Science plays a role in nearly every aspect of our lives from the economy, to the environment, to global health. But it seems like these science-related issues are not a top priority for the men and women who are vying to lead the country in the 2016 presidential race.
For instance, the first Republication presidential debate of the year significantly lacked mention of such issues -- and that doesn't sit well with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
The astrophysicist and host of "StarTalk" appeared on HuffPost Live on Thursday to talk with host Josh Zepps about his problem with politicians who don't value science -- or who only value the science that aligns with their political views.
"If you start cherry-picking science, that's the beginning of the end of an informed democracy," Tyson said.
He noted that Abraham Lincoln founded the National Academy of Sciences in 1863 to provide the government with "unbiased" scientific advice. Now, however, more and more politicians prefer to pick and choose what science-related issues are worth focusing on.
"If today you're gonna say, 'I'm gonna pick that and not this because this blends with my political, social, cultural, religious philosophies and that doesn't,' I don't know what kind of country that is, and I don't know what kind of future world that would create," Tyson said. "If you gain 10 pounds this month, you don't say, 'Repeal gravity. I object to gravity.' No, you don't blame gravity. Where do you draw the line here?"
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