Portal:Fringe Science/Theories-Facts-Myths

From Fringepedia - The FRINGE wiki

Contents 1 Definitions 1.1 Ghost Network 1.2 Cloning 1.3 Dark Matter 1.4 Retinal Visual Imprint 1.5 Mental Transference 1.6 Teleportation 1.7 Pre-Cognition 1.8 Resonance Weapons 1.9 Bio-Weaponization 1.10 Psychokinesis 1.11 Nanotechnology 1.12 Astral Projection 1.13 Hypnosis 1.14 ESP 1.15 Hive Mind 1.16 Neuroscience 1.17 Pyrokinesis 1.18 Clairaudience 1.19 Parallel Universe 1.20 Cryonics 1.21 Mutation 1.22 Genetic Engineering 1.23 Protoscience

Definitions

Ghost Network

A code word for exploitation of an unknown spectrum, it was not defined specifically. Possibilites include using barely understood, natural occurring activities like; the solar wind and magnetics flowing around the planet, reverse correlated subspace spatial-temporal properties just below the speed of light, or magnetic influences formed by the planets core, among other non-RF sources of spectral energy.

Cloning

Cloning involves generating a population of genetically identical cells or organisms that originated from a single cell or organism by nonsexual methods. It is basic, and natural, to most living things, as the body is generated from a single fertilized egg. Narrowly, cloning refers to an individual organism grown from a single body cell of its parent, then matures genetically identical to the parent. Transmogrification is the process or result of changing from one appearance, state, or phase to another - not infrequently to a fantastic state or grotesque state.

Dark Matter

A form of matter particle that does not reflect or emit electromagnetic radiation - postulated to account for gravitational forces observed on astronomical objects. Believed to exist in large quantities, it enters into many theories of the 'origin of the universe'.

Retinal Visual Imprint

The nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. Light levels at the macula, chemical levels within receptors and excitation of the optic nerve, at death, leaves an imprint, essentially freezing the last image within the ocular nerve. Not unlike staring at a bright light for too long, the living optic nerve can adjust its bio-chemical balance to eliminate the burned-in image over time - the dead optic system cannot.

Mental Transference

Synapses fire and transfer small electrical impulses between cells and receptors along nerve paths in living matter. Residual chemical energy persists beyond death, storing experiences, perceptions and memories. Synaptic Transfer excites the residual, or stored electrical impulses and makes them accessible, through electrical connection to another being for intepretation. The receiving synapes should be in an uninhibited (drug-induced), sensory-deprived, state.

Teleportation

A method of transportation in which matter is dematerialized, usually instantaneously, at one point and recreated at another. Walter designed a teleportation device which he called "DizRay" (Ability) based on the disintegration and reintegration of matter, although it was meant for time travel, not travel through physical space (Safe).

Pre-Cognition

The power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses and have not yet occurred or been experienced.

Resonance Weapons

A weapon that finds a target's resonant frequency and disrupts, damages or destroys it. Applications include disrupting the targets ability to target you. Sonic/acoustic, electromagnetic and microwave spectrums can be utilized, among others. Targets include soft (human), hard (equipment) and other spectral sources (energy).

Bio-Weaponization

The use of naturally occurring, genetically-engineered, or otherwise altered living organisms to attack, destroy or degrade other living organisms. Targets include human populations, animal populations (livestock or wild) and plant life (crops or ecosytems). Delivery methods vary. Human-bioweaponeering implies an individual, or group, is afflicted with the damaging organism for delivery to the target system. Sensitivity, or low resistance, to specific compounds is one “vector” that would allow other poisons or micro-organisms to more easily enter a human body when defenses were lowered or destroyed. Fungal carcinogens, botulin, virile bacterial toxins and staphylococcals are known bioweapons.

Psychokinesis

The influence of mind upon matter or the use of mental "power" to move or distort an object. The movement of physical objects by the mind without use of physical means. The production or control of motion, especially in inanimate and remote objects that cannot be entirely accounted for by the mediation of any known physical energy. Advanced kinesis may allow an individual to influence or control the actions of an animate object, such as an animal or fellow being. Expanded kinetic applications include pyrokinesis, or the ability to excite/stimulate at the molecular level to the point of combustion or explosion.

Nanotechnology

Also known as molecular manufacturing, it is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. In its original conception, 'nanotechnology' refers to the ability to construct items from the bottom up, using techniques and tools to make, and complete, high performance products. Like electricity or computers before it, nanotech offers greatly improved efficiency in almost every facet of life. As a general-purpose technology, it will be dual-use, with many commercial uses and many military uses for more powerful or efficient applications. Uses can be bio-active for health, physico-chemical to actuate/adapt/amplify, robotics, 3-D networking, evolutionary and other emerging functionality. Advanced applications extend to cybernetics and artificial intelligence - communication and control within and between living entities and machines, causing change in the structure of the system, and tending toward self-organization.

