Science Fiction Inspires the Future of Science | National Geographic

Summary

This script explores the symbiotic relationship between science fiction and scientific innovation, illustrating how sci-fi has not only predicted but also inspired real-world advancements. From Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' inspiring the pacemaker to Jules Verne's moon landing visions and H.G. Wells' influence on space travel, the narrative shows how sci-fi has envisioned technologies like video chat, AI, and self-driving cars. It emphasizes the continuous loop of sci-fi inspiring innovation, which in turn fuels new sci-fi creations.

Takeaways

• 🔌 Science fiction has been intertwined with science innovation since its origins, often predicting and inspiring real-world technological advancements.
• 🧠 The novel 'Frankenstein' inspired the development of the pacemaker, showing how sci-fi can influence medical technology.
• 🌕 Jules Verne's 'From the Earth to the Moon' and H.G. Wells' 'The First Men in the Moon' helped pave the way for the moon landing by inspiring real-life rocket scientists.
• 📡 Early sci-fi stories like 'A Trip to the Moon' laid the groundwork for concepts like space travel, which later became a reality.
• 🚀 The space race between the US and the Soviet Union was fueled in part by the public's interest in space, which was stoked by sci-fi stories and pop culture.
• 📱 Science fiction has long imagined new communication devices, with video chat and mobile phones appearing in stories before they were invented.
• 🏠 Sci-fi has envisioned a future with helpful robots, which has influenced the development of modern home appliances like the Roomba.
• 🤖 The portrayal of AI in sci-fi, such as HAL 9000 in '2001: A Space Odyssey', has shaped our expectations and fears about artificial intelligence.
• 🚗 While flying cars have been a staple of sci-fi, their realization has been slower, with companies like Uber exploring airborne transportation.
• 🚖 Self-driving cars, another sci-fi staple, are becoming a reality with major companies investing in their development and testing.
• 🔄 The loop between science fiction and real-world innovation continues, with sci-fi inspiring new technologies that, in turn, inspire new stories.

Q & A

What is the connection between science fiction and science innovation?

Science fiction has often predicted and inspired real science innovation by taking existing technology a few steps beyond reality, envisioning new devices, and exploring their effects on society.

How did the experiments of Luigi Galvani and Giovanni Aldini influence Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'?

Luigi Galvani's discovery that electric current could cause a dead frog's leg to twitch and Giovanni Aldini's experiments on corpses with electricity, which seemed to reanimate the dead, influenced Mary Shelley's novel 'Frankenstein', where Dr. Victor Frankenstein uses electricity to bring life to assembled body parts.

What real-life medical device was inspired by 'Frankenstein'?

The wearable battery-powered cardiac pacemaker, developed by Earl Bakken in 1957, was inspired by 'Frankenstein'. This device uses electric pulses to correct abnormal heartbeats.

How did Jules Verne's 'From the Earth to the Moon' contribute to the moon landing?

Jules Verne's novel 'From the Earth to the Moon', which involved a fictional journey to the moon using a cannon, attempted to do the actual math to determine what it would take to launch a vehicle to the moon. His calculations were surprisingly accurate and had similarities to NASA's Apollo 11 mission.

What were some of the early sci-fi depictions of space travel?

Early sci-fi depictions of space travel include Jules Verne's novel 'From the Earth to the Moon', H.G. Wells' 'The First Men in the Moon', and Georges Méliès' 1902 silent film 'A Trip to the Moon'.

How did sci-fi influence the development of video chat technology?

Sci-fi envisioned combining pictures with sound in communication devices, like George DuMaurier's 'Telephonoscope' and the video phone in 'The Jetsons'. This inspired real-life development, leading to products like Skype and Apple's FaceTime.

What is an example of a sci-fi inspired household robot?

Rosie the Robot from 'The Jetsons' is an example of a sci-fi inspired household robot. She performed tasks like cooking, cleaning, and helping with homework, which later inspired the creation of the Roomba robotic vacuum.

How has sci-fi portrayed artificial intelligence in machines?

Sci-fi has portrayed artificial intelligence in machines in various ways, often as complex entities capable of human-like thinking and problem-solving. Examples include the AI computer HAL 9000 in '2001: A Space Odyssey' and the android Data in 'Star Trek'.

What is the current status of self-driving cars in relation to sci-fi predictions?

Self-driving cars are being developed by companies like Google, Tesla, Ford, and Uber, and are being tested in cities worldwide. However, they are not yet a common reality due to ongoing challenges with infrastructure, regulations, and public acceptance.

Why have flying cars not become a reality despite being a common sci-fi trope?

Flying cars have not become a reality due to the lack of supporting infrastructure and regulations. Additionally, companies like Uber are developing airborne ride-sharing, but the technology and societal acceptance are still evolving.