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- Wacky scientist Beakman and his assistant Josie, and Lester, an actor dressed as a mangy rat, answers an inquiry about where puddles go after it has rained. Although Lester suggests they are licked up by stray dogs, Beakman proceeds to explain the mysteries of rain and evaporation using a variety of household props. In the "Beak-Mania" portion of the show, Beakman attempts to answer, in rapid succession, short viewer inquiries on topics such as living prehistoric animals (the platypus), the most commonly used word in the English language and the heaviest animal in the history of the world (blue whale). Then, after a trick in which he balances a pair of forks atop a toothpick, Beakman forces Josie to reveal the question for the show's final segment, "What is snot?" Turning to volcanoes, Beakman explains the processes in the Earth's interior that create, and then discharge, molten magma. With the aid of film footage of volcanic eruptions, Beakman employs a foam rubber model of the Earth and a rubber glove to show how magma moves from deep inside the Earth and appears on the surface as lava. Finally, asked by Josie about why some volcanoes explode, Beakman uses a cherry pie to demonstrate the power, and mess, of a volcanic eruption.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG7.0 (46)TV EpisodeExplaining how scientists use ideas and information to solve problems, Beakman demonstrates the Scientific Method with a simple experiment: Starting with "Will salt water conduct electricity-" as his question, and taking as his hypothesis that it will, Beakman tests a trio of beakers containing salt water, distilled water and just plain salt to determine whether it is right or wrong. Finally, he concludes that it is the reaction of salt with water that will conduct electricity but not just water or salt working on its own. "Beak-Mania" reveals the size of a dairy cow (up to 1,700 pounds), the temperature of the sun (10,000 degrees at its' surface), and the fact that the heartbeat cannot be stopped by sneezing. For the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to pick up a mayonnaise jar without touching it. Asked for the solution, Beakman shows that by creating a vacuum which pulls the balloon partially inside, the jar can be picked up without actually touching it. In response to an inquiry about rainbows, Beakman takes Lester into the sky in search of an answer. Explaining that white light is actually composed of seven colors, Beakman uses a prism to show how sunlight can be broken into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Finally, after noting that raindrops in the atmosphere act like prisms, Beakman discusses light's two invisible components, the ultraviolet and infrared.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG7.1 (47)TV EpisodeUsing a question about hot and cold to explain the science of thermodynamics, Beakman employs the Boguscope to show how heat is created when molecules move. Then, upon mixing hot and cold water, he shows how their molecules exchange energy during collisions which cause faster ones (hotter) to slow down and slow ones ( cooler) to speed up, resulting in an average rate of motion (warm). However, when Lester notes that you don't need to add anything to hot chocolate to get it to cool down, Beakman explains that air molecules provide for the same effect in their collisions with the liquids, moving them toward an average temperature. After inquiries about whether penguins can jump (yes, about six feet up); how much a typical typist can type in a day (12.6 miles); and how much lead there are in pencils (none, they're made of graphite!), Beakman challenges Lester to blow a small scrap of paper into a large soda bottle. However, when Lester is unable to perform the seemingly simple task, Beakman shows how the air inside the bottle blocks anything else from entering, causing the paper to come flying out. Asked about pimples, Beakman begins by explaining how the skin is full of tiny holes (pores) that allow sweat and oil to be expelled from the body. Demonstrating how these pores can get clogged with dirt, he shows how bacteria can grow which can cause the infections known commonly as pimples or acne. Warning Lester that they should not be tampered with, Beakman uses benzoyl peroxide, the active ingredient in most acne medicines, to help Lester with a pimple.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG7.0 (47)TV EpisodeAnswering an inquiry about why vaccinations are necessary, Beakman conjures up Edward Jenner, the 19th century British doctor who invented the first vaccine to combat smallpox. Using a model of a virus, Beakman demonstrates how they latch onto the body's cells to make people sick. Explaining how vaccines trick the body into producing disease-fighting agents, he shows how these antibodies attack viruses and disable them before they can do any damage. For "Beak-Mania," Beakman tackles questions ranging from the amount of food an elephant eats (800 pounds a day); to the noises plants make when they are thirsty; to the age of the umbrella (over 3,000 years). For the "Beakman Challenge," he claims he can make a ball stay inside an upside down funnel. Although Lester is skeptical, Beakman attaches a hose to the funnel and keeps the ball suspended by a pressure differential created by the flowing water. Asked why hands get warm when rubbed together, Beakman explains that it is just one of many examples of the effects of friction. Describing some of its' many unfortunate aspects, such as causing things to wear out, Beakman goes on to say that friction also has advantages when it comes to things like car and bicycle brakes. After using the Boguscope to show how the friction of air molecules and gravity conspire to stop a Frisbee, Beakman notes that frictional forces can be minimized with lubricants such as oil and grease. Finally, with an old thread spool, a record album and a balloon, Beakman constructs a makeshift Hovercraft and creates a layer of air that acts as a lubricant.
- Beakman viewers are burning to find out about flames and fires. The gang and Beakman as Robert Bunsen the flame expert, set out to answer questions on this hot topic. Beakman reveals different types of flames and how "hollow" flames, produced by Bunsen burners have helped scientists for more than one hundred years. In Beakmania, Beakman answers a question from a viewer who wants to know how many ants an anteater eats (30,000 a day) and then dives into the next question from a viewer who asks, "how deep can a seal dive?" (600 feet). Beakman also reveals a unique fact: human beings are the only species to sleep on their backs. And finally, intrigued by a viewer who asks, "how can basketball players stay up in the air so long?" Beakman jumps at the chance to explain the science behind the illusion. With spectacular game footage of Chicago Bulls Superstar Michael Jordan, Beakman discovers that the science of gravity and momentum, enable players to look like they're hanging in midair. Beakman gets down and dirty to answer a question about what happens after you're done using the toilet. Beakman is flushed down the toilet to track down the process, from raw sewage to the treatment plant and back into our homes. No journey is too far or too messy for this scientist.
