Clipmarks | skwirlinator's 'science fiction' clips

How the mighty Google shall look in 2084

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 18:32:31 GMT

clipped by: sohil
clipper's remarks: Interesting

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Tags: google, funny, fun, humor, science fiction, software, internet, web 2.0, web, technology

Free E-book sites

Wed, 23 May 2007 18:54:42 GMT

clipped by: rnmorgan1

Clip Source: www.spoofee.com

Some free ebook sites

The National Academies Press: http://www.nap.edu

Parallel Universes: They Do Exist

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:27:30 GMT

clipped by: invictus
clipper's remarks: Revisiting & re-clipping some of my old stuff.

Clip Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parallel Universes

Everything you're about to read here seems impossible and insane, beyond science fiction. Yet it's all true.

Scientists now believe there may really be a parallel universe - in fact, there may be an infinite number of parallel universes, and we just happen to live in one of them. These other universes contain space, time and strange forms of exotic matter. Some of them may even contain you, in a slightly different form. Astonishingly, scientists believe that these parallel universes exist less than one millimetre away from us. In fact, our gravity is just a weak signal leaking out of another universe into ours.

For years parallel universes were a staple of the Twilight Zone. Science fiction writers loved to speculate on the possible other universes which might exist.

But now it seems the speculation wasn't absurd enough. Parallel universes really do exist and they are much stranger than even the science fiction writers dared to imagine.

Tags: phsics, parallel universes, universe, science

Physicist Trying to Send a Signal Back in Time

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:26:21 GMT

clipped by: darkseid
clipper's remarks: Probably won't work, but I hope it helps future experiences.

Clip Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com

If his experiment with splitting photons actually works, says University of Washington physicist John Cramer, the next step will be to test for quantum "retrocausality."

That's science talk for saying he hopes to find evidence of a photon going backward in time.

"It doesn't seem like it should work, but on the other hand, I can't see what would prevent it from working," Cramer said. "If it does work, you could receive the signal 50 microseconds before you send it."

Uh, huh ... what? Wait a minute. What is that supposed to mean?

Roughly put, Cramer is talking about the subatomic equivalent of arriving at the train station before you've left home, of winning the lottery before you've bought the ticket, of graduating from high school before you've been born -- or something like that.

"It probably won't work," he said again carefully, peering through his large glasses as if to determine his audience's mental capacity for digesting the information. Cramer, an accomplished experimental physicist who also writes science fiction, knows this sounds more like a made-for-TV script on the Sci Fi Channel than serious scientific research.

"But even if it doesn't work, we should be able to learn something new about quantum mechanics by trying it," he said. What he and UW colleague Warren Nagourney plan to try soon is an experiment aimed at resolving some niggling contradictions in one of the most fundamental branches of physics known as quantum mechanics, or quantum theory.

"To be honest, I only have a faint understanding of what John's talking about," Nagourney said, smiling. Though claiming to be "just a technician" on this project, Cramer's technician partner previously assisted with the research of Hans Dehmelt, the UW scientist who won the 1989 Nobel Prize in physics.

Tags: physics, time, science

Stephen Hawking Writing a SciFi Trilogy

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:07:52 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator
clipper's remarks: I will buy this set for sure - I love hard scifi

Clip Source: afp.google.com

Science should be 'as exciting as science fiction' says Hawking

CAMBRIDGE, England (AFP) — British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking revealed his desire on Monday to make "real science as exciting as science fiction" as he publicised a new book for children about the cosmos.

"George's Secret Key to the Universe", the first book in a planned trilogy, explains the workings of the solar system, asteroids, black holes -- one of Hawking's favourite topics -- and other celestial bodies with the help of a set of young heroes.

It will be released in French on Thursday, and in English a week later, and is set to be sold in 29 countries. The second book in the trilogy will be published next year.

"Our aim is to make real science as exciting as science fiction," Hawking said.

Asked about the choice facing the heroes in his book -- saving the world from global warming or finding another planet that is habitable for humans -- he said that, like George, he would opt to focus on both.

Tags: science, scifi, stephen hawking, cambridge, trilogy, literature

FREE HIDDEN INFORMATION VIDEOS!!!!

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:02:09 GMT

clipped by: sohil
clipper's remarks: I know I'm screaming, but wow!

Clip Source: www.valis666.net

9/11, IRAQ WAR, BUSH ADMINISTRATION

POLITICS AND SOCIOLOGY

What Is Fascism?

