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Science Fiction
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Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
|
Date | Device Name (Novel Author) |
1634 | Weightlessness (Kepler) (from Somnium (The Dream) by Johannes Kepler) The notion that there could be a location with zero effective gravity. |
1638 | Weightlessness in Space (from The Man in the Moone by Francis Godwin) This appears to be the first description of the idea of weightlessness in space. |
1638 | Gansas (from The Man in the Moone by Francis Godwin) Migratory birds that fly all the way to the Moone. |
1657 | Moon Machine (from A Voyage to the Moon by Cyrano de Bergerac) A device that could power a man from the surface of the Earth to that of the Moon. |
1705 | Cogitator (The Chair of Reflection) (from The Consolidator by Daniel Defoe) A device which improves the rationality of the thinking processes. |
1726 | Bio-Energy (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first reference to extracting electricity from organic materials. |
1726 | Geometric Modeling (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first recorded use of geometric figures to directly represent, or model, living beings. |
1726 | Knowledge Engine (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) The first reference to a machine that could create sentences or write books. |
1726 | Laputa (from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift) A floating island or rock in the air. |
1727 | Androide (from Cyclopaedia by Ephraim Chambers) A device having the form or likeness of a man. |
1828 | Stage Balloon (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A regular means of conveyance, like a train or carriage. |
1828 | Barrels of Air (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A very early mention of a means for breathing once above the Earth's atmosphere. |
1828 | Steam-Propelled Moving Houses (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) Otherwise ordinary residences that move from place to place, powered by steam. |
1828 | Mail-Post Letter-Ball (from The Mummy! A Tale of the Twenty-Second Century by Jane Webb Loudon) A system of sending mail quickly from town to town via steam-cannon-powered hollow spheres. |
1864 | Whispering Gallery (from Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne) A means of communication in specifically shaped spaces. |
1866 | Paper Steel (from Robur-the-Conqueror by Jules Verne) Specially treated paper that forms material as hard as steel. |
1867 | Communicate with Extraterrestrials (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Early plan to communicate with life on planets removed from the earth. |
1867 | Splashdown (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The use of water as a medium for landing one's space ship in. |
1867 | Light Pressure Propulsion (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) First mention of the idea that light itself could be a form of propulsion for spacecraft. |
1867 | Gourmet Space Cuisine (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The finest in French cuisine, in outer space. |
1867 | Launching Facility (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) A specific spot with support for a space launch. |
1867 | Water-Springs (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Using water to cushion the living space of a spacecraft from the effects of acceleration. |
1867 | Retro-Rockets (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Small boosters to provide a thrust counter to the current velocity of the spacecraft, slowing it down or stopping its progress altogether. |
1867 | Weightlessness (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The state experienced in free fall; a space traveler's weight is apparently reduced to zero. |
1867 | Air Renewal (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) Re-oxygenating the air within the projectile spacecraft. |
1867 | Projectile-Vehicle (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) A projectile, or shot, capable of enclosing passengers and being safely hurled to the moon by an enormous cannon. |
1867 | Columbiad (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) An enormous cannon, sufficient in size to send a projectile to the Moon. |
1867 | Free Return Trajectory (from From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne) The idea that it would be possible for a projectile to go around the Moon and then return to Earth. |
1868 | Burn the Ship (from Around the World in 80 days by Jules Verne) Utilize parts of the ship as fuel for forward movement. |
1869 | Brick Moon (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale) An artificial satellite or space station with living quarters for passengers. |
1869 | Flywheel Launcher (from The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale) Gigantic flywheels that build up enough power to launch a spacecraft - hurl it into the heavens! |
1872 | Mechanical Consciousness (from Erewhon by Samuel Butler) The notion that machines may develop a form of consciousness. |
1875 | Diving Apparatus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Equipment used to go for walks on the sea bed; the direct ancestor of modern scuba diving equipment. |
1875 | Undersea Mining (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Conducting mining operations on the sea floor. |
1875 | Leyden Ball (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Device for hunting underwater; transfers a powerful electrical charge to the prey. |
1875 | Electrify the Rail (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) Use of substantial electrical charge applied to outer hull to repel potential boarders. |
1875 | Nautilus (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne) The wondrous submarine of Captain Nemo; the instrument of his escape from humanity and his revenge upon it. |
1877 | Telepomp (Matter Transmission) (from The Man Without a Body by Edward Page Mitchell) A device that transmitted matter from one place to another. |
1879 | Suspended Animation (Frigorific Process) (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) Very early reference to cryogenic storage. |
