Science Fiction
|
Timeline
of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
|
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 | Joystick Controls w/Remote Display (from The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells) A fire-by-wire remote-controlled weapon system. |
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. |
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 | 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. |
1907 | Tik-Tok (from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum) A mechanical man. |
1908 | Minus-Matter (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov) Material that negates weight. |
1908 | Etheroneph (from Red Star by Aleksandr Bogdanov) Spacefraft fueled by radioactive materials. |
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 | 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. |
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 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. |
1910 | Automaton Chessplayer (from Moxon's Master by Ambrose Bierce) The first chess-playing computer. |
1911 | Hypnobioscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The first fictional reference to sleep teaching. |
1911 | Iridium Spirals (Street Lights) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Streetlights provide sunlight at night. |
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 | Detectophone (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) First use of the idea of a voice-activated machine. |
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 | Language Rectifier (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The first reference to machine-translation of human languages. |
1911 | Steelonium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A remarkable kind of steel that did not rust or corrode. |
1911 | Alohydrolium (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The lightest metal. |
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 | Artificial Cloth (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) The creation of fabrics without organic natural fibers. |
1911 | Sub-Atlantic Tube (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) A tunnel under the ocean; the shortest distance between the two points. |
1911 | Appetizer (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) An amazing adjunct to science-based restaurants; a room that increases appetite with gas! |
1911 | Electric Rifle (from Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle by Victor Appleton) A device that shoots an electrical charge. |
1911 | Radar (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Detection of objects at a distance. |
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 | Space-Sick (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Uneasiness associated with space travel. |
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 | 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 | 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 | Menograph (Mind-Writer) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Direct translation of thought to paper. |
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 | Gravity Nullification (Gravity Screen) (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback) Gravity annulled in its entirety in a small area. |
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 | Atomic Bomb (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) A weapon that uses an atomic chain reaction as an explosive force. |
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 Engine (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) A motor running on atomic fuel. |
1914 | Artificial Food (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) Food produced without soil, chemically. |
1914 | Radioactive Ruin (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells) The aftermath of atomic war is generations of ruin. |
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. |
1915 | Food Tablet (from John Jones's Dollar by Harry Stephen Keeler) All of your nutrients in one easy-to-swallow form factor. |
1916 | Scientifiction (from Thought Transmission on Mars by Hugo Gernsback) Writing that combines science and fiction. |
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. |
1917 | Telephone Funnel (from The Messiah of the Cylinder by Victor Rousseau) A kind of two-way public loudspeaker. |
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 |
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 | 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'. |
1920 | Spinning Mill for Veins (Artificial Organs) (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek) The manufacture of artificial organs, digestive tract, veins - body parts. |
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 | 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. |
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 | Wireless Access Point (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells) Infrastructure that provides power and wireless communication. |
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. |
1925 | Quadraturin (from Quadraturin by Sigizmund Krzhizhanowsky) Substance that creates more space when applied to walls, floors and ceilings. |
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 | Flexible Metal Arms (Tentacles) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) An interesting description of how mechanical tentacles might function. |
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 | Blue Ray of Death (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton) A ray that reduces an organic being to ash instantly. |
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 | Starship (from War in Space by Raymond Quiex) A vehicle for space travel. |
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 | Robot Wheel (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) An enormous vehicular robot in the shape of a gigantic wheel. |
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 | 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 | Transparent Dome Helmet (from The Man from the Atom by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) A spacesuit helmet that can be seen through. |
1926 | Bolognium (from Transactions of Amer Soc for Steel Treating by Edgar Bain) Very early fictional element, courtesy of metallurgists. |
1926 | Artificial Brain (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton) A non-organic device structured like a human brain. |
1926 | Artificial Life (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton) Creating living beings from inorganic elements. |
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 | 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. |
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. |
1927 | Paralyzing Cone (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton) A device that paralyzes the muscles. |
1928 | Flying Harness (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Device allows free movement in the air. |
1928 | Space-Lanes (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Well-traveled routes through outer space. |
