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TV's "Mr. Wizard," Don Herbert, Dies At 89

Posted by kdawson on from the so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-experiments dept.

XorNand writes "Television's Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert, died today at 89. He introduced generations of young viewers to the joys of science. Herbert, who had bone cancer, died at his suburban Bell Canyon home near Los Angeles."

9 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Sad by omeomi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, that's sad. I loved that show...

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    ZuluPad, the wiki notepad on crack
    1. Re:Sad by nschubach · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Amazing, for someone I've never met, I think I just cried a little (and am not afraid to admit it.) I used to love that show.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    2. Re:Sad by bladesjester · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's not strange to mourn the passing of one who has impacted so many lives in a positive manner even if you've never met him in person.

      He turned a lot of us on to science as kids. He'll be missed.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    3. Re:Sad by munpfazy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Amazing, for someone I've never met, I think I just cried a little (and am not afraid to admit it.) I used to love that show.


      I also cried while reflecting upon the news of his death. (And I'm the sort of person who greets most celebrity deaths with rude jokes. You should hear my Lady Diana and Ronald Reagan one-liners.)

      I don't want to belittle the very real loss his friends and family are experiencing or the pain of cancer, but perhaps we should envy him. To die at 89 with the knowledge that you've inspired generations of scientists and science enthusiasts is hardly the worst outcome one can hope for. I'd go to my grave satisfied having positively impacted a tiny fraction of the number of lives he's touched.

  2. The Fahrealz Gandolf. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I remember this one episode, he had this huge pulley system. And he lifted some heavier-than-if-trying-without-pulleys load that went up. And this other episode, he got this kid up on like a 10 story building, with this super long straw, and had him try to suck up the plum juice. There was so much space, human lungs can't create a large enough vacuum. So then he had him hook up a vacuum pump, and up the plum juice went.

    R.I.P. Mr. Wizard. I will never forget you.

  3. Re:An inspiration to a generation by Bayoudegradeable · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Even though I am a social studies teacher, I inject as much science as I can, especially in geography class. Certainly Mr. Wizard sparked a love of science that I still carry today. Even more so, he fed all of our curious natures, and helped us answer questions about why stuff happens. If only someone were carrying the torch today. I don't quite trust the Wiggles and Barney to carry the next generation...

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  4. generational gap by f1055man · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Interesting to see who knows who he is and who doesn't. He was on from 50s to mid 60s, a brief stint in the early 70s and then throughout the eighties to early 90s. So as a child of the 80s, I share something in common with the boomers, my parents, but not with my older cousins. If you were born in the 60s or early 70s you probably missed out on something great. My condolences to all of you.

    It's also worth mentioning that he not only reached kids through his tv shows, thousands of teachers and later science shows learned from his example as well. So even if you don't know who he is, it's likely your science teachers did. Having influenced millions over the last 50 years, it becomes hard to comprehend just how much of our technological society we owe to Mr. Wizard.

  5. Re:An inspiration to a generation by munpfazy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Two generations, at the very least.

    When the news of his death was announced in our lab, it generated a spontaneous group discussion and collective revery. Of the 8 mid-twenties physics PhD candidates in the room, only one wasn't intimately familiar with his programs. Most shared very detailed accounts of favorite demonstrations, and all examples were met with knowing nods from the gathered crowd.

    I watched a lot of television as a kid, but (with Mr. Roger's Neighborhood a notable second), no program ever came close to matching Mr. Wizard's show in either the importance I placed upon it at the time or the degree to which I can remember it today. Outside of the occasional trip to the museum, it was the only chance many of us had to encounter the sciences in any guise other than the dessicated list of memorizable-facts presented in elementary textbooks.

    Would I have found my calling in the sciences without his program? Who knows. Perhaps. But probably not as early or as easily. And I sure as hell would have missed out on several hours a week of sheer joy as I watched his program and tried to replicate some of the less materials-intensive experiments.

    The real tragedy, of course, isn't that he has died, but that (according to wikipedia) his programs are no longer broadcast anywhere. I haven't seen television in a while, so its possible that there's even better science programming available today. But, somehow, I doubt it.

    So long, Mr. Wizard. Tonight I'll light a candle in your honor (under an overturned air-and-water-filled tumbler sitting in a pan of water. . .)

  6. In the words of Perfect Tommy by SirBruce · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Perfect Tommy: Emilio Lizardo. Wasn't he on TV once?

    Buckaroo Banzai: You're thinking of Mr. Wizard.

    Reno: Emilio Lizardo is a top scientist, dummkopf.

    Perfect Tommy: So was Mr. Wizard.