“The Leftover Thermalization” — Friction ensues when a magazine fails to mention Leonard (Johnny Galecki, seated) in an article about the paper he co-wrote with Sheldon (Jim Parsons, standing), on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, March 12 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Neil Jacobs/CBS ©2015 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Scientific American will make another television appearance tonight (other TV roles include the topic of conversation on episodes of the sitcoms Cheers and Mad about You as well as set dressing on House of Cards and Breaking Bad). In the plot of the Thursday, March 12 episode of The Big Bang Theory, (spoiler alert) the magazine runs a story about a scientific paper that characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter published about superfluid vacuum theory. A row ensues when Hofstadter realizes that only Cooper was mentioned in our coverage.

Scientific American talked to executive producer and showrunner Steven Molaro about writing for scientist characters and getting the science right.

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This article originally appeared on Scientific American‘s website on March 12, 2015.