Cylon detector: Difference between revisions

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Created by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]], the test is administered by subjecting a person's blood to plutonium embedded in a carbon nanotube matrix. A filter preferentially ionizes synthetic molecules; this is because Cylons are susceptible to certain kinds of radiation. The plutonium was taken from one of [[Galactica (RDM)|''Galactica'']]'s [[Missile Tubes|nuclear warheads]], at the suggestion of [[Number Six]] ([[Bastille Day]]). The test results are simple: either "red", indicating Cylon, or "green", indicating human. Yet with a single test cycle lasting approximately eleven hours, Baltar estimates it will take over 60 years (not counting breaks for sleep, food, bathroom, etc.) to test the whole fleet (numbering almost 50,000 people) ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).
Created by Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]], the test is administered by subjecting a person's blood to plutonium embedded in a carbon nanotube matrix. A filter preferentially ionizes synthetic molecules; this is because Cylons are susceptible to certain kinds of radiation. The plutonium was taken from one of [[Galactica (RDM)|''Galactica'']]'s [[Missile Tubes|nuclear warheads]], at the suggestion of [[Number Six]] ([[Bastille Day]]). The test results are simple: either "red", indicating Cylon, or "green", indicating human. Yet with a single test cycle lasting approximately eleven hours, Baltar estimates it will take over 60 years (not counting breaks for sleep, food, bathroom, etc.) to test the whole fleet (numbering almost 50,000 people) ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).


Development work on the Cylon detector had previously been halted when Dr. Baltar was accused by [[Shelly Godfrey]] of being a traitor and temporarily thrown in the [[brig]] ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]). Baltar's "innocence" was proven, however, by Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]], who had previously been ordered by Commander [[William Adama]] to assist Baltar in the development of the device ([[Water]]). Although considered a military secret, the Cylon detector is nevertheless the subject of constant rumor and innuendo ([[Act of Contrition]]).
Development work on the Cylon detector had previously been halted when Dr. Baltar was accused by [[Shelly Godfrey]] of being a traitor and temporarily thrown in the [[brig]] ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]). Baltar's "innocence" was proven, however, by Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]], who had previously been ordered by Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] to assist Baltar in the development of the device ([[Water]]). Although considered a military secret, the Cylon detector is nevertheless the subject of constant rumor and innuendo ([[Act of Contrition]]).


Curiously, it may be the Cylons themselves (in the form of [[Virtual Six]]) are the ones who initially suggest the construction of the Cylon detector by using the nuclear materials. Moreover, Baltar was only put in charge of the project because of his earlier detection of the fleet's first Cylon infiltrator, [[Number Five#PR Executive Copy|Aaron Doral]], which was also greatly influenced by Number Six ([[Miniseries]]). Therefore, the irony is that the Cylon detector may very much be a product created by the Cylons through Baltar.
Curiously, it may be the Cylons themselves (in the form of [[Virtual Six]]) are the ones who initially suggest the construction of the Cylon detector by using the nuclear materials. Moreover, Baltar was only put in charge of the project because of his earlier detection of the fleet's first Cylon infiltrator, [[Number Five#PR Executive Copy|Aaron Doral]], which was also greatly influenced by Number Six ([[Miniseries]]). Therefore, the irony is that the Cylon detector may very much be a product created by the Cylons through Baltar.


The Cylon detector does work. It confirmed that [[Sharon Valerii]] was, indeed, a Cylon—a fact that Baltar hid from Valerii, fearing what her Cylon persona would do were he to tell her ([[Flesh and Bone]]). After discovering that it would be easier for Baltar to make all the results "green", Baltar altered the device to mimic his method of thinking ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]).
The Cylon detector does work. It confirms that [[Sharon Valerii]] is indeed a Cylon—a fact that Baltar hides from Valerii, fearing what her Cylon persona would do were he to tell her ([[Flesh and Bone]]). After discovering that it would be easier for Baltar to make all the results "green", Baltar alters the device to mimic his method of thinking ([[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]). However, after Sharon Valerii shoots Commander Adama, everyone believes the Cylon detector to be a failure, thinking that it didn't pick up her Cylon nature.
 
