Bill Nye

File:Bill-nye-yearbook-1973.jpg in 1973]]

Nye was born November 27, 1955,{{cite news |last=Schwartz |first=John |title=Firebrand for Science, and Big Man on Campus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/science/bill-nye-firebrand-for-science-is-a-big-man-on-campus.html |date=June 17, 2013 |work=The New York Times|access-date=June 18, 2013}}[http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=BIC1&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CK1609022314&mode=view&userGroupName=fpl&jsid=fc060752f4816ebf1c5726ebd77497fb "Bill Nye"]. Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Volume 64. September 1, 2005. Gale. Retrieved November 4, 2011. in Washington, D.C., to Jacqueline Jenkins (1921–2000),{{cite web | title=Jacqueline Jenkins-Nye, 79, World War II code breaker | website=Baltimore Sun | date=2000-04-03 | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/04/03/jacqueline-jenkins-nye-79-world-war-ii-code-breaker/ | access-date=2025-02-22}} who was a codebreaker during World War II, and Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye (1917–1997),{{cite web | last=Robledo | first=Anthony | title=Bill Nye married: 'The Science Guy' weds journalist Liza Mundy | website=USA TODAY | date=2022-06-22 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/22/bill-nye-the-science-guy-marries-liza-mundy/7703377001/ | access-date=2025-02-22}} who also served in World War II and worked as a contractor building an airstrip on Wake Island.{{cite news |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/tips/a9026/what-my-father-taught-me-bill-nye-15535012/ |title=What My Father Taught Me: Bill Nye |work=Popular Mechanics |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }} He is related to William Foster Nye, founder of Nye Lubricants in New Bedford, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |title=A Whale-Oiled Machine |url=https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/a-whale-oiled-machine/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=99% Invisible |date=March 14, 2023 |language=en-US}}

Ned was captured and spent four years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp; living without electricity or watches, he learned how to tell time using the shadow of a shovel handle, spurring his passion for sundials.{{cite web|url=http://www.billnye.com/about-bill-nye/biography/ |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100202163649/http://www.billnye.com/about-bill-nye/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2010 |title=Biography | Bill Nye the Science Guy |publisher=Billnye.com |access-date=March 24, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://library.uncw.edu/web/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/368.html |title=Transcript of Oral History of Jenkins, S.S. (Bud) |publisher=Library.uncw.edu |date=October 8, 2003 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901115925/http://library.uncw.edu/web/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/368.html |archive-date=September 1, 2006 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2000/04/03/jacqueline-jenkins-nye-79-world-war-ii-code-breaker/ |title=Jacqueline Jenkins-Nye, 79, World War II code breaker |work=Baltimore Sun |date=April 3, 2000 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015141034/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-04-03/news/0004030047_1_bill-nye-goucher-college-war-ii |url-status=live }} Jenkins-Nye was among a small elite group of young women known as "Goucher Girls", alumnae of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, whom the Navy enlisted to help crack codes used by Japan and Germany. "She wasn't Rosie the Riveter, she was Rosie the Top-Secret Code Breaker", Nye recalls. "People would ask her what she did during World War II and she'd say, 'I can't talk about it, ha ha ha!{{'"}}{{cite news |last=Leal |first=Samantha |url=http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a15247/bill-nye-mom-code-breaker/ |title=Talk About Badass: Bill Nye's Mom Was a Code Breaker During WWII |work=Marie Claire |date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=April 27, 2017}}

Nye attended Lafayette Elementary School and Alice Deal Middle School before attending Sidwell Friends School for high school on a scholarship, graduating in 1973.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bill-nye-is-from-the-district--but-devoted-to-the-other-washingtons-football-team/2017/05/04/54812798-2e85-11e7-a335-fa0ae1940305_story.html |title=Bill Nye is from the District — but devoted to the other Washington's football team |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 5, 2017 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-nye/bill-nyes-school-days_b_159818.html|title=My School Days – The Crazy Luck|last=Nye|first=Bill|date=January 21, 2009|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=June 30, 2009}}

After graduating from Sidwell Friends, he attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he studied at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His enthusiasm for science deepened after he took an astronomy class with Carl Sagan at Cornell.{{cite AV media |people=Bill Nye |date=2014 |title=Bill Nye: I Took Astronomy From Carl Sagan |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54q6M48WxSs | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/54q6M48WxSs| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=March 14, 2018 |publisher=NOVA's Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers |quote=YouTube title:Bill Nye: I Took Astronomy From Carl Sagan}}{{cbignore}}

In 1977, Nye graduated from Cornell University with a BS in mechanical engineering.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2001/06/janet-reno-and-bill-nye-appointed-visiting-professors|title=Janet Reno and Bill Nye appointed CU Rhodes Class of '56 Professors|date=June 19, 2001|work=Cornell Chronicle|publisher=Cornell University|access-date=January 17, 2014}}

After graduating from Cornell, Nye worked as an engineer for the Boeing Corporation and Sundstrand Data Control near Seattle. At Boeing, he invented a hydraulic resonance suppressor tube used on Boeing 747 airplanes.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Nye, Bill (1955–) |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication |publisher=SAGE Publications |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l1F2AwAAQBAJ&q=%22hydraulic+resonance+suppressor+tube%22&pg=PP1 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |last=Priest |first=Susanna Hornig |date=2010 |page=533 |isbn=9781452265780}} He applied four times, unsuccessfully, for NASA's astronaut training program.{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=David |date=December 18, 2015 |title=Maybe This Is Why Bill Nye Never Became An Astronaut |work=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bill-nye-never-became-an-astronaut_us_56742765e4b014efe0d521b3 |access-date=March 14, 2018}}

Nye started doing standup comedy after winning a Steve Martin lookalike contest in 1978.{{cite news |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2013/5/17/an-oral-history-of-almost-live-june-2013 |title=An Oral History of 'Almost Live' |work=Seattle Metropolitan |date=May 17, 2013 |access-date=April 23, 2017}} Nye's friends asked him to do Steve Martin impressions at parties, and he discovered how much he enjoyed making people laugh. He began moonlighting as a comedian while working at Boeing.{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Sarah |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3001653/how-bill-nye-became-science-guy-and-ballet-shoe-inventor-and-political-voice |title=How Bill Nye Became The Science Guy. And A Ballet Shoe Inventor. And a Political Voice |work=Fast Company |date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=April 23, 2017}} He has stated, "At this point in our story, I was working on business jet navigation systems, laser gyroscope systems during the day, and I'd take a nap and go do stand-up comedy by night." He also participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and volunteered at the Pacific Science Center on weekends as a "Science Explainer".

