Bill Nye demolishes climate deniers: “The single most important thing is .... climate change."

Salon ^ | November 6, 2015 | Sean Illling

[CedarDave]

On Nov. 10, Bill Nye will release a new book titled “Unstoppable.” As only Bill Nye can, he uses the book to explain the science behind climate change, debunks popular myths, and asks readers to take action in their own lives to create a sustainable future. The book is shot through with optimism, but Nye has no illusions about what lies ahead. The message is simple: Climate change is real; humans are causing it; and we have no choice but to build a better and cleaner world.

Salon spoke with Nye about his new book and about his broader intentions. We asked him what he thought about climate deniers and the persistent anti-science demagoguery around this issue. Our conversation is below and has been edited for clarity and length.

So why did you write this book? Why now? And what’s your central message?

My goal is to change the world! Really, that’s what I’m trying to do. Obviously, this book isn’t going to change the world, but it is part of the bigger idea that we all have to think optimistically about this. We’ve got to go into this knowing we have a hard challenge but that we’re going to win this fight, and we’re going to save the earth for humanity.

[Vic S]

Mechanical engineering. Same difference.

Actually, you are exactly right. Thermodynamics is required course for both degrees (I know, I suffered through it.) If you took (and passed) thermodynamics you would understand that CO2 is not a greenhouse gas. CO2 has the same heat coefficient as H2O (at the same temp and pressure.) This means that it reflects, absorbs and lets through the same amount of sunlight as water vapor (clouds). Does it get warmer or cooler when a cloud passes overhead? Basic thermodynamics. CO2 is a plant food.

I'm thinking he either forgot basic thermodynamics or failed the class.

[rlmorel]

So, who says this dweeb “Bill Nye” demolishes “climate deniers”?

Salon?

Well...okaaaay!

[Politicalkiddo]

An oxygen thief, for sure.

[cuban leaf]

I’ve seen Bill Nye debate this subhect. He’s a laughing stock. He’s also no more a scientist than AlGore. He’s an engineer.

I used to watch him on Almost live back in the 90’s. Watching him in these debates he takes himself way too seriously. When he’s not trying to be funny and entertaining he just looks dumb.

[Bob434]

Ask Bill Nye to explain how just 0.0036% of our atmosphere can possibly capture enough heat to cause ANY change whatsoever- and watch Nye’s eyes glaze over as he fumbles around for an answer

The CO2 produced by man takes up just 0.0036% of our atmosphere-

Sorry Billy- You aint wiggling out of this one! Explain to the world how such a small amount of CO2 can capture enough heat to do anything regarding the climate-

‘Demolished” What a laugh! All he did was explain that CO2 is capable of capturing heat and radiating that heat outwards- that’s it- He neglected to mention that it would take a massive thick blanket of CO2 to do what he and the other LIARS claim I n regards to the global climate- and the reason he neglected to cite how little CO2 man actually produces is because it would expose him and his ilk as the despicable LIARS that they are

[factoryrat]

Chemistry, geology, and phyisics says that you’re full of shit up to your eyeballs, Bill.

[Bob434]

Jack- Here’s some ammo for idiots who think man is causing climate change

The atmosphere weighs 6 quadrillion tons

The amount of CO2 produced by man amounts to just 0.0036% of that- not even one percent! Not even 1/10’th a percent!

Explain to those you see that this means that almost 100% of the heat escaping earth goes right on past this 0.0036%, and what little doesn’t get past it is back radiated at an even smaller % towards earth

Then have the people explain how so little back radiated heat can change the climate- watch them whimper as they grope for an answer

The fact is that what little heat that does eventually make it’s way back to earth is so insignificantly miniscule, that it quickly reaches equilibrium with the surrounding air temps because there is nowhere near enough heat to do ANYTHING to change the temperature of the surrounding air

Explain it to them by showing that if you pour a thimble of water that is 100 degrees into an Olympic sized pool of water that is 98 degrees, the pool water is NOT going to heat up to 100 degrees

Be patient as they try to figure this out- walk away, grab a coffee- see a movie, then come back and see if they’ve figured it out yet (I’m betting they haven’t)

[The Cajun]

Schools forced kids to watch AlGore’s piece of crap movie, schools will force kids to read Nye's piece of crap book, count on it.

[factoryrat]

Which makes his position regarding AGW even more suspicious.

I started on a degree in EE, and the math alone would break all but the weakest of minds. Of course, that was before the advent of software simulation and modeling, which meant that I had to bang out calcuations with much less than what is used today.

[jimfree]

Bill Nye is a scientist like Gerald Ford was a car.

[HamiltonJay]

Actually reef bleaching does appear man made but it’s from a pollutant found in many sunscreens. The ingredient is toxic to coral at very minute concentrations. It has nothing to do with climate change.

[TigersEye]

Let him explain why there is not hot spot.

No smoking hot spot

1. The greenhouse signature is missing. We have been looking and measuring for years, and cannot find it.

Each possible cause of global warming has a different pattern of where in the planet the warming occurs first and the most. The signature of an increased greenhouse effect is a hot spot about 10km up in the atmosphere over the tropics. We have been measuring the atmosphere for decades using radiosondes: weather balloons with thermometers that radio back the temperature as the balloon ascends through the atmosphere. They show no hot spot. Whatsoever.

If there is no hot spot then an increased greenhouse effect is not the cause of global warming. So we know for sure that carbon emissions are not a significant cause of the global warming. If we had found the greenhouse signature then I would be an alarmist again.

[Organic Panic]

20 years ago we only had 10 years to save the planet from imminent destruction. I look around and aside from new cars, it looks pretty much the same.

[Samurai_Jack]

does bill nye even know how creepy he is?

[FreeAtlanta]

Flipping through channels today, I ran into Nye - the huckster guy - while he was on a bash the tar sands binge... while flying over in a spiffy new helicopter flown by another “activist”.

Makes me ill.

In the days of targeted trouble maker removal...

[amnestynone]

This article is hog wash and I didn’t even read it.

[HotHunt]

Hey, Bill. Anyone can win an argument if you manage to get the other side "out of the discourse". Winning an argument with yourself is easy. But get some critics and another points of view involved and it becomes much more difficult to prove your point of view.

And don't give us that Al Gore crap that the "debate is over". There never was a debate to begin with. Saying that is just a way to discount people who disagree with this scam.

What "an inconvenient truth" that is, huh Bill?

[rwoodward]

They are freaking out about the new NASA study!

[Smedley]

“Bill Nye has a degree in electrical engineering.”

NO!

The idjut has a degree in mechanical or hydraulic engineering.

I have a degree in EE - DO NOT INSULT US

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The failed engineer and minor league TV star doesn’t understand climate.

But he’s their anti-science point person.