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 | Electric Diaper (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller) A diaper that will indicate when it is wet. |
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 | Videophone (from The Golden Girl of Munan by Harl Vincent) A person-to-person communication device offering sight as well as sound. |
1928 | Psychophonic Nurse (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller) A child-care robot - a nanny bot. |
1928 | Concentro (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Concentrated synthetic food rations. |
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 | Universal Sterilization Law (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) All young people were sterilized, and replacement people were generated artificially. |
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 | Ultron Wire (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Invisible metal makes the thinnest, strongest wire. |
1928 | Ultrophone (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A means of communication that transmits and receives simultaneously. |
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 | Inertron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Material with all the properties of heavier metals, but lighter. |
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 | Repellor Anti-Gravity Rays (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) Device provides support for planet-side air travel. |
1928 | Atoplane (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell) An airplane powered by nuclear energy, capable of tremendous speed and distance. |
1928 | Rocket Gun (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) In essence, a bazooka. |
1928 | Telechart (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) An interactive metal plate upon which were displayed celestial objects for interstellar navigation. |
1928 | Floater (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A device that allows the user to literally float in the air |
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 | Gravity-Screen (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A device that shields an object from the effects of gravity. |
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 | Mother World (from The Moon of Doom by Earl L. Bell) One's home planet, or the origin world of one's species. |
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 | Meteorometer (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A device that warned space ships in flight about oncoming meteors. |
1928 | Pain Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Creates pain by nerve induction. |
1928 | Viewplate (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan) A flat panel viewing display. |
1928 | Death-Beam (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Ravening pale beams of light used in space battles. |
1928 | Steering a Star (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Steering a star, altering its path, taking it to a new location. |
1928 | Attractive Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A beam of radiation that pulls. |
1928 | Auto-Car (from The Revolt of the Pedestrians by David H. Keller) A personal vehicle for indoor and outdoor use. |
1928 | Psycho-Phone (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) A device that recorded and played back the thoughts of the user. |
1928 | Vibration-Propelled Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A spacecraft with a propulsion system relying on waves in spacetime itself. |
1928 | Private Space Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A fully space-worthy ship under private ownership. |
1928 | Telestereo (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A disk, upon which the projected image of the distant sender appears. |
1928 | Grantline Comptometer (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) Key-driven computer/calculator that easily solves even calculus problems. |
1928 | Space Buoy (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) A marker in space. |
1928 | Metal Worms (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) Huge wriggling metal war engines. |
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 | Spacecraft Landing Wings (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) A means of cutting speed from orbit, then landing. |
1928 | Meteor-Sweeps (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Maneuver to chase down and destroy meteor showers that threaten celestial navigation. |
1928 | Raytron Apparatus (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) A device for aerial surveillance; the image was transmitted back to the user. |
1928 | De-atomizing Ray (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) Beam of energy causes matter to fly apart. |
1928 | Decay Ray (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) A mysterious ray that seems to hasten Time for whatever it illuminates. |
1928 | Hall of the Council (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton) An enormous council chamber, fit for a galaxy. |
1928 | Stilt-Legged Chairs (Walking Chairs) (from Vandals from the Moon by - Marius) An alien conveyance. |
1928 | Aeroplane Baseball (from The Educated Pill by Bob Olsen) A standard-sized baseball making possible non-standard pitches. |
1928 | Synthetic Babies (from A Biological Experiment by David H. Keller) A means of gestating eggs to term is found. |
1928 | Needle Pipe (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings) A device that could project slivers of metal at near light speed. |
1929 | Sol (from Out of Void by L.F. Stone) Familiar name for our own sun. |
1929 | Electro-Culturer (from The Ancient Brain by A.G. Stangland) A device used to artificially stimulate cell growth and development. |
1929 | Teleview (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen) A device for seeing at a distance. |
1929 | Chemical Brain (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg) A purely chemical artificial intelligence. |
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 | Spinner Ship (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Pinwheel rockets created centrifugal forces like gravity. |
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 | Indirect Cold Light (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Apparently source-less lighting, highly efficient, with no waste heat. |
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 | Anti-Fatigue Pill (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) A pill that counteracts the effects of fatigue and lack of sleep. |
1929 | Spacesuit Testing (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) A device and method for testing spacesuits. |
1929 | Disrupter Ray (Molecule Disrupter) (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Atoms of materials no longer adhere to each other. |
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 | 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 | Pneumatic Suit (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) An airtight spacesuit. |
