Watch the “Eureka” moment when American pharmacist John Pemberton innovated one of the world’s biggest and probably (in the eyes of dentists) most regrettable inventions: Coca Cola. What initially began as a new medicine with some interesting applications ended up as the addiction of tens of millions around the world and an essential accompaniment to popcorn at the movies.
This “Drunk History” moment is brought to you by ingenious comedy writer Derek Waters, a very drunk Jenny Slate (narrator) and brilliant actor Bill Hader, who plays John Pemberton.
Video Source: Comedy Central, as seen on the YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-mU4pf3ywU
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.
I could quite happily watch Epic Rap Battles of History all day. If there was a job that involved doing this, I’d cut a bitch to be the first in line to get that job. However, reality dictates that I wade my way through work of a slightly less glamorous nature in order to pay my bills. I’ll just have to be happy posting the odd science-themed rap battle on this blog… and with the Ghostbusters team up against the Mythbusters nerds, this one’s a real doozy!
This is a science blog and as such, I try not to make a habit of posting obnoxiously cute animal videos… however, when it comes to owls, all the rules go out the window. I’m an avid bird-watcher and I absolutely adore cats. So, when you have a bird that looks like a cat, I can’t help but implode into a hot squishy mess. Given that this will be EXACTLY what will be happening to your brain tonight over your New Years Eve’s celebrations, I thought it only fitting to make an exception.
Enjoy! Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Video Source: Uploaded by mihaifrancu on YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RBNpALibqo
Bonobo Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, genetically speaking. More interesting than that though: they’ve mastered the art of conflict resolution in a most curious and salacious way! Anytime things get heated… well, Bonobo chimps get heated too and then the conflict is resolved!
Please note that there are scenes of a graphic nature in this video, and if you’ve ever doubted our relationship with apes, this video may finally convince you otherwise!
Video Source: “Wild Wives of Africa – Bonobos” uploaded by NatGeoWild on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/82GUjPConiE
Bonobo Chimpanzees are incredibly sexually liberated and use this intimate act (homosexually and heterosexually) as a way to express just about every emotion. If there’s one thing to be said for this, they certainly spend more time bonking than fighting! What’s also interesting to see in this video is just how humanoid their behaviour is.
It gives credence to the adage: Make love not war!
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.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re Christian or not; if you have a sense of humour, you’ll LOVE these. Scientific Songs of Praise applies sciencey lyrics and spectacular space imagery to those boring old stuffy Christmas carols we all know, turning them into something magnificent. I’ll be sharing a few of their videos leading up to Christmas, just to get you into the yuletide spirit!
Solar Light (Silent Night) Gospel – Scientific Songs of Praise #6
Video Source:By Scientific Songs of Praise, YouTube channel https://youtu.be/3OnyiR2CKBU?list=PLqAaxjrofZ64FCCyUJVce-75uFQpXXYXP
This Epic Rap Battle is pure unadulterated GOLD. Watch Sir Isaac Newton serve Bill Nye truths of painful gravity and Bill Nye the not-so nice Science Guy retaliate with desert dry wit. As if that wasn’t good enough, halfway through the video a very special someone makes an appearance and I actually found myself making that sound teenagers make when watching a friend wipe out on a skateboard…
If you’ve ever doubted our genetic relationship with apes, now’s the time to open your mind. Simply watching this orang-utan carefully wash his or her face with a moist cloth is absolutely enchanting and convincing of the fact that we share a common ancestor.
Video Source: “Proof that Darwin was Right” Uploaded by Sour Cherries on YouTube channel www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKU5VT0uumU
Wander Woman Thea 