Comments on: They Might Be Scientists http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Smarter Than Poster 27 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-338997 Smarter Than Poster 27 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:58:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-338997 @ND Promoting a love of religion through catchy tunes is completely and utterly socialist! You realize that forcing kids to go to church and read the Bible is brainwashing them 100x as much as a 2 and a half minute song? You hear the Christian Rock bands? They brainwash kids. So next time before posting your one-sided views fueled by your love for slamming a Bible into your face until all your brain cells are replaced by verses of the contradictory "holy book", please, do it somewhere where anyone with the knowledge of both sides will never. EVER BE! @ND Promoting a love of religion through catchy tunes is completely and utterly socialist!

You realize that forcing kids to go to church and read the Bible is brainwashing them 100x as much as a 2 and a half minute song? You hear the Christian Rock bands? They brainwash kids.

So next time before posting your one-sided views fueled by your love for slamming a Bible into your face until all your brain cells are replaced by verses of the contradictory “holy book”, please, do it somewhere where anyone with the knowledge of both sides will never. EVER BE!

]]> By: Caveman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-265444 Caveman Thu, 13 May 2010 23:46:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-265444 I rememeber the song on one of the Tiny Toon cartoons. It's still a toon I carry in my head since then. I rememeber the song on one of the Tiny Toon cartoons. It’s still a toon I carry in my head since then.

]]> By: They Might be Giant Scientists | The Whiteboard Blog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-226231 They Might be Giant Scientists | The Whiteboard Blog Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:10:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-226231 [...] 11.09They Might be Giant Scientists Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.Powered by WP Greet BoxFollowing on from my post a few weeks back about Here Comes Science – the CD of Science songs from the band They Might be Giants, here’s another song from the CD. (via @BadAstronomer). [...] [...] 11.09They Might be Giant Scientists Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.Powered by WP Greet BoxFollowing on from my post a few weeks back about Here Comes Science – the CD of Science songs from the band They Might be Giants, here’s another song from the CD. (via @BadAstronomer). [...]

]]> By: Franchesca http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-215975 Franchesca Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:05:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-215975 I understand they did this intentionally.. but I really didn't see the need for comparing angels to unicorns and calling them simply stories. Evolution and belief in God/religion need not be mutually exclusive concepts. Nobody wants to be looked down upon for their beliefs and I hate to say it, but this video does have smidge of that in it. I really liked the song/video otherwise. I understand they did this intentionally.. but I really didn’t see the need for comparing angels to unicorns and calling them simply stories. Evolution and belief in God/religion need not be mutually exclusive concepts. Nobody wants to be looked down upon for their beliefs and I hate to say it, but this video does have smidge of that in it. I really liked the song/video otherwise.

]]> By: David http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212931 David Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:04:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212931 What a terrible song and what terrible singing. If any child needs a song like this to help them understand the world, we're already screwed. What a terrible song and what terrible singing. If any child needs a song like this to help them understand the world, we’re already screwed.

]]> By: Istanbul was once called Constantinople « A Man With A Ph.D. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212454 Istanbul was once called Constantinople « A Man With A Ph.D. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:51:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212454 [...] was once called Constantinople September 11, 2009 — Richard They Might Be Scientists: [Via Bad Astronomy] I must be the last guy on the planet to see this judging from the emails [...] [...] was once called Constantinople September 11, 2009 — Richard They Might Be Scientists: [Via Bad Astronomy] I must be the last guy on the planet to see this judging from the emails [...]

]]> By: Damon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212440 Damon Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:10:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212440 Great video. Cue parents pulling their kids from class, only to inspire those same kids to go out of their way to see something they wouldn't have cared much about, any way. Thanks idiot boycotters! Great video.

Cue parents pulling their kids from class, only to inspire those same kids to go out of their way to see something they wouldn’t have cared much about, any way. Thanks idiot boycotters!

]]> By: David Bruggeman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212390 David Bruggeman Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:18:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212390 They hired Eric Siegel from the New York Hall of Science: <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/08/they-might-be-giants-here-comes-science/" rel="nofollow">http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/08/they-might-be-giants-here-comes-science/</a> They hired Eric Siegel from the New York Hall of Science:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/08/they-might-be-giants-here-comes-science/

]]> By: Jim Ortner http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212321 Jim Ortner Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:12:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212321 Wow! It looks like quite a few TMBG fans here. I'm another of those 20 year fans. We have most of the CD's and my kids love them (11, 13 & 15 years old). Listen to them on all our long car trips. Jim Wow! It looks like quite a few TMBG fans here. I’m another of those 20 year fans. We have most of the CD’s and my kids love them (11, 13 & 15 years old). Listen to them on all our long car trips.

