Pop Science

I once knew an otherwise nearly reasonable person who, when I asked him if he watched Battlestar Gallactica, responded that he didn’t like Science Fiction. Just like that. Flat out. Doesn’t like Sci Fi, as a genre, at all. He’ll have no part of it. Won’t even give it a shot. What a dick, right?…

Hey Pop Science fans, of which there are many, I am sure! I’m just gonna be straight with you, loyal reader. I am tired of writing about Mythbusters at the moment. Really, I think the problem is that I love the show. I went browsing through episodes on Netflix looking for specific examples of problems…

PART A. CONTROL GROUPS Good scientists are all control freaks, not huge-mustache-grooming, jaunty-beret-wearing freaks. Before I can explain to you how the Mythbusters often lack good controls in their experiments, I first have to briefly explain what controls are and why you need them. Running an experiment requires that you exert control over the environment…

Hey, kids! This week I’m going to teach you about the S&M of science that is Mythbusters! They are a source of pleasure (’cause, hey, the show is pretty cool), and pain (’cause they are so unscientific that they make anyone who has done real research strain her arm shaking her fist at the TV).…