The Universe is Weird: A Song
2012-07-20 · song · Hank · 3:55 · watch on YouTube
Topic: Science & nature · mode: Comedy & performance · tags: song or performance, self promotion, community lore, civic or action cta
Hank sings that the universe is weird, from inseparable quarks and timeless photons to known mass and energy being only 4% of the universe and life arising to know itself, then makes six quick announcements.
What is said
The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).
00:00:00 — Hank's song 'The Universe is Weird': quarks, photons, electrons, the 4% of ordinary matter, no edge, and life as the universe knowing itself
- ★★ In the song Hank says a quark never exists by itself: the energy needed to separate two is just enough to create two more that join them. — 00:00:00
- ★★ Hank sings that a photon has no mass and travels at light speed, so from its view it is emitted and absorbed in the same instant, even across 13 billion light years. — 00:00:00
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★★★ In the chorus Hank says the universe is weird, he is kind of freaking out, and he fears we'll never understand half of what we have at hand. (hedged) — 00:00:29
“'Cos the universe is weird! I'm kinda freaking out!”
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★★ Hank sings that an electron has a charge as strong as a proton's and a tiny but non-zero mass, yet apparently no size. — 00:00:46
- ★★ Hank sings that the mundane mass and energy we know and understand is only 4% of what the universe has. — 00:00:46
- ★★ Hank sings that driving in a van he told John 'dude, no edge': the universe has no center and no edge and doesn't exist in any way we can conceive. (playful) — 00:01:19 · John Green
- ★★★ Hank sings that once, in a gassy liquid stew, a molecule turned into us, and that the universe creating a tool with which to know itself may be the biggest mystery of all. (hedged) — 00:01:19
00:02:42 — Announcement 1: the song is on Gumroad (and iTunes later)
- ★★ Hank says the song is available via links in the description on Gumroad, which is easy to use, or on iTunes once uploaded, which it hasn't been yet. — 00:02:42
00:02:52 — Announcement 2: Looking for Alaska makes the New York Times bestseller list after 385 weeks
- ★★★ Hank tells John that, after 385 weeks on bookstore shelves, Looking for Alaska was on the New York Times bestseller list for the first time last week (week of 9 July 2012). — 00:02:52 · Looking for Alaska (novel), The New York Times, John Green
- ★ Hank calls Looking for Alaska a remarkable book that deserves it and is becoming a classic, and tells viewers who haven't read it to get it. — 00:03:01 · Looking for Alaska (novel)
00:03:10 — Announcements 3-4: collecting all 50 states' DFTBA license plates; Alex Day's Nerdfighteria Sopio expansion
- ★★ Hank wants to collect DFTBA license plates from all 50 states and asks viewers who have one, or get one, to send a picture to hankandjohn@gmail.com. — 00:03:10 · DFTBA
- ★ Hank says Alex Day made a Nerdfighteria Sopio expansion, with a giraffe love card and a Hanklerfish, available via the description. — 00:03:24 · Hanklerfish
00:03:32 — Announcements 5-6: songs in his next four videos; joining Harry and the Potters and Potter Puppet Pals in Portland, Olympia and Seattle; sign-off
- ★★ Hank says he has been on a songwriting spree and will attempt to put songs in his next four videos. (hedged) — 00:03:32
- ★★ Hank says Harry and the Potters and Potter Puppet Pals are going on a long tour and he will join them on three dates, in Portland, Olympia and Seattle. — 00:03:37
Threads in this video
- restate · Does science diminish wonder? — Hank's song treats the physics of quarks, photons, electrons and the 4% of known mass-energy as reasons for wonder: the universe is weird and he is kind of freaking out. (00:00:29)
- callback · Hank's 'Dude, no edge!': his obsession with the universe having no edge (2012) — Hank's song recalls telling John in the van 'dude, no edge': the universe has no center and no edge. (00:01:19)
- outcome · Hank's song 'The Universe is Weird': video and Gumroad/iTunes release (2012) — Hank releases the song 'The Universe is Weird' with download links on Gumroad, iTunes to follow. (00:02:42)
- asked · Hank asks viewers to send pictures of DFTBA license plates, aiming to collect all 50 states (2012) — Hank asks viewers with DFTBA license plates to send pictures to hankandjohn@gmail.com so he can collect all 50 states. (00:03:10)
- promised · Hank: put songs in his next four vlogbrothers videos (2012) — Hank says he will attempt to have songs in his next four videos. (00:03:32)
- told · Hank's quick three-day tour with Harry and the Potters and Potter Puppet Pals: Portland, Olympia, Seattle (2012) — Hank announces he will join Harry and the Potters and Potter Puppet Pals on three tour dates: Portland, Olympia and Seattle. (00:03:37)
Where the stories that moved here went next
- Hank: put songs in his next four vlogbrothers videos (2012) — open (updates through 2012, not reported done); last: progress update, 2012-07-27
- Hank's song 'The Universe is Weird': video and Gumroad/iTunes release (2012) — completed; last: looked back, 2025-01-31
- Hank's quick three-day tour with Harry and the Potters and Potter Puppet Pals: Portland, Olympia, Seattle (2012) — told 2×, last update 2012
Mentioned
Central: The Universe is Weird · universe · wonder (emotion)
Also: Works: Hanklerfish · Looking for Alaska (novel) · Nerdfighteria Sopio expansion
Organizations: Gumroad · The New York Times
Groups: Harry and the Potters · Potter Puppet Pals
Terms: DFTBA
Concepts: abiogenesis · electron · photon · proton · quark
Places: Olympia, Washington · Portland, Oregon · Seattle
Products: iTunes
Only in the description or credits: Alex Day
Also centred on The Universe is Weird: An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall
Also centred on universe: How Big is the Universe? · Thoughts From the Universe - Woah · Why Do Things Exist? · The Hottest Place and the Coldest Place in the Universe are the SAME PLACE
Also centred on wonder (emotion): Beneath an Abandoned Hospital: Thoughts from Places · Our Capacity for Wonder: A Review · Books, Movies, and Wonder: Thoughts from a Red Carpet
Later videos replying to this one
- 2012-07-24 · The Treadmill Desk! Fitness for Nerds (John) — refers back (tell on Hank's quiet exercise regimen makes him fit and 'kind of buff' (2012)) — John says Hank has quietly been on an exercise regimen for months and become kind of buff, as commenters noticed on Hank's last video. (00:00:56)