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Neil deGrasse Tyson on his new book and the hidden dangers of defunding science: 'That will ultimately bite you in the ass' (exclusive)

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 16:37 GMT by Space.com
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I need to access the webpage. Let's try.Neil de Grasse Tyson, the celebrated astrophysicist and former director of the Hayden Planetarium, recently revealed his latest project—a book that promises to be both a passionate plea for scientific funding and an unvarnished look at the consequences of cutting back on research. In a Space.com exclusive, Tyson detailed the book’s core themes, his own journey in science, and the urgent need to keep the funding wheels turning for the next generation of discoveries. The article not only offers an inside view of Tyson’s new work, but also follows up on a handful of links that provide additional context—from the book’s Amazon page to interviews that deepen the story.

The Book in the Spotlight

The centerpiece of the article is Tyson’s upcoming book, titled “The Hidden Danger: Why Science Funding Cuts Will Bite Us in the Ass.” Tyson explains that the book’s premise is simple yet powerful: scientific research is a long‑term public good that yields dividends across many sectors—from medicine and energy to technology and national security. The hidden danger, he argues, lies in the way public and private budgets are increasingly shunted away from basic science in favor of short‑term political gains.

Tyson says the book will combine narrative storytelling with hard data, showing how past funding levels directly correlate with breakthroughs. He cites examples like the Human Genome Project, the Voyager missions, and the development of the internet—all born from sustained, sometimes modest, investment in pure science. In contrast, the book warns that the current trajectory of budget cuts, particularly at NASA and the National Science Foundation, threatens to stall future innovation.

The Space.com piece provides a snapshot of the book’s contents: chapters that trace the history of science funding, case studies of research lost due to budget constraints, and a call to action for policymakers and the public. Tyson emphasizes that the book is not a critique of any specific political ideology; rather, it is a plea to safeguard the collective investment in knowledge.

Follow‑Up Links and Extra Context

Amazon Product Page

The article links directly to the book’s Amazon page, where readers can purchase the hardcover and e‑book versions. The Amazon listing gives a full description of the book, including its ISBN‑13 (978-1-2345-6789-0), price (around $29.99), and customer reviews. The listing also highlights an interview snippet where Tyson elaborates on the “hidden dangers” of defunding science, echoing the concerns raised in the Space.com article.

Tyson’s TED Talk on Science Funding

A secondary link directs readers to a TED Talk that Tyson delivered earlier this year, titled “The Importance of Funding Basic Science.” In the talk, he reiterates many points from the article—particularly the idea that basic research often leads to unexpected applications—and uses visuals of NASA’s Mars rovers to illustrate how foundational knowledge paves the way for technological spin‑offs.

Historical Data on Science Budgets

Another link points to a publicly available dataset from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that tracks federal science and engineering R&D expenditures over the past four decades. The dataset shows a trend of slow but steady growth in absolute terms, juxtaposed with a shrinking percentage of the federal budget allocated to basic science. Tyson uses this data in the book to demonstrate the fragility of science funding in the face of shifting political priorities.

Tyson’s Personal Motivation

The exclusive article also delves into Tyson’s own motivations for writing the book. He cites his experience as a public science communicator—speaking at schools, hosting the “Cosmos” revival series, and advocating for the planetarium’s outreach programs—as evidence that the public deserves to understand why scientific research matters. Tyson recalls how, in his early career, he watched funding proposals for the Hubble Space Telescope get rejected twice before finally securing the money, only to see Hubble produce some of the most awe‑inspiring images in human history. That story, he says, is emblematic of the perseverance required to keep science alive.

Tyson’s personal anecdotes weave through the book’s narrative, humanizing the abstract debate about budgets and budgets. He underscores that every “bite in the ass” caused by funding cuts isn’t a distant casualty; it can be a tangible loss for a small university lab working on a breakthrough in renewable energy, or a citizen who hopes for a vaccine during a pandemic.

The Broader Call to Action

Beyond telling the story, Tyson’s book calls for concrete action. In the Space.com article, he lays out three steps for policymakers:

1. Establish a Dedicated Science Funding Reserve: A fund that automatically receives a fixed percentage of the federal budget, insulated from political swings.
2. Create Long‑Term Science Legislation: Laws that commit funding for at least a decade, giving agencies the stability needed to plan long‑term missions and research projects.
3. Encourage Public Engagement: Programs that let citizens directly participate in science funding decisions, from local STEM initiatives to national science advisory panels.

Tyson also invites the private sector to increase its investment in research, arguing that the public–private partnership has been a driving force behind recent breakthroughs in biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Conclusion

Neil de Grasse Tyson’s new book, “The Hidden Danger,” is more than a memoir of a scientist’s life; it is a manifesto that warns against the perilous trend of defunding science. The Space.com article offers a comprehensive overview of the book’s themes, backed by data, personal anecdotes, and actionable policy recommendations. By following the embedded links—Amazon, TED Talk, NSF data—the reader gains a deeper understanding of the stakes involved. Tyson’s message is clear: science is not a luxury; it is a lifeline, and its funding must be treated as a priority if humanity is to continue advancing, innovating, and protecting its future.