Yet, in truth, satire—at least satire of great quality—lives just as long as any other kind of art. It keeps its objects alive by lampooning them and, wrapping itself around the subject, fossil-like,

Despite being best known for his humorous and satirical songs, Tom Lehrer, who died on 26 July at the age of 97, spent most of his life as an academic mathematician. His songs, hugely popular especially in his native United States, often touched on scientific and mathematical topics, earning him many fans in the research world.