Bill Nye Saves the World
Much like we’ve all grown up since those middle school science lab days, Bill has grown up with us. This isn’t your middle school science class. Bill is taking on climate change, marijuana, gender fluidity, and science as it relates to real life. The show is in its third season on Netflix – they’re short seasons, only around 8 episodes each.
Each episode covers a scientific topic and explores it from a few different angles. He uses various correspondents and sends them out into the field to tell us more, and show us how science works in real life. He then talks with a panel of scientists – usually including specialists on both sides of whatever issue that’s up for discussion. But don’t worry, he has plenty of special guests on to help dumb down science for those of us who don’t own lab coat, like Zach Braff, Karlie Kloss, Rachel Bloom, Drew Carey, and more. Each episode ends with Bill meeting a scientist who’s tweeted at him on Twitter, and they show the amazing stuff they’re working on. Like the original Bill Nye the Science Guy, it’s science for the masses. Sure, it’s probably not the most technical show ever, but if you’re that interested in science, you probably already have a degree in it.
To peak your interest here are a few of my favorite episodes to get ya learning:
Earth is a Hot Mess
Season: 1
Rating: 4.5 Cities Sinking into the Ocean
What You’ll Learn: CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL! If this year didn’t prove that to you, nothing will. Up here in Connecticut, we had snow and then 70 degrees the next day. And just last week we had a tornado. If I was interested in tornados, I would move to Kansas. It’s not right. It’s gone so far as to eliminate spring as a season. We’ll miss you, spring.
Bill has always been vocal about his stance on climate change. He’s written books and documentaries about it. And while people may claim this makes him a “social justice warrior,” I think it makes him a scientist. So it makes sense that the first episode in the series tackles the topic. This episode was nominated for an Emmy so take that, non-believers.
The Marijuana Episode
Season: 2
Rating: 5 tokes, bro
What You’ll Learn: I’m not a major pothead or anything but, man, I love this episode. It focuses on marijuana and all the nonsense that surrounds it. We watch him buy some bud from an LA dispensary, he chats with Kevin Smith about smoking with Seth Rogan, the ultimate pothead, and then correspondent Derek Muller heads to Israel, where they’re conducting advanced medical research on the healing powers of pot. Did you know in the US, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug (alongside heroin, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms to name a few others) which means it has no medical value and a high chance of abuse, while cocaine and meth are Schedule 2 which means they have some medical value?…that seems wrong to me. The studies being carried out in Israel prove that it is worth studying.
And yes, Kevin Smith is on the “expert panel”.
Cheating Death
Season: 3
Rating: 5 Anti-Aging Creams (that probably don’t work)
What You’ll Learn: We all want to be young forever, and some people will do just about anything to achieve the look of youth. This episode delves into the superficial aspect of looking young, discussing which skin treatments are worth it and which are just pure nonsense (spoiler alert: USE SUNSCREEN), but it also discusses the more important part of youth – how to actually feel young and live forever!
Correspondent Derek Muller visits Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts to talk to graduate students working to turn spinach leaves into human heart tissue. Yes, this is a real thing. My mind is blown, y’all.
Then Bill’s panelists discuss whether living forever is actually possible. They’re not in agreement about whether this is actually possible or not but I’m going to side with the guy with the insane beard who thinks we can live forever. Sign me up.
Honorable Mention: What is Your Pet Really Thinking?
Season: 3
Rating: 3.5 Humans Meowing Back at Their Cats
What You’ll Learn: Ok, I mainly included this episode because the correspondent segment is amazing. It involves a magician going to a zoo and doing magic tricks for the animals to gauge their responses. It’s worth a watch because cute.
Bill Nye Saves the World has gotten a decent amount of criticism from people who are apparently looking for a TV show with a bibliography at the end. Critics complain that he doesn’t base his arguments in scientific fact or that his views are too one-sided, but I don’t think I’m in the minority when I say I have no interest in watching a show that needs a footnote at the end of every sentence stating its source. The goal of this show is to get people interested in science, not get them a degree in science.
Yes, he simplifies topics so that the masses can understand them, and while he definitely leans strongly toward the left in terms of climate change, evolution, and other politically-charged scientific topics, he doesn’t try to hide that fact. And if you follow him anywhere online, you know he’s not quiet about his opinions. Also, it’s his show – he can say whatever he damn well wants. When you get your own show you can do the same.
Will you enjoy this show if you want hard-facts science? Maybe not. Will you enjoy this show if you don’t like cheesy dad jokes? Definitely not. But if you want a modern-day version of Bill Nye the Science Guy, or you just want to learn some interesting facts for your next party, this show might be for you. It’s entertaining, informative, and better than stuffing your eyeholes with the Kardashians all day, and that’s something.
