Buzz
We’ve all watched Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. As a result, we've all dreamed of having a hoverboard, laser blaster, lightsaber, and more. Of course, we eventually faced the truth that our cars won't take flight, supermarket doors only open due to motion sensors, and vaporizing our bosses is far from possible.
However, what you might not have known is that many of these so-called “sci-fi” technologies already exist in some form or are in development. While you’re not exactly a few months away from boarding a starship to Mars for your weekly Djem So lesson, the following ten technologies might surprise you.
10. The Real-World Adamantium
The Seattle-based company Modumetal has mastered the technique of nanolamination, a process where the electric field controlling the movement of metallic ions can be precisely adjusted to determine their exact placement. This innovative method allows researchers to stack metal layers, correcting microscopic flaws in the metal and making corrosion and cracking almost impossible.
By applying this technique, Modumetal has developed a new class of metal that is not only cost-effective but also incredibly strong. Metals like steel, known for their durability against corrosion, bending, and cracking, can now be made up to ten times stronger.
This revolutionary metal is expected to be used in industries such as oil rigs, bridges, armor, and construction, wherever steel is traditionally employed. Its corrosion resistance will make oil rigs, frequently exposed to harsh chemicals, safer, more affordable, and longer-lasting. Bridges, buildings, and other structures will also benefit from this advanced metal.
9. Tricorders (Kind of)
In 2011, the X Prize Foundation, supported by Qualcomm, announced a $7 million reward for any team that could create a real-life tricorder, the iconic scanning device from the Star Trek universe. Qualcomm's focus was on replicating the tricorder's medical diagnostic capabilities. A successful device would need to weigh no more than 2.3 kilograms (5 lb), continuously monitor the body’s five main vital signs, and diagnose 12 medical conditions as well as confirm the absence of health issues.
No team succeeded in producing a tricorder that met all of these specifications, but in April 2017, two teams were awarded $2.6 million and $1 million for devices that came very close. Both tricorders can monitor vital signs and aim to diagnose nine health problems or the lack thereof. While they didn’t win the grand prize, they offer features once only available in hospital rooms or ambulances, now in a much more accessible form.
The aim of the tricorder competition wasn’t to create a medical device for first responders or doctors, but rather a consumer-level gadget, designed for use at home, in vehicles, or at the office. By keeping track of one’s health at all times, any emerging condition can be treated more swiftly. This suggests that these tricorders could potentially save millions of lives.
8. Exoskeletons
Exoskeletons are exactly what they sound like—mechanical suits worn on the outside of the body to enhance strength, speed, and capabilities. These devices have appeared in video games and films, often referred to as 'power suits' or 'exosuits.'
Exoskeletons have evolved significantly over time. In the 1960s, General Electric created the first functional powered exoskeleton, which used hydraulics and electric power. However, it was bulky and not suitable for military applications.
Today, exoskeletons are far from fictional. They are actively used by several affluent warehouse and manufacturing companies, particularly in advanced countries like South Korea. By 2017, it was estimated that several hundred exoskeletons were in use globally for various applications.
Modern exoskeletons allow individuals to achieve feats once thought impossible for one person. They have enabled people with disabilities to perform tasks they never imagined. Looking ahead, organizations like the police, EMS, military, and medical facilities are eager to integrate exoskeleton technology into their operations.
7. Stealth Suits
From Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to the latest military innovations, the concept of invisibility has been a subject of fascination for decades. The possibility of becoming unseen to both the human eye and surveillance systems has ignited extensive debate.
Adam R. Harvey’s startup, Stealth Wear, aims to tackle the growing concerns over surveillance and privacy invasion in the modern world. By combining advanced technology with traditional Islamic fashion, Stealth Wear seeks to make individuals invisible to thermal cameras. The garments are constructed from a synthetic material designed to reflect thermal energy, drastically lowering the likelihood of detection by thermal sensors.
Tests using FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) cameras revealed that people wearing the garments emitted minimal to no thermal signature, rendering their faces completely unrecognizable. Is this the future of privacy, or is it merely a tool for criminals?
6. Real-Time Language Translation Devices
Imagine planning a trip to a foreign land, but with no time to master a challenging language. Instead of spending significant money and effort on learning the language, why not try a device like Waverly Labs’s Pilot Earbuds? This innovative product comes from a startup that raised over $4 million through crowdfunding.
The concept is straightforward—the earbuds pick up spoken words, identify the language, translate them, and transmit the translation directly into your ear using synthesized speech. This enables you to communicate in real-time, using your own language, provided the other person understands it too.
Priced at $249, these devices are a viable option when considering the time and financial commitment required for traditional language courses. However, they face competition from Google’s Pixel Buds, which retail at $149. (Some users argue the Pixel Buds aren’t quite as effective.)
