Insane Imagery

Welcome to the late edition of Insane Imagery. This month I'm doing Star Wars, and focussing on the key elements of the films. These features include:

• The Lightsabre
• Blasters
• Space Travel
• Cloning
• Aliens

The Lightsabre

We all know what a lightsabre is, the fantastic sword apparently made of extreme light and heat, which in all other aspect behaves like a sword. But is it a plausible weapon? Short answer: No. Any weapon which is made of light is not going to be solid enough to deflect other weapons, or blaster bolts, or anything else for that matter. Ever try to block a punch with a laser light?That doesn't even get into the idea of keeping the light in a very constricted shape, without the use of mirrors.

Of course, that isn't to say something similar will never be available. The characteristics of a Lightsabre are almost identical to those exhibited by a Plasma Sword. What's Plasma? Why, Plasma is the forth state of matter! Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma. If somthing doesn't fit solid, liquid or gas, it's probably plasma. Some examples are, FIRE! LIGHTNING! AURORA BORIALIS! AURORA AUSTRALIANIS! NEBULAS! and many others. Chemically, plasma is a state of matter in which all molecules are dissociated and most are ionized. Make any sense to you? Chemists, correct me if I'm wrong, but is that basically the nuclei (centres) of the molecules are not really connected, but the electrons are almost free moving? Sounds about right.

In any case, if enough energy was produced to superheat plasma, it could be drawn out and held in place with a ridiculously powerful electro-magnetic field. The EMF would cause the sword to strike other such swords as though they were solid, but would pass straight through a non-magnetic sword... although the superheated plasma would probably do some damage. Another advantage would be drawing magnetic weapons to it, melting or contorting them to be useless. This isn't seen in the movies, but would be cool to see in real life.

Despite the seeming simplicity of the concept, creating a "lightsabre" would be next to impossible, as the energy requirements for even short term use are astronomical. In order to create one with today's technology, you would need a nuclear reactor, several super computers and something the size of a tank to house it all. and that's for a normal length blade. We won't be seeing any lightsabres around here any time soon. Blasters on the other hand...

Blasters

The other handheld weapon of the Star Wars trilogies is the blaster. In effect, a blaster is a handheld weapon of similar shap and size to our current firearms, the only difference being they shoot what looks like lasers. A more likely shot would be, you guessed it, Plasma.

Plasma guns do exist. They aren't military grade, and are VERY bulky, but they do exist. They are known as Dense Plasma Focuses or DPF, and shoot short lived high temperature, high density plasma in scientific experiments. If the design could be miniaturized, and the yield increased, so as to increase the life of the plasma shot, it might achieve a weapons grade. As it is, it is indescribably useful to science, and completely useless to the military.

The other big problem would be energy. It requires a large amount of energy to create the shots of plasma, and nothing we can currently create at a handheld level as anywhere near the levels of output required to run such a device. If a small portable fusion or even fission reactor could be designed, then we'd be much closer to the time of lightswords and ray guns. If we managed to create such a device, perhaps we'd have the energ needed for faster then light travel.

Space travel

First off, when designing the films, the distance between planets was not taken into account, or at least can't have been thought through. Most of the travel in the galaxy was by large starships going at light speed. Not only is this impossible, it is impractical. The faster an object moves, the more energy it needs to go faster; and the more energy it has, the larger it's mass. In order to go at the speed of light, an object would require an infinite amount of energy, and because of that it would have an infinite amount of mass. This is one of the things discovered by Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

The design of the starships witin the Star Wars universe are reminiscent of the rockets of old. They suggest that some fuel burning within a confined space would create a sufficient speed for galactic travel. This is not the case. Unless the fire at the back of the ships were plasma vents... A more realistic inter-planetary transport system would be an Alcubierre Drive, which is akin to the Warp Drive of Star Trek. A drive of this style creates a wave IN THE VERY FABRIC OF SPACE! Doing this would make the space around the ship move, not the ship itself, so it violates no Relativistic laws. Of course an Alcubierre Drive doesn't suggest the intricate maneuvers demonstrated in the films as possible. Though if it could be weakened and directed, there isn't any logical reason why it wouldn't work. At present, there are no known ways to create a spacial distortion event. Perhaps we'll find an alien species who knows a way...

