Bill Nye Urges Lawmakers to 'Restore Funding' to NASA, Warns of the Alternative

In light of the America's financial crisis, the famous science spokesman Bill Nye urges lawmakers to continually invest in NASA.

Nye states, "I understand that planetary science is, for most congressman and senators, a small thing way in the background, but I would argue strongly that [without] investment in science, especially planetary science...We would not have the Internet; we would not have smartphones; we would not have Skype without the space program. So space brings out the best in us, and although I'm optimistic that funding will be restored, I'm concerned that it won't be restored to a sufficient level."

Politico reports that the Obama administration's 2013 budget cuts NASA funding by $300 million, a substantial but not crippling cut in investment towards the organization.

The host of 'Bill Nye The Science Guy' adds, "No other agency can do what those guys do. No other space agency can land sophisticated instruments on Mars with the ability to look for signs of water and life. Nobody else can do that. So to lose that ability would be a tragedy, not just for the United States, but for mankind. If those people are compelled to find other jobs in other industries, you'll never find them again."

Earlier this fall, Nye made headlines for denouncing the teaching of creationism in schools in a viral video. His show originally aired in 1993 and lasted until 1998, cementing the scientist into the collective imagination of countless children. The Science Guy continues to be a strong advocator for investment in scientific research.