What subjects would you need to study to qualify as a Superscientist?

[Martini Enfield]

By "Superscientist", I mean in the Rusty Venture/Hubert Farnsworth/1950s Sci-Fi Film Mad Inventor way, not the Albert Einstein/Alan Turing/Stephen Hawking vein.

So, let's pretend that Little Johnny Bloggs is about to turn 18 and is thinking about going to university. Not be a doctor or a lawyer or an HR representative, but something far cooler- a Superscientist.

Little Johnny loves Science!* but has no idea what he should be studying to fufil his dream of becoming a Superscientist. Assuming for the purposes of this discussion there's a university that offers a generalist Bachelor of Superscience degree (and a postgraduate Doctorate in Superscience course, with optional majors in either Scientific Inventions or Supervillainy) what (ostensibly "serious" or "real") subjects should Little Johnny be considering in furtherance of his goal?

*A distinct concept to conventional science, as it involves a lot of stuff about Atomic Power and Lasers and Walking Eyes and Robots. Just go and watch The Venture Bros; it sums the whole thing up pretty well.

[ultrafilter]

The stereotypical mad scientist is much more of an engineer than a scientist, so engineering is definitely the right choice.

[Napier]

I think you would want to be a physicist. But there would Erlenmayer flasks everywhere for some reason. Seems like they're always experimenting with food coloring.

[Boyo Jim]

Death Ray Science
Anti-Matter Bomb Science
Truth Beam (or Drug) Science
Invisibility Science
Anti-Gravity Science
Teleportation Science
Making Smoking Hot Chicks Fall in Love With You Science
Time Travel Science
Creating a Supernova Science
Mind Control Science
Zombie Creation Science

[Bryan Ekers]

Plus you need one of those Jacob's Ladder things.

[Stranger On A Train]

Originally Posted by Napier

I think you would want to be a physicist. But there would Erlenmayer flasks everywhere for some reason. Seems like they're always experimenting with food coloring.

That is so that you can see that they are doing science. It was the pre-computer-era way of visualizing "science".

A physicist is a good rough approximation for "all purpose scientist", but in fact most of the physics Ph.D.s I've known, including experimentalists, couldn't engineer their way out of a two foot deep hole. (The spare exceptions were people for whom physics was a second career, after doing something like building sailboats or running a farm.) If I had to single out a particular engineering discipline who would be most likely to have the skills imagined by the o.p. I would probably go for petroleum engineer, which mixes mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, mining engineering, and geophysics, along with a sampling of electrical engineering, statistics and data regression, thermodynamics, et cetera. How he will be able to determine that the aliens are from Zeta Reticuli based upon the previously unknown elements in their hull material alloy, however, is beyond a university education and can only come from the mind of a screenwriter.

Stranger

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by ultrafilter

The stereotypical mad scientist is much more of an engineer than a scientist, so engineering is definitely the right choice.

Ha, I found the comic that made me think of.

[John Mace]

Originally Posted by Stranger On A Train

That is so that you can see that they are doing science. It was the pre-computer-era way of visualizing "science".

A physicist is a good rough approximation for "all purpose scientist", but in fact most of the physics Ph.D.s I've known, including experimentalists, couldn't engineer their way out of a two foot deep hole. (The spare exceptions were people for whom physics was a second career, after doing something like building sailboats or running a farm.)

I don't think you've known many physicist then. I spent my academic career with physicists, and my experience is quite different.

[BrainGlutton]

A Mad Scientist really needs to be an Omnidisciplinary Scientist.

[MrDibble]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

Death Ray Science
Anti-Matter Bomb Science
Truth Beam (or Drug) Science
Invisibility Science
Anti-Gravity Science
Teleportation Science
Making Smoking Hot Chicks Fall in Love With You Science
Time Travel Science
Creating a Supernova Science
Mind Control Science
Zombie Creation Science

You forgot:
Robot Science
Cloning Science
Genetic Monster Science
Restarting the Earth's Core Science

[Bryan Ekers]

Plus you'll need a degree in English

SPOILER:

...to handle all the requests of "Whoa, Doc, say that again in English!"