Aliens

This is an interesting question, are there aliens, and if so, what do they look like? The best thing about the films is that the aliens really do look strange. If aliens are out there, it is almost impossible that they'd look similar to anything we have on earth. The conditions of life on other planets would be different to Earth, just because it isn't Earth. They even have creatures that aren't sentient, which is how you would expect it to be, if they worlds there are anything like Earth.

I won't say whether there are aliens out there or not, because I have no idea. Whose to say just how likely a life starting event is? Or a sentience event? It's possible that we'll never find alien life, just as it it possible we'll find some tomorrow. I will remain agnostic to this question, as the evidence just isn't there for either side.

I have hopefully explained to you the various logical inaccuracies and potential real world applications of the science of Star Wars. I'm likely forgetting a lot, so if you notice something I forget, please comment on here so I can address it. Otherwise, comment of likes and dislikes, follow me if you want, and stay tuned for mor INSANE IMAGERY!

Insane Imagery: The Science of Pokemon

Welcome to my first post in a monthly series called Insane Imagery, where I look at different TV shows, movies, books, etc. and try to explain the science therein. This month it's POKEMON!

Yes Pokemon, that cute group of games where technology is high, and ethics are low. As I explained, I'm looking into the science here, not theorizing about the mental and emotional development of a 12-13 year old sent out to travel the world alone, all the while using technology to abuse animals into doing what they want. I am also not going to go into the anomalous lack of factories, warehouses and transport within the world.
Here's a large list of the crazy things in this world that require some thinking to understand:
- Pokemon
   - Linguistics
   - Moves
   - Types
   - Evolution
   - Death
- Pokeballs
   - Size change
   - Capturing
   - Coercion
   - Release/Return
   - Power

None of this is easy to explain, but I'll give it my best. I'll go down the list as best I can, making references as needed. First up, Pokemon Linguistics, and how they can understand each other and humans.

Pokemon language is an enigma, simple yet complex, undefined yet specific, gibberish with meaning. The problem addressing this issue lies firstly in the fact that the different sources (Games and TV Show) don't agree in how Pokemon sound. Is it Pika Pikachu, or Pupupupupupuu? Not only that, Pokemon must also understand human speech, because no training is needed after capture in order to use the Pokemon. Logically, Pokemon must either be very intelligent, or somehow given a translator between the time they are caught and the time they are used. I feel the second is more likely, though they aren't mutually exclusive, and I'll get to that when I'm discussing Pokeballs.

Next come the moves, and the types of moves available. Most moves make logical sense, and may even be seen in the natural world, e.g. Bite, Gust, Water Gun, etc. Others are a little bit less common, but can be explained, e.g. Flamethrower, Psibeam, etc. And then there's Baton Pass, Block, etc. There's a biological explanation for fire or ice generation, see http://dragonint.webs.com/dragonbiology.htm. Psychics and telekinesis are generally cast off into the realms of Pseudo-science, but there is a little bit of theory that supports it. It's described well here: http://weilerpsiblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/the-physics-behind-psychic-ability/. Moves like Baton Pass don't work well in reality, unless you consider the move a subtle form of mental manipulation. If psychic powers exist in the world of Pokemon, then a move which prohibits escape or transfers powers up can be a version of these. For example, Ninjask gets a speed boost just because it is Ninjask. If it uses Baton Pass, a suggestion could be placed that the next Pokemon used is faster then normal. Block could be explained only if the return function of a Pokeball requires consent. I'll get to that too.

Now for the obviously flawed idea in Pokemon called 'Evolution'. This involves a Pokemon fighting enough to trigger it's metamorphosis. This change involves a rapid, and sometimes drastic, reconstruction of the Pokemons body. One of my friends, as a way of explaining this, suggested that Pokemon aren't very similar to us. They are made of Cells which, like ours, originate as Stem cells. However, unlike our cells, a Pokemons cells can revert back to this Stem cell shape. In addition, each can quickly duplicate, allowing for the large size differences between different Pokemon evolutions. Just as animals have instinct, Pokemon have a evolution instinct programmed into their brains. It is repressed however, which is why battling can bring it forth. When activated, the evolution instinct causes a gland within the Pokemon, probably something akin to the hypothalamus, to excrete certain chemicals. These chemicals trigger a rapid chain-reaction that causes all the cells to revert to Stem cells and the reform into a new, more efficient form. This process is not consciously activated, but can be halted. If the Pokemon has reason (It's directed not to, insufficient food, etc), it can cause the same gland to produce a neutralizing agent, which acts quickly to stop the evolution process.

