Stretching Science to new dimensions

No pawn wars, family feuds or icebound truckers! Just Ricky Gervais, Morgan Freeman and catapulted pumpkins.

As more and more once-serious cable channels seem to jack up reality conflict to draw in more viewers, "We will never sell out on science," promises Debbie Adler Myers, general manager of what's morphing itself into a relaunched channel simply called Science.

On Wednesday, the Discovery-owned entity formerly known as Science Channel introduces a sharper on-air attitude with an animated logo that's actually named Morph. "The beauty of Morph," Myers says, "is it shapes into surprising new forms depending on what the content's about."

That's Myers' approach to growing Science, too. "Our rallying cry around this place is, nurture the core, push out the edges." She wants to lure new viewers without alienating current ones by diluting the brand's basic focus. "We want to bring more people into the tent by helping redefine how cool and how much joy science is. . . . people come to television to be entertained."

So yes, movie star Freeman hosts the second-season series that introduces Science's new look Wednesday night at 10. But it's still "Through the Wormhole," exploring such significant concepts as life after death and the edges of the universe. Even bringing aboard comic icon Gervais, in last winter's travel/humor hit "An Idiot Abroad," isn't so far afield. "He's like the chief thought-provocateur," a favorite phrase at Science. "Science is about asking questions, everywhere," Myers says. "If you don't make science relatable and personal, you haven't hit home. It's not about memorizing the periodic table. It's about not being afraid of the unknown."

Or the known. "How It's Made," Science's omnipresent manufacturing series, dissects common objects like soap, "and you'll never look at that bar of soap in the same way again," Myers says. Calculating how to hurl pumpkins is at the heart of the fall competition fave "Punkin Chunkin." And trash is treasure in August's "Junkmen," where backyard builders prowl Freeport Junk and Wrecking seeking parts to create cool new devices.

Science now produces 200 hours of fresh content yearly, Myers says, with big pushes in the summer (see sidebar) and winter. There's even a weekday 4 p.m. commercial-free kids hour called "Head Rush," with Kari Byron of "MythBusters" extending that hit show's hands-on experiments. It's aimed at middle schoolers, Myers says, "because that's when they lose interest in science."

If she and Science have their way, nobody will.

Find Science on Cablevision (170), Time Warner (111), FiOs (122), DirecTV (284) and Dish (193).

Hot stuff on Science

"Through the Wormhole" (Wednesday 7-11 p.m., new episodes at 9). Morgan Freeman's second season explores Big Questions.

"Oddities" (Saturday 8-11 p.m., new episode at 10). Shrunken heads and lightbulb eaters at Manhattan's Obscura Antiques and Oddities. (Season 2 concludes Saturday.)

"How It's Made" (Tuesday and Friday 9-10 p.m.). Manufacturing play-by-play for everything from tubas to surfboards. Also, "How Do They Do It" (Tuesday and Friday 8-9 p.m.).

"Wonders of the Solar System" (marathon June 12 5-10 p.m.). Explains Saturn's rings, other space phenomena. Follow-up "Wonders of the Universe" debuts July 27.

"Junkmen" (debuts Aug. 19). LI's Freeport Junk and Wrecking draws inventors/builders seeking parts.

"The Rising" (debuts Aug. 21). Six-part series on World Trade Center (re)building.

"Prophets of Science Fiction" (debuts late 2011). Ridley Scott profiles Asimov, Roddenberry, Lucas, etc.

"An Idiot Abroad" (back in early 2012.) Ricky Gervais' pal Karl Pilkington visits foreign cultures.