Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Best Futuristic Technologies From Science Fiction

People Break Down The Best Futuristic Technologies From Science Fiction
photography of Astronaut beside satellite
Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Science Fiction has often been a predictor of what technologies might be possible in the future and has occasionally guided scientists in developing new tech.

Efforts to create a Universal Translator are ongoing, though none have yet reached the level of real-time translation seen in Star Trek.


Redditor I-Like-Being-Alone asked:

"What are your favourite examples of advanced technology from Science-Fiction?"

Replicators

"Star Trek replicators"

-sadh*ndjob

"Yep. Any consumable item, at any temperature, perfect everytime."

-Fickle-dill-pickle

"Yes. I want nachos. With cheese, and beef, and beans, and salsa, and tomatoes, and sour cream, and olives."

"I live in Japan, obtaining some of those items is nearly impossible. I weep. Even Taco Bell nachos bel grande would be welcome at this point."

-ClancyHabbard

Infectious Luck

Giphy

"The positive viruses from Red Dwarf - sexual magnetism virus and luck virus"

-Item_Successful

Capsule Corp To The Rescue

"Capsules from Dragonball. We would save so much area just from parked cars alone."

-pvtskittels

"A portable house and car sound amazing"

-Zorro5040

​Instantaneous Travel

"Teleportation; whether we're talking Star Trek, Dr Who, etc. Flying/driving needs to become a leisure activity"

-MrBlusie

"But most forms of teleportation would just bring up The Ship of Theseus Paradox since most forms of teleportation breaks the user down and reconstructs them elsewhere. Are we truly the same person or were we just killed and a clone was placed to replace us?

-ForgottenForce

You Could Be Anything

"The Omnitrix. The fact that you can use this device with millions of alien samples and walk around in their shoes and use their unique traits is pretty cool. Plus you could become a superhero...or a supervillain, whichever you choose lol"

-WrathfulBroly

"All good fun till you turn into something that can't survive in Earth's atmosphere and implodes from the pressure difference."

-Northerleyfire

"Hopefully there would be some form of safeguard to prevent that... But that would depend on the device working correctly, and a competent user... 🤪"

-4rd_Prefect

Really Fast Travel

"Surprised not to see literally any of the multiple forms of FTL tech yet. Warp drive, slipstream, slipSPACE, wormhole tech, stargates…"

-Sawsamurai

"Right. All of the other things are mere convenience. If we can figure out FTL, we can literally control the galaxy."

"Problem is, it's probably not possible. That makes me sad."

-heuristic_al

Instant Big Mac

"This is a silly one... I always wished the microwave thingy from Spy Kids was real. The one where, it looked like a candy bar before putting it in there and then BOOM Big Mac?"

"That's honestly something I think was always pretty cool."

-Storm137

New-Old Tech

"Mine would have to be a particular in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Basically, it's a voice-to-text-typewriter. The character misspeaks while dictating to the device and so she has to throw out the paper and start again. I love how the idea of a word processor just didn't come to him. It shows how there's so many innovations that couldn't be easily predicted."

-SmartAlec105

"Like Dick, who imagines robot teachers or super computers that run the world but they all run on tape."

-RavioliGale

It Sonics Things

doctor who television GIF by BBC America Giphy

"The sonic screwdriver"

-SavageCabbageGG

Just So Useful

"A Star Trek's tricorder. A portable device which can tell me what something is or wha's wrong with someone? So good."

-Megidra989

Some of these are certainly fantastical and seemingly impossible, but an iPhone would seem completely absurd to someone from 100 years ago. Anything is possible.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshot of Bryce Mitchell; Donald Trump
@HQNewsNow/X; Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

UFC Fighter Bryce Mitchell Expertly Rips Trump For 'Desecrating' White House With 'Freedom 250' Fight

While speaking to reporters at UFC Vegas 118 Media Day, mixed martial artist Bryce Mitchell criticized the Trump administration for hosting a UFC fight for President Donald Trump's birthday.

Trump previously announced there will be a UFC fight on the White House grounds to celebrate America's semiquincentennial. Trump expects the fight will happen in front of 20,000 to 25,000 people, a proposal backed by former two-division champion Conor McGregor, who confirmed his interest after not having competed since 2021.

Keep Reading Show less
Father and bride performing 'Last Bite Ritual' in China
u/s**tonthebeach/Reddit

Viral Video Of Dad Performing Emotional 'Last Bite' Ritual With His Daughter On Her Wedding Day Has Us Sobbing

While a person's wedding day is meant to be a celebration of their love and starting a new life with their partner, it's also important to remember the life they're leaving "behind," specifically the household that raised them.

In a video that's gone viral multiple times before, a Chinese father presents his daughter, who is about to be married, with a bowl of dumplings. He then selects one dumpling and feeds it to her, as a reminder of how he raised her and symbolizing that this is the last time he'll take care of her before she becomes a married woman.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshots from Calleigh Cartwright's TikTok video
@calleighpaige07/TikTok

Woman Goes Viral After Suffering Hilariously Mortifying Wardrobe Malfunction In Her Town Square

What's a social media influencer to do on a nice day when they feel like their outfit is especially cute, but take photos for Instagram?

But for social media influencer Calleigh Cartwright, that may have been the wrong choice.

Keep Reading Show less
Sean Reifel (left) with Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds before entering the Love Island USA villa.
CBS 19/Youtube; @loveislandusa/Instagram

Pennsylvania Mayor Rips Police Officer Who Quit The Force To Go On 'Love Island USA'

A badge-wearing bombshell has entered the villa.

Sean Reifel is one of 12 singles entering the Love Island USA villa this summer, but his search for love is already creating drama back home. The former Bethlehem Police Department officer has drawn criticism from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Mayor J. William Reynolds after leaving the force to appear on the Peacock reality series.

Keep Reading Show less