Science Fiction
Dictionary
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Timeline of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
(sorted by Publication Date)

Most of these items are linked to information about similar real-life inventions and inventors; click on an invention to learn more about it.

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1600-1899  1900-1929  1930's  1940's  1950's  1960's  1970's  1980's  1990's  2000+

Date Device Name (Novel Author)
1900 Aerocar (from The Abduction of Alexandra Seine by Fred C. Smale)
A personal flying vehicle.
1901 Homeworld (Home-World) (from A Honeymoon In Space by George Griffith)
One's planet of origin.
1901 Cavorite (from The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells)
An antigravity metal; when it cools, whatever it covers will be impervious to gravitational forces.
1901 Translatophone (from My Translatophone by Frank Stockton)
A device that performs mechanical translation of one language into another.
1901 Breathing Dresses (from A Honeymoon In Space by George Griffith)
A special suit and apparatus for survival on the surface of the Moon.
1903 Vandelite Gun (from The World Masters by George Griffith)
An artillery device that freezes the explosive material for firing so it doesn't explode in the gun when it fires.
1903 Aerial Navies (from The World Masters by George Griffith)
Use of vast numbers of air-ships (planes) to overwhelm land defenses.
1903 Death-Ray (from The World Masters by George Griffith)
A thin ray of electric light that melts flesh away from the bone.
1903 Joystick Controls w/Remote Display (from The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells)
A fire-by-wire remote-controlled weapon system.
1904 The Terror (from Master of the World by Jules Verne)
An amazing vehicle capable of attaining tremendous speeds - in many different ways.
1905 Glass Dome (from A Modern Utopia by H.G. Wells)
Protective cover for cities.
1907 Gravitation Screen (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)
Shields a spacecraft from the gravity of a planetary body.
1907 Interplanetary Radiograph Station (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)
Network of communication in the solar system.
1907 Tik-Tok (from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum)
A mechanical man.
1907 Neutral (Point) (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)
The point at which the gravitational pull of the sun and that of a planet cancel each other out.
1908 Etheroneph (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov)
Spacefraft fueled by radioactive materials.
1908 Minus-Matter (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov)
Material that negates weight.
1909 Breed Humans For Machines (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
Carefully cull the strong, resilient humans in favor of weakness, that the human race might be more adapted to life in the Machine.
1909 The Machine (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
A single vast contrivance that supplied all the needs of the world's millions of solitary inhabitants.
1909 The Book of the Machine (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
The only book needed for life in the vast Machine.
1909 Machine Apartment (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
Each person lives isolated in their own room, supported by a vast planetary machine.
1909 Telemedicine Apparatus (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
First reference to a device that allows physicians to examine or aid patients at a distance.
1909 Cinematophote (Blue Optic Plate) (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
The first reference to a tablet-sized, handheld screen.
1909 Video Communicator (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)
A device that carried both voice and image, letting the two parties see each other.
1910 Automaton Chessplayer (from Moxon's Master by Ambrose Bierce)
The first chess-playing computer.
1911 Iridium Spirals (Street Lights) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Streetlights provide sunlight at night.
1911 Personalized News (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
First reference to news that is customized to the needs of each individual subscriber.
1911 Tele-Motor-Coasters (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Powered skates for personal transportation.
1911 Artificial Cloth (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
The creation of fabrics without organic natural fibers.
1911 Language Rectifier (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
The first reference to machine-translation of human languages.
1911 Electric Rifle (from Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle by Victor Appleton)
A device that shoots an electrical charge.
1911 Alohydrolium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
The lightest metal.
1911 Space-Sick (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Uneasiness associated with space travel.
1911 Automatic-Electric Packing Machine (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A device able to pack randomly shaped objects combined into a single package automatically.
1911 Aerocab (Aeroflyer) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A electric flying taxi, or car.
1911 Telautograph (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
First fictional reference to a fax machine.
1911 Actinoscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A device that used a pulsating polarized ether wave to judge the distance to an object (a RADAR)
1911 Appetizer (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
An amazing adjunct to science-based restaurants; a room that increases appetite with gas!
1911 Gyrocar (from Two Boys in a Gyrocar the story of a New York to Paris motor race by Kenneth Brown)
A two-wheeled, self-balancing automobile.
1911 Radar (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Detection of objects at a distance.
1911 Detectophone (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
First use of the idea of a voice-activated machine.
1911 Menograph (Mind-Writer) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Direct translation of thought to paper.
1911 Telephot (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A device that combined the functions of telephone and television; a phone with a screen.
