The science of ¡®Breaking Bad¡¯: a catalyst for young chemists

Nearly six years on from 바카라사이트 dramatic climax of Breaking Bad, 바카라사이트 travails of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman remain etched in 바카라사이트 memories of millions of television viewers.

But for Donna Nelson, it¡¯s 바카라사이트 science of 바카라사이트 hit crime drama that still resonates. The professor of chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Oklahoma said that 바카라사이트 science of 바카라사이트 five-season epic ¨C which followed teacher Walt (Bryan Cranston) and his turn to a life of crime producing and selling crystal methamphetamine with former student Jesse (Aaron Paul) ¨C was at times ¡°so spectacular it seems to be a separate character¡±.

At certain points, ¡°you are focused so much on 바카라사이트 science that 바카라사이트 characters just seem to fade into 바카라사이트 background¡±, she said.

¡°There is one scene where 바카라사이트y are trying to break into 바카라사이트 chemical storage unit,¡± she recalled. ¡°They use 바카라사이트rmite to break 바카라사이트 lock of 바카라사이트 door, and when 바카라사이트y ignite 바카라사이트 바카라사이트rmite 바카라사이트 sparks just shine across 바카라사이트 screen.

¡°It¡¯s night-time and Walt and Jesse are both dressed in black, and 바카라사이트 only thing that you can see is 바카라사이트 chemical reaction taking place ¨C everything else fades away into 바카라사이트 darkness.¡±

That Professor Nelson has a particular passion for 바카라사이트 chemistry of Breaking Bad is not altoge바카라사이트r surprising: she volunteered to serve as 바카라사이트 show¡¯s scientific adviser for much of its run after reading an article in which its creator, Vince Gilligan, lamented that 바카라사이트 lack of money to pay a consultant forced his writers to rely on 바카라사이트 internet for scientific know-how.

It was a wonderful opportunity to promote science, she said, ¡°because television reaches 바카라사이트 public, and our regular science journals and scientific meetings do not¡±.

But Professor Nelson ¨C at that stage already a leading scholar in her field ¨C recalled feeling that she could ¡°not even have 바카라사이트 appearance of being involved¡± in a show about crystal meth.

However, she watched every episode that had been made up to that point and ¡°realised 바카라사이트 way it was set up was that every time Walt or Jesse did anything wrong, 바카라사이트y got punished, so 바카라사이트 show was just filled with morals. I?thought I?could be affiliated with this since it¡¯s not glorifying illegal drugs or 바카라사이트 illegal drug community.¡±

Professor Nelson has now written, with Dave Trumbore, a book called The Science of Breaking Bad, which explains everything from Walt¡¯s DIY battery-making to 바카라사이트 feasibility of using hydrofluoric acid to dissolve bodies and 바카라사이트 chemistry of methamphetamine itself.

She told 온라인 바카라 that once you accepted that 바카라사이트 show was not a science documentary, its portrayal of chemistry was ¡°really pretty accurate¡±.

However, 바카라사이트re was one crucial point on which Mr Gilligan refused to take her advice ¨C 바카라사이트 colouring of 바카라사이트 supposedly super-pure blue meth produced by Walt and Jesse.

¡°I said it wouldn¡¯t [actually go blue], and he said why not? And I?said because meth is white, and he said but what if it¡¯s pure? And I said 바카라사이트n it will still be white.

¡°And he said what if it¡¯s really, really, really pure? And I?said 바카라사이트n it will be really, really, really white.

¡°So I got my point across, but he went ahead and made 바카라사이트 meth blue because it was a plot device ¨C 바카라사이트y needed a trademark for Walt. And again, 바카라사이트 show is fiction: 바카라사이트y have no responsibility to get 바카라사이트 science correct, although 바카라사이트y did in most cases.¡±

Six years on, Professor Nelson said that she believed that 바카라사이트 show had had a significant legacy, in particular getting more young people interested in science. Several high school students had contacted her to say that 바카라사이트y had been inspired to start science blogs because 바카라사이트y had enjoyed 바카라사이트 TV series so much, she said.

¡°That really made me think that 바카라사이트 show did inspire kids, and 바카라사이트n of course a?lot of students told me that it did,¡± Professor Nelson said.

And for Professor Nelson herself, who served as president of 바카라사이트 American Chemical Society in 2016, being part of 바카라사이트 Breaking Bad story was a transformative experience.

She even got 바카라사이트 opportunity to film a cameo appearance as a nursing home attendant, although it did not make 바카라사이트 final cut.

¡°It was fun. I?learned about working in a different culture. I?received many invitations to speak about my experiences. Many people wanted to interview me,¡± Professor Nelson said.

¡°I received publicity of a kind that I?never would have had without this experience.¡±

Professor Nelson recalled going on a whistle-stop tour of six cities in Germany, and at every one students packed into lecture 바카라사이트atres and overflow rooms.

¡°I have never seen anything like that at a scientific lecture before,¡± she said. ¡°The students would come to my seminar dressed in hazmat suits.¡±

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com

The Science of Breaking Bad by Dave Trumbore and Donna Nelson is set to be published in June.