Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"[Science fiction is] anything that turns you and your social context, the social you, inside out."
- Gregory Benford
 |
| Husk of an Atom | ||
| A negative universe substance. |
There is a lot of pseudoscience stuff going on here, but the story mentions P.A.M. Dirac and his idea that a vacuum is an infinite sea of particles with negative energy - the Dirac sea. The positron, the antimatter counterpart of the electron, was originally conceived of as a hole in the Dirac sea, before its experimental discovery in 1932.
These ideas seem to be referenced in this story, making it the first science fiction story about antimatter. Maybe.
| “This is the strangest atom that I have ever seen. You will notice the complete absence of a nucleus. It seems to be composed entirely of negative electrons..."
“In this atom the positive charge seems to have been annihilated by a negative electron and escaped as electromagnetic energy. You will notice the almost identical shading of the entire atom. There are no concentric rings. This, in other words, is an atom in a state of disintegration which still maintains its essential integrity, which has not flown apart. “All of you gentlemen, I suppose, are familiar with the theories of P. A. M. Dirac, the young British physicist. Dirac holds that there is no such thing as a completely empty vacuum, that a perfect vacuum is simply a region of space where all that exists is composed of negatively charged electrons. He holds that matter as we know it is simply a hole or vent in this sea of negative energy. In other words, only negative energy is real, basic. "“We seem to have here the shell or husk of an atom, the maintenance of a kind of atomic pattern after the positive energy substance has been blasted out of existence. And this shell may represent basic reality..." “It tore through the Earth annihilating matter wherever it spattered, or rather, knocking the protons from atoms, leaving a kind of seething vacuum, a yawning void in the Earth of negative universe substance. “The small camera attached to the photoelectric eye contained six plates. Each plate came out of the developing tank the color of ink — no image, nothing. We do not know how far down the glowing matter went. But the failure of the eye to function indicates that the roaring blot is a true vacuum. Matter as we know it has simply been annihilated for hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles — perhaps to the Earth’s core." |
| Technovelgy from The Roaring Blot,
by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1936 Additional resources -
|
The story mentions a "cinder sun" made of regular matter, that approached our sun and tore stuff out of its core, which has who-knows-what exotic properties. Maybe even antimatter?
The positron is actually used in a 1934 story by Nat Schachner; see positron beam from The Great Thirst.
Another mention of antimatter is found in Minus Planet, a 1937 story by John D. Clark, Ph.D.; see the entry for antron. See also contraterrene matter from Collision Orbit (1942) by Jack Williamson.
Thanks to Mr. Beam Jockey for pointing this story out.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Roaring Blot
More Ideas
and Technology by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.
Tech news articles related to The Roaring Blot
Tech news articles related to works by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.
| Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly |
| Nano-Chainmail 2D Mechanically Interlocked Polymer |
| Goldene - A Two-Dimensional Sheet Of Gold One Atom Thick |
| GNoME AI From DeepMind Invents Millions Of New Materials |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
