Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Venus-Fall
The circular door shuddered violently with an uncustomary blackboard scraping “whhhirphhiss” in its desperate attempt to open. It stopped halfway; giving off a grinding squeal and a hiss of petulant steam. The sound set Alex Brant’s teeth on edge, forcing his face -o crust over into an angry grimace, from his usual morose sour sneer.
By Andrew David9 years ago in Futurism
Why Humans Aren't Built For Space Travel
(Originally appeared on the Dana Foundation website, November 18, 2014, as “This is Your Brain in Space.”) When Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, made his historic flight in 1961, Soviet scientists limited the mission to a single 108-minute orbit, and breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was over. Why? The usual concerns—plus fears that a prolonged flight in zero gravity could prove fatal.
By Dirk Hanson9 years ago in Futurism
Right of Return
The sun shone in a brilliant blue sky, as SS Obergruppenfuehrer Karl Dietz stepped smartly up the broad white marble steps that led to SS High Command. He smiled as he looked at the red and silver banners that hung from the lampposts on either side of him. They marked the 100th anniversary of the final triumph over the plutocratic Western Allies and their traitorous Japanese lackeys. He stopped at one swastika-and-eagle tipped lamppost, where a foreign guest worker—a South Slav by the cast of his brow—struggled to hang one of the banners.
By Michael Cnudde9 years ago in Futurism
The Energy Equation
In a year that has already seen it's share of misfortunes not only for countless millions of Americans but millions more the world over along comes pre-summer inflationary trends in the price we pay for just about everything we buy. We have already seen staggering increases in the price of food from dairy to beef and now we are facing more pain at the pump just to get to the store to pay those inflated prices. When is comes to the price of milk lately it would be cheaper to buy a cow. Now, as we are approaching the summer months as usual the price of gas always increases. That old saying that supply and demand dictates the price, well today it is not really the supply and demand rational so much that has set the price of gas soaring it really is corporate greed. In just the past two months the price we pay at the pump has jumped and in most places around the country many are paying more than $4.00 per gallon. Many don't realize that the price we pay at the pump does dictate the price of everything else and that includes food.
By Dr. Williams9 years ago in Futurism
Star Trek Beyond Gets a Very Late Start
At 5:55 pm on Saturday afternoon, Chris Pine did another of his mid-air, hands on transporter rescues and delivers Star Trek the way JJ Abrams has envisioned. The moment also showered pride on Gene Roddenberry’s memory and the manner in which Star Trek cast camaraderie is meant to be. “Let's not do that again,” this generation's James T deadpanned. Unfortunately, the movie began at 4:30. Two or three years between installments, what a poor use of such valuable time.
By Rich Monetti9 years ago in Futurism
Joint NASA/ESA Mission Proposed to Search for Life on Europa
Europa is one of the most fascinating places in the Solar System, and is considered to be at or near the top of the list of worlds to search for possible evidence of life. Beneath its outer ice crust lies a deep and dark salty ocean, thought to be quite to Earth's own oceans. Could that ocean be inhabited, even if just by microbes? Scientists want to know, and now a new proposal calls for a joint orbiter/lander mission between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency), to try to answer that question.
By Paul Scott Anderson9 years ago in Futurism
The Matrix and Gnosticism
The Walchowski's Matrix Trilogy stands out as one of the classics of modern sci-fi storytelling. Not only does it powerfully present the hero's journey in a similar manner to other epic tales like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but this incredibly complex series also incorporates various philosophical, Buddhist, Christian, and science fictional elements. Most of all, it serves as a modern re-visioning of the ancient religion of Gnosticism, an obscure theological-cosmological system that describes a dualistic cosmos, in which spiritual sparks have become trapped in matter but can be released through saving knowledge, or "Gnosis." Whether or not the Walchowskis were aware of the teachings of Gnosticism, they are basically telling a very similar story.
By M Alan Kazlev9 years ago in Futurism
Best Sci-Fi Book to Movie Adaptations
“The book was better than the movie” is a common phrase every movie goer has heard when viewing book to movie adaptations. Yet that isn't always true. Sometimes, when a book is transformed to the screen, the moments you had to conjure up with your imagination are brought to life right before your eyes. Those monsters, characters and epic action scenes are even more intense and entertaining. Sci-fi book to movie adaptations are a popular evolution in the genre and allows the fans of the greatest authors to relive their favorite literature moments as they're brought to life by some of the most well known directors.
By Eddie Wong9 years ago in Futurism
Miraculous Escape
It all started with running and climbing and scrambling. The sheer trauma of what she had witnessed was enough to send anyone into shock but with the coldness now biting at her extremities the process began to escalate. The fear and adrenaline of escaping from the Red Skull had provided her with the energy and drive she needed to save herself and her son. She had observed the cataract of water cascading over the cliff edge as they had been herded onto the ice with the tens of thousands of refugees displaced by the war with the Red Skull. Bethulia had been in a period of extensive peace until the day the Immortal Remes marched upon their peaceful land. She sat and watched the powerful flow of water beside her as she hid in the crevice of the cliff hoping they would not see her, hoping they would move on before the cold gripped her beyond what she could cope. The fall dropped into rapids, she considered the possibility of jumping into this and surviving if all other options were removed. It had several layers or steps, it was not a plunge pool. Survival would be unlikely. One pool was half frozen and only remained unfrozen due to the constant turmoil of the water flowing into it. She heard noises from below, it was the troopers searching for her. She couldn't be that important, surely they would give up their search soon. She looked over the edge it was a five hundred foot drop all the way down. Her foot slipped on the ice, her son reached out and held her, helping her to regain her balance. She would wait patiently until the troops left. The old wire rope she had used to climb down was still there, to climb back again.
By Allan Marshall9 years ago in Futurism
The Uncut Godzilla 1954 Japanese Version is an "A Movie" with Bite
On Facebook, there are a number of groups dedicated to the love of Godzilla. So when I posted my article claiming how much I likeGodzilla 1998 with Matthew Broderick, you can only imagine the pushback I receive. In disbelief, I question how they could view this elongated lizard as representing some grand epiphany in the annals of Science Fiction. It is a hooky toy dinosaur, breathing lightning and smoke, and worse yet, Raymond Burr looks on paternally as the only one equipped to save the model buildings and emasculated Japanese Army. On the other hand, maybe they are able to suspend all the silliness in deference to the uncut Japanese Godzilla 1954 version.
By Rich Monetti9 years ago in Futurism
