Engineering From Science Fiction

An anonymous reader writes "NASA's long planning horizon today details a history of science facts and their sci-fi roots. The study is based on a collaborative European Space Agency project, 'Innovative Technologies from Science Fiction for Space Applications.' More than 200 technical dossiers are described--from holodecks to terraforming comets--but one of the fundamental questions posed is: what is the best communication device to scale-up expert opinion itself? Other than some future, expert version of the internet itself, is that a a collaborative Matrix? Other such interesting collections are from: MIT Media Lab's ThinkCycle, Da Vinci Institute, and the unpretentious HalfBakery of ideas."

Comments

They aren't doing this already?

[EvilTwinSkippy]

You mean to tell me all of those billions of dollars over the past 30 years have gone to nothing more than unimaginative uses of existing techology?

Perish the thought.

Re:Sci Fi is often closer to reality than we think

[Kyzia]

Unlike Aluminium it [Francium] does not easily oxidise and rust, although there have been some other issues when it has been exposed to water.
Such as? Occasional tendency to explode and / or disintegrate?

..over 4 times as efficient as a typical SUV
Over 4 times as efficient as a typical SUV??? I find it difficult to think of many things that are less than 4 times as efficient as a typical SUV.

Re:True, but this is Matrix...

[EvilTwinSkippy]

You're just snippy about having taken the blue pill aren't you?

The next element to change history: Administratium

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Fulchester has actually isolated a new element that may be of interest:

The heaviest element known to science was recently discovered by researchers at the University of Fulchester. The element, tentatively named Administratium, has no protons or electrons and thus has an atomic number of 0. However, it does have 1 neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice neutrons and 111 assistant vice neutrons. This gives it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by a force that involves the continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons.

Since it has no electrons, Administratium is inert. However, it can be detected chemically as it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with. According to the discoverers, a minute amount of Administratium caused one reaction to take over four days to complete when it would have normally occurred in less than one second. Administratium has a normal half-life of approximately three years, at which time it does not actually decay but instead undergoes a reorganisation in which assistant neutrons, vice neutrons and assistant vice neutrons exchange places. Some studies have shown that the atomic mass actually increases after each reorganisation.

Research at other laboratories indicates that Administratium occurs naturally in the atmosphere. It tends to concentrate at certain points such as government agencies, large corporations and universities and can usually be found in the newest, best appointed and best maintained buildings.

Scientists point out that Administratium is known to be toxic at any level of concentration and can easily destroy any productive reaction where it is allowed to accumulate. Attempts are being made to determine how Administratium can be controlled to prevent irreversible damage, but results to date are not promising.

Based on an unoriginal earwig forwarded by Sue Sinclair.

Re:Enders Game

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Ancible networks are very bandwidth constrained, and troubles arise when two sides of the conversation are in different frames of reference.

My nearest CO is Epsilon Centari, and the bill per month is enough to choke a horse. But hey, Andorian porn cannot be described, it has to be experienced.

Re:The Millennial Project

[gpinzone]

The underwater sealab is going to be completed in 2021. Based on what I've seen on TV, you wouldn't want to live there.

Missing technology

[cyclist1200]

After reading entries like "Fatser-than-light communications" and seeing a number of misspelled words ("socendly"), I'd say the one technology they desperately need is a spellchecker!

Re:Piror Art

[Anonymous Coward]

I take it you haven't seen the latest USPTO offerings, have you?

Re:Sci Fi is often closer to reality than we think

[BiggerIsBetter]

Perhaps he was just confusing it with Unobtanium?

*Collaborative* Matrix?

[YetAnotherName]

A collaborative Matrix, eh?

Dr. Boydston: And with this coefficient, the wave function collapses.

Dr. Mannheim: Ah, but you've neglected the least-squares product, here.

Dr. Boydston: Oh yeah? [bullet-time leap-and-kick]

Dr. Mannheim: [high-speed parry]

Dr. Boydston: [firing-dual-automatic-weapons]

Dr. Mannheim: [dodging-like-an-agent]

Dr. Boydston: Just because your girlfriend wears PVC don't think I'm going go easy on you!

Yeah. Real collaborative.

Re:Hold that interdimensional portal!

[AKnightCowboy]

Somebody go back and tally up, per author, perhaps, all the predictions and see which have become feasible.

Flying cars. I was promised affordable family-owned flying cars for the commute to work. Until I get my flying car all this other technology is fluff.

Re:The Millennial Project

[Paulrothrock]

But then again, who cares?

That's the Slashdot spirit!

Re:The Millennial Project

[ehiris]

machines that can build copies of themselves

Careful, there are kids reading this.