- With a question about the old myth of cats and their nine lives, scientist Beakman and his trusty team have a ball, untangling the facts about felines. Contrary to popular belief, cats only have one life. However, they have an amazing ability to escape serious injury or death, because of their keen instinct to land on all fours. Beakman demonstrates these safe landings with a cat in the studio, and its easy to see how the grace of cats can add a couple of years to their lives. In Beakmania, Beakman answers questions from viewers who want to know if animals ever get sunburned (yes, pigs do) and if Eskimos have refrigerators (yes, to keep things from freezing). He also discovers that the dung beetle is the world's champion eater. Nurse Phoebe gives us some helpful hints on getting rid of lice and preventing future outbreaks. The next dynamo question about dynamite, gives Beakman a chance to explain the wonders of explosive substances. Explosions happen when substances go from a small size to a much larger size in a short amount of time. Beakman demonstrates how we can create our very own "kaboom" with household products--baking soda, vinegar and a plastic bag.
- The first top flight question comes from a viewer who wonders how birds know when to fly south. While Lester ponders the possibilities of traffic jams in the skies, Beakman really answers the question by unveiling the importance of food supply and climate to migrating animals. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman reveals how Greenland, which is not so green, got its name. Then, Beakman is ordered to go fly a kite to answer the next question, "who were the first people to fly kites?" (The Chinese) The "Beakman Challenge" tests Lester's animal strength. To meet the challenge, Beakman throws his scientific weight around, lifting barbells without lifting a finger. Beakman has fun answering the next urgent question, "how do astronauts go to the bathroom in space?" The humorous scientist notes that what goes down doesn't always stay down, but luckily for our astronauts, science has created special space toilets to counter microgravity.
- With a viewer question about why sweat smells, Beakman and his lab assistants work up a sweat to find the answer. Beakman demonstrates the functions of perspiration by comparing our bodies to car engines. Like the radiator in a car, perspiration helps maintain a healthy body temperature. But that's only the half of it; to find out why Lester smells the way he does after a science work-out, Beakman discovers the culprit behind the odor. Millions of bacteria and their waste create that familiar scent of sweat. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman discovers how much food an average person consumes in a life time (50 tons of food and 11,000 gallons of liquid) and why people have nose hair. Then, Chef Art Burn (Beakman dressed as the culinary wizard) gives away the secrets of his recipe for paint. Using colored chalk, water, a pot and some glue, Beakman shows how easy it is to discover the artist within. The final question, "How can you find out the weight of a car?", is not as difficult as it seems. Through some calculations of pressure and tire prints, Beakman uses his own Beak-mobile to demonstrate how finding the weight of heavy objects doesn't have to be back-breaking work.
- Viewers are starving to find out facts about bread and why its called "the staff of life." Bread, which is the most widely eaten food in the world, provides a larger share of our energy than nay other food. Beakman investigates different types of bread, how bread is made and the function of yeast in bread. In Beakmania, Beakman silences any doubt about clothes hangers and their noise making capabilities (hangers emit low sound when they sag) and luminates the night answering a viewer's question, "is a full moon twice as bright as a half moon?" (it's 9 times brighter than a half moon). On the game show, "What's for Lunch?" contestants gobble up facts about the food chain. Beakman sizes up his science knowledge to answer questions about measurement. Size, weight/mass, temperature and time are the basic means of measurement and Beakman reveals how important standardization is to figuring out measurements. Beakman also shows Lester how to determine the height of a palm tree using its shadow.
- Beakman gives us the skinny on skin, the largest organ in the human body, to answer a viewer's question. Skin acts as a protective wall around our bodies and regulates body temperature. Beakman peels off some more facts about skin and reveals the three layers that make up this organ--the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. In Beakmania, Beakman unveils some eye-opening answers to the question, "how far could a person see if they had the best human eyesight possible?" (a match struck at night fifty miles away). Then, Beakman explains why Mars is called the "Red Planet," (a red mineral covers the planet's surface). Nurse Phoebe gives a soothing explanation about sunburns and offers some remedies to cool off sun-baked skin. The final breath taking question, "why do we breathe?" is demonstrated by comparing breathing to a gasoline engine. Oxygen is the "gas of life" that gives our bodies the energy needed to sustain itself.
- Beakman&s attraction to the first question is obvious, "what's the difference between an electromagnet and a magnet magnet?" While a typical magnet does not use electricity to function, an electromagnet uses a wire with electricity running through it. These types of magnets are used in everyday things such as television signals, radios and speakers in stereos. Beakman and his trusty sidekick, Phoebe create their own magnetic electricity by using an iron nail, copper wire and a battery. In the Beakmania section, the zany scientist finds out where the first writing ink came from (the Incas discovered it in the ink sac of an octopus) and if there is any fresh water in the ocean (yes, in the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Amazon River). He also gives a little history lesson to answer the question, "where did the first silver used in America's first silver coins come from?" (Martha, George Washington's wife's silverware and silver serving dishes). Finally, Beakman as Chef Art Burn brings some dinner theater to the science of gelatin. To demonstrate the functions of gelatin, he shows how you can make your own using unflavored gelatin, a sauce pan and some apple juice. A viewer asks a very sensible question about the senses--smelling, seeing, tasting, touching and hearing. However, Beakman reveals that there are more than these five senses, we're covered from head to toe with many other sensational senses, both internally and externally.
