Skip to main content

You are leaving IngeniumCanada.org

This link leads to an external website that Ingenium does not control. Please read the third-party’s privacy policies before entering personal information or conducting a transaction on their site.

Have questions? Review our Privacy Statement

Vous quittez IngeniumCanada.org

Ce lien mène à un site Web externe qu'Ingenium ne contrôle pas. Veuillez lire les politiques de confidentialité des tiers avant de partager des renseignements personnels ou d'effectuer une transaction sur leur site.

Questions? Consultez notre Énoncé de confidentialité

Langue

Français

Search

Menu des liens rapides

Ingenium Locations
Shop
Donate
Join

Menu

Main Navigation

Browse
About
- About The Channel
- Content Partners

The science behind Hollywood’s movie monsters

3 m

Oct 31, 2019

Categories

Social Science & Culture

Media

By: Sonia Mendes

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

Source: Smithsonian.com

A black-and-white image of Frankenstein

Photo Credit

commons.wikimedia.org

Horror movies have enjoyed widespread popularity since Frankenstein lured terrified audiences to the screen back in 1931. But how much science is really behind the iconic monsters from Hollywood? To read about the role science plays in making horror films more terrifying, check out this feature article from Smithsonian.com.

Go To Source Story

The science behind Hollywood’s movie monsters

Tags

Frankenstein, Halloween, horror

Sonia Mendes

Sonia Mendes is the English Writer/Editor for Ingenium. She loves digging behind the scenes to tell the quirky, colourful stories of museum life and all things related to science and innovation.

More Stories by

Sonia Mendes

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

Award winner Jackson Weir stands next to a large marble wall with a sign that reads, "Harvard Medical School." A tree and the facade of a building are visible in the background.

Final countdown: Applications due soon for STEAM Horizon Awards program

A close-up shot of two young people wearing safety goggles, in a lab environment. The person in the foreground is holding up a glass beaker filled will blue liquid.

STEAM Horizon awards program seeks inspiring, science-minded youth

Two gingerbread and sugar creations are pictured against a dark backdrop; a model of the James Webb Space Telescope is in the foreground, and the Ariane 5 rocket is visible in the background.

Gingerbread art launches the holiday season at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Three women pose in front of the massive iron wheels of a locomotive. They are wearing coats and scarves and smiling at the camera.

Behind the scenes: Meet Ingenium’s travelling exhibitions team

A wax model of a set of yellowed and unsightly teeth seem to be suspended in the air, set against a black background.

Toothy tales: 5 artifacts from your dental nightmares

A cartoon-style graphic of two hands holding a tablet; the screen features an open book and some science-themed icons like a light bulb, a microscope, and a rocket ship.

Science Literacy Week explores science in our everyday lives

The surface of the Moon, scattered with craters of various sizes.

Astronaut training mission lands in Labrador

A young woman smiles and looks at the camera as she poses with a cardboard cut-out of Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques.

Asian Heritage Month: A conversation with Ruth Hwang

A woman wearing a protective jumpsuit crouches next to a beehive.

Behind the scenes: Meet a beekeeper at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Asian Heritage Month: A conversation with Anna Jee

A young woman wears a traditional Vietnamese dress in bright pink.

Asian Heritage Month: A conversation with Linda Dao

A graphical treatment of an image shows a wide-eyed young person, with their head seemingly opened up. Some hand-drawn squiggles and a lightning bolt appear in white on the top section of the head.

Science Odyssey 2021: Ingenium museums offer inspiring, virtual experiences

A young man wearing a mask stands at a table, with two cedar boxes stacked in front of him. He is using a garden trowel to dig in a soil-like mixture inside the top box. Pieces of wood and an electric saw are visible in the workshop behind him.

The Box of Life: Grow a gorgeous garden with one of nature’s superheroes

A woman in a white lab coat smiles widely at the camera. She is standing in a laboratory, and a row of labelled jars and containers sit on a shelf behind her.

Black voices in STEM: A conversation with Dr. Juliet Daniel

A woman wearing an astronaut’s helmet holds a rabbit up to the camera of a laptop, which is open in front of her. Children’s faces are visible on the laptop screen via videoconferencing.

Virtual field trips offer a breath of fresh air amidst pandemic restrictions

A white race car with dark blue and gold accents sits in a tranquil, outdoor setting, with the sun shining through the trees. The word “Ford” is visible in huge letters across the windshield.

Start your engines: A Ford GT Mk II is now on display in Ottawa

A woman wearing purple gloves looks into a glass bottle of water that she is holding.

