"Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum mechanics cannot possibly have understood it." Niels Henrik David Bohr

I love science and fun facts. I always have and so when I discovered Scientific American’s 60 second podcasts I fell in love instantly. First they are perfectly short for my attention span and they give just right blasts of info. They cover all sorts of science from nano technology to the universe and everything in between. I have learned a great deal that I can use in my daily life plus it has given a ton to think about. You can sign up so it’s in your iTunes ready to listen to on your iPod or listen to it on the site. They also have and Earth and a mind podcast as well. So if you’re in a hurry and hungry for more information give these podcasts a whirl

"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." Malcolm Forbes

Many Many times I look up a how to on the great and powerful YouTube. It’s useful for everything from cooking a roast to installing a disposal under the sink but how is it for a subject like math? The answer is very good indeed. Recently I caught a great interview with the founder of the Khan Academy. He started out recording a few math videos and posting them to Youtube to help his niece. She and others found them useful and now more and more people are contributing and learning from the Khan Academy. It is now a nonprofit that creates videos explaining subjects like biology, math, banking and money….Their admirable mission is to give access to knowledge to anyone. I am a big fan of this idea. I have watched a few of the videos and they work for me. They usually consist of a narrator writing on a digital blackboard. For people who might have a concentration or understanding issues, this is great because you can rewatch it as many times as you need. Plus you can download some for .99 cents to watch on your iPod or whatever. Also many people leave useful comments for these videos unlike other ones on YouTube. So if you are having trouble with a subject try this fantastic free service.

Below is the NPR interview. Quite interesting.

"When Ignorance lurks, so too do the frontiers of discovery and imagination" Neil deGrasse Tyson

I have always found science fascinating. From an early age I experimented with my chemistry set in our basement. Sometimes with disastrous results....Sorry mom. Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of the best speakers on astrophysics out there. However in my opinion I believe he is at his very best speaking about science in general. Nova puts out a podcast that I listen to regularly and they feature Tyson quite often. I recommend listening to this podcast all the time but as an intro I would start with this particular one. In this podcast he is taking questions from the crowd and speaks about science but also touches on subjects from the rearing of science children to energy escapism of black holes. It is both entertaining and fascinating. Instructions to sign up for the podcast can be found here.

Also since I am speaking of science I might as well mention a new album that just came out aimed at children. Although it is aimed at kids it is just as good for anyone. The band They Might Be Giants put out a new album entitled “Here Comes Science.” You can see and hear a sample above. I listened to the whole album and it is fun and you end up learning at the very least science terminology. I believe you will get a lot more than just that but it is a start. The subjects range from the elements to the fourth state of matter. It is kind of like School House Rock for a new generation. To buy it click here. Give these a try.

"To infinity and beyond!" Buzz Lightyear

We have survived another day without imploding. The LHC or Large Hadron Collider has had a successful first test without doing any harm and even better working past expectations. I found it very interesting that all the news sources were pinning the possible end of our existence to the September date. This was just the initial testing phase. Very soon on, October 22, the real fun begins. The smashing of atoms will take place and all the real science will begin in earnest. I am not going to go into what they are looking for and why this is being done because frankly every website and newspaper has gone into this with some detail. I do however recommend this Hip Hop take on the experiment. It is worth watching for both an understanding and a bit of a tour inside the collider. I always like a good blend of education and fun. So settle in with your Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and your copy of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe to get ready for the grand experiment

Below is a countdown. Things are much more impressive with a countdown.