R.I.P. Mr. Wizard

I'm sorry to report this morning Don Herbert, the lovable grandfatherly figure better known to thousands of people in my generation and in others as Mr. Wizard, has died. He was killed in a tragic baking soda-volcano accident.

Just kidding. He died at age 89 in Los Angeles, after having cancer.

For some reason, I thought his only incarnation was on Nickelodeon in the 1980s, but he was apparently prolific before he went grey, with a show on NBC as early as 1951.

Though I was never once able to duplicate his amazing experiments, he did make me feel like junior scientist. I like to imagine that he is explaining to God right now why it's impossible for angels to walk atop the clouds.