- Beakman and the science crew go ape with a question from a viewer who wants to know if apes are the closest links to humans. Humans along with apes are part of a group of mammals known as primates. Beakman monkeys around with a chimpanzee, discovering similar traits between chimps and humans. Swinging over to Beakmania, Beakman reveals the truth behind the legend of Johnny Appleseed (his real name was John Chapman and he really did plant apple trees). The next blood curdling question comes from a viewer who wonders if all animals have red blood (no). In "The Phoebe Challenge," Phoebe is asked to multiply her talents by finding a way to turn one glass of water into six glasses of water. By using a siphon and the science of pressure, Phoebe meets the challenge, much to Lester's surprise. Then Beakman explores an eye opening question from a viewer who is nervous about an eye exam. With the help of Beakman's brother, an ophthalmologist, he sheds some light on what an eye doctor does, how a healthy eye functions and why eye exams are so important.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG6.7 (46)TV EpisodeQueried about cassette players, Beakman asks Lester to demonstrate how the recording and playback heads write music onto magnetic tape. Posing as English rock star Axel Bearing, Beakman then provides the music while Lester attaches notes onto a moving role of butcher paper to show how a tape player encodes sound. Then, reversing the process, Lester demonstrates how it reads this magnetic message to reproduce music. For "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals that dog's noses are wet because of how they sweat; that spaghetti and meatballs were invented in New York City; and that the laziest animal in the world is the tropical American sloth. Turning the tables on his friend, Lester challenges Beakman to rearrange a pattern of sixteen sticks that form five squares into just four squares by moving only two sticks. Though Lester thinks he has him stumped, Beakman easily reveals the solution to his problem. Asked how to lie down on a bed of nails without getting hurt, Beakman takes the opportunity to describe the difference between force and pressure. Beginning by placing a balloon and a brick atop a pin, Beakman notes that it will pop because all of the force was concentrated on a single point. However, trying the same experiment using many pins to support its' weight, the balloon doesn't pop because the force is distributed over all the pins. Finally, in a dramatic demonstration, Beakman lies down on a bed of nails without being hurt.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG6.8 (46)TV EpisodeAsked how a microwave oven works, Lester offers to answer the question by preparing a frozen pizza. Though agreeing that his idea is a good one, Beakman first sets out to explain electromagnetic energy and its applications, including radio, television and radar. After explaining that microwaves are defined by the size of their wavelength, Beakman continues to keep Lester at bay by using a microwave oven to heat a cup of water and light a fluorescent bulb. But, when Lester finally gets his chance, he discovers that the oven has been returned by Josie. For "Beak-Mania," Beakman explains why mosquito bites produce a bump (an allergic reaction to their saliva), the nature of most household dust (dead skin cells), and that the world's most fire safe city is La Paz, Bolivia (because of its altitude). After challenging Lester to get a pair of eggs to obey his commands, Beakman demonstrates that, by changing the density of water, he can "order" an egg to float. Responding to an inquiry about spiders, Beakman reveals that, like scorpions, mites and ticks, they are members of the Arachnid family. After noting that most spiders can be considered friendly to humans because they prey on a wide range of pests, Beakman explains that, in most cases, the female of the species is strongest, and that a pound of spider silk could stretch completely around the world. Finally, after showing how spiders use wind currents to enable them to fly, Beakman shows how their webs can be artfully displayed at home by using paper and spray paint.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG6.7 (47)TV EpisodeQueried about the origins of earwax, Beakman notes that it serves a purpose...protecting the body from dirt and germs floating in the air. Using a model of the ear, he shows how the body's ceruminous glands produce an oil which, once it begins to dry out, turns to wax. Then, using the Boguscope, Beakman demonstrates how changes in air pressure cause ears to pop. During "Beak-Mania," Beakman explains why feet fall asleep (lack of circulation), whether blood is really thicker than water (yes, about six times thicker), and that two quarts equal a "pottle." For the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to bounce a tennis ball fifteen feet in the air by gently dropping it on the floor. When he is unable to perform the seemingly impossible task, Beakman shows that it can be done by placing the tennis ball atop a basketball and then dropping them together. Asked about how rockets work, Beakman conjures up the father of modern rocketry, Dr. Robert H. Goddard. After explaining that the action caused by the fuel creates a reaction which propels it into the sky, Goddard is told that rockets were eventually used in the way he predicted they would be, including sending men to the moon. Finally, Beakman uses a large plastic soda bottle to demonstrate that, under proper supervision and with all the necessary precautions, anyone can make a rocket at home.
