Killer Serials: Breakthrough, Ep. 5

Last updated on: December 7, 2015 at 7:33 am by J. Ryan Parker

Killer Serials: Breakthrough, Ep. 5 2015-12-07T07:33:37-08:00 J. Ryan Parker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nat Geo’s new series, Breakthrough, highlights scientists working on the cutting edge of research in biomechanics, aging, the brain, diseases, and, as of last night, energy. Human limitations have been a central theme of every episode, and they are in this week’s episode, “Energy on the Edge.” Tony Jones and I discuss below.

TJ: I really like the subject of this episode, “Energy on the Edge.” I can’t imagine a more important topic than finding clean energy for the future. I think about this every day, as my phone battery wears down. On the one hand, it’s amazing that I can suck energy from a wall and store it in my phone battery for the day. On the other hand, how can we still be so reliant on batteries that are recharged by the burning of coal?

Using the heat that’s trapped inside the earth is cool. So is using the energy of the sun. But using a 139 lasers to cause nuclear fusion is both thrilling and, to be honest, damn frightening. They are actually making a mini-star — or attempting to — in hopes that entity will be self-sustaining and limitless.

But I wonder, what’s wrong with limits? Isn’t limitation endemic to the human experience?

RP: Limitation has been a central theme of every episode this season and one that we’ve returned to in each post. Making a star on earth from a process that literally extends beyond the laws of physics is scary as hell. But, given the enormity of the problems we face, I think pushing those limitations is worth the risk, especially if we consider the cost of not doing so.

I’m intrigued by the differences between the alternative energy options we have. There seems, to me, a difference between exploiting solar, wind or waste powered energies that take “passive” advantage of–as Bateman said a couple of times–the energy already around us and the invasive acts of penetrating (mining) the earth to get at resources that are more difficult to obtain. One seems purer to me than the other.

TJ: True, but what do we know? You and me, I mean. One of the things I’ve thought about in every episode of Breakthrough is how huge the gap is between the scientists making these breakthrough discoveries and me. With the advance of science, the gap between specialists and plebs like us is greater than it’s ever been.

And that, I think, leads to the moral quandary in every episode: are these scientists going too far, and how the hell would we know if they were? It’s funny how quickly the Icelandic researcher brushes off the fears about earthquakes as a result of him pumping cold water into the earth’s crust to hit molten rock and generate steam. It’s not even a concern, he says. And what are you and I to do, other than to take his word for it?

There is, however, one thing that I can understand: beer!

RP: Yes, I was pleased to see the potential for beer to “save the earth,” and the notion of breweries (and other factories) powering their operations with their own waste seems like a logical next step in addressing our energy crises. And, for viewers like us, this whole notions of these scientists and researches “saving the earth” has an interesting soteriological ring to it. In what ways is this type of work helping to usher in the “kingdom of God?”

Finally, there’s something inspiring about what these scientists and engineers are doing as they devote their lives to projects that they’ll most likely never see come to fruition. Are we tending to things that will outlast us? And their willingness to “fail up” is something inspiring as well.

The final episode of Breakthrough airs Sunday, December 13th, at 9:00 p.m.

Previous Post

December 4, 2015

Killer Serials: Jessica Jones, Eps. 7-13

Next Post

December 9, 2015 GOD MOCKS: A Review

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Classics DVD Film Music News Pop Culture Events Print Sports Television Uncategorized Video Games

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John the Baptist Peter James Nicodemus