Nye quit his job at Boeing on October 3, 1986, to focus on his burgeoning comedy career. During Nye's 10-year college reunion in 1987, he went to great lengths to meet with Carl Sagan at Cornell. Sagan's assistant told Nye, "Okay, you can talk to him for five minutes." In their meeting at the space sciences building, Nye explained that he was interested in developing a science television program. "I mentioned how I planned to talk about bridges and bicycles and so on—stuff that, as an engineer, I'd been interested in—and [Sagan] said, 'Focus on pure science. Kids resonate to pure science rather than technology.' And that turned out to be great advice."{{cite news |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2013/9/3/bill-nye-is-still-the-nuttiest-professor-september-2013 |title=Bill Nye Is Still the Nuttiest Professor |work=Seattle Metropolitan |date=September 3, 2013 |access-date=April 23, 2017}}

In 1986, Nye worked as a writer/actor on a local sketch comedy television show in Seattle called Almost Live! He first got his big break on the show from John Keister who met him during an open mic night. After a guest canceled, cohost Ross Shafer told Nye he had seven minutes of programming to fill. "Why don't you do that science stuff?" Shafer suggested.{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Ryan |url=https://www.popsci.com/article/science/bill-nye-fights-back |title=Bill Nye Fights Back |work=Popular Science |date=August 21, 2014 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }} Nye entertained audiences with comical demonstrations, including what happened when you ate a marshmallow that had been dipped in liquid nitrogen.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KkKejZnazw#t=106| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/1KkKejZnazw| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Bill Nye the Science Guy Interview| website=YouTube| date=March 6, 2014|access-date=March 15, 2014}}{{cbignore}} His other main recurring role on Almost Live! was as Speed Walker, a speedwalking Seattle superhero "who fights crime while maintaining strict adherence to the regulations of the international speedwalking association."

A famous incident on the show led to Nye's stage name. He corrected Keister on his pronunciation of the word "gigawatt", and Keister responded, "Who do you think you are—Bill Nye the Science Guy?"{{cite news |url=https://www.splitsider.com/2011/09/almost-live-what-seattle-sketch-comedy-gave-to-us/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118003414/https://www.splitsider.com/2011/09/almost-live-what-seattle-sketch-comedy-gave-to-us/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |title=Almost Live!: What Seattle Sketch Comedy Gave to Us |work=Splitsider |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2017}} Nye's science experiments resonated with viewers, and the local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded him a talent Emmy for one of his segments.{{cite news |last=Boss |first=Kit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/10/04/on-seattle-tv-its-a-comic-its-an-engineer_its-science-guy/a827725e-e030-4330-80a1-23939c20fc6f/ |title=On Seattle TV, It's a Comic, It's an Engineer It's Science Guy! |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 4, 1989 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }} He later hosted a weekly radio show on KJR in 1988 that answered listener questions about science topics.{{cite news |last=Stredicke |first=Victor |date=April 3, 1988 |title=Science guy plugs in Saturday electronic circuit |page=L3 |work=The Seattle Times}}

Even though Nye was a regular on Almost Live!, he was only doing freelance work for the program.{{cite web |url=http://depts.washington.edu/sthp/exhibits/show/billnye/billnyesearlylifeandcareer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312165517/http://depts.washington.edu/sthp/exhibits/show/billnye/billnyesearlylifeandcareer |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2018 |title=Bill Nye's Early Life and Career 1955-1992 |work=Seattle Television History |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=May 9, 2017}} While looking for more TV gigs, he got the opportunity in 1989 to host Fabulous Wetlands, a short educational show about Washington's wetlands, sponsored by the Washington State Department of Ecology. On Fabulous Wetlands, Nye explained the importance of preserving estuaries, and the hazards of pollution.{{cite AV media |people=Bill Nye |date=1989 |title=Fabulous Wetlands with Bill Nye The Science Guy (1989) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeUPbGWg2KU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/BeUPbGWg2KU| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=May 8, 2017 |publisher=Washington State Department of Ecology |quote=YouTube title:Fabulous Wetlands with Bill Nye The Science Guy (1989)}}{{cbignore}} The show was, in many ways, a model for Nye's later show, with "zany camera cuts paired with Nye's humor" that set it apart from other scientific broadcasts. Nye soon got more offers to appear on nationally broadcast programs, including eight segments of the Disney Channel's All-New Mickey Mouse Club. Following his stint on Almost Live!, from 1991 to 1993 Nye appeared on live-action educational segments of Back to the Future: The Animated Series, assisting Dr. Emmett Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd).{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-orders-bill-nye-talk-924641 |title=Netflix Orders Bill Nye Talk Show |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=August 31, 2016 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }} He was a member of the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board from 1992 to 1994.{{cite news |last=Judd |first=Ron |date=December 3, 1992 |title=Temperatures drop, snow falls, interest in ski conditions rise, and outdoors expands coverage |page=H8 |work=The Seattle Times}}

{{Main|Bill Nye the Science Guy}}

File:Bill Nye with trademark blue lab coat and bowtie.jpg and bowtie, 2010]]

In 1993, collaborating with James McKenna, Erren Gottlieb and Elizabeth Brock, Nye developed a pilot for a new show, Bill Nye the Science Guy, for the Seattle public broadcasting station KCTS-TV.{{cite web |url=http://depts.washington.edu/sthp/exhibits/show/kctsbillnye/kctsbillnyee |title=HISTORICAL BACKGROUND FOR KCTS |work=Seattle Television History |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=April 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907093300/http://depts.washington.edu/sthp/exhibits/show/kctsbillnye/kctsbillnyee |archive-date=September 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }} They pitched the show as "Mr. Wizard meets Pee-wee's Playhouse". Nye obtained underwriting for the show from the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Energy. The program became part of a package of syndicated series that local stations could schedule to fulfill Children's Television Act requirements.{{cite book |last1= LaFollette |first1=Marcel Chotkowski|title=Science on American Television: A History |publisher=University of Chicago Press |date=2012 }} Because of this, Bill Nye the Science Guy became the first program to run concurrently on public and commercial stations. The series was produced by Walt Disney Television and Rabbit Ears Productions, and distributed by Disney.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/bill-nye-sues-disney-science-guy-profits-lawsuit-1202539049/|title=Bill Nye Claims Disney Withheld $28 Million in 'Science Guy' Profits|last=Maddus|first=Gene|date=August 25, 2017|work=Variety|access-date=January 16, 2018}}

Bill Nye the Science Guy ran from 1993 to 1998, and was one of the most-watched educational TV shows in the United States.{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19941218/1948193/the-bill-nye-effect|title=The Bill Nye Effect|first=Kit|last=Boss|work=The Seattle Times|date=December 18, 1994|access-date=April 25, 2017|archive-date=May 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511231431/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19941218&slug=1948193|url-status=live}} While portraying "The Science Guy", Nye wore a powder blue lab coat and a bow tie. Nye Labs, the production offices and set where the show was recorded, was in a converted clothing warehouse in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood.{{cite news |last=Lyke |first=M.L. |date=August 6, 1996 |title=Science gives birth to a star |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}} Although it focused on younger viewers, it also attracted a significant adult audience.{{cite book|title=A Study of Bill Nye The Science Guy:Outreach and Image |url=http://www.rockman.com/projects/124.kcts.billnye/nye_exec_98.pdf |page=10 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043847/http://www.rockman.com/projects/124.kcts.billnye/nye_exec_98.pdf |archive-date=February 22, 2014}} Its ability to make science entertaining and accessible made it a popular teaching tool in classrooms. With its quirky humor and rapid-fire MTV-style pacing, the show won critical acclaim and was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards, winning nineteen. Research studies found that regular viewers were better at explaining scientific ideas than non-viewers.{{cite book |last1=Bell |first1=Phillip |url=https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12190/learning-science-in-informal-environments-people-places-and-pursuits |title=Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits |publisher=National Academies Press |date=2009 |page=253 |doi=10.17226/12190 |isbn=978-0-309-11955-9 |access-date=May 9, 2017}}

