Overload of positrons joke from Eureka

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a joke from the TV show Eureka regarding an "overload of positrons." Participants explore the scientific basis of the joke, its implications, and the overall accuracy of the science depicted in the show.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the joke is based on the concept that an excess of positrons would lead to annihilation with electrons, making it impossible.
  • Another participant suggests that an excess of positrons would violate conservation of electric charge, indicating a fundamental scientific error.
  • Some participants note that the science in Eureka is often incorrect and may have been intentionally exaggerated for comedic effect.
  • A participant mentions that the show frequently uses phrases like "in theory" to highlight its fictional nature, suggesting it was not meant to be taken seriously.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the science in Eureka is often inaccurate, but there is disagreement on whether the humor in the positron joke is valid or if it is simply a misunderstanding of physics concepts.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on the specific scientific principles involved in the joke and the varying interpretations of the show's intent regarding its scientific accuracy.

adimauro
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I was recently re-watching the show Eureka, and in this one episode, S04 E02 - A New World, they make an inside physics joke but never explain it.

Their robot went haywire and analyzed it to see what the problem was.
Fargo [to Jack]: I got the scans back on Tiny, you got to see this, it's hilarious. Look at those gamma signatures. It looks like there was an overload of positrons, I mean [laughing] like that's possible!
Henry: [walks over and laughs with Fargo]
Jack: [starts fake laughing, doesn't get the joke]
Fargo: Sort of a physics joke, because...I'll redo the scans.

Any insight into this joke? Is it because when a positron collides with an electron, annihilation occurs, so it's impossible? Or something else? Is there more to it than just that? Like Jack, I don't quite get the joke either.
 
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I don't see that humor is involved. Most fundamental, perhaps, is the possibiliy that an excess of positrons wouuld violate conservation of electric charge. Incidentally the science in Eureka was often and gratuitously wrong. They didn't even bother.
 
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hutchphd said:
the science in Eureka was often and gratuitously wrong.

Crystalline glass was one of the MacGuffins in an episode. It was some sort of super material. It is either impossible because crystalline and glass are opposites or they had quartz which is neat but not an indestructible substance.

BoB

Edit: I really enjoyed the show and would have liked to see more. I will admit though that the """science""" in scifi here needs as many air quote as possible.
 
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hutchphd said:
I don't see that humor is involved. Most fundamental, perhaps, is the possibiliy that an excess of positrons wouuld violate conservation of electric charge. Incidentally the science in Eureka was often and gratuitously wrong. They didn't even bother.
Yes, the 'science' in Eureka was most definitely often wrong! But I think they actually did it on purpose and made light of it by so often saying 'in theory' or 'theoretically' over and over again. It was entertainment and never meant to be taken too seriously.
 
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adimauro said:
never meant to be taken too seriously.
It was definitely flubber town.

BoB
 
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