Unanswered Questions: What’s Behind The Island’s Regenerative Abilities?
With no new episodes of Lost to get our brains spinning until February, I thought it would be a good time to look back at some of the unanswered questions from the past three seasons of the show. Each week I’ll be tackling one of the most pressing mysteries from the Lost universe, attempting to explain them with the strongest theories and most wild speculation I can muster. I’ll either be completely off the mark or you’ll swear I’m the clone of Damon Lindelof, but either way there should be plenty to talk about until the show returns.
This week I want to examine the theories revolving around the island’s regenerative abilities. The island appears to have the ability to cure paralysis and cancer, stop the aging process, boost sperm count, heal a nasty shot to the gut, and, in the case of Mikhail and possibly Jack’s dad, actually resurrect the dead. Can these things be scientifically explained, or do all of these medical miracles ensure that there is a mystical aspect to the island?
Let’s start with the idea of electromagnetism. We know from the Swan Orientation Film that such research was being done on the island, and it seems to be the possible key to many of Lost’s mysteries.
Magnetic therapy is a practice where certain parts of the body are exposed to weak magnetic fields, which some people claim has a healing effect. Practitioners believe that magnets can alleviate pain, relax muscles, flush out toxins, increase blood flow, raise the oxygen level in the body, and even induce a heightened sense of well being. All of these things are obviously a far cry from healing gunshot wounds and resurrecting the dead, but we can assume that the electromagnetic research on the island went far beyond what’s used in a doctor’s office.
There’s also a technique known as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, which basically sends a constant pulse of magnetic energy into the body. Some people believe that, when applied correctly, this constant pulse of energy can stimulate cell restoration and enhance the regeneration of bone tissue, thus speeding up the healing process and even slowing down aging. With the magnetic energy present on the island, it’s possible this theory could explain why Locke can walk, how the island heals people so quickly, and why Richard Alpert doesn’t look a day over 40.
But can electromagnetic therapy cure cancer, boost your sperm count, or bring back the dead? Obviously not, which is why it’s hard to point to any one explanation for Lost’s many mysteries. My other theory is less scientific and more spiritual: the island heals those it needs or those it deems worthy, and the rest have to fend for themselves.
Though it deserves an entire article of its own, we’ve been given the impression that the smoke monster judges people before it decides to kill them. Perhaps the island does the same thing, picking and choosing who should be healed and who should suffer. The island gave Locke his legs back, only to temporarily take them away again in "Deus Ex Machina" when it needed Boone to climb into that crashed plane. The island kept Mikhail alive for a very long time, but now it appears that he’s fulfilled his purpose of killing Charlie and will now be dead. Does the island need people like Rose and Richard Alpert alive as well? Has the island decided that Sun should die, and therefore guaranteed that she would become pregnant? If so, I have to wonder what criteria the island is judging these people by.
The most interesting character in this theory is Ben, since he’s the one the island refused to heal. Ben developed a tumor on his spine years after he arrived on the island, despite the fact that it seemed impossible for anyone living there to get cancer. Why did this happen? My theory is that the island was upset with Ben for his many lies, his attempts to wield power for purely selfish reasons, and for participating in the purge that wiped out the DHARMA Initiative. Ben was not worthy of being saved, and therefore he was punished.
These are just a few of the many theories revolving around the island’s regenerative abilities. It could be science, mysticism, magnets, or pure faith that helps heal wounds and cure ailments. I certainly don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling we’ll have some sort of answer in the next 48 episodes.
I think The Island, Jacob, and The Smoke Monster are all more or less the same thing. I have no idea why The Island does things, or if The Island does things. Maybe this is one of the more…..far fetched theories, but a theories none the less. Nice to have something to read.
Comment by Jimbo08lak — December 5, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
Ya, it is nice to have something to read. Thanks, John. K, good article. I liked some of your ideas, but I find the electromagnetism idea weird, and I think I always will even if that’s the right answer(but with Lost, I doubt we’ve found it out just yet).
I must admit that I was upset when Doc left, but I never once thought of leaving this site, and I feel really strong that this site will get nothing but better especially since we can expect more articles like these ones now. Thank you, John K.
Comment by Doug — December 5, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
Actually I’m Don, a writer who works with John K, but I thank you for the comments. The electromagnetic thing may be way off, but with Lost there’s no theory that’s too “out there.”
Comment by Don — December 5, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…. this is like uninformed speculation. Half the article you pursue a possibility which is pure bunk, then you admit it’s bunk, then you move to the obvious answers that have been discussed over and over again. This is like episode 5 of season one talk. What about the casimir effect, evidence of time travel, you don’t think any of this is connected? Or you just hadn’t heard of it yet? And yes, recycled BuddyTV content. Great. Another dissatisfied reader right here…
Comment by DocArzt's Ghost — December 5, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
I don’t believe that time travel is connected to the island’s healing abilities, which is why I didn’t bring it up. If you want to write an essay connecting the two, I’d love to check it out. That’s what these articles are for, to get us discussing the show and throwing around theories.
