Big Bang Sitcom Stars Scientific American Tonight
On the March 12 episode of The Big Bang Theory, a mock copy of Scientific American becomes a key part of the plot. The sitcom's science advisor, U.C.L.A. physicist David Saltzberg, talks about the show's reach to the lay public. Steve Mirsky reports
By Steve Mirsky
SUBSCRIBE TO Science Quickly
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
On tonight’s new episode of the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, a mock copy of Scientific American magazine becomes a big plot point. Which makes today a good time to hear from U.C.L.A. physicist David Saltzberg. He’s the show’s science advisor. I recorded a talk he gave at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center all the way back in 2010. Here’s a clip.
“We have about 15 million viewers each episode. And it’s not the same 15 million viewers each episode. So, I could go out and give public lectures on science with 100 people in them every week for 100,000 weeks to get to 10 million people. So this is brief, but it’s a huge audience. And people do watch television with their laptops around. And hopefully they will Google something, and that may be a chance to get the idea that there’s dark matter out there. Especially if they [the characters] are working on it week after week, and people do care about the characters—there’s a pretty good chance people are Googling what’s going on.”
For more from David Saltzberg, check out the latest episode of the Science Talk podcast. And go to our Web site to read a new Q and A with The Big Bang Theory’s showrunner, Steven Molaro.
—Steve Mirsky
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
