Talk show host Bill Maher mocked scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson for suggesting that women “have the advantage” over men in long-distance swimming.

The topic of transgender athletes in sports came up during Maher’s latest episode of Real Talk with Bill Maher Friday. Maher wanted deGrasse Tyson’s reaction to an opinion editorial from Scientific American that was nearly a year old. The editorial’s author, who no longer works for the research magazine, had suggested that the athletic advantage men have over women is largely cultural.

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“Engage with the idea here. What I‘m asking is Scientific American is saying basically that the reason why an WNBA team can‘t beat the Lakers is because of societal biases,” Maher said.

deGrasse Tyson pushed back.

“What you’re saying is not Scientific American says that. An editor for Scientific American says that, who no longer has the job. So, don‘t indict a 170-year-old magazine because someone enters the cesspool that is social media and participates in that exchange,” deGrasse Tyson said. “Let’s talk about science.”

“By the way, long-distance swimming. Women might actually have the advantage. You can look into that,” deGrasse Tyson added. “I’ve looked into it.”

“Well, I’m going to file you under: ‘Part of the problem,'” Maher said, which prompted applause from the audience.

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Swimming has had its own scandal of biological men in its sport. Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines garnered popularity online after launching a social media campaign surrounding the debate about transgender women in sports. Gaines became outspoken on the issue ever since she tied for fifth for the 200-meter NCAA championships in 2022 with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has since ruled against Thomas competing in further elite competitions, such as the Olympics.