Comment by Don — December 5, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
It’s not the Island chose to reject healing Ben. Instead, it is the Other’s camp’s technology which inhibits Island healing. After Ben & Co. took a couple day’s hike into Mother Nature, not only was Ben healed, but so was Locke’s hand after being bitten by his father.
Think of it, John Locke, who was instantly healed of being paralyzed not being healed from his dad’s bite - until he walked back on to the Island. Technology and the Island cannot coexist.
Comment by sk8rpro — December 5, 2007 @ 8:35 pm
I think the fans who came here over the years to read docs work deserve a straight answer here. Are all of the articles going to be double posted between here and BuddyTV? Is there going to be someone sitting in here like Doc did getting as deep as he did? Or is this now just some advertising site for BuddyTV. Frankly, I’m a bit insulted that the fact that this is duped content from BuddyTV was not answered, even if I didn’t ask the question originally.
Comment by LevelWithUs — December 5, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
John K sucks, Don sucks, this site sucks, everyone who disagrees with me sucks, the world sucks, my life sucks so much I have nothing better to do than come to fansites and hate on everyone and everything.
*shakes head*
Nice article Don. You and John K. can comiserate and console yourselves about all the haters. Sorry that a lot of people are so unappreciative. (And no, I don’t direct that at everyone who disagrees with a theory or dislikes something… just the people who are the picture of hating.)
I think many of the readers on this site need a classic “campfire scare” like what Tom gave our Losties in season two. That whole “Do you come into someone’s house and go through their fridge, put your feet up, etc.”
This is a free site. No one asked you to come here. No one makes you come here. Stop whining about the free food. People are LOST starved in other countries.
Comment by evangelicalpoet — December 5, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
More and more people are abandoning this site!
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/thetailsection.com
This is just a way for BuddyTV to spam us more. You do realise that BuddyTV own the Tailsection
See you all later. Last time I visit here. What a waste of a great site.
Comment by BuddyTVIsSpam — December 6, 2007 @ 2:19 am
I think your captcha software is broken.
Comment by Weasel — December 6, 2007 @ 5:18 am
What’s this? Two posts in one week? Sweet. Even if it is BuddyTV content at least I don’t have to say I visit or bookmark a site called “BuddyTV.” Although BuddyTV and The Tailsection both sound like gay porn sites.
Anyway nice work, Don. I like the theories, particularly the one about the island being angry at Ben and it making him sick in order to light a fire under his ass.
PS to evangelicalpoet: See how appreciative I am you shameless sycophant?
Comment by Node32774 — December 6, 2007 @ 6:35 am
sk8pro, liking your idea that when people on the island use technology, either the island’s healing abilities are impeded or simply not granted.
And to everyone who continues to whine about the new articles here:
-If you don’t like it, go away already.
-Half of Doc’s articles were cross posted and cross linked to BuddyTV as well.
-If you are missing Doc, head over to UGO, where he now writes.
-All theories are speculation, on every board. You want to see some wild speculation, head over the thefuselage! But at least there people are respectful to each other in their discussions. And you learn things even when you don’t agree with the proposed theory.
-All fansites cross-link.
Comment by KeepingAwake — December 6, 2007 @ 6:43 am
Wow. Don, these are good theories. Great job! I believe the mystic theory (your second one) can be complemented by the scientific theory, and vice versa. Thanks for giving us something to think about during our wait for LOST’s return.
Comment by LadySolitaire — December 6, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Oh Node, if you’re going to try to blast people with intelligent SOUNDING insults, 2 tips. Make sure you know the definitions and stay away from people with larger vocabularies than yourself. *cough* Sycophant. Yeah, I’m sure self serving. Maybe if I back someone up enough the next tailsection post will be about how everyone should stop watching Lost and just spend time writing me love notes.
Why dont you do us all a favor Node: You come to this site and make ONE post, one entire post, where you don’t insult or hate on anyone. Not a show writer, not a site writer, not a commenter, not buddytv… one purely positive post. No backhanded compliments like “2 posts in 1 week? Aren’t I the keen observer”. One whole entire post where you don’t come off as a laughable and angry child who kicks his own cat because it purrs too loudly. That’s it, that’s all.
And one more thing, my email address is leviathan__33@hotmail.com Feel free to save the rest of this bored, oops I mean board, from having to read your lame insults and just send them straight to me. I’ll be sure to send replies to each bit of hate with how impressed by your vocabulary I am and how right you are to be miserable.
Comment by Evangelical poet — December 6, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Not to pile on with nit-picking, but Jack’s dad is dead, dead, dead. It’s gospel, from the horse’s mouth, et cetera, ad nauseam. Jack’s sighting is more like Kate spotting her horse and Eko seeing his brother than like the resolute Russian’s repeated reanimation.
