the first Lost theory I really like...
Ok, over lunch I browsed the boards some more and came across one of the most plausible theories I have seen as to "what is the island?" Read on...
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NOTE: this part is real stuff. Google it if you need proof.
In 1929, Dr. John DESMOND Bernal (1901-1971), an Irish scientist, conceived of the Bernal sphere, a rotating space colony with a diameter of approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), filled with air and colonized around the equator, where the rotation of the colony would create centrifugal force to simulate Earth's gravity. The target population was 20,000 to 30,000 people.
In the 60s and 70s, speculation and research into the possibility of space colonies experienced a renaissance, brought on by the Space Race. One of the most prominent thinkers participating in the design and advocacy of space colonies was Princeton physicist Gerard O'Neill, who in 1969 asked the provocative question, "Is the surface of a planet really the right place for an expanding technological civilization?"
Throughout the 70s, O'Neill led workshops that investigated several proposed space colony designs in great detail. In a series of studies held at Stanford University in 1975 and 1976 with the purpose of speculating on designs for future space colonies, Dr. Gerard Kitchen O'Neill proposed a modified Bernal sphere with a diameter of only 500 m rotating at 1.9 RPM to produce a full Earth gravity at the sphere's equator. The result would be an interior landscape that would resemble a large valley running all the way around the equator of the sphere. Sunlight was to be provided to the interior of the sphere using external mirrors to direct it in through large windows near the poles. The form of a sphere was chosen for its optimum ability to contain air pressure and its optimum mass-efficiency at providing radiation shielding.
A NASA Summer Study in 1975 investigated three primary designs, dubbed "Island One" (sized for a population of 10,000), Island Two would house 140,000, and Island Three (O'Neill cylinder) would support a population of 10,000,000. All three are based on the premise of a self-sustaining, artificial ecology within the station, called an arcology.
References:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-types-of-space-colonies-have-been-proposed.htm
http://encyclopedie-en.snyke.com/articles/bernal_sphere.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/b/be/bernal_sphere.htm
http://www.l5news.org/bernalsphere.htm
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Wow. Interesting, and it does seem to tie in. It still leaves plenty of other questions, but it does tie nicely with many of the issues. The tie-in all starts with the name 'Desmond' (as in Dr. John DESMOND Bernal?), he's Irish (as the character Desmond appears), plays on the whole Desmond saying to Jack in the stadium he was sorta a Dr., and goes along with what one of the writers said about "IF it's an island."
The Bernal Sphere theory mentions domes and tunnels, sunlight being directed via mirrors. Sound familiar? Generating the centrifugal force would require a large energy source. Hmmm.. can you say HUGE magnet?
Consider the episode Locke finds the hatch: He looks at Boone and states it will start to rain in one minute (and it does). If this is an artificial environment with weather control, then Lock has found the pattern to the weather, ie... it is scheduled.
Remember that Rosseau's maps showed 3 Islands. The NASA designs have 3 Islands. The powerline running into the sea fits this theory. One of Walt's comics features a space station.
As for numbers, Bernal's proposed sphere was 15km in diameter, and he died on the 15th (Sept 15, 1971).
This is very interesting coincidence if nothing else. Regardless if it's correct or not, the theory fits with amazing harmony. Now, how that ties in to the Desmond character remains to be seen. The "real" Dr. Bernal died in 1971, so no way that is him (unless it is cloning, the injections, etc.) Or perhaps his son? Who knows. Even if this theory holds up, it still leaves plenty of other questions to answer -- Walt, the Others, Locke's paralysis, the Black Rock, how'd the plane get there, the tie-in between all the characters, the black smoke, the numbers, and so on.
Can't wait to see what next week brings!
-----
NOTE: this part is real stuff. Google it if you need proof.
