Apr 11, 2010
Continuing with our recurring segment The Science
of Superheroes, this week we're tackling the
mechanically-blessed supervillain Doc Ock, from
Marvel Comics. And joining me once again for a
journey through superhero scholarship is Dr Boob.
Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius is a scientist who designed a set of
advanced mechanical arms to assist him with his nuclear physics
research. He controlled the arms via a brain-computer interface. In the
movie Spiderman
2, Octavius created the mechanical arms to help him conduct
nuclear
fusion experiments. The arms had their own artificial
intelligence, with an inhibitor chip used such that Octavius could
maintain control over them. The arms attached to a harness that was
strapped around his body. In great comic book tradition, a freak
experimental accident caused the limbs to fuse to his body, and the
inhibitor chip was destroyed. The arms themselves took control as
Octavius could no longer control them, and mad-scientist Octavius
became evil Doc Ock. Interestingly, the limbs were able to defend
themselves whilst Doc Ock was unconscious, implying not only
self-awareness, but a capability to sense their surroundings.
In this episode, we come closer than we have come before in our
series to figuring out a way to recreate a superhero (or
supervillain in this case) in the laboratory. The topics discussed
in this podcast include: