Junk vs Real Science

The recent ending of that cult fave, Fringe, has gotten me thinking about the very different appeal of real and junk science. Sure, people watch Nova and Nature on PBS, but fiction is still dominated by magic glossed with mysterious technology.

Why are we so taken with what is clearly bogus when real science reveals many wonders? The reason, I think, is that junk science, close relative to magic, gives us the powers we would like to have, instead of informing us of the limits of human power.

Fringe, with its travels to the alternate universe, weird maladies, and strange cures, ends with time being reset. And is that not one of humanities deepest desires: to redo history, redeem the world, and recover the loved ones?