Rick & Morty revolutionized the science fiction genre. The absurdity that's weaved into every episode of the show gives new meaning to adult animation. It is jam-packed with dark humor, nonsensical science experiments, and intergalactic space adventures.
Whether it be iconic story arcs like Pickle Rick or slightly insignificant details like having a friend called Mr. Poopybutthole, Rick & Morty thrives on nonsense. Even a show as bizarre and eccentric as this one needs to have some solid foundation of factual information. For Rick & Morty, it's the 'science' part of science fiction. Innumerable things on the show make absolutely no sense, but there are scientific facts that shine in the most peculiar episodes.
10 Love Is A Just Chemical Reaction
When broken down to its bare bones, love is just a chemical reaction. True to Rick's nihilistic beliefs and scientific background, he acknowledges this. In "Rick Potion #9," Rick indulges Morty's wishes by making Jessica fall in love with him. Rick concocts Morty a love potion by chemically combining oxytocin with Morty's DNA.
Although the Cronenberg mutations are radically impossible, "Rick Potion #9" proves that love can - theoretically - be fabricated. Additionally, there's a reason oxytocin is nicknamed the 'love drug.' Its effects closely resemble affection, trust, empathy, and all things love-related.
9 Robots Giving Birth Do Exist, Just Not The 'Creating Life' Part
Birthing simulator robots have been around for a while. As usual, Rick & Morty goes above and beyond where science is. These robots are created to replicate birthing experiences as authentically as possible. They give medical professionals a way to practice and hone their skills in operations.
Rick & Morty's alien robot takes it one step further by actually creating life. It bears Morty's child, leaving the child to grow up under his care. In reality, these robots stop at the birthing stage. They are not built to reproduce.
8 The Existence Of The Multiverse Has Been Questioned For Centuries
The multiverse theory is a prominent theme in Rick & Morty. As unbelievable as it may be, it is also heavily championed by scientists all over the world. This working theory is extensively explored in Rick & Morty, and lays the foundation for a lot of the story arcs.
While the existence of an actual multiverse has yet to be proven by science, many hypothesize that it would work similarly to Rick & Morty's interpretation. The titular grandpa-grandson duo abandoned their original reality when the entire population turned into Cronenbergs. The multiverse theory is the backbone for innumerable Rick & Morty sub-plots: the Citadel Of Ricks, the Central Finite Curve, evil versions of each other, and more.
7 Rick's Dark Matter Engine Is Theoretically Possible
Rick and Morty's adventures to every corner of the universe are partly possible due to the dark matter engine that powers Rick's spaceship. Thus far, a dark matter engine has not been realized, but it has been a promising working theory in the science world for some time now.
This theory was formulated back in 2009. However, this is where Rick & Morty proves that its science is infinitely more advanced than the real world. Present technology is nowhere near where it should be to create a dark matter engine. Yet, grandpa Rick has somehow managed to contain it enough to travel through dimensions.
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5 The Schrödinger Parody In "A Rickle In Time" Isn't Too Far Off
Schrödinger's Cat is the most famous thought experiment to ever exist. Essentially, the theory claims that if someone put a cat and something that could kill the cat in a sealed box, they wouldn't know if the cat was dead unless they opened the box. Therefore, while the box sits there unopened, the cat is both dead and alive. The series, in true Rick & Morty nature, writes a parody of this theory in the most convoluted way possible.
Season 2's premiere, "A Rickle In Time," picks up where the previous episode left off. After a wild house party's lengthy, digressive clean-up process, Rick unfreezes time and warns Morty and Summer that the process renders time temporarily unstable. It's not long before the kids start bickering and their spat becomes the catalyst that causes a rift in the space-time continuum, successfully creating two alternative timelines in the same reality. Rick later explains that there aren't any timelines, only uncertainty. The obvious nod to Schrödinger is confirmed when Rick opens the door to reveal the house floating in space, surrounded by cats instead of stars.
4 Weaponized Suits Will Exist Soon Enough
Rick & Morty isn't the first show to exaggerate the world's advancements in technology. Countless franchises in the industry are guilty of this (for example, Marvel and DC). For Rick and Morty, weaponized suits appeared in The Purge parody episode of season two. Stranded on an alien planet with a purge about to occur, Rick summons an orb-like probe from home.
Minutes before a bloodbath erupts, the probe assembles into weaponized flying armor around their bodies. As of 2022, humanity has yet to see a show of technology as impressive as television perceives it to be. However, prototypes closely behind this level of grandeur have been achieved.
3 "Total Rickall" Is A Realization Of What A Rabies Patient Experiences
Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon have a talent for storytelling. In "Total Rickall," they write a whole episode surrounding the effects of Rabies. Rabies is a deadly virus that humans can contract from animal saliva. The 'animal saliva' aspect may be absent, but the events that follow in Rick & Morty mimic Rabies symptoms.
Rabies patients experience delirium, fear, and/or hallucination. Oftentimes, the affected parts of the brain control the affected person's memories, fear responses, and emotions. "Total Rickall" interprets this into alien parasites planting fabricated memories onto the Smith family.
2 Unity Enforces Hive Mentality On An Astronomical Level
Hive Mentality, or group thinking, refers to the eerily coordinated behavior of entire colonies controlled by a single leader. In the real world, hive mentality on a scale as large as this generally only applies to social insects. But, group thinking amongst peers isn't uncommon.
In season two, Rick bumps into his ex-girlfriend, Unity. Unity uses proven tactics of hive mentality to control an entire planet. Queen bees control their subjects by using pheromones. Similarly, Unity compels her subjects to puke into the mouths of those not under her control to bring them into the fold.
1 Freeze Guns, A Sci-Fi Staple, Are Easy To Develop
The technology to create a freeze gun already exists, the only thing missing is its actualization. Theoretically, the makings of a freeze gun are congruent to the machines used for cryogenic freezing. The aforementioned process is used to preserve corpses.
The liquid nitrogen used for this process can very easily apply to the production of a freeze gun. However, Rick & Morty, like many sci-fi movies/shows, is superior in terms of the unfreezing process. Today's science has yet to evolve that far, but Rick & Morty's version of science has.