IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
Fast-paced, fun-packed and award winning series which combines entertainment and science in a groundbreaking format to prove that science really can be fun.Fast-paced, fun-packed and award winning series which combines entertainment and science in a groundbreaking format to prove that science really can be fun.Fast-paced, fun-packed and award winning series which combines entertainment and science in a groundbreaking format to prove that science really can be fun.
Browse episodes
Featured reviews
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.
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.
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.
10Izak86
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Science abuse" indeed.
Did you know
- TriviaThe show courted mild controversy when it emerged that at least one of the experiments was faked by a pyrotechnics department. The alkali metals are known to react rapidly with water, producing hydrogen gas and energy, with potentially explosive results. An experiment was set up to demonstrate how these metals reacted by dropping them in water, with the expectation that the heavier alkali metals would be more potent. Lithium, sodium, potassium and rubidium reacted with increasing potency. However caesium (the heaviest of the alkali metals commonly available) simply sank to the bottom of their "tank" (a bath) before it could react significantly, which was far less dramatic than the other reactions suggested. The producers had the bath wired with explosives and blown to pieces, and presented this instead. According to a statement issued by the production company, they frequently used pyrotechnics in this way.
- Quotes
Richard Hammond: This is Brainiac, the science show that comes home late and wakes the neighbours.
- ConnectionsFollowed by Brainiac: History Abuse (2005)
- How many seasons does Brainiac: Science Abuse have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was Brainiac: Science Abuse (2003) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer