can prove the universe is about 13.8 billion years old.

Believe in God is based on faith. I don't need proof to believe. There is no scientific test to prove he exists, or that he doesn't. Therefore, science cannot conclusively rule out the existence of God.

 

[as seen on tv]

Science is based on proof. We can prove the universe is about 13.8 billion years old.

Believe in God is based on faith. I don't need proof to believe. There is no scientific test to prove he exists, or that he doesn't. Therefore, science cannot conclusively rule out the existence of God.

i think that's the right approach.

a corrollary to this is along the lines of "to a primitive society, any scientifically advanced technology will seem like magic, or godlike power"

 

[fairsheet]

dark matter IS "normal" matter - its simply not visible with optical telescopes, the way a star is. that's why the gravity equation remains out of balance.

That's the "leap of faith" I'm talking about. We "know" that dark matter exists even as we can't see it, because we can observe its gravitational effects. As a non-physicist, this is the sort of thing I have to take on at least some bit of faith, in order for me to "keep up in class". And no doubt....DeGrassie probably could illucidate dark matter to the extent I might fully comprehend it. But...he doesn't have the time and I don't have the patience.

 

[ITALIA]

dark matter IS "normal" matter - its simply not visible with optical telescopes, the way a star is. that's why the gravity equation remains out of balance.

It may be normal matter but we really don't know. That is an awful lot of normal matter we can't detect though. Something else going on here I think.
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/dark_matter.html

 

[as seen on tv]

That's the "leap of faith" I'm talking about. We "know" that dark matter exists even as we can't see it, because we can observe its gravitational effects. As a non-physicist, this is the sort of thing I have to take on at least some bit of faith, in order for me to "keep up in class". And no doubt....DeGrassie probably could illucidate dark matter to the extent I might fully comprehend it. But...he doesn't have the time and I don't have the patience.

i accept the big bang on faith. dark energy, 11 dimensions, and bigfoot i hold to a higher standard of proof.