Exploring Science Through Science Fiction

Preface.- 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 The first literary work of science fiction.- 1.3 Reference frames, revisited.- 1.4 Roadmap to the rest of the book.- 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.- 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 materials.- 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.- 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.- 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?.- 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.- 6.6.1 the problem of duplication.- 6.6.2 getting all the + and - signs in the right place.- 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?.- 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 healthcare?.- 7.4.7 How can a company sell more products?.- 7.4.8 How do we establish justice?.- 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-so-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 superconductivity.- 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.- Appendix A: Catalog of Movies Cited.- Appendix B: Catalog of Television Series Episodes Cited.- Appendix C: Catalog of YouTube Videos Cited.- Appendix D: Solutions to Estimation Problems.