Exploring Science Through Science Fiction

Contents
1 Introduction:​ Discerning the Real, the Possible, and the Impossible 
1.​1 The First Sci-fi Movie 
1.​1.​1 Exploring the Science in Le Voyage dans la Lune 
1.​2 Exploration Topic:​ Is It Safe to Launch Humans into Space from a Giant Gun?​ 
1.​3 The First Literary Work of Science Fiction 
1.​4 Reference Frames, Revisited 
1.​5 Roadmap to the Rest of the Book 
References 
2 What Is the Nature of Space and Time?​:​ (The Physics of Space Travel and Time Travel) 
2.​1 Changing Perspectives Through History 

1 Introduction:​ Discerning the Real, the Possible, and the Impossible 
1.​1 The First Sci-fi Movie 
1.​1.​1 Exploring the Science in Le Voyage dans la Lune 
1.​2 Exploration Topic:​ Is It Safe to Launch Humans into Space from a Giant Gun?​ 
1.​3 The First Literary Work of Science Fiction 
1.​4 Reference Frames, Revisited 
1.​5 Roadmap to the Rest of the Book 
References 
2 What Is the Nature of Space and Time?​:​ (The Physics of Space Travel and Time Travel) 
2.​1 Changing Perspectives Through History 
2.​2 Newton’s Laws 
2.​3 Einstein and Relativity 
2.​3.​1 Special Relativity and Time Dilation 
2.​3.​2 General Relativity and Distortion of Spacetime 
2.​3.​3 Gravitational Waves 
2.​3.​4 Faster Than Light, But Not Faster Than Light 
2.​4 Stephen Hawking, Black Holes, Wormholes, and Quantum Gravity 
2.​4.​1 Black Holes 
2.​4.​2 The Multiverse Hypothesis 
2.​4.​3 Wormholes 
2.​5 Other Time Travel Scenarios 
2.​6 Exploration Topics 
References 
3 What Is the Universe Made of?​:​ (Matter, Energy, and Interactions) 
3.​1 The Standard Model of Particle Physics 
3.​2 The Atomic Nucleus:​ Protons, Neutrons, Isotopes, and Radioactivity 
3.​3 Gases 
3.​4 Solid-State Materials 
3.​5 Phase Transitions 
3.​6 Transparency and Invisibility:​ Optical Properties of Solids 
3.​6.​1 Transparent Solids 
3.​6.​2 Camouflage 
3.​6.​3 Stealth Technology 
3.​6.​4 Metamaterials and Cloaking 
3.​7 Energy and Power 
3.​7.​1 Kinetic and Potential Energy

3.​1 The Standard Model of Particle Physics 
3.​2 The Atomic Nucleus:​ Protons, Neutrons, Isotopes, and Radioactivity 
3.​3 Gases 
3.​4 Solid-State Materials 
3.​5 Phase Transitions 
3.​6 Transparency and Invisibility:​ Optical Properties of Solids 
3.​6.​1 Transparent Solids 
3.​6.​2 Camouflage 
3.​6.​3 Stealth Technology 
3.​6.​4 Metamaterials and Cloaking 
3.​7 Energy and Power 
3.​7.​1 Kinetic and Potential Energy 
3.​7.​2 Chemical Energy 
3.​7.​3 Distinguishing Between Power and Energy 
3.​7.​4 Nuclear Energy 
3.​7.​5 Matter–Antimatter Annihilation 
3.​8 Exploration Topics 
References 
4 Can a Machine Become Self-Aware?​:​ (The Sciences of Computing and Cognition) 
4.​1 Computer Hardware Performance Specifications 
4.​2 Analog Computers 
4.​3 Digital Computers 
4.​4 Beyond Digital Computers 
4.​5 Information Storage 
4.​6 Robotics 
4.​7 Robot Behavior 
4.​8 Toward the Creation of Artificial Consciousness 
4.​9 Exploration Topics 
References 
5 Are We Alone in the Universe?​:​ (The Search for Extraterrestrial​ Intelligence) 
5.​1 Major Considerations 
5.​2 Searching for ET:​ Government Agency or Private Industry?​ 
5.​3 Listening for ET:​ What Form of Communication Might We Expect?​ 
5.​4 Conditions Necessary for Intelligent Life to Arise 
5.​4.​1 The Origin and Diversity of Life on Earth 
5.​5 Cinema and the Science of the SETI Project 
5.​6 Where Might First Contact Occur and How Will Humans and Aliens Interact?​ 