- Asked why the ozone layer has a hole in it, Beakman begins by explaining that ozone - molecules consisting of a trio of oxygen atoms ?? protects the Earth from the harmful rays of the sun. Using a series of Mylar sheets, he demonstrates ozone's ability to filter out ultraviolet light. However, noting that chlorofluorocarbons, a common chemical in aerosol sprays, refrigerators and air conditioners, and styrofoam, have reduced the Earth's protective ozone layer, Beakman goes on to discourage their use in order to protect the Earth from harmful radiation. During "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals how baby snails are born (very tiny eggs), the origin of the term bookworm (actual worms that grow inside books), the number of verses in the Greek national anthem (one hundred and fifty?eight), and when the first toilet paper roll was invented (1871). During the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to pour water from one beaker into another while keeping them two feet apart. When his feral sidekick is unable to perform the task, Beakman shows how adhesion and cohesion enable him to pour the water along some yarn stretched from one beaker to the other. Asked about acids, Beakman begins by explaining that they do not really burn things, but rather combine with certain substances to tear their molecules apart. Placing a tooth into a beaker of cola (phosphoric acid) and a chicken bone into vinegar (acetic acid), Beakman shows how they dissolve their calcium phosphate to make each quite rubbery. Finally, after revealing that many acids are beneficial, such as those that aid in the digestion of food, Beakman uses the acid in a pickle to light a bulb.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG6.6 (48)TV EpisodeIn response to a question about why toilets used to "explode," Beakman seizes the opportunity to explain the inner?workings of household plumbing's most remarkable device. Using a demonstration toilet bowl, he shows how water pressure, air pressure, gravity and levers work together to make it flush. Then, in response to Lester's concerns, Beakman notes that, before the invention of a trap to keep the volatile gases from coming back through the pipes, toilets were prone to explode. For "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals the name of the world's fastest fish (the sailfish), that bats can eat 600 mosquitoes in an hour, and that explorer Vasco Da Gama first reported the existence of penguins back in 1499. During the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to take a single sheet of typing paper and cut a hole big enough for his boss to step through. Though Lester claims it cannot be done, Beakman makes a series a of carefully planned cuts that produce a circle large enough to meet the challenge. Asked about how roller coasters work, Beakman explains that they operate using inertia, conservation of energy and centripetal force. After a seemingly dangerous demonstration of the conservation of energy using a bowling ball and his face, Beakman notes that a roller coaster is supplied with all of its' energy in the first, and highest, hill. Asked why the passengers don't fall out when the car turns upside down, he explains that gravity is overpowered by the inertial and centripetal forces acting on the roller coaster, keeping everyone safe inside.
- Beakman pulls out the trickiest question from his science hat to answer a viewer who wants to know if there really is such a thing as magic. To create the illusion of impossibilities appearing before your eyes, magicians use a lot of science behind those puffs of magic. Beakman breaks the first rule of the trade and reveals the secrets behind two of the most common tricks, the "disappearing box" and floating in mid-air, all in the name of science. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman gets tongue tied finding out the answer to "what place has the longest name?" (a hill in New Zealand, Taumatswhatkatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu). Still catching his breath, Beakman finds out what's so out of the world about the Guzman Prize is (it's awarded to the first person who can prove they've made contact with aliens), and the Beakman team meets a skin crawling creature on "Those Disgusting Animals," the naked mole rat. Speaking of moles, Beakman explores another beautiful mole, the beauty mark. Beakman reveals the scientific mysteries of eyeliner, creams, shampoos powders and soaps. Cleopatra gives Lester much needed beauty advice, including how to make your own make-up Egyptian style, of course.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG6.3 (47)TV EpisodeAddressing a question about bees, Beakman explains that a beehive is a highly organized colony with each of its 50,000 members having a specific purpose, while sharing a common goal and function. Identifying the members as workers, drones and queens, Beakman notes that bees make honey after gathering nectar and pollen from flowers. Demonstrating how a pair of stomachs work together to create honey, he then tells his queasy colleagues that the sweet sticky substance is actually bee vomit. After noting that bees die after losing their stingers, Beakman concludes by describing how they communicate through a series of dances. In "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals that lightning can strike in the same place (and even the same person!) more than once, the number of taste buds on the human tongue (ten thousand), and that penguins have been around for about forty million years. Asked to make a piece of paper stay up on a wall using only a pencil, Lester tries and fails to meet the "Beakman Challenge." So, rubbing the paper with the pencil to charge it with static electricity, Beakman shows that it is a relatively simple task once you know how. In response to an inquiry about earthquakes, Beakman begins by describing how the Earth is composed of a series of layers that, near its surface; move around as fifteen huge plates. Revealing the motion of the plates as a source of earthquakes, Beakman notes that there are as many as a million tremors a day around the globe. Then, with the aid of a seismograph, an instrument which detects even the slightest movement on the Earth's surface, Beakman describes how the famous San Andreas fault is caused by the motion of the North American and Pacific plates.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG7.6 (47)TV EpisodeAsked why you cannot see through a mirror, Beakman calls on the mythical Greek character Narcissus for an explanation. Describing them as pieces of glass with a metallic coating, Narcissus claims that the "silvering" both gives the mirror its reflective quality and makes it impossible to see through. Using a pool table to demonstrate how the angle of incidence always equals the angle of reflection, Narcissus shows how light rays enter and leave a mirror, while Beakman shows how a simple periscope can be made using a pair of mirrors, a shoe box and some tape. In "Beak-Mania," Beakman identifies the world's smallest fish (the Pygmy Goby), why grasshoppers jump so high (lots of leg muscles), and that the mountains in California get more snow than the North Pole. In the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to remove a coin from a dish of water without getting his fingers wet. When he fails to provide a satisfactory solution, Beakman uses a candle, a jar and a lump of clay to demonstrate how a difference in air pressure can push the water into the jar, leaving the coin high and dry. Asked about atomic submarines, Beakman calls on the noted physicist, Madame Curie, to explain how radioactivity is used to provide their power. Defining radioactivity as the process by which certain atoms emit atomic particles and rays of high energy, Madame Curie describes how she and her husband, Pierre, discovered this unique property while experimenting with radium. Picking up where his guest left off, Beakman uses a series of mousetraps loaded with ping pong balls to show how radioactivity is used to initiate reactions that split atoms and give off energy which can then be harnessed to power a submarine.
