list
The best list for everything science fiction.
Buried Screwball Facts About Nikola Tesla
Travel anywhere outside the United States and the name of Nikola Tesla is known. Ask the average person on an American sidewalk? They’re apt to recall the 80’s rock band. Or they’ll nod and mumble about Elon Musk’s motor company.
By Matt Cates9 years ago in Futurism
The Sweetest Sci-Fi Treats in the Galaxy
Sometimes I look around at intensely intricate Pinterest parties that other people apparently have the time to create for their children, and the mind boggles at the lengths to which theme-ing these parties goes. Sometimes, parents put out totally normal food, but give it a cutesy name to make it match. Example: a Star Wars party with skewers of grapes next to a little homemade sign reading “LIGHTSABERS.” This “treat” would be mildly disappointing to me, but apparently not everyone is such a snob. Adam Driver, for example (aka Kylo Ren), once said that during filming of The Force Awakens, “Every day I would show up to craft services hoping there’d be some space-themed food, but there never was. Which is a shame, because I think that would’ve really boosted morale. Like, if you’re serving meatballs, just call them meat asteroids. Or, if you’re serving grapes, call them fruit asteroids. It’s not that hard.” Yes it is Adam! Yes it is! If you want results you’ve got to put in the effort! (What am I, a coach for geek food? Ok, probably.) If that wouldn’t satisfy you either, check out these amazing sci-fi treats and sweets based on Star Wars, Firefly, Star Trek, Dr. Who, and Stargate. None of them, fortunately, are “meat asteroids” (what was he THINKING?).
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Sci-Fi Sidekicks You Wish Were Your BFF
Imagine this. You’re shackled to the wall in an underground alien torture chamber on an unexplored planet, light years from home. Or maybe your spaceship is being pulled into a moon-sized space station filled with storm troopers. Or you’ve got a supercomputer that needs hacked, stat. Obviously this is no time for Sam Gamgee to come to your rescue (heartwarming, loyal, and hairy-footed though he may be). You need someone with skills, someone who will risk everything to scoop you out of harm’s way, make a solid plan, and do it all again the next time you get yourself in trouble. Maybe they’re a little snarky, or a little sarcastic, or covered entirely in fur or actually a malfunctioning robot built out of trash, but when you need a best friend you can rely on, these sci-fi sidekicks won’t let you down.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
The Greatest Animated Films About Space Travel
With the many beautiful films about space that have awed us recently - Gravity, Interstellar, and The Martian all come to mind - it’s easy to forget the great animated films about space travel. They not only amuse us but also bring that incredible world to life for our kids. Each of these movies depict the dangers and delights of traveling among the stars with lovable characters, fascinating plots, and gorgeous backgrounds. Take a break from the more serious adult live-action space films and enjoy some of the best animated films about space that have ever been created.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Trapped on a Desert Island with the Crew of Firefly
Scenario: the Serenity crashes on a desert island with only two survivors: one of the crew members, and YOU. Who do you hope makes it off the ship alive? Who’s going to be the best company when you’re bored? Who’s going to be the best at hunting and gathering food, keeping you safe from predators, and building the sturdiest shelter? Who’s going to be the least likely to betray you or steal your coconuts when you’re napping? Granted, your decision may depend in part on your relationship status. If you’re single and looking for someone to snuggle up to when your bed of palm fronds gets chilly, Inara or Mal might be higher on your list than, say, Shepherd Book. If you’re solely concerned with survival at any cost (and paranoid about intruders on the island), you may toss morals and companionship out the window and go with Jayne. Check out my list of the Firefly characters, from least ideal to most, with whom you could get stuck on a desert island (then go take this quiz and figure out which Firefly character you’d be).
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Sci-Fi Webcomics to Devour All At Once
Not so long ago, there weren't enough great sci-fi webcomics to shake a ray-gun at. Now, you've got serious options for pretty much every sub-genre you can imagine, from hard sci-fi to space opera to satirical speculative space fantasy. Here's my list of the best sci-fi webcomics to make you laugh, make you think, and feel like a kid again with the best Sunday paper in the galaxy.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Everything You Need to Know About the Apollo Missions
This list includes everything you need to know about the Apollo missions to help you understand the space race. The Apollo missions took place between 1961 and 1975. These missions were part of a NASA program to put a man on the moon. This was to fulfill a promise made by John F. Kennedy in 1961 to place an American on the moon before the end of the decade. The program ultimately resulted in just that, but it was not without its share of setbacks. This list covers all the manned Apollo missions. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Apollo missions.
By James Lizowski9 years ago in Futurism
Best Vacation Spots in the Solar System
The best vacation spots in the solar system are places within our little corner of the galaxy that are both amazing and hold historical significance. Like any good vacation spot there has to be a reason to pack up the bags and head there in the first place. Whether it’s a distant moon of Uranus or to visit some of the first spacecraft humans sent abroad, there is a large amount of exciting things to see when choosing the best vacation spots in the solar system.
By Peter Carriveau9 years ago in Futurism
Sci-Fi's Obsession with Ancient Greece and Rome
Sometimes science fiction returns to the past for places, people, and themes to enrich its mind-journeys into the future. Such is the case with these sci-fi movies, TV episodes, and works of fiction, each one drawing from the ancient worlds of Greece or Rome to dress its story. Brit Marling, a screenplay co-writer of Another Earth, says that this isn’t really surprising. “We’re retelling the same dramas from Ancient Greece,” Marling said. “These stories are so fundamentally old, the mythology that they come from, the hero’s journey — the way a narrative works. Science allows you to take the same story and see it from a new perspective because the science is always new and fresh.” Science fiction’s interest in the ancient world goes beyond mere allusion, as in the middle name of Captain James Tiberius Kirk (Tiberius, in case you’re wondering, was a somber, reclusive Roman ruler who nevertheless left the empire in a better state than he found it). If you’re deeply interested in how the speculative worlds of the future and the worlds of ancient Rome and Greece intersect, you may be interested in a serious paper by academic Tony Keen, “The 'T' stands for Tiberius: models and methodologies of classical reception in science fiction.” If that sounds a little heavy, enjoy the following summary of a few times when togas, laurel wreaths, aliens, and spaceships partied it up in one crazy combination.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
The Best New Sci-Fi Graphic Novels
Picture books aren’t just for kids. In fact, when it comes to the best sci-fi graphic novels, they usually aren’t for kids at all (here be mature themes, like crazy alien sex and buckets of violence). Immerse yourself in tantalizingly rendered stories of robots, aliens, human beings, and creatures that lie somewhere in between. From struggling underwater colonies waiting for an inevitable supernova to the madcap adventures of all-American scientific geniuses, you’ll find the story that’s right for you - one that's harder and harder to tear yourself away from.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
The Easiest DIY Star Wars Gifts
Some people would call me crafty. Those people are not technically correct. Can I safely use scissors and Elmer’s glue? Yes, I can. Can I crochet an entire set of miniature Star Wars figurines? Ha ha ha. No. I cannot. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t make some pretty rad DIY Star Wars gifts for all my kinfolk when the holiday season is coming around. My goals when selecting winners for this list were twofold: first, nothing should cost more than $20, and second, nothing should take more than an hour or two of hands-on crafting time. While you might spend a little bit more or take slightly longer depending on your material sourcing and crafting abilities, I hope I’ve hit pretty close to the mark. Grab your supplies and if you’re feeling a little lackluster about your DIY abilities, just remember: do, or do not. There is no try.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
