Category Archives: Could this Happen?

sci-fi, science fiction, s-f, science, technology, fantasy, inventions, space, robots, rockets, innovation, future, futuristic, future casting, stars, star, star wars, star trek, battlestar galactica, harry potter, babylon 5, artificial intelligence, AI, computers, spaceships, ship, ships, moon, jupiter, saturn, universe, galaxy, sun, research, researcher, scientists, physics, physicists, astronauts

Cylons Shouldn’t Sweat

Posted on September 26, 2011 by jrenstro

In 1950, Alan Turing sought to answer the question “can machines think?” He designed a test that involved a computer having a typed conversation with a human. If a third party couldn’t consistently tell the computer from the human, the … Continue reading →

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Just What Do You Think You’re Doing, Dave?

Posted on September 16, 2011 by jrenstro

I’d rather be stuck in an elevator with Freddy Kruger than with HAL. Cool as a cucumber, mind-bogglingly capable, and unfailingly and often maddeningly reasonable, HAL appears to be the perfect spaceship computer. Among other things, HAL can speak, recognize … Continue reading →

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Doing the Time Warp

Posted on September 9, 2011 by jrenstro

Have you ever noticed that humans seem to be waiting for aliens to visit us, rather than the other way around? The reason for this is the commute. At its closest, Jupiter is roughly 390 million miles away. Alpha Centauri, … Continue reading →

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Now You See Me…Now You Don’t

Posted on August 31, 2011 by jrenstro

If you could have one super power, what would it be? For me, teleportation is the clear winner. Flying, communicating with animals, and producing cheese from my fingertips would also be awesome. Every time I ask this question to friends … Continue reading →

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You Think They’ll Have that on the Tour?

Posted on July 8, 2011 by jrenstro

I don’t know about you, but even when all hell breaks loose in Jurassic Park and the Velociraptors chase children and overturn cars and the T-Rex shakes the ground and makes Godzilla look like a flea, I’m still thinking, what … Continue reading →

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The Darkest Void

Posted on June 29, 2011 by jrenstro

Given that the image of a man rocketing off via his backpack has become culturally ingrained, many of us at some time or other have mused about the jetpack and wondered why we don’t all have one. For me, this … Continue reading →

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“What if?” becomes “Could this?”

Posted on June 20, 2011 by jrenstro

Science fiction is often speculative in nature, asking “what if…?” So it’s only natural that when we watch or read about some amazing futuristic device or scenario we ask ourselves, “could this really happen?” Could we reanimate dead tissue? Could … Continue reading →

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