- Beakman investigates a question about how detectives find fingerprints. Fingerprints are made up of unique patterns that combine in different ways--so no two fingerprints are exactly alike. By using special chemicals that react with sweat and oil on potentially felonious fingers. Beakman shows his curious science investgating crew how to make their own fingerprint kits with a piece of charcoal, a table knife, a small paint brush, tape and an ink pad. In this week's Beakmania, Beakman swallows a taste of his own science when answering a viewer who wants to know how to take the "yuck" out of medicine (suck on an ice cube to numb taste buds.) Then Beakman finds out some noisy facts about roadrunners. Finally, Beakman as Chef Art Burn, makes a recipe for crystalline formations crystal clear. With a spoon, a glass jar, some bowls and sugar--science never tasted so sweet. Beakman holds his breath while waiting to find out some answers to a subject in Lester's field of expertise--flatulence. The science crew discovers what all the noise behind farting really is. Gas is passed when it accumulates in the stomach or intestines. In acutality, people pass the gas of bacteria eating leftovers in the colon--these tiny critters chow down and give off waste products like carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. The crew signs off with an original tune about flatulence, "the man-made turbulence."
- Beakman horses around with some facts about horses. Horses were tamed and ridden more than 5,000 years ago and used for sports, in war, and as transporters. There are over 150 different kinds of horses and these handsome creatures and still one of the most valuable and beloved animals. Then the gang discovers a surprising species of disgusting animals in "Those Disgusting Animals" Beakman tries to convince his skeptical crew that people should be considered for this category, considering humans feed themselves poison (by smoking) and live in their own waste products caused by exhaust emitted from cars and factories.
- 1992–199721mTV-PGTV EpisodeWacky scientist Beakman discovers a zoo of animals in a single drop of pond water. Amoebas are protozoans, or one celled animals which live, breathe, eat and reproduce in water and soil. There are 30 thousand different kinds of protozoans and they have unique ways of eating and reproducing. In Beakmania, Beakman discovers some facts about amazing fathers (sea horses are the only species of animals in which the males give birth,) then in a blink of an eye, Beakman gives some facts about how often humans blink, (once every two to ten seconds.) Beakman flexes his science muscles to discover that there are more than six hundred muscles in the human body and the Beakman crew reveals how warm vomit hits the spot for baby birds in "What's for Lunch," Finally, the flips sets for some Hollywood action as they find out the secrets to some amazing film stunts. With the use of some tricky camera angles, false perceptions and state of the art technology, movie makers give audiences a hair-raising experience.
- 1992–199721mTV-PGTV EpisodeThe science crew dives into a jewel of a question about sunken treasure. Beakman explores the job of underwater archaeologists or "marine archaeologists" to see how treasures in the deep blue are found and what they can tell us about the past. Through uses of sonars, mini submarines and radars, Beakman unveils the mystery behind lost treasures. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman answers a timely question about how much energy a quartz watch uses (very little). Then he gets tongue tied trying to untangle the hardest tongue twister, "the sixth sick sheik's sixth shee'ps sick." Beakman reveals how much of Alaska is covered with snow, and Chef Art Burn makes delicious science by giving away a family recipe for Punch ala Art, complete with dancing raisins. While Lester guesses the Archimdedian Screw is the latest dance craze, Beakman screws on his thinking cap to tell us how a simple tool can be considered a machine. A machine is anything that helps use energy to do work, by using the properties of mechanical advantage, pulleys and levers a simple tool can be used as a more complicated machine. Beakman shows how a screw like the Archimedian Screw which pumps water out of the bottom of a boat, can function as an important machine.
- In response to a viewer inquiry about how seeds become plants and trees, Beakman focuses on how they are spread by wind, water and other animals, including birds. However, worried the discussion won't be entertaining enough, Lester introduces a trio of clowns to liven up the show. Undaunted by the interruption, Beakman continues by explaining that some seeds can weigh as much as forty pounds before turning to germination: the sprouting of a plant or tree from a seed. Then, claiming they will do almost anything to grow towards light, he enlists Liza and Lester in demonstrating how seeds will even grow through a maze. In this episode's "Beakmania" segment, Beakman reveals the three most common human fears (fear of speaking before a large group; fear of heights; and fear of insects); that while gold is rare, it was one of the first metals to be discovered; and the correct pronunciation of the word Hawaii. In the "Beakman Challenge," Beakman asks Lester to blow up a balloon placed inside a plastic bottle. But, when Lester is unable to perform this seemingly simple task, Beakman explains that without a way to displace the air inside, it is impossible to inflate the balloon until a hole is provided to allow it to escape. Asked how bridges are built, Beakman begins with models of the four different types ?? the beam bridge; the cantilever bridge; the suspension bridge; and the arch bridge. After showing examples of each along with film of the famous 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Beakman bravely employs some dangerous steel spikes to demonstrate that arch bridges really do work. Finally, Beakman concludes the show by explaining that bad breath is a result of germs growing inside the mouth.