In addition to the TV show, Nye published several books as The Science Guy. A CD-ROM based on the series, titled Bill Nye the Science Guy: Stop the Rock!, was released in 1996 for Windows and Macintosh by Pacific Interactive.{{cite news |title=Slapstick Science |work=Popular Science |date=May 1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=heS0lbYrpAwC |access-date=March 14, 2018 }} Nye's Science Guy personality is also prominent at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts—most notably his appearance with Ellen DeGeneres at Ellen's Energy Adventure, an attraction that ran from 1996 to 2017 at the Universe of Energy pavilion at Epcot at Walt Disney World. Nye's Science Guy character is also heard in a voice-over in the DINOSAUR attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom,{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/08/25/bill-nye-files-lawsuit-claiming-disney-owes-him-over-9-million|title=Bill Nye files lawsuit claiming Disney owes him over $9 million|last=Leng|first=Brian|date=August 25, 2019|work=Orlando Weekly|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922053943/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/08/25/bill-nye-files-lawsuit-claiming-disney-owes-him-over-9-million|url-status=dead}} and was the on-air spokesman for the Noggin television network in 1999.{{cite web|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56067350.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025122/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56067350.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2016|title=Noggin nabs Nye|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=April 22, 2016}}

{{Main|The Eyes of Nye}}

Following the success of Bill Nye the Science Guy, Nye began work on a comeback project, The Eyes of Nye, aimed at an older audience and tackling more controversial science topics such as genetically modified food, global warming and race. However, "shifting creative concepts, infighting among executives and disputes over money with Seattle producing station KCTS significantly delayed production for years.{{cite news |url=https://current.org/wp-content/uploads/archive-site/ptv/ptv0309kctsnye.html |title=Bill Nye comeback: hope and dismay in Seattle |work=Current.org |date=May 13, 2003 |access-date=May 7, 2017}} KCTS was hampered by budgetary problems and couldn't produce a show pilot on time. "KCTS went through some distress", Nye recalled. "When we did The Eyes of Nye, the budget started out really big, and by the time we served all these little problems at KCTS, we had a much lower budget for the show than we'd ever had for the 'Science Guy' show which was made several years earlier."{{cite news |last=Owen |first=Rob |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/bill-nye-is-back-and-trying-to-save-the-world-in-new-netflix-series/ |title=Bill Nye is back and trying to save the world in new Netflix series |work=The Seattle Times |date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2017}} PBS declined to distribute The Eyes of Nye, and it was eventually picked up by American Public Television. "PBS wanted more serious, in-depth Nova-style shows", explained co-producer Randy Brinson.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/That-Science-Guy-is-back-in-Eyes-of-Nye-1170110.php |format=PDF |title=That Science Guy is back, in 'Eyes of Nye' |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=April 4, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011114531/http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/That-Science-Guy-is-back-in-Eyes-of-Nye-1170110.php |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2017}} [http://depts.washington.edu/sthp/files/original/7f5fa541273d7decf6590c18cea18d39.pdf Alt URL] The show, which eventually premiered in 2005, lasted only one season. Nye acknowledged that omitting his bow tie on the program was a mistake. "I tried wearing a straight tie. It was nothing", Nye said. "We were trying something new. It wasn't me."

On August 31, 2016, Netflix announced that Nye would appear in a new series, Bill Nye Saves the World, which premiered on April 21, 2017.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/08/bill-nye-netflix-talk-show/ |title=Bill Nye Is Getting His Own Talk Show on Netflix|last=McFarland|first=K.M.|date=August 31, 2016 |magazine=Wired |access-date=September 1, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://tvline.com/2017/02/08/bill-nye-saves-the-world-series-premiere-date-netflix-trailer/ |title=Bill Nye Saves the World Gets Netflix Premiere Date, Star-Studded Trailer |last1=Schwartz |first1=Ryan |date=February 8, 2017 |work=TVLine |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714130056/https://tvline.com/2017/02/08/bill-nye-saves-the-world-series-premiere-date-netflix-trailer/ |url-status=dead }} Its third and final season was released on May 11, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Baxter |first1=Joseph |title=Bill Nye Saves the World Season 3 Trailer and Release Date |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bill-nye-saves-the-world-season-3-trailer-and-release-date/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=June 17, 2022 |date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032740/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bill-nye-saves-the-world-season-3-trailer-and-release-date/ |url-status=dead }} His next series, The End is Nye, was ordered by Peacock in March 2021.{{cite web |last1=Ridgely |first1=Charlie |title=Peacock Orders New Bill Nye TV Series |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/bill-nye-tv-series-peacock-order-end-is-nye/ |website=ComicBook |access-date=June 17, 2022|date=March 2, 2021}} Teaming up with Seth MacFarlane and Brannon Braga, the series has Nye exploring natural and unnatural disasters, explaining them scientifically to detail surviving, mitigating, and preventing them. It premiered on August 25, 2022, with six episodes.{{cite web |last1=DeVore |first1=Britta |title='The End is NYE': Bill Nye's New Disaster Series Gets Release Date |url=https://collider.com/the-end-is-nye-series-release-date-bill-nye-seth-macfarlane-producing/ |website=Collider |access-date=June 17, 2022 |date=June 17, 2022}}

File:VanHollen BillNye6 (34975941692).jpg in 2017]]

From 2000 to 2002, Nye was the technical expert on BattleBots.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/11/happy-birthday-bill-nye/ |title=Happy Birthday, Bill Nye! |magazine=Wired |date=November 27, 2011 |access-date=March 15, 2018 }} In 2004 and 2005, he hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries, an award-winning series produced by THINKFilm for the Science Channel, broadcast in high definition on the Discovery HD Theater network.{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/greatest-discoveries/ |title=Greatest Discoveries |work=The Science Channel |access-date=March 15, 2018 }} In 2007, he also hosted an eight-part Discovery Channel series, Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye.{{cite book|title=Greatest inventions with Bill Nye. Energy|publisher=WorldCat|oclc = 189120665}}

A lecture Nye gave on getting children excited about math inspired the creation of the crime drama Numb3rs, where Nye appeared in several episodes as an engineering professor.{{cite magazine| url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1137661,00.html|title=The Numb3rs Guy| magazine=Time| date=December 4, 2005| access-date=September 2, 2014}} On October 28, 2007, he also made guest appearances on the VH1 reality show America's Most Smartest Model.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/americas-most-smartest-model/episode-4-season-1/night-of-the-hairy-grizilla-monster/290684/|title=America's Most Smartest Model: Season 1, Episode 4: Night of the Hairy Grizilla Monster|website=TV Guide|access-date=March 15, 2020}}

