Comic-Con Update: Fringe Science
Cue the maniacal laughter: The mad scientists behind some of our favorite shows, including Fringe, shared their secrets with the Comic Con crowds on Thursday. Here's what we learned:
- Fringe writer Rob Chiappetta explained why the science on the show tends to focus on biology and neuroscience rather than, say, astrophysics: "Fringe is partly a horror show -- we want something creepy in every episode, and it's easier to get to creepy and gross with biology and neurology than astrophysics." Moderator Phil Plait, creator of Bad Astronomy, disagreed: "You obviously haven't been to many parties with astrophysicists."
- Phil asked if Astrid was named after Professor Farnsworth on Futurama. No -- that would be Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television. "I was close, because Futurama is one television," Phil said. Nice try, Phil!
- Rob muses that Fringe needs its own Law & Order spin-off, since they spend so much time debating the ethics of various scientific breakthroughs and concepts. Example: A company on the internet that allows you to put your belongings in escrow so, if you're reincarnated, you can "inherit" your possessions. What kind of proof do they accept, he wondered: "Can I just walk in and say 'I think I might be someone who died 40 years ago -- can I have my stuff?"
- Sometimes episodes are inspired by current science, and sometimes the writers and scientific advisors have to come up with a justification for what happen in the script. "If J.J. Abrams says he wants a head to explode, you better make sure a head explodes," Rob said. "And then [the science advisors'] heads explode, because it's not possible."
- Yes, Fringe deals with a lot of science that's only slightly out of reach today. However... "If you see walter do something on screen, do not attempt it," Rob said. "Now you tell me after I've taken LSD and gone into a isolation tank!" Phil responded.
Comments
I have a question for fellow Fringe fans - does the ways in which Walter used the isolation tank make you more or less fearful or interested in it?
Posted by: Isolation Tank | July 25, 2009 9:05 PM
How the alternate realities are realized will be a crucial issue soon. Are the writers going to bend science or just make it up? Last thing I want to see is multiple copies of everone!
Posted by: FieryJack | August 30, 2009 4:04 PM
What I like about fringe science, is that, it creates ideas about scientific possibilities and inspires people to explore them...
Posted by: Ayabulela | October 15, 2009 6:52 PM