does mayim bialik have a phd in neuroscience

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Is Mayim Bialik a neuroscientist?

Patrizia Rizzo
Kevin Quinitchett
Published : 21:30 ET, Sep 29 2022
Updated : 21:42 ET, Sep 29 2022
Published : Invalid Date,

PROFESSIONALLY speaking, Mayim Bialik wears several different hats.

Like the character she played in The Big Bang Theory , Mayim is also scientifically gifted and well-educated.

Mayim Bialik is a neuroscientist, actress, and author

Following her starring role as the titular character in the 90s NBC sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik took a 12-year-hiatus from acting.

In 2000, Mayim enrolled at the University of California in Los Angeles to pursue a degree in neuroscience.

Seven years later, the actress received her doctorate in neuroscience.

Bialik dished to BrainandLife about the inspiration to pursue a degree in neuroscience, crediting her biology tutor as a significant part, saying: "I was a diligent student, but science didn't come naturally to me.

Everything we know about Mayim Bialik

does mayim bialik have a phd in neuroscience

Who are Mayim Bialik's kids?

"Because of that, I didn't think it was open to me as a career.

"I specifically fell in love with the action potential and the electrical properties of the neuron when I was in my first semester at UCLA."

She shared: "I love understanding the way we think and feel and communicate—and neuroscience is the science of all that.

"I'm using my visibility to encourage girls and young women to take an interest in science and give them a deeper understanding of what they can do in that world."

most read on mayim bialik

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Who did mayim play on the big bang theory.

For Mayim, art imitated life when she went on to play neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

Regarding her education and its effect on her characterization of Amy, Mayim stated to The Observer : "I'm really proud that I'm working a show that highlights women in this way.

"I generally wear bigger clothes as Amy because I don't think there's anything wrong with showing a character that has a normal body. I have what's considered a normal body.

"I know a lot of female scientists from my time in college and grad school who were respected for their brains and who didn't have to compete on a physical level, and I like that a lot in this character."

Art imitates life; Mayim's Big Bang character is also a neuroscientist

The Jeopardy! host said at the time: "It's a conscious decision that I make to not have Amy be sexy and not wear Spanx and push-up bras and false eyelashes.

"It's really just so interesting and fun and inspiring to play these characters because they're all growing and changing all the time.

"It's very much like real life, and we're all very proud of that."

After playing Amy Fowler for several seasons, Mayim went on to experience continued success in television.

On January 3, 2021, Mayim's sitcom, Call Me Kat , premiered on FOX .

Produced by fellow Big Bang alum Jim Parsons, she stars as the lead titular character, Kat.

The comical character resides in Louisville , Kentucky , and operates a cat cafe.

On September 29, 2022, Kat's third season premiered on the aforementioned network, featuring her Jeopardy! co-host, Ken Jennings .

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On July 25, 2022, the team behind Jeopardy! revealed to Variety that Ken Jennings and Mayim were made permanent co-hosts, officially ending the search for Alex Trebek's replacement.

The announcement followed the actress' several guest stints on the game show due to the death of Alex Trebek .

The Big Bang Theory
US Explainers
Mayim Bialik

Onetime child star Mayim Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience, then returned to acting on TV hit The Big Bang Theory —playing a scientist. It’s given her a unique view of women’s roles, in STEM fields and in general.

Why This 'Big Bang Theory' Star Got a Ph.D. in Science

Mayim Bialik tells Neil DeGrasse Tyson about transitioning from acting to neuroscience—then playing a scientist on The Big Bang Theory.

Neil deGrasse Tyson: So in your childhood, were there any science influences?

Mayim Bialik: There were a few. In junior high school I had a physics teacher who was very eccentric and would sometimes fall asleep while showing us slide shows, but he was a brilliant physicist. I went to a very unusual school: The 1980s sitcom Head of the Class, about a group of very smart and precocious children, was actually based on the school I went to. After junior high I had tutors on set because I was on this show Blossom from the time I was 14 to 19—

NT: No, you were not “on the show”—you were Blossom, to make that clear.

MB: Um, yes. OK. [Laughs]

NT: This saddens me. That one single person made a life difference to you—but how many students are missing that one person?

MB: The first answer is: Many girls are. I’m sure we could run the statistics on it. And that’s because of a historical difference in the representation of women in these STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] fields and probably a cultural bias on the part of teachers and administrators. I think there’s been a shift in education since I was in school in the ’70s and ’80s, but then it was like, Oh, you’re not naturally good at math? Better try English—how’s your Chaucer?

NT: There are people who presume that unless something comes easily to them, they should never pursue it as a career—without realizing that some of the greatest achievements you ever attain are because you busted ass to reach that point.

MB: Yeah. If I had not gone to college, I might have kept acting and been happy like that. But I loved going to UCLA and doing something that was very challenging academically. I loved doing research with adolescents with special needs—that was seven years of my life. It was exciting to get my Ph.D. in 2007. But in terms of time to raise my two sons, the flexible life of an actor was better than the long hours of a research professor.

NT: Fast-forward to 2010 and The Big Bang Theory. Who would have guessed how popular this show would become?

MB: Not me! I had never seen it before I auditioned.

NT: On the show you play Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, who’s a neuroscientist.

MB: She’s actually a neurobiologist … but I get to say neuroscience things.

NT: How much of your professional self do you bring to your character?

MB: Since the job of an actor is to present a character even if you’ve never been in that profession, I guess I have the easiest job—I don’t have to stretch that far.

NT: I try to imagine someone pitching the show idea to network executives: “Let’s have six scientists, and they’ll talk but you won’t know what they’re talking about, and they’ll crack jokes and they’ll laugh, but they won’t explain it to you.” I think it was low-hanging comedic fruit because no one had tackled it before.

MB: For sure. All the shows that I grew up with were about attractive people, and who had sex with who on which week. Meanwhile, our show is about the people who watch those shows.

The cast of geeky-scientist characters in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory includes neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) and her boyfriend, physicist Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

NT: Might there ever be room in your show for a female character who’s more sexualized—but also a full-on scientist?

MB: We did an episode where the Bernadette character, a microbiologist, poses for a “sexy scientist” photo shoot and Amy has a very big problem with it.

NT: I remember that episode. Your character, Amy, sabotages the photo shoot.

MB: That’s right. When I do advocacy for STEM careers for young women, I’m often asked, What do you think about [the sexy-scientist stereotype of] the white shirt open with the black bra underneath? And you know, I don’t knock women or scientists who want to do that. For me, that’s not the way that I choose to portray women in science. I don’t think that’s the only way to generate interest. It might be the only way to get a certain population of men interested in women in science … But it’s not a personal goal of mine to further that notion of women scientists.

But then I got older and understood. Marine biology, working with animals, working in the environment—all those things are science. You like engineering? You want to do coding? Knock yourself out. There are many STEM careers that involve a lot of variety and a lot of creativity. And that’s what I think we need to try and communicate to girls as young as possible.

NT: That was awesome! That’s like the whole show right there.

MB: Thank you. And I didn’t even have to take my clothes off to do it.

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Mayim Bialik

Who Is Mayim Bialik?

American actress Mayim Hoya Bialik was born in San Diego, California, on December 12, 1975, to first-generation Jewish-American parents who raised her in Reform Judaism. She grew up in Los Angeles, and attended both public and religious schools.

Acting Career

'pumpkinhead,' 'macgyver,' 'beaches'.

Bialik began acting in the late 1980s. Her first acting job, in the horror film Pumpkinhead, was followed by numerous guest appearances on some of the most well-known shows of the 1980s and '90s, including MacGyver , The Facts of Life and Webster . In 1988 Bialik played Bette Midler's character as a young girl in the film Beaches , and she later appeared in a music video for the song "Liberian Girl," by Michael Jackson .

Bialik's breakout role was that of Blossom, the main character on the TV show of the same name. From 1990 to 1995, Bialik enjoyed Blossom 's success, as the show garnered high ratings: Her character, Blossom, was known as "the quirky girl with the signature flower hat."

After Blossom ended, Bialik did some voice-over work for cartoons and appeared as a guest star on several television shows, including Curb Your Enthusiasm , Fat Actress , Saving Grace and What Not To Wear .

'The Big Bang Theory'

Rededicating herself to acting, Bialik appeared in the season 3 finale of The Big Bang Theory in 2010, before joining the regular cast of the hit sitcom for season 4. Her character of neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Jim Parsons ' Sheldon Cooper, mirrored Bialik's real-life educational interests. Her performance on the show garnered her several Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

After her run on Blossom , Bialik took a step back from acting to focus on her school work: She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, despite gaining acceptance to both Harvard and Yale, in order to stay close to her parents and remain on the West Coast. Bialik earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, Hebrew and Jewish studies in 2000, and then went on to the university's Ph.D. program in neuroscience, which she completed in 2007.