Nye appeared on segments of Heidi Cullen's The Climate Code, later renamed Forecast Earth on The Weather Channel, relating his personal ways of saving energy.{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080107006318/en/Weather-Channel-Deepen-Commitment-Forecast-Earth-Related |title=The Weather Channel Will Deepen Commitment to Forecast Earth and Related Content on All Platforms |work=Business Wire |date=January 7, 2008 |access-date=March 17, 2018 }} In the fall of 2008, he appeared periodically on the daytime game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire as part of its "Ask the Expert" feature.{{cite news |last=Bubbeo |first=Daniel |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/bill-nye-s-new-lab-centric-talk-show-has-nice-chemistry-1.13432843 |title=Bill Nye's new lab-centric talk show has nice chemistry |work=Newsday |date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2018 }}

In 2008, Nye hosted Stuff Happens, a short-lived show on the Planet Green network.{{cite encyclopedia |last=Priest |first=Susanna Hornig |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Communication |title=Nye, Bill (1955–) |date=2010 |publisher=SAGE Publications |page=534 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F62I2b4G73UC&pg=PA534|isbn=978-1-4129-5920-9|access-date=April 23, 2017}} In November 2008, he portrayed himself in the fifth-season episode "Brain Storm" of Stargate Atlantis, alongside fellow television personality and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.{{cite web |url=http://io9.com/5037669/first-pics-of-jewel-staites-hot-date-on-atlantis |title=First Pics Of Jewel Staite's Hot Date On Atlantis|last=Woerner|first=Meredith |work=io9 |date=August 15, 2008 |publisher=io9|access-date=June 30, 2009}}

In October 2009, Nye recorded a short YouTube video (as himself, not his TV persona) advocating clean-energy climate-change legislation, on behalf of Al Gore's Repower America campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAIpWttwPT0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624110259/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAIpWttwPT0| archive-date=2012-06-24|title=Repower America – Bill Nye, The Science Guy |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 24, 2011}} He joined the American Optometric Association in a multimedia advertising campaign to persuade parents to provide their children with comprehensive eye examinations.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRu4TsYuVdM | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/qRu4TsYuVdM| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Make Eye Exams Part of the Back to School Routine | date=August 4, 2009|publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 24, 2011}}{{cbignore}}

Nye was a contestant in season 17 of Dancing with the Stars in 2013, partnered with new professional dancer Tyne Stecklein. They were eliminated early in the season after Nye sustained an injury to his quadriceps tendon on Week 3.{{cite magazine |last=Shira |first=Dahvi |date=September 23, 2016 |title=Dancing with the Stars Sends Bill Nye Home |url=http://people.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-sends-bill-nye-home/ |magazine=People |access-date=May 13, 2017}}

In 2013, Nye guest-starred in The Big Bang Theory episode "The Proton Displacement".{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/bob-newhart-bill-nye-guest-star-big-bang-theory-8C11322627 |title=Bob Newhart and Bill Nye to guest star on 'Big Bang Theory' |work=TODAY |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2018 }} In the episode, Sheldon Cooper befriends Nye and brings him in to teach Leonard Hofstadter a "lesson" after Professor Proton (played by Bob Newhart) helps Leonard with an experiment instead of Sheldon. Professor Proton accuses Bill Nye of making his TV series similar to Proton's show. After Nye and Sheldon leave, Leonard receives a selfie of the two having smoothies, and later gets a text from Sheldon asking for a ride home, as Nye has ditched him at the smoothie store. In a later discussion with Professor Proton, Sheldon reveals that Nye had a restraining order against him, so he could not help him contact Nye.{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/bob-newhart-bill-nye-guest-star-big-bang-theory-8C11322627|title=Bob Newhart and Bill Nye to guest star on 'Big Bang Theory'|first=Anna|last=Chan|work=Today|date=October 2, 2013|access-date=March 15, 2020}}

On February 28, 2014, Nye was a celebrity guest and interviewer at the White House Student Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/students-are-stars-white-house-film-festival-n40846|title=Students Are Stars at White House Film Festival |work=NBC News| date=February 28, 2014|access-date=March 15, 2020}}

Nye appeared in the 2016 documentary Food Evolution, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy and narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/food-evolution-951847/|title='Food Evolution': Film Review|last=DeFore|first=John|date=December 1, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 17, 2022}}

File:Bill-nye-march-for-science.jpg in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2017]]

In 2017, he was the subject of a biographical documentary film, Bill Nye: Science Guy, directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg. Nye was honorary co-chair of the inaugural March for Science on April 22, 2017.{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Sarah|date=March 30, 2017|title=Bill Nye Will Join the March for Science|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/03/30/bill-nye-will-join-the-march-for-science/|access-date=March 15, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In 2018, Nye guest-starred in an episode of Blindspot, "Let It Go", playing a fictionalized version of himself who is the father of the character Patterson.{{Cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/tv/2018/05/04/blindspot-patterson-name-2/|title='Blindspot': Patterson's name revealed — sort of!|last=Abrams|first=Natalie|date=May 4, 2018|magazine=EW.com|access-date=May 5, 2018|language=en}} Nye's fictional self also alludes to his rivalry with Rodney McKay, which was established in the aforementioned "Brain Storm" episode of Stargate Atlantis.{{Cite episode|title=Let It Go|series=Blindspot|series-link=Blindspot (TV series)|last=Love|first=Rachel Caris|network=NBC|date=May 4, 2018|season=3|number=20|minutes=20|quote=OK, your mother is going to publish a paper with none other than Dr. Rodney McKay! He's my academic rival!}} Also in 2018, Nye made a second guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory as himself, together with fellow scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson, in the first episode ("The Conjugal Configuration") of the show's final season.{{cite web|url=https://popculture.com/tv-shows/2018/09/24/big-bang-theory-bill-nye-neil-degrasse-tyson-welcomes-season-premiere/|publisher=Popculture|date=September 24, 2018|access-date=October 16, 2018|last=Hein|first=Michael|title='Big Bang Theory' Welcomes Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson in Season Premiere}}