Life on Mars? Billion-year-old water found near Timmins could offer glimpse into the past

A group of people stand outdoors, looking up as a small white plane drops candy and gifts while it flies over the crowd.

A living legend: Saying farewell to Johnny May’s sweet tradition

A young girl wears a white shirt and protective glasses, as she holds a beaker of green liquid. The image is set against a lime green backdrop, and the words, “Ingenium-NSERC STEAM Horizon Awards” are visible in white lettering.

Wanted: Canada’s brightest young minds

A young woman smiles as she stands next to a large helicopter, which is sitting on the grass.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Jasmine Shaw

A young woman wearing a navy blue shirt smiles as she stands next to a mannequin dressed in a black tank top. A computer and a variety of equipment is visible on shelves in the background.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Linda Dao

A young woman wearing a lab coat, mask, and gloves sits in a laboratory. An array of bottles and equipment is visible on the counter in front of her.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Crystal McLellan

Two Remembrance Day pins sit side-by-side on a wooden surface: A red poppy pin sits next to a gold ribbon-shaped pin that features an emblem of a pigeon.

Animals in war: Unlikely war heroes took to the skies

A young woman wearing a blue blazer sits at a white desk. She has two laptops and several books open in front of her; she is looking at one of the screens.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Cecilia Odonkor

A large brown house with a wrap-around porch is surrounded by trees.

You could own the house of horrors From ‘Silence of the Lambs’

A young woman wearing a white lab coat and blue rubber gloves sits in a laboratory, working with a variety of tools in front of her.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Micaela Gray

A young woman smiles as she stands at her workstation; a computer, monitor, notepad and pen are open in front of her.

Women in STEM: A conversation with Jillian Anderson

A horizontal banner depicts the faces of five Canadian women in a pencil-sketch style format. The words, “Women’s History Month – October 2020” are visible at the top of the banner.

Women’s History Month celebrates a more inclusive Canada

A wide shot of a gallery inside the Lindt Home of Chocolate, showing white walls, white marble floors and a massive chocolate fountain. A few people are standing and sitting around the fountain, looking up at it.

Lindt opens the world’s largest chocolate museum

A cartoon-style drawing depicts books, flowers, and animals. A large letter “B” represents the theme of biodiversity. The words “Sept. 21-27, 2020” is visible in the bottom, right-hand corner of the image.

Science Literacy Week offers online learning opportunities

A stack of butter tarts sit on a silver platter; a small Canadian flag is inserted into the top butter tart.

Baskin Robbins is bringing back their butter tart ice cream and it's so Canadian

Astronaut Chris Hadfield, wearing a white spacesuit and helmet.

7 tips from an astronaut on how to master remote work

A religious painting of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by angels.

Experts call for regulation after latest botched art restoration in Spain

A colourful painting depicting two locomotives on a track, with a blue sky in the background. The words, “Visit our great exhibit – Steam: A World in Motion” are visible at the top.

Artistic artifacts: Teen taps into creativity to stay connected with his favourite museum

A pair of pink satin point shoes sit on the floor, against a black background.

Paris Opera dancers thank key workers with a special choreographed video

Red and white tulips are in full bloom under a blue sky; the Peace Tower of Parliament Hill is visible in the background.

Virtual tulip festival commemorates Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands

A painting depicts a lake, with trees and mountains in the background.

Group of Seven artwork has a home amongst science and technology artifacts

A 3D image of the COVID-19 virus on a black background.

How novel X-ray technology made in Waterloo can help COVID-19 patients

A black-and-white image of team of young hockey players, posing on the ice with their hockey sticks.

Ahead by a century: A snapshot of the hockey stick’s evolution since 1920

A computer screen shows 14 people taking part in a video coffee chat over Zoom.

National Volunteer Week: Ingenium volunteers stay connected despite COVID-19

Map of France

Coronavirus lockdown leading to drop in pollution across Europe

A mother reaches out to comfort a distressed little girl as they sit together in a living room.

How to support children’s mental health during the pandemic

Museum visitors help to grow an artificial intelligence prototype

Willie O'Ree

NHL's Black History Month mobile museum in Ottawa

Catherine Beddall assembles a gingerbread house.

Behind the scenes: Meet a gingerbread artist

A female museum guide supervises two young students, who are reaching out to stroke a large, white rabbit on the table in front of them.

New museum program brings the farm right into the classroom

A view of the solid-looking, wooden steering wheel, inside the pilot house from the SS Prince Edward Island.

Canada’s marine transportation artifacts will be better preserved in the Collections Conservation Centre

Two young girls stand in front of their research display about Elsie MacGill.

International Women in Engineering Day: Remembering Elsie MacGill

A microphone sits in front of a computer screen.