Parenting and Religious Views

Having returned to the acting world's spotlight and asked about her religious views, Bialik confirmed that she aspired to be Modern Orthodox. She began writing for the Jewish parenting blog Kveller.com , and is a founding member of the Shamayim V'Aretz Institute, a center for Jewish spirituality.

In her book Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way , released in March 2012, Bialik presented her views on "attachment parenting," and provided insight into the way she and now ex-husband Michael Stone — who converted to Judaism prior to marrying Bialik in 2003 — raised their two sons, Miles and Frederick, together.

Just months later, in November 2012, Bialik announced that she and Stone were splitting in a blog post on kveller.com , writing: "After much consideration and soul-searching, Michael and I have arrived at the decision to divorce due to 'Irreconcilable Differences.'" The couple finalized their divorce in May 2013, after nine years of marriage.

Car Accident and #MeToo

Following an August 15, 2012, car accident in Los Angeles, Bialik suffered severe lacerations to her left hand and thumb. The media frenzy that ensued speculated that she could lose a finger as a result, but, using social media, Bialik confirmed that she would keep all of her fingers.

Following the explosive revelations of Harvey Weinstein 's behavior that sparked the #MeToo movement, Bialik in October 2017 penned an op-ed in The New York Times in which she discussed her experiences in an industry that objectifies women. However, she came under fire for noting how she dresses "modestly" and makes a point of not flirting with men, drawing responses from women who recalled how they were assaulted regardless of their behavior and clothes. Bialik subsequently apologized and participated in a Facebook Live discussion to clarify her points.

QUICK FACTS

Name: Mayim Hoya Bialik
Birth Year: 1975
Birth date: December 12, 1975
Birth State: California
Birth City: San Diego
Birth Country: United States
Gender: Female
Best Known For: American actress Mayim Bialik is best known for her roles in the film 'Beaches' and on the hit television shows 'Blossom' and 'The Big Bang Theory.'
Science and Medicine
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius

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CITATION INFORMATION

Article Title: Mayim Bialik Biography
Author: Biography.com Editors
Website Name: The Biography.com website
Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/mayim-bialik
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Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
Last Updated: June 30, 2020
Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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Mayim Bialik ’00, PhD.’07

Posted On - May 22, 2015

Does Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler on the ABC sitcom Big Bang Theory seem a little familiar to you? Maybe it's because you had a class with her at UCLA. Actress Mayim Bialik ’00, PhD.’07 who plays delightfully smart, funny and nerdy Amy earned her undergraduate, and doctorate degrees at UCLA. The actress even shares a similar field of study with her TV alter ego – Amy Farrah Fowler holds a doctorate in neuro-biology, while actress Bialik holds a doctorate in neuroscience.

From 1991 to 1995, Bialik played the eponymous role on NBC's Blossom , where she explored life's issues with slightly older and more experienced friend Six. Although “This week on a very special episode of Blossom …” became a standard punch line, the show earned wide respect for mixing drama with comedy in a frank exploration of weighty topics, such as substance abuse and having sex for the first time.

When Blossom ended, Bialik enrolled at UCLA, earning degrees in neuroscience, Jewish studies and Hebrew. She took a break from live acting, though she did voice work on some animated series, including Johnny Bravo, Hey Arnold and Kim Possible .

In 2005, Bialik took time out of her graduate studies in neuroscience to step in front of the cameras again, playing a fictionalized version of herself on Kirsty Alley's pseudo-reality Showtime series, Fat Actress . Bialik stole the show in a two-episode story arc, in which she reminds Alley that she is a genius by figuring out Alley's digital security code. Bialik also tapped into her neuroscience background, tells Alley about the Koi Theory of weight loss – a body shrinks to fit miniature surroundings – which turns out to be part Bialik’s evil revenge scheme.

Bialik first gained attention and critical praise playing a childhood version of Bette Midler's character in the 1988 film Beaches . Her other more recent appearances include the feature films Kalamazoo? (2005) and The Chicago 8 (2011) and television shows Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bones, Saving Grace and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

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Published: 30 May 2012

Turning point: Mayim Bialik

Gene Russo

Nature volume 485 , page 669 ( 2012 ) Cite this article

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Neuroscience

14 June 2012 In the original version of this article, it wasn't clear that the quote about Stephen Hawking attributed to Kaley Cuoco was said by her character Penny during the show. This has now been rectified.

A Clarification to this article was published on 20 June 2012

Actress makes the shift from television to neuroscience and then back again.

Perhaps best known for her role as Blossom on the 1990s television programme of the same name, Mayim Bialik took the unusual step of turning away from television after the show ended to study science at university. Then, as she was about to earn her PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, Bialik became a mother. Although Bialik did get her PhD, parenthood ended her pursuit of a research post. It also led her to turn back to acting, this time on the scientist-centered comedy The Big Bang Theory.

How did you become interested in science?

I had tutors for every subject while I was working on Blossom . But it was a biology tutor who gave me the confidence to know that I could be a scientist — even though at first I had the feeling that science and mathematics were more for boys.

How did you end up doing a PhD?

Some of it was momentum. I studied neuroscience as an undergraduate. I was pleased to have a new life after Blossom . After that, I had to choose between medical and graduate school.

Were other students aware of your TV fame?

Blossom was a popular show, and most people knew who I was, even the professors. It was more acute as an undergraduate, but, with the exception of a few foreign graduate students, everyone knew who I was.

Did you have to overcome bias at university to be considered a 'serious scientist'?

I think some professors were harder on me than on other students. After I did poorly in an examination, I got some amazingly insensitive comments from a professor who basically said I was not cut out to be a scientist on the basis of this one test. Another professor brought his children to meet me after I did my final exam. That was actually kind of awkward.

Were you aware of how tough an academic career is?

Well, there is always a need for teachers, and that aspect of being a research professor was always something I was interested in. I figured that my husband and I would get into graduate programmes, and that I would eventually get a research and teaching job.

What role did the birth of your first child have in your decision to leave science?

I needed a lot of adjustment and recovery after giving birth. I was in the data-collection and analysis phase of my dissertation. It was hard. We never used child care, and we had decided that I was going to be the one to take care of our son. Of course, plenty of scientists go back to work after six weeks; new mothers' brains work just fine; but if you want to breastfeed on demand and be there for their formative years, it is hard to pursue tenure at the same time. I talked to some scientist mothers, who said they had chosen less-demanding career tracks. Being at home with your children can sometimes mean not reaching your academic potential. That is the reality. It may mean not running as big a laboratory or not having as many research projects going on.

You have studied the science of attachment behaviour in humans, the basis of your book Beyond the Sling . Did this actually end up pushing you away from science as a career?

Well, what I learned supported what intuitively felt right. Some women feel that if they want to compete in the workplace, they have to not give in to those intuitive feelings of 'I want to be with my child'. I didn't want to not give in.

Why did you return to television?

I wanted to be with my children. Also, we had finished graduate school, and needed health insurance — I got pregnant with my second son the week I filed my thesis. Once he was about one year old, I started going to auditions. All of us would pile into the car. I would breastfeed before running into the audition.

Your character in The Big Bang Theory is a neurobiologist. Did your background help you get the part?

The character wasn't a scientist when I first appeared on the show. When I came back the next season, co-creator Bill Prady made her a neurobiologist. He thought I could help fix things — the science details — if they got them wrong. We have a physics consultant on staff and our writers are generally very intelligent.

Why do you think it is important for a comedy to get the science right?

For a show about 'geekdom', it has to be authentic or it wouldn't work. Our physics consultant is David Saltzberg from the University of California, Los Angeles. Several of the writers happen to have science backgrounds or are just really well-read people. The show was co-created by Chuck Lorre, who loves details, and Bill, who is a genuine nerd from way back. So we are just a meticulous bunch.

Do you worry that the show reinforces scientist stereotypes?

From working in science, I know people who are like all of the characters. But it's entertainment, and it needs to be entertaining.

What was it like to meet British physicist Stephen Hawking when he was a special guest on The Big Bang Theory ?

It was a powerful experience on so many levels, especially to see his caregivers and to see how loving they are and how deeply cared for he is. He did smile at a lot of the jokes during the run-through. The biggest smile came when the character Penny — played by Kaley Cuoco — said, “I know who Stephen Hawking is! He's the wheelchair guy who invented time.”

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Mayim Bialik’s Ph.D. Actually Helped Shape ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Mayim Bialik joined the cast of The Big Bang Theory in the show’s third season and quickly changed its dynamic for the better. The addition of Bialik, who earned a Ph.D. in 2007, did more than change the cast’s dynamic, though. Her educational background influenced the show a great deal.

Mayim Bialik received a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007

Before starring in The Big Bang Theory , Bialik was best known for her role in Blossom in the 1990s. Bialik portrayed the title character for five years but seemed to fall off the map after the show ended. While some may have assumed that she couldn’t get acting roles, she was up to something pretty important. Bialik was in college.