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by MrDibble

You forgot:
Robot Science
Cloning Science
Genetic Monster Science
Restarting the Earth's Core Science

Yeah, I also missed
Toxic Acid Smoking Goo Science
Godzilla Science (with a minor in Mothra or Rhodan Science)
Destroying Tokyo Science
Sea Monster Science
Nuclear Reactor Core Meltdown Science
Nuclear War Button Pushing Science
Kidnapping the President Science
Kicking Puppies and Kittens Science

I'm sure there are a few more that I'm still missing.

[Martini Enfield]

What I was sort of hoping for (as well as the obvious, slightly silly suggestions) were "Real" subjects a would-be Superscientist could study.

Thus, mechanical engineering (to build Walking Eyes and Robots), Applied Atomic Science (because it's not Science! if it doesn't involve Atomic Energy somewhere), something to do with Lasers (how else does one acquire the knowledge and ability to construct Fricking Laser Beams™?), Principles of Management (to keep the underlings motivated), and so on.

And for the slightly silly ones, I'd suggest Introduction to Maniacal Laughter (MWAHAHAHAHA!), Critical Analysis of Contemporary Science (FOOLS! They said it was madness to try and extract petroleum oil from maple syrup, BUT I SHOWED THEM! I SHOWED THEM ALL!), Ethics of Doomsday Devices (What would be the wider implications of weaponising the power of a Black Hole?), and The Hazards of Time Travel (A lesson in not changing History from Mr "I'm My Own Grandfather").

[David42]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

Yeah, I also missed
Toxic Acid Smoking Goo Science
Godzilla Science (with a minor in Mothra or Rhodan Science)
Destroying Tokyo Science
Sea Monster Science
Nuclear Reactor Core Meltdown Science
Nuclear War Button Pushing Science
Kidnapping the President Science
Kicking Puppies and Kittens Science

I'm sure there are a few more that I'm still missing.

Warp Drive science is crucial.

Wicked laugh science also comes to mind;
Coke-bottle glasses science
Bad hair-do science might be not significant enough to matter.

What-say the board? Allow mad-superscientists with nice hair, or not?

[chrisk]

Originally Posted by Martini Enfield

And for the slightly silly ones, I'd suggest Introduction to Maniacal Laughter (MWAHAHAHAHA!)...

Doctor Horrible: "A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards! You have to have a memorable laugh."

(Working with a vocal coach can help.)

[Buck Godot]

In terms of practicality I think the most likely route to world threatening mad sciencedom would be to study microbiology and molecular genetics to try to build a super virus that you could threaten the world with. These fields might also let you branch out in the direction of cloning and creating god forsaken hybrids that are against the laws of man and nature.

[Chronos]

I suspect most superscientists really are specialists, who just happen to dabble in other areas as a hobby. Roy Hinkley, for instance, seems to have been a chemist, who just happens to have a lot of other practical skills from his experience in Boy Scouts. And Kevyn Andreyasn specializes in wormhole dynamics, and only does explosives because they're fun.

[rat avatar]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

A Mad Scientist really needs to be an Omnidisciplinary Scientist.

Yet they always seem to be like Omnidisciplinary engineers...

[DocCathode]

While most other Sons Of Ether will tell you that the Matter Sphere is essential to Science, I specialize in Mind. Why spend all your time building a Columnating Thanatropic Projector (known as a 'death ray' to most folks), when you can build instead a EuHarmonic Pyschotropic Radiator (known as a 'love bomb')?

Remember 'Cogito, ergo sum' I think therefore I am.

[Boyo Jim]

The Mad Scientist creed is "IBSU ergo sum" (I blow shit up, therefor I am)

[DocCathode]

Originally Posted by Boyo Jim

The Mad Scientist creed is "IBSU ergo sum" (I blow shit up, therefor I am)

As a Scientist, I respectfully disagree.