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 | Air-Freighter Cargo Plane (from The Invisible Raiders by Ed Earl Repp) An enormous airplane used for transporting cargo across the country. |
1929 | Hyperstereoscope (from The Book of Worlds by Miles J. Breuer) A book of three-dimensional pages. |
1929 | Predictograph (from Futility by S.P. Meek) Capable combining and projecting hundreds of complex curves into the future. |
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 | Space Travel (from A Baby on Neptune by Clare Winger Harris (w/MJ Breuer)) Human movement through outer space. |
1929 | Human Blood Chlorophyll (from The Murgatroyd Experiment by S.P. Meek) Replacement of elements of human blood with chlorophyll. |
1929 | Magnetic Shoes (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) Footgear magnetized for working on steel hulls. |
1929 | Rescue Nets (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp) Nets raised around the circumference of a vast air transport. |
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 | Flying Platform (from Locked Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Simple black squares that fly and hover. |
1929 | Instant Photography (from The Silent Destroyer by Henri Dahl Juve) A photograph that develops immediately inside the camera. |
1929 | Electric Kitchen (from The Shot Into Infinity by Otto Willi Gail) Food preparation in space requires safe equipment. |
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 | Position Locator Display (from Flight of the Eastern Star by Ed Earl Repp) Screen shows the position of hundreds of aircraft; |
1929 | Suitcase Airplane (from Suitcase Airplanes by E.D. Skinner) A diminutive, collapsible, two-passenger biplane. |
1929 | Transparent Aluminum (from The Space Hermit by E. Edsel Newton) Invisible light steel. |
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 | Televisor (from The Phantom Teleview by Bob Olsen) A viewing screen. |
1929 | Ray-Pistol (from The War of the Planets by Harl Vincent) An early version of the raygun. |
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 | Cubic City (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) A city contained in a single, immense building. |
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 | 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. |
1929 | Helium Tubes (from The Cubic City by Louis Tucker, D.D.) Lighting that exactly mimics the frequencies of sunlight. |
1929 | Air Tunnel (from Through the Air Tunnel by Harl Vincent) A means of sending trains through the air. |
1929 | Robots Take Human Jobs (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) Robots displace human beings in the workforce. |
1929 | Television Sheet (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) A large, flat screen television set. |
1929 | Metalloglass (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A transparent "glass" made of metal. |
1929 | Overmind (from The Chemical Brain by Francis Flagg) A consciousness that supersedes the minds of many individuals. |
1929 | Vibration Machine (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton) A device that neutralized the gravitational force of the sun on the earth. |
1929 | Shovel-Handed Digging Machines (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) Huge multi-legged machines used to dig and manipulate earth. |
1929 | Aircycle (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Motorcycle for the air with gravimetric coils instead of wheels. |
1929 | Fan Ray (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) A protective ray screen in the shape of a cone. |
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 | Remote Telepresence Robot (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A very early depiction of this basic idea. |
1929 | Pocket Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve) Personal device stops gravity's effect. |
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 | Ship's Artificial Gravity (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A very early mention of the term. |
1929 | Rocket Pistol (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) Using pistol rounds to maneuver in space. |
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 | Atomic Shell (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A nuclear munition, fired from a cannon. |
1929 | Space Craft (from Night-Thing by Wilford Allen) A ship that travels through the airless void of space. |
1929 | Life Chamber (from The Chamber of Life by G. Peyton Wertenbaker) A machine-mediated, fully immersive experiential environment. |
1929 | Massive Open Learning (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) Teach using standard videos prepared by the best teachers. |
1929 | Force-Ray (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A large, hand-held spear of force. |
1929 | Boring Heat Machine (from The Onslaught From Venus by Frank Phillips) Takes tunnel boring material and turns it into building material. |
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 | Aerocab (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A floating taxicab. |
1929 | Hypnotelevisor (from Buck Rogers, 2430 AD by Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins)) A device that displays memories directly on a helmet screen. |
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 | Gravity Nullifier (from The Sky Maniac by Henri Dahl Juve) Shields a large object from the effect of gravity. |
1929 | Governing Keyboard (from The Threat of the Robot by David H. Keller) A remote-controlled robot responds to keyboard commands. |
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. |
1930 | Visiplate (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A flat screen for viewing remote images. |
1930 | Asteroid From Outside Solar System (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) An asteroid or similar body that comes from outside the solar system; an interstellar body. |
1930 | Planets Made Habitable (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A plan to "terraform" a planet to improve its habitability by human beings. |
1930 | Oxygen Space Flare (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A flare that burns inside a glass bulb with oxygen. |
1930 | Tabletop Display (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) A display monitor built into a flat, horizontal table surface. |
1930 | No Steering Wheel Autonomous Car (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) An autonomous vehicle without a wheel for human drivers. |
1930 | The Cosmic Express (from The Cosmic Express by Jack Williamson) A means of transmitting matter wirelessly. |
1930 | Nose-Tubes (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) Rocket blasts from the front of a ship, to brake it. |
1930 | Space-Phone (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) A device for communicating with space ships, both ship-to-ship and ground-to-ship. |
1930 | Ascension-Framework (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) A tower to which the space craft is attached, holding it vertical for its flight upward. |
