fact or fiction

Is it science fact or science fiction? Futurism presents both sides to determine the truth.

Antimatter: X-mas Files Edition
Sure. Sure. The Christmas season is full of crass commercialism. Materialist dogma -- of all varieties -- are on display everywhere. But the season has traditionally been regarded as a time of supernatural activity and high strangeness, as this edition of Antimatter shows.
By Matt Swayne9 years ago in Futurism
Invasive
The Martian invaders charged from the spaceship. They kept coming as Sam Scott sprayed their green brains over the city streets. They ran towards him, shooting ray guns in his general direction. He killed them by the dozen. Sam swapped out a plasma rifle for the rocket launcher. Another battleship landed, spewing out more creatures. He fired, sending the dirty bug creatures through the air. He laughed hard as they exploded. One missile after another he launched until there was nothing but a burnt-out wasteland.
By Don Urban9 years ago in Futurism
Time Traveling Views from Stars
The White Queen in Through the Looking Glass made a regular morning habit of believing at least six impossible things before breakfast. There is one thing that simply cannot be done. It is impossible to travel backward in time. I have absolutely no faith that we might be able to transport ourselves back to the Crusades, the Ice Age, or even earlier I do not doubt that Einstein's relativistic time-dilation effect is valid; but that is a different thing.
By Conrad Morningstar9 years ago in Futurism
Quantum Computing is Huge
Most people think that a quantum computer is either a plot device in a science fiction plot, or, at the very least, a relic of mankind's 100-year fascination with adding the adjective "quantum" to nouns to make things appear mysterious or powerful.
By Matt Swayne9 years ago in Futurism
Ceratoid Anglerfish Spermatozoa
A man generates billions or so spermatozoa during his "active" lifetime. In the same time, a female ovary releases a strictly limited number of eggs (around 400). Despite the contrast in productivity each sex contributes exactly the same amount of genetic material to the next generation. It is an uncomfortable truth that the main biological role of males is to manufacture vast quantities of sperm to fulfill a genetic function that the other gender accomplishes much more efficiently
By Caesar Finkle9 years ago in Futurism
What is Space?
The general idea of 19th century Empty Space was that as soon as one ventured beyond Earth's atmosphere, a few tens of miles over our heads, there was absolutely nothing there. It was a total vacuum, not an atom within range. A complete void was thought to exist above our heads.
By Conrad Morningstar9 years ago in Futurism
History of Computer Villains
You've broken into the memory banks of a computer game company. "Global Thermonuclear War" is the game you're playing. At your next command, the Russians will annihilate the United States. But wait. something's very wrong here. This is no game. The U.S. Government believes it's under a real Soviet Attack. The Defense Department's computer has taken over your game and has gone crazy. It's preparing to launch real U.S. missiles. It's code red. Count down: 10, 9, 8...Wait! Stop! 6,5...It's only a game, 3,2...Isn't it? 1.
By Frank White9 years ago in Futurism
How Ufologist Stanton Friedman Debunked Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke
Stanton Friedman was like the Perry Mason of the flying saucer world, equipped and ready to defend any statement, destroy any criticism, debunk any myth.
By Joshua Samuel Zook9 years ago in Futurism
Power of Psychologistics
T. A. Waters was a lifelong student of the mental sciences. His 1970s book Psychologistics was an operating manual for the mind. The program can allow the brain to:
By Stephanie Gladwell9 years ago in Futurism
What is Pyramid Power?
Pyramid Power is based on the theory that pyramid shapes, built to the proportions of the Great Cheops Pyramid in Egypt, can generate energy that produces startling effects. A growing number of scientists, parapsychologists, and kitchen sink experimenters are discovering that a pyramid can alter whatever falls within its energized walls. The special shape of the pyramid is like the special shape of a violin: A violin resonates sound; a pyramid resonates energy.
By Ami Roach9 years ago in Futurism
Buried Screwball Facts About Nikola Tesla
Travel anywhere outside the United States and the name of Nikola Tesla is known. Ask the average person on an American sidewalk? They’re apt to recall the 80’s rock band. Or they’ll nod and mumble about Elon Musk’s motor company.
By Matt Cates9 years ago in Futurism
Top Ten Haunted Places to Visit on Vacation
When a lot of people think vacation, they think of a warm beach with white sand, blue water, and maybe a fruity cocktail to enjoy. But not everybody. Some of us think of a cabin in the woods or a historical site that captures the imagination. Also, tourist season isn’t always in the middle of the summer; sometimes it can be great fun to travel during spooky October. If you’re taking a fall vacation or even like to enjoy yourself with a little morbid curiosity, you can’t go wrong with these haunted travel destinations.
By AC Glover9 years ago in Futurism