science
PBS to Air No-Holds Barred Steve Jobs Documentary: 'One Last Thing'
PBS has announced that it will air a new, "unflinching" documentary about the late Appple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died three weeks ago. 'Steve Jobs -- One Last Thing' will air Wednesday, Nov. 2 as part of a night devoted to science and technology exploration.In what's sure to stoke controversy in some quarters, PBS says 'One Last Thing' takes "an unflinching look at Jobs's difficult, controlling disposition, and offers unique insights into what made him tick. While there has been near-universal agreement that Steve Jobs was a great innovator in business and technology, ONE LAST THING looks into why he was so great. What were the influences that shaped his character? What drove him from such humble beginnings to the heights of success?"
The documentary features interviews with Apple insiders Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and Dean Hovey, as well as Bill Fernandez, who introduced Jobs and Wozniak in Sunnyvale, where the three hung out in his father's garage and tinkered with electronics.
Reelz Fudged 'Kennedys' Ratings, Snooki Quits Wrestling and More TV News
Turns out, the first two hours of 'The Kennedys' miniseries wasn't the record-breaking success Reelz Channel wanted us to think it was.Although the network reported an audience of 1.9 million, actual Nielsen numbers put the total at 1.3 million. That's 30 percent lower, Vulture points out.
So, what does Reelz have to say about the conflicting reports? A rep told Vulture, "The numbers we reported yesterday were fast national of average viewers per minute when we add our two showings (8PM East and 8PM West) together, which is the gross audience for an average minute."
Oooookay.
In other TV news ...
• The HBO Films movie about the financial collapse, 'Too Big to Fail,' will debut May 23. It stars William Hurt, Paul Giamatti, Cynthia Nixon, Bill Pullman and more. [HBO]
• Although Snooki's unexpected gymnastic prowess surprised the world after her appearance on Wrestlemania, she says she's done with wrestling. "I'm pretty busy with 'Jersey Shore,' so I doubt [I'll continue]," she said. [The Hollywood Reporter]
• Breaking news: The Science Channel is changing its name ... to plain old Science. In a press release, the network mentioned it wanted to be "the official home of the Thought Provocateur -- the individual who is constantly asking 'What if?' and 'Why not?'" [THR]
Lost University's spring semester now in session
Just like scores of real world colleges and universities across the country, Lost University is now back in session.The fictional university meant to teach Lost fans on the "fringe" science and other elements of J.J. Abrams' show can begin classes anew as the series approaches its final season.
It's no joke and no mere marketing gimmick as the "university" brings in legitimate scientists, psychologists, language experts and other experts to discuss the themes and science of Lost.
The current course catalog includes: PHI 201: I'M RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG: THE US VS. THEM MENTALITY -- "This course examines the complex relationship between Right vs. Wrong, Us vs. Them, and Good vs. Evil, and applies it to both Lost and the real world."
Carl Sagan: scientist, author, singer
The latest is from the PBS TV show Cosmos, something I really enjoyed years ago, and features Carl Sagan (with a cameo by another famous scientist and author). This is really well done, sort of techno meets progressive rock. I love how it's not just stringing his words together, but there's actually a chorus. Here's one for Billy Mays.
Breaking Bad: Walter White's Report Card

Now that the second season of Breaking Bad is in the books, it's time to evaluate high school science teacher Walter White's performance. He's been giving out the grades to students for years, but who's been monitoring this high school teacher?
It's time for this Breaking Bad character to be graded. Here's a report card for Mr. White, and whether he's using the name Heisenberg or White, we're turning the tables on "teach" and giving him some grades across the board.
Breaking Bad: Down
(S02E04) The one-eyed stuffed animal was still floating in the pool, but not for long. It was fished out and lined up with a whole bunch of other evidence bags. What this all adds up to will likely be something dreadful. Right now, the tension builds and you just wonder what it all means.Breaking Bad is like a pressure cooker, and the reference to cooking is probably appropriate. Walter and Jesse are stuck in a pressure cooker of their own design and things are getting more and more intense. Something is ready to blow, but the when and the where and the how keep us coming back for more.
CNN drops space and science; Miles O'Brien looking for a job
After 16 years, Miles O'Brien is leaving CNN.The reason? CNN has decided to get rid of their science/tech/environment/space division, because nothing ever happens in science, technology, the environment, or space. The network says that they're getting rid of the division because the "Planet in Peril" series already covers all of that stuff, and they'll just integrate the rest of the science coverage into their regular news. Translation: more cost-cutting in the news business.
It's kind of sad to see O'Brien go. Just a couple of years ago he was the co-host of American Morning with Soledad O'Brien, and then he lost that gig and went back to covering space and technology, and now that coverage is gone. It was always good to have him around for space shuttle launches and for his expertise when their was a problem with a plane or a plane crash.
