It sounds like your son was a Star Trek fan.
Long before people were expounding on this forum about science, we learned about 'disrupting the space-time continuum' from Star Trek, which introduced us to modern scientific theory via the medium of television. Spock and his logic was a revelation, as well as his belief system (the good of the many outweighs the good of the few, or the one), and I have always felt half-Vulcan (Spock being one of my nicknames).
The reason I bring this up, is that Star Trek (original) that I watched as a child, helped form my belief system that helped me flee the b'Org at age 18. There's even a book titled "Everything I Need to Know about Life, I learned From Star Trek" (or something similar, it's packed away atm, and yes I own it, hehehe).
True equality, learning not to fear 'other', love of education and science, the arts, standing up for your principles, sexual freedom, they were all there. ; )
** edit: The famous Joan Collins episode is a good example. If Jim had saved her life, he would have changed history, and Hitler would have won the war. Don't mess with the space-time continuum!
Live long and prosper.