The 21st century is seeing technological advancements that seem to be straight out of a sci-fi novel, from driverless taxis to generative AI and Elon Musk’s plans to colonize Mars. However, many of these innovations have roots in science fiction.
Daniel Smalley, a researcher at Brigham Young University, is recreating holograms inspired by Princess Leia from “Star Wars” and the Holodeck from “Star Trek.” These influential sci-fi works have inspired advancements in technology such as advanced prosthetics, robotics, AI, laser technology, and space exploration.
“Star Trek” has also influenced technology like mobile phones, tablet computers, and 3D printing. Martin Cooper, a pioneer in the mobile phone industry, created the first cellphone inspired by Captain Kirk’s communicator. Smalley’s lab is working to recreate Star Trek’s holodeck, an immersive virtual reality system.
The novel “Dune” by Frank Herbert, often considered the first major ecological science fiction novel, explores the concept of terraforming. Researchers like Gary King at Louisiana State University are studying ways to terraform Mars using bacteria to introduce oxygen into the atmosphere. Similarly, research at Cambridge University on weaponized acoustic transducers shows a connection to the concept of “Voice” in “Dune.”
These connections between science fiction and real-world technology highlight how imaginative storytelling can inspire and drive scientific innovation toward creating a future that was once only imagined.
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