ON THE FRINGES OF SCIENCE
Fringe (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One of my husband’s and my favorite show is “Fringe“.
If you haven’t seen it, you’ve missed one of the best shows on television.
True, the series has just concluded (sob, sob); however, thanks to The Science Channel and DVD’s, this groundbreaking show lives on.
What’s so great about this show, is that it introduces unorthodox and kinda out there scientific concepts to the masses. Concepts such as teleportation, mutated killer cold viruses, severely mutated parasites, parallel universes, alternate timelines, shape-shifters, time travel and transgenics, among others are showcased each week.
Parallel Worlds (Univers parallèles) (Photo credit: Gilderic Photography)
Some of these concepts have been done before; however, not like this. “Fringe” takes on-the-edge science ideas and pushes them over the cliff taking you on a thrilling bungee jump off the top of the Himalayas. Oh yeah, it’s just that good.
Having watched every episode (some of them repeatedly), I decided to do some research and see how some of these sci-fi concepts are being put to the test in the real world. For the next several weeks, I will share with you what I’ve found.
Shows like “Fringe”, “Through the Wormhole” and “Sci-Fi Science:Physics of the Impossible”, and even “Eureka”, tickle the imagination and take us to new fields of discovery. The ability to learn, research and explore further than we’ve ever gone before is what pushes humanity to new heights. Scientists like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michio Kaku, Brian Cox and Phil Plait (a.k.a. the Bad Astronomer) make learning about the previously stereotyped science cool.
Intertitle from the Science Channel television program Through the Wormhole (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Intertitle from the Science Channel television program Sci Fi Science: Physics of the Impossible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Come with me through the wormhole to the fringe science currently being researched. Soar with me to new heights, discover new concepts and get ready to have your mind blown, put back together and blown again.
Posted on 01/29/2013, in Lessons in Sci-Fi and tagged Fringe, Parallel universe (fiction), sci-fi, Science Channel, science fiction, Shapeshifting, Speculative Fiction, Television, Time travel, Walter Bishop. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
Oh, how I would love to see how I turn out in alternate timelines or to travel through time. Both sound exciting.
As for the latter, of course, the debate has been going strong for some time. Some have argued that time travel is impossible due to the continuity of the timeline (meaning that was once is gone and cannot be accessed again), while other theories suggest that time is always constant and that time hopping is possible with the right precision applied. If time travel IS doable, however, I fear devastating outcomes. Too many people are eager to change the past, and if they were capable of doing so, existence as we know it may be changed in some unfathomable ways. I would love to see history in action and learn from that (determine facts that have been in question over time), but not at the cost of some short-sighted individual initiating changes that shouldn’t be made. Things happen, and even though many of these occurrences are devastating and/or painful to a lot of people, they have happened for a reason. We are to learn from them and move on. That is how we gain wisdom and grow.
Example: Titanic. As a Titanic enthusiast and a long-time researcher (i.e. most of my 48 years), I have encountered many who fantasize about going back to prevent the tragedy (has anyone ever watched “Time Tunnel” from the 1960s?).
That’s the conundrum. Do we travel into the the past to learn and gain wisdom on life or do we need the wisdom first?
In the end, these feats are exciting, but they mean nothing without the wisdom to utilize them effectively.
Sorry, am I being a bummer again? hehe.
In any case, I have never watched “Fringe.” I presume this show deals with these various concepts in a serious light?
I wait in anticipation to see what science brings forth. These developments won’t happen over night, but with a constantly and persistently applied imaginations, they will arrive.
As usual, your posts are fun, Yolanda. Thanks for sharing.
Mark, Fringe is a drama/crime/sci-fi show that does take seriously all aspects of Fringe science, not just time-travel. Time travel is one of many of the various concepts which are visited on the show.
I am only intending to introduce my audience to some of the best that sci-fi and science have to offer. For too long, both have been misunderstood and stereotyped. I am an advocate for showing the good of both; while also understanding the negatives.
I am trying to build up a sci-fi fan following with this blog. I can only hope that by talking about the correlation between sci-fi and its impact on the science community, as well as just showing how cool science really is, I can gain a following of fans who love science and sci-fi as much as I do.
Yolanda, I know, and you do a wonderful job. I have a growing respect for science and science fiction, and I have a growing respect and admiration for you as well.
As for time travel, I picked that particular concept because I remember having read a few things on it and wanted to contribute that insight to the discussion for others to consider. Sorry if it appeared digressive. As you can see, I did make a reference to TV to show a connection.
Keep going. Your fan base is growing.
Thank you for your encouragement and admiration, Mark.
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