Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Sci-Fi Anime TV Shows
Animation is a fantastic medium to portray what are otherwise unrealistic action sequences and over the top effects. Science fiction anime is only limited by an artist's imagination. World War II Japan has become the poster child for turning science fiction into science reality. Logically, Japan has become the most important producer of top quality sci-fi anime. Often, sci-fi anime serves as a backdrop for opening a discussion on difficult topics, such as the nature of consciousness, "war," or "artificial intelligence." Beautifully crafted worlds explore daunting philosophical issues. Each selection on the list is a prime example of the best sci-fi anime TV shows and is sure to stir deliberation among fan pundits.
By Isaac Shapiro10 years ago in Futurism
Netflix's Marco Polo Historical Accuracy
Marco Polo is a political drama soaked in blood and sex, but does Netflix's historic epic capture the historical truths of the famed explorer? The answer is vague. Marco Polo did travel to Mongolia, but whether he engaged in politics and combat is ambiguous. Polo wrote his works omitting any personal interactions, choosing to record accounts of the varying cultures and locations. However, lack of information did not stop the streaming service from delivering a show to rival shows on HBO and Starz, with engaging scenery and stunningly choreographed martial arts. Whether or not Marco Polo dabbled in political shenanigans is left to the imagination. Regardless, Bob Weinstein and Netflix have created an engaging series. For the sake of human curiosity, as most adventures begin, it is worth exploring the historical figure of Marco Polo.
By Futurism Staff10 years ago in Futurism
James Randi Scientific Skeptic
James Randi is a skeptic, well known for challenges to paranormal claims, false invention, religious claims and the pseudosciences. Randi started as a magician stage named "The Amazing Randi", he retired to devote his time to investigating the occult, and other supernatural claims. Randi became famous in 1972 when he openly questioned the claims of Uri Geller. He said Geller used plain magic tricks to accomplish his allegedly supernatural feats. Randi wrote about his claims in The Truth About Uri Geller one of a number of great books on debunking charlatans.
By Futurism Staff10 years ago in Futurism
Best Sci-Fi Anime Films
Sci-fi anime films take you into a world unlike any other. The extreme graphic nature of many films on the list is what makes some of them the best sci-fi anime films. Blood flows freely and bodies snap seamlessly in half in the world of anime leading, in many cases, to some of the goriest anime deaths. Animation is a great format for creating expansive worlds and complex narratives that collide in a crescendo of action. From robotics to cyborgs and gangsters to crime fighters, sci-fi anime films are a unique genre with some of the most talented creatives working today. The list of films include extreme imagery for the film fanatics and cerebral warnings for futurists and the scientifically curious.
By Isaac Shapiro10 years ago in Futurism
The Strain is an Infectious Vampire Gore Fest
For the past few years vampires have been effectively defanged. All of the initial menace from these terrifying blood suckers has been drained out. In their place we’ve seen then transformed into erotic creatures of lust and desire. Immortal beauties so far removed from their horror roots they become the erotic fixation of teenage fantasy. Stories like Twilight have served to delude and neuter vampires of their menace much to the dismay of longtime horror fans. But famed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro has had enough of it. No more beautiful lovelorn vampire designed to be fawned over by teenage girls. With The Strain Del Toro sought to create a new kind of vampire that stripped the monster of any sense of romanticism. That was the impetus for the creation of The Strain. Originally Del Toro saw it as a tv series, but he was unable to find anyone interested in producing it amongst the major networks. He took an alternate path by collaborating with novelist Chuck Hogan to turn his idea into a trilogy of books. Ironically enough, a few years later after the runaway success of The Walking Dead, his books were optioned for a tv series so Del Toro got have his original desire of seeing The Strain turned into a TV series.
By James Sullivan10 years ago in Futurism
Philip K. Dick Book to Film Adaptations
Philip K. Dick's work has transformed the way we view science fiction, not only through literature, but through film, as well. He published 44 novels and over 100 short stories, twelve of which have been made into films. Philip K. Dick's influence extends even to present day. The best Philip K. Dick books, such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, are amongst the numerous titles that have been re-released in graphic novel form, made into movies, and inspired television series.
By James T. Whitlock10 years ago in Futurism
Mind Blowing Alternate Reality Movies
The Walter Mitty trailer confused me. I didn't understand, was it an alternate reality movie? By the time I was done with my research on the movie, it was no longer in the theaters. Once I watched it I was still not sure how to describe it, but it left me feeling pretty good. In a medium that doesn’t have many superstars, Mitty is one of the most famous short stories ever written and has been pinging around in the pop culture superconsciousness since it was published in 1939.
By Emily McCay10 years ago in Futurism
Mark Hamill Interview With Maria Shriver
In this revealing Mark Hamill interview, Maria Shriver inquires if the Star Wars icon will reappear in the franchise 20 years from then. She was off by more than a decade but it is intriguing to realize that even as early as the 1983 release of The Return of the Jedi, there were plans for this franchise to live long into the future.
By Futurism Staff10 years ago in Futurism
Facebook Can Control Your Mind
Back when I was a smoker, there was a conversation that we smokers would have every few months. Every time they pushed us to a new and more remote shame-hole in the building and eventually outside altogether, every time the price for a pack would shoot up another half dollar, we would look at each other, light up resignedly, and say, “What are you gonna do, quit?”
By David Furgeson10 years ago in Futurism
Philip K. Dick Explains European Sci-Fi
In a rare interview, Philip K. Dick gives us a glimpse into differing perceptions of science fiction in Europe and America. A self analysis of his personal experience battling for legitimacy as a writer reveals very different attitudes toward sci-fi across the Atlantic ocean. While many decades have passed there still prevails a subtle difference between the two cultures that can be felt in the publishing industry.
By Futurism Staff10 years ago in Futurism
How Dinosaurs Had Sex
I remember the moment I realized, as an adult, that I didn't know how birds had sex. I was gazing out the window of the library, considering a couple of sparrows on a telephone wire outside. They were sitting side-by-side, gazing outwards, as birds sometimes do, and I found myself wondering about their courtship. First came love, I mused, then...what? What happened between easeful flitting around on telephone wires and the domestic menage of egg-and-nest? I was shocked that I'd never even considered this question before.
By Claire Evans10 years ago in Futurism
Medicinal Mushroom Magic
Medicinal mushrooms produce medically important natural metabolites or can be induced to do so with biotechnology. There is a range of medical compounds that include antibiotics, cholesterol inhibitors, anti cancer drugs, psychotropic drugs, and a few fungicides. Though early discoveries focused on basic moulds which cause spoiling of food, later work would identify helpful compounds across many types of fungi. Naturalists have preached the benefits of medicinal mushrooms for decades. They know where to find the best fungi and understand the sound scientific benefits of the specific types of mushrooms they find.
By Futurism Staff10 years ago in Futurism