[Boyo Jim]

Are you a Mad Scientist?

[DocCathode]

Let's consider the evidence-

I can project my consciousness from my body into the Digital Web to interact directly with the non corporeal consciousnesses of computer programs and other individuals.

I have also traveled to what the average person would (mistakenly) call other dimensions. To whit- the Lower Stratum Of The QuantumEtheric Foam, inhabited by the NCCFs of those whose bodies have died, The Highest Stratum Of The QEF (a realm of ideas made manifest), the Low Stratum of the QEF (something of a reflection of our common world. Inhabited largely by non human consciousnesses and the Lupines). I have yet to penetrate The Middle Stratum, a realm of dreams and chaos.

I have built-

The EuHarmonic Pyschotropic Radiator, also known as the Love Bomb. This device does no damage. Instead, it causes all within the area to experience feelings of joy, brotherhood and good will.

The Euharmonic Catalytic Converter. This device is an alternative energy source. It runs on hatred and emits curiosity.

I got my degree in Ether Psychology from a college hidden underneath The Franklin Institute and accessible only to those with Actualized NCCFs.

So, you tell me.

[Boyo Jim]

If you've created a "Love Bomb", you are not Mad enough. Mad Scientists want terrified slaves or Zombified slaves, not happy ones. Also, a Mad Scientist would create a machine that outputs hatred, not uses it up as fuel.

I know Mad Scientists, and you, sir, are no Mad Scientist. But perhaps you are a Nomad Scientist -- do you travel from town to town striking awe into the hearts of the simple peasants?

[DocCathode]

I am so sick of the stereotype that all Mad Scientists are evil!

Captain Nemo, Dr Jekyll, even Doctor Frankenstein were all working for the betterment of humanity.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by DocCathode

I am so sick of the stereotype that all Mad Scientists are evil!

Captain Nemo, Dr Jekyll, even Doctor Frankenstein were all working for the betterment of humanity.

Actually, Dr. Jekyll just wanted to get down with his own bad self.

[David42]

I'm onto Doc Cathode's scheme. A love bomb will cause uncontrollable desires to love one another and just plain feel good, distracting us from eptty concerns like our bank accounts.

Doc then projects his consciousness into the internet and then into the entire world's bank acocunts, which he then transfers into an alternate dimension.

Economic collapse follows since everyone's bank accounts are empty of their imaginary credits, most of the world starves as a result, and the Euharmonic catalytic converter is blowing gaskets in overdrive as Doc cuts loose with a wicked laugh. With all that power, Doc delivers modified love bombs that cause everyone to love only him. They few survivors elect Doc God and he rules the world.

Don't trust all that innocence he's trying to fool you with. He just wants to recruit you for majorly underpaid and abused lackey positions he has available here and there to get his plan in motion.

Mad scientists are all the same, evil to the bone, and they all have crazy hairdos.

[yohan go]

Slight hijack, but who would qualify IRL for superscientist described as is in OP's original post? Not evil one per se, but clearly with IQx2, at least profoundly eccentric if not clearly mad and with some serious scientific references? Tesla? Jobs? von Braun? da Vinci?

[DocCathode]

Originally Posted by David42

I'm onto Doc Cathode's scheme. A love bomb will cause uncontrollable desires to love one another and just plain feel good, distracting us from eptty concerns like our bank accounts.

Your bank account is an empty concern. Instead of asking how you can accumulate more dollars, you should be asking why you don't have enough cool doodads, geegaws, whatchamacallits, kejiggers and tchochkes.

Doc then projects his consciousness into the internet and then into the entire world's bank acocunts, which he then transfers into an alternate dimension.

Your bank account is protected by the Grey Faces who want you to remain a happy little consumer drone.

Economic collapse follows since everyone's bank accounts are empty of their imaginary credits, most of the world starves as a result, and the Euharmonic catalytic converter is blowing gaskets in overdrive as Doc cuts loose with a wicked laugh. With all that power, Doc delivers modified love bombs that cause everyone to love only him. They few survivors elect Doc God and he rules the world.