I'm sure they'll still cover space shuttle launches, but now they'll be hosted by D.L. Hughley and Nancy Grace. (Kidding)
You have some questions about Fringe, so here are some answers

Maybe it's because of Lost, but TV viewers seem to be interested in the secrets behind a show at an accelerated rate these days. For example, there has only been one episode of Fringe so far but viewers are already wondering about the what the big secret is, what's going on with Blair Brown's robotic arm, who is going to play William Bell, why there's a cow in the lab, whether or not people can be reanimated on the show, and (most importantly) when Heroes star and J.J. Abrams buddy Greg Grunberg is going to show up as a janitor or a corpse. Well, TV Guide has some of the answers for you.
Yes, some SPOILERS are ahead, so click with caution.
Learn the science behind speed eating
Have you ever wonder how it is those speed eaters can stuff so much food into their bodies in such a short amount of time?
No? Okay, then go away, this isn't for you.
If you are interested, tune into the National Geographic Channel July 8 at 9:00 p.m. for Science of Speed Eating. The special will examine the science behind these eating competitions by following three speed eaters, including Tim Janus, who only weighs 170 pounds. In fact, at one point a doctor will track the food as it makes its way through Janus' body. Yes, it's disgusting, but science is yucky sometimes. I think Einstein said that. Or maybe it was Bunsen Honeydew. Either way, it's true.
Eight new shows lined up for National Geographic
National Geographic has eight new series (and some returning series) on tap, set to roll out over the next several months.
Inside the Green Berets airs June 3 at 9:00 p.m.
Inside the Taliban airs June 4 at 9:00 p.m.
Critical Situation, a new series that explores how people responded when faced with some of the most dramatic moments in history kicks off June 12 at 9:00 p.m. I'll be posting a preview of this new series soon.
It's Space Week on the Science Channel
Do you like space? Of course you do, you're floating around in it right now.
Despite the fact my brain is clogged with cartoon trivia and the words to that old Tootsie Roll jingle, I love anything having to do with space and space exploration, even if i don't always completely understand the science behind it. If you share my love of space-y things, and if you happen to get the Science Channel, tune in starting tomorrow for Space Week. Here's some of what's on tap:
What TV can teach us: Science - VIDEO
I guess the end of TV Turn Off week is the perfect time to do yet another installment in my two-part series about all the important things television can teach us that no other medium can.
Today, we will delve into the world of science. Slip on your safety goggles and follow me into the lab:
Science can be difficult to understand, which is why most science is controlled by evil geniuses. Some might argue that science is just a method of understanding the physical world, but that kind of thinking is why you're sitting in front of your computer reading this and some evil genius is inside his secret lair creating a laser that can turn hippopotami into bowls of tapioca.
A Man Among Wolves -- an early look
It's difficult to watch A Man Among Wolves, the story of Shaun Ellis, a man who chooses to live among wolves in captivity to better understand them, and not draw comparisons to Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog's documentary about Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived in the wild with bears and ultimately was killed by one.
National Geographic presents Galapagos in HD
On March 18 at 8 p.m., the National Geographic Channel will air a three-hour documentary on Galapagos, thirteen islands off the southern coast of South America that were central to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Put together from over 300 hours of footage shot over a three-year period, Galapagos is being lauded by National Geographic as the most in-depth look at the islands in over two decades.
The documentary will be presented in high def and will not only explore the various forms of wildlife, but also the surrounding ocean and the volcanoes that first gave form to the islands. If I sound like a commercial for the program, that's only because I live for any series having to do with the natural world. Galapagos is even more interesting because it's not only a remarkable ecosystem, but also the center of a time-tested theory about our origin that changed the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
Discovery Channel visits the year 2057 tonight
Tonight starting at 8:00pm, the Discovery Channel will look fifty years into the future with a three-part series called 2057. The series will mix speculation from leading scientists with dramatic storytelling to try and envision how our world will change over the next few decades. One of the questions, of course, is whether or not we'll have flying cars, and more importantly, will Martian hookers be both plentiful and affordable? Okay, the second one is my own personal preference, but I think it's worth looking into.
The first part of the series, "The Body" airs at 8:00pm and looks at modern technology and what it holds for human health and longevity in the future: things like robotic surgery and custom-built organs. At 9:00pm, "The City," the second part in the series, will look at advances in robotics, automobiles and surveillance systems. Finally, at 10:00pm, "The World" will examine how technology will help transfer more information even faster than before, and the possibilities of space travel for average folks like us.
You can watch clips from the series here.
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