The Cincinnati Bengals have some high-powered astrophysics to thank for boosting their record to 5-0 on Sunday and being one of five remaining undefeated teams left in the National Football League this season.
According to famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Earth's rotation helped Bengals kicker Mike Nugent knock a game-winning 42-yard field goal off the left upright and through the post to give Cincinnati a 27-24 overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Tyson took to his Twitter account Sunday to explain in detail:
Today's @Bengals winning OT field goal was likely enabled by a 1/3-in deflection to the right, caused by Earth’s Rotation.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2015
In the N. Hemisphere, Earth’s Coriolis force deflects airborne north-south projectiles to the right. About 1/2-in per 50 yds. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2015
The @Bengals stadium isn’t oriented exactly North-South. And the field goal was 42-yds. Yielding a 1/3-in deflection, not 1/2
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2015
A 1/3-in deflection to the right caused by the Earth's rotation or an astrophysicist having some fun with an exciting end to a football game? There's reason to argue for each side.
Don't forget, Tyson has combined science and football before. The famed astrophysicist live-tweeted the Super Bowl this past February, using science and astrophysics to break down the game and give his followers further explanation about the New England Patriots' then-brewing Deflategate scandal.
Given his latest assertion, it's safe to say that Tyson would probably have a good portion of his 4.39 million Twitter followers eagerly hanging onto his every word if he were to make his football comments a weekly thing. Not that astrophysicists aren't busy enough...but hey, it would be pretty cool if fans could keep getting analysis like this.
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