June 16, 2014

Google Logo Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm

Monday Music Video: An Epic Rap Battle Between Newton and Nye!

Today on YouTube we see a showdown between two science greats, with an additional big scicomm name included for good measure! I’ve written about Epic Rap Battles of History previously about the immensely entertaining Einstein vs.

By Joanne Manaster

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Today on YouTube we see a showdown between two science greats, with an additional big scicomm name included for good measure!

I've written about Epic Rap Battles of History previously about the immensely entertaining Einstein vs. Stephen Hawking Rap Battle

Epic Rap Battles of History is the creative brainchild of Epic Lloyd and Nice Peter on Youtube. They have produced three seasons of Epic Rap Battles featuring put downs between similar yet disparate historical and modern figures. For instance, authors Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss get in a verbal knock-down while musicians Beethoven and Bieber spend time trading barbs about whose music gets more women swooning. Jobs and Gates have rap battled as have Obama and Romney. No one is safe!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Today we see American scientist Bill Nye (played by Nice Peter), battling English physicist Sir Isaac Newton (played by Weird Al Yankovic). At the second half of the battle American astrophysicist and COSMOS star Neil deGrasse Tyson (played by Tay Zonday) adds his two cents!

As fun as it is to watch this, the folks at ERB want to take this to the next level. All of us science fans can join in a conversation about this video!

If you can, take 10-15min out of your day to join in on the conversation by tweeting at @ERBofHistory using the hashtag #NewtonVSNye today or tomorrow. Some ideas on how you can join in include:

  • Tweeting in support of one scientist or the other, expressing your opinion over who won the battle - linking to the video

  • Fact checking the lyrics/insults in the video

  • Tweeting at @ERBofHistory or @YouTube in science puns or rhymes

  • Add credibility to the debate through scientific facts

Joining in means you can take part in an internet moment that celebrates science culture, not to mention you might receive a retweet or response from @YouTube, @ERBofHistory @NicePeter, and @EpicLLOYD .

 

 

How did they snag Weird Al to be Newton? Learn more in this behind the scenes video!

 

Joanne Manaster is a university level cell and molecular biology lecturer with an insatiable passion for science outreach to all ages. Enjoy her quirky videos at www.joannelovesscience.com, on twitter @sciencegoddess and on her Facebook page at JoanneLovesScience

More by Joanne Manaster

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe