Sounds of Science

""The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka' but 'That's funny...'""

- Isaac Asimov

Science is Serious Business. That's why any self-respecting practitioner of theoretical or applied science, mathematician or philosopher will refuse to study samples, examine specimens or patients, look through a microscope, make calculations or even read - in silence. Not being able to contain their interest in the very scientific matter at hand is considered the mark of the true Absent-Minded Professor, who will mutter, murmur and mumble incessantly to prove beyond doubt that, yes, science is going on right now.

Common Sounds of Science include:


 * "For Science!!";
 * Prolonged "hmmmm"s;
 * Thinking Out Loud;
 * Techno Babble;
 * "A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside An Enigma...";
 * "Hm-hm...";
 * "Carry the One...";
 * "Aha!";
 * "Interesting..."/"Fascinating..."/"Intriguing...";
 * Series of "tsk"s;
 * "That's funny...";
 * "If My Calculations Are Correct...";
 * "Oh!";
 * "Eureka!";
 * "The Readings Are Off the Scale!";
 * "I've Never Seen Anything Like This Before...";
 * "It's alive!"
 * "My God, What Have I Done?!"
 * "NOOOOOOOO!"

Please don't list single instances of the Sounds of Science listed above, but rather significant or Egregious uses of this trope as well as cases where this is played with!

"Cal Meachem: Monitor the rate of radioactive decay. Tom Servo: Increase the Flash Gordon noise and put more science stuff around!"
 * Gloriously hammed up in the Invader Zim episode Rise of the Zitboy where Zim lays some wicked science on a pair of hapless chickens: "Hmm.. HMMMM! Hmmmmmm! Hm? Hmmm... chicken!"
 * Justified in Warhammer 40,000 where the tech-priests pray to machine spirits.
 * A textbook example from Wondermark.
 * This Island Earth had some kind of experiment with nuclear reactions. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys had a field day with it.


 * Steve Urkel had Sounds of Science Catch Phrases: "I'm a genius!" and the strange "Shhh.. not while I'm pouring."
 * Oingo Boingo's "Weird Science" is sung by a scientist and includes cries of "It's Alive!" The movie it was made for shows that the scientist is actually singing while doing science.
 * In Schlock Mercenary, The issue of "Eureka!" versus "That's funny," is discussed here and in the subsequent strip, directly mentioning Asimov's quote above.
 * Calvin and Hobbes: "Scientific progress goes 'boink'?"