1911 Demagnitizing Ray (from The Lord of Labour by George Griffith)
A beam of radiation that makes even the strongest steel as brittle as chalk.
1911 Gravity Nullification (Gravity Screen) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Gravity annulled in its entirety in a small area.
1911 Steelonium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A remarkable kind of steel that did not rust or corrode.
1911 Helio-Dynamophores (Sun-Power-Generators) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
Photo-electric elements which transformed the solar heat direct into electric energy.
1911 Hypnobioscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
The first fictional reference to sleep teaching.
1911 Sub-Atlantic Tube (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)
A tunnel under the ocean; the shortest distance between the two points.
1912 Automated Restaurant (from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
Food is prepared and served entirely automatically.
1913 Poison Space Cloud (Etheric Poison) (from The Poison Belt by Arthur Conan Doyle)
A deadly cloud of gas large enough to envelop the solar system.
1914 Sustained Atomic Reaction (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)
The idea that a sustained reaction could lead to an atomic explosion.
1914 Sunray Tank (from Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
A device that stores sunlight itself for use as an energy source.
1914 Atomic Bomb (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)
A weapon that uses an atomic chain reaction as an explosive force.
1914 Atomic Engine (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)
A motor running on atomic fuel.
1914 Radioactive Ruin (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)
The aftermath of atomic war is generations of ruin.
1914 Artificial Food (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)
Food produced without soil, chemically.
1915 Food Tablet (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler)
All of your nutrients in one easy-to-swallow form factor.
1915 Zoom Call Visaphone System (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler)
An amazingly early description of a modern zoom call on a big screen monitor.
1915 Pocket wireless phone (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler)
An entirely portable, pocket-sized, telephone.
1916 Scientifiction (from Thought Transmission on Mars by Hugo Gernsback)
Writing that combines science and fiction.
1917 Ray gun (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau)
A weapon that projects a beam of destructive force.
1917 Open-Air Moving Picture Shows (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau)
Public news outlets
1917 Telephone Funnel (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau)
A kind of two-way public loudspeaker.
1917 Tele-Photophonic Attachment (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau)
A device that permits a telephone funnel to see as well as hear.
1918 Magnetic Elevator (from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
A device that uses very powerful electromagnets for propulsion.
1918 Aero Bus (Flying Bus) (from What Not: A Prophetic Comedy by Rose Macaulay)
A flying bus.
1918 Photophone (from The Planeteer by Homer Eon Flint)
A device that provided a view of the other booth.
1920 Robotess (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek)
A female robot.
1920 Living Metal Cubes (from The Metal Monster by Abraham Merritt)
Tiny metal cubes and pyramids that work together to create larger shapes.
1920 Spinning Mill for Veins (Artificial Organs) (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek)
The manufacture of artificial organs, digestive tract, veins - body parts.
1920 Robot (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek)
A (usually human-shaped) artifact with the same kinds of abilities as a human - this is the first use of the word 'robot'.
1921 Phonographic Locks (from A Journey to the Year 2025 by Clement Fezandie)
Doors that open using voice recognition.
1921 Pocket-Wings (from A Journey to the Year 2025 by Clement Fezandie)
Individual powered flight.
1922 Membrane (from We by Yevgeny Zamyatin)
A listening device.
1923 Wireless Access Point (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)
Infrastructure that provides power and wireless communication.
1923 Acoustic Apparatus (Osophone) (from Acoustic Apparatus by Hugo Gernsback)
A device that used bone conduction to transmit sound.
1923 Clockwork Man (from The Clockwork Man by E.V. Odle)
A man from the future with an embedded mechanism to manipulate time.
1923 Networked Telephone Answering Machine (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)
A device that would accept verbal messages and store them for replay from any remote station.
1923 Parallel Universe (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)
An entirely separate realm or universe that exists along with our own; it may be wildly different or vary from ours by only a tiny degree.
1925 Quadraturin (from Quadraturin by Sigizmund Krzhizhanowsky)
Substance that creates more space when applied to walls, floors and ceilings.
1925 Blaster (from When the Green Star Waned by Nictzin Dyalhis)
A device that shoots a beam of energy that destroys whatever is in its path.
1926 Artificial Life (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton)
Creating living beings from inorganic elements.
1926 Starship (from War in Space by Raymond Quiex)
A vehicle for space travel.
1926 Gyro-Hat (from An Experiment in Gyro-Hats by Ellis Parker Butler)
Hidden in a top hat, this device cures staggering and reeling, for whatever reason.
