Bill Nye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Nye
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Nye wearing one of his signature bow ties in 2017
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William Sanford Nye
November 27, 1955 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | Cornell University (BS) |
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| Spouse(s) |
Blair Tindall
(m. 2006; ann. 2006)Liza Mundy
(m. 2022) |
| Relatives | George Tindall (former-father-in-law) |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025) |
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William Sanford Nye (born November 27, 1955) is an American science communicator and television presenter. He is also a former mechanical engineer. Many people know him as the host of the science education TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy. This show ran from 1993 to 1999. He is also famous for teaching science in popular culture.
Born in Washington, D.C., Nye started his career as a mechanical engineer. He worked for Boeing in Seattle. There, he invented a special tube used on Boeing 747 airplanes. In 1986, he left Boeing to try comedy. He wrote and performed for a local TV show called Almost Live!. On this show, he often did funny science experiments.
Bill Nye wanted to create a science show for kids. He presented his idea for Bill Nye the Science Guy to KCTS-TV, a public television station in Seattle. The show's theme song proudly said, "science rules!" It aired from 1993 to 1998 across the country. The program was known for its fast-paced style, like MTV. It became very popular with kids and adults. The show won 19 Emmy Awards, including one for Bill Nye himself.
Nye continued to support science. He became the CEO of The Planetary Society. This group works to explore other planets. He has written two popular science books. These include Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation (2014) and Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World (2015). He has appeared on many other TV shows. These include Dancing with the Stars and The Big Bang Theory. A documentary about his life, Bill Nye: Science Guy, came out in 2017. In the same year, his Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World began. His newest series, The End Is Nye, started in August 2022 on Peacock and Syfy.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bill Nye was born on November 27, 1955, in Washington, D.C.. His mother, Jacqueline Jenkins, was a codebreaker during World War II. His father, Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye, also served in World War II. Ned was a prisoner of war for four years. He learned to tell time using shadows, which sparked his interest in sundials. Jacqueline was part of a special group of women who helped crack secret codes.
Nye went to Lafayette Elementary School and Alice Deal Middle School. He then attended Sidwell Friends School for high school on a scholarship. He graduated in 1973.
After high school, he went to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He studied mechanical engineering there. His love for science grew after taking an astronomy class with Carl Sagan. In 1977, Nye earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell.
Career Highlights
After college, Nye worked as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation. He invented a special part for Boeing 747 airplanes. He also tried four times to join NASA's astronaut program, but he was not accepted.
Comedy and Early TV
Nye started doing stand-up comedy after winning a Steve Martin lookalike contest in 1978. He enjoyed making people laugh. He worked at Boeing during the day and performed comedy at night. He also volunteered at the Pacific Science Center as a "Science Explainer."
On October 3, 1986, Nye left Boeing to focus on comedy. In 1987, he met with Carl Sagan at Cornell. Nye told Sagan he wanted to make a science TV show. Sagan advised him to "Focus on pure science. Kids resonate to pure science rather than technology." This advice was very helpful.
In 1986, Nye became a writer and actor on a local TV show called Almost Live!. He performed funny science demonstrations. One famous moment was when he corrected a co-host's pronunciation of "gigawatt." The co-host replied, "Who do you think you are—Bill Nye the Science Guy?" This led to Nye's famous stage name. His science segments were popular, and he won an Emmy for them.
Nye also hosted Fabulous Wetlands in 1989. This show taught about the importance of preserving estuaries and avoiding pollution. Its fun style was a preview of his later show. He also appeared on the Disney Channel's All-New Mickey Mouse Club. From 1991 to 1993, he was on Back to the Future: The Animated Series, helping Dr. Emmett Brown.
Bill Nye the Science Guy
In 1993, Bill Nye created Bill Nye the Science Guy with his team. They described it as "Mr. Wizard meets Pee-wee's Playhouse". The show was supported by the National Science Foundation. It became one of the most-watched educational TV shows in the United States.
As "The Science Guy," Nye wore a blue lab coat and a bow tie. The show's office and set were in Seattle. Even though it was for younger viewers, many adults also watched it. The show made science fun and easy to understand. It was a popular teaching tool in classrooms. With its quick humor and MTV-like pace, the show won 19 Emmy Awards. Studies showed that kids who watched the show often were better at explaining science ideas.
Besides the TV show, Nye wrote several books as The Science Guy. A CD-ROM game based on the series was released in 1996. Nye's Science Guy character also appeared at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. He was in the Ellen's Energy Adventure attraction at Epcot. His voice is also heard in the DINOSAUR ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Later TV Series
After Bill Nye the Science Guy, Nye worked on The Eyes of Nye. This show was for older audiences. It covered more complex science topics like genetically modified food and global warming. The show premiered in 2005 but only lasted one season. Nye later said that not wearing his bow tie on the show was a mistake.
In the early 2010s, Nye hosted Why with Nye for NASA TV. This series discussed the Juno mission to Jupiter.
On August 31, 2016, Netflix announced a new series, Bill Nye Saves the World. It started on April 21, 2017, and ran for three seasons until May 2018. His most recent series, The End is Nye, premiered on August 25, 2022. In this show, Nye explores natural and unnatural disasters. He explains them scientifically and talks about how to survive and prevent them.
Other Media Appearances
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From 2000 to 2002, Nye was a technical expert on BattleBots. He also hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries (2004-2005) and Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye (2007) for the Science Channel.
Nye's ideas about getting kids excited about math helped create the TV show Numb3rs. He appeared in several episodes as an engineering professor. He also appeared on America's Most Smartest Model in 2007.