Jim

]]> By: CharlesP http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212263 CharlesP Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:27:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212263 My copy of the CD/DVD just came in the mail... I mean my KID'S copy just came in the mail... but since it came to my office I'm listening to it first... The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space) is brilliant. I'm trying to find the link where one of the Johns talked about having an "actual scientist" help them vet the songs for accuracy. The album is put out on Disney Music... which means I might have to forgive the mouse for inflicting Hannah Montana on the world. My copy of the CD/DVD just came in the mail… I mean my KID’S copy just came in the mail… but since it came to my office I’m listening to it first… The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space) is brilliant. I’m trying to find the link where one of the Johns talked about having an “actual scientist” help them vet the songs for accuracy. The album is put out on Disney Music… which means I might have to forgive the mouse for inflicting Hannah Montana on the world.

]]> By: TechyDad http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212234 TechyDad Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:35:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212234 @artbot, It looks like they not only included "Why Does The Sun Shine?" (the "incandescent gas" song) on this album, but right after it comes "Why Does The Sun Really Shine?" where they sing: The sun is a miasma Of incandescent plasma The sun's not simply made out of gas No, no, no The sun is a quagmire It's not made of fire Forget what you've been told in the past (Plasma!) Electrons are free (Plasma!) A fourth state of matter Not gas, not liquid, not solid The sun is no red dwarf I hope it never morphs Into some supernova'd collapsed orb Orb, orb, orb The sun is a miasma Of incandescent plasma I forget what I was told by myself Elf, elf, elf (Plasma!) Electrons are free (Plasma!) A fourth state of matter Not gas, not liquid, not solid (Plasma!) Forget that song (Plasma!) They got it wrong That thesis has been rendered invalid @artbot,

It looks like they not only included “Why Does The Sun Shine?” (the “incandescent gas” song) on this album, but right after it comes “Why Does The Sun Really Shine?” where they sing:

The sun is a miasma
Of incandescent plasma
The sun’s not simply made out of gas
No, no, no

The sun is a quagmire
It’s not made of fire
Forget what you’ve been told in the past

(Plasma!)
Electrons are free
(Plasma!)
A fourth state of matter
Not gas, not liquid, not solid

The sun is no red dwarf
I hope it never morphs
Into some supernova’d collapsed orb
Orb, orb, orb

The sun is a miasma
Of incandescent plasma
I forget what I was told by myself
Elf, elf, elf

(Plasma!)
Electrons are free
(Plasma!)
A fourth state of matter
Not gas, not liquid, not solid

(Plasma!)
Forget that song
(Plasma!)
They got it wrong
That thesis has been rendered invalid

]]> By: TechyDad http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212222 TechyDad Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:59:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212222 Those videos are very cool. I'm going to have to show them to my 6 year old son. Especially the Dinosaur one. He's been on a dinosaur kick for awhile. We saw the Walking With Dinosaurs live show a few months back (I highly recommend it if it comes to your town) and he went to dinosaur camp over the summer. Now The Jim Henson Company is producing his new favorite show: Dinosaur Train. The setup is that a family of pteranodons (and adopted T-Rex son) ride a time-traveling train to learn about different species and time periods. Along the way, the kids come up with theories about different things (like how the plates on stegasaurus' back cool him down) and they test them out. Sometimes they are right, sometimes not. This fits in nicely with another Jim Henson favorite of his: Sid The Science Kid. I highly recommend both programs for parents with young children. As a science-loving parent, it's always nice to see science-based shows available for kids. Those videos are very cool. I’m going to have to show them to my 6 year old son. Especially the Dinosaur one. He’s been on a dinosaur kick for awhile. We saw the Walking With Dinosaurs live show a few months back (I highly recommend it if it comes to your town) and he went to dinosaur camp over the summer.

Now The Jim Henson Company is producing his new favorite show: Dinosaur Train. The setup is that a family of pteranodons (and adopted T-Rex son) ride a time-traveling train to learn about different species and time periods. Along the way, the kids come up with theories about different things (like how the plates on stegasaurus’ back cool him down) and they test them out. Sometimes they are right, sometimes not.

This fits in nicely with another Jim Henson favorite of his: Sid The Science Kid. I highly recommend both programs for parents with young children. As a science-loving parent, it’s always nice to see science-based shows available for kids.

