READY FOR LIFTOFF

He’s 12 years old and a sophomore at TCU, and soon he’ll test his genius

Move over, Sheldon

Cooper.

It’s Cannan Huey-You’s turn at being kid genius.

In fact, he’ll be on TV, too. Just not on the “Big Bang Theory” though.

He’ll be on “MythBusters Jr.” on the Science Channel.

The 12-year-old Texas Christian University sophomore is double majoring in physics and astronomy/engineering with plans to be an astronaut. (That’s right, he’s 12).

This summer, he joined the “MythBusters Jr.” show that will premiere later this year. He’s one of six young people who will explore science questions alongside the show’s host Adam Savage, who co-hosted the show “MythBusters.”

Asked why he decided to try out for the show, Cannan answered in a statement: “I’ve been watching ‘MythBusters’ since I was 4 years old, so just being a part of this is really exciting. Meeting Adam Savage was also really cool, but quite weird, because you have to remember that you know about him, but he doesn’t know about you.”

Cannan is no stranger to making headlines. He has been in the spotlight, both as a young college student attending TCU and for being the younger brother of another campus science prodigy.

C. Magnus L. Rittby, senior associate dean for administration and graduate programs at TCU’s College of Science and Engineering, said the opportunity to try out for the show emerged last summer as the brothers were making news.

Carson, who is now 15 and a graduate student at TCU doing research in quantum theory, is working as an unpaid intern on the show, Rittby said.

Rittby, who is Cannan’s mentor and academic adviser, said being part of this show is a great opportunity.

“Each day is an adventure with new myths and exciting things to do,” Rittby said, adding that it is similar to being at a science and tech camp except there is a camera rolling all the time.

Cannan told the StarTelegram in a direct message that he wanted to have “more experience in building stuff, because most of my experience has been academic.”

He added: “I also thought that generally ‘Myth’-busting would be very fun, seeing how it’s just big science projects in each episode.”

Cannan said before “MythBusters Jr.” he had never used power tools and his experience with building was limited to Legos.

Being on the show, which is filmed north of San Francisco, has taught Cannan to be more comfortable in front of a camera.

“I’ve learned to use all kinds of new skills, which I think will be really helpful in my future as an engineer, scientist or astronaut!” he wrote.