Mayim Bialik attends The Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Performer Nominees' 64th Primetime Emmy Awards Reception

The mother of two has been open about how much she values education. In several interviews, she explained that college was always going to happen, but her path to a Ph.D. was more about the academic challenge and her love of science. In a 2017 interview for National Geographic, she told Neil Degrasse Tyson, ” I loved going to UCLA and doing something that was very challenging academically. I loved doing research with adolescents with special needs—that was seven years of my life. It was exciting to get my Ph.D. in 2007. But in terms of time to raise my two sons, the flexible life of an actor was better than the long hours of a research professor.”

The writers created Bialik’s character on The Big Bang Theory with her education in mind

Bialik’s background in neuroscience was considered a massive asset to the creators of The Big Bang Theory . In 2012, Bialik sat down with Conan O’Brien to discuss her time on the series. In the interview, she said that her education directly influenced the decision to make Amy Farrah Fowler a neurobiologist.

RELATED: ‘The Big Bang Theory’: Why Was The Final Episode Titled “The Stockholm Syndrome”?

She explained that when the writers decided to bring Amy back as a semi-regular character in season 4, they elected to make her a neurobiologist because Bialik would be able to correct any mistakes. She didn’t say what Amy’s career path would have been if she hadn’t landed the role, though.

Bialik often helped fact check science concepts presented in the show

Bialik once stated that she added her Ph.D. to her resume before auditioning for The Big Bang Theory . It ended up being a good move. Not only did Bialik land the role as Amy, but she was also used fairly regularly to fact check the scientific concepts from her field of study.

How ‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Mayim Bialik Deals With Anxiety on Auditions

Bialik wasn’t the only person fact-checking the series, though. Chuck Lorre and his team employed a consultant who went through each script to ensure that their science facts were as close to accurate as possible.

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Entertainment

The Untold Truth Of Mayim Bialik

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Mayim Bialik is an American actress who is most known for two major roles: her breakthrough role as star of " Blossom ," which aired from 1990 to 1995, and playing Amy Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory," in which she starred from 2010 to 2019 (per IMDb ). Bialik has enjoyed a steady career in the years between roles and even took time off to pursue higher education, earning her PhD in neuroscience in 2007 (per UCLA Alumni ).

While her acting and academic careers have been impressive, that's not all Bialik's skills have been limited to. She is a loud and proud Jewish woman, and, while she was raised according to Reform Judaism, she has since become an Orthodox Jew who is happily adherent to the beliefs and practices of both her religion and culture (per The Jerusalem Post ). She's also a mom of two boys, a book author , and a regular contributor to the Jewish parenting site Kveller .

When it comes to Mayim Bialik, there is a lot to know about this multi-talented woman. Here are some interesting facts about the actress, neuroscientist, writer, mom, and more.

Mayim Bialik credits her parents for her 'normal' upbringing, despite starting acting at age 12

As she was born and raised in California, it might come as no surprise that Mayim Bialik got her start in acting relatively early on. She told Edge Magazine that, even though she really got her start in professional acting as she was entering middle school, she always participated in theater from the time she was in elementary school. "I was active in school plays. I felt comfortable in drama class when we had to do plays and stuff, but I was not a hammy kid. I wasn't an exceptionally outgoing or theatrical kid. When I would meet other child actors they were very theatrical and always kind of 'on.' That wasn't me at all," she said.

Bialik won a part in the 1988 movie " Beaches " when she was only 12 years old. She told Edge Magazine that her "late" start as a child actor helped shape her personality into who she is today. She also believes that escaping Hollywood during her childhood helped shape her perspective; instead of being fixated on being good enough for show business, she was able to enjoy what she calls a "relatively normal" experience.

Bialik also credits her parents for her focused perspective. She noted in the interview that both of her parents are first-generation American citizens and that the "strict immigrant mentality" she grew up with has guided her.

Her breakthrough role on the NBC sitcom Blossom was considered ahead of the times

In 1990, Mayim Bialik joined the cast of the NBC sitcom " Blossom " as the title character. This was a major role for the young star and is considered the one that propelled her to stardom. Bialik's character Blossom Russo is an Italian-American teen coping with the recent departure of her mother, who left the family.

Bialik later explained to Entertainment Weekly that the entire team at the show wanted the character of Blossom to be "forward-thinking," and she even provided an example. In one episode, Blossom is seen carrying a reusable canvas tote bag — a practice that is completely mainstream now, but that was unexpected when the show aired back in the early 1990s.

Bialik later told Yahoo! News that the show appealed to her from the beginning simply because it made her laugh, describing the show as "the first script I had ever read where I laughed out loud." While she described the humor in the show as "unusual," she also said that it perfectly aligned with her own sense of humor.

Mayim Bialik is an advocate for women in STEM careers

After "Blossom" ended in 1995, many people probably expected Mayim Bialik to continue her upward trajectory from the show. Instead, she did the opposite: Bialik dropped out of Hollywood and went to college. While speaking to Edge Magazine , Bialik clarified that she made a "conscious decision to leave acting" simply because she was also passionate about neuroscience, the subject in which she holds her PhD.

Packing up and moving to UCLA's campus for the next few years made sense to Bialik. The experience instilled in her an advocacy for girls and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers, and, as she told NextStepU , it's important to her to show that science isn't just something boys can do. She also described the experience of taking a full 12 years off from acting as "an amazing opportunity" (per Edge Magazine) — and something that she believes more women should do. "I think women in particular should be encouraged to try lots of different things — especially with the under-representation of women in science," she said.

After returning to acting, Mayim Bialik led somewhat of a double life

After graduating, Mayim Bialik actually spent a few years both auditioning for roles — when she returned to acting, she did so cautiously, making guest appearances on popular television shows such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "What Not To Wear" – and teaching biology, chemistry, and neuroscience at UCLA, according to The Hollywood Reporter . While it might surprise some that she simultaneously enjoyed such seemingly unrelated fields, Bialik explained to the publication, "Just because someone works in the creative world doesn't mean that they're not also interested or skilled at science."

Once she stepped back into the world of acting, Bialik also partnered with calculator company Texas Instruments to promote an initiative designed to inspire more girls to enter STEM fields. Joining the project gave her the opportunity to "put a positive face" on the movement to provide more girls and women with access to STEM careers (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Mayim Bialik auditioned for The Big Bang Theory for this reason

In 2010, Mayim Bialik made a career move that would change everything when she joined the cast of "The Big Bang Theory." On the show, Bialik played Amy Farrah Fowler, who was essentially written as the female counterpart to Jim Parsons' Sheldon Cooper (per The Guardian ).

While it's nearly impossible for fans of the show to imagine anyone else playing the part, Bialik told The Social that the reason she auditioned in the first place is one that many Americans can relate to. She explained, "I'm sure all of you up north can understand that I was running out of health insurance because that's not considered a human right in this country." She added that, as a mom of two young boys, she knew she needed to get herself and her kids covered after her health insurance no longer covered her after graduate school. Bialik's plan was simple: Get a handful of jobs over a period of time, just enough to get insurance again.

Of course, the reality is that things went wildly well for Bialik, and she was soon a regular on the show. Parade wrote that Bialik made $45,000 per episode when she started off as a recurring character, but that this rate gradually increased over time to $175,000 per episode! So, health insurance is probably no longer an issue for her anymore .

She converted from Reform Judaism to Orthodox Judaism after her studies at UCLA

In some circles, Mayim Bialik is just as popular for her out-and-proud Judaism as she is for acting or for neuroscience. While much has been made about her PhD in neuroscience, few people realize that Bialik also studied Hebrew and Jewish studies at UCLA and that she's a practicing Modern Orthodox Jew. She told The Jerusalem Post that, while she was raised according to Reform Judaism, the transition to Orthodoxy was pretty easy for her because of her own family's background. "Three of my four grandparents are immigrants to this country and my mom was raised Orthodox, but left Orthodoxy when she was a teenager," she said.

Bialik also spoke to The Jerusalem Post about how difficult it is to be an observant Jew within the context of Hollywood, describing the experience as "close to impossible." While she knows of a handful of producers and writers who are Orthodox, those people are outside the norm. And, while one might assume the demands placed on an actor's time are the biggest challenge they face, Bialik told the publication that expectations for how she will and won't dress on the red carpet can be "extremely stressful and difficult to work around" and that finding dresses that are appropriately modest but also appropriately designer is one of the hardest parts of being Orthodox in Hollywood.

Mayim Bialik was in a serious car crash in 2012

Mayim Bialik made headlines in August 2012 when she was involved in a serious car crash that resulted in numerous injuries. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter , the car Bialik was driving was hit near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and LaBrea Avenue, and Bialik was transported to the hospital with pretty serious injuries to her right hand .

While Bialik did later tweet that she was "in pain," she relieved her fans when she revealed she would not lose any of her fingers (per BBC News ). While the car accident occurred right before filming began for that year's season of "The Big Bang Theory," Bialik later insisted that her injury would not interfere with the show's production. In fact, per TVLine , the only noticeable impact from the crash on the show was that Bialik had to refrain from playing the harp, an instrument in which her "Big Bang" character, Amy, is quite adept.

