Brainiac: Science Abuse

It was great to watch as a kid in the noughties but most of the "Science Facts" have been proven wrong over the past 15 years. The show is more than dead now. Even the "Things that make you go hmmm" segment is easily explainable now thanks to quick easy internet.

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.

It's not my personal favourite, but it still is a good show! I recommend it for those interested in science but want a fun way to experience it! This is the show for you!

The results of one of the experiments were forged (the one with alkali metals). The crew admitted that. I wonder how many more were forged, and they got away with that. Even without forged results, scientific methodology (replication, statistical significance testing) simply doesn't exist in the show.

"Science abuse" indeed.

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.