I’ve covered or attended many meetings over the years. But this session from the World Science Festival in June would have been one that I lingered at for a long time.

You know, asking questions. Trying to figure things out.

Just look at Bobby McFerrin and his incredible, audience-involved demonstration of the Pentatonic Scale - which apparently is found in nearly all of the world’s music. (McFerrin’s Web site is here.)

This Vimeo clip is making the online rounds – and for good reason: Fun and lively but with important music history behind it.

Imagine going to any place in the world and having people recognize, in some fashion, these notes.

I saw the clip on Boing Boing. It looks like Cory Doctorow heard about it from Marilyn at Intelligent Travel Blog.

Additional videos, including ones with McFerrin, can be found on this Vimeo page or on this World Science Festival page.

The sounds made by the audience reminded me of Chinese Buddhist monks I heard years ago at Jiuhuashan in Anhui province.

My hotel was across the road from a temple. I heard the monks chanting as I fell asleep.

Let me just say this: I’ve often heard the refrain that U.S. students lag in science, compared to others around the world.

After realizing how science can be explained, taught and learned, I hope that’s not the case.