Hello learned and astonishingly attractive pupils.

February 29, 2012 10:03 PM

Two brothers and two awesome courses in one awesome channel: John Green teaches you world history and Hank Green teaches you biology.

Crash Course World History:
1| The Agricultural Revolution
In which John Green investigates the dawn of human civilization. John looks into how people gave up hunting and gathering to become agriculturalists, and how that change has influenced the world we live in today. Also, there are some jokes about cheeseburgers.
2| Indus Valley Civilization
In which John Green teaches you about the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the largest of the ancient civilizations. John teaches you the who, how, when, where and why of the Indus Valley Civilization, and dispenses advice on how to be more successful in your romantic relationships.
3| Mesopotamia
In which John presents Mesopotamia, and the early civilizations that arose around the Fertile Crescent. Topics covered include the birth of territorial kingdoms, empires, Neo-Assyrian torture tactics, sacred marriages, ancient labor practices, the world's first law code, and the great failed romance of John's undergrad years.
4| Ancient Egypt
In which John covers the long, long history of ancient Egypt, including the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, and even a couple of intermediate periods. Learn about mummies, pharaohs, pyramids and the Nile with John Green.
5| The Persians & Greeks
In which John compares and contrasts Greek civilization and the Persian Empire. Of course we're glad that Greek civilization spawned modern western civilization, right? Maybe not. From Socrates and Plato to Darius and Xerxes, John explains two of the great powers of the ancient world, all WITHOUT the use of footage from 300.

Crash Course Biology:
1| That's Why Carbon Is A Tramp
Come and learn about covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds. What about electron orbitals, the octet rule, and what does it all have to do with a mad man named Gilbert Lewis? It's all contained within.
2| Water - Liquid Awesome
Hank teaches us why water is one of the most fascinating and important substances in the universe.
3| Biological Molecules - You Are What You Eat
Hank talks about the molecules that make up every living thing - carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins - and how we find them in our environment and in the food that we eat.
4| Eukaryopolis - The City of Animal Cells
Hank tells us about the city of Eukaryopolis - the animal cell that is responsible for all the cool things that happen in our bodies.
5| In Da Club - Membranes & Transport
Hank describes how cells regulate their contents and communicate with one another via mechanisms within the cell membrane.

posted by Blasdelb (19 comments total)

I am watching the first couple of history videos and wondering how they were made? Any guesses on the software and hardware? Is he working in front of a green screen or is his room really, really white?
posted by LarryC at 10:25 PM on February 29, 2012

LarryC: "I am watching the first couple of history videos and wondering how they were made? Any guesses on the software and hardware? Is he working in front of a green screen or is his room really, really white?"

They did get an actual studio for this project, so it is a very white room. The animation is done by Smart Bubble Society, not sure what kind of software is used though.
posted by Hargrimm at 10:36 PM on February 29, 2012

I'm going to pop in here and say I have some real, undying love for the vlog bros. I know that many mefites find them unsophisticated and annoying, but I have pretty much enjoyed everything they make. (are these the same parts of the brain that dislike xkcd that I somehow lack?)

I like Hank's history slightly more than John's Science, but the latter comes out more often so it balances out.
posted by poe at 10:37 PM on February 29, 2012

Isn't that John teaching History and Hank teaching science?

I like these guys, even if they are the largest over-caffeinated toddlers I have ever encountered, so this is on my watch list.
posted by maudlin at 10:40 PM on February 29, 2012

Yeah, I got it backwards. I don't think I'll ever be able to remember which brother is which because they say each other's names so much in their weekly goofy missives to each other.
posted by poe at 10:44 PM on February 29, 2012

If you want more science and knowledge with less hyper-ness (but way more british-ness) try:
sixty symbols
or
test tube
and
the periodic table of videos

If you miss the ranting but still want british-ness try:
David Mitchell's soap box
posted by poe at 10:51 PM on February 29, 2012

For their vlogs which are probably just as entertaining and filled with absolutely random facts as their science and history videos.
posted by astapasta24 at 11:03 PM on February 29, 2012

I've been wanting to learn something new for a while -- this is exactly what I was looking for.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:21 AM on March 1, 2012

"This machine kills fascists"

Fuckin A Mr Green, I am on your team.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:24 AM on March 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hank also has a more science-y channel, SciShow, in which among other stuff he discusses the mysterious leap second, obesity, cloaking devices, tardigrades!, etc, etc.
posted by revikim at 4:41 AM on March 1, 2012

one day everyone on the internet will sound like Ze Frank.
posted by silence at 5:20 AM on March 1, 2012 [4 favorites]

I love these guys. I've been looking forward to these series.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:54 AM on March 1, 2012

Speaking of Ze Frank, he's bringing back the show (ongoing, fully funded (in 7 hours?)kickstarter page)
posted by revikim at 6:11 AM on March 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

Because organic chemistry is a dish best served with a heaping dose of misogyny.
posted by euphorb at 7:36 AM on March 1, 2012

"Because organic chemistry is a dish best served with a heaping dose of misogyny."

Could you provide examples?
posted by Blasdelb at 8:19 AM on March 1, 2012

From the video called That's Why Carbon Is A Tramp at around 2 minutes in.

Carbon is this, uh, sexy little minx on the periodic table. Its, you know, disinterested in monogamy. Jezebel. A bit of a tramp. Hussy.

I didn't go any further into it so I don't know if he goes on about what a slut carbon is for the whole 10 minutes. I mean, it is mild on the scale of things but still pretty unnecessary. But maybe it's just me.
posted by euphorb at 8:37 AM on March 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yeah, that is a kinda problematic use of pretty loaded words while failing to be explicit about how not-bad it is to be sex positive. He does move on after about two and a half minutes of sporadically referencing how slutty carbon is. There are sex/relationship analogies later in the video, but they are ungendered, and I think pretty ok.

It is mild, especially for whats on youtube and unrepresentative of the rest of the series, but I agree, totally unnecessary and hostile to viewers.
posted by Blasdelb at 9:02 AM on March 1, 2012

I like the vlogbrothers but was also found the slutty carbon thing kind of off-putting.

Luckily none of the other videos so far have had anything like that in them.
posted by that girl at 12:02 PM on March 1, 2012

I got to meet them-- my store* ran their event when they came here. They were really cool: a bit tired, I think, after the whole tour thing, but I'd always heard various horror stories about disenchanting visits with celebrities of different types, and they were both totally nice and easygoing, if a bit puzzled by the entire screaming fangirl thing. (I am not kidding about this. The van pulled up and when they got out there were literal screaming fangirls. Like in the video for Hard Day's Night.)

I am amazed at Hank's ability to draw many, many hankerfish. Quickly. That's a talent, man.

*note: not really my store, the store I work at
posted by NoraReed at 3:54 PM on March 1, 2012 [1 favorite]