June 22, 2014 David Latchman 3Comment

Invisibility is just one of the many features of Kiera Cameron’s (Rachel Nichols) City Protective Services (CPS) uniform. A cloaking device, such as the one used by CPS officers, deflects light around it rendering it invisible. Such a device would be based on metamaterials; an artificial material specifically engineered to have properties not be found in nature. Prof. Sir John Pendry, the father of metamaterials. The idea for such a material was first proposed by English physicist, Sir John Pendry in 2006 in a paper published in Science, “Controlling Electromagnetic Fields”. In this paper, Pendry describes…

June 13, 2014 David Latchman

Continuum’s present timeline seems to be littered with objects from the future. This is hardly surprising considering it is a time travel show. Objects like Kiera’s CMR, the Quantum Time Traveling Device, the drug Retrievanol better known as “Flash” and that other mysterious device whose purpose we are yet to learn all exist in a time when they should not as they have not been created. Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen) is arguably the inventor of many of these devices. Or, at least, he will be in the future. If present day Alec “invents” these devices by examining them, can he…

June 9, 2014 David Latchman 2Comment

MUTO meet to mate In the 2014 Godzilla reboot, Dr. Joe Brody discovers that the M.U.T.O. (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) may be using a form of echolocation to communicate with another of its kind hidden in the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository in Nevada. How exactly can a creature in Japan communicate with another all the way in Nevada? It uses ultrasound. To learn more, read my new MoviePilot article.

June 6, 2014 David Latchman

In the sixth episode of season two, “Second Truths”, we see Kiera go up against the mysterious serial killer known in 2077 as the Ouroboros Killer. Using her knowledge of the case in 2077, Kiera (Rachel Nichols) discovers that there isn’t one but two killers working together. We see Kiera’s cellular memory review/recall or CMR in action and that her cybernetic visual implants allow her to see in low light and the infra-red spectrum Cybernetic visual implants allows Kiera to see in low light levels to capture a killer. We also see a further use of…

June 2, 2014 David Latchman

There is nothing as intimidating or awe-inspiring as the most famous Kaiju’s roar. Though fictional, this is one of the things that defines him other than his massive size. But there are problems were physics is concerned. Sound is generated by the larynx in one of two ways: either purring mode or flow-driven mode. Purring mode depends on how quickly the vocal folds or vocal cords contract and vibrate. Flow-driven mode depends on how passing air vibrates those folds. The sound produced in flow-driven mode depends on the size of the larynx. The larger the larynx, and hence the vocal…

May 9, 2014 David Latchman

In addition to time travel, Continuum also looks at how advance neurotechnologies, in the form of mind control and cyborgs, might affect society. In Season Three’s episode, “Minute to Win It” we see Lucas Ingram (Omari Newton) use his scientific wizardry to hack the brains and take control of a few cockroaches and a dog to break out of prison using nothing more than homemade electronic devices. MacGyver would be proud. Discoid cockroach with the Roboroach control backpack can be brought from Backyard Brians. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans as Lucas once designed…

April 26, 2014 David Latchman 1Comment

The last episode to Continuum’s second season (“Second Time”) sees a grief stricken Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen use the time travel device to go back in time to save the life of Emily (Magda Apanowicz). A shocked and distraught Keira (Rachel Nichols) looks on as Alec disappears from the time line in a flash of light. What is everyone’s favorite Protector to do now that the time travel device no longer exists? Is she forever trapped in the present unable to do anything about Alec’s betrayal? If you were hoping to find out what Kiera would do now that she…

September 4, 2013 David Latchman

The season finale to Continuum leaves the viewer with lots of surprises and questions that are sure to keep them engaged until Season Three begins in 2014. While Season Two doesn’t specifically answer questions regarding the rules to time travel used in the show, it does provide some hints and insights on what might be happening. If anything we can be certain that the rules are going to be as complex and interesting as the plot so far. To get up to speed you should read my first article, “The Wibbly-Wobbly of Continuum”. Future Alec sends everyone back We learn…

June 24, 2013 David Latchman 3Comment

Season 01, Episode 02: “The Big Bran Hypothesis” Sheldon and Leonard contemplate using the stairs as an inclined plane to move Penny’s furniture to her apartment. In Season 1 Episode 2 of The Big Bang Theory, “The Big Bran Hypothesis”, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) asks Leonard (Johnny Galecki) to sign for a furniture delivery if she isn’t home. Unfortunately for Leonard and Sheldon, they are left with the task of getting a huge (and heavy) box up to Penny’s apartment. To solve this problem, Leonard suggest using the stairs as an inclined plane, one of the six…

June 10, 2013 David Latchman 1Comment

Season 02, Episode 04: “The Griffin Equivalency” Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) looks pleased as he talks about his inclusion into People magazine’s “30 Under 30 to watch” list for his discovery of the fictional trans-Neptunian object, 2008 NQ17 which exists beyond the Kuiper belt In “The Griffin Equivalency” episode of The Big Bang Theory, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) announces that he has been chosen as one of People Magazine’s “30 visionaries under 30 years to watch” list for his discovery of the trans-Neptunian object 2008 NQ17. This fictional astronomical body exists just beyond the Kuiper Belt, a…