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"[Science fiction is] nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible."
- Gregory Benford
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| Sound Nullifier | ||
| A barrier to sound; the cancellation of sound waves. |
| “How is it,” asked the doctor, “that in here we can’t hear the loud speaker in the anteroom, although there is no door?” “You see those ornamental spear points round the arch.” Nash stretched out a finger. “Well, diagonally between them is drawn a sound nullifying barrier. In principle, it’s not unlike those used in broadcasting except that it acts at audio frequencies. Try the experiment of putting your head through.” Obediently the doctor stepped forward through the arch. Suddenly he stiffened, shouted to Nash over his shoulder and plunged into the anteroom. Nash, hearing nothing through the sound nullifier, dawdled after him. But once in view of the antechamber, he too quickened his step. |
| From Prima Donna 1980,
by Bernard Brown. Published by Amazing Stories in 1931 Additional resources -
|
Compare to the Fenton Silencer from Silence Please (1957) by Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein's hush corner in Double Star in 1956. Also, see the isolation barrage from Wandl, The Invader (1939) by Ray Cummings.
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| Fusion Power Breakthrough? |
| Thin Film Dome Protects Cities From Nuclear Blasts |
| Cyborg Eye Flashlight Lights Up The Room |
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'The pokkecon rang again. *The coffee’s for him?* Tsuyoshi said.'
The Jetsons imagined so much future.
'Rod placed the brain inside the panel... the horse raised its head, wiggled its ears, blinked twice, gave a tentative whinny.'
'Pina2bo would have to operate full blast for many years to put as much SO2 into the stratosphere as its namesake had done in a few minutes.'
'Chain of hotels that specialized in non-human service.'
'But then... not every bulldozer operator works on the Moon.'
'Griff found the white and pink map distracting and switched it off using his tongue mouse.'
