POP SCIENCE SPECIAL ADDITION: Musics

Hey Pop Science fans, of which there are many, I am sure!

I’m just gonna be straight with you, loyal reader. I am tired of writing about Mythbusters at the moment. Really, I think the problem is that I love the show. I went browsing through episodes on Netflix looking for specific examples of problems involving the promised topics of sample size, probability testing, and effect size, and the whole time I was pissed that I couldn’t just kick back and enjoy some explosions. It occurred to me that for the general pop-culture lover, four articles in a row about statistics is a bit much. Even real-life scientists know when to take a day off of grueling research and refresh themselves. In my experience, they do this generally by decorating cakes, playing stringed instruments, and indulging in river sports, but I am working with a limited sample size. Most importantly, my heart just isn’t in complaining right now (this is rare, so I’m going with it.)

 

Instead, I’m posting a super special musical edition of Pop Science, wherein I link to a smattering of songs related to science. Yay!

 

Weird Science- Oingo Boingo

OK, this one is obvious. I’m just getting warmed up.

 

Still Alive – Portal Credits

This song perfectly represents my experience as a neuroscience graduate student. So that’s creepy. Do check out the childrens’ choir performance of this song. It’s almost as creepy.

 

Particle Man – They Might Be Giants

They have some other cute songs about science that might be good for a child. In fact, this song might also only be good for a child, but because I heard it as a child I can’t tell if it’s bad. Anywho, it’s real fun. Can I have some of your juice box? I’ll be your best friend.

 

Ode to the Brain – Symphany of Science

A few of these Symphany of Science videos were being sent around my sciency friends awhile ago. They’re really into Carl Sagan. I had to go with the brain one, because I’m super into the brain, but I would also recommend “The Case for Mars,” and  “We Are All Connected.”

 

The Geeks Were Right –  The Faint

In the grand tradition of music and art in general, this is very anti-technology and science, but it is a great song and an awesome video. So enjoy. Or science will make your babies into robots and your robots into monsters.

 

Big Science – Laurie Anderson

This shit’s just kinda weird. It does get more interesting as it goes on, though, so if you have a couple minutes, give it a chance. Plus it’s important to listen to at least a little Laurie Anderson, for life experience. Don’t think I just put this in because the title of this song and the song below come out kinda like “Big, Bad Science.” Because I had important editorial reasons for including it.

 

Bad Science- Cursive

Another anti-science song. Another good one.

 

Shout Me Out- TV on the Radio

This is not my favorite TVotR song, but it’s a good one, and it is one off the album “Dear Science.” If they are like most artists, though, they see their work as in opposition to science, and the subtitle of the album could probably be “FFFFFFF UUUUUU!”

Now, if you’re a real scientist, you should probably play all the videos at once just to see what happens. I did. My computer didn’t like it, but there’s always resistance to scientific progress. If I left out your favorite sciency song, let me know in the comments and I’ll add it!