The man who brought science to children's television during the '50s and '60s has died at teh age of 89.  Herbert's show "Watch Mr. Wizard" ran for 14 seasons and brought the magic of scientific principles to young children.  He would take common household items and encourage kids to try the same experiments at home.  The series, which won a Peabody Award in 1954, was revived for a while in the 1970s, and then retooled for Nickelodeon audiences in the '80s.

"Even when things went wrong, we could always explain why," said Herbert in an interview with the New York Times some time ago.

"He really taught kids how to use the thinking skills of a scientist," former colleague Steve Jacobs said to the Associated Press.

Herbert died of cancer a month shy of his 90th birthday.  He is survived by his wife and three children.