And so has Breaking Bad taken me back to my happy college years and the joy of learning by doing. I can’t wait for the next episode. And thanks to modern TV technology, I don’t have to. 

7 Comments

1. 1. thickey 11:23 PM 3/25/11

   As a huge fan of both series, this article came as a very pleasant surprise. As far as the cool-yet-respectable treatment of science goes, Breaking Bad is definitely the more consistent show (and the better-made, although you'll be in for some excellent television in Season 4 of Dexter). Even as a relatively science-illiterate guy, I still can't help but feel that Dexter sometimes falls into the CSI trap of making the forensic tools available to be state-of-the-art (which I doubt is the norm for most investigation teams). With Breaking Bad, even the grimy labs of meth-heads have a fascinating aspect to them--the possibilities for error are self-evident, and therefore keep the audience perceptive of the scientific prowess necessary for good product.
   
   Keep up with both shows--with Breaking Bad, the story literally never lets up, and in its three seasons (which I caught up to just two weeks ago) the show has yet to make a quality dip.

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2. 2. Charles Chang 09:45 AM 4/6/11

   Steve - if you like science on TV, then I cannot recommend any stronger the Fringe series. Again, not to spoil the series for anyone who hasn't watched it, I will just say that almost any 'fringe' theory of science is covered - from parallel/multi universes; to teleportation, to strange diseases that even Dr House has not come across; and so forth. Not to be missed by any sci-fi or real-sci fan.

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3. 3. njcjuhkuusb 12:07 PM 4/6/11

   I'm a chemist, and I love Breaking Bad because it is perhaps the only TV show I've ever seen where the chemistry feels realistic. I wouldn't recommend Fringe to someone looking for science on TV, because it is based on pseudoscience. That show can be fun if you look at it as the fantasy that it is, but if you think it has anything to do with science, then it has done a major disservice to the cause of science education.
   
   The one other show that I love as a scientist is Big Bang Theory. It is a comedy and clearly exaggerates a bit, but their depiction of science nerds rings true. I say that being one myself, of course.

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4. 4. Terrorpaw 01:20 PM 4/6/11

   But masuka is a total creep... that's why nobody went to his talk.

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5. 5. DrPsych 11:39 AM 4/10/11

   As as social scientist I must admit my lack of knowledge regarding chemistry and forensic's. However, I do follow both shows and it's great to see careers in science playing a role in popular televisions shows.
   
   As for the Fringe series it is fantasy; but lets not forget how much imagnaion, curiosity and open minded thinking has lead to research and discovery through applying the scientific method to formerly random thought.

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6. 6. erice 09:36 PM 5/13/11

   Something has really been bothering me about this article. You talk about hydrofluoric acid as if it is a stronger acid than hydrochloric or sulfuric. HF is a MUCH weaker acid that hydrochloric or sulfuric, which I believe was the reason why Walter used it. Am I correct?
   
   Anyway, I do love Breaking Bad, although I didn't make it passed the middle of season 3. I tried to get into Dexter but it didn't really thrill me.
   
   Fringe is a pretty cool sci-fi-drama that I think any sci-fi nerd can appreciate. It sometimes gets a little unbelievable though (even for it's own standards).

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7. 7. jrennie in reply to erice 12:41 AM 10/3/11

   erice,
   HF is classified as a weak acid because it has a low dissociation constant, but it is outstandingly corrosive. For example, it etches glass, which hydrochloric and sulfuric acids don't.
   
   In fact, because HF dissociates so weakly, and because HF is lipid soluble, even minute amounts can soak into living (or dead) tissues very easily. That's one of the reasons why chemists have to be so careful when working with it: even dilute vapors of HF can poisoned and burn them.

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