Quote Originally Posted by Fosco33
the new scientist was using tons of radiation and had side effects (memory loss) - and definitely met desmond in '96 but forgot (heck - he couldn't even recall 3 cards in a row).
GREAT OBSERVATION!

Others were leaning towards some kind of psychic twist, but this one looks much more appropriate to the story, memory loss and the inablity to retain new thoughts, especially important and ironic if what looks to be the most knowledgeable character concerning all of the science behind the island can't remember what he has learned about it. Every time he squints and murmurs to himself I imagine he is just perusing that big brain of his for the answers he needs, almost in an all-knowing manner. That he may also/instead be struggling to generate any thought at all based on past knowledge is a helluva speed bump and storyline twist..great catch fosco33!