In September 2019, Nye was a guest on Episode 127 of Jonathan Van Ness's podcast Getting Curious, where they discussed climate change, the failures of cold fusion, the potential of better battery technology for storage of energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels, the benefits of and forthcoming improvements to electric vehicles, and the detriment and failures of fossil fuel and nuclear energy, measures toward water cleanliness, the role of girls' and women's education in improving the environment, and the threat the Trump administration posed to the environment and to scientific thought in general.{{Cite web|url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/how-can-we-twerk-on-climate-change-with-bill-nye-the-science-guy/|title=How Can We Twerk on Climate Change? with Bill Nye The Science Guy, episode #127 of Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness on Earwolf|website=www.earwolf.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/jonathan-van-ness-hiv-status-motivated-him-to-fight-for-himself-others-18794350|title=Jonathan Van Ness' HIV+ Status Motivated Him To Fight For Himself & Others|website=Bustle|date=September 23, 2019 }}{{cite tweet |number=1174326071782588416 |user=CuriouswithJVN |title=Nerd out hard with today's episode of #GettingCurious where @jvn is joined by @BillNye to discuss what's happening now with climate change and what can be done to turn things around! Take a listen - https://stitcher.com/podcast/earwolf/getting-curious-with-jonathan-van-ness @Stitcher @earwolf |date=September 18, 2019}} That same year, Nye's vocals were featured on the closing track "Noble Gas" from electronic music producer Steve Aoki's album Neon Future III.{{CN|date=December 2023}}

Nye also voiced himself in the animated feature Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!{{cite web |last=Weiss|first=Josh |date=July 3, 2020 |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/happy-halloween-scooby-doo-exclusive-trailer|title=Exclusive Happy Halloween, Scooby Doo! Trailer Unmasks Bill Nye, Elvira, and Batman Baddies|publisher=SyFy Wire|access-date=July 4, 2020}} He portrayed Upton Sinclair in the 2020 biopic Mank.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=2020-12-16 |title=So, Why Does Bill Nye Play Upton Sinclair in Mank? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/why-does-bill-nye-play-upton-sinclair-in-mank.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Vulture |language=en}}

Nye later competed on The Masked Singer spinoff The Masked Dancer as "Ice Cube".{{Cite magazine |last=Huff |first=Lauren |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Bill Nye talks being the Ice Cube on The Masked Dancer |url=https://ew.com/tv/the-masked-dancer-ice-cube-bill-nye-interview/ |access-date=2023-12-29 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

File:Bill Nye.jpg

In the early 2000s, Nye assisted in the development of a small sundial included in the Mars Exploration Rover missions. Known as MarsDial, in addition to tracking time, it had small colored panels to provide a basis for color calibration.Friend, T. (January 5, 2004). The sun on Mars. In The talk of the town. The New Yorker, LXXIX, 27. From 2005 to 2010, Nye was the vice president of The Planetary Society, an organization that advocates space science research and the exploration of other planets, particularly Mars.{{cite news|last=Rahner|first=Mark|date=April 26, 2005|title=Eye to eye with Bill Nye the Science Guy|work=The Seattle Times|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2002252736_nye26.html|access-date=June 30, 2009}} He became the organization's second Executive Director in September 2010 when Louis Friedman stepped down.{{cite press release |title=Bill Nye Signs on as Planetary Society's New Executive Director |url=http://www.planetary.org/about/press/releases/2010/0607_Bill_Nye_Signs_on_as_Planetary.html |publisher=The Planetary Society |date=June 7, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128180904/http://planetary.org/about/press/releases/2010/0607_Bill_Nye_Signs_on_as_Planetary.html |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://planetary.org/about/bill_nye.html |title=Bill Nye Biography |publisher=The Planetary Society |access-date=December 6, 2010}}

File:Bill Nye Climate Lab at Chabot Space Center.jpg

In November 2010, Nye became the face of a major science exhibition at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California.{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/11/11/whats-up-at-chabot-bill-nyes-climate-lab-opens-at-chabot/ |title=What's Up at Chabot: Bill Nye's Climate Lab opens at Chabot |work=The Mercury News |date=November 11, 2010 |access-date=March 15, 2018 }} Bill Nye's Climate Lab featured him as commander of the Clean Energy Space Station and invited visitors on an urgent mission to thwart climate change.{{cite web|title=Bill Nye's Climate Lab at Chabot Space & Science Center|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7eAWfvPFbo#at=27|work=Video|publisher=YouTube|access-date=April 21, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229005022/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7eAWfvPFbo#at=27|archive-date=December 29, 2013}}

File:US Navy 110505-N-PO203-205 Bill Nye stands with the Chief of Naval Research Rear. Adm. Nevin Carr following the presentation of a powered by Naval.jpg Rear Admiral Nevin Carr following the presentation of a "Powered by Naval Research" pocket protector during the Navy Office of General Counsel Spring 2011 Conference]]

From 2001 to 2006, Nye served as Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 University Professor at Cornell University.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/March06/BillNye.bpf.html |title=Walk among the planets with a star: Bill Nye, the Science Guy, guides a tour of Ithaca's Sagan Planet Walk on March 7 |date=March 1, 2006 |work=Chronicle Online |publisher=Cornell University |access-date=June 30, 2009 |format=PDF}}

On August 27, 2011, Nye gave a public lecture at Cornell University that filled its 715-seat Statler Auditorium.{{cite AV media |people=Bill Nye |date=2011 |title=Bill Nye: The story behind the Solar Noon Clock

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6G7fD6gAQ | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/Vq6G7fD6gAQ| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=March 16, 2018 |publisher=Cornell University |quote=YouTube title:Bill Nye: The story behind the Solar Noon Clock}}{{cbignore}} He spoke of his father's passion for sundials and timekeeping, his time at Cornell, his work on the sundials on the Mars rovers, and the story behind the Bill Nye Solar Noon Clock,{{cite web|last=Wilensky|first=Joe|date=August 29, 2011|title=Cornell Chronicle: Bill Nye '77 dedicates Solar Noon Clock|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug11/NyeSolarClock.html|access-date=July 11, 2012|publisher=News.cornell.edu}} which he then presented to the university atop Rhodes Hall.

Nye conducted a Q&A session after the 2012 Mars Rover landing.{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-mars-rover-qa-with-bill-nye-the-science-guy-20120805,0,5546467.story |title=Mars rover Q&A with Bill Nye the Science Guy |work=Los Angeles Times |first1=Jon |last1=Bardin |first2=Nika |last2=Soon-Shiong |date=August 5, 2012}}

Nye is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, a U.S. nonprofit scientific and educational organization that promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims.[http://www.csicop.org/about/csi_fellows_and_staff/ "CSI Fellows and Staff"]. The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved January 4, 2010. Interviewed by John Rael for the Independent Investigation Group (IIG), Nye said that his "concern right now ... [is] scientific illiteracy ... you [the public] don't have enough rudimentary knowledge of the universe to evaluate claims."{{YouTube|Qzxqfd4-DIs|Bill Nye interview (part 2 of 2)}} (Be Skeptical episode 3) IIG West. Retrieved July 26, 2011. In November 2012, he launched a Kickstarter campaign for an educational aerodynamics game called AERO 3D, but it was not funded.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/181123828/aero-3d-bird-flight-game-with-bill-nye-and-gamedes |title=AERO 3D Bird Flight Game with Bill Nye and GameDesk |publisher=Kickstarter.com |date=November 28, 2012 |access-date=October 1, 2013}}