OCCULT AND SECRET SOCIETIES

Freemasons - US govenrment conspiracy mini documentary

Dark Secrets: Inside Bohemian Grove, 1h53m

Occult Symbols and Corporate Logos, 29m

Behind Corporate Logos

The Occult and Extra-Terrestrials in Government

The Brotherhood of Darkness (1hr 43m)

SPIRITUALITY, PHILOSOPHY AND METAPHYSICS

The Tibetan Book of the Dead pt1, 48m

The Tibetan Book of the Dead pt2, 45m

Reincarnation - Fact or Fiction? (1hr 27m)

Grant Morrison at Disinformation, 45m

The Secrets of Solomon's Temple

Art, Alchemy and Spirituality pt1 (14m)
Art, Alchemy and Spirituality pt2 (21m)
Art, Alchemy and Spirituality pt3 (18m)

Art, Alchemy and Spirituality pt4 (31m)

The Naked Truth: The Origins of the World's Religions (1hr 53m)

DRUGS AND ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Shamans of the Amazon, 52m

Experiment at Petaluma, 30m

Alien Dreamtime (excerpt), 12m

The History of Marijuana

SCIENCE AND FRINGE SCIENCE

DNA Pirates of the Sacred Spiral

Tags: repository, hidden, history, information, conspiracy, ufo, religion, government, bush, science fiction

Lab Freaks Gone Wild?

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:40:43 GMT

clipped by: wildcat
clipper's remarks: “What was once only science fiction is now becoming a reality, and we need to ensure that experimentation and subsequent ramifications do not outpace ethical discussion and societal decisions.

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

Scientists plan to make “cybrids” by putting human DNA into cow eggs.

The British government gave the go-ahead this week for two separate groups to experiment with the process. Scientists will “inject human DNA into empty eggs from cows, to create embryos known as cytoplasmic hybrids that are 99.9 per cent human in genetic terms,” according to The Times of London.

The government had planned to ban such cybrid research, but scientists protested, leading to the reversal.

The argument is an emotional and speculative one, scientists would say, conjuring images of lab freaks gone wild that no reputable researcher envisions. Nobody has suggested the cybrids be raised and let loose in London (or Manhattan, for that matter, where the movie will likely be set. I mean, whoever heard of London being taken over by cybrids?).

“Creating human-animal hybrids could irrevocably harm the basic human genetic makeup and intentionally or unintentional change what it means to be human,”

Tags: cybrids, dna, biology

If I Am Ever a Starfleet Captain...

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:01:41 GMT

clipped by: CrazyRedHead

Clip Source: www.sff.net

I will design my ships so that command and control functions cannot be hot-wired from a wall panel in the recreation bay.

Anyone who cannot be entertained by books, music, a good game of cards and a well-stocked bar will not be allowed to crew my ship. Hence there will be no need for a holodeck on my ship.

Under no circumstance will I agree to not develop or employ any particular technology.

If my ship is constantly being bugged, robbed, invaded, or taken over, I will replace my security officer, no matter how cool a character he is.

If my ship is whisked to the far side of the galaxy, leaving us with a seventy-year journey home, and a super-being offers to take us home instantly in exchange for having his baby, I'll agree and ask what we can get for two babies.

I will not depart the starbase unless my complement of Marines are on board.

I will never send the infantry down on missions that are better suited for orbital bombardment.

Tags: humor, science fiction

Could Jupiter wreck the solar system?

Sun, 04 May 2008 12:13:24 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: "So what's the likelihood Mercury could crash into the Earth? If it did, the asteroid that most likely wiped out the dinosaurs will seem like a drop in the ocean compared with a planet 4880 km in diameter slamming into us. There will be very little left after this wrecking ball impact.

But here's the kicker: There is only a 1% chance that these gravitational instabilities of the inner Solar System are likely to cause any kind of chaos before the Sun turns into a Red Giant and swallows Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars in 7 billion years time. So, no need to look out for death-wish Mercury quite yet… there's a very low chance that any of this will happen. But some good news for Mars; the researchers have also found that if the chaos does ensue, the Red Planet may be flung out of the Solar System, possibly escaping our expanding Sun. So, let's get those Mars colonies started! Well, within the next few billions of years anyhow…"

Good stuff for the next science-fiction movie

Clip Source: www.universetoday.com

Could Jupiter Wreck the Solar System?

Happily orbiting the Sun, the eight planets (plus Pluto and other minor planets) appear to have a high degree of long-term gravitational stability. But Jupiter has a huge gravitational influence over its siblings, especially the smaller planets.

The huge gravitational pull of Jupiter seems to be bullying Mercury into an increasingly eccentric death-orbit, possibly flinging the cosmic lightweight into the path of Venus. To make things worse, there might be dire consequences for Earth…

The researchers

Jacques Laskar

Konstantin Batygin

and Gregory Laughlin

formulate four possible scenarios as to what may happen as Mercury gets disturbed:

Mercury will crash into the Sun
Mercury will be ejected from the solar system altogether
Mercury will crash into Venus
Mercury will crash into Earth

The last option is obviously the worst case scenario for us, but all will be bad news for Mercury, the small planet's fate appears to be sealed.

Tags: science, space, astronomy

Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:22:15 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: “Our plan is to have a demonstration-scale plant operational by 2010 and, in parallel, we’ll be working on the design and construction of a commercial-scale facility to open in 2011,” says Mr Pal, adding that if LS9 used Brazilian sugar cane as its feedstock, its fuel would probably cost about $50 a barrel.

