Since the beginning of time, humans have wanted to understand the universe; it is only natural that curiosity should be at the forefront of our human nature. Today, we have the tools to understand more about the universe than ever before. We have tiny nanobots that travel through our bodies and fight off cancer, we have our very own 3D printer that can print out anything we desire, and we have the ability to travel to the Moon.
In the last two decades, the world has become one giant science fiction novel. Ever since we began to understand the basic principles of science, we have been inspired by its possibilities, inspired to ask the question: Could we create technology like that if it were real?
The Sci-Fi Literature
We all know that science fiction literature has become pretty much technical literature in the last couple of decades. Right from the time that George Lucas made “Star Wars” and the likes cool, science fiction has been woven into the fabric of society. It has served as a means to explore how the future could look like, what might be possible and impossible. It has also served as a way for authors to explore the unknown and theorize about what may be possible in the future.
A few years ago, the world was introduced to the “mythbusters” of the X-Files series, who were on a mission to investigate and expose the hidden secrets of the supernatural. We are currently on the verge of a new sci-fi revolution, where not just the world of science fiction is being adapted into reality, but where the boundaries of scientific knowledge are being pushed to the limit as we get close to understanding the universe and its secrets.
If you’re a sci-fi fan, you’ve probably heard about time travel, aliens, advanced human evolution, or some other form of futuristic science. But what you may not know is that a lot of these futuristic concepts are already being researched and are slowly becoming a reality.
Sci-Fi Turned Real Life
The world of science fiction is full of interesting ideas that have come to be real. From the invention of the Internet to the development of GPS, the entire concept of a worldwide web and modern digital technology have all begun in the pages of a book or movie. An increasing amount of science fiction has been making its way into today’s headlines. The discovery of self-aware robots, the development of quantum computers, and even the idea of human enhancement through genetic engineering have become real possibilities.
These latest scientific developments are part of a larger movement to think about the future in a less dystopian way. And as scientists begin to move beyond the constraints of the lab, it’s clear that science fiction is increasingly becoming real science.
When it comes to science fiction and science, we are living in a time when the popular narratives of the future are becoming more and more likely to become a reality. Case in point: the science of The Hunger Games was so realistic that it inspired the United States military to create the U.S. Military Force Technology Application Center, or USMFTAC, which is developing technologies like the robotic combat suit showcased in The Hunger Games. The Terminator would be proud.
How far can our expectation for Sci-Fi made into real life bring us?
In an increasingly scientific world, watching sci-fi movies is not as fun as it used to be. The new technology is usually not far from reality, and the imagination of scientists, engineers, and futurists has translated into reality. All of the technologies we see in sci-fi movies have become a reality. For example, the past five years have seen advancements in science that have made sci-fi look so farfetched—like virtual reality, cloning, or even the ability to beam up humans into space.
In the last few years, various scientific and technological advances have made it possible for us to reach various sci-fi goals. With everything from robotic limbs to microchips being implanted in our brains, we are one step closer to living out the dreams of science fiction writers. As amazing as some of these developments are, it’s important to remember that while science fiction predicts the future, it’s not always the present.