4.​8 Toward the Creation of Artificial Consciousness 
4.​9 Exploration Topics 
References 
5 Are We Alone in the Universe?​:​ (The Search for Extraterrestrial​ Intelligence) 
5.​1 Major Considerations 
5.​2 Searching for ET:​ Government Agency or Private Industry?​ 
5.​3 Listening for ET:​ What Form of Communication Might We Expect?​ 
5.​4 Conditions Necessary for Intelligent Life to Arise 
5.​4.​1 The Origin and Diversity of Life on Earth 
5.​5 Cinema and the Science of the SETI Project 
5.​6 Where Might First Contact Occur and How Will Humans and Aliens Interact?​ 
5.​7 Exploration Topics 
References 
6 What Does It Mean to Be Human?​:​ (Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, and Other Considerations) 
6.​1 Bodies with Replaceable Parts 
6.​2 Resistance to Disease 
6.​3 Cell Structure and Radiation Damage 
6.​3.​1 Detection of Ionizing Radiation 
6.​3.​2 Biological Effects of Exposure to Ionizing Radiation 
6.​3.​3 UV Radiation and Skin Cancer 
6.​4 DNA and the Human Genome 
6.​4.​1 DNA Sequencing and Genetic Engineering 
6.​5 Cloning 
6.​6 Human Teleportation:​ A Complex, Interdisciplinar​y Problem 
6.​6.​1 The Problem of Duplication 
6.​6.​2 Getting All the + and -- Signs in the Right Placece 
6.​6.​3 The Uncertainty Principle:​ Limitations on Precision of Quantum Measurement 
6.​7 Teleportation Estimations 
6.​8 Beyond Biology 
6.​9 What Can We Learn from an Android About What It Means to Be Human?​ 
6.​10 Exploration Topics 
References 
7 How Do We Solve Our Problems:​ (Science, Technology, and Society) 
7.​1 The Public Perception of Science and Scientists 
7.​1.​1 Science as Obsession 
7.​1.​2 Science and Arrogance 

6.​6.​2 Getting All the + and -- Signs in the Right Placece 
6.​6.​3 The Uncertainty Principle:​ Limitations on Precision of Quantum Measurement 
6.​7 Teleportation Estimations 
6.​8 Beyond Biology 
6.​9 What Can We Learn from an Android About What It Means to Be Human?​ 
6.​10 Exploration Topics 
References 
7 How Do We Solve Our Problems:​ (Science, Technology, and Society) 
7.​1 The Public Perception of Science and Scientists 
7.​1.​1 Science as Obsession 
7.​1.​2 Science and Arrogance 
7.​1.​3 Science as an Act of Futility 
7.​1.​4 The Model Scientist 
7.​2 The Methodology of Science 
7.​3 Science, Pseudoscience, and Nonsense 
7.​4 Problems to Be Solved 
7.​4.​1 How Can We Increase Public Awareness of Science?​ 
7.​4.​2 How Do We Respond to Threats or Attacks?​ 
7.​4.​3 How Can We Feed the Hungry?​ 
7.​4.​4 How Can We Conserve Our Natural Resources?​ 
7.​4.​5 How Can an Unstable Government Avoid Total Collapse?​ 
7.​4.​6 How Can We Provide Better Health Care?​ 
7.​4.​7 How Can a Company Sell More Products?​ 
7.​4.​8 How Do We Establish Justice?​ 
7.​5 Exploration Topics 
References 
8 What Lies Ahead?​:​ (The Future of Our Technological Society) 
8.​1 Accurate Predictions 
8.​1.​1 Space and Time 
8.​1.​2 Matter and Energy 
8.​1.​3 Robotics 
8.​1.​4 Planets in Other Star Systems 
8.​1.​5 Biomedical Technology 
8.​1.​6 Communication Technology 
8.​1.​7 Brain–Computer Interfacing 
8.​2 Coming Soon:​ Possibilities for the Not-Too-Distant Future 
8.​2.​1 Space Exploration 

References 
8 What Lies Ahead?​:​ (The Future of Our Technological Society) 
8.​1 Accurate Predictions 
8.​1.​1 Space and Time 
8.​1.​2 Matter and Energy 
8.​1.​3 Robotics 
8.​1.​4 Planets in Other Star Systems 
8.​1.​5 Biomedical Technology 
8.​1.​6 Communication Technology 
8.​1.​7 Brain–Computer Interfacing 
8.​2 Coming Soon:​ Possibilities for the Not-Too-Distant Future 
8.​2.​1 Space Exploration 
8.​2.​2 Dark Matter and Dark Energy 
8.​2.​3 Real Adaptive Camouflage 
8.​2.​4 Room-Temperature Superconductivit​y 
8.​2.​5 Quantum Computers 
8.​2.​6 Robots in the Home 
8.​2.​7 Cybernetic Devices 
8.​2.​8 Artificial Heart 
8.​3 Science Fiction in Historical Context 
8.​3.​1 The Island of Dr.​ Moreau 
8.​3.​2 The War of the Worlds 
8.​3.​3 The Day the Earth Stood Still 
8.​4 Visions of the Future 
8.​4.​1 Defining Culture in Terms of Technology 
8.​4.​2 Social Divisions 
8.​4.​3 Technophiles and Technophobes 
8.​4.​4 Turning Over Too Much Control to Technology 
8.​4.​5 The Rise of AI 
8.​4.​6 What Is Real?​ 
8.​4.​7 Sentient VR Characters 
8.​4.​8 Civilization Destroyed by Its Own Technology 
8.​5 Responsible Technology 
8.​6 Exploration Topics 
References 
Appendix A: Catalog of Movies Cited
Appendix B: Television Series Episodes Cited
Appendix C: Youtube Videos Cited

8.​4.​3 Technophiles and Technophobes 
8.​4.​4 Turning Over Too Much Control to Technology 
8.​4.​5 The Rise of AI 
8.​4.​6 What Is Real?​ 
8.​4.​7 Sentient VR Characters 
8.​4.​8 Civilization Destroyed by Its Own Technology 
8.​5 Responsible Technology 
8.​6 Exploration Topics 
References 
Appendix A: Catalog of Movies Cited
Appendix B: Television Series Episodes Cited
Appendix C: Youtube Videos Cited
Appendix D: Solutions to Estimation Problems
Author Biography
Index