Big Bang Theory Got Most Of Its Science Right, But Failed Howard Big Time

Sitcoms tend to present real life exaggerated for comic effect. Even if the shows are set in other worlds, they won't get many laughs unless they have something to do with the viewer's lived reality.

Such was the case with Howard's astronaut storyline in The Big Bang Theory. The very idea of this skinny nerd going on a NASA space mission was absurd from the start. And that gave the writers plenty of room to play with.

Indeed, there were some hilarious moments throughout his training - most of which just reinforced the idea that this was a man destined never to go into space.

In fact, if you go back to the beginning of the story, you quickly realise that Howard's ambitions would never have achieved lift-off. For a start, he had too many health problems - including asthma and an arrhythmia - that would have ruled him out at the application stage.

Then there was his incredibly low body mass index (BMI). Although his BMI was never revealed, it was mentioned several times that he had just 3% body fat - a fact of which he was particularly proud. Based on a height of about 168 cm and a weight of about 130 pounds, this would give Howard a BMI of about 21. Astronauts typically have a BMI of around 24-25. Another health risk to add to the list.

But let's leave that aside and take a look at his training. In a video call with Bernadette, he revealed that he had been sick while undertaking anti-gravity training. This is not uncommon - but was Howard the type of person to push through the pain and persevere?

Well, actions speak louder than words, and the answer to that question comes from our intrepid intergalactic explorer, who ran away from training to see his mum. Now, I'm not privy to how NASA treats its student astronauts. But I have a feeling that they would probably frown upon this sort of thing.

So the combination of ill health, terrible training and needing to be cuddled by his mum probably means that in the real world he'd never have gone into space. And for the most part, the showrunners have been careful to get their scientific references right.

But on this occasion, it seems, they were happy to let accuracy slide in the name of comedy.