42 to the Smoke Monster
One of the biggest mysteries on Lost has been the Smoke Monster. Ever since the very first episode we have been wondering what it is and what it does. Although by this time we have been a pretty good explanation of it’s purpose, which is that it acts as a judge, we are still left in the dark about what it actually is composed of. Many explanations have been offered from a cloud of nano technology to a really pissed of giraffe. I believe that there is an explanation that hasn’t been thought of yet that is reasonably plausible in the realm of Lost and fits well with aspects of the Island. The Smoke Monster is made out of plasma.
According to Wikipedia, plasma”… is a gas, in which a certain proportion of its particles are ionized. The presence of a non-negligible number of charge carriers makes the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. Plasma therefore has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids, or gases and is considered to be a distinct state of matter.” I think the properties exhibited by plasma explains almost all of the aspects that the Smoke Monster exhibits. Plasma is a state of matter that is abundant in the universe (it’s what the stars and lightening are made of) and displays a lot of electricla properties. In five seasons of lost we have witnessed an entity whose default form appears to be black smoke with electricle discharges in it. It also can take on the form of dead people. Plasma is a form of matter that is easily manipulated using electromagnetic fields and recent technology has allowed us to use it to produce images for are viewing pleasure (plasma televisions). This could be the way that the Smoke Monster generates the appearance of Yemi, Alex, and all its other manifestations. And the manipulation of E/M fields could also be the reason why it seems that a cloud of smoke can actually pick up and move tangible objects. It would also explain why the sonic barrier is effective at keeping the Smoke Monster out of Dharmaville; the sonic barrier disrupts the E/M field of the Smoke Monster.
I believe that in the end we will find out that our beloved Smokey is an entity that is composed of plasma and uses electromagnetic fields to control and move itself. These same electromagnetic fields can be manipulated to use the plasma to take on the form of a person or a thing. And this explaination would fit right in on an Island that seems to have a special affinity with E/M fields. And even today, scientest are finding all sorts of uses for plasma from plasma lamps to plasma tv’s and right on to the possible use of plasma and E/M fields for fusion. So maybe a more apt name for Smokey is Plasmay.
Great post achalli. Seems plausible to me, but why the reference to 42?
Daddyx, I used 42 as a shorthand for ‘answer.’ It’s a reference to the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in which it is revealed that the Answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42. Just a little in joke to Hitchhiker fans on my part.
I can’t believe I didn’t get that. I’m the biggest Douglas Adams fan out there. I’ve read everything he wrote and every book written about him. I know your a floyd fan, Dave gilmour was a pal of his and played wish you were here at his funeral mass.
Achalli, I like your idea on the smoke monster, manifesting itself via plasma.
One possibility that may support this idea is, when we see Ben in Season 5, summon it in order to pass judgement on him.
We noticed a small area of water at the basin of the drain which may be required for plasma to materialize in form. I also made note of this in the very first episode of Lost. There is a pool of water underneath where the smoke monster left the dead pilot, hanging in the tree.
The smoke monster is also ‘sentient’, as it appears to have consciousness. It passes judgement on the people it encounters. This must also play a part into what the smoke monster’s function must be.
Overall, this is the most logical sounding explanation for how the smoke monster might take on its form and manifest itself.
Dabs, I was originally pursuing a theory were the Smoke Monster was made of mist and contolled by E/M fields and was basing it in part with concepts used in the Philadelphia Experiment but I couldn’t quite make it pan out. Then the plasma idea hit me while watching a different show. After a little reading up on it, plasma just seems to be the best fit.
Daddyx, I knew they were friends but wasn’t aware Gilmore played at Adams’ funeral. If I remember correctly it was DA that suggested the title “Division Bell” to Gilmore.
A fun theory I read somewhere else had Juliette being the “spirit” of the smoke monster that comes into being, post-incident, fuelled by the EM fields. All those chains look familiar??? 🙂
one problem with your theory. plasma isn’t just hot. its really freaking hot. you say plasma is in stars and lightning, those are two of the hottest things we know of. the smoke monster would cause fires throughout the island and when eko stares down the monster his face would melt. good idea though. keep trying.