Mayim Bialik is an advocate of this specific parenting style

Mayim Bialik and her ex-husband, Michael Stone, share two children together, their sons Frederick Bialik Stone and Miles Bialik Stone (via The Sun ). Bialik has made parenthood a central part of her life, and she regularly speaks about the importance it plays in her life. She told Us Weekly that the biggest thing she wishes she had known about being a parent before becoming one is that no one ever feels like they know everything they need to know, saying, "I raised my children knowing that every day, this is my first day parenting. So we're going to learn together and I'm going to do my best."

Bialik strongly identifies with attachment parenting, a style of parenting that emphasizes making sure babies feel their needs are met through consistent and constant love and attention from their parents or caregivers starting as early as possible (via WebMD ). Bialik has faced her fair share of supporters and detractors in ways that are sometimes surprising, such as when she received backlash for posting a photo of herself breastfeeding her then-3-year-old on a train in New York City (per HuffPost ).

She and her ex are committed to co-parenting and even spend holiday dinners together

In 2012, Mayim Bialik filed for divorce from her husband of nine years, Michael Stone . The decision was clearly an emotional one for the actress, and she explained in a statement to Kveller that the decision was one she and her then-husband weighed heavily. In her statement, she also requested privacy as the two made "the transition to two loving homes as smooth and painless as possible."

The pair also indicated that co-parenting would be their biggest priority, a fact that was underscored in 2018 when Bialik spent Thanksgiving with her ex-husband , their two children, her ex's new girlfriend, the girlfriend's children, and the girlfriend's ex (got that?). At the time, the newly-single Bialik wrote on her site Grok Nation that she was nervous heading into the night. "I am single again and it was painful to be 'alone' ... what if it was uncomfortable?" she questioned.

To make things easier, Bialik also brought her mom and her best friend to dinner, later sharing a photo of herself and the friend she described as "mi hermana" on Instagram .

She contributes to a Jewish parenting site and launched her own lifestyle website

While Mayim Bialik is clearly a talented actress and a doctor to boot, she's also proven to be a fantastic writer. Bialik joined the team at the Jewish parenting site Kveller all the way back in 2010 as one of its first editors (via The Times of Israel ), and she continues to contribute regularly to the digital publication.

In 2015, Bialik launched her own lifestyle website called Grok Nation , which she described as "the place where I share my thoughts about being an actress on 'The Big Bang Theory,' being a scientist and a vegan mom, being an unusual woman because I am an actress and a scientist and a vegan mom, and everything in between" (via Kveller ).

Grok Nation quickly grew in popularity, even adding contributors, though the site has not been regularly updated since June 2019.

Mayim Bialik has written a somewhat controversial parenting book

Kveller and Grok Nation are not the only places where Mayim Bialik has found a home for her writing. In 2012, she released a parenting book titled " Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way ." While the book was likely embraced by many parents around the world, it also proved to be controversial.

Bialik even admitted to the Toronto Star that she understands why parts of the book might be too much for some people. After all, as the publication notes, attachment parenting generally advocates for "diaperless potty-training, co-sleeping, and child-led weaning," all of which can be intimidating to first-time parents especially. Bialik, herself, even said that she didn't understand the concept when friends first told her about attachment parenting in the 1990s, but that her PhD studies at UCLA actually helped her see the style of parenting in a new light.

As she explained to the publication, while studying "the hormones of human attachment as part of my thesis," she began to realize that attachment parenting really seemed to work. As she put it, "The relationship between adult[s] and children wasn't based on them being told that they were bad" (via Toronto Star).

In 2017, she wrote an essay about feminism and Harvey Weinstein that made some people angry

In 2017, more of Mayim Bialik's writing was in the spotlight, but this time it was not in a way that she was pleased about. In her essay for The New York Times titled "Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein's World," Bialik examined sexual harassment in Hollywood. While the essay was well-intentioned, parts of it angered and confused readers, with many accusing Bialik of shaming women and even implying that women who are assaulted are responsible for being attacked.

After writing at length about the conservative choices she's made throughout her career, Bialik added that she hasn't encountered sexual harassment or assault in her career, personally, saying, "My sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don't act flirtatiously with men as a policy" (per The New York Times).

The essay, according to the Chicago Tribune , was subsequently slammed by numerous women, including celebrities such as Gabrielle Union and Patricia Arquette . Bialik then issued an apology, directly affirming that she believes that anyone who is assaulted is never responsible for the act happening to them.

Mayim Bialik's show Call Me Kat was practically made for her

The final episode of "The Big Bang Theory" aired in May 2019 (via Vulture ), and, when it came to figuring out her next move, Mayim Bialik took a bit of time. She eventually signed on to the sitcom "Call Me Kat" to play the title role, the owner of a cat café in Louisville, Kentucky. Bialik has praised the show since joining, telling the Philadelphia Gay News that the series was practically tailored to her. "I like to say that if my mom, when I was 11 and started acting, could have designed a show for me, it would have been 'Call Me Kat,' because this show takes everything I can do and it puts it in there [laughs]. She can sing, she can dance, she's funny with her body, she can kick high [laughs]," she said.

Bialik also said that the show mimics her life in one other way: She is the happy owner of three cats! And, just like her character on the show, Bialik definitely considers herself to be a "rad cat lady" (per Philadelphia Gay News).

She has embarked on an exciting opportunity as a host of Jeopardy!

In 2021, Mayim Bialik guest hosted several episodes of "Jeopardy!" following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek. While former "Jeopardy!" producer Mike Richards was ultimately chosen for the job, he stepped down from the role after only one day into the gig after his controversial past came to light — and Bialik was more than happy to step back up to the plate (per Deadline ). Bialik issued a statement to Deadline affirming her enthusiasm for the job , sharing that she "couldn't be more thrilled" to come on board. Bialik was just as enthusiastic as she was at the beginning of the year when she was announced as a guest host for the show. She told the Philadelphia Gay News that it was a huge honor for her, noting that hosting was "one of the most iconic things I think I'm ever going to do in my career."

However, Bialik's appointment to the show hasn't come without its own hiccups. As Decider pointed out, several of her past comments, including a few about vaccinations, birth control, and feminism, have come back to haunt both the actress and the show itself.

Regardless of the backlash, we wish her the best on "Jeopardy!"

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neuroscience Science that deals with the structure or function of the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Researchers in this field are known as neuroscientists.

Ph.D. (also known as a doctorate) Advanced degrees offered by universities — typically after five or six years of study — for work that creates new knowledge. People qualify to begin this type of graduate study only after having first completed a college degree (a program that typically takes four years of study).

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11 things to know about Mayim Bialik, who was named one of the new hosts of 'Jeopardy!'

Mayim Bialik shares "Jeopardy!" hosting duties with Ken Jennings.
Bialik, who has a PhD in neuroscience, will host "Jeopardy!" primetime specials and spinoff series.
A former child actor, she starred on "The Big Bang Theory" and plays the titular character in "Call Me Kat."

Mayim Bialik hosted "Jeopardy!" from May 31 to June 11 as one of the season's many celebrity guest hosts.

Celebrities such as Aaron Rodgers, LeVar Burton, Anderson Cooper, and Katie Couric also took turns guest-hosting the show.

Bialik will continue to host "Jeopardy!" primetime and spin-off specials such as the teachers' and college tournaments, while Ken Jennings will host regular season play.

"Really really honored and astounded and excited for this — it's beyond anything I ever imagined could happen," Bialik wrote on Instagram following the announcement in August.

Bialik may have one of her kids (and TikTok) to partially thank for the "Jeopardy!" hosting gig.

"My 15-year-old heard on the TikTok universe that people were saying, 'That girl from "Big Bang Theory" should do it,'" Bialik told Insider in April while promoting a partnership with Neuriva when asked how her guest-hosting duties came about on the game show.

She continued: "I don't know if it was my 15-year old and having to email my agent that did it or if it was something that was already in the works, but I'm super excited and honored, especially as a woman and as a woman in science to be able to present in this way in 10 snazzy blazers."

Her appointment as "Jeopardy!" host is not without controversy.

Bialik has made controversial statements about vaccines in the past. She wrote in her 2012 book, " Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way ," that her children had not received the typical schedule of vaccines, contributing to widespread perception that she is an anti-vaxxer.

She clarified in a YouTube video in October 2020 that "I have never, not once, said that vaccines are not valuable, not useful or not necessary, because they are," and shared that she planned to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot even though she had not gotten a vaccine in 30 years.

She also stated in the video that she believes children receive too many vaccines, and that they are "never 100% effective."

"Do I think we give way too many vaccines in this country compared to when I was a vaccinated child? Yes. Do I believe most people don't even know what Hepatitis B is but vaccinate their newborns for it anyway because they're simply told to? Yes," she explained, adding, "Does the medical community often operate from a place of fear in order to make money? Heck yeah, they do!"

