# The Big Bang Theory, Season 10, Episode 23 (May 4, 2017) -- "The Gyroscopic Collapse" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860 "2017-05-04T16:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/21 "2017-05-05T18:22:08Z")
You mean the _Wolowitz Waste Distribution System_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/22 "2017-05-05T18:22:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t remember, did Sheldon ever give Amy that ring? Nope. He decided that giving her his virginity was enough. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/23 "2017-05-05T20:48:34Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > It was interesting this time around but I still dont understand about the empty apartment…I must have missed something:smack: Foreshadowing, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/24 "2017-05-05T20:53:02Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Nope. He decided that giving her his virginity was enough. I think that tells us where this is going. Although there’s a couple of different directions. I assume next week is the season finale leaving us with a cliffhanger about the future of Shamy. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/25 "2017-05-05T20:54:53Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > But did they get paid? That was my question, too. The whole reason they came up with an idea in the first place was to try to build an additional income stream. If the USAF is still going to pay them, this doesn’t bother me all that much. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/26 "2017-05-05T21:20:07Z")
I imagine that empty apartment will come back next week. They wouldn’t have build a set like that for just two jokes. The government didn’t steal their work. They owned it already and were done with them. Their part was finished. They were acting like scientists and not thinking about the military-industrial aspect. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/27 "2017-05-05T21:51:06Z")
I was thinking that it could have a lot to do with Howard and Leonard’s insistence on not wanting to miniaturize it when their military boss asked them to. Again I ask, what was the first thing Sheldon yelled in the throes of passion? And any guesses on how many seasons ended with at least one character going on an extended trip? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/28 "2017-05-05T23:59:38Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Plus, now we presumably get more Bert. It would be easy to have too much Burt (how does he spell his name?), but we haven’t gotten there yet IMO. “Bert,” short for “Bertram.” It was on his plaque. > [@epbrown01](#): > > Foreshadowing, I suspect. There was something where Amy was going to tell Sheldon she was going, but Penny and Leonard would be there, and Penny started to say “Don’t tell him that,” but stopped herself, or something. I’d have to look at it again to be sure-- it’s still on the DVR. Makes me think that Leonard and Penny have plans to move. Maybe Sheldon and Raj will move in together for the summer-- they did fine when Leonard was having astronomically incorrect sex with Priya. Maybe Frank and Alicia will move into the empty apartment. (Kidding.) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/29 "2017-05-06T01:48:26Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I imagine that empty apartment will come back next week. They wouldn’t have build a set like that for just two jokes. The empty apartment is just the regular apartment without the furniture and set dressing. No big deal to take those out and put them back in. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/30 "2017-05-06T02:20:06Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I was thinking that it could have a lot to do with Howard and Leonard’s insistence on not wanting to miniaturize it when their military boss asked them to. But they _did_ miniaturize it - that’s the part that was finished. They had made the device fully functional months ago. I sorta didn’t get their being upset - they got paid, and this was just going to be grunt work going forward - now they could go back to working on other projects. And they never liked working for the government anyway. A question I have: IRL would something like this raise their profile at the university, making them stronger candidates for tenure? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/31 "2017-05-06T02:57:38Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > . . . > > It was interesting this time around but I still dont understand about the empty apartment…I must have missed something:smack: I hope Sheldon and Amy move into it. Their current apartment is too small for the both of them, and Sheldon would feel more at home because the new one would resemble 4A. But the one-bedroom they vacate would be just right for Raj. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/32 "2017-05-06T03:10:39Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > The empty apartment is just the regular apartment without the furniture and set dressing. No big deal to take those out and put them back in. That’s what I thought, but doesn’t 4A have a step up from the living room to the hallway? I looked for that in the empty apartment and it wasn’t there. It may still have been mostly the same set, but not exactly the same. If Sheldon does move in there, I wonder if the air currents will lead to him having the same spot. > [@epbrown01](#): > > A question I have: IRL would something like this raise their profile at the university, making them stronger candidates for tenure? I wonder if they’d retain any intellectual property rights. I assume the Air Force was paying them a salary while they were working, but will they get any royalties from its eventual use? It was originally a project for Howard to make more money now that he’s got a family. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/33 "2017-05-06T03:26:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I believe Amy is going. > > Next week Ricky Lindhome is returning as Dr. Ramona Nowitzki I wonder how the writers would justify what’s in your spoiler. After all,Sheldon summarily and angrily dismissed her just for asking to share credit. I can’t imagine Sheldon would ever allow her near him again. She gets a position at Caltech independent of him? Perfectly possible, of course. She crosses swords with Sheldon and gets the better of him? Also perfectly possible. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/34 "2017-05-06T12:09:00Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The government didn’t steal their work. They owned it already and were done with them. Their part was finished. They were acting like scientists and not thinking about the military-industrial aspect. But it was somewhat short-sighted for the Air Force to go out of their way to break ties with the people who understand the equipment best - if some aspect of the equipment needs modification or improvement before it can be used, the people who designed and built it would be useful resources to go back to. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > There was something where Amy was going to tell Sheldon she was going, but Penny and Leonard would be there, and Penny started to say “Don’t tell him that,” but stopped herself, or something. I’d have to look at it again to be sure-- it’s still on the DVR. The point of that comment was just that Penny and Leonard wouldn’t want Sheldon coming back to their apartment all the time while Amy is away (which he probably will do). ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/35 "2017-05-06T12:14:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I wonder if they’d retain any intellectual property rights. I assume the Air Force was paying them a salary while they were working, but will they get any royalties from its eventual use? It was originally a project for Howard to make more money now that he’s got a family. Now Halley can have a stay-at-home-Dad. I wonder if Sheldon would even recognize Ramona Nowitzki. Don’t all grad students look alike to him? ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/36 "2017-05-06T12:27:08Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > But they _did_ miniaturize it - that’s the part that was finished. They had made the device fully functional months ago. I sorta didn’t get their being upset - they got paid, and this was just going to be grunt work going forward - now they could go back to working on other projects. And they never liked working for the government anyway. > > A question I have: IRL would something like this raise their profile at the university, making them stronger candidates for tenure? I don’t recall them getting permission to use University facilities to work on the project. In fact, I wonder if the U has a claim to the patents for the device, if any, and to charge the government for providing space, equipment and people, if they don’t share the patents. So, including this project in their vita might not be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/37 "2017-05-06T14:31:20Z")
When they first enter the emptied room, Sheldon asked, “Who else has access to this room?” Leonard replied, “It’s a secure lab in a classified facility. Only the US Government and us.” So not on campus. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/38 "2017-05-06T14:36:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > When they first enter the emptied room, Sheldon asked, “Who else has access to this room?” > > Leonard replied, “It’s a secure lab in a classified facility. Only the US Government and us.” > > So not on campus. It could be part of JPL, couldn’t it? Do they do classified projects? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/39 "2017-05-06T14:44:21Z")
Perhaps, but I was replying to **crucible** ’s suggestion that their work wasn’t authorized by the university. Given that someone set up the lab and the retinal scanner for them, it was certainly authorized. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860/40 "2017-05-06T16:08:30Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > The empty apartment is just the regular apartment without the furniture and set dressing. No big deal to take those out and put them back in. I figured they may have done that and meant to add that as a possibility but even that seems like a lot of work for two jokes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-10-episode-23-may-4-2017-the-gyroscopic-collapse/785860.md?page=3)