But it’s even unclear whether Mikhail was ever completely dead. He claims the fence was set to a non-lethal level, and we’ve seen controls that suggest such a thing could be done. Okay, some of the other experiences seem a bit more likely to be lethal, but there’s still a shadow of a doubt–in my mind, anyway.
Comment by Tim J. — December 6, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Just to comment on the BuddyTV/Tail Section connection:
The Tail Section is owned by BuddyTV. Though this article was written especially for The Tail Section, some content may be posted on both sites so Lost fans who don’t visit The Tail Section also have a chance to enjoy it. This article is, in no way, recycled content.
Comment by Don — December 6, 2007 @ 11:16 am
posted on both sites = recycled. The Tail Section owned by BuddyTV = stupid. The Tail Section is the property of the fans. How about not insulting us by telling us that our greed deprives the world of content. Is there something wrong with wanting this place to be a little elite, like it used to be?
Comment by bragadocious — December 6, 2007 @ 11:38 am
Interesting Tim J.
Wasn’t Eko’s brother (Nemi?) more than just a figment of someone’s immagination though? Say what you will about Locke being able to dream Nemi perfectly without ever meetiing him or seeing a picture of him. Above and beyond that, the smoke monster appears to have scanned Eko’s mind and then begun manifesting itself as Yemi.
And with our Russian friend… does anyone think he’s dead NOW? Rewatching clips of the grenade going off a foot or so away from Mikhail makes me think “He SHOULD be dead now… finally. Any explosion that breaks THAT glass should break his face, no matter how much water would dampen (no pun intended) the blast.” Still i’m sure we’ll see him again on the island. I doubt Mikhail was ever fully dead, but still he is recovering from some pretty intense damage. Anyone have any thoughts on him and if he’s dead now or being healed or what?
Bragadocious: I’m not sure that, in this age of technology, “elite” status really exists with news anymore. While certain sites and networks may “scoop” information, because of how accessable information is, any story worth reporting becomes plastered on every forum available, literally within hours. I see what you mean, but I don’t think that TTS ever had any news that could ONLY be found here and not be found somewhere else moments later. We had (and still occasionally have) new concepts and theories and such, but as far as real elite news…. it’s nearly impossible don’t you think?
If Doc or Don or John had specific blockbuster news and wrote a story about it at noon, someone would copy and post it at darkufo’s blog before the lunch hour was over, BuddyTV would write about it ASAP, some fool would google the news and then post it at his site http://www.lostfanstuffbylostsbiggestfan.com, and the whole world would have the story by 2PM. Whether you or I read it here or at the blog I made up above doesn’t really matter.
Funny thing: it appears that the theories and ideas that the writers post here is the ONLY “elite” content this site has ever had. Meanwhile those same theories are what people often complain about, saying they prefer real insider news. Weird the way the world works.
Regardless of that min-tangent, I hope you understand I’m not arguing with you or anything, I just don’t think elite news exists anywhere in the world. You know what I mean?
Comment by evangelical poet — December 6, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
How does the island stop the aging process? We saw Ben get there when he was just a little kid. The Richard Alpert thing was probably just bad characterization.. everybody thinks he didn’t age, but that maybe that wasn’t the writer’s intention.
Comment by Paulo — December 6, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
@Paulo, if it wasn’t the writer’s intention, then they would have used a different actor. They didn’t use Michael Emerson for the 10 - yr old version of Ben, so therefore they reason they used Nestor Carbonell (Richard Alpert) was to show he never ages.
Also, in Ben’s episode, (”Man Behind the Curtain”), current-day Ben said to Richard, “Today’s my birthday. Do you remember birthdays, Richard?” Having said this, it was clearly the writers’ intent to make Richard ageless.
But good observation. Why do some people not age? Is it a certain type of people (the natives, a.k.a. the hostiles)?
Comment by sk8rpro — December 6, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Nope. Your theory holds no water. Let us consider:
Why does it only heal some wounds and not all? Plenty have been shot and killed, few have been shot and survived. Locke survived, and although gut-shot, I am sure the creators will say it was because he had no kidney in line with the bullet. Ok, far fetched but we can let it go.
Others have been injured and survived but major wounds (Boones injuries for example) were just too severe. My guess is that one of the islands experiments got loose (some microbe or nannite technology - aka lets still a neat Star Trek idea) and has an impact on everyone on the island. This same technology could also be the reason why expecting mothers die before giving birth. Maybe whatever the experiment is thinks a developing fetus is some sort of germ or cancerous tumor and unknowingly destoyies both mother and child. Ok, a stretch but plausible.
