A Sketchy History Of Pencil Lead | NPR's SKUNK BEAR

[@besmart]

While the illustrations were sketchy, I found the history of pencil types to be very Thoreau. People have strong feelings about what makes the best pencil, though. I expect a lot of graphites in the comments.

[@skunkbear]

You sure know how to get to the point - very sharp!

[@andreasstergard4057]

Ayyyy

[@andreasstergard4057]

But all of these puns are kinda pointless

[@bewilderbeastie8899]

I don't know what lead me to read this.

[@JenniferOrvik]

It's Okay To Be Smart v

[@douglastang123]

such an under-rated channel :(

[@aprilcannon31]

ダグちゃん

[@jasons9879]

Your videos are always such a brilliant mixture of hand-made charm and thoughtful, visual beauty. They are some of the best things I can find on KZbin nowadays. Keep up the great work!

[@skunkbear]

Thanks Jason - we try!

[@seabb]

Your content is really interesting and high-quality! I wish you guys weren't as underrated.

[@AndyWelfle]

I don't believe Thoreau was the one who discovered that mixing graphite with clay - he just invented a machine in his father's pencil factory that optimized the process of making that mixture (which he called "plumbago"). It was Nicholas Jacque Conte who discovered that, back in the late 1700s.

[@skunkbear]

That's right! - we actually talk about Conté in our accompanying blog post: www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/11/492999969/origin-of-pencil-lead. We didn't have time to fit him in the video unfortunately - it's more of a list of highlights than an exhaustive history. I can see how that might give the impression that we're claiming Thoreau was the first to come upon the graphite clay formula. But I think what we actually said in the video is accurate: from what I've read, Henry wasn't familiar with the Conté's method, and made his own discoveries through independent experimentation. Another tidbit my reading turned up: Conte *also* used a numbering system, but his ran the other way. The softest pencils had the highest numbers, the hardest pencil in his system was a #1.

[@FirriTriah]

This was interesting, but I think an aspect that was missing is where graphite comes from and that graphite is a non-renewable resource with the vast majority currently coming from China and it has a lot of high technology uses other than just pencils. Seems like those additions would have given a fuller picture.

[@apq6558]

Given enough time, pressure, and temperature, we all turn into graphite eventually. Joke aside, while not renewable at human lifetimes, graphite is a very common mineral and graphite resources are not considered limited.

[@mydogspillow]

Thank you for such a detailed and well produced video! I really enjoyed it!

[@evet4480]

Really good video... from what seemed like a small topic you pulled out all this fascinating stuff

[@cosmicwarriorx1]

Great video. .. don't know why do you have so less subs...

[@PuppiesforPresident]

This video is so well made I'm genuinely upset I can only give it one thumbs up.

[@Munden]

More regular content! YES PLEASE! Also, promote your channel better!

[@MUtley-rf8vg]

Why can't this be our little secret? No need to involve "the others".

[@marionbageant4831]

I will show this to my third graders. I have a question about the yellow paint. Why did they choose yellow paint as the standard paint color for pencils? My favorite pencils are the Ticonderoga. The graphite just writes better. Any reasons why?

[@skunkbear]

Pencils were originally painted to help mask the low quality of their wood - only the fanciest pencils went unvarnished. But at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, an Austro-Hungarian pencil company unveiled a new luxury pencil. It was made with the finest materials and named Koh-I-Noor after the largest diamond known at that time - a diamond that would soon adorn the British crown. And this finest of pencils was painted yellow - perhaps to honor the empire's flag (though it has also been suggested that yellow connoted south asia, Koh-I-Noor original home). Yellow caught on as a signal of quality, and pretty soon everybody was painting their pencils yellow. More here: www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/11/492999969/origin-of-pencil-lead

[@MUtley-rf8vg]

Ha, I caught the related story on pencils on _'All Things Considered'_ this evening. This video wins hands down though. Keep up the awesome work.

[@nedhill1722]

Excellent! Lol, he started back so far I thought he was pulling a Sheldon Cooper. ;)

[@Paulthored]

How is pen ink and ink cartridges for pen's made? For that matter, is the ink used in ink wells and quill pens any different?? And what about printing and copier ink???

[@kelly6739]

wow great clip.Was very interesting .Loved how pencil's were made.we take so much for granted these days.

[@stemaniac2207]

What are the songs playing in the video?

[@AlbertStadt]

Beethoven's 9nth Symphony

[@SARERSM]

use it again. thank you NPR's

[@altamirsofyan900]

And also thats how pencils usually crack in half on a severe pencil-related accident

[@jackson2556]

So is pencil lead actually lead, or a different substance?

[@ChloGeraghty]

Thank you for doing what you do! Just found your channel :)

[@stephanrichard7006]

Cool video! Subscribed!

[@tiffanyowings7137]

How are easers made

[@will14n5]

Awesome video.

[@CyrusOfNaias]

Over a minute of pure science fiction before getting to the point

[@OxnerdKi]

Aspiring science educator here - What did you use to animate this video? Great video, keep it up!

[@skunkbear]

OxnerdKi Adobe After Effects

[@matthewroth49]

what is the periodic table

[@davidkreiger4085]

Why does it say we are made out of star dust

[@Toastww]

GOOOOOD QUESTION

[@hieucon184]

what is music

[@marekbenny21]

Beethoven, Symphony Nr. 9

[@virgulewouldthat6009]

Whose channel is this? I'm confused.

[@skunkbear]

Skunk Bear is a small production unit within NPR's science desk.

[@dumbname6317]

please continue cadamole

[@murrstevens]

still my favorite writing tool

[@hardtime3768]

I finally realized why they call them #2 pencils the curse is broken

[@nicolelamberty2223]

how is metal made

[@andresruca]

Awesome! now I now how my pencil is made!

[@Empyrean55]

was literally thinking about this earlier

[@azlib77]

Why is the channel called Skunk Bear?

[@skunkbear]

www.npr.org/2014/01/10/261380426/we-have-a-science-tumblr-and-its-name-is-skunk-bear

[@elikintisch1046]

Daaaamn nice Adam!

[@zmankins159]

Love it

[@moogiem]

Pencils!!!! This is the best!

[@josephq2228]

💜2021✨Thanks pass the Word #MillenniumLanceAndTheOpenScroll 🌹 keeping the Faith... 💜😎

[@aymanghazali9551]

How does scientists study atoms?

[@yeetyeet5079]

I write with diamonds instead

[@Mykasan]

classical music :)

[@claylindgren4750]

L

[@kayak5962]

Graphite wat wat my life is a lie