The intense stress of being "ignored" by the scientific community causes Sheldon to develop a stomach ulcer, for which he is prescribed Zantac® .
Ultimately, George Sr. takes the family to Houston so Sheldon can confront Dr. Hodges in person. While Hodges admits Sheldon's math is theoretically valid, he notes that NASA lacks the current technology to implement it.
Adult Sheldon (narrated by Jim Parsons) reveals that his desire to spite "nincompoops" like Dr. Hodges was a major factor in his decision to become a theoretical physicist. Episode 06: A Patch, a Modem, and a ZantacВ®
The episode is noted by critics for showing a rare, supportive moment where George Sr. stands up for Sheldon's intellect.
Frustrated by his family's refusal to buy a computer or a modem from RadioShack immediately, Sheldon has a rare outburst that results in him being grounded. The intense stress of being "ignored" by the
Sheldon tries to take out a second mortgage on his parents' house to afford a $3 million computer.
His quest for computing power leads to several comedic attempts, including: Hodges in person
When Dr. Ronald Hodges, a NASA engineer, visits Sheldon's science class, he condescendingly brushes off Sheldon's suggestion for a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) rocket system. Determined to prove him wrong, Sheldon attempts to calculate the complex math required but realizes he needs a computer to solve the Navier-Stokes equations.