1930 | Solar-Powered Aircraft (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A plane powered entirely by solar energy. |
1930 | Tight-Beam (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A method of communication that uses a very narrowly-focused stream of energy. |
1930 | Funnel-Shaped Landing Framework (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) A special purpose landing dock area that is wider at the top until the craft is captured toward the bottom. |
1930 | Gyroscope Seats (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Your best bet for remaining at the right angle to the force of acceleration. |
1930 | Helicops (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Small, private flyers for business commuting. |
1930 | Engineless Automobile Hover (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) No engine, no steering wheel, yet it runs. |
1930 | Neutronium (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Extremely dense material. |
1930 | Rocket Side Tubes (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) An early description of attitude jets, course correction by small emissions of gas. |
1930 | Space Pirate (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) Space ships taken against their will. |
1930 | One-Man Rocket (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) A small rocket ship with only a pilot. |
1930 | Space Lock (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) An airlock on a spacecraft. |
1930 | Artificial Skin (from Between Earth and Moon by Otfrid von Hanstein) Tight-fitting material that keeps the heat of the body from escaping into space. |
1930 | Spherical Tires (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Tires that are shaped like balls, rather than like squat cylinders. |
1930 | Vacuum Armor (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An armor-plated space suit. |
1930 | Asteroid Space Flyer (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Specialized one-man craft for exploring asteroids. |
1930 | Anti-Glare Coated Glass (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Special coated glass for space craft. |
1930 | Rubber Soled Feet (from The Robot Terror by Melbourne Huff) Silent padding for clanky robots. |
1930 | Altitude Suit (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) Special gear for venturing out at high altitude or even space. |
1930 | Ray Pistol (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A handheld device for projecting radiative force of some kind. |
1930 | Death Projector (from The Stolen Mind by M.L. Staley) Wide angle Ray of death! |
1930 | Shock-Absorbing Seats (from Evans of the Earth-Guard by Edmond Hamilton) Perfect for the many gravities of acceleration upon take-off. |
1930 | Automatic Car (Autonomous) (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A car that drives itself; an autonomous vehicle. |
1930 | Iron Fingers (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) Special metal manipulators set on the hull of a space craft, and manipulated from the inside. |
1930 | Artificial Transparent Element (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A substance as strong as metal that you can see through. |
1930 | Life Tubes (from Liners of Space by Jim Vanny) Escape pods for space ships. |
1930 | Robot Waiter (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Robotic restaurant servitor. |
1930 | Face-Plate (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) The transparent front of a space suit helmet. |
1930 | Artificial Island For Ocean Rocket Launch (from Between Earth and Moon by Otfrid von Hanstein) An entirely artificial, floating island used as a launch platform. |
1930 | Artificial Gravity System (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) Producing a gravity field without a large nearby mass. |
1930 | Automatic Cultivators (from Piracy Preferred by John W. Campbell) Agricultural robots. |
1930 | Artificial Gravity (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Procuring gravitational forces without a suitably large mass. |
1930 | Lux (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A bar of solidified light. |
1930 | Magnalloy (from The Cave of Horror by S.P. Meek) A durable form of magnesium. |
1930 | Spaceport (from The Birth of a New Republic by M. Breuer (w/J. Williamson)) A location on the surface of a planet used for launching vehicles into space. |
1930 | Astronaut (from The Death's Head Meteor by Neil R. Jones) A person who travels in space. |
1930 | House Cleaning Device (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A robotic means of thorough home cleaning. |
1930 | Sound-Killing Air Fluid (from The Noise Killer by A.M. McNeill) A means to eliminate all of the noise made by machines in a city, leaving the voices of human beings. |
1930 | Group Mind (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon) A shared consciousness between a number of individuals. |
1930 | Low-scale Detectors (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Magnifies even the smallest sound. |
1930 | Matched-Frequency Separable Units (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Devices that can draw power wirelessly from a matched source. |
1930 | Glassite (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A transparent material of great strength. |
1930 | Dome Shelter (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A permanent domed structure for living on the Moon. |
1930 | Eavesdropping Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A device that allows others to hear from outside ordinary locked rooms. |
1930 | Ray Gun (Handheld) (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A weapon shaped like a handgun that shoots rays of energy. |
1930 | Pencil Heat Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) An offensive, man-portable heat ray. |
1930 | Planet City (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) A planet the surface of which is entirely covered over, forming one single city. |
1930 | Autonomous Ship (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A sea-going vessel that can leave port, traverse vast distances, and then dock, entirely without human assistance. |
1930 | Space-Walker (from The Universe Wreckers by Edmond Hamilton) Tall cylinder with a window at eye-level, and pincer-claws controlled by the wearer. |
1930 | Supervision Robot (Squid) (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A wheeled device with tentacular grasping limbs. |
1930 | Force-Field (from A Subterranean Adventure by George Paul Bauer) A barrier to objects, created by projected forces. |
1930 | Shield (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Early name for a defensive force field. |
1930 | Synthetic Life (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) Living animals made from scratch using inorganic elements. |
1930 | Electric Plane (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) An airplane powered entirely by electricity. |
1930 | Air-Shoes (from An Adventure in Time by Francis Flagg) Footgear provides the wearer with the ability to "walk" through the air, climbing as needed. |