Podcast: Inspiring youth through museums and the Canadian Aero/Space Skills Network

Black History Month

Honouring Black Canadians in science and technology

Related Stories

Thomas Kerrison Bellis, in other words the Turtle King. Anon., “Good Stories for All – Turtle King of England is a Powerful Ruler.” The Boston Daily Globe, 17 March 1898. 8.

Ransacking nature and building up a fortune by satisfying the cravings of a selfish elite; Or, How an industry dominated by T.K. Bellis Turtle Company Limited of London, England, nearly obliterated a true marvel of the sea, Part 1

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 piloted by Second Lieutenant Franciszek Jarecki, Rønne airfield, Rønne, Denmark. Jarecki is the gentleman marked by an arrow. Anon., “Undamaged Red Jet in NATO Hands.” The Gazette, 7 March 1953, 2.

A flight for freedom which pierced the Iron Curtain; or, The day Second Lieutenant Franciszek Jarecki escaped from Poland aboard a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter

Four of the main characters of the what could well be Canada’s first SF television series, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Space Command. Anon., “Space Command Is Not Run-Of-Mill ‘Opera.’” The Ottawa Citizen, 26 December 1953, 14.

“Challenging the stars themselves”: An infinitesimal look at what could well be Canada’s first science fiction television series, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Space Command

James Bertram Blackmon (on the right, of course) talking about his rocket with the host of the very popular American daily news and talk television show Today, David Cunningham Garroway, New York City, New York. Anon., “Jimmy on TV Show.” The Charlotte Observer, 1 December 1956, 2.

An American whiz kid at the dawn of the Space Age who became a professor at the Propulsion Research Center of the University of Alabama in Huntsville: James Bertram Blackmon, this is your life, Part 2

James Bertram “Jim / Jimmy” Blackmon and his homemade rocket, Charlotte, North Carolina, July 1956. Irwin Hersey, “Aid for basement rocketeers.” Astronautics, February 1958, 25.

An American whiz kid at the dawn of the Space Age who became a professor at the Propulsion Research Center of the University of Alabama in Huntsville: James Bertram Blackmon, this is your life, Part 1

Black and white photograph of 6 uniformed Black porters standing in a line in front of a train. Some porters are smiling and looking at each other.

The Face of the Rails: Black Porters in Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Sergeant Bob Electro caught in the act of saluting the commanding officer of RCAF Station Clinton, Group Captain John Gordon Mathieson, Clinton, Ontario. Anon., “Six-Year-Old Sergeant.” The North Bay Nugget, 7 January 1963, 15.

Dōmo arigatō, gunsō Electro, mata au hi made: The electronic adventures of Royal Canadian Air Force / Canadian Armed Forces Sergeant Bob Electro

A typical wild and free bullfrog. John J. Brice, editor, A Manual of Fish-Culture: Based on the Methods of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, with Chapters on the Cultivation of Oysters and Frogs (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897), 258.

“Is a frog game or fish? There is the rub.” A brief look at the history of ranaculture in Canada and Québec, Part 4

A typical advertisement of Giant Frog & Sea Food Limited of Montréal, Québec. Anon., “Giant Frog & Sea Food Limited. La Patrie, 18 October 1952, 53.

“Is a frog game or fish? There is the rub.” A brief look at the history of ranaculture in Canada and Québec, Part 3

A typical advertisement of Canadian Frog’s Industries Company of Montréal, Québec. Anon., “Canadian Frog’s Industries Company.” La Patrie, 16 November 1952, 86.

“Is a frog game or fish? There is the rub.” A brief look at the history of ranaculture in Canada and Québec, Part 1

An editorial cartoon which reflected the reaction of many Americans following the launch of Sputnik 2. John Milt Morris, “Our own non-fly doghouse.” The Nome Nugget, 8 November 1957, 2.

Three Days of the Sputnik; or, “Radio-Moscow admits that the dog revolving around the earth in the satellite will never return”: Laika, Sputnik 2 and the daily press of Québec, part 3

A black and white photograph taken from the air. The photo shows a series of docks with buildings on the port, and city streets behind. The Halifax Citadel is in the background.

Ingenium Archives “City Series”: Halifax

Footer

About The Channel

Contact Us

Ingenium
P.O. Box 9724, Station T
Ottawa ON K1G 5A3
Canada

contact@IngeniumCanada.org

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Channel
Visit
Ingenium
For Media
- Newsroom
- Awards

Connect with us

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest Ingenium news straight to your inbox!

Legal Bits

Privacy Statement

© 2023 Ingenium

Browse
About
- About The Channel
- Content Partners