The other day in class I got to thinking about where a true mad scientist might set up shop. Some of you have heard me ramble on about this before, but today I present to you an ordered list, starting from “not really mad” locations all the way to full blown insanity:

• Out on the plains: Most people start here, usually as country folk who have to make do with what they have.
• Up on the side of a mountain: Famous examples include Nikola Tesla.
• On a deserted island: Once your shop gets raided, you start to seek refuge somewhere with fewer people.
• Under the ocean: You can make your airplanes turn into submarines.
• Inside a hollow mountain: Using the hopefully-dormant volcano as a power source is an obvious choice.
• Orbiting the earth: The earth is a little crowded, let’s step outside.
• On the Moon: When orbiting the earth becomes boring, or maybe you need resources.
• Out in the solar system: Earth government can reach the moon, better move a bit farther.
• On the surface of the sun: Probably requires teleportation, likely a bit toasty.
• Inside the sun: Because they can probably still see you on the surface.
• Inside a black hole: The sun is too big and noticeable, and you can hide a (small) black hole anywhere!
• In a parallel dimension: The gravitational waves of the black hole are picked up with the Hubble telescope.
• In a fully separated dimension set: This one is probably on accident.

I’m sure examples of most of these already exist, especially in the comic book world.