String theory + a capella = A Montrealer's formula for online fame

This story is part of CBC Homerun'sseries onMontrealers who have made it big on YouTube.

When Canadian astronaut ChrisHadfieldcoveredSpace Oddityfrom space, he may have created a new genre of music: science rock.

But if Hadfield was the pioneer, Montreal physicistTimBlais may be the one to take sci-rock mainstream.

The Hudson-born science musician was completing his master of physics atMcGillUniversity back in 2012 and started singing a cappella on the side when he got bored with book learning.

"A Capella Science ... may be the single most comprehensively nerdy endeavour ever conceived."- Scientific American

Blais, whose mother ran a church choir, ended up setting his favourite pop songs to his favourite physics theories. His debut a song about the Higgs boson particle set toAdele's Rolling in the Deepwent viral.

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Its opening lines? " There's a collider under Geneva /Reaching new energies that we've never achieved before /Finally we can see with this machine / A brand new data peak at 125 GeV ..."

Nerdiest project ever?

The success of Rolling in the Higgsprompted Blaisto startACapellaScience, which the venerable publicationScientific American suggested "may be the single most comprehensively nerdy endeavour ever conceived."

As part of the project, Blais uses pop songs to bring the wonders of science to a broader audience.

For instance, Blais took the melody of Bruno Mars'Uptown Funk and createdPluto Mars: Outbound Probe an ode to the spacecraft that took pictures of Plutolast year.

Whereas Marsopens with "This hit, that ice cold /Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold,"Blaisoffers instead "Next stop, that ice cold / No cell of life on that light globe."

For an explanation of string theory, there'sBohemian Gravity, a rendition of Queen's classic hitBohemian Rhapsodythat's racked up close to three million views onYouTube.

• Physicist Tim Blais pays musical tribute to New Horizons, Pluto

"Infinities will make you cry /Unless you can renormalize your model /Of baryons, fermions /And all other states of matter."

One song at a time, Blais is defying physicist stereotypes. (Though, to be fair,Queenguitarist Brian May has a PhD inastrophysics.)

Gaining popularity

Blaissaid his original plan was only to make music for a year. Butscience professors and other fans from all over the worldkept messaginghim for more videos.

His decision's to combine his love for music and physics is now finallystarting to payoff.

"By hook or by crook, I am paying the rent with this,"BlaistoldCBC'sHomerun.

He says he's supported by ad revenues, mp3 and poster sales, as well as fan supportthrough the website Patreon.

"So far, this mutual trust in each other seems to work out," said Blais.

His fan base was initially made up of physicistswho could understand the complex lyrics of his songs, but Blais saidfamilies have told him they listen to his work, too.

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