Comments on: Bad Universe Episode 3 airs Tuesday April 19

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:05:21 +0000

Just thought I would let you know. Episode 3, Death Stars is finally airing in Canada. Tonight (June 19th) at 9pm

By: Fabio Sadoch

Fabio Sadoch — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:30:20 +0000

It’s the first time I ever write on a blog, (mostly because i hate writing, I’m more of a numbers guy…. and am shy on my own) but i just wanted to tell you guys even though you won’t see me write here much, I support you guys.
Sorry for Mr Plait’s show… I can’t even believe they waited this long to air the 3rd episode(more than 6 months?!?!?! are we $@&&ç@§ kidding?!?!?! Who’s even gonna remember what the show’s about?!?!?…….oh well), I thought I simply could not find a link on the internet. But I found out today that it’s simply because it’s so recent….(Yes, i’m sorry but i haven’t watched tv in general for the past 4-5 years, I prefer to mingle on documentary site’s like “docuwat.ch” and “streaming-maddness.net”, or to watch the occasional episode of “Mythbusters” or “Bear Grylls” on Youtube. I’ve lived in Italy almost all my life and tv here was…..well……just THAT bad).
And all this said I must admit that the idea of proposing your show to the BBC is actually fairly reasonable. The British station is constantly churning out documentaries, but are missing some “fun/youth inclined” content. I wouldn’t be surprised if, with a bit of “American to British” slang translation, they actually picked it up as a series.
I sincerely mean what I have said, and kindly ask you to consider the option.
My recomendation to all that follow this blog is…..if you have the internet, why still use tv? Why listen to mainstream media? Just watch things for free on the internet and support the shows that actually need supporting by buying their DVDs, or giving donations.

Keep up all the good logical reasoning and discussions guys….
Sincerely,
Fabio Sadoch

By: Julesmaine

Julesmaine — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:43:03 +0000

While I am all for science related programming, why are all American based shows aimed at four year olds?

I hate to say this but your show came across as something you would teach to a kindergarten child

Can you tell us why it is so dumbed down? Is the target audience children or just simpletons with no knowledge of Astronomy?

Even if it is for people with no knowledge of the universe or for armchair astronomers, I think it is a disservice to treat people as idiots, I am all for making science fun but to make it so dumbed down misses the point completely of teaching people.

The blog sometimes can feel like that, however it is often educational. The root cause of todays lack of respect for scientists is not because of peoples enthusiasm for new media and scientists lagging behind, it is because science has been turned in to a circus with the clowns running things and i blame Discovery and their ilk for this.

DONT DUMB DOWN. Enrich people dont try to enable them.

By: Gonçalo Aguiar

Gonçalo Aguiar — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:01:31 +0000

Just watched it and all I have to say is:

Phill, you’re an awesome astronomer but not so good at electrical engineering. Right now we do protect our electrical grid from atmospheric lightning. We have shielding wires in all power lines. Most of the high power transformers are built within faraday cages and the capacitor idea is just plain silly. The amount of capacitance you would need to harness those amounts of energy is immense! You just have to somehow dissipate that direct current into the ground, which is what basically that guy dressed in chain mail was doing.

And btw I counted 2 Holyaleakalas.

By: ZADL

ZADL — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:45:15 +0000

DVR issues. Not listed as “New” so the DVR skipped it. You know, I think I’m just going to get rid of the thing, and the cable box. Aside from shows like Phil’s there’s nothing I want from appointment based television.

Oh well, it looks like I’ll just have to wait for the DVD to arrive.

By: Wayne on the Plains

Wayne on the Plains — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:47:05 +0000

My DVR got it, which was actually the first I knew about it airing, since I was out of town over the weekend and am just now catching up on the BA Blog.

I agree that it seems like a pretty pointless way to “gauge interest” since they were so spaced out and at odd times, you need to already be a fan of Dr. Plait to keep up, and everyone should expect that regular readers of this blog would watch.

By: Ze Kraggash

Ze Kraggash — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:20:02 +0000

My DVR was set to record all new episodes. This worked previously for the first two, but not for number three. I guess, as others have mentioned, the Schedule Gods did not list this episode as “new”.

By: Bobbar

Bobbar — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:03:46 +0000

Blast! I thought it said 11:00 *PM*! Missed it

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:28:54 +0000

11am!?? Looks like I missed it.

By: Number 6

Number 6 — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:05:52 +0000

Too bad for me that I read this too late to catch the show….I was looking forward to it.

Put me down big time with the others who’d like your shows to be repeated. I don’t see why the Discover Channel can’t.

Here’s today’s schedule after Phil’s show:

All shows are one hour in length except for Cash Cab (30 min.).

12PM….Deadliest Catch
American Chopper
American Chopper
American Chopper
American Chopper
Man, Woman, Wild
Cash Cab
Cash Cab
Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch
Hogs Gone Wild
11PM…Deadliest Catch

Now, couldn’t they sneak a rerun of Phil’s show in there next week or next month when most of the shows are similar to the above and those shows are repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated….?