Bialik also attracted criticism over a 2017 op-ed she wrote for The New York Times about the multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment made against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Bialik wrote that although she was "shocked and disgusted" by the accusations against Weinstein, she was not surprised by them, and chooses to conduct herself in a way she described as "self-protecting and wise."

"I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with," she wrote. "I dress modestly. I don't act flirtatiously with men as a policy."

The op-ed drew backlash from critics who said Bialik was insinuating that modesty and a conservative wardrobe can guard one against sexual assault.

Bialik issued an apology on Twitter.

"Let me say clearly and explicitly that I am very sorry," she wrote. "What you wear and how you behave does not provide any protection from assault, or does the way you dress or act in any way make you responsible for being assaulted; you are never responsible for being assaulted."

"Jeopardy!" isn't the first game show she's been part of.

She appeared as a panelist on "To Tell the Truth" and "Match Game" in 2019 and hosted the remote game show "Celebrity Show-Off" in 2020.

She's a former child star.

Bialik became known for her role as Blossom Russo in the '90s TV show "Blossom." She landed the part when she was 12 years old and played the character for six seasons.

She took a break from acting to earn a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA.

She earned her Bachelor's degree in neuroscience in 2000 from UCLA and her PhD from the same university seven years later. Her dissertation was titled "Hypothalamic regulation in relation to maladaptive, obsessive-compulsive, affiliative, and satiety behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome."

She returned to Hollywood and became a household name once again as Amy Farrah Fowler on "The Big Bang Theory."

Bialik appeared on "The Big Bang Theory" from 2010 until the series finale in 2019 . Her scientific background came in handy playing neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler.

Bialik currently stars on "Call Me Kat" on Fox.

Bialik stars as Kat, a 39-year-old single woman who uses the money her parents have been saving for her wedding to open a cat cafe. The show was inspired by the BBC hit series "Miranda."

She once auditioned for a "Spider-Man" movie but didn't get the part.

Bialik told Insider's Kirsten Acuna in April that she'd love to appear in a superhero movie or TV show .

"I've tried very hard and I'd like to believe that one day it might happen," Bialik said . "I did audition to play the teacher in one of the 'Spider-Man' [movies], but I didn't get it."

She added: "I'm past the young ingenue character, but I still think there might be a place for me. I'm a huge Marvel and DC person, but obviously DC is my Warner Bros. family. I'm pretty partial to that."

She's written several books about parenting, as well as a vegan cookbook.

Bialik published " Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way " in 2012. She also wrote " Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant " and " Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular " for teen readers, as well as " Mayim's Vegan Table: More than 100 Great-Tasting and Healthy Recipes from My Family to Yours ."

She's making her screenwriting and directorial debut in the upcoming film "As Sick as They Made Us."

"As Sick as They Made Us" filmed in New Jersey in July and is in post-production . The cast includes Simon Helberg, Dianna Agron, Candice Bergen, Dustin Hoffman, and Charlie Weber.

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Mayim Bialik says she's 'struggled with mental illness' her whole life

Whether you know her from the hit '90s TV show Blossom , her award-winning work on The Big Bang Theory or her latest primetime sitcom Call Me Kat, Mayim Bialik has spent a lifetime in the spotlight.

But her latest endeavor sees her charting a new course. Armed with a PhD in neuroscience and her own personal experience, the Emmy-nominated actress uses her podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, to help others wade through the murky waters of mental health.

"I've struggled with mental illness really my whole life and have started becoming more vocal about it," Bialik says.

Bialik shares that during the pandemic, she and her partner and podcast co-host, Jonathan Cohen , noticed a lot of their friends were dealing with mental health challenges as a result of stay-at-home orders but didn't know the signs or how to identify what they were feeling.

"Friends of mine who never really experienced anxiety were like, 'I'm having trouble sleeping and my stomach really hurts. What's going on?'" she shares. "It's like, 'You're having anxiety! You didn't know what that is!' So many people don't have a basic vocabulary for what they're experiencing."

The Call Me Kat star says her podcast has been helpful as a way of learning what people are going through. By answering people's questions, she wants to help "to make the world of mental health smaller."

Bialik hopes that as more public figures – especially athletes – speak out about struggling with mental health, as it can encourage more people to reach out for help.

"When anyone who has a facade that people think is unbreakable, when those people speak up, it's very very important," she says. "It does make a difference in breaking that stigma and allowing people to see that mental health, it does not discriminate. There's no amount of money that makes you immune."

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What Mayim Bialik Thought The Big Bang Theory Was Before She Signed On

The Big Bang Theory is such a huge hit nowadays that it's easy to forget that "Bazinga" and "Soft Kitty" haven't always been staples of pop culture. The addition of Amy Farrah Fowler to the existing ensemble of nerds helped to elevate the comedy from the Season 3 finale onward, and she's become one of the funniest characters over the years. As it turns out, actress Mayim Bialik didn't even know what she was getting into with Big Bang Theory . In fact, all she really knew was that she had been referred to on the show as the really smart girl from Blossom . Bialik had this to say about her first impression of The Big Bang Theory :

I had never seen it. I had heard about it and thought it was a game show, 'cause someone told me I was mentioned on it, I think in the first season.

Mayim Bialik revealed that she thought The Big Bang Theory was a game show while speaking at the #BlogHer2016 Experts Among Us Conference (via DailyMail ). It actually makes a lot of sense that she would mistake the sitcom for a game show after being told that she had been mentioned. Bialik was best known for starring in Blossom prior to landing the gig on Big Bang Theory , but she wasn't exactly a household name in the meantime. I can definitely imagine a question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? or even Jeopardy about the name of the sitcom actress.

Interestingly, Mayim Bialik was mentioned as the girl from Blossom when the boys of Big Bang were discussing their version of a trivia competition. Raj mentioned her as a candidate for a physics bowl team in a Season 1 episode. Check it out!

Mayim Bialik does indeed have a PhD in neuroscience, which she earned from UCLA in 2007 after leaving showbiz for a spell. She only returned to acting because the end of her academic career meant the end of her health insurance, which in turn meant that she was an actress on the audition circuit with a neuroscience PhD on her résumé. No wonder she landed a role on The Big Bang Theory . Amy Farrah Fowler was still a character in development when Bialik auditioned, and Amy's career as a neurobiologist is directly influenced by Bialik's neuroscience PhD.

Season 9 of The Big Bang Theory was big for Amy Farrah Fowler as both a scientist and a woman. She spent time at a neuroscience convention that took her off-screen for a while and left boyfriend Sheldon in some serious Amy withdrawal. Their relationship had advanced in a big way earlier in the season when they reunited after a break and finally slept together . Not a whole lot of that happening on game shows. American ones, anyway.

The Big Bang Theory will be back for Season 10 on Monday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Check out our fall TV premiere schedule to see when your other favorite shows will return to the airwaves in the not-too-distant future.

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Mayim Bialik (born December 12, 1975, San Diego , California , U.S.) is an American television and film actor and neuroscientist best known for her recurring roles on the American situation comedy series Blossom (1990–95), where she played the title role, and The Big Bang Theory (2007–19), where she played the character of Amy Farrah Fowler from 2010 to 2019. She also played a number of other notable roles, including young C.C. Bloom in the film Beaches (1988) and Kat Silver in the situation comedy Call Me Kat (2021–23). Bialik served as a cohost of the American game show Jeopardy! (1964– ) from 2021 to 2023.

Bialik, daughter of Beverly and Barry Bialik, was a child actor who got her first roles in television in an episode of the series Beauty and the Beast (1987–90) in 1987 and in two episodes of The Facts of Life (1979–88) the following year. Her first film role was a minor part in the 1988 horror movie Pumpkinhead . Her resemblance to American actor Bette Midler made Bialik a natural choice to play the younger version of Midler’s character in Beaches in the same year. Bialik returned to television with a recurring role on the series Webster (1983–89) from 1988 to 1989. She made additional appearances on other popular American television shows, including Murphy Brown (1988–98 and 2018–19), MacGyver (1985–92), and Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93).

Bialik won the title role in the television series Blossom , a coming-of-age situation comedy about a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers, in 1990. The show made Bialik, whose looks were less glamorous than most teenagers on television and in movies at the time, a teen star.

After Blossom , Bialik did mostly voice-over work on animated series such as Johnny Bravo (1997–2004), Kim Possible (2002–07), and the video game X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003). During this time, Bialik attended the University of California –Los Angeles (UCLA) to study neuroscience; she specialized in studies of adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder in children with the genetic disorder Prader-Willi Syndrome . She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience in 2000 and continued at UCLA, receiving a doctorate in neuroscience in 2007.

Bialik had taken a break from acting in 2003 to focus on her marriage (she was married to American businessperson Michael Stone from 2003 to 2013), motherhood, and her studies. She returned to acting in 2005 with a recurring role in the HBO television series Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000– ) and also made appearances in other programs.

