Brainiac: Science Abuse

I'm an American, and to my knowledge this show hasn't yet made it to US TV so I can't actually review it. I've only seen their now infamous clip on alkali metals.

Last night I saw the Mythbusters demonstrate that Brainiac faked their spectacular explosions with rubidium and cesium metal. I have to say that I'm more than a little dismayed. Like many people, I'd been taken. I remember thinking that the rubidium and cesium explosions seemed well out of proportion to the much less violent lithium, sodium and potassium reactions. But hydrogen/air/heat mixtures are highly unpredictable, and besides who can argue with empirical evidence?

Lying just isn't cool, even (especially) in the cause of science education. There's no greater sin in science and engineering than faking a demo.

Now I fully understand that "Brainiac: Science Abuse" is more about entertainment than science, and some forms of entertainment such as magic rely entirely on deception. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as you label it as such.

But just as the occasional magician crosses the line when he claims real supernatural powers, so does an show like Brainiac when it claims to be doing real science experiments.

Now if I ever do get to watch this show, I'll be too busy continually wondering if what I'm seeing is real or fake to enjoy it. It will certainly ruin whatever educational value it might have had.

Shame on you guys.

Brainiac was on the air from 2003 to 2008 and it gave me a lot of laughs, for it is absurdly funny and generally entertaining for it fused two things they are usually thought to be universes apart, science and fun. No , definitely no those concepts can exist at the same time it needs to be done right and here they score 11/ 10. Also for the male viewers are some very beautiful women around. ;)

The first four seasons are comedic gold .It is every nerd wet dream for a television series with experiments, test, some gorgeous girls ,because why not? .Also you have some extremely interesting philosophical question been thrown at any episode to make the audience think! That was unheard in the early two thousands, for back then the weren't series like Big Bang Theory(1), Lie to me(2), Criminal Minds(3) and Avatar(4). For those series' creators see the audience and say: "I want to make them learn something during the run time for the episode" weather that is a scientific fact (1),a way to find out lies(2), get detective skills(3) or a whole way of thinking(4).

Now to the final two seasons where the main hosts left. Thet were good, but lacked the comedic timing and they didn't give any emphases to the question part ,but still their energy and dedications make you come for more. Sandly they couldn't stop the series from losing steam and with the gangs, girls,science ,and even the flagship of the series the experiments themselves going old ,it was the end and the series was canceled.

In this point is were I say that was a pity and it should continue, but not in this time for it series run its course and ended in at least a decent level and didn't became a zombie like Family Guy , Two and a half men and even one of my favorites Bones! So let us all remember this series for that opening in the big screen (if you haven't see it do it now).

I started watching Brainiac from its second series and it is the funniest science show I've ever seen.

Okay, the main attraction to the show may be the massive explosions but deep within, there are lots of interesting experiments that make you remark "Wow, I don't know that!" From electrocuting celebrities, blowing caravans up to Jon Tickle walking on custard, Brainiac has the wackiest and funniest experiments ever seen on TV, a true masterpiece.

Two spin-off shows have also been produced: 'Brainiac: History Abuse' and 'Brainiac Test Tube Baby'. While 'History Abuse' was a little hit and miss, 'Test Tube Baby' was live and as funny as the main show. Sadly though both have only run for one series.

I suspect from other reviews that some overseas viewers are not seeing the full show which (with ads) runs to an hour in the UK, not half-an-hour.

Yes there is some silly stuff. Indeed some really stupid and utterly pointless stuff. But buried in there are the occasional titbits of real science - generally science of the more pyrotechnic variety, but nonetheless it is there. They do often explain why the bang happens, for example! A rip off of Mythbusters? No. Brainiac aired in the UK before the latter show arrived. Actually its rather more clearly a development from Richard Hammond's other show - BBC's Top Gear - which frequently includes utterly pointless and silly items, like - well - playing conkers with caravans and seeing how much damage a Toyota pick-up truck could take before it died. Such items would not be out of place on Brainiac.

The great thing about it is that it makes science fun and accessible - even cool. Which is no bad thing.

this show is by far the worse i've ever seen. it tries to be a show of entertainment mixed with science but in fact it isn't entertaining at all because the ''acting'' is just too bad, the things they show are pretty common, the scientific method is nonexistent, and the science itself is ridiculed, even the explosions aren't funny on this show and that's quite an achievement because explosions are always a lot of fun. the brainiacs are picked i don't know how but they get ridiculed on TV to prove nothing at all and the things that the show talk about are completely random and completely useless. it's a complete waste of time and believe in me when i say that you are probably better off.