Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Brainiac: Science Abuse (For Brainiax)


For those of you that like seeing things blow up, have a fondness for science (remember Mr. Wizard), like to see irreverent experiments and practical jokes or consider extreme cooking... I have a show for you. Recently added to G4TV's lineup, Brainiac is the British television show that challenges a lot of myths that you won't see on Mythbusters. Do athletes perform worse or better after having sex? What is more slippery in the home: baby oil, cooking oil or cod liver oil? If we can't walk on water, could we walk on a pool full of custard? Could eating poppy seed bagels give a false positive report for opiate usage on a drug test? What type of food gives the worst smelling gas? Do pheremones really make you more attractive to the opposite sex? What happens when you put a lightbulb in a microwave? Do corn flakes that are high in iron have enough metal in them to react to a magnet?

Heck, I could keep listing these for awhile but you ought to just watch it. Especially for this one: In 1997, it was asserted in an article in the New England Journal by a German scientist that staring at a woman's breasts for 30 minutes was equivalent to a 30 minute work out... why not test it?

Sure, most of these tests have no placebo or wouldn't be taken seriously unless tested more than once but it is edutainment. Now, if only they had a Brainiac Jr., it might excite kids into caring about science earlier in life and pursuing it as a course of study. Then again Mr. Vavoom could be the new millennium's Mr. Beakman.

9 comments:

LoraLoo said...

I'm going to have to check this program out. I love Mythbusters! They just don't do the "Do atheletes perform worse or better after having sex" kinds that we really want to see!

Lily said...

I was surprised to find out I even have this station. Sounds like an fun show, I will be taping it since it appears to on in the wee hours of the night/morning in my area.

Fred said...

Thanks for the workout tip. The Missus has been after me to start exercising; I'll tell her one of my blogger buddies came up with the perfect routine.

Unknown said...

Hmmmm staring at breasts is a 30 minute workout...got it Martin, great excuse, Teri might actually buy that...what if you blink though or if they get covered up?

Martin said...

Exercise long and often. B) I'd tell you all how some of those experiments went but I don't want you to miss seeing the show or the repeats. I was pretty shocked by most of the findings.

Teri said...

I am hooked on Mythbusters, so this will be yet another show to add my to collection.

30 minutes, won't you get bored?

Katie said...

So what's the verdict? I need to start exercising and I have 2 roommates I could use.

RT said...

Well then. You finally gave me a good reason to find and watch G4TV, lol. I watched Brainiac (damn theives) last night, it was pretty funny! Gross, but funny :o)

Martin said...

RT - Happy you caught an episode of it. Irreverent but amazing the useless information I can pick up from the show... well I'm sure I can use some of it someday. Haven't seen the new episode (it's sitting on the Tivo snarling at me.)

Katie - I didn't want to ruin it for anyone but they did dispel the watching breasts thing. I was hopeful myself and although it did a good job of raising the heart rate, it didn't beat a work out. So I figure if I do sit-ups while staring at boobs, I'll be really healthy. Send photos of the roommates you mentioned.