At a Glance
- A synthetic alien virus from a radio-transmitted RNA code unites humanity into a single consciousness
- Only 13 people remain immune, including novelist Carol Sturka
- Communication between infected “plurbs” likely uses radio waves emitted by human nervous systems
- Why it matters: The show demonstrates how real physics could explain a sci-fi hive mind
The first season of Pluribus ends with almost everyone on Earth acting as one entity after an alien RNA virus spreads worldwide. The series explores how this collective consciousness might work using actual physics principles.
The Alien Signal
A radio message travels 600 light-years to Earth. The transmission contains RNA code for a virus. After synthesis, the pathogen infects nearly the entire population. Those infected-called “plurbs”-share goals, knowledge, and values through what appears to be radio-based communication.
Carol Sturka, a romance novelist, leads the immune group of 13. She resists absorption while the collective tries to bring her into the hive mind.
Radio Wave Mechanics
Traditional radio operates on two bands:
| Band | Frequency Range |
|---|---|
| AM | 535-1,700 kHz |
| FM | 88-108 MHz |
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves-light with lower frequencies and longer wavelengths than visible light. This makes them ideal for long-range communication.
Generating a radio wave requires accelerating electric charges. Radio stations use large antennas where electric current moves up and down, accelerating electrons to create waves.
Human Body as Transmitter
The human nervous system functions as an electric circuit using charged ions instead of electrons. The show suggests the alien virus enables this biological system to emit radio waves.
Each plurb acts as both transmitter and receiver. One infected person sends signals detected by others, creating a decentralized mesh network.
Transmission Range Calculation
Key assumptions for the hive mind’s communication range:
- Human metabolic output: 80 watts at rest
- Power allocated to radio transmission: 10% (8 watts)
- Isotropic transmission pattern (equal emission in all directions)
Using the inverse square law, signal intensity decreases with distance from the source. The power spreads over an expanding sphere, reducing strength as distance increases.
Real-World Implications
The series demonstrates how established physics could enable collective consciousness. The concept transforms individual humans into nodes of a biological radio network, where talking to one infected person means communicating with the entire collective.
Benefits include instant knowledge sharing-no need to remember phone numbers since calling any number connects to the same unified entity. The trade-off is the loss of individual personality and autonomy.
The show’s title references the U.S. motto “E pluribus unum” (out of many, one), reflecting the transformation from individual humans to a single collective consciousness through alien technology that weaponizes basic electromagnetic principles.