As for the island having some sort of collective intelligence, I say no. “Smokey” is some sort of experiment that escaped, a xenomorph, or somthing the writers cooked up without first thinking it throough and now they have written themselves into a dead end. Probably the same is true about Jacob.
In my opinion, the writes/creators have gotten sloppy, rarely gives answers, fails to be consistent and for every answer they pose 20 more questions.
Heroes is doing it right. They give you questions, but eventually they answer those questions. The creative team of lost has lost its way.
Why have a jamming station underwater? It wouldn’t work well underwater. Why not just turn off the radio signal (Ben had a map with the radio tower on it). Why would Locke kill the girl? With the jamming station turned off they didn’t need the portable phone even if he thought she was the only one who knew how to use it, just use the radio gear in the tower!!! Just a few things to ponder.
Comment by Brian — December 6, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
maybe everyone on the island was injected with adam monroe’s blood
Comment by shaun — December 7, 2007 @ 4:18 am
Listen, stop complaining about the whole buddy tv thing. Even if it is from buddy tv these guys were generous enough to post it here. These guys could have let Thetailsection die and just keep it up for buddy tv, but instead they’re doing their very best to make sure the tailsection has something. If you don’t like how things are run now, leave and don’t come back. The complaining is getting old and you all just sound like immature baby’s. Nice article Don. I’ll admit I left the tailsection for a while, but it’s still better than any other fansitE. My lack of faith is shameful.
Long live TTS!
Comment by Jimbo08lak — December 7, 2007 @ 7:03 am
@bragadocious, who said “The Tail Section is the property of the fans.”
You couldn’t be more wrong! Unless you are volunteering to pay the hosting fees, maintain the site, create the content, deal with the legal issues involved, etc., you don’t own anything but your own opinion.
Comment by KeepingAwake — December 7, 2007 @ 7:47 am
Mikhail is really dead guys, per Damon:
“Pickett obviously died earlier, Klugh is gone, Mikhail is dead, so you know there are more of us than the Others, we did pretty well in sort of the final tally.”- Damon Lindelof, producer, Comic Con 2007
Comment by KeepingAwake — December 7, 2007 @ 7:57 am
I think it’s interesting that many theories pinpoint the longitude of the island in the Indian Ocean around Madagascar. This is because it was apparently 4PM local time when the plane crashed, according to Desmond’s System Failure printout. Apparently some people have figured out this is what the time would have been at that longitude 8 hours after the plane left Sydeney around 2 PM. (It would have been well after midnight where the plane was supposed to have been after 8 hours flying northeast from Sydney.) Anyway, guess what else is at approximately the same longitude? Take a look at a map… if you go north, there’s the Persian Gulf, which is the area where the Garden of Eden is supposed to have been!
Comment by BobW — December 7, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
electromagnetic radiation can be used as a treatment for cancer
Comment by Kev — December 7, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Please don’t mention Heroes - it cannot hold a candle to LOST! Season 2 of Heroes has been WHACK. Lost is where it’s at.
Re: this article. The island has special properties - “Hotspots”, some electromagnetic, others unknown (possibly more adventurous ones that heighten the subconcious etc). The rest is down to faith and mythology. The island is a version of God (maybe not ‘THE’ God, but a version of in this narrative), he asks for “sacrifices”, gives signs to those who believe in it (communion), heals those who it needs to achieve certain ends, etc etc etc.
It’s a game of chess, it’s the human condition vs the human computer, it’s a leap of faith and it’s a CHOICE of fate. Yes, we have time-travel (one of those properties I mentioned), yes we have Loops, yes we have astral projection, it’s all connected and it’s all because the island is special. If you have a special place you want to protect it, to remain there, sometimes you become distracted with “novelties” (in Ben’s case a by-product of a scarred subconcious), but ultimately you want to do what you’re supposed to do in order to faciliate change - FREEWILL v CHOICE, light v dark, time v timeless..it’s all here.
Comment by No Heroes — December 8, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
@evangelical poet: You’re right–I stretched my statement too far by including Yemi (I’m pretty sure that’s his name). His manifestation differed distinctly from those of the horse and Jack’s dad, because it was apparently connected to actual actions, like violently smashing Eko against a tree.
Still, DL and CC have stated in no uncertain terms–the rarest of events–that Christian Shephard is dead. And, yeah, I agree, Mikhail *should* be dead, but so far, they’ve weaseled out, and however much we disagree with the plausibility, if they’re playing by a set of rules (which I think they are), then it seems to me that they’ve done nothing so far to show us that people can be brought back from the dead. I don’t think we can count on the Island providing true resurrection at this point.
Comment by Tim J. — December 10, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
“…like violently smashing Eko against a tree”
That stuff’s funny.
Comment by evangelical poet — December 10, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I Think that Jacob controls the island some how. I don’t know, that’s just my theory.
Comment by Sean — December 10, 2007 @ 3:47 pm