How did Science Fiction Become Science Fact in 2012?
Longtime readers of Christ and Pop Culture have probably realized by now that one of my pet themes concerns the ways in which science can impact our lives, especially in ways that seem more like science fiction than science fact. I find it fascinating when things that used to be conceptual, or even fictional, actually manifest themselves in reality in ways that you and I can see, touch, and use. Sometimes this can lead to moral conundrums and ethical dilemmas, but sometimes, it can also be really cool.
Speaking of stuff that’s really cool, BuzzFeed recently posted a list of “27 Science Fictions That Became Science Facts In 2012,” and it’s pretty mind-blowing to read through their selections. Here are just a few:
- Quadriplegic Uses Her Mind to Control Her Robotic Arm
- Genetically Modified Silk Is Stronger Than Steel
- DNA Was Photographed for the First Time
- Spray-On Skin
- The Higgs-Boson Particle Was Discovered
- Eye Implants Give Sight to the Blind
One could, of course, cast a more dystopic eye on some of the items on BuzzFeed’s list. (Or am I the only one imagining Terminator-like scenarios involving DARPA robots and those self-driving cars? At least we’ll have mind-controlled exoskeletons to help us fight back in the impending robopocalypse.) All cheekiness aside, I do find this list pretty encouraging, and ample evidence of science’s ability to be a great benefit and blessing to humanity.
This entry was originally published on Christ and Pop Culture on .