Common themes of space in popular culture?
Space exploration or adventure is a popular subject in the science fiction genre. In general, space settings are usually set far into the future, which has limitless possibilities. It is in the future that space travel capable starships are developed and earth has already made contact with alien races. A popular series that seems to follow that premise is Star Trek where the focus is on the adventures of one starship as it explores space. Exploration of space in fiction may be a way for people to channel their exploration drive now that pretty much all of earth is mapped. In the past, before satellites and such, there were many unknowns on the planet itself that people didn’t really think about what is beyond space.
There is one particular sci-fi show that is interesting to note: Stargate SG1. It is a space exploration/adventure show set in the present. It is interesting to watch how space exploration is a possibility as of today in the show. If it is possible now, I don’t think it would be along the line as the sci-fi genre would portray. I think it would be, though exciting, would be quite arduous. It may even take a long while before man kind makes any contact of aliens, hopefully nice ones.
Nanotechnology in fiction and in real life?
Nanotechnology portrayed by fiction is quite easy to understand, at least the concept of it. First, there is the idea that nanotechnology equates to nano-bots, or tiny microscopic machines, that can do various things. Their functions can range from enhancing human performance, fixing flesh or inorganic damages, run robots, and so on. Well, that is basically what comes to my mind when I think of nanotechnology…I immediately think of those fictional nano-bots that I see all the time in sci-fi shows like in Star Trek with the Borgs.
But, Professor James Gimzewski was able to enlightenment me on the reality of Nanotechnology. No, it isn’t the wondrous nano-bots, at least not yet. Instead, Gimzewski talked about buckyballs, which I still don’t quite understand yet, and about the scanning tunneling microscope. He then talked about some of his projects like the nano-abacus and how he made a nano spinning thingy. He then talked about something I was more familiar with, like the carbon nano tube thingy, which was thought to be able to be used in a space elevator. I had read like short passage about the plausibility of the space elevator and about the carbon nano wire. Overall, Gimzewski’s lecture was really informative.
http://my.execpc.com/~culp/space/mmu.jpg
http://www.screenhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/startrekenterprice.jpg
https://www.prettyside.com/Seek/themes/default/images/stargate_big.jpg
http://www.retinalreality.com/gallery/2002_08/nanobots_on_patrol.jpg
