Science & Fiction
Welcome to Sci-Friday, a collective endeavor to share science fiction recommendations each week.
More than 20 folks have participated so far, and I’ll leave some links at the bottom of this post so you can find their work, too (I myself have gotten some excellent ideas for stuff to watch or read every week).
For this week’s piece, I want to take a look at some science fiction writers and icons who have contributed meaningfully to a field of science like physics or biology, or invented something important that leverages science. One amazing thing about science fiction is that it relies on (and amplifies) an understanding and curiosity about how the universe works.
That shared wonder has drawn me to the field ever since I was a little kid.
Arthur C Clarke
If you’re a regular reader here, you probably already know Arthur C Clarke was behind 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rendezvous with Rama, dozens of other influential and iconic sci-fi novels and stories.
But Clarke’s importance and vision were not limited to his creative writing endeavors.
Clarke spoke about how any sufficiently advanced civilization’s technology would become indistinguishable from magic. I don’t know how you’d describe speaking to get a device to do things for you (speaking an incantation), or moving hand gestures to unlock a device (weaving a spell), but to me, these look an awful lot like magic already.
He made observations about the accelerating pace of technological innovation (and disruption), including Clarke’s Laws.
But maybe his most impressive contributions were in the realm of the physical world: during the 1940s, he published articles that laid the groundwork for satellite communications, a technology that has become the backbone of global connectivity. Ever heard of the “Clarke Orbit"? It’s not really called that so much any more; most folks use “geostationary orbit” today.
Do you enjoy streaming media? Have you ever enjoyed broadcast television? We have Clarke to thank for all this.
Oh yeah, he also played a significant role in developing early radar systems during World War II. I’m not going to say we’d all be speaking German today if not for Clarke’s efforts, but they were certainly impactful and important.
It's difficult to overstate Clarke's influence on our modern world. The next time you look into the night sky, think of the thousands of communication satellites we have up there, doing the hidden maintenance of every day business that the modern world runs on. Think of Clarke.
Kip Thorne
While most of you probably know who Clarke is, Kip Thorne may well have flown under your radar. For those unfamiliar, Thorne is a theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017 for his decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves, confirming a key prediction of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.
His research in gravitational physics has led to new methods of observing cosmic phenomena and has opened the door for future discoveries that could reshape our understanding of the universe.
I’ve been familiar with Thorne because he likes to go on TV shows to talk about physics. His conversations bridge the gap between the incredibly complex and the very accessible and understandable really well. That’s probably why he landed a job working with Christopher Nolan, easily one of the best living directors out there (if you disagree with this, let me know why in the comments!).
Interstellar was a beautiful film. We got to see a supermassive black hole on screen, complete with gravitational lensing and time dilation. While the film delves into more speculative sci-fi, Thorne worked directly with Nolan to ensure that the science in the movie was as accurate as possible, even publishing a companion book, The Science of Interstellar, to dive deeper into the complex theories presented in the film.
Thorne's genius lies not just in his equations but in his ability to bridge the gap between complex scientific ideas and popular understanding. He's a scientist who doesn't just explore the universe; he invites us all to come along for the ride.
Popularizers
Clarke and Thorne have done a great deal to make science interesting and accessible for those of us without physics degrees, and I want to call attention to a few others who have had an effect on my own life, and to the general interest in science.
During my lifetime, Leonard Nimoy has been an absolute titan. As Mr. Spock, he showed us kids a logical view of the world that always struck me as far, far better than Kirk’s approach. Mr. Spock was incredibly influential on an entire generation of future scientists and engineers.
If you grew up watching the original Star Trek series, you probably had a pretty good idea of the scientific method and logical thinking. Thank you, Mr. Spock.
After Star Trek, In Search Of quickly became one of my favorite shows. I was in between a toddler and a second grader when the episodes originally aired, but our local PBS station ran reruns for years. This show had a lot of conjecture and speculation about various conspiracy theories and stuff like Bigfoot, but it also had legitimate curiosity about scientific phenomena at its core. Nimoy hosted this show brilliantly.
He was also the voice of Galvatron, but that’s getting off topic.
Around the same time, Carl Sagan produced the truly incredible Cosmos. Suffice it to say, this show influenced a lot of future scientists. The show stands out as an important television landmark, with high production values and incredible storytelling.
James Burke’s Connections wasn’t introduced to me until I was in my 30s. I think it wasn’t on the air where I lived when I was a kid. That’s too bad for young Andrew, but it was incredible to discover this hidden gem decades after I watched Cosmos for the first time.
Connections parallels Cosmos, except that instead of how the universe works, Burke explains how we got here with a different example of technology every episode. I’m not sure my explanation will quite convince you of how amazing this show really is/was, so I’ll leave you an example:
Arthur C Clarke, Kip Thorne, Leonard Nimoy, Carl Sagan, and James Burke are luminous beacons in the often murky intersection of science and society. Their work has not just entertained us; it has educated us, inspired us, and opened our minds to the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
Thank you for joining me for another Sci-Friday! If you’re interested in reading some recommendations about sci-fi to watch, read, or otherwise check out, I highly recommend taking a look at what these folks are up to today:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . and are joining in this week for the first time! Show them some love.If you want to go back and check out some of my previous sci-fi recommendations, here are how important Transformers: The Movie (1986) was for me, Time Travel Paradoxes, Five Great Sci-Fi Reads, Five Dystopian Future Films, Five Sci-Fi Comedies, Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Films, and my Favorite Sci-Fi Shows ever.
What sci-fi or science popularizers influenced you when you were a kid? How about when you were an adult?
Interstellar really was a great film. One of our family favorites. I did not know that Clarke was responsible for streaming. Great man!
Ever come across a book called Sewer, Gas, and Electric: The Public Works Trilogy? Haven't read it since I was a kid, but I recall it so vividly as a more absurdist Hitchhiker's Guide. A resurrected Ayn Rand stored in a lamp features as one of the main characters.