Backyard Science Goes Big Time Via Viral Videos

What would have happened if Gallagher chose chemistry instead of comedy? I bet he'd still find a way to smash watermelons – but with liquid nitrogen instead of his trademark mallet.

Why do I think this? Because I saw his alter-ego on a recent episode of Joe Genius – Backyard Science Goes Big Time. Joe Genius is hosted by Jonah Ray and it's an edgy look at science experiments gone wrong, gone right and gone wild.

The episode I watched was Best Chemistry Explosions and Jonah Ray mixes his knowledge of science with wry wit and humor. In one scene about water bottles serving as portable laboratories, he points out the stupidity of the person mixing chlorine and rubbing alcohol and not wearing a stitch of protective gear. After a vigorous shake of the bottle, the "scientist" holds on too long and the thing explodes in his hand.

Not all the scenarios depict stupid stunts. There are several supervised experiments performed by professors that showcase what chemistry can do. One of the cooler ones features ferrofluids --  liquids that become strongly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field. According to the video, NASA invented ferrofluids.

Well enough of my armchair play-by-play, see for yourself.

Enjoy!

Traci Purdum
Senior Digital Editor