I've had an epiphany. Let me start from the beginning.
I’m featuring on the Guardian science podcast this week, which I recorded in their plush new offices a few weeks ago. The interview covers a few of the 13 Things, nothing weird about that. What is weird (but good weird) is that, tomorrow, I'm invited back on George Lamb’s BBC 6 Music show for a third week in a row.
It’s great that they are so keen to do a bit of science in a show that is not at all intellectual (I’m sure they won’t mind me saying that). Is it because science is – dare I say it? - cool again? There are a few new TV science shows (I’m being parochial, and talking about the UK here, sorry) such as Blast Lab and Rocket Science. Tomorrow’s World (pictured, above) is making a comeback too, though I’m informed it won’t be called Tomorrow’s World: around the BBC it’s being referred to as “Not Tomorrow’s World”.
So, science is back. And here's my epiphany. It's because the fashions that were around in the heyday of TV science are also back in fashion right now. Look at this picture of George Lamb.
The guy in the blue suit above would love what Lamb's wearing - and Lamb was recently voted one of the world's best-dressed men. People see the suits, they think, "hey, that's such a cool look, and it reminds me of...what? That time back when scientists were on TV." Pause. "Hey, let's get science back on TV..."
OK, it's just a theory...
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