What It Is About
We explore five captivating sci-fi technologies, examining their likelihood of becoming a reality in the near future.
Why It Matters
Sci-fi has continually mesmerized audiences with revolutionary ideas. Understanding these concepts not only sparks our imaginations but also influences real-world technological advancements.
Transporters: Beam Me Up, But Not In Your Lifetime
Beloved by fans of Star Trek, the idea of transporters that deconstruct and reassemble humans at distant locations remains a distant dream. The complications involved in accurately manipulating subatomic particles render this technology improbable in the near future. Additionally, the franchise itself often depicted the malfunctions of such devices, emphasizing safety concerns.
Cryogenic Freezing: Put Your Plans of Cheating Death On Ice
Cryonics, involving the freezing of humans with the aim of future revival, appears frequently in popular entertainment like Futurama. Despite its existing success in preserving cells and embryos, the unfreezing process remains insurmountable, dismissing practical applications in preserving entire human bodies for future revival.
Lightsabers
Star Wars brought us the awe-inspiring lightsaber, indeed a desired tool for many. While the creation of a retractable, plasma-based blade burning at over 2,200 degrees Celsius has seen some success by innovators like Hacksmith Industries, it’s far from the portable, efficient tool portrayed in the movies, making the main elements of true lightsabers remain in the realm of imagination.
Flying Cars
Often seen as a staple in many sci-fi scenarios, flying cars are technically viable through existing aircraft technology. However, the real challenge lies in aligning aviation with existing urban traffic laws and infrastructure, which presents logistical hurdles massive enough to delay the appearance of flying cars in everyday life for quite some time.
Cloaking Devices: They Might Be Possible – Bet You Didn’t See That Coming!
Cloaking devices imagined by franchises like Star Trek and many others have long fascinated humanity. Researchers are actively exploring methods of active and optical camouflage and even ways to manipulate light around objects. Nonetheless, while genuine invisibility remains elusive, advancements continue that hint this may be closer to reality in the more distant future.
This story was first published on jpost.com.