Honest, I don't want to the rule the world. Ruling over one apartment is trying enough.

Don't trust all that innocence he's trying to fool you with. He just wants to recruit you for majorly underpaid and abused lackey positions he has available here and there to get his plan in motion.

I don't have lackeys. I have Assistants. Sadly, my last Assistant was killed in a battle with Nazi zombies. You continue to live in freedom thanks to Quentin's noble sacrifice.

Mad scientists are all the same, evil to the bone, and they all have crazy hairdos.

I am not evil- and just what is wrong with my hair?

[Gagundathar]

New from Romco!

Hair Gel for Mad Scientists!

Has the frizz gone out of your doo?
Not getting the same stares at the laundromat?
When you look in the mirror, does your reflection run away in despair?

Well, fear not, evil laugher and kicker of puppies, Romco has a solution for your problem.
With our new patented Hair Gel for Mad Scientists, you too can have the hair you always wanted.
And you can get back to your plans for world domination knowing that your hair is PERFECT.

Because you're using Hair Gel for Mad Scientists!
Available at Walgreen's, CVS and Mad Scientists R Us.

[David42]

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Your bank account is an empty concern. Instead of asking how you can accumulate more dollars, you should be asking why you don't have enough cool doodads, geegaws, whatchamacallits, kejiggers and tchochkes.

I don't have enough doodads maybe because my bank account is empty. But if you want to use your consciousness projecting trick to fill it up, I'll some whatcha-ma-doohickeys with all kinds of neat flashing lights and stuff that only mad scientists truly appreciate.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Your bank account is protected by the Grey Faces who want you to remain a happy little consumer drone.

Like I am going to believe the assurances of a mad scientist bent on world domination.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Honest, I don't want to the rule the world. Ruling over one apartment is trying enough.

See above.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

I don't have lackeys. I have Assistants. Sadly, my last Assistant was killed in a battle with Nazi zombies. You continue to live in freedom thanks to Quentin's noble sacrifice.

This is your give away. Your last lackey died battling Nazi zombies. But why would Nazi zombies be attacking poor innocent Doc? Exactly, he is their competition for world domination. And to head you off at the pass, "Doc Cathode" doesn't sound like any Jewish name I ever heard.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

I am not evil- and just what is wrong with my hair?

You need some Romco Mad Scientist Hair Gel, that is plainly obvious.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by David42

Mad scientists are all the same, evil to the bone, and they all have crazy hairdos.

Well, and then there's Lex Luthor . . .

[DocCathode]

Originally Posted by David42

I don't have enough doodads maybe because my bank account is empty. But if you want to use your consciousness projecting trick to fill it up, I'll some whatcha-ma-doohickeys with all kinds of neat flashing lights and stuff that only mad scientists truly appreciate.

Only a Scientist can truly enjoy blinkenlights*. But every body can derive some fun from them

Like I am going to believe the assurances of a mad scientist bent on world domination.

sigh. I am not bent on world domination. I don't even want to dominate my neighborhood. I want universal peace and happiness.

This is your give away. Your last lackey died battling Nazi zombies. But why would Nazi zombies be attacking poor innocent Doc? Exactly, he is their competition for world domination. And to head you off at the pass, "Doc Cathode" doesn't sound like any Jewish name I ever heard.

AS Peter Parker often says, "With great power comes great responsibility." It is the duty of all good people to fight evil. When you become Actualized, it becomes your duty to fight those who would use their powers for evil. When you learn of the existence of Nazi zombies, you must fight them.

You need some Romco Mad Scientist Hair Gel, that is plainly obvious.

Just what is wrong with my hair?










* Blinkenlights is the actual technical term for the many indicator lights on old computers. Really.

[David42]

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Only a Scientist can truly enjoy blinkenlights*. But every body can derive some fun from them.

Yeah, but what about filling my account so I can get me some blinkenlights and other neat-o mad scientist stuff?

