Example Of Research Paper On Futuristic Weapons And Technologies Have Been Portrayed In Popular Science Fiction.

OUTLINE

Introduction

This paper attempts to gather and explore the data on recent advances in the field of science and engineering which may potentially result in coming-up with these futuristic technologies.

The light sabers from Star Wars

The nanobots in Big Hero 6
The artificial intelligence singularity in Transcendence
The human cloning in Resident Evil and Star Wars
The time travel in Interstellar
Light Sabers
It is similar with respect to LASERs.
At present, LASERs are used in different applications. In the industries, LASERs are used to weld and to cut hard materials.

Wicked Lasers, a Hong Kong-based company, manufactured a handheld device similar to the light saber.

It was named Spyder III Pro Arctic.
It can also burn eyes and skin similar to the real light saber.
It can cause serious irreversible damage to the retina of the eyes.
Physicists have also come-up with breakthroughs such as the discovery of the super-photon.
Nanobot Technology
Nanobots are robots in the size of nanometer (10-9 meter) range.
In the movie Big Hero 6, nanobots have taken a leap forward by movement through electromagnetism.
The technology is still at its infancy.
The latest trend in this technology is in the field of medicine.
Micro-motor powered nanobots have successfully delivered a nanoparticle compound directly into the gut tissue of a live mouse.
Questions on power requirements, locomotion design, programming and control have to be addressed first.
Artificial Intelligence Singularity.
In the movie Transcendence, a researcher working on super intelligent machines has created an algorithm that makes for possible of an omnipresent intelligence with a different purpose.
Singularity is the term coined by John Neumann in 1958 to describe the point at which artificial intelligence will exceed human intelligence such that it is difficult to predict what will happen next.

Ray Kurzweil, a director of engineering at Google, boldly predicted that by year 2049, computers will be as smart as humans.

