Muppets Named Top Scientists

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Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday September 6, 2004 @06:09AM from the meep-meep-meep-meep-meep-meep-meep dept.

praedictus writes "Apparently Bunsen and Beaker of Muppet fame have been nominated favorite TV scientist in a poll conducted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA). and the BBC, soundly beating other contenders such as Mr. Spock, and Agent Scully."

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Scully? by heffrey · 2004-09-06 06:18 · Score: 4, Insightful

This may offend some but Scully is certainly not a scientist. Now, as for Bunsen and Beaker they may have been somewhat inept but scientists they were!!
1. Re:Scully? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-06 06:40 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Scully had degrees in physics and medicine. How is she not a scientist?
  
  So what? A degree in physics doesn't mean your a scientist. A friend of mine has a law degree. He doesn't practice law - he started a consulting company. Is he a lawyer? I don't think so. Another friend has a physics degree, then went into medicine and now works as a MD. Are they a scientist?
  
  You are confusing a person's education with occupation.
  
  Scully was a FBI agent. That was her primary identity/purpose.
What about the Professor???? by WerewulfX · 2004-09-06 06:23 · Score: 5, Insightful

I mean for gosh sakes, I never saw Scully make a battery out of a coconut!!
1. Re:What about the Professor???? by Guppy06 · 2004-09-06 07:40 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Scully would have fixed the damned boat!
2. Re:What about the Professor???? by Scrameustache · 2004-09-06 08:12 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Scully would have fixed the damned boat!
  
  Well sure, she'd have been stuck with Gilligan, that abusive fat guy and the old married koot.
  The professor, however, was "stuck" on a tropical island with Marianne AND Ginger, and their other options are listed above.
  
  We would have done the same ;-)
  
  --
  You can't take the sky from me...
Doctor Who by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-06 06:30 · Score: 0, Insightful

They keep talking about some Dr. Who. Never heard of him. Don't they mean Doctor Who?

Argh.
Re:Missing options... by BRSloth · 2004-09-06 06:36 · Score: 3, Insightful

Also...

What about Beakman, from "Beakman's World"?

Man, I loved that show.
Frink and Farnsworth by Beebos · 2004-09-06 06:39 · Score: 2, Insightful

For me it is a tie between Professor Frink and Professor Farnsworth. Both Matt Groening creations.
Inspiration for young scientists by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-06 06:39 · Score: 5, Insightful

Fictional characters can be a better role model for young people than real scientists and engineers. Perhaps a few children will think of becoming scientists because of these characters.

"Scotty" on Star Trek has just got his star on the sidewalk (covered by slashdot). Many student engineers at one US school said they were inspired to take engineering by Scotty. (I can't find the link.)
Re:What about by ScottGant · 2004-09-06 06:39 · Score: 4, Insightful

Prof. Hubert J. Farnsworth from Futurama? He get's my vote!

--

"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it." - John Lennon.
What about scully by eadint · 2004-09-06 07:06 · Score: 1, Insightful

I cant believe scully didn't get it. She was always doing autopsies, and she was hot. In the early episode, you even go booby shots.
That beets a muppet any day.
Re:Two Things by cgenman · 2004-09-06 07:29 · Score: 5, Insightful

You'll notice Beaker and Honeydew were the only traditional scientists on the list. Mr. Spock, the doctor, and Dana are more explorers than scientists, Q is an engineer, Frank 'n Furter, Mr Evil, and Dr Frankenstein are, well, mad. Dr Strangelove is a consultant. Even Emmett Brown is portreyed as more mad than scientist.

Why not include more traditional scientists on the list, such as Bill Nye, Mr. Wizard, or popular untraditional ones like Peter Venkmin or the Answer Guys?

--
The ______ Agenda
Re:Quatermass by TomHandy · 2004-09-06 07:34 · Score: 2, Insightful

I'm surprised Dr. Who didn't do better.
-Tom
nominated? you mean won? by LuxFX · 2004-09-06 07:56 · Score: 2, Insightful

Bunsen and Beaker ... have been nominated favorite TV scientist ... soundly beating other contenders such as Mr. Spock, and Agent Scully.

Sounds like they won, instead of just being nominated.

--
Punctanym: alternate spelling of words using punctuation or numerals in place of some or all of its letters; see 'leet'
Also, Slashdot Editors named tops in Cloning... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-06 07:57 · Score: 1, Insightful

For duplicate stories.
Smeg the holo-doc by Scrameustache · 2004-09-06 07:57 · Score: 2, Insightful

From Star Trek Voyager. He's awesome :)

I liked him better when he wore the big green H on his forehead. ;-)

--
You can't take the sky from me...
What about Beakman? by Whammy666 · 2004-09-06 08:27 · Score: 2, Insightful

Beakman and his truly luscious assistant Leeza rocked. Lester the rat was cool too. On second thought, I'll just take Leeza.

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When all else fails, run.
Re:What about by johneee · 2004-09-06 09:11 · Score: 2, Insightful

I'm more upset about the omission of Magnus Pyke. I think he was the person who taught me more about science than anyone else at an early age with 'Don't Ask Me'. (I know, I know... Dating myself here.)

Plus, he was on that Thomas Dolby song, that's got to count for something, right?

--
- ------- There are ten kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who... Huh?
Re:Good thing our kids want to be rocket scientist by lowe0 · 2004-09-06 10:20 · Score: 2, Insightful

I hate to tell you, but most of us (myself included) are still excited by blowing things up and antics. Look at the computer games we talk about - Doom, Half-Life, etc.

Besides, wouldn't you rather the kids watch Bunsen and Beaker than Pokemon?