1926 Bolognium (from Transactions of Amer Soc for Steel Treating by Edgar Bain)
Very early fictional element, courtesy of metallurgists.
1926 Vacuum Suit (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker)
An early description of a space suit, and the first use of this now archaic phrase.
1926 Tentacle Machines (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)
Enormous robots, cylindrical of body, tentacular of arms, autonomous of brain, sinister of intent.
1926 Flexible Metal Arms (Tentacles) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)
An interesting description of how mechanical tentacles might function.
1926 Blue Ray of Death (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton)
A ray that reduces an organic being to ash instantly.
1926 Artificial Brain (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)
A non-organic device structured like a human brain.
1926 Atomic Energy Motor (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker)
An engine which utilizes atomic energy.
1926 Atomic Machine (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker)
A device that shrinks and expands its wearer.
1926 Electric Typewriter (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie)
A typewriter that used the power of electricity to strike the letters onto the paper, rather than the finger muscles of the typist.
1926 Vocal Typewriter (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie)
A device that accepts spoken dictation and produces printed copy.
1926 Automatic Judge (from Dr. Hackensaw's Secrets Some Minor Inventions by Clement Fezandie)
Automatically listens to the plaintiff and defendant and provides a just verdict.
1926 Computer Vision (Artificial Eye) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)
A device which, attached to a suitable computer, will allow the device to see.
1926 Robot Wheel (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)
An enormous vehicular robot in the shape of a gigantic wheel.
1926 Transparent Dome Helmet (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker)
A spacesuit helmet that can be seen through.
1927 Paralyzing Cone (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton)
A device that paralyzes the muscles.
1927 Repulsor Ray (from The Time-Raider by Edmond Hamilton)
Fires an invisible beam of electrons for propulsion.
1927 Cold Ray (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton)
A device that pulled warmth from anything it was aimed at.
1928 Hyper-space (from The Invisible Bubble by Kirk Meadowcroft)
A realm or parallel universe in which it is possible to travel much faster than light.
1928 Meteor-Sweeps (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Maneuver to chase down and destroy meteor showers that threaten celestial navigation.
1928 Videophone (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent)
A person-to-person communication device offering sight as well as sound.
1928 Meteorometer (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A device that warned space ships in flight about oncoming meteors.
1928 Hall of the Council (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
An enormous council chamber, fit for a galaxy.
1928 Heat Transmitter (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Device which captures solar energy close to the source and then beams it in concentrated form to outer planets.
1928 Telechart (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
An interactive metal plate upon which were displayed celestial objects for interstellar navigation.
1928 Pain Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Creates pain by nerve induction.
1928 Space-Lanes (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Well-traveled routes through outer space.
1928 Repellor Anti-Gravity Rays (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Device provides support for planet-side air travel.
1928 Disintegrator Ray (Dis Ray) (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A device that projects a beam reducing matter to nothingness.
1928 Jumper (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Inertron belt results in effective weightlessness.
1928 Ultron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Very handy material is invisible and non-reflective.
1928 Ultraphone Ear-Disc (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Wireless receivers that fit directly over the ears; they also offered noise reduction.
1928 Chest Disc (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A voice activated wireless transmitter.
1928 Concentro (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Concentrated synthetic food rations.
1928 Rocket Gun (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
In essence, a bazooka.
1928 Inertron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Material with all the properties of heavier metals, but lighter.
1928 Fur Pressure-Suit (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
A warm pressurized suit for use in the airless void of space.
1928 Airlock (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
An intermediate chamber between airless space and the interior of a space craft.
1928 Flying Harness (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
Device allows free movement in the air.
1928 Grantline Comptometer (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)
Key-driven computer/calculator that easily solves even calculus problems.
1928 Anti-Gravity Belt (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A device which, when worn, reduces exposure to the effects of gravitation.
1928 Death-Beam (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Ravening pale beams of light used in space battles.
1928 Ultrophone (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A means of communication that transmits and receives simultaneously.
1928 Ultron Wire (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
Invisible metal makes the thinnest, strongest wire.
1928 Gravity-Screen (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A device that shields an object from the effects of gravity.
1928 Viewplate (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A flat panel viewing display.
1928 Universal Sterilization Law (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller)
All young people were sterilized, and replacement people were generated artificially.
1928 Aeroplane Baseball (from The Educated Pill by Bob Olsen)
A standard-sized baseball making possible non-standard pitches.
1928 Stilt-Legged Chairs (Walking Chairs) (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius)
An alien conveyance.
