Futurism Staff
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A team of space cadets making the most out of their time trapped on Earth. Help.
Stories (149/0)
Captivating Artificial Intelligence Books
In science fiction, artificial intelligence refers to the idea that scientists might one day create machines that are equally intelligent as (or more intelligent than) humans. The concept has been popularized in movies like AI: Artificial Intelligence, about robotic boy, and Her, about a super-advanced version of Siri that falls in love with an ordinary man.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Best Astronomy Books for Beginners
Most people have been looking up at the stars and wondering about them since they first took a walk outside at night as a child. That childlike curiosity tends to deepen over time as family members and friends point out such fascinating things as the planets and constellations in the nighttime sky. Maybe you too have become intrigued by the stars, and have seen your interest in the exciting hobby of astronomy grow. The only problem is that you don’t know where to start. The best astronomy books for beginners offer a solid and informative introduction to the fascinating world of astronomy.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Examining the Pyramids
Herodotus, the “father of history,” lived during the 5th century B.C. He was the first of many to record either legend or theory about the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was built in Egypt an estimated 2,000 years before his “history” was written. According to Herodotus:
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Best Sci-Fi Fantasy Movies
The line between science fiction and fantasy is a thin one. How are spaceships and super advanced technology capable of shooting fireballs so different from, say, a wizard doing the same? It's not surprising that the two genres have many crossover fans, and it's not too uncommon for movies to cross the two genres as well. You might think the idea of wizards flying around in spaceships and shooting lightning bolts from their hands sounds ridiculous, but there's a movie you've probably heard of that does just that. You know, that little film called Star Wars that perfectly blends fantasy and sci-fi? It has a grand dark wizard who literally shoots lightning from his fingertips and lives in a giant moon castle capable of destroying planets. Sometimes crossing the peanut butter of sci-fi with the chocolate of fantasy can equal an amazing delight of cinema. Here are a few of our favorite sci-fi fantasy movies that form the perfect Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of good, nerdy, cinematic taste.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
History of Japanese Seppuku
Japanese culture is everywhere in today’s world. However, one particularly grisly aspect has affected our general consciousness—seppuku. You may not get the same sensation when reading it, but the evocative image of a samurai stabbing himself in the gut with a tanto is one you’re not likely to forget. But why did this form of honorable suicide take hold in Japan? What would cause someone to commit Japanese seppuku? Does it still exist today?
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Authentic 'Star Wars' Costumes for Cosplay
Cosplaying. It’s living gloriously in America—and with good reason. From My Little Pony to the Marvel Universe's Black Widow to DC's Suicide Squad, people are coming out in flocks to impersonate their favorite characters. With the expansion of the Star Wars movie anthology, Star Wars cosplay exploded in popularity. You can’t go to a comic con without spotting at least one Darth Vader, Han Solo, or Princess Leia.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Hercules Constellation History
Not only has the story of Hercules painted imaginations worldwide for centuries, but Hercules has also found his place among the starry night. Hercules constellation history is important in order to understand the hero’s place in our sky. Despite Hercules’ great fame and the fact that his constellation is one of the largest in the night sky, his starry figure is made up of fairly dim stars. But don’t worry—this luminous warrior isn’t too hard to find if you know where to look.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
How to Find Fossils
The next time you find yourself nodding behind the wheel from the monotony of turnpike driving, pull off beside a road cut where highway engineers have blasted the rock outcrop. Your reward will not only be a well-earned rest, but also the possibility of finding some of those exquisite treasures in the dust that we call fossils. Learning how to find fossils is both and entertaining and educational skill.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Aviation Museum Guide
In the short span of aviation history, a legacy of machines and accomplishments has developed. Much of this information exists in the museums of America. Some museums attempt to portray the whole history of aviation; others convey only various aspects of it. For anyone with even the mildest curiosity regarding rockets, airplanes, and flying, aviation museums hold a ticket that will satisfy even the greatest of air travel enthusiasts.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Best Vintage Astronomy Books
The 20th century was an amazing time for space exploration. Astronomers were learning more about our solar system every day, while the manned missions to space were revealing galaxies of information. From this great age of exploration came some of the best books about astronomy. Now deemed vintage, these books are chock full of predictions, fears, facts, and failures from the astronomers and authors of the time. Ranging from literature about our home planet in Heinz Haber's Our Blue Planet, to predictions by Reginald Turnhill for space exploration in the 80s and 90s in Space Age, there is a great deal of material to be examined. People were talking about colonies in space in the 80s, and this idea may be found in James Trefil's Living in Space. From astronomy books for beginners to volumes for experts to pour over, the best vintage astronomy books should be on everyone's bookshelves.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Morris Kline Interview
Morris Kline was a slender man, soft-spoken, polite, cultured. For most of his lifetime he was a mathematician, in pursuit of what Alfred North Whitehead called "a divine madness of the human spirit." Yet Kline did not display the madness so often paraded by his fellow mathematicians. He was a champion of common sense, but, as Lord Kelvin put it, "Mathematics is merely the etherealization of common sense." That connection eluded many of Kline's colleagues.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
Predictions from Sci-Fi Authors
Science fiction authors are modern-day prophets. Many of the predictions from the great writers like Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick came to fruition at the turn of the 21st century. Writer Michael Banks closely followed the growth of online web services and the evolution of the internet from the early 1980s onward. His perception on the predictive nature of science fiction can be proven through a study of the the great sci-fi author's ability to blur the lines between speculation and fact are often the catalyst for authentic advance in tech. His books, including Crosley: Two Brothers and a Business Empire That Transformed the NationandOn the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Foundersdelve into the results of this chain of predictions. His perceptions will continue to drive further authors to continue to essentially create the future. Many of his theories were captured in a 1978 article from vintage sci-fi magazine Starlog.
By Futurism Staff7 years ago in Futurism