There is both hot and cold plasma:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29#Temperatures
Ekolocation, allthough you are correct in that most plasmas are hot, scientests have either observed or created plasmas as low as 0Kelvin (absolute zero). Also, there is a group of dentists (yes I said dentists) at the USC School of Dentistry, along with researchers from Vetirby School of Engineering that have developed an insturment that is used to remove a colony of bacteria from a tooth that uses plasma at room temperature. Following are a few excerpts from the article:
ScienceDaily (June 15, 2009) – Though it looks like a tiny purple blowtorch, a pencil-sized plume of plasma on the tip of a small probe remains at room temperature as it swiftly dismantles tough bacterial colonies deep inside a human tooth. But it’s not another futuristic product of George Lucas’ imagination. It’s the exciting work of USC School of Dentistry and Viterbi School of Engineering researchers looking for new ways to safely fight tenacious biofilm infections in patients — and it could revolutionize many facets of medicine.
And..
Plasma, the fourth state of matter, consists of electrons, ions, and neutral species and is the most common form found in space, stars, and lightning, Jiang said. But while many natural plasmas are hot, or thermal, the probe developed for the study is a non-thermal, room temperature plasma that’s safe to touch.
And finally…
Given that preliminary research indicates that non-thermal plasma is safe for surrounding tissues, Sedghizadeh said he was optimistic about its future dental and medical uses. Much like the spread of laser technology from research and surgical applications to routine clinical and consumer uses, plasma could change everything; especially since nonthermal plasmas don’t harbor the risks of tissue burns and eye damage that lasers do, he said.
“Plasma is the future,” Sedghizadeh said. “It’s been used before for other sterilization purposes but not for clinical medical applications, and we hope to be the first to apply it in a clinical setting.”
If you would like to read the full article you can go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090610154503.htm
So I believe it is possible for the Smoke Monster to be made out of a room temperature plasma.
I think I said it in a more concise way. 😉
It looks like we posted at the same time. But I also wanted to provide a real world example. Thanks for the support.
never heard of not hot plasma. cool stuff.
Hi Achalli, I did a little further research on this subject, and also looked at ‘ectoplasm’. The meaning is as follows:
Ectoplasm (from the Greek ektos, “outside”, + plasma, “something formed or molded”). When 4th dimensional entities/spirits take form in the physical 3rd dimensional world, they are often accompanied by a ‘mist’ or ‘fog’, and a deviation in temperature in order to manifest.
Considering that ‘the island’ is 4th dimensional in nature, it seems only logical that in order for the smoke monster to manifest itself to be visible to the 3rd dimensional eye, that plasma might be a likely source for this phenomena to occur.
The smoke monster also has the ability to take on forms of people, particularly the dead. This phenomena would also explain those occurrences.
I consider your explanation on how the smoke monster has the ability to manifest itself involving the use of plasma, to be the best explanation that I have heard to date.
Nice work!
Oooo Dabs! That’s a very interesting idea. That never crossed my mind.
Also, the Philadelphia Experiment, which used great big heaping amounts of electromagnetism, reportedly produced a mist around the Eldridge.
Hi Achalli, I think that the idea is in ‘keeping’ with the special properties of ‘the island’, and the unusual effects it produces.
We cannot forget that the Dharma Initiative were scientists and physicists who were on ‘the island’ to explore these unique ‘island’ properties and conduct experiments. They were also attempting to alter the core value of the Valenzetti Equation.
The US military experiment with The Eldridge and other similar phenomena; they were attempting to reproduce 4th dimensional effects, with disastrous results.
I am convinced that at some level, the Dharma Inititiative was conducting similar experiments in this regard on ‘the island’ with 4th dimensional space/time, etc. We have seen some of those experiments with Pierre Chang and The Casimir Effect, etc.
It has also been noted with The Bermuda Triangle, that the mist or fog that appears when those who have encountered flying through it have reported that this substance to be similar to ectoplasm. The intense effects of electromagnetism throws off compasses, radio and equipment, etc.
Anyway, I think you have definitely made a good connection.