Bialik was cast as the bookish but complex Amy Farrah Fowler in the popular TV series The Big Bang Theory in 2010. She appeared in 203 episodes and won two Critics’ Choice Awards, four Emmy Award nominations , and a SAG Award nomination. During this period, Bialik launched a website in 2015 called GrokNation, featuring posts about culture , feminism , science , relationships, and her time on The Big Bang Theory . In addition, Bialik announced she had formed a production company, Sad Clown Productions, in 2019.

After the death of Alex Trebek , the beloved longtime host of the American television game show Jeopardy! , Bialik served as one of a series of guest hosts during a search for Trebek’s replacement starting in 2021. In 2022 she was named one of the show’s permanent cohosts, along with Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings . Bialik also hosted Celebrity Jeopardy! (2022– ) and other Jeopardy! -related shows. In December 2023, Bialik announced that she had been informed she would no longer be hosting the show.

Bialik launched a podcast and YouTube series called Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown in 2020, in which she sought “to dispel myths and misunderstandings about mental health.” The podcast featured Bialik’s interviews with American actors Matthew McConaughey , Molly Ringwald, Dustin Hoffman , and others. She was the main character and executive producer of the television series Call Me Kat from 2021 to 2023. Bialik authored the books Mayim’s Vegan Table (2014), Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way (2012), Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular (2017), and Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant (2019).

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The Man Who Gets The Science Right On 'The Big Bang Theory'

David Saltzberg (right) hosts his "Geek of the Week," UCLA student Andrew Peck, on the set of The Big Bang Theory . Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. hide caption

David Saltzberg (right) hosts his "Geek of the Week," UCLA student Andrew Peck, on the set of The Big Bang Theory .

Sure, Bob Newhart may have won his first Emmy for guest-starring as Professor Proton on the hugely popular show The Big Bang Theory , about four young scientists at Caltech. But behind the scenes is a real-life professor, David Saltzberg of UCLA.

Saltzberg studies high-energy particle physics and high-energy neutrino astronomy, using radio-detection techniques when he's not working as The Big Bang Theory 's science consultant.

"It's just like a physics lab!" Saltzberg exclaims as he maneuvers around the show's sprawling set. "You have to watch where you walk. There are cables and everything everywhere."

Every week, Saltzberg attends the show's live taping at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif. He makes sure the whiteboards are correct. For every new episode, they're covered by a fresh scrawl of formulas dreamed up by Saltzberg and admired by physicists for their scrupulous accuracy — and occasional shoutouts to what's happening in the world of science.

"The whiteboards have dozens of fans," Saltzberg jokes.

Saltzberg also reviews scripts in progress. They arrive with unfinished dialogue and brackets reading, "Insert Science Here." He fills in the blanks, as in an episode where Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a puffed-up theoretical physicist, keeps bumming rides from a neighbor.

"She couldn't understand why Sheldon never got a driver's license," Saltzberg explains. When she asks what Sheldon was doing at age 16, when everyone else was learning to drive, he answers, as per Saltzberg, "Examining perturbative amplitudes in N=4 supersymmetric theories, leading to a reexamination of the ultraviolet properties of multiloop N=8 supergravity, using modern twistor theory."

As it happens, that's "a real, important project that one of my friends is working on," Saltzberg says.

If the science that's so exciting to Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is right, it's because of David Saltzberg. Sonja Flemming/CBS hide caption

If the science that's so exciting to Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is right, it's because of David Saltzberg.

The scientist got involved with The Big Bang Theory in 2007, when the show was little more than a theoretical construct. The set designers asked him to show them some real graduate students' apartments, so they could see how young scientists really live.

"And they did a nice, faithful re-creation of their apartments," he said, adding that after CBS tested the show, the sets were scrapped, because, Saltzberg thinks, the sets were too depressing.

Saltzberg gets backup from actress Mayim Bialik, who happens to have a PhD in neuroscience. (Her character, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, is also a neuroscientist.) She helps Saltzberg fine-tune the show's scientific details.

"Like, what kind of microscope would they be using, or how thin should these slices be," she offers as an example.

For his part, Saltzberg has gotten in front of the camera exactly once. He was an extra in a scene in a university cafeteria, when the nebbishy Howard Wolowitz shares a thrilling milestone: He finally has a girlfriend. Saltzberg describes his acting technique thusly: "I just looked at him like, what's your problem? Why are you bothering me? I'm a physicist. I have other things to think about."

Executive producer Bill Prady says it's useful to have Saltzberg around for last-minute questions — like the time the show needed him to calculate how fast a bottle would fall if it were dropped from a four-story window. He can also check the accuracy of jokes made up on the fly.

"We shoot in front of a live audience," Prady says. "And if a joke dies, the writers gather and we pitch new jokes, and when we get one, we go teach it to the actors and we do the scene again."

That happened in the very first season, when Sheldon and another scientist have a fight. Saltzberg pitched a joke: When one of the characters describes the fight as "a little misunderstanding," Sheldon is furious. "A little misunderstanding?" he cries. "Galileo and the pope had a little misunderstanding!"

It's the only joke Saltzberg has ever gotten on the show.

"The writers were very kind," he says. "But it's a little bit like if I'm at a party and having drinks and someone says, well, they have a new theory of gravity they want to tell me about."

Ultimately, Saltzberg says, creating comedy is not that different from experimental science. At the end of the day, it either works or it doesn't. But he adds that he thinks this sitcom, The Big Bang Theory , is more important than his work in the lab.

"This has a lot more impact than anything I will ever do," he says. "It's hard to fathom, when you think about 20 million viewers on the first showing — and that doesn't include other countries and reruns. I'm happy if a paper I write gets read by a dozen people."

Saltzberg says he became a scientist partly because of popular culture, such as Isaac Asimov's science fiction and the '70s TV show Space: 1999 . He believes the rigor and passion for science he brings to The Big Bang Theory might inspire kids in the audience to one day become scientists, too.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

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Mayim Bialik Answers 50 of the Most Googled Neuroscience Questions

Released on 08/26/2020

How does the nervous system work?

The nervous system works with a lot of

magic from the universe.

Do I get another PhD after I finish this?

[bell ringing]

Hi, I'm Mayim Bialik and I'm here with Wired

to answer the 50 most Googled questions about neuroscience.

[hip hop music]

Is neuroscience a biological science?

I'm going to say yes. [bell ringing]

It's about biological systems, yes.

What nervous system controls breathing?

Autonomic nervous system [bell ringing]

is in charge of breathing structures.

What nervous system controls heart rate?

That would be sympathetic/parasympathetic?

How does the autonomic nervous system affect the heart rate?

By making it go up or making it go down.

[bell ringing] [imitates honking]

How do hallucinogens affect the central nervous system?

Hallucinogens affect the central nervous system

by changing the distribution of neurotransmitter

[bell ringing] and specifically,

crossing modalities, creating synesthetic experiences

where auditory and visual information

effectively gets crossed. [bell ringing]

What neurotransmitters are involved in schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a varied disorder

that can involve paranoia,

and delusions, and depersonalization.

Dopamine, serotonin, [bell ringing]

and obviously all of the other neurotransmitters,

but specifically those for schizophrenia.

What is neurotransmitter testing?

Neurotransmitter testing is testing,

I guess amounts of dopamine and serotonin,

[bell ringing] which are typically done from

swabs, but I guess you could do it from blood maybe?

Cerebrospinal fluid?

Which neurotransmitter acts to facilitate learning?

That's a really difficult question to answer.

All of your neurotransmitters contribute

to everything about you.

The way that we learn is really because of a lot of things,

it's because of attention, it's because of mood,

it's because of reward activation.

Mine's a more philosophical answer,

but I don't know the structure of the brain

that they're talking about, which is probably

glutamate regulating. [bell ringing]

Which neurotransmitter is associated

with Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a basal ganglia disease,

that would be dopamine as the

[bell ringing] primary neurotransmitter.

How information travels in the nervous system.

All sorts of crazy ways, up, down, sideways, inside out.

Information travels from the brain to the spinal cord

and out to the periphery,

[bell ringing] and then from the periphery

back into the spinal cord, and back up to the brain.

How does a stroke affect the nervous system?

Well, it depends where the stroke is.

There's specific kinds of regions of the brain

where a stoke will lead to paralysis

or the inability to speak.

Certain strokes will affect very interesting things,

they'll make you think that you don't understand

peoples' faces, there's so many different things

it can affect.

[bell ringing] Having the blood supply

cut off will impair a region of the brain,

is the most basic definition of a stroke, though.

What is neuroscience perspective?

Neuroscience perspective is seeing the world

as a series of motivations, and thoughts, and feelings

[bell ringing] that impact biological

processes and affect how we interact with the world.

How many neurons are in the nervous system?

I don't remember.

[bell ringing] [laughs]

What neurotransmitter controls the somatic nervous system?

The somatic nervous system

is the nervous system associated with sensory information.

