CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERNKari Byron, right, speaks about her experiences working with the show ‘MythBusters’ as chemical physics professor Linn Van Woerkom listens during an OUAB event at the RPAC on Saturday.“MythBusters,” a long-popular Discovery Channel show, tests the plausibility of various myths and urban legends, with the aid of technology and science.
A mechanical and electrical engineer by trade, Grant Imahara joined the show after its second season. His past on-screen experience included manning the controls of a beloved little robot by the name of R2D2. “Working on the little guy before and after the prequels was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It was mind-blowing,” Imahar said.
Kari, on the other hand, is an artist and sculptor by trade. She said that what she loves most about the show is how it caters to the average Joe. “The only one here that is qualified is Grant, with an engineering degree,” Byron said. “Part of the appeal of the show is that it shows average Joes engaged in complex science experiments.” Kari was also named the People’s Choice Sexy Geek of 2006 in a poll conducted by Wired Magazine.
Kari said that co-hosting a show on television doesn’t necessarily bring celebrity status. “We have no social lives,” she said. “We usually work 12 hour days, pretty much year round.”
One of the cornerstone elements of ” MythBusters” is the explosion – the team loves to blow things up. And if it was explosions that the audience wanted to see, then explosions were what they got. Even before Kari and Grant came to the stage, Ohio State physics professors warmed up the audience with a show of their own. The opener featured a professor playing the role of mad scientist as he poured liquid nitrogen into a 12 ounce Coca-Cola plastic bottle. He dropped the bottle into a metal trash can and closed the lid. He proceeded to explain that liquid nitrogen expands, but before he finished the sentence, the lid blew off the trash can and a small explosion rocked the room.
Despite their propensity to blow things up, the ” MythBusters” team is insured, Byron said.
“Curiously enough, the only people with enough sense to ensure us are the same people that ensure the MTV show ‘Jackass,’ ” she said.
The event turned out to be a family affair. Rebecca Doss, mother of student Michael Doss, said her son invited her to the show because the ” MythBusters” remind him of Bill Nye, the Science Guy. “Just like the science guy used to do,” she said, “the ‘MythBusters’ make something complex and boring, interesting and easy to understand.”
Andrew Bond is a freshman in agricultural engineering and says he is a die-hard fan of the show. “I always DVR the show,” he said. “They are my heroes. …They made learning science fun and exciting. They have turned science into something that is cool.”
Katie Sigler, event manager for the RPAC, said she enjoys high-profile events such as this one. “It was a big deal. Everybody knew about it thanks to Facebook,” Sigler said. “I guess everybody must be expecting to see explosions.”
Maurice Arisso can be reached at [email protected].