- 1992–199721mTV-PGTV EpisodeBeakman makes a big splash with a whale of a question about why these large mammals are so special. Beakman swims away with facts about cetaceans, especially blue whales, the largest animals that have ever lived and special characteristics about whales. With the alarming rate at which whales are being killed, saving whales has become a top priority to many environmentalists. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman fishes for answers to a question about how long people have been fishing (for over 10,000 years). The next juicy question comes from a viewer who wants to know how spiders eat their victims (spiders don't eat their victims, they pump digestive juices into them to dissolve their insides, then they suck them up like a slurpee). Finally, on, "What's For Lunch?" contestants find out how the elaphe guttata guttata, a corn snake, eats its victims by literally squeezing the life out of them. Beakman proves that seeing is not always believing when he uncovers the optical illusion behind 3-D pictures. The crew focuses on a blurry subject that can only be explained through the science of the inner eye.
- 1992–199721mTV-PG8.0 (5)TV EpisodeBeakman holds his breath when asked about stinky breath, a question near and dear to Lester's heart. The daring scientist journeys into the center of the human mouth, a virtual rain forest, to find billions of creatures feeding off of leftover meatloaf. Turning to Beakmania, Beakman marches off the beat of the first question about how much soldiers were paid in ancient Rome. (Soldiers were paid in salt.) The next inquiry comes from a viewer wants to know how many reptiles have shells? (One, the turtle.) The final question is about how cedar chests keep moths away from wool. (There is no real evidence of this tradition.) The crew worms their way through another "Those Disgusting Animals" segment to find out all about tiny worms and wiggly creatures that grow to a hundred feet long. Beakman tests his science strength to answer a viewer who's antsy to find out "if an ant were tall as a man, which would be the strongest?" Beakman gives us the science buzz on the mathematics of creating objects to scale when comparing subjects of different sizes.
- Al is the quintessential working class dad. Peggy, his wife, always wants more from him. With their children, they go through the highs and lows of ordinary life.
- With an inquiry about the human body, Beakman explains how five liters of blood and sixty?three thousand miles of arteries help to deliver food and oxygen to the cells in the body. Dressed as an Italian waiter and an Irish cop, Beakman shows a cell, played by Josie, how blood supplies nourishment, removes waste products and, finally, protects against germs. Turning to "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals how fast the fastest dogs can run (over forty miles per hour), how many words are in the English language (over 400,000), and the longest English word (Floccinaucinihilpilification). Then, in the "Beakman Challenge," he shows how salt and a paper towel tube can make a flimsy piece of toilet paper impervious to an attack by a broom handle. After a nightmare in which he has been fired and the show changed to "Lester's World," Beakman decides it would be a good time to answer a question about dreams. Explaining how the mind is divided between the conscious and unconscious, Beakman reveals how the unconscious mind takes over during sleep. Finally, after Beakman acts out a dream using a box of toys as his memory, he reminds everyone that, with a little practice, they can control their dreams.
- Responding to a question about why people who live on the bottom of the Earth don't fall off, Beakman launches into a messy exposition on gravity. Using three toothpicks, a bottle cap and half a watermelon, he demonstrates how people on different parts of the globe perceive its top and bottom based on their own unique perspectives. With the use of his Boguscope, a device that gives a special look at things hard to see, Beakman shows that, while gravity can be counterbalanced, it cannot be defied. In "Beak-Mania," Beakman fields questions about the world's most remarkable fish (the Plaice), the animal that lays the biggest egg (the ostrich), and the amount of ice in Antarctica. Then, asked whether all objects fall at the same rate, Beakman recreates a famous experiment first done by Galileo from atop the Tower of Pisa. Using an eggplant and a piece of paper, Beakman proves that, in the absence of air resistance, they will fall equally as fast due to the Earth's gravitational pull. Portraying one of the giants of physics, Sir Isaac Newton, Beakman addresses an inquiry about why seat belts are necessary when riding in a moving vehicle. Explaining that objects at rest only move if something makes them start, Beakman uses a collection of eggs, toilet paper tubes, a large piece of cardboard and a broom to show how a chain reaction puts things in motion. Then, with a crash dummy and a car, he demonstrates how objects in motion will only stop if they are stopped by some outside force, underscoring the importance of seat belts in the process.
- 1992–199722mTV-PG7.6 (53)TV EpisodeAsked by a viewer about the creaking noises she hears at night, Beakman reveals they are the result of her house and its contents expanding and contracting with changes in temperature between day and night. Using a balloon in a bath of very cold liquid nitrogen, Beakman demonstrates how, as cooling causes air molecules in the balloon to contract, the balloon makes noises as it shrinks. Reversing the process, he then shows how it expands when removed from the nitrogen and allowed to return to room temperature. Turning to "Beak-Mania," Beakman fields questions about the weight of a hummingbird (less than a penny), the amount of nectar required for a honeycomb (two million flowers worth) and how long a blue whale can go without eating (six months). Then, with help from Lester, he proves it is impossible to sneeze and keep your eyes open at the same time. Embarking on his explanation of the virtues of mucus, Beakman notes that, without it, the human body would be left without a primary defense against disease. Using a giant mockup of the nose, he then demonstrates the power of mucus to trap dirt and infectious agents as they enter the body, allowing them to be expelled before they can do any harm. Finally, after demonstrating how blowing one's nose clears out what it has collected, Beakman brings the show to a slimy close.
