Brainiac is The Alternative science series that shows you the experiments you were never allowed to do in school. Richard Hammond aims to answer the scientific questions that have been bothering us all such as what you shouldn't put in a microwave and Do mobile phones really cause explosions in petrol stations.
CreatorsStewart Morris, Andy Milligan
Episode 1
Nov 13, 2003
Can high explosives make your donner kebab taste the business. Can safety equipment really protect your body from attack. Can we turn a mobile phone into a time bomb. Brainiac boffin Jon Tickle finds out whether eating bagels can make you fail a drug test. Is staring at a woman’s breasts for 30 minute the equivalent of a 30 minute workout. What will make a man run faster – greed or fear? We travel to Swindon to experiment with Mexican waves. Is it better to be Fat or Thin in a sinking ship? We try to break open a safe by dropping it from a great height. Does laughing gas really make everything funny.
Episode 2
Nov 20, 2003
How to make perfect toast - the lazy man’s way. NASA eat your heart out, we join the space race with shopping trollies. We ask which food produces the smelliest fart. Can Brainiac Boffin Jon Tickle walk on custard. Brainiacs play golf to test the laws of probability. If you’ve got something important the next day, is it better to be tired or wired. Jon Tickle launches his office rocket. We find out if pheromone spray works on our lovely Julie. Three firemen tackle our safe. And Fat v Thin continues.
Episode 3
Nov 27, 2003
Can we accelerate as fast as a jet on a kiddies roundabout. Smash and grab – can a stock car team crack one of the world’s toughest safes. Would you bet your teeth on the laws of science. Resident Brainiac Boffin Jon Tickle takes to the water. How much weight can you lose by having a dump. Making chips – the lazy man’s way. Does a duck’s quack echo. How many times can you fold a piece of paper in half. Which commonly used household oil is the most dangerous. Why are you lighter on a morning than when you go to bed. We test subliminal advertising. And Fat v Thin continues.
Episode 4
Dec 4, 2003
High voltage hi-jinks – our team of brainiacs gets to grips with electricity. We scientifically measure how much better looking women become after a couple of pints. Crackpot scientist Dr. Bunhead meddles with liquid oxygen. Tossing a salad, the lazy man’s way. We find out what goes on inside your stomach. After trying our carbon dioxide vehicles on land and water, now we try the sky. Does it cost less to send a parcel if it’s filled with helium balloons. What is the largest paper plane that will actually fly. Does a tooth dissolve if it’s left in a glass of cola overnight. Can you learn while you sleep. Former specialised debt collector Dave Courtney tackles our safe. And Fat v Thin continues.
Episode 5
Dec 11, 2003
Ginger whingers – are redheads more sensitive to pain than brunettes. Taking down their particulars – is a job interview easier if the panel are naked. Indestructible objects – are they, really. Brainiac Boffin Jon Tickle really pushes his luck. Dog Whistles – If we can’t hear them, how do we know they work. If sports drinks get into your body faster, can they get out again quicker. After eating a kebab which drink is best to cool your mouth. Can you see the stars during the day if you’re at the bottom of a well. Modern art, the lazy man’s way. Explosives experts tackle the safe. And Fat v Thin continues.
Episode 6
Dec 18, 2003
Which bomb produces the biggest splash. What happens when you mix up gardening with high explosives. How much weight can resident Brainiac Boffin Jon Tickle lose in just 4 hours. Through plans on the internet, you can build your own personal hovercraft. ESP is put to the test with a pair of twins. Which roll of tape in your kitchen drawer is the stickiest. Can a water cooler get down for speeding. Can we stretch our shortest brainiac enough to get him on a rollercoaster. Does high performance equipment result in a high performance performance. The British Army take on the safe. And Fat v Thin concludes.