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide 'renewable petroleum'

“Ten years ago I could never have imagined I’d be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. “I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to – especially the ones coming out of business school – this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.”

He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Mr Pal holds up a small beaker of bug excretion that could, theoretically, be poured into the tank of the giant Lexus SUV

Not that Mr Pal is willing to risk it just yet. He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up on what he calls “renewable petroleum”.

Tags: renewable energy

Twenty science fiction novels that may change your life

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:32:17 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: Cryptonomicon (2000), by Neal Stephenson
The Mount (2002), by Carol Emschwiller
Perdido Street Station (2002), by China Mieville
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003), by Cory Doctorow
Pattern Recognition (2003), by William Gibson
Newton's Wake (2004), by Ken MacLeod
Glasshouse (2006), by Charles Stross

Clip Source: io9.com

there's no better way to get ready for the seasonal change than to dig into some great science fiction books

this list of twenty science fiction novels

could change the way you see the world

and maybe even change your life

Whether it's because they've altered the course of science fiction writing, or simply provide a genuinely alien perspective on ordinary life, these are novels that will rearrange how you think.

These are in chronological order by publication date, not in order of importance.

Frankenstein (1818), by Mary Shelley

The Time Machine (1895), by H.G. Wells

At the Mountains of Madness (1931), by H.P. Lovecraft

I, Robot (1955), by Isaac Asimov

The Dispossessed (1974), by Ursula LeGuin

Kindred (1979), by Octavia Butler

Wizard (1979), by John Varley

Consider Phlebas (1987), by Iain M. Banks

He, She, and It (1991), by Marge Pierc

Sarah Canary (1991), by Karen Joy Fowler

A Fire Upon the Deep (1992), by Vernor Vinge

The Bohr Maker (1995), by Linda Nagata

The Sparrow (1996), by Mary Doria Russell

Tags: books

Happy Birthday, Arthur C. Clarke!

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:33:41 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: blog.wired.com

British sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke turns 90 on Dec. 16. Clarke penned the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was adapted into Stanley Kubrick's big-screen freaky fav.

Clarke is also the last surviving member of the "Big Three" of science fiction authors (the other two members of the geeky coterie were Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein).

Other fun facts (thank you, Wikipedia!): the command center of the Apollo 13 craft was named "2001" after the movie, Clarke had a whole friggin' asteroid AND a new species of dinosaur Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei named after him. Coolness.

And yes, you CAN sync Pink Floyd's Echoes to Dave's triptastic voyage scene at the end. Not that we've tried that or anything. But if we did, we'd say it rocks and that you should try it.)

Tags: arthur c. clarke, scifi, influence

The Roots of Today's Science Fiction Go Back Centuries

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:41:03 GMT

clipped by: Mohir
clipper's remarks: Much more of the website,

Clip Source: io9.com

Science Fiction came of age in the 19th Century under the talents of writers like Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells. But before these authors stands a long history of proto-science fiction tales, replete with voyages to the moon, socially and technologically advanced civilizations, and visions of the future. We've delved into our scifi roots and found some of the surprisingly forward-looking works from poets, mathematicians, politicians, and philosophers that predate the year 1800.

Lucian of Samosata – A True History (2nd Centure CE):

his rousing tale of a trip to the moon, aliens armies, man-made men, and extraplanetary colonization is frequently recognized as the first known space opera.

Ibn al-Nafis – Theologus Autodidactus (c. 1270):

Thomas More – Utopia (1515):

Francis Bacon – The New Atlantis (1626):

Johannes Kepler – Somnium (The Dream) (1634):

Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels (1726):

Voltaire – Micromegas (1752):

Tags: science fiction, sci-fi, history, literature

Four Reasons Not to Give Up on Interstellar Travel

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:42:25 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: It looks far, dark, and cold... Yet, 120 years ago, flight was science fiction as well. C. G. Jung said that all dreams of space travel are just an escape from one most difficult challenge of all, that is the journey to man's inner space.

...and see my clip from last week on suggested FTL drive. It seems the motivation to escape an inner journey just grows.

Clip Source: io9.com

According to the scientists who attended this year's Joint Propulsion Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, humans may never be able to achieve interstellar travel.

But don't add "space adventure" to your list of unlikely futures for the human species just yet — here are four reasons why.

1. We are likely to develop new propulsion methods.

2. Humans could figure out ways to endure long space journeys.

3. Earth is not the only source of fuel.

4. We may yet discover a way to achieve faster-than-light travel.

According to NASA's Robert Frisbee:

It's always science fiction until someone goes out and does it.

Tags: space, space travel, propulsion

Fantasy art

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:13:13 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: Great site.

Clip Source: fantasyartdesign.com

Tags: digital art fantasy, fantasy art, science fiction art, pics, images