Magnus Pyke was a figure in the media in the UK, who although apparently quite eccentric made an effort to explain science for a lay audience. Pyke shouting "science" and other sampled soundbites features on the song She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby.

He was also known for the enthusiastic mannerism he had of waving his arms around as he spoke.

Dr Pyke died in 1992, aged 83.

Pyke wrote over a dozen books on science including:

• Weird & wonderful science facts
• Man and Food
• The human predicament: An anthology with questions by Cedric Blackman
• Long life: Expectations for old age
• Food and Society'
• The Science Century

See also

• Geoffrey Pyke, his even more eccentric brother