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Muppets Named Top Scientists

Posted by CmdrTaco on 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."

9 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. What about by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Bill Nye the Science Guy or Mr. Wizard?

    Oh, and it was an unscientific internet poll.

    1. Re:What about by Judg3 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I loved Mr. Wizard. Discovery Science had a "Mr. Wizard" marathon a month or two ago of all his shows from the 50s.

      Funny story - back in my 9th grade Science class the teacher was giving a demonstration. It was the typical "Place lighted match in glass, place hard boiled egg on top, match goes out and egg gets sucked in" one to show air expansion/contraction. Anyway, before he did the demo he asked us all what would happen - I was the only one to get it right.
      He said "How did you know?" and I told him I saw Mr. Wizard do it.

      Well well that wasn't something he wanted to hear! He went on a 15 minute rant about how Mr. Wizard went all over the country talking to science teachers and stealing their best experiments then putting them on TV and making big money off of THEIR ideas... It was pretty damn funny at the time, and still is.

      --
      Looking for hardware (Currently need: Large Etch-a-Sketch) Have one? See my journal!
  2. It follows by SYFer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Not a surprise really. Oxford University recently announced that Beaker will be delivering the inaugural lecture for this year's Department of Biochemistry Distinguished Lecture Series. Rumor has it he will address "Neuro-imaging and Neuropathological Studies of Mood Disorders in Primates." Although not widely known, Beaker's contributions to science have far outweighed his achievements in the field of entertainment.

    --
    "...all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness..." yada yada
  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Missing options... by archnerd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...they're not just for /. polls anymore!

    What about Samantha Carter from Stargate?

  5. Re:Scully? by Mateito · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Scully had degrees in physics and medicine. How is she not a scientist?

    Medicine, as a degree, is not science. A standard medical degree is procedural. This is one reason medicine is moving toward a post-graduate degree, some of which require a "medical science" degree before hand.

    Physics, however, is the only real science.

    Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physicist.

    --
    Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
  6. Where the Future is Being Made Today! by spaceyhackerlady · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's been a long time since I've seen the Muppet Show, but I too was very much a fan of Muppet Labs, where the Future is Being Made Today, with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his faithful assistant Beaker. Doctor Honeydew looked remarkably like a science teacher I had in high school. Liked to sprinkle nitrogen triiodide around the school at Hallowe'en. Bang!

    Curiously, when I think of fictional (television or otherwise) women scientists, the two that come to mind (Professor Sam Ryan and Dr. Kay Scarpetta) are both forensic pathologists. Hmmm...

    ...laura

  7. How about the CSI guys? by earthforce_1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They seem pretty popular - I am watching a back to back CSI labour day marathon on Spike.

    I heard enrollment in forensics college courses is way up on account of that program.

    --
    My rights don't need management.
  8. Re:Inspiration for young scientists by Scrameustache · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Scotty" on Star Trek has just got his star on the sidewalk

    And he was given an honorary degree in engineering by the Milkwaukee School of Engineering where apparently half of the students polled said they were inspired to study engineering by his role in Star Trek.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...