In 2008, Nye hosted Stuff Happens on the Planet Green network. He also played himself in an episode of Stargate Atlantis with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
In 2009, Nye made a YouTube video for Al Gore's Repower America campaign. He spoke about clean energy and climate change. He also joined a campaign to encourage parents to get eye exams for their children.
In 2013, Nye was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He had to leave early due to an injury.
He guest-starred in The Big Bang Theory in 2013. He played himself in an episode where he taught Leonard Hofstadter a lesson. He returned to The Big Bang Theory in 2018 with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
In 2017, a documentary film about him, Bill Nye: Science Guy, was released. Nye was also an honorary co-chair for the first March for Science on April 22, 2017.
In 2018, Nye guest-starred in an episode of Blindspot. He played a fictional version of himself who was the father of a character. In 2019, he was a guest on Jonathan Van Ness's podcast Getting Curious. They talked about climate change and renewable energy. Nye's voice was also featured on a song by electronic music producer Steve Aoki.
Nye voiced himself in the animated movie Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!. He also played Upton Sinclair in the 2020 movie Mank. Nye competed on The Masked Dancer as "Ice Cube."
Science Advocacy
In the early 2000s, Nye helped create a small sundial for the Mars Exploration Rover missions. This sundial, called MarsDial, also helped with color calibration. From 2005 to 2010, Nye was the vice president of The Planetary Society. He became the organization's Executive Director in September 2010.
In November 2010, Nye became the face of a science exhibition. It was at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California. The "Bill Nye's Climate Lab" exhibit invited visitors to help stop climate change.
From 2001 to 2006, Nye was a professor at Cornell University. In August 2011, he gave a public lecture at Cornell. He talked about his father's love for sundials and his own work on the Mars rovers. He also presented a special clock to the university.
Nye is a member of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. This group promotes scientific thinking. In November 2012, he tried to raise money for an educational game called AERO 3D.
In September 2012, Nye said that creationist ideas were a threat to science education. In February 2014, he debated creationist Ken Ham about the origins of life. In July 2016, Ham gave Nye a tour of the Ark Encounter. They had an informal debate during the tour. Footage from this visit was in the 2017 documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy.
Since 2013, Nye has been on the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education.
On Earth Day 2015, Nye met with U.S. President Obama. They visited Everglades National Park to discuss climate change.
In March 2015, Nye changed his mind about GMOs. He now supports them. He rewrote a chapter in his book Undeniable to show his new view. He said there was no difference in allergies between people who eat GMOs and those who don't.
Nye continues to speak out against climate change denial. He has explained the importance of addressing climate change.
Personal Life
Bill Nye has homes in Los Angeles, New York City, and near Seattle. His California house uses solar power. He enjoys showing visitors how it sends extra power back to the grid.
Nye and his neighbor, actor Ed Begley Jr., have a friendly competition. They try to see who can have the lowest carbon footprint. Nye often appeared on Begley's TV show Living with Ed.
In July 2012, Nye supported President Barack Obama's reelection. He often talked with Obama about science. He famously took a selfie with Obama and Neil deGrasse Tyson at the White House. Nye also attended the 2018 State of the Union Address. He was invited by Congressman Jim Bridenstine. Nye said he disagreed with the Congressman on many issues. However, they both respected NASA and space exploration. In 2019, he supported Jay Inslee for president. In October 2020, Nye supported Joe Biden for president. He urged people to vote for climate change and science.
Nye married musician Blair Tindall in 2006. Their marriage was annulled seven weeks later. In 2022, Nye married journalist Liza Mundy.
In the 2017 documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy, Nye talked about his family's history with ataxia. This is a condition that affects balance. Because his father, sister, and brother had it, Nye decided not to have children. He wanted to avoid passing on the condition.
In July 2018, Nye played in the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game. He got a hit, which made the crowd cheer. Nye is a member of two trade unions.
Published Works
Nye has written many books, including:
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Big Blast of Science (1993)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Consider the Following: A Way Cool Set of Science Questions, Answers, and Ideas to Ponder (1995)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Big Blue Ocean (1999)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Great Big Dinosaur Dig (2002)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Great Big Book of Tiny Germs (2005)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy's Great Big Book of Science - featuring Oceans and Dinosaurs (2005)
- Jack and the Geniuses at the Bottom of the World (2017)
- Jack and the Geniuses Lost in the Jungle (2017)
- Jack and the Geniuses in the Deep Blue Sea (2018)
- Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science (2020)
He has also been interviewed by Time magazine. He was a guest editor for Skeptical Inquirer in January/February 2025. He wrote an introduction for a special section on climate change.
U.S. Patents
Nye holds three United States patents. One is for ballet pointe shoes. Another is for an educational magnifying glass made from a plastic bag filled with water. The third is for a device to help athletes throw a ball. He also has a design patent for a digital abacus.
Awards and Honors
In May 1999, Nye gave the commencement speech at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received an honorary doctor of science degree there. He also received honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 and Willamette University in 2011. In 2015, Rutgers University gave him an honorary doctor of science degree. He also received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree from Lehigh University in 2013.
He received the 2010 Humanist of the Year Award. In October 2015, Simon Fraser University gave him an honorary doctorate of science. In 2011, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry gave Nye their highest award, In Praise of Reason. They said, "No one has more fun than Nye when he is demonstrating principles of science." In 1997, they also gave him the Candle in the Dark Award. In 2024, Nye received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On January 4, 2025, President Joe Biden awarded Nye the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Presidential Medal of Freedom, United States (January 4th, 2025)
See also
In Spanish: Bill Nye para niños
