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Some of you are shaking your heads and saying “no duh dewy,” but it really is surprising how little people know about the scientific breakthroughs of the past few decades. Do you really know how many of our most cherished Science Fiction franchises are based in reality? They are, and truth is always stranger than fiction. Here are 6 Science fiction facts.
| The Particle Accelerator / Atom Smasher |
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| Particle Accelerators have been around for awhile, and are actually quite common these days. In fact there is a type of Particle Accelerator that lives inside of your TV and Computer, also known as the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT). What is the purpose of a Particle Accelerator? Well to find out how the universe began of course. When electrically charged particles collide the effect is the same as a miniature big bang. Although the Particle Accelerator has been used to study the origins of the universe, it has recently been used for another purpose, black hole generator. The largest Particle Accelerator on the planet (Large Hadron Collider) is located near Geneva, Switzerland, and it has been in the news recently for being used to create black holes. As you can assume this has made a number of people nervous, even to the point of filing lawsuits against the LHC. Although the fear of the planet being sucked into a black is very real, the possibility of that has been dismissed by the majority of the scientific community. |
| Nanotechnology |
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The basic definition of Nanotech is the engineering of functional systems at a molecular level. Research into Nanotechnology dates back to the 50's, but the term was first coined in the 80's. Although there are a number of advances in the field of Nanotechnology, there are none quite as exciting as the ones made in medicine. Nanocrystalline Silver is currently being used as an antimicrobial agent to dress wounds. It kills micro-organisms instantly on contact (by smothering them), and it has no toxic affect whatsoever on human cells. The other Nanotechnology applications currently being developed revolve around cancer treatment. Designing Nanobots that can locate, identify, and even kill cancer.
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The Bionic Man |
Over the past few years we have seen tremendous growth in the development of Bionics. Sure we aren't at the point where people are bending steal with their bionic limbs, but we have got to be close, right? All Geekiness aside, the latest advancements in bionics are mind blowing. Last year we saw the i-Limb, the very first bionic arm to be released on the market. With each one of its digits equipped with its own motor, it is the most realistic, and functional bionic limb to date. Another advancement is the Cochlear implant which is the most advanced hearing aid ever developed. It works by sending a signal past damaged parts of the ear and directly into the auditory nerve. Although it creates a different form of hearing, it is said that people who were previously deaf can use the implant to discern sound as they did before their hearing loss. |
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| Cloning |
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A long time Science Fiction theme, Cloning has been at the center of countless Science Fiction stories. As far as a field of scientific study, it's old news, we have been cloning crap since 1952. The first animal cloned was a tadpole, an amphibian, and the first mammal as you all know was Dolly the sheep. Although Human Cloning is still taboo at this point (and for good reason), animal cloning has become quite common. The FDA has approved Meat, Milk, and Eggs from cloned animals. We will most likely be seeing cloned animal products available for consumption soon.
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| Super Powers |
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Now keep in mind there aren't any people picking up crap with their minds or swinging from buildings but super powers exist in the real world just like they do in comics. Shaolin Monks are able to do a number of fantastic feats, including standing on two fingers, raising their body heat at will, and even talking to fish, not really. There are also people that have the ability to use echolocation. There are a fair amount people who naturally develop this ability once being stricken with blindness. One of them Ben Underwood, is so advanced he is able to ride a bike, and even play basketball using nothing but echo location.
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| Androids |
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A pretty scary theme in science fiction, and if you don't believe me just ask John Connor. The Development of Androids has become major projects for Japan and Korea, who are both in competition within the industry. Androids are currently being developed for multiple purposes from entertainment, to service, and assistance. The most popular and well known android would be the one that was inspired by Astro Boy, yeah believe it! Currently being developed by Honda, ASIMO was created with the hope of being the first fully functional assisted living android. A good assistant for elderly and disabled individuals, ASIMO is able to walk on flat surfaces as well as stairs, guide individuals, and even recognize basic requests. |
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