this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2026
8 points (78.6% liked)

Ask Science

17195 readers
88 users here now

Ask a science question, get a science answer.


Community Rules


Rule 1: Be respectful and inclusive.Treat others with respect, and maintain a positive atmosphere.


Rule 2: No harassment, hate speech, bigotry, or trolling.Avoid any form of harassment, hate speech, bigotry, or offensive behavior.


Rule 3: Engage in constructive discussions.Contribute to meaningful and constructive discussions that enhance scientific understanding.


Rule 4: No AI-generated answers.Strictly prohibit the use of AI-generated answers. Providing answers generated by AI systems is not allowed and may result in a ban.


Rule 5: Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.Adhere to community guidelines and comply with instructions given by moderators.


Rule 6: Use appropriate language and tone.Communicate using suitable language and maintain a professional and respectful tone.


Rule 7: Report violations.Report any violations of the community rules to the moderators for appropriate action.


Rule 8: Foster a continuous learning environment.Encourage a continuous learning environment where members can share knowledge and engage in scientific discussions.


Rule 9: Source required for answers.Provide credible sources for answers. Failure to include a source may result in the removal of the answer to ensure information reliability.


By adhering to these rules, we create a welcoming and informative environment where science-related questions receive accurate and credible answers. Thank you for your cooperation in making the Ask Science community a valuable resource for scientific knowledge.

We retain the discretion to modify the rules as we deem necessary.

For answers to historical questions, please check out our sister community: !askhistorians@lemmy.world


founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Science fiction is full of examples like that, because it's authors extrapolating what future science might look like. Sometimes they make accurate predictions, and sometimes, their predictions are the reason the technology is developed in the first place!

Communications satellites, mobile phones, robots, video chat, the internet...

All of them appeared in science fiction long before they actually existed!

As for how many of them exist because of the science fiction? Who knows... I don't think it's even possible to know, because so many scientists become scientists after growing up on science fiction, and at that point, the lines are pretty blurry :)

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A lot of sci-fi authors research real science for their stories as well. So they write about something that builds on reality then engineers and scientists read their stories and push reality further.

[–] Patnou@lemmy.world -2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wish the medical industry did that.

[–] phdepressed@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago
[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not quite...science fiction writers are often close to scientists and get ideas from them. Not the other way around.

Most sci-fi writers read Science and Nature journals.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

Sure, when they're adults, the science fiction writers get ideas and knowledge from the scientists. But when they're kids, before they become a scientist, those future scientists (and future science fiction writers) are often exploring their love for science through the medium of science fiction! And those visions of possible futures that those kids encounter shapes the perspective they carry with them in to adulthood

[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago

Arthur C. Clarke was writing about geostationary orbits in the 1940s. The first satellite was put in one until the 1960s. But I don't think he conceived it, more popularized it.

[–] thebardingreen@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

EDIT: Retraction. I've believed this to be true since the '90s, but it is apparently wrong.

Michael Crichton came up with idea of looking for dinosaur DNA inside biting insects in amber. Scientists tried it and it worked! They didn't get even close to enough DNA to clone a dinosaur. The molecules were super degraded. But there was something there!

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago

That's wrong. Scientists were looking at DNA in amber in the late 80s, Crighton got the idea from published work.

Writers often visit university researchers to ask for story ideas. I consulted on Regenesis.

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Robert A. Heinlein invented waterbeds and screen savers. He also wrote about pocket telephones.

Jules Verne invented the submarine

[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Verne didn't invent it, not even close. It was first conceived in the 1500s and the first working submarine was built in the 1600s. There were diving bells, diving suits, submarines and everything else.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

Look up TV show TURN George Washington's Spies.

The Turtle shows up briefly. Great show, especially if you're a history buff.

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Watch 2001 - A Space Odyssey. They use Tablets. The movie is from 1969 or so.

CDs. Thanks Star Trek!

[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

It existed long before sci fi. Sapphires and rubies.