The device is probably rendered inoperable when Baltar turns over the warhead component to the Number Six copy known as [[Gina]] and her fellow activists of the [[Demand Peace]] movement ([[Epiphanies]]). The warhead itself is later detonated, causing the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'' ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
 
However, the [[Lymphocytic encephalitis]] virus is accidentally discovered as fatal to humanoid Cylon physiology but harmless to humans ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). While this revelation could be used as a future detector, there have been no indications of research in this direction.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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* Its effectiveness in detecting the "fundamentally different" [[Final Five]] is unknown, since it is not known whether or not not Baltar's detector was ever used to test any of the revealed Five.  
* Its effectiveness in detecting the "fundamentally different" [[Final Five]] is unknown, since it is not known whether or not not Baltar's detector was ever used to test any of the revealed Five.  
* Presumably, Baltar's detector was abandoned due to the fallout from his cooperation with the Cylons on [[New Caprica]] and the [[Crossroads, Part II|ruling from his controversial trial]] after being [[Rapture|recaptured by ''Galactica's'' personnel]].
* Presumably, Baltar's detector was abandoned due to the fallout from his cooperation with the Cylons on [[New Caprica]] and the [[Crossroads, Part II|ruling from his controversial trial]] after being [[Rapture|recaptured by ''Galactica's'' personnel]].
*The [[Lymphocytic encephalitis]] virus is accidentally discovered as fatal to humanoid Cylon physiology but harmless to humans ([[A Measure of Salvation]]). While this revelation could be used as a future detector, there have been no indications of research in this direction.
*Although use of the Cylon detector is somewhat implied in "[[Hero]]" and "[[He That Believeth Me]]", dialogue only states that Dr. Cottle compared the DNA of [[Bulldog]] and [[Kara Thrace]], respectively, with their records.


[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:A to Z]]

Revision as of 17:08, 5 April 2008

A Cylon detector is a scientific method of determining whether a subject is human or a humanoid Cylon.

Created by Dr. Gaius Baltar, the test is administered by subjecting a person's blood to plutonium embedded in a carbon nanotube matrix. A filter preferentially ionizes synthetic molecules; this is because Cylons are susceptible to certain kinds of radiation. The plutonium was taken from one of Galactica's nuclear warheads, at the suggestion of Number Six (Bastille Day). The test results are simple: either "red", indicating Cylon, or "green", indicating human. Yet with a single test cycle lasting approximately eleven hours, Baltar estimates it will take over 60 years (not counting breaks for sleep, food, bathroom, etc.) to test the whole fleet (numbering almost 50,000 people) (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down).

Development work on the Cylon detector had previously been halted when Dr. Baltar was accused by Shelly Godfrey of being a traitor and temporarily thrown in the brig (Six Degrees of Separation). Baltar's "innocence" was proven, however, by Lieutenant Felix Gaeta, who had previously been ordered by Commander Adama to assist Baltar in the development of the device (Water). Although considered a military secret, the Cylon detector is nevertheless the subject of constant rumor and innuendo (Act of Contrition).

Curiously, it may be the Cylons themselves (in the form of Virtual Six) are the ones who initially suggest the construction of the Cylon detector by using the nuclear materials. Moreover, Baltar was only put in charge of the project because of his earlier detection of the fleet's first Cylon infiltrator, Aaron Doral, which was also greatly influenced by Number Six (Miniseries). Therefore, the irony is that the Cylon detector may very much be a product created by the Cylons through Baltar.

The Cylon detector does work. It confirms that Sharon Valerii is indeed a Cylon—a fact that Baltar hides from Valerii, fearing what her Cylon persona would do were he to tell her (Flesh and Bone). After discovering that it would be easier for Baltar to make all the results "green", Baltar alters the device to mimic his method of thinking (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down). However, after Sharon Valerii shoots Commander Adama, everyone believes the Cylon detector to be a failure, thinking that it didn't pick up her Cylon nature.

Notes