Originally Posted by DocCathode

sigh. I am not bent on world domination. I don't even want to dominate my neighborhood. I want universal peace and happiness.

Of course "universal peace and happiness" is from your point of view, and is described above where all person love you and elect you God. What better way to achieve world peace and happiness than to control it? You have to admit, with all these different countries squabbling over who gaets to nuke who, they haven't yet achieved universal peace and happiness.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

AS Peter Parker often says, "With great power comes great responsibility." It is the duty of all good people to fight evil. When you become Actualized, it becomes your duty to fight those who would use their powers for evil. When you learn of the existence of Nazi zombies, you must fight them.

Which so strangely happens to coincide with you battling Nazi zombies for a purpose of taking over the world.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Just what is wrong with my hair?

When you get some Romco Mad Scientist Hair Gel and try it out, you'll understand.

Originally Posted by DocCathode

* Blinkenlights is the actual technical term for the many indicator lights on old computers. Really.

This is part of your evil plan somehow, but I haven't figured out how yet.

[Lemur866]

The rest of you might enjoy Blinkenlights, but I enjoy them on a higher level.

I'm seriously offended though. If you just got to know those of us who suffer from Malign Hypercognition Syndrome, you wouldn't repeat these hateful stereotypes.

And if I may, all this talk of "Death Rays" and "Time Machines" is typical of the amateurs back at the Academy who couldn't appreciate my genius. Fools. Someday they will...where was I? Oh yes, the highest aspiration of the true scientist is the creation of life Ex Nihilo. In fact, I have recently perfected my own race of Atomic Supermen. You probably haven't heard of them, they're kind of obscure.

[David42]

Originally Posted by Lemur866

The rest of you might enjoy Blinkenlights, but I enjoy them on a higher level.

I'm seriously offended though. If you just got to know those of us who suffer from Malign Hypercognition Syndrome, you wouldn't repeat these hateful stereotypes.

And if I may, all this talk of "Death Rays" and "Time Machines" is typical of the amateurs back at the Academy who couldn't appreciate my genius. Fools. Someday they will...where was I? Oh yes, the highest aspiration of the true scientist is the creation of life Ex Nihilo. In fact, I have recently perfected my own race of Atomic Supermen. You probably haven't heard of them, they're kind of obscure.

You shouldn't say that around Doc Cathode. Competition, you know. But since you have Atomic Supermen, he is probably aware he is going to be running short on lackeys. More proof my theory is correct!

P.S. Your Atomic Supermen aren't also Nazi zombies, are they? I see it all falling into place.

[DocCathode]

For the last time(the massive amount of subliminals in my posts notwithstanding), I am not evil.

A quick scan with the Gygaxometer confirms I am good. So there.

[Lemur866]

Look, just because 99% of all Mad Scientists are Evil, that doesn't mean all of them are.

There could be Neutral ones.

[coffeecat]

I want a handheld bimbofication beam.

[pravnik]

Originally Posted by David42

Of course "universal peace and happiness" is from your point of view, and is described above where all person love you and elect you God. What better way to achieve world peace and happiness than to control it? You have to admit, with all these different countries squabbling over who gaets to nuke who, they haven't yet achieved universal peace and happiness.

Totally this. The only reason they call you "mad" is because they don't understand your plan. You love the world and only want to save it - from itself.

[Belowjob2.0]

Wouldn't nuclear engineering come closest?

Any truly mad scientist would need an intimate understanding of the most powerful sources of man made energy on the planet. Not to mention the basic grounding in chemistry, physics, mech e, ee, thermo, etc that nukes get.

If you can't whip up something that'll take out a major city and fit in the bed of a pickup truck, you ain't no mad scientist.

[Wesley Clark]

Engineering alone seems like enough to be a good supervillain. Dr. Doom was the best supervillain anyway.

Math and physics are integral to engineering though. Chemistry and biology, I don't know how important they are for being a polymath.