1928 Decay Ray (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius)
A mysterious ray that seems to hasten Time for whatever it illuminates.
1928 Spacecraft Landing Wings (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius)
A means of cutting speed from orbit, then landing.
1928 Metal Worms (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius)
Huge wriggling metal war engines.
1928 Atoplane (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell)
An airplane powered by nuclear energy, capable of tremendous speed and distance.
1928 Raytron Apparatus (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)
A device for aerial surveillance; the image was transmitted back to the user.
1928 Telestereo (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A disk, upon which the projected image of the distant sender appears.
1928 Space Buoy (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A marker in space.
1928 Neutralizing Wall (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent)
A barrier that stops electrical and mechanical vibrations, rendering the protected area effectively invisible.
1928 Private Space Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A fully space-worthy ship under private ownership.
1928 Harvest Power From Stray Energy (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent)
A means of collecting enough energy from stray electronic impulses to power a device.
1928 Atomic Percolator (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent)
Make coffee with radiation.
1928 Floater (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)
A device that allows the user to literally float in the air
1928 Vibration-Propelled Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A spacecraft with a propulsion system relying on waves in spacetime itself.
1928 Attractive Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
A beam of radiation that pulls.
1928 Synthetic Babies (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller)
A means of gestating eggs to term is found.
1928 Psycho-Phone (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller)
A device that recorded and played back the thoughts of the user.
1928 Auto-Car (from The Revolt of the Pedestrians by David H. Keller)
A personal vehicle for indoor and outdoor use.
1928 Steering a Star (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Steering a star, altering its path, taking it to a new location.
1928 Needle Pipe (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)
A device that could project slivers of metal at near light speed.
1928 De-atomizing Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)
Beam of energy causes matter to fly apart.
1928 Negative Acceleration (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)
Turning a torchship through a half-circle, thereby applying force in the direction of motion, slowing the ship down.
1928 Electric Diaper (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller)
A diaper that will indicate when it is wet.
1928 Mother World (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell)
One's home planet, or the origin world of one's species.
1928 Psychophonic Nurse (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller)
A child-care robot - a nanny bot.
1929 Ray-Pistol (from The War of the Planets by Harl Vincent)
An early version of the raygun.
1929 Moon Weaponized (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A military application of moons, planetoids and asteroids; dropping them from space.
1929 Transparent Aluminum (from The Space Hermit by E. Edsel Newton)
Invisible light steel.
1929 Hyperstereoscope (from The Book of Worlds by Miles J. Breuer)
A book of three-dimensional pages.
1929 Aircycle (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
Motorcycle for the air with gravimetric coils instead of wheels.
1929 Predictograph (from Futility by S.P. Meek)
Capable combining and projecting hundreds of complex curves into the future.
1929 Space Sailing (from The World, The Flesh And The Devil by J.D. Bernal)
Using the solar wind to propel a space vessel.
1929 Rescue Nets (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp)
Nets raised around the circumference of a vast air transport.
1929 Spinner Ship (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
Pinwheel rockets created centrifugal forces like gravity.
1929 Space Craft (from Night-Thing by Wilford Allen)
A ship that travels through the airless void of space.
1929 O-220 (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
Ultralight zeppelin
1929 Harbenite (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
Ultralight metal.
1929 Gyrocosmically Stabilized Interplanetary Rocket (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A mouthful, perfect for trips to the larger asteroids.
1929 Position Locator Display (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp)
Screen shows the position of hundreds of aircraft;
1929 Metalloglass (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A transparent "glass" made of metal.
1929 Atmospheric Pressure Control Plane (from Around the World in 24 Hours by R.H. Romans)
A vessel that flies by creating pockets of high and low pressure.
1929 Televisor (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen)
A viewing screen.
1929 Suitcase Airplane (from Suitcase Airplanes by E.D. Skinner)
A diminutive, collapsible, two-passenger biplane.
1929 Teleview (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen)
A device for seeing at a distance.
1929 Electro-Culturer (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland)
A device used to artificially stimulate cell growth and development.
1929 Personal Metallic Record Disc (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland)
A stamped metal record that contains all of a person's data in a convenient form.
1929 Mechanical Men (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland)
Remote controlled robots used to perform dangerous work.
1929 Air Tunnel (from Through the Air Tunnel by Harl Vincent)
A means of sending trains through the air.
1929 Pocket Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve)
Personal device stops gravity's effect.
1929 Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve)
Shields a large object from the effect of gravity.
