VIDEO: Neil deGrasse Tyson Answers Tan Mom and Bigfoot’s Questions About Life, Death, and the Meaning of It All

Neil deGrasse Tyson has climbed plenty of seemingly insurmountable mountains over the course of his impressive career, from earning a Grammy nomination for his spoken-word science album to being named People’s sexiest astrophysicist alive in 2000. But this week the famed scientist faced his biggest challenge yet: explaining life, death, and the meaning of it all to the Stern Show’s Wack Pack.

Bigfoot had the first question. “Hey Mr. Scientist Man,” he began, “What happens after we die?”

“Bigfoot, good question,” Neil responded before delving into a detailed answer about the conservation of energy and what his own wishes are for when he expires. “I want to be consumed by flora and fauna just as I had consumed them, thereby returning the energy content of my body back into the ecosystem,” he concluded.

Howard loved Neil’s answer but was curious to hear Bigfoot’s thoughts.

“I don’t give a shit what happens to my body. When I’m dead, I’m dead,” the Wack Packer said. “Scientists can go to hell as far as I care.”

Patricia “Tan Mom” Krentcil asked the next question: “What is the meaning of life?”

“Tan Mom, thanks for asking,” Neil responded. “I think we have the power to create meaning in our life. Meaning, for me, is I want to know a little more tomorrow about the world than I know today … and I also [want to] lessen the suffering of others so that the world is better off for you having lived in it.”

“I gotta hand it to him, that’s a good answer,” Howard said.

Tan Mom’s takeaway was a bit different. “He was saying the power of life isn’t under a rock or a tree … The power is within you,” the Wack Packer began, before getting sidetracked. “I’m sorry. I’m so distracted. I’m in a salon right now.”