Mercury is in Retrograde. What does that mean for you, if it means anything at all? Neil deGrasse Tyson is here to help you understand what it all means. Alongside comic cohost Chuck Nice, we take a trip back in time to understand why this phrase has survived since the reign of the ancient Greeks.

Discover what is actually happening when a planet goes into retrograde. You’ll learn what the world was like before the scientific method was widely used and how the implementation of experimentation and hypothesis catapulted civilization forward. We trace our understanding of the planets from a time where humans thought Earth was at the center of the universe. Find out why the ancient Greeks referred to planets as wanderers when they first discovered them.

You’ll hear why the foundations of astrology have no justification in a scientifically literate and modern world. Then, we investigate why humans are in such need to have things explained. All that, plus, Neil shares why it takes a lot of hubris to think the universe actually cares about you.

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About the prints that flank Neil in this video:
"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, https://inuit.com/

About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic cohosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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0:00 Introduction
1:03 The World Prior To A Scientific Method
3:44 Where We Get The Word 'Planet'
5:04 What Is Retrograde?
9:16 Why Astrology References Retrograde
10:41 Humans' Need For Meaning
17:36 Closing Notes