Neil DeGrasse Tyson Answers Angry Tweets on Pluto's Demotion

Many moons ago, Pluto – the outermost planet in our solar system – was demoted. For those of us who grew up with the nine-planet solar system model, this came as somewhat of an affront to everything we knew about anything, ever. I mean, what is the meaning of life if the planetary status of Pluto can so easily be revised and revoked? Why, Neil, why??

In this hilarious video, Neil DeGrasse Tyson answers to the angry rants and raves (and insults) of those really strange people who were truly and deeply wounded by Pluto’s demotion from planetary status to mere space-wandering rock. Why people give such a damn is beyond me. After all, Pluto is only a quarter the size of our moon and even then, most of its mass is ice.

Video Source: Uploaded by National Geographic on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/eBREBAnglr

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a megamind and, not coincidentally, also curator of the Hayden Planetarium, as well as the presenter of Carl Sagan’s revised TV-series, “Cosmos” He is awesome and anyone who has watched any of his videos, lectures or presentations will appreciate just how erudite and smart this man is.

But by far one of Neil’s greatest talents is the perfect balance between a sophisticated understanding of science and the ability to communicate with those who don’t. This makes him one of today’s most powerful and persuasive public figures in science and technology.

Prehistoric Life: A Time When Size Really, Really Did Count

From flying insects that would cave in your car’s bumper to a snake that, at an average 50 feet (15m) long, could easily have eaten a herd of cows for breakfast… there are some pretty large animals to have roamed the Earth in its history and this amazing science video takes us on a journey through them. It also provides us with a relative scale, so that we can appreciate just how f***ing huge they are in comparison with our own tiny selves. Just do yourself a favour and turn your computer’s volume off, because the accompanying music will make you want to bludgeon yourself to death with a brick.

Video Source: “World’s 10 Biggest Animals of All Time” Uploaded by Hybrid Librarian on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/qVftGh4K8JA

The Wildlife Video That Will Make You Go "WHOA!" At The End

In an effort to attract attention to their home-shot videos, people often post them with elaborate and totally embellish titles like: “The Totally Best And Most Amazing Video Ever!” The heading of this particular video, however, really does say it all: “Most Amazing Wildlife Video Ever”.

I literally exclaimed “WHOA!!” at the end!

Video Source: “Most Amazing Wildlife Video Ever” uploaded by BestVideosEver911 on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/XPMZ9w8FcaE

The Wildlife Video That Will Make You Go "WHOA!" At The End

In an effort to attract attention to their home-shot videos, people often post them with elaborate and totally embellish titles like: “The Totally Best And Most Amazing Video Ever!” The heading of this particular video, however, really does say it all: “Most Amazing Wildlife Video Ever”.

I literally exclaimed “WHOA!!” at the end!

Video Source: “Most Amazing Wildlife Video Ever” uploaded by BestVideosEver911 on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/XPMZ9w8FcaE

Dolphins Are The True Lords of the Rings

Sure it sounds cute, but you’ve got to see it for yourself, because the bubbles these critters are playing with aren’t your garden variety bubbles. These perfectly spherical vortices of underwater air are also known as bubble rings or toroidal bubbles. What’s even more fascinating is that whales and dolphins use them for both business and pleasure. Humpback whales strategically aim these rings of bubbles at schools of fish, which then act as a kind of net for trapping a delicious bait ball. Dolphins, not surprisingly, see the lighter side of blowing cool bubbles and proceed to play with them, as you can see in this pretty funny video.

 

Source: “Extraordinary Toroidal Vortices” uploaded by Evasius on YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHyTOcfF99o

The laws of physics that govern the generation and motion of these rings are the same that govern “smoke rings,” which may have been your teenage party trick, but are actually a serious hobby of active volcanoes and nuclear bombs. This video shows that, too… but, watch it to the end because the last segment is “ooh, aah!” inspiring.

Revolutionary Gel Stops Bleeding Immediately

In this fascinating TED Talk, medical inventor and a fellow of TED Joe Landolina, explains his amazing innovation, which is a gel that can instantly stop bleeding. And we’re not talking about knee grazes and cat scratches. We’re talking about life-threatening arterial wounds that could cause certain death unless stopped within minutes. Blood pumping out of an open wound at TWICE the normal arterial pressure can be instantly staunched with the application of this gel, which is surely an incredible breakthrough in modern medical science. What this means, particularly for soldiers in battle, is a much better chance of survival for the otherwise mortally wounded. And also, no stitches!

By the way, the bleeding wound in question was merely a sliced side of pork with a tube feeding blood into it, so don’t worry about being disturbed by any imagery.

Video Source: TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) at YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-5wqwp64MM

Bioluminescence Caught in the Act!

Just to add a little illustration to the recent TED Talks video post on bioluminescence, here are some pretty spectacular ocean creatures fluorescing under water!

Video Source: “Bioluminescence on Camera” by National Geographic on YouTube channel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HXXQBz6Vv0

Five Experiments You Weren't Taught At School

For a quick and entertaining peak at the world of chemicals and one man’s death wish to get his hands blown clean off, watch this pretty cool video of five relatively easy experiments you were never taught at school for reasons that will become blatantly obvious to you once you’ve seen them…

Video Source: Grant Thompson – “The King of Random” Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1zZE_kJ8rQHgLTVfobLi_g

Northern Lights: The Sky's On Fire!

National Geographic filmmakers Claus and Anneliese Possberg put together this outstanding time lapse video showing the aurora borealis (northern lights) dancing and crackling across the evening sky in Norway.

Source: “Spectacular Norway Northern Lights” – National Geographic. Music by Justin Durban, http://www.justindurban.com. 

Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izYiDDt6d8s

For sexy servings of moist science in your box, I mean, in your inbox – LIKE the new Why? Because Science Facebook page! Just imagine replacing those vapid status updates and infuriating inspirational quotes with awesome videos of natural disasters, animals being interesting (and occasionally inappropriate) and riveting blogs on the coolest science topics!

Today's Biology Lesson: A Talking Squirrel

There’s nothing like a flurry of cute animal videos to make you feel better about going to work. This one of a fast-talking squirrel will only take 10 seconds of your day, so when your boss exits the room for Office # 2 (to see a man about a wallaby), you’ll have ample time to watch it at least four times… because you’re going to want to.

The more you watch it, the funnier it gets. Here’s a grateful talking squirrel…

Video Source: “A Talking Squirrel” uploaded by Fun4you on YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-wa8rXc1Z4

“Hello there I am a fat little squirrel sitting on your porch thank you very much for giving me these delicious walnuts I like them very much you are a nice person i will be sure to come back tomorrow to get some more walnuts you are my favorite person in the neighborhood I like you like you love you love”