Astral Projection

The ability to travel outside the physical body during sleep or trance, also known as etheric projection or out-of-the-body traveling. Astral projection involves the movement of the consciousness, often pictured as an astral body or double, some distance away from the physical body. Combined with psychokinetic abilities - individuals have the capacity to project themselves to a target, then damage, disrupt or destroy that target from wherever they are.

Hypnosis

A procedure used to encourage and evaluate responses to suggestions, or to induce a state of mental concentration leading to a form of progressive relaxation. The subject is guided by another to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective experience, alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. Self-hypnosis is the act of administering hypnotic procedures on one's self.

ESP

Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through recognized senses, and not inferred from experience. Acquisition of information by means external to the basic limiting assumptions of science. ESP denotes the psychic abilities such as telepathy and clairvoyance, and their trans-temporal operation, as precognition or retrocognition. Sometimes ESP is referred to as a sixth sense, gut instinct or hunch.

Hive Mind

Also known as collective consciousness or collective intelligence, socially, it can refer to shared beliefs and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within a community. Scientifically, a single group mind might be formed by telepathy, or by promoting brain-to-brain communication between ordinary individuals, or by some other scientific means. A complete loss, or lack, of individual identity maybe noticeable in hive-minded individuals. The concept is biologically evident in superorganisms, such as ants or bees.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the nervous system... spanning the structure, function, evolutionary history, development, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, informatics, and pathology of the nervous system. Neuroscience is seen as a branch of the biological sciences, but has seen a recent surge of interest from many allied disciplines, including cognitive and neuro-psychology, computer science, statistics, physics, philosophy, and medicine. The scope of neuroscience is broad, to include any systematic, scientific, experimental or theoretical investigation of the central and peripheral nervous system of biological organisms. Methodologies employed by neuroscientists have expanded considerably, from biochemical and genetic analyses of the dynamics of individual nerve cells - to imaging of perceptual and motor tasks in the brain. Recent theoretical advances in neuroscience have been greatly aided by the use of computational modeling.

Pyrokinesis

The ability to create, or to control, fire with the mind. Powers include the ability to excite an object's atoms, increasing their thermal energy until they ignite without some form of electromechanical or chemical initiative.

Clairaudience

A form of extra-sensory perception (ESP) where a person acquires information by paranormal auditory means. It is considered to be a form of clairvoyance essentially utilizing hearing, as compared to paranormal vision (clairvoyance) or paranormal feeling (clairsentience). Clairaudience is not necessarily perception of actual sound, but may be impressions of an 'inner mental ear'. It may also refer to actual perception of sounds such as voices, tones, or noises which are not apparent to other humans, or to recording equipment. Clairaudience is distinguished from the hallucinatory voices heard by the mentally ill.

Parallel Universe

A self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a multiverse. "Parallel Universe" and "Alternative Reality" are generally interchangeably, although there is sometimes an additional connotation implied with the term "alternative reality" that implies that the reality is a variant of one's own. Parallel Universe is more general, without any connotations implying a relationship with one's own universe. A universe where the laws of nature are different, would in general, count as a parallel universe but not an alternative reality.

Cryonics

Low-temperature preservation of humans and animals, that can no longer be sustained by contemporary medicine. Consideration is that the dead are dead by current legal and medical definitions, but not necessarily dead by future standards. Cryonics are often mistaken for the concept of suspended animation. Cryonics is not a panacea for future immortality. Cryonics advocates prognosticate that brain-dead patients face little chance of recovery, while patients who are vitrified immediately after cardiac arrest would fare best.

Mutation

Translocation of chromosomes belonging to homologous genes result in an individual with DNA traits never observed before. Mutation is integral to the process of evolution, and the study of mutantcy is an integral part of biology. By understanding the effect that a mutation has, it is possible to establish the normal function of that gene. De-evolving mutations is generally referred to as reverse genetics. Not all mutations have a noticeable phenotypic effect. Mutatation is not to be confused with organisms that evolve with developmental abnormalities caused by errors during morphogenesis. Chemicals caused by developmental abnormalities are called teratogens... their effect on development is not related to mutation. Chemicals that induce mutation are called mutagens - most mutagens are considered carcinogens.

Genetic Engineering

Also known as recombinant DNA technology and gene splicing, refers to the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. Genetic engineering is different from traditional breeding, where genes are manipulated indirectly. Genetic engineering uses the techniques of molecular cloning and direct transformation of the structure and characteristics of genes. Examples include: improving crop technology, manufacturing of synthetic insulin, and the production of hybrid lab test animals for research.

Protoscience

Philosophical disciplines that do not submit to the guidelines typically associated with scientific method, such as alchemy and astrology. By extension, 'protoscience' may reference any set of beliefs, or theories, that have not been tested adequately by scientific method, but which are otherwise consistent with existing science.