Much of the Lost mythos seems to be based upon science.
Occurrences
Season 1
- Danielle told Sayid about her science expedition. ("Solitary")
- Arzt introduced himself as a ninth grade science teacher. ("Exodus, Part 2")
Season 2
- The title of season 2, episode 1 is "Man of Science, Man of Faith".
- The Swan Orientation film made several references to science, including: B.F. Skinner, meteorology, psychology, parapsychology, zoology, and electromagnetism. ("Orientation")
- Various physics equations were seen on the blast door map. ("Lockdown")
Season 3
- Juliet was recruited to the Others as a scientist specializing in fertility. ("Not in Portland")
- Desmond asked a professor of physics about the possibilities of time travel. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
- While examining insects, Arzt compared himself to Charles Darwin. ("Exposé")
Season 4
- Daniel Faraday said he was a physicist, and remarked that light seemed to scatter in a funny way on the Island. ("Confirmed Dead")
- Ben revealed that Charlotte had a PhD in Cultural Anthropology. ("Confirmed Dead")
- Daniel conducted a scientific experiment, concluding that time seemed to pass at a slower rate on the Island. ("The Economist")
- In 1996, Daniel experimented with consciousness time-travel on Eloise. ("The Constant")
- Ben defied the experiment procedures in the Orchid when he placed metal in the time travel chamber to gain access to the frozen wheel. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")
Season 5
- Daniel Faraday tried to explain time travel in pedestrian terms to Sawyer. ("Because You Left")
- Daniel used his knowledge of hydrogen bombs to try to disable Jughead. ("Jughead")
- Jin encountered Rousseau's science team. ("The Little Prince") ("This Place Is Death")
- When Locke explained his plan to use the frozen wheel to stop the time flashes, Daniel admitted that this defied known science. ("This Place Is Death")
- Daniel explained to Jack and Kate his theory that a big enough variable difference in the past could change the course of the future. ("The Variable")
Season 6
- Leslie Arzt was shown in his job as a high school science teacher. As part of his deal for helping Ben get Principal Reynolds' job, Arzt requested better science equipment. ("Dr. Linus")
Character name references
| Character | Notes |
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* Daniel Faraday, a physicist in Lost, shared his last name with Michael Faraday (September 22, 1791 – August 25, 1867), an English physicist who researched electromagnetism. |
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* Eloise Hawking shared her last name with Stephen Hawking. |
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* George Minkowski shared his last name with Hermann Minkowski. |
Recurring themes
Literary works
- A Brief History of Time - Non-fiction book about astrophysics and theories on how the universe began (seen in Lost)
Psychology
The show has explored the science of psychology on several occasions:
- Several characters were admitted to the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute or underwent some type of psychological treatment.
- The purpose of some of the DHARMA Initiative stations seemed to be psychological research.
Production notes
Comic Con 2006
| “ |
Damon Lindelof: And one of the first things we talked about the very first time we came was… the sort of idea of the show dancing between the supernatural and actual science. And, as far as the island’s healing abilities, Locke’s ability to walk, and the fact that Rose was cured… and many other sort of island mysteries, we’re going to be… it’s going to get a little scientific this year, which will be fairly cool. We want to be able to bounce between those sorts of ideas, between reality and fiction. So hopefully, you will be satisfied. Fan 12: Well, thank you very much, and from the scientific community, I appreciate it. Damon Lindelof: And we thank the scientific community. [Crowd laughs] |
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