1929 Robot Control Board (from The Robot Master by O.L. Beckwith)
Control panel with small screens showing the point of view of different robots.
1929 Shovel-Handed Digging Machines (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips)
Huge multi-legged machines used to dig and manipulate earth.
1929 Rocket Engine Moves Moon (from The Space Dwellers by Raymond Z. Gallun)
Using the propulsive mechanism of a space ship to move a small moon or asteroid.
1929 Human Blood Chlorophyll (from The Murgatroyd Experiment by S.P. Meek)
Replacement of elements of human blood with chlorophyll.
1929 Hypnotelevisor (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A device that displays memories directly on a helmet screen.
1929 Aerocab (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A floating taxicab.
1929 Ship Pushes Moon (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
Altering the course of a small moon by pushing on it with a rocket motor.
1929 Force-Ray (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A large, hand-held spear of force.
1929 Reflectocosmic Spectrometer (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A device that detects and measures cosmic rays that reflect from different metals.
1929 Atomic Shell (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A nuclear munition, fired from a cannon.
1929 Ships With Legs (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
Space ships with mechanical limbs for walking the Earth.
1929 Rocket Pistol (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
Using pistol rounds to maneuver in space.
1929 Ship's Artificial Gravity (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A very early mention of the term.
1929 Remote Telepresence Robot (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A very early depiction of this basic idea.
1929 Mechanical Hand (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins))
A large robotic hand or claw, large enough to grasp a person.
1929 Sol (from Out of Void by L.F. Stone)
Familiar name for our own sun.
1929 Air-Freighter Cargo Plane (from The Invisible Raiders by Ed Earl Repp)
An enormous airplane used for transporting cargo across the country.
1929 Cubic City (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.)
A city contained in a single, immense building.
1929 Massive Open Learning (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller)
Teach using standard videos prepared by the best teachers.
1929 Robots Take Human Jobs (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller)
Robots displace human beings in the workforce.
1929 Governing Keyboard (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller)
A remote-controlled robot responds to keyboard commands.
1929 Television Sheet (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller)
A large, flat screen television set.
1929 Space Travel (from A Baby on Neptune by Clare Winger Harris (w/MJ Breuer))
Human movement through outer space.
1929 Pay Per View TV (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller)
The broadcast of games and matches to private televisions for a fee.
1929 Fan Ray (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips)
A protective ray screen in the shape of a cone.
1929 Boring Heat Machine (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips)
Takes tunnel boring material and turns it into building material.
1929 Brain Placed In Metal Body (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)
A robotic body with a support system for a connected organic brain.
1929 Ships Propelled By Light Pressure (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)
Space ships that use light pressure from a distant source for propulsion
1929 Vibration Machine (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)
A device that neutralized the gravitational force of the sun on the earth.
1929 Helium Tubes (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.)
Lighting that exactly mimics the frequencies of sunlight.
1929 Chemical Brain (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg)
A purely chemical artificial intelligence.
1929 Sunparlor (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.)
A vast esplanade enclosed in glass, to permit sunbathing without leaving an immense building.
1929 Diagnostic Type Sense Transmitter (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve)
Allows the doctor to directly feel the same sensations that the patient feels.
1929 Disrupter Ray (Molecule Disrupter) (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
Atoms of materials no longer adhere to each other.
1929 Life Chamber (from The Chamber of Life by G. Peyton Wertenbaker)
A machine-mediated, fully immersive experiential environment.
1929 Anti-Fatigue Pill (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
A pill that counteracts the effects of fatigue and lack of sleep.
1929 Local Time Clock (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
A clock for use in airships that always indicates the time for the place they are flying over.
1929 Indirect Cold Light (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
Apparently source-less lighting, highly efficient, with no waste heat.
1929 Instant Photography (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
A photograph that develops immediately inside the camera.
1929 Flying Platform (from Locked Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)
Simple black squares that fly and hover.
1929 Electric Kitchen (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail)
Food preparation in space requires safe equipment.
1929 Spacesuit Testing (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail)
A device and method for testing spacesuits.
1929 Pneumatic Suit (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail)
An airtight spacesuit.
1929 Magnetic Shoes (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve)
Footgear magnetized for working on steel hulls.
1929 Overmind (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg)
A consciousness that supersedes the minds of many individuals.
1929 Inurbanity (Inurbane) (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.)
Criminal penalties for persons who are unable to behave properly in crowded cubic cities.

1600-1899  1900-1949  1950's  1960's  1970's  1980's  1990's  2000's

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