Editing Brainiac: Science Abuse (section)

==Forged results==
At least one faked result has surfaced: the alkali metal experiments.<ref name="Guardian-1">{{Cite news|last=Goldacre|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Goldacre|title=Sky's limit for big bangs|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 July 2006|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/jul/15/badscience.uknews|access-date=23 November 2008}}</ref> The experiment aimed to illustrate [[periodic trends]] in the [[alkali metal]] series. It showed the violent reactions of metallic [[sodium]] and [[potassium]] with water, in which the hydrogen produced subsequent explosions, and intended to demonstrate the even greater reactivity of [[rubidium]] and [[caesium]] by dropping them into a water-filled bathtub. The reaction was not particularly spectacular, and the crew substituted explosives for the alkali metals. A wire connected to an offscreen [[detonator]] can be observed on the side of the bathtub filled with water for a brief moment during the caesium experiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.badscience.net/2006/07/brainiac-fake-experiments-scandal-make-it-to-the-evening-standard/|title=Brainiac "Fraud" "Slammed" In The Evening Standard and the Independent – Bad Science|work=badscience.net}}</ref>

The ''Brainiac'' staff have admitted that the explosions had been faked.<ref name="Guardian-1" /><ref name="Guardian-2">{{Cite news|last=Goldacre|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Goldacre|title=Smile while you're faking it|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 July 2006|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/jul/22/badscience.uknews}}</ref> According to Tom Pringle, Brainiac's "Dr Bunhead", very little occurred in the real reaction of caesium and water, as the large volume of water over it drowned out the thermal [[shock wave]] that should have shattered the bathtub. The crew decided to set up a bomb in the tub and used the footage of that explosion.<ref name="Guardian-1" />

Similar experiments with caesium or rubidium have been repeated; these include ''[[Popular Science]]'' columnist [[Theodore Gray]]'s experiments,<ref>Gray, Theodore. "[http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/AlkaliBangs/ Alkali Metal Bangs]" and videos. Accessed 23 November 2008.</ref> the [[MythBusters (2008 season)#Alkali Metal Mayhem|"Viewer Special Threequel"]] episode of ''[[MythBusters]]'', and an attempt made as part of the ''[[Periodic Videos|Periodic Table of Videos]]'' series created by [[Brady Haran]] and the [[University of Nottingham]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Caesium |url=http://www.periodicvideos.com/videos/055.htm |access-date=12 June 2021 |series=The Periodic Table of Videos |series-link=Periodic Videos |date=10 August 2009 |language=en}}</ref> In no case were the rubidium and caesium reactions nearly as violent or explosive as depicted on ''Brainiac''.

An earlier and more successful attempt was shown on British TV in the 1970s as part of the Open University programmes. Here, rubidium splatters around as soon as it hits the water's surface (with some parts sinking and creating more violent bangs). Caesium, on the other hand, does create an explosion and destroys the apparatus by shattering the glass and blowing a hole in the side of the container. This video is available online at [[The Open University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/chemistry/alkali-metals|title=Alkali metals|work=OpenLearn}}</ref>