Editing 1904: Research Risks
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This is a comparison of the possibility of the subjects of various sciences being a threat to humanity. It can either be an autonomous threat to the local population ( | + | {{incomplete| Elaborate on the explanations.}} |
+ | This is a comparison of the possibility of the subjects of various sciences being a threat to humanity. It can either be an autonomous threat to the local/global population (e.g. by escape from a lab), or as part of a supervillain's scheme to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBkT19uH2RQ rule the world]. | ||
− | + | There have so far been several similar comics with such [[:Category:Scatter plots|scatter plots]]. See for instance [[388: [collywobbles] Grapefruit]], [[1242: Scary Names]], [[1468: Worrying]], [[1501: Mysteries]] and [[1701: Speed and Danger]]. | |
− | + | The title text is related to the Molasses Storage entry at the bottom left of the chart, and references the {{w|Great Molasses Flood}}, also known as the Great Boston Molasses Flood. It occurred on January 15, 1919 in the North End neighborhood of {{w|Boston}}, {{w|Massachusetts}} (the state in which [[Randall]] lives). A large {{w|molasses}} storage tank burst and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150. The joke in the title text is that in 2031 (14 years after the release of this comic) the {{w|Canadian Space Agency}} has an even more serious disaster, which will be known as the orbital {{w|maple syrup}} delivery disaster. The title text claims that this disaster then became the deadliest {{w|confectionery}} containment accident, thus killing more than 21 people... | |
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− | The title text is related to the Molasses Storage entry at the bottom left of the chart, and references the {{w|Great Molasses Flood}}, also known as the Great Boston Molasses Flood. It occurred on January 15, 1919 in the North End neighborhood of {{w|Boston}}, {{w|Massachusetts}} (the state in which [[Randall]] lives). A large {{w|molasses}} storage tank burst and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph (56 km/h), killing 21 and injuring 150. The joke in the title text is that in 2031 (14 years after the release of this comic) the {{w|Canadian Space Agency}} has an even more serious disaster, which will be known as the orbital {{w|maple syrup}} delivery disaster. The title text claims that this disaster then became the deadliest {{w|confectionery}} containment accident, thus killing more than 21 people. | ||
==Table== | ==Table== | ||
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! Risk of Breaking Free !! Risk of Supervillain !! Research field !! Research Risks !! Comments | ! Risk of Breaking Free !! Risk of Supervillain !! Research field !! Research Risks !! Comments | ||
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− | | 6% || 90% || Prosthetics || Cyborgs || A large number of villains in media have had augmentative and non-augmentative prosthetics for various reasons | + | | 6% || 90% || Prosthetics || Cyborgs || A large number of villains in media have had augmentative and non-augmentative prosthetics for various reasons. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 21% || 83% || Neuroscience || Mind Control || | + | | 21% || 83% || Neuroscience || Mind Control || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 2% || 76% || Laser Optics || Something like {{w|Laser Weapon System}}. Or a powerful laser could be used to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoQwKe0lggw cut a | + | | 2% || 76% || Laser Optics || Something like {{w|Laser Weapon System}}. Or a powerful laser could be used to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoQwKe0lggw cut a person in two] as in {{w|Goldfinger}}. || See {{w|Directed-energy weapon}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 36% || 77% || Pharmacology || Poisons | + | | 36% || 77% || Pharmacology || Poisons || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 19% || 69% || Materials Science || | + | | 19% || 69% || Materials Science || New materials used for villainous purposes || Adamantium, Vibranium, Kryptonite, etc. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 24% || 62% || Sociology || | + | | 24% || 62% || Sociology || Sociological research may help in becoming a tyrant and then lead nation to war. || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 5% || 57% || History || | + | | 5% || 57% || History || Ministry of Truth; using methods of previous successful dictators and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9aYrURLHh0 learning from the errors of unsuccessful attempted dictators] || History is mere data and records, which does not "break free". A particular ''subject'' of history, however, can be of use to a supervillain. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 36% || 53% || Psychology || | + | | 36% || 53% || Psychology || Ministry of Truth, Hannibal Lecter || Unlike history, psychology contains the subject of "[http://on-memetics.blogspot.com/2013/10/memetic-hazard.html memetic hazards]" which could "break out" into the local population. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 73% || 95% || Robotics || Villains: Robot minions. Escape: | + | | 73% || 95% || Robotics || Villains: Robot minions. Escape: robots gaining sentience and killing everything, or nanobots going rogue and devouring everything in their path. || Robots are minions of villains in many occasions, and research on it could be used to further power them up. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 92% || 90% || Genetic Engineering || Villains: | + | | 92% || 90% || Genetic Engineering || Villains: Modify troops to make super powered minions. Escape: Modified life could cause havoc || See {{w|Gene drive}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 61% || 77% || Chemistry || Explosives, corrosives, | + | | 61% || 77% || Chemistry || Explosives, corrosives, fast oxidation || General, dangerous things, normally used for destruction, like Nitroglycerin or chlorine trifluoride. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 97% || 81% || Microbiology || Lethal diseases || See for instance {{w|12 Monkeys}} | + | | 97% || 81% || Microbiology || Lethal diseases || See for instance {{w|12 Monkeys}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 5% || 41% || Geology || Earthquake machines || | + | | 5% || 41% || Geology || Golems, Earthquake machines || Study of rocks. Scores below average on the supervillain scale despite Lex Luthor's plan in the 1978 ''Superman'' movie hinging on setting off the San Andreas Fault. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 9% || 31% || Linguistics | | + | | 9% || 31% || Linguistics || 1984 Newspeak || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 16% || 22% || Paleontology || Reviving dinosaurs and other such prehistoric creatures. || Study of fossils. Reviving dinosaurs | + | | 16% || 22% || Paleontology || Reviving dinosaurs and other such prehistoric creatures. || Study of fossils. Reviving dinosaurs isn't exactly good for human survival. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 6% || 12% || Astronomy || Asteroid impact || A villain could divert an asteroid towards Earth | + | | 6% || 12% || Astronomy || Asteroid impact || A villain could divert an asteroid towards Earth. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 33% || 12% || Molasses Storage | + | | 33% || 12% || Molasses Storage || Breaking free chance is medium low as molasses did "escape" at least once in history. || See {{w|Great Molasses Flood}}, as referenced in the title text |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 7% || 4% || Dentistry || | + | | 7% || 4% || Dentistry || Torture/Interrogation (see for instance [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_Man_(film) Marathon Man]) || |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 70% || 43% || Botany || | + | | 70% || 43% || Botany || Audrey II, Triffids || Plants are commonly used in horror films where they mutate and eat everything. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 93% || 41% || Entomology || | + | | 93% || 41% || Entomology || Insects are small and can often escape through even small cracks, and are known for carrying diseases. They could also mutate into terrifying threats - see for example the movie {{w|Empire_of_the_Ants_(film)}}|| Study of insects. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 60% || 33% || Mycology || | + | | 60% || 33% || Mycology || Fungi cannot move, but their spores could easily spread, therefore, escape probability has been deemed medium high. However the risk of mycology being used for evil has raised strongly with the release of Star Trek Discovery.|| {{w|Mycology}} is the study of {{w|fungi}}. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 91% || 26% || Marine Biology || Sharknado, Jaws, {{w|Cthulhu}} || Villains may keep | + | | 91% || 26% || Marine Biology || Sharknado, Jaws, {{w|Cthulhu}}. || Villains may keep a tank of sharks in order to dispose of opposition; strangely, despite the popularity this is not considered useful for a villain to conquer the world (perhaps because the use of sharks over, say, lions or spikes is purely for semantic reasons). |
|- | |- | ||
− | | 79% || 16% || Ornithology || | + | | 79% || 16% || Ornithology || Flying is a useful escape mechanism. Villains may sometimes keep a bird of prey as a pet. || Study of birds. |
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[[Category:Animals]] | [[Category:Animals]] | ||
[[Category:Space]] | [[Category:Space]] | ||
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