What's the galactic view on the Mad Scientist trope? Do other species have ecquivalents?
Well, the Numidid have the trope that to embrace science is to be mad… but it’s an occasionally useful madness that helps the species overall. So it’s strictly regulated.
Only humans ever came up with the Mythbusters. Blowing things up to encourage the young to engage in science? Madness.
Our mad scientists want to take over the world. Or show them all.
Their mad scientists merely want to prove a point. Often explosively.