But Which Singularity?

I find it interesting that most of the television science fiction series that came out over the past five years, fits in one of two categories: either a quantum singularity is warping the known laws of physics (Fringe, Torchwood, Primeval) or a lab is attempting to create or control the Ultimate Human through means of advanced biological studies, technology, psychology, or a mixture of some or all three. (Misfits, Alphas, Dollhouse, Arrow, Agents of SHIELD.)

I'm not sure what this means, if anything. I find myself thinking on matters in Grant Morrison's memoir Supergods and trying to overlap the shows and the book in Idea Space. Possibly, the only connection is that the writers and showrunners are also writers and/or fans of superhero comics and science fiction. Mutant Enemy and Angry Robot show a strong knowledge of the tropes of both genres, and have people on their staffs who have worked for both DC and Marvel Comics.

This leads me through a consideration of pop genre work over the range of the past two hundred years and its connections and what it says about its time. No answers as yet, nor strong opinions, just questions.

7/11/14,

New photos from JPL show rivers of ice on Europa.

Io9 shows us abandoned Soviet submarine bases.

Studies show that nature and nurture contribute equally to a chimp's intelligence.

Microchip implant could provide birth control for sixteen years.

The full webcast of last night's Lightsail announcement is here.

Eighty percent of our light is missing!

Helsinki unveils a plan to transform their public transportation system into a network that would render private car ownership ridiculous.