However to be a good supervillain you also need a good grasp of the social sciences so you can control and manipulate people into doing your bidding either intentionally or unintentionally. A supervillain needs political power, henchmen, elaborate schemes, etc.

[DocCathode]

Originally Posted by Belowjob2.0

If you can't whip up something that'll take out a major city and fit in the bed of a pickup truck, you ain't no mad scientist.

Again, this assumes that all Mad Scientists are evil. This simply is not true.

Although he was in the end defeated by the Technocracy, Buckminster Fuller left a lasting legacy-none of it capable of blowing up a city.

[David42]

Originally Posted by pravnik

Totally this. The only reason they call you "mad" is because they don't understand your plan. You love the world and only want to save it - from itself.

AAAACK! SOlid Proof Ultra-libs are mad scientists!

But wait, ultra-libs have nice hair...

[Martini Enfield]

All this raises some interesting points about whether it's possible to be a Mad Scientist who isn't evil.

I'm inclined to say it is (Doc Brown and Professor Farnsworth spring to mind), but generally I'd say the best you're likely to get is "Recklessly Indifferent". I guess that's sort of the "Chaotic Good" of the Science! world.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by DocCathode

Again, this assumes that all Mad Scientists are evil. This simply is not true.

Although he was in the end defeated by the Technocracy, Buckminster Fuller left a lasting legacy-none of it capable of blowing up a city.

Even if a Mad Scientist thinks he's Good, or believes he's working for the betterment of Mankind, he's still creating Death Rays and Slave Beams.

Why? Because he's Mad, of course. No matter what he thinks he's doing, he's really doing evil, or preparing to do evil if not enough people appreciate his good deeds.

[David42]

Originally Posted by Martini Enfield

All this raises some interesting points about whether it's possible to be a Mad Scientist who isn't evil.

I'm inclined to say it is (Doc Brown and Professor Farnsworth spring to mind), but generally I'd say the best you're likely to get is "Recklessly Indifferent". I guess that's sort of the "Chaotic Good" of the Science! world.

Doc Brown is from Back to the Future, right? If so, he wanted time travel just so he could prove he could do it, he gives no explanation. And despite his warnings to Marty, he recklessly sends a teenager back in time who can then alter their history causing God-Knows-What.

Some irresponsisbility is evil, no matter how friendly and nice Doc Brown seems.

Plus he has crazy mad scientist hair, which proves he's evil.

[Gagundathar]

Incidentally, the name is Hair Gel for Mad Scientists™ not just Mad Scientist Hair Gel.
Romco spent a great deal of marketing money to come up with that name.
Don't make my Romco's lawyers send you a cease and desist letter.

[David42]

Originally Posted by Gagundathar

Incidentally, the name is Hair Gel for Mad Scientists™ not just Mad Scientist Hair Gel.
Romco spent a great deal of marketing money to come up with that name.
Don't make my Romco's lawyers send you a cease and desist letter.

Ok, Ok, I'm not trying to get a bunch of your Romco's lawyers after me. I'm not even selling and didn't concern myself with getting the name straight.

Hmmm....actually maybe you Romco should send me a check for promoting your their product...Hmmmm.....


I could always promote Acme's Styling Mousse for World Dominants™ I suppose. How are sales lately? I understand it's an extremely limited niche market.

PM me on where to send the check please.

[Gagundathar]

Originally Posted by David42

Ok, Ok, I'm not trying to get a bunch of your Romco's lawyers after me. I'm not even selling and didn't concern myself with getting the name straight.

Hmmm....actually maybe you Romco should send me a check for promoting your their product...Hmmmm.....


I could always promote Acme's Styling Mousse for World Dominants™ I suppose. How are sales lately? I understand it's an extremely limited niche market.

PM me on where to send the check please.

Your idle threats have been noted for the record and you may expect a visit from my Romco's corporate enforcers soon.
So, David42 (if that is even your real name), you think you have what it takes to play in the extremely brutal arena of Mad Scientist Cosmetics? I think not.