]]> By: Tom Lehrer Has Company – Dueling Elements Ditties « Pasco Phronesis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212213 Tom Lehrer Has Company – Dueling Elements Ditties « Pasco Phronesis Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:23:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212213 [...] BoingBoing is the host of the latest video from They Might Be Giants‘ Here Comes Science (H/T to the commenter on Bad Astronomy).  Meet the Elements, just like the other videos from this album, an animated [...] [...] BoingBoing is the host of the latest video from They Might Be Giants‘ Here Comes Science (H/T to the commenter on Bad Astronomy).  Meet the Elements, just like the other videos from this album, an animated [...]

]]> By: hhEb09'1 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212174 hhEb09'1 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:31:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212174 Check out the prism refraction at 1:48. The light goes through sideways, and the red is refracted more than the violet. OK, it's a cartoon, and they're riding unicorns. :) Check out the prism refraction at 1:48. The light goes through sideways, and the red is refracted more than the violet. OK, it’s a cartoon, and they’re riding unicorns. :)

]]> By: CB http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212158 CB Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:39:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212158 Much appreciated. How bizarre it must seem to the rest of the developed world that we feel compelled to defend science. Much appreciated. How bizarre it must seem to the rest of the developed world that we feel compelled to defend science.

]]> By: Messier Tidy-Upper http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212155 Messier Tidy-Upper Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:23:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212155 Great videoclip & song! :-) They do get their galaxies confused though - the one at 41 secs in is Messier 51, the Whirlpool galaxy and not our Milky Way as the lyrics <i> "..from evolution to the Milky Way.." </i>seem to imply! That's my only very minor nit to pick with though. Great videoclip & song! :-)

They do get their galaxies confused though – the one at 41 secs in is Messier 51, the Whirlpool galaxy and not our Milky Way as the lyrics “..from evolution to the Milky Way..” seem to imply! That’s my only very minor nit to pick with though.

]]> By: ND http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212146 ND Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:28:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212146 Promoting a love of science by brainwashing kids through catchy tunes is completely and utterly socialist! Promoting a love of science by brainwashing kids through catchy tunes is completely and utterly socialist!

]]> By: Dan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212132 Dan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:30:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212132 New video for Meet the Elements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zION8xjbM&feature=fvhl I love the song, so catchy. New video for Meet the Elements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zION8xjbM&feature=fvhl I love the song, so catchy.

]]> By: David Bruggeman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212130 David Bruggeman Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:25:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212130 They've got an answer song to "Why Does the Sun Shine?" on the new album. It's called <a href="http://tmbw.net/wiki/Why_Does_The_Sun_Really_Shine%3F_%28The_Sun_Is_A_Miasma_Of_Incandescent_Plasma%29" rel="nofollow">"Why Does the Sun Really Shine?"</a> They explained why they did this in <a href="http://studio360.org/flashpop.html?playlist=/stream/xspf/136666" rel="nofollow">a segment on Studio 360 from this summer</a>. They’ve got an answer song to “Why Does the Sun Shine?” on the new album. It’s called “Why Does the Sun Really Shine?”

They explained why they did this in a segment on Studio 360 from this summer.

]]> By: artbot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212128 artbot Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:13:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212128 Ha! I just found TMBG's self-correction of the outdated "facts" in their remake of the vintage song, "The Sun Is A Mass of Incandescent Gas" called "The Sun is a Miasma of Incandescent Plasma": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwroUEJVVmA&feature=related Ha! I just found TMBG’s self-correction of the outdated “facts” in their remake of the vintage song, “The Sun Is A Mass of Incandescent Gas” called “The Sun is a Miasma of Incandescent Plasma”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwroUEJVVmA&feature=related

]]> By: Kevin F. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212118 Kevin F. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:09:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212118 TMBG is the awsomest of awesome bands. Another 20 year fan here. TMBG is the awsomest of awesome bands. Another 20 year fan here.

]]> By: Christina Viering http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212108 Christina Viering Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:39:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212108 Cute! Cute!

]]> By: Ryan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212104 Ryan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:07:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212104 Perhaps getting TMBG to a TAM isn't out of the question? Perhaps getting TMBG to a TAM isn’t out of the question?

]]> By: artbot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212100 artbot Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:49:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212100 I've been a TMBG fan for 20 years and this is long overdue. Awesomely awesome stuff. Be sure to check out the video for "I'm a Paleontologist": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7zo2zY1Zqg I’ve been a TMBG fan for 20 years and this is long overdue. Awesomely awesome stuff. Be sure to check out the video for “I’m a Paleontologist”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7zo2zY1Zqg

]]> By: Montsecor http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/comment-page-1/#comment-212096 Montsecor Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:30:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/09/10/they-might-be-scientists/#comment-212096 AWESOME!!! I love it why didn't they exist when I was a kid??? AWESOME!!! I love it why didn’t they exist when I was a kid???

]]>