In September 2012, Nye claimed that creationist views threatened science education and innovation in the United States.{{cite news |last=Luvan |first=Dylan |title=Bill Nye Warns: Creation Views Threaten U.S. Science |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120924/DA1G1IKG2.html |date=September 24, 2012 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 24, 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Fowler |first1=Jonathan |last2=Rodd |first2=Elizabeth |title=Bill Nye: Creationism Is Not Appropriate for Children |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHbYJfwFgOU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/gHbYJfwFgOU| archive-date=2021-10-30|date=August 23, 2012 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=September 24, 2012}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|author=Lily Kuo |agency=Reuters |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/28/bill-nye-the-science-guy-says-creationism-not-good-for-kids |title=Bill Nye the Science Guy says creationism not good for kids|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012}} In February 2014, he debated creationist Ken Ham at the Creation Museum on whether creation is a viable model of origins in today's modern, scientific era.{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Boyle |title=Bill Nye Wins Over the Science Crowd at Evolution Debate |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/bill-nye-wins-over-science-crowd-evolution-debate-n22836 |work=NBC News |date=February 5, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2014}}{{cite web |last=Kopplin |first=Zack |title=Why Bill Nye the Science Guy is trying to reason with America's creationists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/04/bill-nye-science-guy-evolution-debate-creationists |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=February 4, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Nye|first1=Bill |last2=Ham |first2=Ken |title=Bill Nye Debates Ken Ham (video - 165:32)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/z6kgvhG3AkI| archive-date=2021-10-30|date=February 4, 2014 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=February 5, 2014}}{{cbignore}} In July 2016, Ham gave Nye a tour of the Ark Encounter the day after it first opened to the public.{{cite web |last=Ham |first=Ken |title=Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter|url=https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ |work=Answers in Genesis |date=July 8, 2016 |access-date=July 16, 2016}}{{cite news | last1=Contrera | first1=Jessica | title=Bill Nye Visited a Noah's Ark He Doesn't Believe Should Exist | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/07/10/bill-nye-visited-a-noahs-ark-he-doesnt-believe-should-exist/ | date=July 10, 2016 | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date=July 11, 2016}} He and Ham had an informal debate while touring the structure,{{cite web |last1=Nye|first1=Bill |last2=Ham |first2=Ken |name-list-style=amp|title=Nye/Ham: The Second Debate Premiere (video - 117:04) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPLRhVdNp5M | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/PPLRhVdNp5M| archive-date=2021-10-30|date=March 13, 2017 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} and footage from Nye's visit was subsequently included in the documentary film Bill Nye: Science Guy, released in 2017.{{cite news |last=Addiego |first=Walter |title=The evolution of the science guy |newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 17, 2017}}

Since 2013, Nye has been a member of the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education.{{cite web |url=https://ncse.com/about/advisory-council |title=Advisory Council |website=ncse.com |date=July 15, 2008 |publisher=National Center for Science Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810112828/https://ncse.com/about/advisory-council |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2018}}

On Earth Day 2015, Nye met with U.S. President Obama to visit Everglades National Park in Florida and discuss climate change and science education.{{cite news |title=Bill Nye: Climate change is "not something you should be debating or denying" |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 24, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/24/how-bill-nye-the-science-guy-became-obamas-climate-guy/ |access-date=May 5, 2015 |first=Chris |last=Mooney |author-link=Chris Mooney (journalist)}}{{cite web | title=Follow Along: Earth Day 2015 |date=April 22, 2015 |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2015/04/22/follow-along-earth-day-2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |first=Lindsay | via=National Archives | work=whitehouse.gov |last=Holst}}{{cite web |title=Bill Nye on Twitter |website=Twitter |date=April 21, 2015 |url=https://twitter.com/BillNye/status/590661734102409217 |access-date=May 5, 2015}}

In March 2015, Nye announced he changed his mind and now supported GMOs.{{cite news |last=Kollipara |first=Puneet |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/03/proof-hes-the-science-guy-bill-nye-is-changing-his-mind-about-gmos/ |title=Proof he's the Science Guy: Bill Nye is changing his mind about GMOs |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 15, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2018 }} In a new edition of Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, Nye rewrote a chapter on GMOs reflecting his new position.{{cite news | title=Proof he's the Science Guy: Bill Nye is changing his mind about GMOs |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 3, 2015 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/03/proof-hes-the-science-guy-bill-nye-is-changing-his-mind-about-gmos/| access-date= February 3, 2016}} In a radio interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson, he said, "There's no difference between allergies among GMO eaters and non-GMO eaters ... I've changed my mind about genetically modified organisms."{{cite web |title=Why Did Bill Nye Change His Mind about GMOs? |website=YouTube |date=November 25, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tn6ohImsZ0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/6tn6ohImsZ0| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=February 3, 2016}}{{cbignore}}

In July 2017, Nye observed that the majority of climate change deniers are older people, and said: "So we're just going to have to wait for those people to 'age out', as they say."{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-ol-patt-morrison-bill-nye-science-20170719-htmlstory.html|title=Bill Nye on the terrifying ascendancy of American 'dingbatitude'|first=Patt|last=Morrison|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 19, 2017 }} He has continued to advocate against climate denial. On Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on May 12, 2019, he discussed climate change and the proposed Green New Deal, and said:{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-nye-angrily-tells-everyone-to-fight-climate-change-2019-5|title=Bill Nye is angrily telling everyone to get their act together and fight climate change: 'The planet's on f---ing fire'|last=Woodward|first=Aylin|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-05-14}}

{{Blockquote|text=Here, I've got an experiment for you—safety glasses on. By the end of this century, if emissions keep rising, the average temperature on Earth could go up another 4 to 8 degrees. What I'm saying is the planet's on fucking fire. There are a lot of things we could do to put it out. Are any of them free? No, of course not—nothing's free, you idiots. Grow the fuck up. You're not children anymore. I didn't mind explaining photosynthesis to you when you were 12, but you're adults now and this is an actual crisis. Got it? Safety glasses off, motherfuckers. |sign=Bill Nye|source=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, May 12, 2019, Business Insider}}

File:Bill Nye, Barack Obama and Neil deGrasse Tyson selfie 2014.jpg with Barack Obama and Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2014]]

Nye has residences in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, in New York City,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/realestate/where-the-science-guy-loosens-his-tie.html |title=Where the Science Guy Loosens His Tie |newspaper=The New York Times |date= April 3, 2015 |access-date= April 4, 2015}} and on Mercer Island near Seattle.{{cite book|last=Nye|first=Bill|title=Bill Nye The Science Guy's Big Blast Of Science|year=1993|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=978-0201608649|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/billnyesciencegu00nyeb}} His California house is solar-powered, and often feeds extra power back into the public power grid, something he enjoys showing visitors.{{cite news |last=Jefferson |first=Whitney |url=http://gawker.com/5736840/take-a-tour-through-bill-nyes-house |title=Take a Tour of Bill Nye's House |work=Gawker |date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=March 10, 2018 }}

