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Survivor Meets Junkyard Wars for Scientists

Posted by chrisd on from the all-they-need-is-coconuts dept.

MyNameIsFred writes "Stepping back to Gilligan's Island, PBS has a new "reality" show Rough Science where "five scientists are challenged to put their collective scientific knowledge to practical use. Transported to isolated locations, they are presented with a series of tasks, with two notable restrictions: they must complete their work within three days and, with the exception of a rudimentary tool kit, must use only indigenous materials." Could the Professor really build all of those things? We'll soon know." Check out the Episode guide.

4 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Don't get your hopes up. by sane? · · Score: 5, Informative
    This is a prog that was on the BBC a year or two ago. Its nothing like either Junkyard (nee Scrapheap) Wars or Survivor, just some marketing creep looking for an angle. There is certainly no real roughing it - think your science teacher trying to make lessons more interesting.

    That said, its still worth catching if you've nothing else to do.

  2. Re:A similar show in the UK... by vpreHoose · · Score: 4, Informative

    It was on the BBC and had two series.
    http://www.open2.net/science/roughscience/

  3. they wont be able to out-do the professor by jest3r · · Score: 3, Informative

    The professor has a pretty impressive list of scientific / engineering accomplishments - i doubt anyone can top him:

    - a bamboo lie detector (hooked up to the ship's horn and the radio's batteries)
    - a coconut shell battery recharger
    - a bamboo telescope
    - a Geiger counter
    - jet-pack fuel
    - a bamboo xylophone
    - keptibora-berry extract to remedy Gilligan's double vision
    - an assortment of tonics, antiseptics, poisons, "spider cider" (to kill off gargantuan morning spiders)
    - soap made from plant fats
    - shark repellent
    - a pedal-powered bamboo sewing machine
    - lead radiation suits and make-up (protection from a meteor's cosmic rays)
    - a helium balloon (rubber raincoats sewn together and sealed with tree sap)
    - a strychnine serum that temporarily paralyzes Gilligan
    - an electrode linked to to a pedal-powered generator
    - pedal powered washing machine
    - pedal powered water pump
    - pedal powered telegraph
    - Mr. Howell's roulette wheel and pool table

  4. Re:He's a crap sailor... by Zathrus · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yes he cooked them - on a stove by burning bits of his boat. When the Navy found him they had to scuttle the boat because it was too damaged to tow.

    Frankly, I'd love to know what the previous poster would do in the guy's situation - you're on a sailboat with no mast, no motor, and a dead radio. There are no ships in your vicinity for 3.5 months (yes, this is easily possible). Are you going to row back to shore? I don't think so.

    For the record - one other ship did pass within visual range, but he was unsuccessful in signaling them. The Navy ship was only the second one he saw.