Sorcerer in training
"Heroic Sacrifice: When Pearson, the medical officer, develops cancer due to radiation exposure, he refuses to undergo chemotherapy, because the toxic by-products in his urine would contaminate the ship's recycled water supply, endangering the rest of the crew. However, Fridge Logic does lead one to wonder why the ship is carrying drugs that cannot be used safely in the first place, and why the crew can't rig a low-pressure still from their lab equipment to recycle Pearson's urine separately. Deus Angst Machina, presumably."
Massive piece of Fridge Logic: Since Pearson developed cancer (and a known cancer patient wouldn't have been sent in the first place anyway), why did they waste all that on why they couldn't treat him? They wouldn't have been carrying chemotherapy drugs in the first place!
The only handwave I can think of is they had the materials and ability on board to synthesize something to use in chemotherapy, but it would have the problems stated. Still doesn't justify not figuring out a way to recycle his 'output' separately.
Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Has it been mentioned that Pegasus was fusion-powered? To my knowledge, Pegasus is nuclear-powered, which wouldn't be Applied Phlebotinum at all.
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Pegasus is specifically described as fusion powered in the BBC DVD special feature description. Which is canon, I guess?
Nuclear fusion is a fairly well-understood piece of physics. The engineering needed actually to use it for anything beyond blowing stuff up remains in the realm of fantasy.
Ah OK, I haven't seen the DVD extras. I assumed Pegasus had a nuclear fission reactor.
Edited by Schnabelhund
Science Marches On:
This trope was deleted back in August, with no edit-reason given. On the face of it, the trope does apply to this work, so I've put it back. However, I'm opening this discussion so we can talk about whether the trope really does apply.
Edited by 211.30.200.127