1930 | Leading Machine (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) An exploratory device; it takes the form of an autonomous motorcycle. |
1930 | Vision-Based Autonomous Cars (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A vehicle that uses a visual sensor to gather information sufficient to safely drive. |
1930 | Electrical Brain (from Paradise and Iron by Miles J. Breuer) A mechanism that grants memory an intelligence to machines. |
1930 | Brain Rejuvenation (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) Erase unnecessary parts of memory to make room for new impressions. |
1930 | Artificial Eyes (from Synthetic by Charles Cloukey) Eyes that are the duplicate of what humans are born with, produced entirely artificially from elements. |
1930 | Invisible Cloak (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A cloak that renders the wearer invisible. |
1930 | Visiphone (from The Message From Space by David M. Speaker) Visual as well as audio communication. |
1930 | Warp of Space (from In 20000 A.D.! by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A fault or pucker in spacetime. |
1930 | Interplanetary-Liner (from Liners of Space by Jim Vanny) A vast passenger ship in space. |
1930 | Space Fleet (from Through the Meteors by L.H. Morrow) A group of mighty ships capable of space travel - and fighting. |
1930 | Moon Walk (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Very early realistic depiction of walking on the moon in low gravity. |
1930 | Trans-Oceanic Rocket Ship (from Berlin to New York in One Hour by Max Valier) Rocket-propelled airplanes making short work of long trips on Earth. |
1930 | Robot Doctor (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) A mechanical physician. |
1930 | Ring-Table (from The Universe Wreckers by Edmond Hamilton) A device that creates a 'group mind', a single mind, from the many gathered around it. |
1930 | Lunar Mining (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Very early (first?) reference to mining operations on the moon. |
1930 | Radio-Controlled Mechanical Man (from The Robot Terror by Melbourne Huff) A remote-controlled robot. |
1930 | Puff-Pipe (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Pipe with lighting built in. |
1930 | Gravity Assist (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Using the gravity and orbital speed of a celestial body to change speed and course of a spacecraft. |
1930 | Indoor Stadium (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) An entirely enclosed baseball stadium. |
1930 | Theater Seat Indicators (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Vacant seats are clearly shown. |
1930 | Spectrumoscope (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Provides sight directly to the brain-cells of the sightless. |
1930 | Bird-Like Robots (from Flamingo: A Drama of A.D. 1950 by Clarence Edward Heller) Robotic birds used in a stage play. |
1930 | Exodus Ship (from Tani of Ekkis by Judson W. Reeves) A generation ship to save a culture from extinction. |
1930 | The Sleep (from Tani of Ekkis by Judson W. Reeves) Use of a special technique to lessen the supplies required for long space voyages. |
1930 | Mother Ship (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell) A large spacecraft that serves as home base for other (usually smaller) ships. |
1930 | Paralyzing Ray (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Stops body motions. |
1931 | Robot Revolt (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) Robots to throw off the yoke of Man? |
1931 | Time Stream (from Time Stream by John Taine) The total sequence of events considered as a kind of flow. |
1931 | Mutation (from The Man Who Evolved by Edmond Hamilton) An organism that has come into being through genetic mutation. |
1931 | Time-Telespectroscope. (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) See other time-travelers. |
1931 | Machine Masters (from The Reign of the Masters by Edmond Hamilton) Humans did less and less, and machines did more and more, until machines became the masters. |
1931 | Heliocar (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Ground vehicle that can also lift off like a helicopter. |
1931 | Energy Curtain Key (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A small handheld "key" to shut off a force field. |
1931 | Master Machine (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) One single machine to run a civilization! |
1931 | Thought Coil (Machine Intelligence) (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Specially designed hardware that imparts intelligence to machines. |
1931 | Death Bath (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A suicide chamber. |
1931 | Hand Grip (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) Means of pulling oneself through a space ship at zero gravity. |
1931 | Foot Loops (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Hold yourself down in zero gravity situations with this low-tech device. |
1931 | Ownership of Machines (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Who will own the machines that produce material abundance? |
1931 | Magnetic Boots (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) Special footgear holds spacemen to the metal deck in spite of the lack of gravity. |
1931 | Blue Beam (from The Reign of the Masters by Edmond Hamilton) A pitiless pale blue beam of death! |
1931 | Astrogator (from The Conquest of Space by David Lasser) A person who acts as navigator for s space ship. |
1931 | Observation Room Recreation Center (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A vast internal space in a space station, often used for exercise and amusement. |
1931 | Air Tank Flying (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Using little blasts of compressed air to fly around inside a space station. |
1931 | Paralyzing Blast (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) A red Ray of light that freezes those it falls upon. |
1931 | Scanning-Disk Telescope (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A telescope which uses a television-like monitor instead of an eyepiece. |
1931 | Dressing Machines (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Semi-autonomous guided devices that could dress a person in ordinary clothing. |
1931 | Groundling (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A person who does not fly, especially into space. |
1931 | Tele-Audiovized Meeting (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Teleconferencing done right. |
1931 | Recoil Pistol (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A handheld device that permits a spaceman to manuever in zero gravity. |
1931 | Sodaluminum (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Lightweight and tough! |
1931 | Rocket Liner (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A rocket designed for point-to-point Earth journeys; it goes well into the stratosphere. |
1931 | Integral Calculator (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that accepts complex equations and solves them. |
1931 | Alpha Insert (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A special compound used to seal punctures in space craft. |
1931 | Selective Electric Eye (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A facial recognition device. |
1931 | Stationary Sidewalk (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A sidewalk that is fixed permanently in one location; not a sliding walkway. |
1931 | Communication Disk (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A wearable device that told the time as updated from a central source. |
1931 | Food Factory (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Mechanized production of food by entirely artificial means. |
1931 | Conveyor Ribbon (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A moving sidewalk. |
1931 | Ultra-Telescope Ray (from The Moon Weed by Harl Vincent) A transporter Ray that works over interplanetary distances. |
1931 | Teleradio Control (Hand Flash) (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that can call a vehicle to a driver; it drives itself in a near-autonomous fashion to the caller. |
1931 | Landing Stage (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) Parking spot for space craft. |
1931 | Tractor Beam (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A force field used to pull objects. |
1931 | Space Navy (from Pirates of Space by B.X. Barry) Spacefaring professional soldiers. |
1931 | Radio Meteor Detector (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A device carried by space ships that could detect meteors in space early enough to avoid them. |
1931 | Televisiophone (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A device that combines picture with sound for personal communication. |
1931 | Normal Space (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) As opposed to hyperspace. |
1931 | Flame Pistol (from Invisible Ships by Harl Vincent) A hand-held weapon that incinerates opponents. |
1931 | Robot-Deranger (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) A ray that discombobulates robots of all kinds. |
1931 | Gravity Neutralizers (from Pirates of Space by B.X. Barry) The force of gravity is suspended! |
1931 | Spacehound (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An experienced spaceman. |
1931 | Pentavalent Nitrogen (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A high explosive formed from nitrogen. |
1931 | Meteor Hulls Ship (from Moon People Of Jupiter by Isaac R. Nathanson) A small meteor tears all the way through a ship |
1931 | Pneumatic Tube Station (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Passengers are sealed into a narrow cylinder that is shot through a pressurized tube to their destination. |
1931 | Sunship (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A space craft powered entirely by the sun. |
1931 | Lens-Tube (from The Doom From Planet 4 by Jack Williamson) A kind of seeing device like a short-range telescope. |
1931 | Metal Monster with Jointed Limbs (from The Doom From Planet 4 by Jack Williamson) A large robotic device with legs. |
1931 | Control Disk (from The Slave Ship From Space by A.R. Holmes) |
1931 | Solar Power Apparatus (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) An ingenious device to gather solar energy, melt water, power a turbine and get hydrogen and oxygen fuel from ice. |
1931 | Telucid (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) A holographic projector. |
1931 | Artificial Atmosphere Machine (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Not just oxygen, this gives you what you need in space. |
1931 | Satellite Photography for Surveillance (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Use of pictures taken from near Earth orbit for reconnaissance in a military operation. |
1931 | Motor Torpedo (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A terrestrial torpedo, driven by ion beams. |
1931 | Photograph of Earth from Space (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) An aerial photograph from outside the atmosphere. |
1931 | Self-Sustaining Space Craft (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A spacecraft ecosystem. |
1931 | Beam-Powered Propulsion (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Using a powerful energy source as motive power for a projectile. |
1931 | Virtual Assembly (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) Use of holograms to accomplish an assembly of people. |
1931 | Vitalium (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A rare radioactive metal which enables solar power cells. |
1931 | Pressor (Pressor Beam) (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A force-field beam that pushes, rather than pulls. |
1931 | Robot Vending Machine (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Machinery displaces news boys selling papers on street corners. |
1931 | Thought-receptor Vote-counting Machine (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) That's one way to do a plebiscite. |
1931 | Vita-Light (from If The Sun Died by R.F. Starzl) A special form of bulb or light source that could keep people who were never exposed to the sun perfectly healthy. |
1931 | Magnetic Ray (from The Exiles of Venus by Jim Vanny) A powerful magnetic beam. |
1931 | Centipede-Machine (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) Multi-legged transport. |
1931 | Sensitive Robot Fingers (from The Exile of Time by Ray Cummings) Special sensory capabilities of robotic appendages. |
1931 | Kundrenaline (from The Hands of Aten by H.G. Winter) Revives even a dead man's heart. |
1931 | Synthetic Food Factories (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Food production without soil. |
1931 | Free Fall (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) Phrase describing how bodies move in orbit. |
1931 | City of Space (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) A very early reference to an enormous cylindrical space station. |
1931 | Terminator Zone (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) The area between solar illumination and shade. |
1931 | Zeta-Ray (from The Death Cloud by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Makes and maintains vast holes - even in ocean water! |
1931 | Positive Ray Propulsion (Ion Drive) (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) An ion drive. |
1931 | Sargasso of Space (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A "dead area" in which the gravitational fields of the planets are cancelled out. |
1931 | Gravito-Statoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An instrument used to detect the gravitational influences on a space ship. |
1931 | Space Men (from The Exiles of Venus by Jim Vanny) Beings who travel and work in space. |
1931 | Terrene (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Pertaining to the Earth. |
1931 | Evolution Machine (from The Man Who Evolved by Edmond Hamilton) A device that accelerates the process of evolution by millions of times. |
1931 | Suit-Phone (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A means of wireless communication between individuals dressed in space suits. |
1931 | Telephotography (from The Cosmic Cloud by Bruno H. Burgel) Sending pictures over a distance, displaying them on a vast screen. |
1931 | Message Cylinder (Message Bomb) (from The Cosmic Cloud by Bruno H. Burgel) A means of sending dispatches from space via a small projectile dropped from orbit; effectively a message rocket. |
1931 | Light Speed (from Out Around Rigel by Clyde Wilson) Using the speed of light at a unit of velocity. |
1931 | Power Planet (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) A satellite that supplies the Earth with power. |
1931 | Sapience (from The Planet Entity by E.M. Johnson (w/C.A. Smith)) The ability of a species to think, to reason with discernment and wisdom. |
1931 | Gravograph (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A graphical representation of gravitational fields. |
1931 | Meteorite Deflector (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A means of pushing aside asteroids that get in the path of your space ship. |
1931 | Curtain (Force Barrier) (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An easily set-up protective force barrier. |
1931 | Deviatoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that registered how much your course diverged from what you intended. |
1931 | Propulsion Gun (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) What can you push against in space? |
1931 | Emergency Corrective Rockets (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Used when you seem to be off-course in your spaceship. |
1931 | Thought Screen (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A material screen that is worn by the user, upon which are projected the mental images of the user. |
1931 | Centrifugal Force Creates 'Artificial Gravity' (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson) Using centrifugal force in a rotating cylinder as a substitute for gravity. |
1931 | Optophone (Opto) (from Too Many Boards! by Harl Vincent) A video call system. |
1931 | Transparent Spherical Ship (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A huge sphere of quartz housing a platform for space use. |
1931 | Atmosphere Tester (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device used to test the composition of a sample of the atmosphere on another planet, to see if it is breathable by humans. |
1931 | Zero-Ray (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Inflicts a fatal frostbite on living tissue. |
1931 | Wreck-Pack (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) An agglomeration of wrecked spacecraft drawn together by mutual gravitational attraction in the 'dead area' of the solar system. |
1931 | Matter Transmitter and Receiver (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) A device that transports matter through space. |
1931 | Iron Inlay Plates (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Works perfectly with an electromagnetic table to maintain place settings. |
1931 | Filling Station Moon (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) The idea that Man could first go to the Moon to obtain fuel or propellant. |
1931 | Ozone Radiation Shield (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Filling the gap between the inner and outer hull with ozone. |
1931 | Selenium Photo-Electric Televisor (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) A specialized photo-electric cell. |
1931 | Ship's Telescope (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) A large telescope built into the main axis of the ship. |
1931 | Space Madness (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) The monotony of space travel could drive you crazy. |
1931 | Braking Disks (from A Daring Trip To Mars by Max Valier) Used when the ship is falling through a planetary atmosphere. |
1931 | Moon Run (from Exiles of the Moon by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) An accurate representation of running on the moon. |
1931 | Telectroscope (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) A much better telescope than yours. |
1931 | Ultra-Terrene (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith) Originating from some world other than Earth. |
1931 | Ultra-Light Vision System (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A viewing technology able to see through and even within most objects. |
1931 | Annihilator Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A deadly ray that literally dissolved matter! |
1931 | Invasion Gate For Aliens (from Monsters of Mars by Edmond Hamilton) Using alien instructions to create a gate for alien invasion. |
1931 | Thigh Grips (from The Power Planet by Murray Leinster) Special chair feature for space ships undergoing accelerations. |
1931 | Protonite (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) Radioactive fuel for spacecraft. |
1931 | Sound Nullifier (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) A barrier to sound; the cancellation of sound waves. |
1931 | Perfect Voice Modulation (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) Artificially creating the perfect human singing voice. |
1931 | Adoption of Television (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) Prediction of TV penetration in homes and the death of movie houses. |
1931 | Matter Annihilation Ray (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A beam that forces electrons into protons, thereby destroying ordinary matter. |
1931 | Reaction-Motors (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A spacecraft engine that works by firing matter out at high speed. |
1931 | Space-Liner (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) A passenger ship in space. |
1931 | Faster-Than-Light (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell) Describes something that exceeds the usual speed limit on physical objects of 186,282 miles per second in vacuum. |
1931 | Spacegram (from An Adventure on Eros by J. Harvey Haggard) Telegrams of the space lanes. |
1931 | Telepadion Instructor (from An Adventure on Eros by J. Harvey Haggard) A device that places an entire sensory experience directly into the brain. |
1931 | Rocket Float (from Too Many Boards! by Harl Vincent) A sea-going floating platform for rocket launches. |
1931 | Command-Disk (from Creatures of the Comet by Edmond Hamilton) A device that sends out audible tones to control flesh-monsters. |
1931 | Robotic Microhands (from Microhands (Микроруки) by Boris Zhitkov) Mechanical replica of hands, that mimic the movements of actual human hands. |
1931 | Magnetic Clamps (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) Used for attaching your craft to a larger spaceship. |
1931 | Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction (from Atomic Fire by Raymond Z. Gallun) An 'atomic fire' is started that consumes all matter in reach! |
1931 | Cometeering (from Creatures of the Comet by Edmond Hamilton) Exploring a comet! |
1931 | Photoelectric Course Warning (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson) A means of keeping a spaceship on course using a selected star and a photoelectric cell. |
1931 | Neutronic Dust (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson) What's left over when you've annihilated matter. |
1931 | Space-Tent (from The Lunar Chrysalis by Raymond Z. Gallun) A small, portable air-tight structure used on the lunar surface. |
1931 | Space-Helmet (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) A 'fishbowl-style' head covering for space explorers. |
1931 | Helio-Beryllium (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson) Unusual alloy combines a metal and a gas. |
1931 | Dimensoscope (from The Fifth-Dimension Catapult by Murray Leinster) A telescope for peering into other dimensions. |
1931 | Spaceyacht (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton) Interplanetary spacecraft for the well-to-do. |
1931 | Landing Arms (from Creatures of the Comet by Edmond Hamilton) Arms that poke out from a space craft to allow it to land on solid ground, in gravity. |
1931 | Mechanical Thought Transformers (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) Machinery to expedite the process of thought transfer. |
1931 | Space Liner (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A large, passenger-carrying space ship. |
1931 | Gate (from The Gate to Xoran by Hal K. Wells) A opening through spacetime to other worlds. |
1931 | Object-Finder Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A unique device that projected a beam that found what you wanted. |
1931 | Skycar (from Prima Donna 1980 by Bernard Brown) A personal means of transportation that flies. |
1931 | Gravity Belt (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Adds 'weight' for walking on asteroids. |
1931 | Disintegrator Plate Ray (from The Revolt of the Machines by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Ray cuts through metal like butter. |
1931 | Attractor (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) A beam capable of holding objects motionless, as well as adjusting their position. |
1931 | Matter Transmitter (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone) Device which causes a physical object to disappear from one place and reappear in another. |
1931 | Space Suit (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Special protective gear worn as protection in space. |
1931 | Needle Gun (from In the Spacesphere by Charles Cloukey) A weapon that fires thin slivers of metal. |
1931 | Asteroid Belt (from The Disc-Men of Jupiter by Manly Wade Wellman) The circular region of space containing many small celestial bodies. |
1931 | Lifeboat (from Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small space-worthy craft that can be jettisoned from a larger ship, to save its crew. |
1931 | Jovium (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Rocket fuel catalyst that makes space travel commercially practical. |
1931 | Disruptor Tube (Disruptor Ray) (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) A device that interrupted the very bonds between atoms. |
1931 | Radium Repeller ray (from The Asteroid of Death by Neil R. Jones) Move inbound asteroids aside to keep ships safe. |
1931 | Argento-Platinoid Dispatch Box (from Venus Mines, Incorporated by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat)) Impenetrable message carriers. |
1931 | Reaction Attachment (from The Asteroid of Death by Neil R. Jones) Independent maneuvering for space suits. |
1931 | Gravity Detector (from The Lunar Chrysalis by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device capable of detecting the gravitational field of a distant mass. |
1931 | Porter Televox-Robot (from On Board the Martian Liner by Miles J. Breuer) A robot that carries your bags through the passageways of space liners. |
1932 | Surta (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) A base material for synthetic food. |
1932 | Automatics (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Machinery capable of running some aspect of a space ship's operation on its own. |
1932 | Meteor Warning System (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) A system that provided rockets in flight with early warning of meteors. |
1932 | Rigid Metallic Clothing (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) An early exoskeleton. |
1932 | Quartzite Leak Foil (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) Special material for space dome leaks. |
1932 | Reaction Pistol (from Martian Guns by Stanley D. Bell) A hand-held device for maneuvering in zero gravity in a space suit. |
1932 | Space-Boots (from The Passing of Ku Sui by Anthony Gilmore) Special footgear for spacemen. |
1932 | Space Freighter (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) A large spacecraft used for heavy cargo; can lift off from the Earth or other planets. |
1932 | Smoke Jets (Air Leak Detection) (from The Great Dome of Mercury by Leo Zagat) A means of determining the location of air leaks in a building built on an airless moon. |
1932 | Feelies (Feely) (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Device adds the tactile element to entertainment. |
1932 | Polarization Apparatus (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A device that caused a space ship to repel the Earth and send a space ship on its way. |
1932 | Scent-Organ (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A device that output specified odors. |
1932 | Battle Sphere (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) An armored space ship using the simplest geometric shape. |
1932 | Artificial Womb (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A room in which a human embryo waits for the necessary months as a fetus, preparing for birth (decanting). |
1932 | Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Futuristic children's game. |
1932 | Hypnopædia (Sleep-Teaching) (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) The idea that a person can learn explicit subject matter while sleeping. |
1932 | Tele-Screen (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg) A display screen for live events. |
1932 | Super-Photon (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Three photons in one. |
1932 | Negative Gravity Field (from 50th Century Revolt by A.G. Stangland) Antigravity effect produced for space ship propulsion. |
1932 | Alpha Plus (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) Intervening in the physical development of humans can result in enhancements. |
1932 | Space-Armor (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) Special shielding worn against rays and explosives. |
1932 | Bokanovsky's Process (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) A very early description of cloning. |
1932 | Sunward (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) The direction leading toward the center of the solar system. |
1932 | Weather Machine (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A device for controlling the weather. |
1932 | Electro-Gun (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) It shoots electro-bullets. |
1932 | Antigravity (from The Vanguard of Neptune by J.M. Walsh) A force opposed to gravity. |
1932 | Bone-Building Compounds (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Combat heavy gravity on other planets by building greater bone density in workers and colonists. |
1932 | Electro-Bullet (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) Fired by an electro-gun. |
1932 | Attraction Ray (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) In effect, a tractor beam. |
1932 | