Mind Control

Scientific Basis: Some foundation in reality. Mind control, or the manipulation of thoughts and actions, has been investigated through psychological techniques, hypnosis, and, more recently, neurotechnology.

Current Research: Emerging technologies like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable limited interaction with machines via brainwaves. Nonetheless, the notion of exerting complete control over another individual's mind remains firmly within the domain of science fiction.

Pyrokinesis

Scientific Basis: Entirely fictional. The concept of pyrokinesis, which refers to the ability to create or manipulate fire through mental focus, lacks any scientific endorsement.

Current Research: Despite the impossibility of mind-based fire control, scientists have investigated technological methods to influence fire, such as through laser-induced plasma.

Teleportation

Scientific Basis: Theoretically conceivable. Quantum teleportation, where information is instantaneously transferred between particles, has been demonstrated, yet the physical teleportation of objects is still beyond our reach.

Current Research: While quantum teleportation has been achieved over short distances, it pertains only to the transfer of particle states, not the movement of matter itself.

Psychokinesis (Telekinesis)

Scientific Basis: No substantial evidence. Psychokinesis, the purported ability to move objects solely through mental effort, remains unproven.

Current Research: Although no conclusive studies support psychokinesis, the exploration of mental capabilities through neuroscience continues, although manipulating objects without physical contact remains a fantasy.

The first video, FRINGE - A Hidden Sci-Fi Gem, delves into the unique appeal of the series, discussing its innovative blend of genres and captivating narratives.

Nanotechnology

Scientific Basis: Well-established. This field involves manipulating matter on an atomic scale and is widely applied in medicine, electronics, and material science.

Current Research: Ongoing advancements in nanomedicine, energy storage, and the development of nanorobots capable of performing cellular repairs within the human body illustrate the potential of this technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Scientific Basis: Fully realized. AI encompasses the creation of machines capable of performing tasks that require human-like intelligence, including learning and decision-making.

Current Research: Significant strides have been made in AI, from autonomous vehicles to advanced language models. Research continues to expand, aiming for machines with increasingly human-like capabilities.

The second video, Why FRINGE is Sci-Fi's Forgotten MASTERPIECE!, explores how the series has been overlooked and its impact on the genre, highlighting its innovative storytelling and character development.

Dark Matter

Scientific Basis: Real yet enigmatic. Dark matter constitutes approximately 85% of the universe's mass, but its precise nature remains uncertain.

Current Research: Scientists endeavor to detect dark matter through particle physics experiments, but its existence is inferred through gravitational effects on observable matter.

Suspended Animation

Scientific Basis: Partially real. The concept of suspended animation, or the deceleration of biological processes, is being examined in medical contexts for trauma care.

Current Research: Techniques have been developed to slow down bodily functions, thereby preserving life in critical scenarios. While not as depicted in Fringe, this field is evolving within trauma medicine.

Cybernetics

Scientific Basis: Established. Cybernetics is the study of the interaction between machines and living organisms, exemplified by prosthetics controlled via neural signals.

Current Research: Advanced prosthetic devices and exoskeletons, operable by thoughts, represent the intersection of biology and technology, showcasing remarkable advancements.

Transmogrification

Scientific Basis: Fictional. The transformative capability depicted in transmogrification lacks scientific validation.

Current Research: While no technology can entirely alter an object's form, innovations in 3D printing and molecular biology suggest exciting future possibilities in material science.

Hypnosis

Scientific Basis: Valid yet limited. Hypnosis can influence thought processes and behaviors in some individuals but does not equate to the control often portrayed in media.

Current Research: Hypnotherapy is recognized in psychotherapy for treating conditions like anxiety and addiction, although its potential for "mind control" is exaggerated in fictional narratives.

ESP (Extrasensory Perception)

Scientific Basis: Unsubstantiated. The phenomenon of ESP, or perceiving information beyond conventional senses, lacks scientific proof.

Current Research: Attempts to validate ESP have largely yielded inconclusive results, maintaining its controversial status within scientific circles.

Neuroscience

Scientific Basis: Fully established. Neuroscience focuses on the nervous system, particularly the brain.

Current Research: This rapidly evolving field encompasses brain mapping, neuroplasticity studies, and new treatments for various mental health disorders.

Clairaudience

Scientific Basis: Fictional. Clairaudience, the supposed ability to hear sounds outside normal human perception, lacks scientific support.

Current Research: While no empirical evidence backs clairaudience, auditory hallucinations in specific mental health conditions may clarify some reported experiences.

Hive Mind

Scientific Basis: Partly theoretical. The concept of a collective consciousness is observed in certain animal species.

Current Research: While human "hive minds" are fictional, studies on collective intelligence, such as swarm robotics, investigate how groups of simple entities can tackle complex problems effectively.

Parallel Universes

Scientific Basis: Theoretical. The notion of parallel universes is a hypothesis within quantum physics, particularly highlighted in the "many-worlds" interpretation.

Current Research: Although direct evidence for parallel universes remains elusive, ongoing investigations in quantum mechanics continue to explore this intriguing possibility.

Cryonics

Scientific Basis: Experimental. Cryonics involves freezing individuals with the hope that future advancements will allow for revival.

Current Research: Despite companies offering cryonics services, no scientific breakthroughs have validated the feasibility of freezing and reanimating a human body.

Astral Projection

Scientific Basis: Largely fictional. Astral projection suggests that consciousness can depart the body and traverse other realms.

Current Research: There is no scientific substantiation for astral projection. Studies on sleep and consciousness indicate that such experiences likely stem from brain activity rather than an authentic detachment of consciousness.

Protoscience

Scientific Basis: Real but context-dependent. Protoscience pertains to fields not yet fully accepted by the scientific community but are under investigation.

Current Research: This umbrella term covers emerging areas like quantum computing and synthetic biology, which require rigorous testing to gain acceptance in mainstream science.

Mutation

Scientific Basis: Fully real. Mutations represent alterations in genetic codes that can occur spontaneously or due to environmental influences.

Current Research: Understanding genetic mutations is crucial for insights into diseases, evolution, and biodiversity. Techniques like CRISPR are being utilized to manipulate DNA for medical and agricultural applications.

Genetic Engineering

Scientific Basis: Established. This process involves the direct manipulation of an organism's genes through biotechnological methods.

Current Research: Widely applied in agriculture and medicine, genetic engineering has led to the creation of GMOs, advancements in gene therapy, and efforts to create synthetic life forms.

Transhumanism

Scientific Basis: An emerging philosophical and scientific movement. Transhumanism advocates for enhancing human capacities through advanced technologies.

Current Research: Investigations into brain-computer interfaces, bionic enhancements, and life-extension techniques are in their early stages, central to the transhumanist ethos of surpassing natural human limits.

Reanimation

Scientific Basis: Fictional yet related to medical resuscitation. In Fringe, reanimation implies reviving the deceased long after death.

Current Research: While medical resuscitation can restore individuals from clinical death, reviving long-deceased organisms remains unachievable. Ongoing studies in cryonics explore the potential for life extension or preservation.

Telepathy

Scientific Basis: Unfounded. Telepathy, or the ability to exchange thoughts directly between minds, has not been scientifically validated.

Current Research: Some neuroscientific experiments and BCIs seek to understand how brain signals may be interpreted by machines, yet the concept of telepathy lacks empirical support.

Transcendence

Scientific Basis: Philosophical rather than scientific. In the Fringe universe, transcendence refers to surpassing normal human limitations through spiritual or metaphysical means.

Current Research: While metaphysical transcendence lacks scientific validation, exploring consciousness extension through technology is being researched through neurotechnology and brain-enhancing drugs.

Retrocognition

Scientific Basis: Unsubstantiated. Retrocognition involves perceiving past events that one has not experienced personally.

Current Research: No reliable evidence supports retrocognition. Some memory phenomena, like déjà vu, may be misinterpreted as retrocognitive experiences but are explained through psychology and neuroscience.

Biotechnology

Scientific Basis: Fully established. Biotechnology harnesses living organisms or their systems to develop products or processes.

Current Research: Responsible for breakthroughs in medicine (e.g., gene therapy), agriculture (GMOs), and environmental conservation, biotechnology continues to expand the synergy between biology and technology.

Cold Fusion

Scientific Basis: Highly controversial and unproven. Cold fusion refers to nuclear reactions that supposedly occur at room temperature, offering the potential for limitless energy.

Current Research: Most scientists dismiss cold fusion as pseudoscience. Nevertheless, a few researchers pursue experiments in this field, but none have yielded successful results that validate cold fusion as a viable energy source.

Invisibility

Scientific Basis: Partially real with ongoing advancements. The form of invisibility depicted in Fringe implies complete disappearance of objects or individuals.

Current Research: Although true invisibility is unattainable, researchers have created metamaterials that manipulate light, producing the illusion of invisibility by obscuring objects from specific light wavelengths. These developments remain experimental and have inherent limitations.

Cryptozoology

Scientific Basis: Fictional or fringe. Cryptozoology studies creatures that are rumored to exist but lack scientific verification, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.

Current Research: No credible scientific evidence supports the existence of cryptids. Most reported sightings are debunked as hoaxes or misidentifications.

Quantum Entanglement

Scientific Basis: Proven and well-established in quantum physics. Quantum entanglement occurs when two particles become interconnected, so the state of one instantaneously influences the other, regardless of the distance separating them.

Current Research: This phenomenon has been demonstrated in numerous experiments and plays a crucial role in emerging technologies like quantum computing and quantum cryptography.

Philosopher's Stone

Scientific Basis: Fictional. In alchemy, the philosopher's stone was believed to transform base metals into gold and grant immortality.

Current Research: There is no scientific foundation for the philosopher's stone. While alchemy contributed to early chemical discoveries, its objectives are deemed impossible.

Psychometry

Scientific Basis: Unfounded. Psychometry refers to the ability to discern an object's history through touch.

Current Research: No scientific evidence supports psychometry, and it is generally regarded as pseudoscience.

Viral Therapy

Scientific Basis: Real and increasingly effective. Viral therapy uses modified viruses to combat diseases, particularly cancer.

Current Research: Researchers are developing oncolytic viruses—viruses that selectively destroy cancer cells. This promising area of biomedicine is yielding positive results in clinical trials.

Time Paradox

Scientific Basis: Theoretical. Time paradoxes, like the "grandfather paradox," arise in discussions surrounding time travel, questioning the implications of altering past events.

Current Research: The concept of time travel, as portrayed in Fringe, remains theoretical, although the phenomenon of time dilation has been observed in Einstein's theory of relativity.

Gravitons

Scientific Basis: Theoretical. Gravitons are hypothesized particles that mediate the gravitational force in quantum field theory.

Current Research: While gravitons have yet to be detected, research is ongoing as scientists aim to reconcile quantum mechanics with general relativity.

Psychogenesis

Scientific Basis: Partially real. Psychogenesis examines the origin and evolution of mental functions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Current Research: Modern psychology investigates psychogenesis within child development, personality formation, and cognitive growth. However, supernatural interpretations of psychogenesis remain fictional.

Bilocation

Scientific Basis: Fictional. Bilocation refers to the alleged ability to exist in two locations simultaneously.

Current Research: No scientific evidence supports bilocation, although some religious or mystical narratives claim instances of it.

Psychic Surgery

Scientific Basis: Fraudulent. Psychic surgery purports to perform surgical procedures without tools, using only bare hands to "remove" diseased tissue.

Current Research: Psychic surgery has been debunked as a hoax, with no credible studies backing the practice, categorizing it as pseudoscience.

Transgenics

Scientific Basis: Real and well-established. Transgenics involves introducing foreign genes into an organism to yield desired traits.

Current Research: Transgenics finds extensive application in agriculture and medicine. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are common, with ongoing research into transgenic animals for organ donation and disease studies.