- In response to a question about why a boat made of steel can float in water while a nail sinks, Beakman explains that, for any object to float, it has to be less dense than the liquid it is in. Using equal volumes of marshmallows and nails, Beakman shows how they behave distinctively when placed in water because of their different densities. To provide the next piece in the puzzle, Beakman uses his own body to illustrate displacement, noting that when an object which displaces an amount of water weighing less then it does, the object (such as a large steel ship) will float. Turning to "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals why woodpeckers peck (to eat); the cause of waves in the ocean (wind, earthquakes, landslides) and the most common name in the world (Muhammad). After stuffing a straw into an uncooked potato, Beakman explains that cylinders like the straw are among the strongest of all shapes. After showing how increasing the number of legs on a table make it even stronger, Beakman makes a simple cylinder from a piece of paper that is strong enough to carefully support the weight of a brick. Recalling the first flight by the Wright Brothers in 1903, Beakman shows how it is the shape of their wings, not the power of their engines, that allow airplanes to fly. Called to demonstrate the principles of flight, Balance Man notes air pressure seeking equilibrium from either side of a wing gives the lift necessary for flight. In closing, Beakman claims that the world's fastest airplane, the SR?72, reaches speeds over 4,500 miles per hour.
- 1992–199722mTV-PG6.9 (47)TV EpisodeOpening with a viewer's question about why electrical plugs have two prongs, Beakman begins by explaining how the flow of electricity is the movement of energy in a closed circuit. With the help of his East Bay Electrons basketball team, Beakman demonstrates how electrons in motion create electrical energy. Dissecting an electric plug, he shows how the prongs provide the pair of connections required for electricity to flow through an appliance and provide it with the energy it needs to operate. This week's "Beak-Mania" inquiries includes one about the number of beekeepers in the United States (212,000), the world record for walking on your hands (871 miles) and whether or not sharks really kill people (yes, but not often). For the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to balance a dozen nails simultaneously, each one on the head of another. After his friend fails to come up with a solution, Beakman interlocks the heads of the nails and, using a stationary one as a brace, balances them all at the same time. Asked about how light bulbs work, Beakman calls on inventor Thomas Alva Edison to discuss how his improvements on the original light bulb made it practical for widespread use. Then, after Lester and Josie tell the late inventor that many of the new ideas he is working on (Thighmaster, Ginsu Knives and the Clapper) have already been invented, Beakman uses ping pong balls to demonstrate how electrical resistance produces the heat necessary for light bulbs and other electrical devices.
- Taking a question from a student puzzled by levers, Beakman uses a teeter-totter and a large boulder to explain how these simple machines work. Noting that there are first, second and third class levers, Beakman goes on to describe their essential parts -- the fulcrum, the resistance and the effort -- and why their relative positions determine how levers are classified. Then, with help from Lester and Josie, he demonstrates some common levers used everyday -- pliers & scissors (first class), wheelbarrows & bottle openers (second class), and hammers & golf clubs (third class). In "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals the length of the longest tapeworms (32 feet), the amount of electricity it takes to operate the human brain (10 watts), and the number of teeth in a snail (up to 25,000). For the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to balance a pair of forks on the tip of a toothpick. Puzzled with this seemingly impossible task, Lester watches as Beakman connects the forks and sets them atop a toothpick which he then balances on the tip of another inserted in a salt shaker. Asked how television works, Beakman conjures up Philo T. Farnsworth, the young genius who conceived the idea when he was only 14 years old and produced the first TV in 1927 at the age of 21. After using a walkie-talkie to show how transmitters and receivers work, Farnsworth enlists Josie to demonstrate how a TV uses a set of lines on its screen to reproduce a video camera's pictures. Finally, with a simple flipbook, Beakman shows that anyone can replicate how a television turns still images into a moving picture.
- 1992–199722mTV-PG6.5 (46)TV EpisodeNoting that microscopes have been used to unlock some of nature's biggest and smallest wonders, Beakman introduces their inventor, Zacharias Janssen. After insisting that Anton Van Leeuwenhoek did not invent the microscope, but only the lens commonly known as a magnifying glass, Janssen goes on to explain how his addition of a second lens was the advance that produced the device we use today. Then, with help from his Boguscope, Beakman shows how this pair of lenses refract light to enlarge an image, and then treats Josie and Lester to a look at the creatures living in a drop of pond water. During "Beak-Mania," Beakman explains the difference between a weasel and an ermine (none), what color attracts mosquitoes best (blue), and the name of the smallest dinosaur (compsognathus). When Lester is asked to turn Beakman upside down just by looking at him, he is stumped. So, using a cardboard box and a single sheet of white paper, Beakman constructs a "camera obscura," a simple optical device that limits the passage of light to make objects appear inverted. After helping Josie bandage a wound inflicted by a bicycle accident, Beakman is questioned about how cuts heal. With a brick wall serving as a model of a magnified section of skin, red balloons as red blood cells, wads of paper as white blood cells, and paper plates as blood platelets, Beakman demonstrates how these three components of blood act together to promote healing.
- 1992–199722mTV-PG7.8 (47)TV EpisodeAsked why a straw in a glass of water appears to be bent, Beakman explains it is due to refraction, or the bending of light waves. Beginning with a demonstration of how objects reflect light, he shows how light travels at a slower speed through water than it does through air. Explaining how lenses are used to bend light in a variety of ways, Beakman reveals refraction's uses in telescopes, microscopes, eyeglasses and other useful items. During "Beak-Mania," Beakman reveals the only natural enemy of the skunk (Horned Owls), the longest recorded flight by a chicken (over 100 yards), and that penguins, though they can't fly, can jump up in the air over six feet! In the "Beakman Challenge," Lester is asked to crush an aluminum can by plunging it into a bowl of water. When his partner is unable to provide a satisfactory solution, Beakman shows how, by using a small amount of boiling water, he can create a difference in air pressure that crushes the can. In response to a question about compass needles, Beakman reveals that, because magnets tend to line up with each other, the needle in a compass will always line up with the Earth's magnetic field. With the aid of a refrigerator magnet, a piece of aluminum foil, a bowl of water and a needle, Beakman demonstrates how a small magnet (the needle) aligns itself with the field of a much larger magnet (the Earth). Finally, in a display of magnetically inspired magic, he levitates a string of paper clips and then himself with the aid of a pair of iron?plated shoes.
