Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Sci-Fi's Obsession with Ancient Greece and Rome
Sometimes science fiction returns to the past for places, people, and themes to enrich its mind-journeys into the future. Such is the case with these sci-fi movies, TV episodes, and works of fiction, each one drawing from the ancient worlds of Greece or Rome to dress its story. Brit Marling, a screenplay co-writer of Another Earth, says that this isn’t really surprising. “We’re retelling the same dramas from Ancient Greece,” Marling said. “These stories are so fundamentally old, the mythology that they come from, the hero’s journey — the way a narrative works. Science allows you to take the same story and see it from a new perspective because the science is always new and fresh.” Science fiction’s interest in the ancient world goes beyond mere allusion, as in the middle name of Captain James Tiberius Kirk (Tiberius, in case you’re wondering, was a somber, reclusive Roman ruler who nevertheless left the empire in a better state than he found it). If you’re deeply interested in how the speculative worlds of the future and the worlds of ancient Rome and Greece intersect, you may be interested in a serious paper by academic Tony Keen, “The 'T' stands for Tiberius: models and methodologies of classical reception in science fiction.” If that sounds a little heavy, enjoy the following summary of a few times when togas, laurel wreaths, aliens, and spaceships partied it up in one crazy combination.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Hollywood Halloween Hijinks - Count Dracula As An Extraterrestrial?
“Listen to them, the children of the night. What sweet music they make!” Count Dracula in "Dracula" - by Bram Stoker Loyal fans of the insidious exploits of the king of the vampires have been listening to haunting music played as a foreboding symphony from the bloodthirsty undead for decades. Ever since actor Bela Lugosi first put on the iconic cape in director Tod Browning’s 1931 landmark film, Dracula, movie audiences have lovingly embraced the coolest blood sucker of them all - Count Dracula. Before the Hollywood classic flick from Universal studios, readers immersed themselves in the bleak world of author Bram Stoker’s breakthrough novel, chronicling the wild adventures of the world’s most infamous vampire. Once Hollywood got a hold of Stoker's creation, the nefarious prince of darkness went through innumerable permutations, and Tinseltown is still morphing the world's favorite fang master.
By Will Stape9 years ago in Futurism
Best Cerebral Sci-Fi Movies
The best cerebral sci-fi movies are so intellectually challenging because, while the reality they portray isn't yet possible, it certainly isn't implausible. Unlike fantasy where you can quickly reject the film's challenges as mere whimsy, science fiction has the ability to sink its teeth into you with the very real possibility that one day the problems the film portrays may become real. The ability to challenge the viewer in a way that's new but believable is the hallmark of the best cerebral sci-fi movies.
By Eddie Wong9 years ago in Futurism
The Human Itch
Stan scratched at the red mark on his skin. It was one of many small scabs that had been bothering him for a few days now. A minuscule, amber crusted sore that bordered his left thumbnail. Carefully, he picked, picked, picked at it. Getting a fingernail beneath it, so it would peel off, sending a small shock of pleasurable pain.
By Joshua Sky9 years ago in Futurism
UFO Geo Politics - Paul Hellyer Canada’s UFO Defense Minister
We’re all still watching and all still waiting for anything concrete to really come out of those skies, but for millions of movie fans and followers of UFO’s or ufology, scores of vigilant Earthlings patiently watch the skies. Of course, with a subject this controversial, people tend to tread lightly when committing to their public belief. Say UFO's in mixed company and many people think it's still a silly subject for the gullible or for cable television fodder and the fringe of society. However, as a certain fictional FBI agent says, The truth is out there, and the real deal is many nations not only have revealed their own UFO files and studies, but talk on the subject in public without any hesitation.
By Will Stape9 years ago in Futurism
The Best New Sci-Fi Graphic Novels
Picture books aren’t just for kids. In fact, when it comes to the best sci-fi graphic novels, they usually aren’t for kids at all (here be mature themes, like crazy alien sex and buckets of violence). Immerse yourself in tantalizingly rendered stories of robots, aliens, human beings, and creatures that lie somewhere in between. From struggling underwater colonies waiting for an inevitable supernova to the madcap adventures of all-American scientific geniuses, you’ll find the story that’s right for you - one that's harder and harder to tear yourself away from.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Digital Drugs: The Future of Pain Relief Is Electronic
Could your Apple Watch do double duty as a pain relief device? Maybe the next incarnation of the fitness tracker, The Fitbit, will be the go-to tech to help you endure your torn leg muscle from jogging too much or suffering from the dull ache of early onset arthritis pain. As wearable tech and digital devices become more affordable and powerful, we’re happily strapping onto our bodies all kinds of wonderful electronic toys. In the medical field, digital pain relief for many kinds of common ailments promises to be only an app click away. All that quick relief and convenience sound great—but what, if any, are the potential downsides?
By Will Stape9 years ago in Futurism
The Easiest DIY Star Wars Gifts
Some people would call me crafty. Those people are not technically correct. Can I safely use scissors and Elmer’s glue? Yes, I can. Can I crochet an entire set of miniature Star Wars figurines? Ha ha ha. No. I cannot. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t make some pretty rad DIY Star Wars gifts for all my kinfolk when the holiday season is coming around. My goals when selecting winners for this list were twofold: first, nothing should cost more than $20, and second, nothing should take more than an hour or two of hands-on crafting time. While you might spend a little bit more or take slightly longer depending on your material sourcing and crafting abilities, I hope I’ve hit pretty close to the mark. Grab your supplies and if you’re feeling a little lackluster about your DIY abilities, just remember: do, or do not. There is no try.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