1879 | Vivification (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A process by which the body can be preserved for centuries at body temperature and then revived. |
1879 | Planetary Telegraphing (from In the Deep of Time by George Parsons Lathrop) A method for communicating with dwellers on other planets in the solar system. |
1879 | Home News Printer (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) A device that prints out the newspaper of your choice right in your own home. |
1879 | Compact Food Pastilles (from The Senator's Daughter by Edward Page Mitchell) One small tablet is a month's worth of food. |
1880 | Astronaut (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg) The first instance of this phrase, it denotes a space-going vessel. |
1880 | Apergy (Apergion) (from Across the Zodiac by Percy Greg) An antigravity substance with sufficient power to propel a space ship from the Earth to Mars. |
1881 | Dutch Clock (Time Machine) (from The Clock That Went Backward by Edward Page Mitchell) A tall Dutch clock with hands that move... backward. |
1881 | Chemical Production of Food (from Mizora: A Prophecy by Mary E. Bradley Lane) Creation of food in the laboratory rather than in the field. |
1887 | Anacronopete (Time Machine) (from El Anacronopete by Enrique Gaspar) A flying electric-powered time machine. |
1888 | Telephonic Music Room (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) Places where a person could go, at any time, to share in musical performances happening at some distance away. |
1888 | Mall (Great City Bazaar) (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) An aggregation of shops under one roof. |
1888 | Credit Card (from Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) A simple card that is used in place of money |
1889 | Atmospheric Advertising (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) A means of mass advertising to cities and countries. |
1889 | Phonotelephote (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) A means of transmitting and receiving both voice and picture for a personal conversation. |
1889 | Electrified Fence (from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain) A wire fence carrying an electrical charge sufficient to deter crossing the boundary. |
1889 | Recorded News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) This is the basic idea behind Tivo and VCRs. |
1889 | Straightening the Earth's Poles (from The Purchase of the North Pole (Topsy Turvy) by Jules Verne) By means of a suitable force, push the Earth until the planet's axis of rotation is perpendicular to the ecliptic. |
1889 | Live News (from In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne) The modern concept of a news broadcast. |
1893 | War-Balloon (Navigable Aerostat) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) Enormous dirigible airships used for war. |
1893 | Air-to-Surface Missile (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) Very early description of a projectile fired from an airship into a surface target. |
1893 | Air-Ship (VTOL Airship) (from The Angel of the Revolution by George Griffith) A flying machine capable of vertical take-off and landing. |
1894 | Wind Power Generation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A very early description of the use of solar powered 'farms' for generating electrical power on a large scale. |
1894 | Magnetic Eyes (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A device that permits remote monitoring of people or other objects. |
1894 | Vehicle Energy Reclamation (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Reclaiming the energy gained by climbing a hill on the way back down. |
1894 | Marine Spider (Hydrofoil) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A very early mention of the hydrofoil concept. |
1894 | Windmill Mast (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Enclosed machinery in large masts powers ships. |
1894 | Global Climate Control (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Adjust the Earth's axis so the seasons are more temperate and uniform. |
1894 | Electric Protection-Wires (Electrified Fence) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) An electric fence. |
1894 | Electric Phaetons (Electric Cars) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Vehicles whose motive power is entirely derived from electricity. |
1894 | Instantaneous Kodaks (Traffic Control) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Use of cameras to help police officers enforce speed limits. |
1894 | Space-ship (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A space-going vessel. |
1894 | Arctic Signal Light (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A means of communicating with spacecraft from the surface of the Earth. |
1894 | Rooftop Windmill (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) Renewable energy source for the home. |
1894 | Double-Door Vestibule (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A special doorway leading from the interior of a spacecraft leading out into space which maintains the air pressure within the craft. |
1894 | Magnetic Railroads (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A scheme for powering railroads using enormous electromagnets. |
1894 | Aeriduct (Rain Maker) (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A specific means of producing rain. |
1894 | Electric Car Recharging Station (from A Journey In Other Worlds by John Jacob Astor IV) A public place for recharging electric cars. |
1895 | Time Machine (from The Time Machine by H.G. Wells) A device allowing the rider to move freely in the temporal dimension, just as we ordinarily do in the two physical dimensions normal to gravity. |
1895 | Submarine Tube (from An Express of the Future by Jules Verne) A means of transport between Europe and North America via underwater tubes. |
1895 | Undersea City (from The Crystal City Under the Sea by Andre Laurie) A great city under the sea, covered by a crystal dome. |
1895 | Atomic Energy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie) Splitting the atom to create a destructive force. |
1895 | Atomic Microscopy (from The Crack of Doom by Robert Cromie) A device that can actually visualize a individual molecule and its parts. |
