Life by the Numbers | It's Okay to be Smart | PBS Digital Studios

There are now more than 7 billion human beings on Earth, and that got me wondering: How successful are we compared to other species? I take a look at out how our numbers stack up to some other domains of life. It turns out that biomass, or what things weigh, can be more important than how many of something there are. Find out how our numbers stack up against everything from bugs to bacteria, and get ready for some mind-blowing numbers!

For more on the numbers in the video, check out the blog: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/post/...

Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!

Tweet at me: @jtotheizzoe
Email me: itsokaytobesmart [at] gmail [dot] com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmart
For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com

Written and hosted by Joe Hanson
Produced by Painted On Productions (http://www.paintedon.com/)

Music:
Whalehawk: http://vimeo.com/musicstore/track/137257

Clips from this episode via:
"Aspens" by Altitude Filmworks: http://vimeo.com/50345182
"Golden Aspen Meadow" by David Huting: http://vimeo.com/9695494
Red-billed queleas by Antero Topp: http://youtu.be/3_zLeu5n4yM
Bacterial growth: http://youtu.be/gEwzDydciWc
Dengue virus infection: http://youtu.be/0PUsdv1kDTc

• Category

  Education

[MJ TheScientist]

Thank you PBS, and everyone involved with It's Okay to be Smart! I love learning; academia for LIFE!

[itsokaytobesmart]

The great thing about learning is you can do it forever.

[decembre1495]

I just saw this on tumblr, watched all the videos and - WOW. I think the best thing about this channel is that it make science available to everyone. Keep it up!

[itsokaytobesmart]

Thanks! Stay curious.

[ETMusic2]

You could also try Scishow and Vsauce.

[itsokaytobesmart]

Those are both superb channels, as well. Do check them out (but also watch all of mine)

[Kåre Skinnebach]

awesome stuff, keep it coming! I've got procrastination to do!

[itsokaytobesmart]

That's true by most definitions of life. But they are still very important members of the biological world.

[SurtrWorldburner]

thats not true studies show 93% of americans will one day die

[Kaoss134]

That is a profound quote, sir. Sounds like something a famous old guy would say.

[skillinp1388]

what i really wanted to know was what the biomass of humans was in comparison with those other famously large population vertebrates which you mentioned (bats, various birds, etc)

[2ndZone1]

Take a look at the global varming theory, and put it up agianst the theory about it is the Co2 that follows the heat and not the other way around :)

It could be nice to hear your point of view :)

[Ben Lewis]

@itsokaytobesmart I prefer the fast past attitude of PBS' Idea Channel, try a faster pace. :)

[BigNorman14]

^This

If you look at his channel, you can quickly tell that it's much younger than VSauce or SciShow but that he has managed to amass over 16k Subs and almost half a million views in just a few months. This guy's got strong potential and I say we should subscribe. The worst that could happen is you have to click on a video and hit Unsubscribe some time in the future, the best that could happen is, of course, knowledge and self-improvement.

[SteelCurious]

Do one about aliens