Nye and his neighbor, environmental activist/actor Ed Begley Jr., have engaged in a friendly competition "to see who could have the lowest carbon footprint", according to Begley.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3413135&page=1|title=Eco-Friendly Competition: Who Can Go Greener?|last=Kerley|first=David|date=July 25, 2007|work=ABC News|access-date=June 30, 2009}} Nye often appeared on Begley's HGTV/Planet Green reality show Living with Ed.{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-domains-t.html | title = Greener Pastures |work=The New York Times Magazine | date = April 20, 2008 | access-date = April 28, 2008 | last = Lewine | first = Edward| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219072058/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-domains-t.html| archive-date=February 19, 2012| url-status= live}}

In July 2012, Nye supported President Barack Obama's reelection bid.{{cite web |url=http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120719/GJNEWS_01/707199689/ |title=Bill Nye's guy: Popular TV show scientist throws support behind President Obama |publisher=Fosters.com |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222175559/http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120719/GJNEWS_01/707199689/ |url-status=dead }} He frequently consulted with Obama on science matters during Obama's presidency, and famously took a selfie with him and Neil deGrasse Tyson at the White House.{{cite news |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/bill-nye/selfie-with-the-president.html |title=That time I took a selfie with Neil Tyson and the President of the United States |work=The Planetary Society |date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=March 11, 2018 }} Nye attended the 2018 State of the Union Address after being invited by Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine. Nye's attendance drew scrutiny due to Bridestine's "history of expressing climate change skepticism", but Nye defended him: "While the Congressman and I disagree on a great many issues, we share a deep respect for NASA and its achievements and a strong interest in the future of space exploration. My attendance tomorrow should not be interpreted as an endorsement of this administration, or of Congressman Bridenstine's nomination, or seen as an acceptance of the recent attacks on science and the scientific community."{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/30/politics/bill-nye-jim-bridenstine-state-of-the-union/index.html |title=Bill Nye defends plan to see State of the Union with Trump's NASA nominee |work=CNN |date=January 30, 2018 |access-date=March 10, 2018 }} Nye endorsed Jay Inslee during the 2020 Democratic primaries, until Inslee suspended his campaign on August 21, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/01/politics/inslee-2020-presidential-campaign/index.html|title=Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announces 2020 presidential bid|first=Dan |last=Merica|website=CNN|date=March 2019 }} On October 28, 2020, Nye took to Twitter endorsing Joe Biden for president, urging his followers to vote on behalf of climate change and science.{{Cite web|date=28 October 2020|title=Tweet by @BillNye on 28 October 2020|url=https://twitter.com/billnye/status/1321513901297553409|website=Twitter}}

Nye married musician Blair Tindall on February 3, 2006; however, he annulled the relationship seven weeks later when the marriage license was declared invalid.{{cite news|title=Bill Nye's Withered Romance|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-nyes-withered-romance/|access-date=December 12, 2020|newspaper=CBS News|date=December 4, 2007}} In 2007, Nye obtained a restraining order against Tindall after she broke into his house and stole several items, including his laptop computer, which she used to send defamatory emails impersonating Nye, and damaged Nye's garden with herbicide. Tindall acknowledged killing the plants but denied being a threat to Nye.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2007/11/19/the-science-guy-wants-to-send-wife-to-the-moon/|title="The Science Guy" Wants to Send "Wife" to the Moon|work=TMZ.com|access-date=March 26, 2015|date=November 19, 2007}} Nye subsequently sued Tindall for $57,000 in attorney's fees after she allegedly violated the protective order.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/27/bill-nye-girlfriend-stalker-blair-tindall/|title=Bill Nye the Science Guy -- Locked in $57,000 Battle with Stalker Ex-Girlfriend|work=TMZ.com|date=February 27, 2012|access-date=March 26, 2015}}

In the 2017 PBS documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy, Nye revealed his family's plight of ataxia. Due to his father's, sister's and brother's lifelong struggles with balance and coordination, Nye decided to not have children to avoid the chance of passing on the condition, even though he "dodged the genetic bullet" himself.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/03/bill-nye-documentary-science-guy-just-wants-to-influence-and-maybe-save-the-world/|title=Documentary reveals how a troubled Bill Nye tries to save the world|date=March 16, 2017 }}

In July 2018, Nye played for the National League squad at the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game. After striking out in his first at-bat, he singled in the bottom of the third inning to a rousing ovation from the Nationals Park crowd.

Nye is a member of two trade unions.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/d3mexj/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-bill-nye-sxsw-climate-change-video-surprise-question-vgtrn|title=Bill Nye Surprised AOC at SXSW to Talk About Climate Change|date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=Vice News}}

In 2022, Nye married journalist Liza Mundy.{{cite web |url=https://people.com/tv/bill-nye-liza-mundy-wedding-exclusive/ |title=Bill Nye Is Married! The Science Guy Star Weds Journalist Liza Mundy |last=Beard |first=Lanford |work=People |date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022}}

Nye has written over a dozen books in his career, 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)
• {{Cite book|author=Nye, B.|year=2014|title=Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation|title-link=Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation|location=New York|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1250007131}}
• {{Cite book|author=Nye, B.|year=2015|title=Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World|title-link=Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World|location=New York|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1250007148}}
• {{Cite book|author=Nye, B.|year=2017|title=Everything All at Once: How to Unleash Your Inner Nerd, Tap into Radical Curiosity and Solve Any Problem|location=Emmaus, Pennsylvania|publisher=Rodale Books|isbn=978-1623367916}}{{cite news|last=Deiviscio|first=Jeffrey|date=November 3, 2014|title=A Fight for the Young Creationist Mind—in 'Undeniable', Bill Nye Speaks Evolution Directly to Creationists|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/science/in-undeniable-bill-nye-speaks-evolution-directly-to-creationists.html|access-date=November 4, 2014}}
• 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)

Also:

• Time magazine has interviewed him for "12 Questions with Bill Nye".{{cite magazine|last1=Wortland|first1=Justin|date=November 12, 2015|title=12 Questions With Bill Nye|url=https://time.com/4109865/12-questions-with-bill-nye/|magazine=Time|page=56|quote=The Science Guy follows Undeniable, his defense of evolution, with his new book, Unstoppable, a call to action on climate change}}
• Nye was the guest editor of Skeptical Inquirer for the 250th issue, January/February 2025 and wrote an introduction for the special section on climate change.{{cite web |title=Bill Nye Teams Up with SIUE's Stephen Hupp, PhD, to Address Climate Change |url=https://www.siue.edu/news/2025/01/BillNyeTeamsUpwithSIUEsStephenHupp,PhD,toAddressClimateChange.shtml?fbclid=IwY2xjawHlSWpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRG82Ri7OJoKxvPh9aXP8v6o8eu-BEluhPBCRLufcN-rvv5p4hH5i4U9ww_aem_PJH1y68B6me9NIXMEVxsXA |website=Southern Illinois University |access-date=4 January 2025}}

