In the early '90s, Bill Nye combined his background in science and stand-up comedy to create "Bill Nye the Science Guy." The show ran from 1993 to 1999 and became a smash hit, spawning later spinoffs such as "The Eyes of Nye" (2005) and "Bill Nye Saves the World" (2017-2018).
On September 25, Nye, 69, launched another spinoff, albeit one a bit more personal to him. In "The Science Guy: Back to the Lab for FA," Nye breaks down the science behind Friedreich's ataxia (FA), a rare neuromuscular disease affecting roughly 5,000 Americans. Nye's father, siblings, and several cousins had spinocerebellar ataxia, another form of ataxia. Though the symptoms vary, both diseases are progressive over time and greatly impact coordination and speech. Nye partnered with the National Ataxia Foundation and Biogen for the series.
Outside his work to raise awareness around ataxia, Nye spends time with his wife, journalist and author Liza Mundy. He's also an outspoken critic of the White House's proposed budget cuts to NASA, which would cut NASA's Science Mission Directorate by 47% in 2026. (The White House has said the budget cuts will refocus NASA to its core mission and cut ineffective bloat.)
Here's how Nye spends his day. This as-told-to essay has been edited for length and clarity.
I start the morning by bringing my wife coffee and newspapers
The night before, we get the coffee ready. That's very important. There's something psychological about having to measure the coffee and the water in the morning — you don't want to deal with that.
First thing, I get up, turn the coffee on, and feed the kitty cats. I take a meeting with them about what flavor cat food they like: tuna or ocean fish?
Then I bring my wife coffee and newspapers. I recommend doing that to anybody. She wrote for The Washington Post for a long time. We get both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal as paper-papers and read The Washington Post and the LA Times online.
Then I generally have either granola and fruit or oatmeal and fruit. I'm a big fan of Trader Joe's Ancient Grains. Their oatmeal is pretty rocking, I've got to say. Then, we talk about what's in the paper. Then I take a shower, get dressed, and start screwing around with email. If the email's about ataxia, all the better.
I work before I work out
I work out almost every day, either late morning or early afternoon. You just want business to get taken care of so you can enjoy going to the gym.
I have a guy I lift weights with who comes by my house. In Los Angeles, you can do this: We have a carport where you can lift weights and use resistance bands.
'Bill Nye the Science Guy' isn't a character
Kids, let me just remind you all: Part of the success of the "Science Guy" show is that what you see is what you get. I didn't have to get in character. I'm not doing acting exercises and reciting limericks with tongue twisters. That's the guy. I am the guy.
The only preparation I did for "The Science Guy: Back to the Lab for FA" was stretching. I'm not joking. It's important to stretch. Walking that slowly across the screen is not natural, so you have to practice walking. You also want your voice warmed up. That's why I go on and on about having something warm to drink: tea, coffee, or just warm water.
The surprising thing to me is how short the days were. It's very common, in movies and television, to work for 12 to 14 hours. But these were just eight-hour days, nothing to it. We had an excellent crew.
It was fun to be back on the set on a recreated set with all the same shelves and cranes and this and that. I tell people I'd wear a lab coat all day if people didn't make fun of me. The lab coat's a very comfortable garment.
I'm working to save America's best brand, NASA
My other work is with the Planetary Society. Right now, we're working hard to get Congress to restore funding for NASA.
There's a plan by the administration to cut NASA funding by about 20%, but to cut NASA science by almost 50%. It would end missions that you and I, as taxpayers, have already paid for.
I've been spending a lot of energy on that lately, meeting with people, crafting policy documents. At the Planetary Society, we are going to have a day of action because NASA is so influential internationally. It's the best brand the United States has.
I make my own pizza dough
For lunch, I recommend — if you're not vegan or what have you — having a rotisserie chicken around. You can make yourself a chicken sandwich very easily.
Nowadays, I make bread all the time. We also make pizza dough from scratch. There are a couple of pizza toppings that are really good for lunch. So you make the pizza, even a couple of days before, and put the slices in the refrigerator and reheat them in a skillet with a little bit of olive oil. Then you get the crispiness of the crust.
Making bread or pizza dough is not that hard. You just have to do it beforehand and come back and roll it out. My life's pretty exciting.
I ride my bike until it's time to make dinner
I will often be riding my bike outside until dinner time. I'm not an indoor cyclist; that's just not my thing.
Preparing dinner with my wife is a great joy. I'm not a bad cook, but Liza is excellent. So we cook dinner, and we sit and talk. Then we often go off to do more email and computer things.
Re-engaging in late-night TV
I watch cable news — I flip back and forth. I hope to get back in the habit of watching a late-night monologue. I haven't been doing that much lately, but now with all the recent controversy, I am re-engaged.
I used to work on a comedy show before "Bill Nye the Science Guy." I used to try to write monologue jokes. So I have great interest in that.
I also finally got around to reading the famous book "Bowling Alone." I like to read a little before I fall asleep.