- 1992–199722mTV-PG7.4 (48)TV EpisodeResponding to a question about the first wheel, Beakman conjures up the caveman who claims to be responsible for its' invention. As the caveman remembers how he accidentally found that placing a heavy object on top of a log made it easier to move, Beakman explains it is because the log reduces friction with the ground. Using a little red wagon to demonstrate, he shows how, without using the wheels, it is very difficult for Lester to pull Josie across the floor while, with the wheels on the ground, he can move his friend with ease. Then, using a collection of common household items, Beakman constructs a vehicle he calls the "Beakmobile" to demonstrate how wheels work. In "Beak-Mania," Beakman explains how toothpaste is put into tubes; which creature has the biggest eyes (the giant squid); and why there are so many worms on the sidewalk after a rainstorm (to keep from drowning). Taking a question posed by Josie, Beakman uses his method to explain why fireworks explode in so many different colors. Having already formulated the question, Beakman turns to the dictionary and encyclopedia (home resources) before looking for a fireworks manufacturer in the phone book to call (phone tips). Unable to find anyone to call for help, he then goes to the library (field research) in search of an answer. Upon completion of the process, Beakman reveals that firework's colors are a result of metal filings placed in the black powder.
- 1987–199723mTV-148.0 (658)TV EpisodeIt's Al and Peggy's 20th wedding anniversary, but Peggy only wants one thing from Al....S-E-X. Meanwhile, Kelly and Bud win the "My Dinner With Anthrax" contest which means a house party for the thrash metal band. But there will be no party unless they can get rid of mom and dad first. The answer? Tricking them into taking a Florida vacation that turns out to be a time share sales scam where the salesman won't leave them alone. Back home, the house party gets dull with no food in the house and 10 feet of snow outside.
- 1992–199723mTV-PG8.4 (5)TV EpisodeIn response to a curious viewer in Missouri, Beakman begins his second season with an explanation of how submarines work. Noting that they can be over six hundred feet long, Beakman explains that subs operate by controlling their buoyancy, changing their density by taking on water which allows them to rise and sink in water. After demonstrating the different densities of wood, coins and water, he then goes on to make a simple homemade submarine, using a plastic soda bottle, a balloon, some rubber tubing, straws, tape, coins and rubber bands. In the "Beakman Challenge," Beakman reveals that the ball in the back of the throat is called the uvula, and that the windiest spot on earth is in Antarctica. After challenging Lester to push a skewer through a balloon without breaking it, Beakman shows that, by pushing it through the ends of the balloon, it can be done without causing a puncture. Asked about why people regurgitate, Beakman takes the opportunity to first explain digestion. Then, using a blender for a stomach, he constructs a simple model of the digestive tract to show how food is digested, before demonstrating how, acting in reverse, it can be vomited, too. Finally, Beakman explains that the growling noises made by the stomach, or borborygmi, are caused by liquid food being pushed through the intestines.
- The home front feels Angela works too hard and should delegate more. Mona is delighted when some workload is transferred by the recruiting of Jack, a talented and charming creative director. Tony, however, jealously and suspiciously changes his attitude as Jack tends to spend nearly all day with Angela and becomes a regular home guest, even late into the night. When they book a hotel together, Tony decides to put an end to their presumed affair, but could have saved himself the trouble.
- Mona's brother's wife has died, but to enter Heaven she must return to earth to reconcile Mona and her brother's estranged relationship with Tony as the mediator.
- Now people know he's with Angela, Tony gets frustrated being financially unable to treat her in style like country club members, being merely her guest himself. So Tony can't resist bidding at a painting for her he can't afford. To pay for it, he takes a job as shirtless waiter. Alas, Sam's dorm gang takes her there.
- Tony's traditional family from Italy is coming for a visit. Angela tries her hardest to impress its members, until the aunt demands that she will marry Tony's cousin Maurizio.
- When Tony's lips swell up in an allergic reaction to matrimony, Angela thinks it best to put off kissing the bride.
- Tony and Angela, finally together, have trouble finding time alone when they try to keep the family from finding out about their romance.
- Tony befriends Kelly, the widowed mother of the girl that Samantha is babysitting for. After a conversation with the girl, Angela finds out that Kelly is lying about her past.
- Tony is proud as a peacock when Al Rossini, who just graduated from beautician school, follows his advice by starting his own parlor. Tony comes help out, but finds it's not easy to coach the rudely outspoken knave to flatter rather then chase clients.
- During preparations for Tony and Angela's wedding, Sam and Hank decide to say their I do's, too. Part 1 of two.
- Conclusion. Tony, Angela and Hank's parents chase their eloping children to the chapel.
- 1984–199224mNot Rated7.3 (66)TV EpisodeSam, already in a killer mood after a romantic breakup, foolishly undertakes organizing her first local 'rock concert' but can't contract any artist. Angela can't help, but Tony appeals to his youth mate Steve Mueller (now a professional agent working with some big names). Sam's ingratitude peaks when Steve fails to deliver, yet Tony comes up with a last-minute alternative.