For me, that's gonna kind of be

many, all of them?

I mean, impulses are always

regulated by GABA, by glutamate, and

[bell ringing] Acetylcholine is one of them.

Are eyes part of the nervous system?

I love this question.

Yes. [bell ringing]

The retina and the optic nerve

are part of the nervous system.

What are excitatory neurotransmitters?

Excitatory neurotransmitters are transmitters

that have a plus sign, as it were.

They lead to an increase [bell ringing]

in secretion or an increase in activity.

What sends neurotransmitters toward the next neuron?

Oh, I could talk about this for days.

Neurotransmitters are packaged in vesicles

and they move along microtubule filaments

[bell ringing] along the Axon.

What are neurotransmitters and how do they function?

Holy Toledo.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are produced

in the brain and the body that act on

other parts of the brain and body.

[bell ringing] They are the main

communication module for the nervous system.

They function by binding to receptors

and the binding onto receptors opens up different channels

and activity that then leads to other neurotransmitter

being released. [bell ringing]

How are hormones different from neurotransmitters?

Hormones are typically generated

outside of the nervous system, as it were.

There are neurohormones.

It really depends on what things are acting on,

and why, and how,

but neurotransmitters, typically, are generated

in the central nervous system [bell ringing]

and hormones can be generated and modulated

outside, as well.

How does nicotine affect the nervous system?

Nicotine affects the nervous system

in a lot of excitatory ways. [bell ringing]

Nicotine also does have inhibitory effects

[bell ringing] and can lead to feelings

of relaxation and decrease in agitation.

What is a synapse in the nervous system?

Well, I went to UCLA, and the cafe that we had

in the neuroscience building was called Cafe Synapse

because it's where things come together.

That's right, folks, a synapse is where two neurons meet

[bell ringing] and release information

and that's where things come together.

How does the digestive system work with the nervous system?

Pretty darn well [bell ringing]

for most people!

How does the nervous system and

endocrine system work together?

Well, since my field is psychoneuroendocrinology,

I should know a lot about this, and indeed I do.

The endocrine system is typically the

hypothalamic pituitary axis.

HPA includes the adrenals,

and hormones are released from the pituitary gland,

and then flow through the body and the hypothalamus,

and then become part of the nervous system,

where they affect the brain

and all sorts of behavioral and biological functions.

[bell ringing repeatedly]

They work together really well.

How to keep your nervous system healthy.

Well, this is a wonderful question!

Get a lot of sleep, drink a lot of water,

eat as simply as possible,

[bell ringing] do not drink alcohol at all

if you can avoid it.

[bell ringing] I would say avoid

as much pharmaceutical impact in your life

as is possible, [bell ringing]

and avoid illicit drugs.

They're generally not good for your nervous system.

[bell ringing] Learn how to breathe properly,

meditate, and please go to therapy.

What neurotransmitter causes migraines?

I get migraines and I don't know the answer to this.

I think migraines are caused by stress.

That's my unofficial, non-doctor opinion.

[buzzer ringing] I could list all the people

that give me migraines and none of them

are the names of neurotransmitters.

Is neuroscience a good major?

Hell yeah, it is!

[bell ringing] You get to learn about

the brain and nervous system,

you get to learn about the fact that

we exist, we have consciousness,

we can communicate, we can love, we can hate,

we can change, we can grow, that's why it's

not only a good major, it's a good grounding for life.

[claps hands] So there.

How does caffeine affect the nervous system?

Caffeine affects the nervous system

by doing a lot of excitatory things.

[bell ringing] It increases your heart rate,

it will make you go poop and pee

'cause it's a diuretic, and it does increase

alertness and vigilance,

which also can lead to a crash,

a caffeine crash, and it is addictive,

so it affects the nervous system by

getting the nervous system used to having it

as a normal way to function

and it resets your sense of normal,

so that's why when you quit caffeine,

you go into withdrawal.

How the nervous system works with other systems.

[hums in interest]

The nervous system works with other systems

by being connected through the series of peripheral nerves

that exist, meaning [bell ringing]

all organs send information to the nervous system.

I like to think of the nervous system as

the main system because it's your brain,

your spinal cord, and all of the nerves

that serve the rest of your body,

so it's kind of the master system.

How does the skeletal system work with the nervous system?

Certain skeletal systems support

the most important aspects of the nervous system,

so the skull, this thing,

it's actually the holding place for the brain,

the lobes of the brain, and all the things about the brain,

and the entire vertebral system,

the vertebrae of your spinal cord

are actually protecting a very, very important

passage of information from your brain

to the rest of your body,

so the skeletal system [bell ringing]

is the scaffold to protect the nervous system.

Where are neurotransmitters made?

Neurotransmitters are made anywhere you want them to be.

mostly brain.

In the middle of the brain. [bell ringing]

Yes, all the little parts.

That's a terrible answer. [laughs]

Are cranial nerves part of the central nervous system?

Cranial nerves I think would be considered

the peripheral nervous system. [bell ringing]

Brain, spinal cord, periphery.

For the love of Pete.

How many neurotransmitters are there?

Let's say between three and four dozen.

Is acetylcholine a neurotransmitter?

Yeah, it is. [bell ringing]

How does diabetes affect the nervous system?

Because of the changes in blood glucose levels,

this can cause strain on blood vessels.

[bell ringing] I'm thinking as I'm answering.

There are also cognitive shifts that happen

because of diabetes.

What kind of chemical is released at a synapse?

A neurochemical. [bell ringing]

Also known as a neurotransmitter.

Which neurotransmitter is associated with depression?

That would be serotonin. [bell ringing]

Dopamine sometimes is implicated as well,

and because everybody's brain is different,

not everyone has the same kind of depression,

and if you have depression that is

part of manic depression, you might need

a different kind of treatment or understanding

of your neurotransmitter system.

But classical depression, serotonin.

How do neurotransmitters influence behavior?

By communicating every thought,

every movement we have.

[bell ringing] The way that you exist

is because of electrical signals caused by

the release of neurotransmitter.

There's nothing about you, even love,

that cannot be explained by neurotransmitter.

How does alcohol affect the nervous system?

Alcohol's a depressant.

Alcohol will first affect the cells of the cerebellum,

those are the ones back here,

and they affect the things that you most frequently see

when you do a sobriety test.

Your ability to do fine motor control,

to walk a line, to do this one.

It affects the general nervous system

with a lot of psychological and psychiatric impact

that's gonna vary by human,

and alcohol's a toxin, so your body perceives it as such,

and all of the changes that happen when you have alcohol

are essentially your body processing

so that it can get rid of the alcohol.

How does the nervous system

help the body maintain homeostasis?

Well, the nervous system is what maintains homeostasis

[bell ringing] through a lot of

different things.

The hypothalamus is your main friend for this.

The hypothalamus maintains body temperature,

urinary levels, hunger, puberty, circadian rhythms,

basically regulating every single organ system.

Homeostasis is the nervous system, that's its goal.

Is dopamine a neurotransmitter?

[bell ringing] Aw yeah.

with sleep, mood, and appetite?

It really depends on what's happening

with sleep, mood, and appetite.

I'm gonna go ahead and go for [bell ringing]

serotonin will mess up all of those.

What is neuroscience psychology?

Neuroscience psychology, or neuropsych, as we call it,

is an emphasis on

[bell ringing] the underlying nervous system

substrates of psychological phenomenon.

How does cannabis affect the nervous system?

How doesn't cannabis affect the nervous system

really should be this question.

Cannabis affects the nervous system

by binding two cannabinoid receptors, duh,

and those receptors do a lot surrounding relaxation,

relaxation of muscles, literally.

Cannabis stimulates appetite.

If you think of people who use it medicinally,

for example, for chemotherapy,

it can reduce nausea and it has analgesic effects,

it has numbing effects.

That sort of, like, [bell ringing]

high feeling that people report

is typically an ability to have

a strong connection with your sensory systems,

and that can make you feel really, really happy.

What does multiple sclerosis do to the nervous system?

Multiple sclerosis causes demyelination of axons.

[bell ringing] Myelin is the fat

that lines axons, which is how a neuron

communicates information from the cell body

to the dendrites, and once that myelin,

that fat is broken down, it makes it much harder

for electrical impulses to travel.

So, it makes communication between cells harder.

Why nervous system important?

Why is the nervous system important?

Because it is the foundation of your existence as a human,

both physically and metaphysically.

[bell ringing] The brain and the

nervous system, your spinal cord, and all your nerves

are everything about how you interact with the world,

including what you love, what you hate,

how you can even process what I'm saying right now,

and your position in space, and your acknowledgement

that we are hurdling through the universe at high speed

and not flying off the planet,

and we exist now, and we'll exist tomorrow.

All that is your nervous system.

Is epinephrine a neurotransmitter?

Which systems comprise the nervous system?

There's the central nervous system,

that's the brain and the spinal cord,

and there's the peripheral nervous system,

[bell ringing] which is the nerves

on the periphery.

