Great stand-up comedy can shock you and cause you to re-evaluate your view of the world. Most importantly, however, it can make you laugh your head off (hopefully not literally). One of the big challenges with science-themed comedy is that many people view science – especially physics – as an interesting yet abstract activity, done by people they never come across in everyday life. As Andrew Glester finds in the latest Physics World podcast, this perception of science can also bring fresh opportunities for comedians.