Dr. Cy Borg is a microbiologist with superior sensory and intellectual capabilities. After a mishap in the laboratory in the year 2000, her sensory perception and original appendages were destroyed. But not for long. Science came to the rescue, replacing the scientist's traditional eyes with UV sensitive ones. Next, her two arms became four; her brain was enhanced with six nano-computers; and her body was shielded from further damage by smart armor. So, you can be sure this uber-intelligent scientist is ready for your borg-boggling question!

I think you already asked me that question. Just kidding. Déjà vu (French for “already seen”) is the strange sensation of experiencing something new, yet feeling like you have had the same experience before. Have you ever walked into a new place but thought you had been there in the past? Or stopped in the middle of talking to a friend because you felt like you had already had the same conversation? If so, you, like most people, have experienced déjà vu. Although a common occurrence, déjà vu is difficult to study, and there is no general agreement on the cause. In fact, there are about forty theories to choose from, ranging from disruptions of the memory process to alien abduction. (Really!)

One theory is that déjà vu is the result of small seizures (temporary, abnormal activity of brain cells) in a part of your brain that deals with familiarity. Several other theories relate to memory processes. One of these is that déjà vu occurs when a new situation reminds you of a forgotten dream. Another theory is that a small piece of familiarity can remind you of an old memory, maybe one you didn’t even know you had. For example, you might lick a cream-soda-flavored lollipop and feel déjà vu without actually remembering that your grandma gave you a taste of cream soda when you were three years old. A third theory is that a real experience may cause déjà vu because it triggers an old memory from a movie or a book. One last important theory is that people often see things twice -- the first time in a fast, distracted way, and then again in a more complete way. Imagine walking into a new store while checking your cell phone for messages. You notice your surroundings but without really paying attention. Then, when you glance up and take a good look at the store, everything seems eerily familiar. Everything seems eerily familiar. Did I already say that? Or are you experiencing déjà vu?

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