Nye holds three United States patents:{{cite web|title=William S. Nye|url=https://patents.google.com/?oq=%22William+S.+Nye%22|access-date=October 21, 2012|publisher=Google Patent search}} one for ballet pointe shoes,{{cite patent|country=US|number=6895694|title=Toe Shoe|status=patent|gdate=May 24, 2005|inventor-last=Nye|inventor-first=W.S.}} one for an educational magnifying glass created by filling a clear plastic bag with water,{{cite web|last=Kloeppel|first=James|date=February 7, 2002|title=Bill Nye the Science Guy among attractions at Engineering Open House March 8, 9|url=https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/208114|access-date=March 14, 2018|work=News Bureau|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign}}{{cite patent|country=US|number=5515203|title=Educational lens|status=patent|gdate=May 7, 1996|inventor-last=Nye|inventor-first=W.S.}} and one for a device for training an athlete to throw a ball.{{cite patent|country=US|number=7771294|title=Throwing technique trainer|status=patent|gdate=2010|inventor1-last=Goucher|inventor2-last=Nye|inventor1-first=S.|inventor2-first=W. S.}} He also holds a design patent for a digital abacus.{{cite patent|country=US|number=D399522|title=Digital abacus|status=patent|gdate=Oct 13, 1998|inventor1-last=Nye|inventor2-last=Pease|inventor1-first=W. S.|inventor2-first=W. M.|url=https://patents.justia.com/patent/D399522}}

In May 1999, Nye was the commencement speaker at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/31/nyregion/recognizing-achievement-adding-glitz.html?src=pm&pagewanted=2 |title=Recognizing Achievement, Adding Glitz |author=Karen W. Arenson |author-link=Karen W. Arenson |work=The New York Times |date=May 31, 1999 |access-date=December 31, 2014}} He received honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University in May 2008,{{cite news |url=http://pages.jh.edu/~gazette/2008/27may08/27commence.html |title=Hats Off to New Grads |work=The JHU Gazette |date=May 27, 2008 |access-date=March 15, 2018 }} and in May 2011 from Willamette University.{{cite press release|url=http://www.willamette.edu/news/library/2011/03/commencement_2011.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312040839/http://www.willamette.edu/news/library/2011/03/commencement_2011.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |publisher=Willamette University |title=Willamette University announces commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients |date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=December 31, 2014 }} In May 2015, Rutgers University awarded him an honorary doctor of science degree and paid him a $35,000 speaker's fee for presenting the ceremony's keynote address.{{cite web |url = http://www.nj.com/education/2015/05/rutgers_graduates_class_of_2015.html |title = Bill Nye tells Rutgers grads to 'change the world' at 2015 commencement |last = Clark |first = Adam |date = May 18, 2015 |website = NJ.com |publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC |access-date=May 22, 2015 |quote = Nye received an honorary Doctor of Science degree, and the school paid him a $35,000 speaking fee.}} Nye also received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree during a commencement ceremony at Lehigh University on May 20, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www1.lehigh.edu/news/bill-nye-science-guy-deliver-commencement-address|title=Bill Nye "The Science Guy" to deliver commencement address |author=Linda Harbrecht |publisher=Lehigh University |date=April 5, 2013 |access-date=December 31, 2014}} He received the 2010 Humanist of the Year Award from the American Humanist Association.{{cite web |url=http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2010-06-humanists-hold-69th-annual-conference-in-san-jose-cal |title=Humanists hold 69th annual conference San Jose, California |work=Website AHA |publisher=American Humanist Association |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2014}} In October 2015, Nye was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Simon Fraser University.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2015/bill-nye-receives-honourary-degree-from-sfu.html |title=Bill Nye Receives Honorary Degree From SFU |publisher=Simon Fraser University |date=October 8, 2015 |access-date=March 13, 2016}} In 2011, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP) gave Nye their highest award, In Praise of Reason. On behalf of the committee, Eugenie Scott stated: "If you think Bill is popular among skeptics, you should attend a science teacher conference where he is speaking—it is standing room only ... No one has more fun than Nye when he is demonstrating principles of science."{{cite web|title=Bill Nye Wins In Praise of Reason Award|url=http://www.csicop.org/news/show/bill_nye_wins_in_praise_of_reason_award|website=Skeptical Inquirer|date=January 20, 2012 |publisher=CSICOP|access-date=August 19, 2016}} In 1997, CSICOP also presented Nye with the Candle in the Dark Award for his "lively, creative ... endeavor."{{cite journal|title=Nye, Aykroyd Receive Council's First Awards|journal=Skeptical Inquirer|date=1997|volume=21|issue=3|page=12}} In 2024, Nye was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-bill-nye-earns-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/|title=Bill Nye, longtime Seattleite, earns star on Hollywood Walk of Fame|first=Vonnai|last=Phair|work=The Seattle Times|date=June 26, 2024|accessdate=July 2, 2024}} On January 4, 2025, Nye was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.{{cite news|last=Hussein|first=Fatima|date=January 4, 2025|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-biden-honors-hillary-clinton-bill-nye-lionel-messi-and-16-others-with-medal-of-freedom|title=WATCH: Biden honors Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye, Magic Johnson and others with Medal of Freedom|publisher=PBS|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 4, 2025}}

National

80x80px Presidential Medal of Freedom, United States (January 4th, 2025){{cite web |date=4 January 2025 |title=President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/04/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-3/ |access-date=4 January 2025 |publisher=White House}}{{cite web|date=4 January 2025 |title=Bill Nye, Seattle's science guy, awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/bill-nye-seattles-science-guy-awarded-presidential-medal-of-freedom// |access-date=4 January 2025 |publisher=The Seattle Times}}

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{{Sister project links|wikt=no|b=no|q=Bill Nye|s=Author:William Sanford Nye|commons=Category:Bill Nye|n=no|v=no|species=no|d=Q2619019|voy=no|m=no|mw=no}}

{{Portal|Biography|Science}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{IMDb name|638557|Bill Nye}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.lovelinearchive.com/2003 |archive-date= 2006-10-25 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061025041224/http://www.lovelinearchive.com/2003 |title= Bill Nye, one of my favorite shows |date= March 25, 2003 |format= podcast |publisher= Love Line |work= Archive}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.pointofinquiry.org/?p=46 |title= Changing The World With Science Education |work= Interview |publisher= Point of Inquiry |date= April 21, 2006 |first1= Josh |last1= Zepps |first2= Lindsay |last2= Beyerstein |format= podcast |access-date= September 5, 2006 |archive-date= October 14, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071014071418/http://www.pointofinquiry.org/?p=46 |url-status= dead }}
• {{cite news |work=The Seattle Times |url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2002252736_nye26.html |date= April 26, 2005 |title= Eye to eye with Bill Nye the Science Guy |first= Mark |last= Rahner}}
• {{cite web |publisher=Discovery: Science Channel |url= http://science.discovery.com/convergence/100discoveries/hostbio/billnye.html |title= 100 Greatest Discoveries |format=video clips}}
• {{EmmyTVLegends name|bill-nye}}

{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming}}

{{Planetary Society}}

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