5. Cryonics
Although still one of the most complex technologies ever devised, the ability to cryogenically freeze organisms and organs has been successfully accomplished.
Cryopreservation, as detailed by NASDAQ News, involves quickly transporting a body—once declared deceased—to a facility where its fluids are drained, medical-grade antifreeze is infused, and it is submerged in liquid nitrogen. Remarkably, many life insurance policies cover this procedure as long as the cryonics company is named as the beneficiary.
The Alcor Life Extension Foundation offers this service at a cost of $200,000. For $80,000, you can opt for only your brain to be preserved. Several affluent individuals have enrolled for cryogenic preservation, trusting in a technology that is volatile yet could potentially be groundbreaking.
The success of this technology remains uncertain. The theory largely hinges on the belief that, in the future, we will possess the ability to revive a cryogenically preserved body or transfer a frozen brain into a younger body.
4. ‘Solid Light’ (Think Lightsabers)
If you’re a fan of Star Wars, you’ll be familiar with the iconic Jedi weapon—the lightsaber. This weapon can be described as a solid beam of light capable of slicing through nearly any material.
Although we haven’t yet created a fully controllable version of this technology, a study published in Physical Review X uncovered that engineers at Princeton University have managed to make photons behave like a solid rather than the typical light we know. By using a sophisticated setup, they were able to manipulate photons to act more like atoms. While this achievement is on a very small scale, the researchers confirm that the technology is real and could eventually be applied on a much larger scale.
The researchers are also looking to manipulate the light so that it behaves like materials that “do not exist.” Because the underlying mechanisms behind this process are still largely a mystery, scientists are eager to explore how this material will interact with other substances and elements.
3. Cybernetic Implants
Next, we explore the world of cybernetic implants. These devices come in countless varieties, but the fundamental idea remains the same: incorporating technology into a living organism to grant it enhanced abilities.
In the past decade, cybernetic startups have blossomed in both number and innovation. These include devices that improve senses like hearing, sight, and smell, as well as those that tackle diseases like Parkinson’s. No wonder they’ve become such a hot topic.
The first widely recognized cybernetic implant was the pacemaker, a device implanted to regulate heartbeats. Since its debut, pacemakers have evolved from cumbersome and unreliable gadgets to sleek, highly efficient devices the size of a pill.
Cutting-edge cybernetic implants are even more thrilling. The North Sense device, developed by Cyborg Nest, enables users to feel the Earth’s magnetic poles, guiding them on which direction they are oriented. This device works through internal magnets and is designed to be no thicker than 2.5 centimeters (1 in).
But it gets even more fascinating. Neil Harbisson, an artist and co-founder of Cyborg Nest, has an antenna implanted on his head that lets him “hear” colors. This device offers a unique advantage for his artistic endeavors.
Researchers are currently developing technologies aimed at enhancing people’s cognitive functions, physical capabilities, and even their potential for telekinesis. For now, though, we’ll have to make do with hearing colors.
2. Force Fields
Boeing, a leading giant in the aviation industry, has recently secured a patent for a force field technology concept. Picture the protective shields seen in Star Trek or the energy barriers in Wakanda.
Here’s how the technology works: A sensor detects shock waves nearby and alerts the defense system instantly. The system then rapidly heats the air in the direction of the explosion, creating a plasma field that serves as a protective barrier between the explosion and the vehicle or structure. This temporary shield can absorb, reflect, or deflect the explosion’s force, providing protection from damage.
However, this technology hasn’t been implemented on any objects yet, and its capabilities are somewhat limited. For instance, projectiles like bullets and rockets are not stoppable. That said, it may be effective in defending against explosions detonated nearby, such as near a hospital.
1. Laser Weapons
Laser weaponry, once a staple of science fiction, has actually existed for several decades. While it's not yet available for mass production or widespread practical use, it has been successfully deployed to target small boats, drones, and missiles.
The advantages of lasers over conventional ballistic weapons are clear. Lasers travel at the speed of light, whereas traditional projectiles like those from a Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle travel at around 853 meters (2,799 feet) per second. In contrast, the speed of light is approximately 300,000 kilometers (186,000 mi) per second.
Laser weaponry also offers far superior accuracy compared to conventional firearms. Traditional guns must account for factors like wind resistance, barrel length, and human error. Lasers, however, bypass most of these variables, with computers handling much of the precision.
The United States Navy is currently developing a laser-based system designed to intercept and destroy missiles in mid-flight. This development is seen as a critical advancement in the global arms race, providing the potential to neutralize nuclear weapons before they detonate.
