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Nine Words From Science Which Originated In Science Fiction
An anonymous reader writes "Oxford University Press has a blog post listing nine words used in science and technology which were actually dreamed up by fiction writers. Included on the list are terms like robotics, genetic engineering, deep space, and zero-g. What other terms are sure to follow in the future?"
Grey goo, space elevator, portal, warpspeed, hyperspace. Scyance. Oh sorry, that last one's not from science fiction, it's from that channel (what's it called?) that shows wrestling.
Qxe4
Let's just hope klingon isn't added to a future revision of this list.
Slashdot effect
As exemplified by that poor website everyone is now clicking on.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
Oh yes...maaaarrrrdoc
Cyberspace. William Gibson, Neuromancer
They said "science", not "online wankery".
sic transit gloria mundi
I predict Frack, Frell and Frag are coming soon...
Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
"Doc, Doc... what the hell is a jiggawatt?!"
I don't know about you, but I tend toward this word whenever the possibility arises.
It's an engineering term for a remote controlled robotic arm, derived from a Heinlein story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldo_(device)
Yes, but what good is such a thing if you can never find it? It will never catch on.
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
"Shai-Hulud."
I have foreseen it.
Scyance.
That's Scyence you insensitive clod! :)
Unless of course you mean communicating with the dead. In that case mea culpa.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Interesting that "Belgium" wasn't in the list.
My wife says "grok", and she normally only kisses one girl at a time. :-P
Mainframe/UNIX Bit Twiddler and long time Windows/Linux Hobbyist.
The Theorem Theorem: If If, Then Then.
Iain M Banks
Speaking of which, let's not forget the term Meatfucker.
No civilised society in the galaxy would put that word on such a list . . .
I gotta say it... I was pretty shocked to see "Thagomizer" excluded from the article!
It's a term for the tail spikes of a Stegosaurus, which comes from this Far Side cartoon.
My bicyles
Actually, I prefer the cry of vegetarian zombies: "GRAINS!"
I speak England very best
I have the same reaction whenever I wander around
the Virgo Cluster with my big Dob.
...laura
if you weren't a girl I'd assume you were talking about something else
Grok is an old maritime word. It means watered down rum, and was served the Royal British Navy to keep sailors from mutineering and to give them some essential vitamins. Sailors could demand a minimum of two cups of grok every day.