Science + Tech
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Most Sadistic Cults of the 20th Century
"Don't drink the Kool-Aid" doesn't sound like such an important warning, but if the People's Temple followers in Jonestown would've been given this advice, over 900 lives would have been saved. Until September 11th, the largest loss of American civilian life occurred when cult members of the People's Temple ingested fruit punch that was laced with cyanide in a mass suicide. Cults are both fascinating and terrifying. Their mystery draws the attention of the public, but the often brutal and radical ways of cults instill fear. Some of the deadliest cults since the 1950's may not be the most well known, but their attacks were brutal, and their unconventional views attracted individuals to support their dangerous causes. As a result, when the 10:00 news asks, "Do you know where your children are?" you better hope they're not joining a cult with a 16-year-old who claims to be a 500-year-old vampire. Individuals of all ages join cults for many reasons; whether it is for friendship or identity, or as a result of pressure, people are constantly joining ranks among the masses to be part of a movement that they believe in. Since the 1930's, cults have been a primary subject in sociological study. Cults are made up of people from all walks of life, and are formed all over the world. The reasons why vary—from the belief that they themselves are vampires, to the idea that children born after 1981 must be terminated because they are evil.
George GottPublished 8 years ago in FuturismOrwell's 1984 Was Optimistic
When George Orwell wrote his most famous, and last, novel, 1984, it was against a backdrop of rising fascist totalitarianism in Europe. Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Franco, all turned their respective democratic nations into oppressive regimes. While Hitler sought war with Europe, Stalin declared war on his own people, purging the Soviet Union of anyone he feared might usurp him – they numbered in the millions. It was after participating in the Spanish Civil War, against Franco’s Nationalists, that Orwell’s writing direction turned towards one of speaking out against totalitarianism and promoting democratic socialism.
Jacob FrommerPublished 8 years ago in FuturismTop UFO Hoaxes in History
We've all seen the images, and admit it or not, somewhere deep inside of you, you've wondered whether the footage you're looking at is real (at last) or if not, at least another one of the top UFO hoaxes in history. Yet for some unidentified flying reason most people find the idea of life in outer space a little bit more than fascinating at least, if not possible, no matter how many top UFO hoaxes in history they come across.
Izzy ErlichPublished 8 years ago in FuturismQuantum Swarm
The lights flicker, go black. He walks out of his shack, sees that his abode is the only dark one and looks to the sky, as if for support. The glass towers glitter under a rocket arcing through the sky. Another mission to Mars, says his phone, the colonization process well under way. But the man, our man as it stands, didn’t win that lottery ticket, and so he only watches, the cool fall air tightening his skin; for a split second he can almost feel the warmth from the rocket.
Nelson LowhimPublished 8 years ago in FuturismLife on the International Space Station
The International Space Station, or ISS for us lazy folk, circles the Earth in low orbit many times a day, performing varying scientific researches and occasionally hosting some awesome live-streams. But, what happens on a day-to-day basis? We see the big news of new astronauts reaching it for the first time, or staying the longest, or singing from within, but what happens on a normal day? Here’s what NASA say.
Benjamin WareingPublished 8 years ago in FuturismNetflix Is Bringing Back Sci-Fi TV
Sci-fi TV, like any category of entertainment, sees an ebb and flow in its popularity and supply. These days it is back in a big way, and not just on cable outlet SyFy— it's coming on strong in the streaming arena. Netflix changed the game in Hollywood in distribution, and now it's competing with the big production studios to offer up some of the best original content around. Shows such as Orange Is The New Black and Grace And Frankie are great drama/comedies, but Netflix isn't leaving out nor forgetting its genre loving fans or geek squads. Stranger Things is one of the hottest new TV shows in years. You won't find it on broadcast or cable. Jessica Jones, Sense8, Black Mirror and Stranger Things are all original and exclusive to Netflix, and cable outlets like SyFy are now encouraged to make more stimulating science fiction for fans.
Will StapePublished 8 years ago in FuturismExplorer Investigates Alien Worlds
It watched him as his craft entered the atmosphere. Still ten kilometers above the sky, the ship came into view with momentum, disappearing just over the mountain that couldn’t have been more than three kilometers away. It watched him, not with sight, but with its auditory sense. Another moment passed and it heard perfect silence again, the ship was too far for it to hear. It lay dormant waiting, waiting for him.
Brett Ryan BonowiczPublished 8 years ago in FuturismGreatest Artificial Intelligence Characters
The Sci-Fi and Pop Culture genres are often found on vastly different paths with many light years of distance between them, but once in a while they collide. When they intertwine, we usually end up with some of the greatest Artificial Intelligence characters in history has seen. Sometimes these characters are symbolized through a grim and pessimistic future, where machines are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions. They also have a survival instinct that leads them to try and take over the world. In other instances, they are lovable and friendly and able to connect with humans. Even though they are programmed not to feel any kind of emotions, most times we feel some sort of connection to them. Whatever the case might be, these great artificial intelligence characters were designed and programed to make you remember them.
George GottPublished 8 years ago in Futurism