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Science
Fiction in the News Articles
related to the works of
Roger Zelazny
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Roger Zelazny (1937-1995) created many of our best science fiction stories; he won six Hugos and three Nebula awards. His quirky humor is found in all of the books; you'll enjoy the characters as well as the inventions. His monumental Amber novels demonstrate his absolute mastery of the fantasy genre as well.
Science fiction in
the News articles describe real-world events that relate to the ideas
and inventions in sf novels and movies. Select
a news article: |
HOAP-2 Robot Masters Sumo And Linux. RoboShiko!
This robot performs moves from the Chinese martial art taijiquan; it also does Sumo wrestling stances. All that and it's Linux-based!
Sky Ear: Mobile Phones and Helium Balloons
Sky Ear on May 4th - a glowing "cloud" of mobile phones and gauss meters attached to helium balloons with lights is released into the air so that people can dial into the cloud and listen to the sounds of the electromagnetic sky.
Teleo-Reactive Programs Are Reaching Their Goals
Teleo-Reactive Programs (TRPs) help robots and other machine intelligences achieve goals, not just specific behaviors.
Robots Get Pressure-Sensitive Skin
Organic field-effect transistors have been used to fabricate pressure-sensitive skin for robots, according to an abstract published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.
Sky Ear Works!
Sky Ear, a thousand sensitive helium balloons, finally took flight last month after a slight delay due to bad weather and other problems.
Graphene - Nanofabric One Atom Thick
A nanofabric called graphene just one atom thick has been created at The University of Manchester.
Solar-Powered Interplanetary Shock Tracked To Saturn
In a dramatic proof that solar coronal mass ejection (CME) events affect even the outermost portions of the Solar System, scientists have traced an interplanetary shock from the Sun to Earth to Jupiter to Saturn.
Saudi Arabian Mobile Phones
The Islamic Saudi Mobile Phone has a number of unusual, built-in features to serve the religious needs of its intended audience - faithful Muslims. It will provide Qibla direction as well as prayer times in over 5,000 cities worldwide.
Electrical Barrier To Keep Asian Carp Out Of Great Lakes
A permanent electrical barrier will go into use in February to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp that are moving up the Mississippi river.
Snake Robot Roundup!
The snakebots are coming; slithering, grinding, undulating robots that slide on their bellies like a reptile across the Earth (and maybe other planets).
New Materials One Atom Thick Extracted With Micromechanical Cleavage
Science fictional materials are created by extracting individual atomic planes from conventional bulk crystals by using a technique called 'micromechanical cleavage'.
Autonomous Soaring Project UAV Cloud Swift
NASA experiments with tiny surveillance planes that can catch air currents autonomously.
Fantastic Voyage Of Self-assembling Peptide Nanofibers
Researchers write a sequel to the sixties film.
Ratheon Swimmer Denial
Divers beware; Raytheon has your (pulse and frequency) number.
Amazing Robot Wrestling
Amazing wrestling robots have a variety of great take-down moves.
Prayer Antenna Religious Technology Artifact
Religious technology takes a step forward with the development of the prayer antenna.
Roboboa Dancing Robot Snake
Those folks at WowWee have been busy; this article may link to cooler robotic snakes, but none that you can buy off the shelf.
kameraflage Seen By Cellphone Cameras Only
This is an interesting use of a little-known property of digital cameras.
China To Control Reincarnation Of Tibetan Buddhists
Only science fiction fans are unsurprised by this bizarre turn of events.
Nokia N73 Preloaded For Ramadan
Worship aided by cellphone.
Arm Spirit Arm-Wrestling Arcade Game Rampage
Machines are our friends - but you still need to be careful.
SenseCam Seems To Help Dementia Patients
The SenseCam appears to be of use to at least some patients.
Tiny Spyplanes May Recharge On Power Lines
The next time you stare at all those birds lined up on the power line, look for the odd-shaped one with the surveillance sensors.
COM-BAT Robotic 'Bat' On Order From UM
This intriguing development popped up right in my own backyard; UM researchers will attempt feats of micro-miniaturization to make this work.
Implantable Prosthetic For The Blind
Interesting follow-up to the story about an implantable optic prosthesis to help the estimated 45 million people in the world without sight.
Sajjdah 1426 LED Prayer Rug Has Mecca-Glow
This prayer rug always knows how to orient itself.
Graphene Reveals Fine Structure Constant
This amazing nanofabric is just one atom thick; physicists looking through this material can see one of the most mysterious fundamental constants known to science.
Swarming Micro Air Vehicle Networks (SMAVNET)
The US Army is setting up to learn about this idea; I found several good resources that I hope they're using.
BAE Spider Robot Wrist Watch Monitor
The idea of a wrist band monitor or bracelet-monitor is a good idea now - and a good idea when I first read about it almost thirty years ago.
Seasteading Institute: Homestead The Seas
Interesting idea has some funding from wealthy folks in Silicon Valley and yet San Jose is being paved over as fast as they can do it.
Graphene Is Also Super Strong
One of the most remarkable materials ever discovered, graphene continues to amaze.
Robot Aircraft To Ride Thermal Air Currents
New research will provide UAVs with a fuel-saving alternative that has helped flyers stay aloft for millions of years.
Zephyr Solar Plane Sails For Days
This plane proves you can never be too thin or too ultralight; it may be a precursor to the Vulture program announced earlier in 2008.
Blogging Houseplant Midori-San
Maybe you don't listen to your plants, but you can read what this one has to say.
Carp Barrier Finished For Years, Never Activated
The barrier is ready to repel invaders! But a squabble between agencies will apparently result in a carp invasion AND the waste of $ millions.
Flexible OLED Wrist Display Like Pip-Boy
Flexible OLED display now available in a wrist-worthy format.
Planetary Hard Drive
Storing information in natural deposits and fields.
Underwater Cities Like Otoh Gunga Next?
We're slowly building the pieces of underwater cities.
Information Age Prayer Pray-O-Mat
Can a machine say prayers for you? Now, you can test it out.
Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System
This device hovers over the urban battlefield, directed remotely (using a modified Xbox controller), with significant armament.
Therapists Plan World Of Warcraft Raid
Interesting proposal to have mental health professionals enter the game and attempt to work with players while online.
Shrink Wrapped Psychiatric Help For Avatars
Short video presents an interesting case for the therapist; Second Life avatars have complicated presentations for the therapist.
Bio Acoustic Fish Fence May Protect Great Lakes
Another interesting technology to try to keep the Great Lakes free of Asian carp; I read about the idea first in a Zelazny story three decades ago.
ViconRevue Records Every Minute of Your Life
The SenseCam will be produced commercially by a UK company
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Take a look at these four robots performing a variety of martial arts moves.
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New
on Site
Quadraturin
( 11/18/2009)
Headspace
( 11/15/2009)
Angel Music Player
( 11/15/2009)
Lunar Ice Mining - water on the moon
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Vision Implant
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Power Holster
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Muscle Sensor Interface
( 10/29/2009)
Auto-Driven Auto (Spinner) - it drives itself
( 10/28/2009)
Life Recorder - records your life automatically
( 10/27/2009)
Ro-Womb - enfold the patient.
( 10/27/2009)
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