In 1929, Dr. John DESMOND Bernal (1901-1971), an Irish scientist, conceived of the Bernal sphere, a rotating space colony with a diameter of approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), filled with air and colonized around the equator, where the rotation of the colony would create centrifugal force to simulate Earth's gravity. The target population was 20,000 to 30,000 people.
In the 60s and 70s, speculation and research into the possibility of space colonies experienced a renaissance, brought on by the Space Race. One of the most prominent thinkers participating in the design and advocacy of space colonies was Princeton physicist Gerard O'Neill, who in 1969 asked the provocative question, "Is the surface of a planet really the right place for an expanding technological civilization?"
Throughout the 70s, O'Neill led workshops that investigated several proposed space colony designs in great detail. In a series of studies held at Stanford University in 1975 and 1976 with the purpose of speculating on designs for future space colonies, Dr. Gerard Kitchen O'Neill proposed a modified Bernal sphere with a diameter of only 500 m rotating at 1.9 RPM to produce a full Earth gravity at the sphere's equator. The result would be an interior landscape that would resemble a large valley running all the way around the equator of the sphere. Sunlight was to be provided to the interior of the sphere using external mirrors to direct it in through large windows near the poles. The form of a sphere was chosen for its optimum ability to contain air pressure and its optimum mass-efficiency at providing radiation shielding.
A NASA Summer Study in 1975 investigated three primary designs, dubbed "Island One" (sized for a population of 10,000), Island Two would house 140,000, and Island Three (O'Neill cylinder) would support a population of 10,000,000. All three are based on the premise of a self-sustaining, artificial ecology within the station, called an arcology.
References:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-types-of-space-colonies-have-been-proposed.htm
http://encyclopedie-en.snyke.com/articles/bernal_sphere.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/b/be/bernal_sphere.htm
http://www.l5news.org/bernalsphere.htm
-----
Wow. Interesting, and it does seem to tie in. It still leaves plenty of other questions, but it does tie nicely with many of the issues. The tie-in all starts with the name 'Desmond' (as in Dr. John DESMOND Bernal?), he's Irish (as the character Desmond appears), plays on the whole Desmond saying to Jack in the stadium he was sorta a Dr., and goes along with what one of the writers said about "IF it's an island."
The Bernal Sphere theory mentions domes and tunnels, sunlight being directed via mirrors. Sound familiar? Generating the centrifugal force would require a large energy source. Hmmm.. can you say HUGE magnet?
Consider the episode Locke finds the hatch: He looks at Boone and states it will start to rain in one minute (and it does). If this is an artificial environment with weather control, then Lock has found the pattern to the weather, ie... it is scheduled.
Remember that Rosseau's maps showed 3 Islands. The NASA designs have 3 Islands. The powerline running into the sea fits this theory. One of Walt's comics features a space station.
As for numbers, Bernal's proposed sphere was 15km in diameter, and he died on the 15th (Sept 15, 1971).
This is very interesting coincidence if nothing else. Regardless if it's correct or not, the theory fits with amazing harmony. Now, how that ties in to the Desmond character remains to be seen. The "real" Dr. Bernal died in 1971, so no way that is him (unless it is cloning, the injections, etc.) Or perhaps his son? Who knows. Even if this theory holds up, it still leaves plenty of other questions to answer -- Walt, the Others, Locke's paralysis, the Black Rock, how'd the plane get there, the tie-in between all the characters, the black smoke, the numbers, and so on.
Can't wait to see what next week brings!
posted by Slacker at 10:40 AM
4 Comments:
Awesome gathering of information. I knew I married you for a reason!
Kevin, that is a GREAT theory!!! I can't wait to watch next week and see if we get more info on Desmond- please keep the info coming....
Wow, that's a lot of info! As Kristen says, "I knew I married you for a reason," I have never felt more like "Lane's wife." That is way more than "a thumbs worth" of a blog....I can't possibly read it all!
Holly - I think you give me too much credit. Can you say cut-and-paste? And why are you reading this stuff? You don't even watch Lost...
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