Terrible at Science and Math? The Internets (and the Green Brothers) Can Save You.

Without Bill Nye, I would know as much about science as societies that thought the earth was flat and bad weather meant the gods were super pissed. When I was 13, I didn't want to learn about centrifugal force or memorize the periodic table, but I did want to chant Bill, Bill, Bill. And if after the theme song I learned a little about static electricity, that worked for me too.

While my knowledge of classic literature is significantly broader than my scientific expertise, I still wouldn't know the major plot points of The Odyssey if a certain jack russell terrier hadn't thrown on a toga and picked up a bow. Wishbone filled in most of my English lit gaps, because whether you picture Rip Van Winkle as a dog or a dude, you still know he took a super long nap.

Bill and Wishbone might be retired, but there are still vloggers willing to get scientific, literary, and mathematical in order save us from the horror of a fifty-pound text book. Here are some of the best:

Hank Green—Sci Show: In this new channel's very first episode, Hank teaches us some very smart-sounding terms to describe that gunk they use on reality shows—you know, that stuff that's solid when you run on it and quicksand when you're not very quick? This might not be especially useful in everyday life (unless you live in a booby-trap-rigged swamp jungle), but you can definitely use it to impress your friends next time you walk in on them watching Wipe-Out.

Charlie McDonald—Fun Science: A series within a show, Charlie puts down his mic for a bit and reveals how the moon came to be chilling in the sky, and why running at the speed of light could really increase your longevity. His theme song isn't as cool as Bill Nye's, though.

Vi Hart—Mathemusician: Vi Hart is the math teacher you always wanted. She proves the Pythagorean theorem through origami, explains binary numbers through an elaborate finger dance (embarrassingly enough, her fingers can dance better than my legs), and, most importantly, finds the time to make a stop-action animation short involving a unicorn, a submarine, and fatal music, staring and supporting roles filled by silly bands. Which begs the question: have you been wasting your silly bands' potential?

John Green and Hank Green—Crash Course: This channel is so brand-new that its only content so far is a teaser clip which explains that the videos to come will involve the Green brothers, history, biology, and a fake fireplace. That's enough to get me to subscribe, but for those who need a little more convincing, you can check out the vlogbrother's previous efforts to explain historical events through pictures and hilarity. Where else are you going to learn about the rich historical significance of indoor tennis courts?

We're SO psyched that the Green bros are on here TWICE. What are your favorite vlogs?

Related post: The Best of YouTube