[Signed] Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution Tyson, Neil De Grasse (Signed); Goldsmith, Donald [Fine] [Hardcover]

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8vo. A STUNNING 1st Edition signed and inscribed by the famed African-American Astrophysicist. ""In an undated interview at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Tyson talked about being black and one of the most visible and well-known scientists in the world. He told a story about being interviewed about a plasma burst from the sun on a local Fox affiliate in 1989. ""I'd never before in my life seen an interview with a black person on television for expertise that had nothing to do with being black. And at that point, I realized that one of the last stereotypes that prevailed among people who carry stereotypes is that, sort of, black people are somehow dumb. I wondered, maybe . that's a way to undermine this sort of, this stereotype that prevailed about who's smart and who's dumb. I said to myself, 'I just have to be visible, or others like me, in that situation.' That would have a greater force on society than anything else I could imagine."" Warmly signed and inscribed by Tyson on the half-title page in beautifully flowing fountain pen ink ""To Anna May, A fellow star gazer Neil D Tyson"" and dated October 2004 ""Tyson's research has focused on observations in cosmology, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, bulges, and stellar formation. He has held numerous positions at institutions including the University of Maryland, Princeton University, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Hayden Planetarium. ""In 1994, Tyson joined the Hayden Planetarium as a staff scientist while he was a research affiliate in Princeton University. He became acting director of the planetarium in June 1995 and was appointed director in 1996. As director, he oversaw the planetarium's $210 million reconstruction project, which was completed in 2000. Upon being asked for his thoughts on becoming director, Tyson said ""when I was a kid. there were scientists and educators on the staff at the Hayden Planetarium. who invested their time and energy in my enlightenment. and I've never forgotten that. And to end up back there as its director, I feel this deep sense of duty, that I serve in the same capacity for people who come through the facility today, that others served for me"". ""Tyson has written a number of popular books on astrophysics. In 1995, he began to write the ""Universe"" column for Natural History magazine. In a column he authored for a special edition of the magazine, called ""City of Stars"", in 2002, Tyson popularized the term ""Manhattanhenge"" to describe the two days annually on which the evening sun aligns with the street grid in Manhattan, making the sunset visible along unobstructed side streets. He had coined the term in 1996, inspired by how the phenomenon recalls the sun's solstice alignment with the Stonehenge monument in England. Tyson's column also influenced his work as a professor with The Great Courses. ""In 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Tyson to serve on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace...