---
title: 'Can You Scientifically Measure Fun?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=eXv6fWonvUM'
video_id: 'eXv6fWonvUM'
date: 2026-10-21
duration_sec: 80
channel: 'Mark Rober'
---

# Can You Scientifically Measure Fun?

> Source: [Can You Scientifically Measure Fun?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=eXv6fWonvUM)

## Summary

The video explores whether fun can be scientifically measured by testing three activities—reading, game night, and riding a roller coaster—while tracking dopamine and cortisol levels. The creator calculates a 'fun score' for each activity and reveals which one is the most fun.

### Key Points

- **The Question** [00:00] — The video asks if fun can be scientifically measured and introduces the experiment of trying three famously fun activities.
- **The Science of Fun** [00:14] — Fun triggers chemical signals in the brain, including dopamine (associated with pleasure) and cortisol (associated with stress). A 'fun score' can be calculated based on these signals.
- **Activity 1: Reading** [00:32] — The first activity is reading a book, which is described as relaxing.
- **Activity 2: Game Night** [00:45] — The second activity is a game night with friends.
- **Activity 3: Roller Coaster** [00:45] — The third activity is riding a roller coaster.
- **The Result** [01:00] — Out of all activities, reading a book was the most fun, with high dopamine and low cortisol levels.
- **Conclusion** [01:13] — The creator concludes that maximizing mess (like The Cat in the Hat) is key to fun, and promotes the movie 'Cat in the Hat' in theaters starting November 6th.

## Transcript

Fire in the hole! to borrow The Cat In The Hat's emotoscope, - and I tried three famously fun things to answer that exact question.
Because when you're having fun, your brain basically sends a bunch of chemical signals to let And cortisol says 'the fun is no longer fun.' - we can calculate a fun score and determine scientifically which activity is the most fun.
the more fun I'm having. - Starting first with something relaxing. And then a game night with my crew.
And finally, riding a roller coaster. turns out out of all those activities, the most fun to me was reading a book. With super high dopamine and super low cortisol.
- because The Cat in the Hat and I both agree, you gotta maximize mess.
Nice. - Go watch Cat in the Hat in theaters starting November 6th.