Reveals the hard facts behind the laughter on TV's most popular sitcom The highest-rated scripted show on TV, The Big Bang Theory often features Sheldon, Howard, Leonard, and Raj wisecracking about scientific principles as if Penny and the rest of us should know exactly what they're talking about. The Science of TV's The Big Bang Theory lets all of us in on the punchline by breaking down the show's scientific conversations. From an explanation of why Sheldon would think 73 is the best number, to an experiment involving the physical stature of Wolowitz women, to an argument refuting Sheldon's assertion that engineers are the Oompa-Loompas of science, author Dave Zobel maintains a humorous and informative approach and gives readers enough knowledge to make them welcome on Sheldon's couch.
The geeks will inherit the earth. With well over two hundred episodes and a dozen seasons, The Big Bang Theory is one of America’s favorite television series, bringing a new class of character to mainstream television: the science nerd. In spite of its evident popularity and influence in shaping public attitudes to science and scientists, there are relatively few books that explore the show’s culture and social dimension. The Science of The Big Bang Theory looks behind the comedy scenes and scripts of this long-running and successful TV show to explore topics such as: The Bachelor Party Corrosion and Archimedes The Valentino Submergence: Fun with Flags The Dumpling Decoupling: Sheldon and Doctor Who The Mystery Date Observation: The Unlikely Dating Habits of Eggheads And More! This book is a light-hearted science companion to TV's The Big Bang Theory, providing you with just the kind of dissection of the science and culture you’d need to understand “math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries, that all started with the big bang! Hey!”
4 Science Geeks + 1 Savvy Blonde Waitress = A Big Bang You don’t have to be a theoretical physicist to understand why The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows on television. Brains meet beauty in a calculus of comedy that always adds up to smart and hilarious results. Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion is a quantum leap beyond the typical TV show guidebook. Exploring every nook and cranny of the Big Bang Theory universe, it provides a wealth of information about our favorite television show: • A profile of “intelligent designers” Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady • A detailed look at what went wrong with the unaired original pilot—and what went right in the reboot • In-depth background on the principal actors and the characters they play • A photo-illustrated breakdown of the Sheldonian universe, from couch to cosmos (including the show locations you can visit in real life) • How to get your geek on, Big Bang—style • A primer on the show’s key scientific concepts, plus its galaxy of guest star scientists • A concise guide to every episode and the meaning behind each title, organized by season • An A-Z guide to the pop culture miscellanea mentioned in the show • And more! Pull up a seat—just not Sheldon’s, which is in a state of eternal dibs—and get ready to unravel the mysteries of The Big Bang Theory.
This study aimed to explore whether entertainment television can increase the public's engagement with science. The motivation for the study was the 2010 Inspiring Australia report, a national strategic plan to engage the Australian public with science. One of the 'key principles' stated in Inspiring Australia was the need to strengthen the media's role in communicating science, including entertainment television. However, there has been little empirical research into how adults engage with the science content in entertainment television shows to validate (or to refute) the effectiveness of this key principle. In order to investigate whether and how entertainment television has influenced audiences' perceptions of science and scientists, I chose the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory as a case study since it is scientifically accurate and its main characters are scientists. Data were collected using 18 focus groups with 74 regular viewers of the show. Overall the program made science seem less dry and more interesting to the participants, and made scientists seem less socially isolated, humanising them. It positioned science and scientists as part of society rather than separate from it. With respect to whether the show influenced people's information seeking behaviours related to science, and science knowledge, personal experiences had a larger impact than watching The Big Bang Theory. However, the show did stimulate some people to find out more about the science information the show presented, and responses demonstrated that people can learn about aspects of the nature of science from watching entertainment television. Participants felt the scientist characters in The Big Bang Theory both conformed to and contradicted their preconceived images of scientists and their understanding of scientist stereotypes. They were surprised the characters had personal lives and romantic relationships, and as a result, felt scientists were more approachable. Participants indicated their frustration that the female scientist characters were introduced and written as love interests, but appreciated that they were shown as successful scientists too. People had mixed feelings about them being mainly in the biological sciences (rather than being physicists and engineers, like the main male characters), but indicated that on television, good value entertainment was more important than portraying gender balance in science. Although the participants indicated that the science content in The Big Bang Theory was an important contributor to their enjoyment of and interest in the program, they also asserted that relatability, characters, humour, and geek culture references were equally or sometimes more important. However, people cared strongly about scientific accuracy even if the science was being treated as secondary or used as a backdrop of the show. In summary, some audiences of The Big Bang Theory engaged actively with its science content and changed their views of scientists. Therefore, it is possible to use entertainment television to reach people who are not actively seeking science-related content, because if it doesn't just focus on science it makes the show - and therefore the science - more accessible for the public.
A lighthearted meditation on the philosophical quandaries of the hit television show The Big Bang Theory Ever wonder what Aristotle might say about the life Sheldon Cooper leads? Why Thomas Hobbes would applaud the roommate agreement? Who Immanuel Kant would treat with "haughty derision" for weaving "un-unravelable webs?" And—most importantly—whether Wil Wheaton is truly evil? Of course you have. Bazinga! This book mines the deep thinking of some of history's most potent philosophical minds to explore your most pressing questions about The Big Bang Theory and its nerdy genius characters. You might find other philosophy books on science and cosmology, but only this one refers to Darth Vader Force-chokes, cloning Leonard Nimoy, and oompa-loompa-like engineers. Fo-shizzle. Gives you irresistibly geek-worthy insights on your favorite Big Bang Theory characters, story lines, and ideas Examines important themes involving ethics and virtue, science, semiotics, religion, and the human condition Brings the thinking of some of the world's greatest philosophers to bear on The Big Bang Theory, from Aristotle and Plato to Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Simone de Beauvoir, and more Essential reading for every Big Bang Theory fan, this book explores whether comic-book-wielding geeks can lead the good life, and whether they can know enough science to "tear the mask off nature and stare at the face of God."