Another form of evolution is stone evolution. There are stones which effectively force a Pokemon to evolve. Stones only affect a small number of Pokemon, those that would otherwise not evolve. The stone actually replaces the evolution instinct chemical. It's not specified how a stone is used in the game, just that they are. The reaction caused by the stomach acid melting the stone could release the necessary chemicals, or perhaps the stone is made of the same chemicals and only contact is required. Who knows, maybe it's a suppository.

This brings us to happiness evolution. It seems to me that the trigger event in this case is a desire to impress. This makes sense in terms of real evolution, as a creature that will change to impress a mate will have more chance to reproduce.

Finally, what happens when a Pokemon dies? Obviously Pokemon die, otherwise there wouldn't be the Pokemon Tower in lavender town, or the skull on Cubone's head. Clearly, when Pokemon die, they enter a transitional state and revert into a ghost Pokemon. This does not make sense. But, then, neither does a lot about Pokemon. Despite their clear existence in Pokemon, ghosts seem to still avoid explanation, so I'll leave it at that.

Wow. All this and I'm just up to Pokeballs. Hopefully they'll be quicker to explain.

Okay, in the TV show a Pokeball is about the size of a golf ball until it's center button is touchedarea. Due to it's virtual silence and smooth movement, there would have to thousands of moving parts to work. This would create a lot of friction, so perhaps the mechanisms use magnets to operate.

Next is the capturing. Once a Pokemon is struck by a Pokeball they are drawn within. This event is similar to the Transporter from Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. A information pattern of the Pokemon is stored within the ball, and is reconstructed upon use. Considering that returning to the Pokeball must require consent in order for certain moves to work logically, it follows that to be captured also requires consent, or at least low resistance. A Pokeball, or it's more powerful variations, influence the Pokemon they are trying to capture, to somehow entice a low resistance. This is normally done through a small coercion device being written into the Pokemons pattern. If it isn't written fast enough, the Pokemon is released as a safety measure, hence 'breaking free'. The stronger the ball, the faster the coercion device is written. A master ball for instance writes so quickly and safely no Pokemon pattern has the chance of damage. Different types of balls, made of apricorns use a strong scent to lower the resistance of certain types of Pokemon before converting the Pokemon to a pattern.

The coercion device would likely be a small chip which exists within a caught Pokemons brain. It functions as a identifier, and a translator as well, allowing the trainer to use the Pokemon without the need for hours, days, or even months of training. The identifier would stop theft by preventing opponents Pokeballs from writing a new device into the pattern. Team rocket, and other thieves, would likely have developed their own 'balls to get around this safety net. If a trainer wants to remove this chip, and release the Pokemon, it is simply removed from the pattern before its last release.

The most basic problem of Pokeballs is the power necessary to run them. Short of developing a micro nuclear fusion reactor, a molecular fission reactor, or a dilithium crystal reactor, I can only guess that a very small, very heavy duty rechargeable battery is used. The first three are out when you consider the power stations within the games and show. They rely on current technology or Pokemon to operate. These batteries would most likely be recharged at a Pokemon center.

As a final note, I will suggest just how a Pokemon center works. When the Pokemon are placed in the machine, a complex algorithm runs, repairing the pattern stored in the Pokeball, whilst leaving the memory center of the brain unchanged. This allows for the Pokemon to eventually reach an evolution state and still be repaired from a backup.

I hope this clears a few things up for you, though there will still be questions, I'm sure. Please ask in a comment. If you're going to point out the leveling system inside the Pokemon games, don't. That's just a mechanism used by the games to show the amount of pushing needed to make a Pokemon evolve. If you have suggestions for my next Insane Imagery, please tell me in a comment below. Until next time,

crites evidentia logica.