What are nervous system disorders?

There are a lot of nervous system disorders.

Let's see, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's,

muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, pretty much all

of psychiatric challenges.

You know, depression anxiety, [bell ringing]

obsessive compulsive disorder,

dissociative identity disorder,

I could go on. [bell ringing]

It has information that's produced in the brain

that's sent down the spinal cord

to the peripheral nervous system,

receives information from the outside world,

brings it back in, sends it up the spinal cord,

then your brain processes it,

[bell ringing] and you act, and think,

and feel, and exist.

What is the nervous system?

The nervous system is the series of cells

that comprise the brain and the spinal cord

[bell ringing] and allows you to perceive

your body, your feelings,

and interact with the outside world, feel, and think.

Your nervous system is you.

Those were the 50 most googled questions on neuroscience.

Thank you for watching, hope I did okay.

Starring : Mayim Bialik

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IMAGES

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17 Things You Didn't Know About Mayim Bialik
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Mayim Bialik’s PhD In Neuroscience From UCLA
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COMMENTS

The Truth About Mayim Bialik's Education
So, here's the truth about Mayim Bialik's education. National Geographic points out that with a PhD in neurosciences under her belt, Bialik was one actor on set who really knew what she was talking about. One of the funniest things about Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler is how she intellectually stands toe to toe with Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons).
Is Mayim Bialik a neuroscientist?
In 2000, Mayim enrolled at the University of California in Los Angeles to pursue a degree in neuroscience.. Seven years later, the actress received her doctorate in neuroscience. Bialik dished to BrainandLife about the inspiration to pursue a degree in neuroscience, crediting her biology tutor as a significant part, saying: "I was a diligent student, but science didn't come naturally to me.
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Chaya Bialik (/ ˈ m aɪ ɪ m b i ˈ ɑː l ɪ k / MY-im bee-AH-lik; born December 12, 1975) is an American actress, author and former game show host.From 1991 to 1995, she played the title character of the NBC sitcom Blossom.From 2010 to 2019, she played neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, for which she was nominated four times for the Primetime Emmy ...
Why This 'Big Bang Theory' Star Got a Ph.D. in Science
Onetime child star Mayim Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience, then returned to acting on TV hit The Big Bang Theory —playing a scientist. It's given her a unique view of women's roles, in ...
Mayim Bialik, PhD
Mayim earned a BS in neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish studies, as well as a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. She serves as the spokesperson for Texas Instruments, inspiring young women to engage in STEM careers, and she has worked with such brands and organizations as DeVry University, Gillette (Man of Steel Campaign), and Old Navy. She has ...
Mayim Bialik and Brain Health
March 24, 2021, at 12:52 p.m. Mayim Bialik and Brain Health. More. Mayim Bialik played a neuroscientist on "The Big Bang Theory" - fitting, because she's trained as one in real life too. During ...
Mayim Bialik
Bialik earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, Hebrew and Jewish studies in 2000, and then went on to the university's Ph.D. program in neuroscience, which she completed in 2007. Parenting and ...
Mayim Bialik '00, PhD.'07
Actress Mayim Bialik '00, PhD.'07 who plays delightfully smart, funny and nerdy Amy earned her undergraduate, and doctorate degrees at UCLA. The actress even shares a similar field of study with her TV alter ego - Amy Farrah Fowler holds a doctorate in neuro-biology, while actress Bialik holds a doctorate in neuroscience. From 1991 to ...
Mayim Bialik: 8 Fascinating Things To Know About The Big ...
Mayim Bialik Returned To Acting To Have More Time With Her Kids As a former child star, Mayim Bialik was ready to step away from the acting world as she earned her doctorate in neuroscience.
Turning point: Mayim Bialik
Actress makes the shift from television to neuroscience and then back again. Perhaps best known for her role as Blossom on the 1990s television programme of the same name, Mayim Bialik took the ...
Mayim Bialik's Ph.D. Actually Helped Shape 'The Big Bang Theory'
Mayim Bialik received a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007 Before starring in The Big Bang Theory, Bialik was best known for her role in Blossom in the 1990s. Bialik portrayed the title character for ...
Mayim Bialik Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions
Released on 08/19/2020. Transcript. My favorite food is pickles. [bright music] Wonder why no one googles does Mayim Bialik like pickles. [bright music] Hi, I'm Mayim Bialik and today I'm doing ...
The Untold Truth Of Mayim Bialik
Bialik has enjoyed a steady career in the years between roles and even took time off to pursue higher education, earning her PhD in neuroscience in 2007 (per UCLA Alumni). Advertisement While her acting and academic careers have been impressive, that's not all Bialik's skills have been limited to.
Mayim Bialik shares her STEM inspiration
Mayim Bialik shares her STEM inspiration. The Big Bang Theory actress speaks to the National Science Teachers Association. By Bethany Brookshire. April 7, 2014 at 9:21 am. BOSTON - Mayim Bialik, an actress famous for her role as a neuroscientist on The Big Bang Theory, actually has a neuroscience Ph.D. in real life.
Interesting Facts About Mayim Bialik, One of the New Jeopardy ...
Mayim Bialik shares "Jeopardy!" hosting duties with Ken Jennings. Bialik, who has a PhD in neuroscience, will host "Jeopardy!" primetime specials and spinoff series. A former child actor, she ...
Mayim Bialik says she's 'struggled with mental illness' her ...
Armed with a PhD in neuroscience and her own personal experience, the Emmy-nominated actress uses her podcast, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, to help others wade through the murky waters of mental ...
Mayim Hoya Bialik, PhD Archives
Mayim Hoya Bialik is best known for her lead role in the 1990s NBC television sitcom Blossom and for playing neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory on CBS. For the latter she has received a Critic's Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild nomination, and four Emmy nominations. Bialik has a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA and a BS in Neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish Studies from ...
What Mayim Bialik Thought The Big Bang Theory Was Before ...
Mayim Bialik does indeed have a PhD in neuroscience, which she earned from UCLA in 2007 after leaving showbiz for a spell. She only returned to acting because the end of her academic career meant ...
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik (born December 12, 1975, San Diego, California, U.S.) is an American television and film actor and neuroscientist best known for her recurring roles on the American situation comedy series Blossom (1990-95), where she played the title role, and The Big Bang Theory (2007-19), where she played the character of Amy Farrah Fowler from 2010 to 2019.
Neuroscientist and actor Mayim Bialik to speak at Penn State Harrisburg
Mayim Bialik, neuroscientist and actor on the television show "The Big Bang Theory," will present a keynote address titled "The Big Bang Theory: Making Science Cool (& Funny)" as part of Penn State Harrisburg's Women in STEAM Symposium on March 30. The event will be presented virtually via YouTube Live.
Mayim Bialik Answers 50 of the Most Googled Neuroscience ...
Actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik answers 50 of the most googled questions about neuroscience. How does a stroke affect the nervous system? How does th...
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Saltzberg gets backup from actress Mayim Bialik, who happens to have a PhD in neuroscience. (Her character, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, is also a neuroscientist.) She helps Saltzberg fine-tune the show ...
Mayim Bialik Answers 50 of the Most Googled Neuroscience Questions
that would be dopamine as the. [bell ringing] primary neurotransmitter. How information travels in the nervous system. All sorts of crazy ways, up, down, sideways, inside out. Information travels ...
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Mayim Bialik’s Ph.D. Actually Helped Shape ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Mayim Bialik received a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007

The writers created Bialik’s character on The Big Bang Theory with her education in mind

Bialik often helped fact check science concepts presented in the show

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The Untold Truth Of Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik credits her parents for her 'normal' upbringing, despite starting acting at age 12

Her breakthrough role on the NBC sitcom Blossom was considered ahead of the times

Mayim Bialik is an advocate for women in STEM careers

After returning to acting, Mayim Bialik led somewhat of a double life

Mayim Bialik auditioned for The Big Bang Theory for this reason

She converted from Reform Judaism to Orthodox Judaism after her studies at UCLA

Mayim Bialik was in a serious car crash in 2012

Mayim Bialik is an advocate of this specific parenting style

She and her ex are committed to co-parenting and even spend holiday dinners together

She contributes to a Jewish parenting site and launched her own lifestyle website

Mayim Bialik has written a somewhat controversial parenting book

In 2017, she wrote an essay about feminism and Harvey Weinstein that made some people angry

Mayim Bialik's show Call Me Kat was practically made for her

She has embarked on an exciting opportunity as a host of Jeopardy!

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11 things to know about Mayim Bialik, who was named one of the new hosts of 'Jeopardy!'

Mayim Bialik hosted "Jeopardy!" from May 31 to June 11 as one of the season's many celebrity guest hosts.

Bialik may have one of her kids (and TikTok) to partially thank for the "Jeopardy!" hosting gig.

Her appointment as "Jeopardy!" host is not without controversy.

"Jeopardy!" isn't the first game show she's been part of.