The Big Bang Theory's mix of humor, nerdy protagonists, sexy female leads and quirky characters have made the series one of CBS's most successful shows and have brought it international acclaim. Like Friends before it, The Big Bang Theory is touted as the show for the new millennium, bringing together aspects of classic humor applied to modern predicaments, usually sexual in nature. This collection of new essays explores sexual themes in The Big Bang Theory, interpreted through various critical lenses. Focusing on gender issues, the contributors explore how the series deals with sexuality and the ideals of masculinity, femininity and heterosexuality.
This book is part of Hyperink's best little books series. It's close to 3,000 words of fast, entertaining information on a highly demanded topic. Based on reader feedback (including yours!), we may expand this book in the future. If we do so, we'll send a free copy to all previous buyers. ABOUT THE BOOK Who knew that a show about nerds would be so unspeakably cool? That a UCLA particle physics professor would be hired to ensure scientific accuracy throughout a 30 minute CBS sitcom? Apparently, the producers and creators of the smash hit The Big Bang Theory did, and the show now boasts some 12 million viewers a week. And it seems that the show is also inspiring would-be and current physicists (and other scientists, too); according to the show’s science consultant, Dr. David Saltzberg of UCLA, emails are received from both high school and graduate students asking him about certain scientific aspects of the show. He also notes that there was a lot of background work that the writers did prior to shooting, such as following graduate students around and exploring what a physicist’s apartment might actually look like. According to Saltzberg, a real physicist’s apartment was a bit too boring, so the producers had to dress up Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment a little. But, the science itself was spot on. MEET THE AUTHOR Chris St-Jean is a Canadian teacher who has enjoyed American literature for as long as she can remember. Her daughters, ages three and seven, seem to have inherited her appreciation for books as well. She spends her free time writing short stories, hanging out with her husband and children, and working toward a black belt in karate. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz: One of Helberg’s biggest passions was music until he hit the 11th grade. That’s when he played a delivery part in an all-female production. Since then, he’s appeared in shows like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Joey, often being typecast as the geek. He got the role of Wolowitz in 2007, prior to the show’s start. Kunal Nayyar as Raj Koothrappali: Nayyar is the newest to the small screen; he was born in London, England and grew up in India. He decided to pursue educational opportunities in the United States and majored in business at the University of Portland in Oregon while taking some acting classes. From there, he went to Temple University in Philadelphia and earned his Masters of Fine Arts. He is a cricket fan and had a guest starring role on NCIS before snagging the part on The Big Bang Theory... Buy a copy to keep reading!
The terms 'liquid crystal' or 'liquid crystal display' (LCD) are recognized in the context of flat-screen televisions, but the properties and history of liquid crystals are little known. This book tells the story of liquid crystals, from their controversial discovery at the end of the nineteenth century, to their eventual acceptance as another state of matter to rank alongside gases, liquids, and solids. As their story unfolds, the scientists involved and their works are put into illuminating broader socio-political contexts. In recent years, liquid crystals have had a major impact on the display industry, culminating in the now widely available flat-screen televisions. This development is described in detail over three chapters, and the basic science behind it is explained in simple terms accessible to a general reader. New applications of liquid crystals in materials, biosystems, medicine, and technology are also explained. The authors' approach to the subject defines a new genre of popular science books. The historical background to the scientific discoveries is given in detail, and the personal communications between the scientists involved are explored. The book tells the story of liquid crystals, but it also shows that scientific discovery and exploitation relies on human interactions, and the social and political environments in which they operate.
This completely authorized Big Bang Theory trivia and quiz book is filled with questions from every season, photos, hilarious quotes, and more, including excerpts from the Roommate Agreement and your chance to play ‘Emily or Cinnamon.’ It’s sure to provide hours of fun and test the knowledge of even the most dedicated fan. The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular sitcoms in the world and the funniest show on TV. It is beloved by critics and audiences alike for its quick wit, incredibly geeky but relatable characters, and its science and science fiction storylines. But up until now, there has never been an official Big Bang Theory book. The Big Bang Theory: The Official Trivia Guide is the book fans have been waiting for. Featuring 1,600 questions, photos, and many of the best quotes from Sheldon, Raj, Penny, Howard, Leonard, Amy, and Bernadette, as well as a complete episode guide, this official book will entertain all Big Bang fans, old and new alike. Do you know what instrument Leonard plays in the Physics Department String Quartet? Or which award Sheldon is the youngest person to have ever received? Or how about the name of Penny’s avatar in the Age of Conan game? Or who Howard went to couples therapy with? Or the name of Raj’s school? Or when Sheldon does his laundry? Or what Leonard brought Penny back from the North Pole? You don’t need Sheldon’s eidetic memory to enjoy this book, but it might help! Get ready to use your knowledge of The Big Bang Theory and challenge your friends and family with trivia and questions about your favorite scientists.
There are so many number of questions like how this universe came into existence and what form is it going to be in future always keeps bothering our scholars and scientists and thus in sake of finding answers to which they every time come up with some new theory that can prove out to be perfectly answerable to their queries. And so like many other theories, big bang is also the one which describes about how this universe, that you are living in now, came into existence. Though, this is not that only theory which described about whole of the universe, but among many of those such as Steady State Theory or Oscillating universe theory, this was the one which was highly accepted and thus became popular.