See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Matthew Perlman
Brooklyn Daily
The stars are coming out in Brooklyn — in more ways than one.
Celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will be hosting a cosmic conversation at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Feb. 24, at a live taping of his science-minded podcast, “StarTalk.”
“People should expect scientists saying very interesting things and some comedians cracking jokes,” said Eugene Mirman, the Park Slope-based stand-up comic who will co-host the show on the night. “It’s without exaggeration one of my favorite things to do.”
You do not need to be a brainiac to enjoy “StarTalk,” said Mirman — that is what deGrasse Tyson is there for. The idea behind the show is to make bewildering scientific ideas accessible to the general public, tackling topics as dense and nebulous as relativity, time travel, and dark matter, he explained.
“Neil is really great at taking complicated ideas and making them understandable,” said Mirman of the notable nerd, who is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan and holds 18 honorary degrees.
Also appearing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music show will be Mayim Bialik, the actress best known for her role as Blossom on the popular ’90s TV series of the same name, and now as Amy Farrah Fowler on “The Big Bang Theory.” But Bialik does not just play a geek on TV — she also holds a doctorate in neuroscience, which may provide a hint as to what this episode’s topic will be about.
Mirman, who is a regular guest on the show, admitted he does not have any secret scientific talents. He said he has always been interested in science, but did poorly in the subject at school.
“I was terrible at it,” he said. “I got terrible grades.”
But thanks to his involvement with StarTalk, the comedian is finally catching up on his studies.
“I love science and I love poking fun about it,” said Mirman. “The amount of stuff I learn every time is amazing.”“StarTalk Live!” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Howard Gilman Opera House [30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street in Fort Greene, (718) 636–4100, www.bam.org]. Feb. 24at 8 pm. $35–$50.