One current technology is the brain-computer interface (BCI).
Human Cloning.
There are ethical questions to be considered since this involves human beings and not just any other organism.
In analysis of current cloning technology though, early animal embryos cannot be fully developed.
The chance of obtaining a healthy cloned animal has been below 10% success.
Scientists are hesitant to cross ethical boundaries in research.
Time Machine
Time travel is the most distant among the technologies explored.
Clocks on earth tick a bit slower than that of satellites revolving around the earth.
The principle of causality could be violated.
Time travel options present challenges in themselves with respect to plausibility, engineering, and finance.
Conclusion
The futuristic technologies were explored based on present trends and studies from the most plausible to the least possible.
Some have planned to commercialize their futuristic ideas.
The mind has the power to accept challenges and transcend boundaries.
BREAKING BOUNDARIES: LIGHT SABERS, NANOBOTS, SINGULARITY,
HUMAN CLONES AND TIME TRAVEL
Futuristic weapons and technologies have been portrayed in popular science fiction, but will they just be confined to human imagination? Will recent discoveries in the fields of physics, nano-technology, and bio-engineering allow scientists to create any of the futuristic weapons and technologies portrayed in popular science fiction? This paper attempts to gather and explore the data on recent advances in the field of science and engineering which may potentially result in coming-up with these futuristic technologies. Five of the most notable of these types of technologies will be discussed: (1) light sabers from Star Wars, (2) nanobots in Big Hero 6, (3) artificial intelligence singularity in Transcendence, (4) human cloning in Resident Evil and Star Wars, and (5) time travel in Interstellar.
First is the light sabers used by Luke Skywalker, Master Yoda, and Darth Vader. It is similar with respect to LASERs (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation), but of definite length. At present, LASERs are used in the optical disc drives in computers, laser printers, barcode readers, fiber optic communication, and even in surgical operations. In the industries, LASERs are used to weld and to cut hard materials. In June 2010, Wicked Lasers, a Hong Kong-based company, manufactured a handheld device similar to the light saber. It was named Spyder III Pro Arctic (Hadhazy, 2010). Interestingly, it can also burn eyes and skin similar to the real light saber. It is that dangerous which prompted it to be classified as Class 4 laser: the most dangerous of the laser classification. It can cause serious irreversible damage to the retina of the eyes. Thus, it has to be used with caution. Physicists have also come-up with breakthroughs such as the discovery of the super-photon. The super-photon is a Bose-Einstein condensate consisting of photons. It is relatively, a new light source which can be used in the UV and X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. With the shorter wavelength compared to older LASER types, precision application are being eyed by physicists.
Next in the list is nanobot technology. Nanobots are robots in the size of nanometer (10-9 meter) range. That is in the level of atoms. In the movie Big Hero 6, nanobots have taken a leap forward by movement through electromagnetism. Furthermore, the movement can be controlled by the mind using a head-set control. This could be very useful in the construction and manufacturing technology as machine designs need not to be rigid, but flexible in design and operation. Currently though, the technology is still at its infancy or in the research and development stage. Nanoparticles are difficult to create. The latest trend in this technology is in the field of medicine. Micro-motor powered nanobots have successfully delivered a nanoparticle compound directly into the gut tissue of a live mouse (Wei, et. al. 2015). This makes possible targeted drug administration. The original design of the medical nanobots was tubular and 20 microns long and 5 microns in diameter. Coated with zinc, there is a reaction between the hydrochloric acid in the stomach lining. This produces hydrogen bubbles which propelled the nanobots, in similar fashion as rockets being propelled by combustion gases. At speeds of 60 microns per second, the nanobots then embed themselves into the gut tissue to deliver the nanoparticle drug. Questions on power requirements, locomotion design, programming and control have to be addressed first. Thus, it may take a few more years before this technology becomes live stream.
Third is the idea of artificial intelligence (AI) singularity. In the movie Transcendence, a researcher working on super intelligent machines has created an algorithm that makes for possible of an omnipresent intelligence with a different purpose. It is quite amazing at first how the AI has created scientific breakthroughs, until it seems to have become unstoppable. Fortunately, this has not yet been the case. It is estimated that it will take fourteen more years before singularity is reached. Singularity is the term coined by John Neumann in 1958 to describe the point at which artificial intelligence will exceed human intelligence such that it is difficult to predict what will happen next. Ray Kurzweil, a director of engineering at Google, boldly predicted that by year 2049, computers will be as smart as humans (Ghose, 2013). Some questions may arise regarding the “what will happen next?” question. It is open-ended.
Theodore Berger of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles is the trendsetter in brain-computer interface (BCI). It is simply a connection between a brain and a computer (Berger, 2008). He is currently developing a technology called memory prosthesis in which part of the brain is replaced by a BCI. The device could record electrical activity, encodes it into short-term memory, and converting it to digital signal. The signal is processed by the computer and sends it back to the brain for long-term memory. This has been successfully done on animals such as rats and monkeys. With this recent research, uploading the contents of the mind to a computer is possible. The deep understanding of this phenomenon could be the prerequisite in advancing the knowledge in artificial intelligence.
Another captivating futuristic technology in science fiction is that of human cloning. As seen in the movies, Resident Evil and Star Wars, human cloning can be done extensively in producing soldiers and research subjects. However, there are ethical questions to be considered since this involves human beings and not just any other organism. In analysis of current cloning technology though, early animal embryos (blastocysts) cannot be fully developed. There seems to be defects that prevent them from being implanted and maturing in the uterus (Jaenisch, 2004). Although there are some who advocate for research using human embryos, there are groups who oppose for it. They are not just parallel.
The success of the first cloned sheep “Dolly” in 1996 has made the world excited. However, the chance of obtaining a healthy cloned animal has been below 10% success rate according to Jose Cibelli, a stem cell researcher (as cited by Pappas, 2013). It is one of the reasons why human cloning is not yet done globally. The prospect however of human embryo cloning can be attributed to stem cell research. Stem cells are normal cells obtained from the body which has the capability to develop into any human tissue. Current sources include placenta and bone marrow, but in limited stock. With this, scientists are hesitant to cross ethical boundaries in research. Yet, some rogue minds can be successful with this crazy and “unethical” endeavor. Until then, dialogues have to be made to resolve conflicting view in a proactive manner.
Last in the list is time machine. Time travel is the most distant among the technologies explored. Yet, it captivates the minds of people to travel in the past and correct errors, or travel to the future to discover new things. Recently, the idea has been revived in the movie Interstellar. Through time travel, the protagonist has somehow managed to convey a message back to the past. This prompted his daughter to alter the space-time continuum and redefine the deteriorating Earth. In the words of Seth Lloyd, a professor of quantum mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (as cited by Hadhazy, 2012):
"We can travel at different rates to the future. To go into the past and mess around with it, that's more controversial."
This sums up what we know about time travel for now. With Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the dimension of time has been studied well. Seth Lloyd cites one example- that of a GPS satellite. Clocks on earth tick a bit slower than that of satellites revolving around the earth. That is very tiny indeed at 38 microseconds slower per day. There is also the paradox of twin where one is an astronaut who travels in space and one is left on earth. When the astronaut goes back to earth, he discovers that his twin has aged more than him. On the other hand, travelling into the future is a different thing. There is the principle of causality which could be violated. Physicists propose two ways to travel back in time: (a) moving faster than light, or (b) travelling through wormholes. Both options present challenges in themselves with respect to plausibility, engineering, and finance. There is still a possibility though, even if it is very small.
The futuristic technologies were explored based on present trends and studies from the most plausible to the least possible. Due to recent discoveries in the fields of physics, robotics, nanotechnology, and bio-engineering, scientists may soon be able to create some of the futuristic weapons and capabilities portrayed in popular science fiction. However, they may differ in the development stages they are in to, and the plausibility with which they can happen. Some have even planned to commercialize their ideas such as Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic which aims to develop the first commercial space line. The human imagination is unlimited. According to Suddendorf and Corballis (2007), time travel by the human mind allows man to foresee, plan, and shape the future he conceives. This statement symbolizes the power of the mind to accept challenges and transcend boundaries.

References:

Berger, T. ed. (2008). Brain-Computer Interfaces: An International Assessment of Research and Development Trends. Springer Science & Business Media.
Suddendorf, T and Corballis, M.C. (2007). The Evolution of Foresight: What is Mental Time Travel, and is it Unique to Humans?. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 30 299-313
Ghose, T. (May 07, 2013). Intelligent Robots Will Overtake Humans by 2100, Experts Say. Retrieved from March 31, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/29379-intelligent-robots-will-overtake-humans.html
Hadhazy, A. (April 09, 2012). Science Fiction or Fact: Is Time Travel Possible? Retrieved from March 31, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/19582-time-travel.html
Hadhazy, A. (June 16, 2010). Wicked Lasers 'Lightsaber' Can Burn Eyes and Skin. Retrieved from March 31, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/6625-wicked-lasers-lightsaber-burn-eyes-skin.html
Jaenisch, Rudolf. Human Cloning- The Science and Ethics of Nuclear Transplantation. N Engl J Med 351.27 (2004): 2787-91.
Pappas, S. (May 17, 2013). Human Cloning? Stem Cell Advance Reignites Ethics Debate. Retrieved from March 31, 2015 from http://www.livescience.com/34487-human-cloning-stem-cell-ethics.html
Wei, G. et. al. (2015). Artificial Micromotors in the Mouse's Stomach: A Step toward in Vivo Use of Synthetic Motors. ACS Nano 9.1 117-123.