History Main / MadScientistLaboratory

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Paula's lab hidden beneath Holliday College is full of large strange electronics and knife switches tied into her [[{{Teleportation}} Space Converter]] and tables covered in glassware full of liquids in strange colors.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Dr. Lazarus's lab is more tidy version than normal filled with shelving, computers and tables with the centerpiece a strange round thing with giant cocoon like objects hanging from it and several spark gaps, calling to mind a Jacob's Ladder but actually being part of his machine with which he intends to resurrect his son.

* The Forsaken in VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft apparently discovered this trope in the ''Wrath of the Lich King'' expansion, as their bases in Northrend tend to be full of traditional MadScientist equipment like tesla coils, jacob's ladders and mechanical arms that move vials of [[TechnicolorScience glowing chemicals]] around.

* The whole Gouma-Den in the [[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy Rai]][[VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsKingAbaddon dou]] duology. Hosted by [[LargeHam lovable]] [[MilkingTheGiantCow lunatic]] [[MadScientist Dr]]. [[ShoutOut Victor]]. Complete with virtually all of the accoutrements of the standard lab.

The archhetypical movie Mad Scientist Laboratory probably came from the classic silent film ''Metropolis'', though the Universal remake of ''Frankenstein'' added a fair amount. Both were probably strongly influenced by a real-life example that was a staple in popular media between 1900 and 1940; the various laboratories of UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla, which actually did feature gigantic incomprehensible machinery, scary robotic devices, Tesla coils, and lots of gaudy electric-arc effects.

* Jack Spicer from ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' has a slightly more detailed laboratory than Dexter, but again, much more often computer-y than chemistry-set based.

* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' where Professor Farnsworth's lab is usually suprisingly sparse, with only one piece of equipment at a time.
** Although in one episode he's shown to have about a dozen different {{doomsday device}}s tucked away.

-->-- '''[[http://www.tomparisdorm.com/viewstory.php?sid=4084 Plan 7 of 9 from Outer Space]]'''

* As prevalent as mad scientists are in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse, these are all over the place.

The archhetypical movie MadScientistLaboratory probably came from the classic silent film ''Metropolis'', though the Universal remake of ''Frankenstein'' added a fair amount. Both were probably strongly influenced by a real-life example that was a staple in popular media between 1900 and 1940; the various laboratories of UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla, which actually did feature gigantic incomprehensible machinery, scary robotic devices, Tesla coils, and lots of gaudy electric-arc effects.

*** Magrat was a sucker for this stuff in ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'', though Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax thought it was all a waste of time, though maybe good for "headology".

* Literature/FrannyKStein's own room is her laboratory, where the little girl mad scientist frequently conducts her experiments.

* Merlin's cottage in Disney's ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone'' is one of these. In that film, he's a powerful wizard who uses magic to teach science to young Arthur.

* ''Film/ACureForWellness''. There's a locked tower on the spa grounds that the protagonist Lockhart eventually breaks into. He finds stairs leading down to a grotto containing an underground laboratory, which is replete in 19th century-style with beakers containing mutated fetuses, dissected eels, and scientific notebooks. [[spoiler:Turns out the anachronistic look is not a coincidence, as the doctor who runs the spa is a lot older than he appears.]]

* ''Film/TheFly1986'' updates and downplays the "gentleman scientist" inspirations for this trope with Seth Brundle's lab. It's located on the top floor of an AbandonedWarehouse in a lonesome part of Toronto, and despite it also serving as his living quarters with a small kitchen, bedroom, etc. retains a stark appearance with its basic furnishings and lack of decor. It has a skylight that factors into the climax ([[spoiler: allowing him to sneak into the central room by Wall Crawling and get the drop on Stathis]]), shelves full of binders of papers, etc. serving as background detail, and is ultimately centered upon the exotic-looking "telepods" and the imposing computer that controls them. Early on, Seth actually provides some exposition to reporter (and later love interest) Veronica explaining that he had to commission the individual components for the telepods and "stick them together, but nobody knows what the project really is." His work is financed by a company (they met at a company press event in the opening scene), "but they leave me alone because I'm not expensive, and they know that they'll end up owning it, whatever it is."

Also never mind that modern chemistry has very little use for the big impressive glass-sculpture thing with with a lot of burettes, condensers, and funny coils of glass. (These actually were useful constructs at one time, but they're the chemistry equivalent of doing differential equations on an abacus. Also, even when they were used, a typical experimental setup would have consisted of three to six of the pieces put together; never dozens of pieces, all connected, as shown on the screen.) Most of these glassware setups appear to be inspired by random fuzzy pictures of the Miller-Urey experiment which can actually be simplified once you understand what is actually going on. But you need this stuff because otherwise, the audience won't realize that ''Science'' goes on here.

-->-- '''Plan 7 of 9 from Outer Space'''

The place where ''[[ForScience Science]]!'' happens. Usually pronounced "lah-BOHR-ah-tor-ee" in ominous, stentorian tones.

This is edging toward becoming a DiscreditedTrope, at least in the classic beaker/Jacob's Ladder/operating table configuration.