November 10

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Science presenter and comedian Helen Arney shares her 5 science things to do today – learn science and sing along!

Posted by on 10/11/2015 in 5 Things To Do Today | Leave a comment

Helen Arney is a geek songstress, science presenter and one third of Festival of the Spoken Nerd 

If you love geeking out about the wonders of the universe, but don’t want to do all that “reading” and “studying” stuff, here’s the list for you. Learn five new things you didn’t know before by just watching – and singing along – with these nerdtastic science and maths music videos, specially selected by geek songstress and Festival Of The Spoken Nerd-ette Helen Arney

  1. WHY DOES THE SUN SHINE?

Is it because it’s a 1.4 million kilometre wide thermonuclear bomb continuously going off, held together by the force of gravity on its own enormous mass? Or is it because it’s upset that Brian Cox keeps looking at *other* parts of the galaxy instead? This song should settle it for you, with added facts and funnies:

  1. WHAT IS A QUARK WHEN IT’S AT HOME?

One of my favourite YouTubers, science presenters, songwriters and Nerdfighters Hank Green explains what makes up the most fundamental particles in our universe. Altogether now… “Up Down Strange Charm Top and Bottom”

  1. IS PI FOR SINGING, OR JUST FOR EATING

Mathemusician Vi Hart teaches you how she sings all the digits of Pi. You’ll never need to calculate anything ever again…

  1. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST NUMBER YOU CAN THINK OF?

…but if you want to attempt a more achievable task, you can sing along a Googol – that’s one with 100 zeroes after – just take my word for it and stop there. Don’t try a Googolplex!

  1. HOW MANY ELEMENTS ARE THERE IN THE PERIODIC TABLE? AND DO ANY OF THEM RHYME?

And finally, the inspiration behind so many of us who mix music and science and maths together, Tom Lehrer with his classic The Element Song:

Festival of the Spoken Nerd are the science comedy phenomenon currently touring the UK with their new fire-filled show “Just For Graphs”. They’ve performed everywhere from Shakespeare’s Globe to the Hammersmith Apollo and Las Vegas, and have just released their first DVD and download: “Full Frontal Nerdity” – available on Amazon and from festivalofthespokennerd.com