An end of era has come upon us but the doors of science have just opened. After 14 seasons, the Discovery show, "Mythbusters," ended March 5, 2016. For those of you who like science, a good laugh, goofing around or explosions, this show had it all. While it was known for making big things into small (explosions galore), it also helped people of all ages to think critically and challenge the world around them.

"Mythbusters" started in 2002 with the two main hosts, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage testing myths and urban legends to be either: confirmed, plausible or “busted.” "Mythbusters" also had a “Team B” or “Build Team,” made up of Kari Byron, Grant Imahara and Tori Belleci, that would test their own myths simultaneously. The show’s general sequence was: breakdown and explanation of what the myth was, move into small scale testing of the myth, then large scale, to which they could replicate the myth to be true or “cheat” and mimic what the myth said should have happened. If it was proven to be done or correct, it was confirmed, but if not, it was busted.

Among all of this, there was witty banter, easy to follow graphics and doses of science that really explained how everything worked. This captivated the show’s audience to keep coming back every week. The hosts were always able to put in a good laugh and never really took themselves too seriously which added a layer that they were just as human as any viewer was (fun fact: none of them got degrees in science). They also used their go to crash test dummy, "Buster" to put him through the ringer of their testing and be a major part of the show people grew attached to. The myths were crazy and the hosts were funny, and it really felt like you could learn from the show.

When I first watched the show, I was scrolling through the channels of the TV and just happened to bump into it. It just so happened that an explosion was going off in the show when I found it and I was hooked. I had never seen something like that on TV, not to mention adults that were funny but not super cheesy. Furthermore, it was a show I actually understood (I was 10 when I first found it) and I realized I actually was learning something from it. From there on, I would tune in every week to see what wild legend the Mythbusters would tackle while learning new things that I’d always tell my mom about. They taught me the scientific method, what PSI meant, how explosives work, what a control group was, how to escape from a drowning car, survival tactics and that “failure is always an option.” I was able to grow up with "Mythbusters" in my home and I can say, without them, I don’t think I’d be nearly as interested in science, explosions and exploring the world without them around.

Not only did "Mythbusters" change my life, but many others' lives as well. The show has such a devoted fan base and did an amazing job of catering to all audiences of all interests rather than “just nerds” or adults. They were able to change science to show not just what textbook science was, but to beautifully display how each component of science and their testing worked. I’m sure others can feel the same way that they felt proud of themselves for understanding new concepts the show was introducing. Inside all of us, we became little scientists and Mythbusters that were curious about the world. Even when the Mythbusters had issues in their testing, they coined the phrase “failure is always an option” in that even when things go wrong, that’s a result and you can only grow from that result.

So to my childhood heroes: Adam, Jamie, Kari, Grant and Tori, as well as the whole crazy staff of "Mythbusters," thank you for enriching my childhood. Thank you for teaching me a lot of what I know today and to help me learn to look at the world from a different perspective. Thank you for telling me that I am capable of learning anything and can do anything even if I’m not “qualified.” Thank you for putting a smile on my face for so many years and giving me cheesy jokes that will always lift my mood. Thank you for changing the world of science and the next generation. You all created such an amazing world and we can’t wait to see what each of you do next.