Ever since he was a young child, Senku has had an insatiable curiosity for science. He grew up experimenting with chemical reactions, creating his own rockets, and researching college-level scientific concepts in elementary school math class. Now that the world has regressed back to the Stone Age, he can put that passion to use by skyrocketing humanity up the tech tree with his wealth of knowledge and the materials he has at hand. His unbridled glee at finding a rare resource or completing a crucial invention is so infectious!

Senku learned how to make things in the modern world, which had luxuries like computers, factory-made parts, and imports from other countries. But even without his usual fancy setup, he can cobble together pretty much anything from just the resources he finds in the stone world version of Japan. Soap made from seashells? Check. Fake chocolate made from herbs, beans, and a whiff of ozone? Why not? A car with bamboo wicker tires that runs on steam? Of course! It may take some trial and error, but Senku will use anything he can find to make his invention ideas into reality.

As you might guess from his insane spiky anime hair, Senku is pretty extra. While he was still on his own and fighting to survive every day, he still took the time to put a massive “Laboratory” sign above the primitive hut where he was experimenting with revival fluid.

And once he moves on to bigger projects, the embellishments get even sillier: the car has a carved and painted gorilla on the front, the cumbersome walkie-talkie is called a “cell phone”, etc. His priorities are a bit suspect, as well—he reinvents electricity, katanas, steam power, and gas masks before even thinking about farming or written language. Yes, he was trying to prepare for an attack from the Tsukasa Empire, but still.

Any true scientist knows that progress comes from the combined work of many people, not the ideas of one solitary genius. Senku recognizes this, so he puts a significant amount of effort into recruiting others to help with his inventions. This includes skilled experts like Kaseki the craftsman and Francois the chef, but also little kids like Suika who can assist with intel and simple physical tasks.

He isn’t completely pragmatic, though—he genuinely cares about and relies on his close friends and he goes out of his way to make treats like Gen’s cola and Suika’s glasses just to make their lives a little better. Even at the very start of the series, he believes that Taiju won’t get rejected by Yuzuriha when everyone else is betting against him.

Senku’s adoptive dad Byakuya loves his son so much that he sold his car to buy a full laboratory set so that Senku could become a great scientist. And, inspired by Senku, he gave his dream of becoming an astronaut another shot and actually made it onto the International Space Station! Byakuya is long gone by the time of the stone world, but Senku carries on his legacy by never giving up on his goals and shooting for the final frontier of space just like his dad did. We have every confidence that he can make it happen!