tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post116112053000166297..comments2024-01-31T12:18:33.526-06:00Comments on The Saga of Runolfr: More Hollywood AntiscienceLord Runolfrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05037511493835631150noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-20902471006622229032007-05-04T14:24:00.000-05:002007-05-04T14:24:00.000-05:00There was a Wild, Wild, West episode involving hyp...There was a Wild, Wild, West episode involving hyperaccelerated people (it could have been "The Night of the Burning Diamond", as most episodes seemed to be named "The Night of the X", and diamonds featured in the story line). That one at least mentioned air resistance; it didn't cover the problems of the speed of sound or gravity or inertia or light.<BR/><BR/>Isaac Asimov wrote a short story--"All the Time in the World", I think--where an alien technology created a bubble of accelerated time. Presumably the boundary of this bubble somehow dealt with the problems of substances entering and leaving the bubble. Presumably the alien technology also took care of the light source problem.<BR/><BR/>Larry Niven had a Gil the ARM story involving a bubble of accelerated time. He dealt with the light problem (light going in was downshifted to radar, but light going out was upshifted to X-rays, and made a nasty weapon).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1162098369152501422006-10-29T00:06:00.000-05:002006-10-29T00:06:00.000-05:00Regarding time-stopping, the air-resistance issues...Regarding time-stopping, the air-resistance issues go away if you assume the effect extends to a buffer zone around the person. Of course, you still have to worry about exhausting the local oxygen supply (and leaving a trail of depleted air behind you to choke people afterwards).<BR/><BR/>The light-supply issue is tougher, and there are many questions regarding interacting with normal-time objects (extending out of your buffer zone).<BR/><BR/>Star Trek in general, took Clarke's 3rd Law of Technology rather too literally, with advanced devices and beings following the traditional rules of outright magic. On the other hand, it gets some credit for consistently treating "gods" merely as "very powerful creatures".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161996030061664202006-10-27T19:40:00.000-05:002006-10-27T19:40:00.000-05:00Confusing metamorphosis with evolution may be comm...Confusing metamorphosis with evolution may be common, but it's a huge blunder. Metamorphosis happens in practically all species, although for many it occurs in the womb.<BR/><BR/>The notion that the human form is somehow the "goal" of the evolutionary process is a typical piece of Star Trek inaccuracy. At least they eventually came up with the excuse that the "humanoid" prejudice is the result of alien intervention (in the episode "The Chase", if it matters to anyone).Lord Runolfrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037511493835631150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161980641976173102006-10-27T15:24:00.000-05:002006-10-27T15:24:00.000-05:00THe misuse of evolution in Star Trek that always b...THe misuse of evolution in <I>Star Trek</I> that always bothered me most, was the idea of "directed evolution." As in "This species hasn't yet evolved the ability to ..." or "That society hasn't evolved the ..." As if our species and our society were the inevitable end product of evolution.The Science Pundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14497373296651049624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161971061496971682006-10-27T12:44:00.000-05:002006-10-27T12:44:00.000-05:00re Sudden EvolutionThe term is used inapproprately...re Sudden Evolution<BR/>The term is used inapproprately, but the actual event is less unscientific than it might seem if you call it metamorphosis and compare it to the process which changes caterpillars into butterflies or to the Mexican Axolotl, which changes from a neotene form to an adult when there's a lack of water. I agree that the knowledge of the gereral public regarding evolution is as deplorably lacking as water is for a full-grown Axolotl.Martijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11473831805519844711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161195620261788162006-10-18T13:20:00.000-05:002006-10-18T13:20:00.000-05:00I wonder just what unspecified laws of physics tho...I wonder just what unspecified laws of physics those gas chambers defied. Care to elaborate?<BR/><BR/>Back on topic: <A HREF="http://rockstarramblings.blogspot.com/2006/07/if-youre-wondering-how-he-eats-and.html" REL="nofollow">I love Star Trek, but I avoid taking it seriously</A>.Bronze Doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938257296504189967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161137591058317312006-10-17T21:13:00.000-05:002006-10-17T21:13:00.000-05:00Wow! A holocaust-denying troll! That's a new one f...Wow! A holocaust-denying troll! That's a new one for the Saga. Where's my sword?Lord Runolfrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05037511493835631150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10539467.post-1161131252618476852006-10-17T19:27:00.000-05:002006-10-17T19:27:00.000-05:00I saw one once where the nazis were supposed to ha...I saw one once where the nazis were supposed to have killed millions of jews in magical physics defying gas-chambers, thousands a day. The germans were depicted as evil monsters bent on destroying the world. I think it was Swindler's List or something like that. Anyway, take care!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com