1895 | Government Lethal Chamber (from The Repairer of Reputations by Robert W. Chambers) A legal suicide booth. |
1895 | Manufactured Wife (from A Wife Manufactured to Order by Alice W. Fuller) A wife made to order, programmed to meet her husband's requirements. |
1896 | Monsters Manufactured (from The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells) Dr. Moreau demonstrates the plasticity of the organic form. |
1896 | Fulgurator (from Facing The Flag by Jules Verne) An 'autopropulsive projectile'. |
1897 | Electric Gun (Mass Driver) (from A Trip to Venus by John Munro) A device that used electromagnetic energy to accelerated capsules into orbit. |
1897 | Invisibility (from The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells) The idea that it is possible to make a person invisible using some sort of optical technology to alter the body. |
1897 | Automatic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A projectile that bores through obstacles - even the Earth! |
1897 | Photic Borer (Artesian Ray) (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A ray of energy that illuminates a cross-section of Earth as it goes through solid earth and rock. |
1897 | Magnetic Shell (from The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank Stockton) A munition that is powerfully attracted to ferrous ships. |
1897 | Gravitational Wave Viewer (from Two Planets by Kurd Lasswitz) A device used to see at astronomical distances. |
1898 | Biological Warfare (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) The use of microorganisms to defeat an enemy; this is the first reference in science fiction that I can find to this concept. |
1898 | Autonomous Digging Machine (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A mechanical device able to excavate on its own. |
1898 | Steel Tentacle (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Flexible robotic steel limbs that can both support a vehicle and grasp objects. |
1898 | Disintegrator (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) A device that causes objects to burst into molecular pieces. |
1898 | Black Smoke (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A smoke or vapor dispensed in canisters. |
1898 | Asteroid Mining (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) The mining of asteroid ore, accomplished by traveling to these tiny bodies. |
1898 | Aerial Telegraph (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) Communication between individuals in spacesuits. |
1898 | Quasi-Muscles (Sham Musculature) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A means of giving motive power to robots or machines that is similar to animal musculature. |
1898 | Air-Tight Suit (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) An special outfit that would allow a person to survive in vacuum. |
1898 | Robot Biomimicry (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Endowing robots with an organic-appearing fluidity, rather than mechanical motion. |
1898 | Tripod (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) An enormous metallic robot. |
1898 | Heat Ray (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) First use of what appears to be a laser weapon. |
1898 | Space Walk (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) Going outside your space craft for a short time. |
1898 | Electrical 'Tether' (from Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss) A device to make sure an astronaut could return from a free space walk. |
1898 | Red Weed (Terraforming Plant) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) A plant brought by the Martians that grew on Earth. |
1898 | Robot Spider (Handling Machine) (from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells) Multipurpose device used almost as an extension of the Martian's own bodies. |
1899 | Electric-Automatic Household Robot Cook (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy) A robot chef - an Electric-Automatic Household Beneficent Genius! |
1899 | DVD/VCR (Entertainment Player) (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A device that accepts stored moving picture entertainment and makes it available for viewing. |
1899 | Automatic Door (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A wall strip that rolls up automatically to let you through. |
1899 | Babble Machine (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Not just television - this describes what we call 'the idiot box' (technology and media). |
1899 | Town In One Building (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) This is the basic idea behind an arcology, or other single structure that is intended to provide living space and mall. |
1899 | Electric-Automatic Housemaid Robot (Automaton) (from Ely's Automatic Housemaid by Elizabeth Bellamy) A very early description of a robot to help around the house. |
1899 | Automated Surface Measurement (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A mechanical method of accurately measuring a surface. |
1899 | Individualized Clothing Manufacture (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A device that will produce suits of clothing based on measurement data gathered. |
1899 | Moving Roadway (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A roadway that is in motion, with seats and kiosks, that goes around curves. |
1899 | Eadhamite (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Synthetic material that creates extremely smooth roads. |
1899 | Networked World (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) Very early description of our dependence on technology and communication. |
1899 | Kinetiscope Appliance (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A small object that could show a variety of artificially created or extrapolated images. |
1899 | Moving Picture Player (from When the Sleeper Wakes by H.G. Wells) A machine that plays recorded pictures back for a single person - a combination DVD player and screen. |
1600-1899 1900-1949 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's
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(See More Science Fiction in the News)
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