Astrophysicist and “science communicator” Neil deGrasse Tyson is a national treasure. This is especially true in these dark, anti-science times, where it often feels like we are teetering on a Middle Ages level of understanding of even basic scientific facts. I mean, we live in a world of literal “Flat-Earthers” in the year 2017. (Don’t any of these people look out their window on airplanes?) Â I think that fact alone speaks volumes about where we’re at. So Neil deGrasse Tyson as a voice for science–and one who can make learning about science entertaining as well as informative–is needed more than ever before.
But, let’s face it, sometimes the good Dr. Tyson is kind of a killjoy. Especially when it comes to debunking the scientific possibility of your favorite science-fiction franchises. He loves to be that guy, the one to tell you how Superman couldn’t really exist, or how this or that sci-fi movie got it wrong, etc. He loves to be Captain Buzzkill sometimes.
The latest example of Neil deGrasse Tyson telling us how one of our favorite science fiction icons simply could never be real happened on his Star Talk radio podcast. According to Tyson, beloved kaiju Godzilla simply could not exist in the real world, because the laws of physics could not allow for it to happen. A giant creature the size of Godzilla would be way too heavy for his limbs, and would therefore collapse under his own weight. Tyson kills your dreams of Godzilla ever emerging from the oceans in this clip from his Star Talk Radio podcast, which you can watch down below:
So there you have it. Neil deGrasse Tyson has destroyed all hope that there might be a real Godzilla lurking under the ocean floor somewhere, ready to stomp on Tokyo.
Here’s an alternate sciencey take:
How do you feel about Dr. Tyson crushing your kaiju fantasies? Let us know down below in the comments.
Images: Toho Studios