Lo scienziato si interroga su dove finisca l'oscurità.

Questions & Answers about Lo scienziato si interroga su dove finisca l'oscurità.

Why do we use the subjunctive finisca instead of the indicative finisce here?
The main verb si interroga expresses an internal question or doubt. When introducing an indirect question with words like dove, come, or perché, Italian often uses the subjunctive to highlight this uncertainty, whereas English just uses the indicative ('ends').
Why is there a su right before dove?
The preposition su (about/on) belongs to the main verb. The reflexive verb is interrogarsi su qualcosa (to wonder about something). When that 'something' is an entire indirect question, the su stays right before the question word (dove).
Why is l'oscurità at the end of the sentence instead of before finisca?
In Italian, it is very common to invert the subject and verb in indirect questions and relative clauses. Putting the subject (l'oscurità) after the verb (finisca) sounds much more natural to an Italian ear and puts the emphasis on the darkness itself.
How does the '-isc-' part of finire work in the subjunctive?
Just like in the present indicative, verbs that take the '-isc-' infix keep it in the present subjunctive for all singular forms (io, tu, lui/lei) and the third-person plural (loro). This is why the stem becomes finisc-, giving us finisca.

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