Via Boing-Boing, I learn that Don Herbert, a.k.a. "Mr. Wizard," has died.
He lived to a ripe old age of 89. Perhaps the best tribute to him is this:
"Over the years, Don has been personally responsible for more people going into the sciences than any other single person in this country," George Tressel, a National Science Foundation official, said in 1989.
"I fully realize the number is virtually endless when I talk to scientists," he said. "They all say that Mr. Wizard taught them to think."
A greater accomplishment in science is hard to imagine.
R.I.P., Mr. Wizard.
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We all knew him as Mr Wizard, of course.
Don Herbert died yesterday, just short of his 90th year. Don Herbert was host of television's Watch Mr. Wizard, a Saturday morning live TV show that had a run of 547 episodes from 1951 to 1965.
I haven't touched an Ask A ScienceBlogger for a couple of months. This week, the powers that be are asking us:
tags: Harry Potter, theme park, entertainment
Bummer. Another fond piece of childhood is gone.
I can remember his simple ice in a glass experiment had to be over 40 years ago.
Glass was filled up to the top with ice in it.
Then he asked us, "Do you think when the ice melts the glass will overflow or stay the same?"
So it begins...
I can't remember details of any single science exam...
Wow, we (my partner and I) were just talking about Mr Wizard with the five year old a few days ago. Neither momma, nor I, really care for the Beakman's World dvd we got him from the library and talked about seeing if we could find Mr Wizard on dvd. I'll have to go tell her about it.
At least he survived retirement. We were really bummed when Fred Rogers died, less than a year after the final episode of Mr Rogers.
John Armstrong has a good eulogy, which I've shamelessly plugged on other sites already.
I should also add, that though I am not a scientist, Mr Herbert is directly responsible for the profound interest I have in science. Well, him and Carl Sagan.
Approaching the second half of a century, I am beginning to re-evaluate the phrase "Ripe old age"
Now he is in hell.
Anti Atheist
Hugh?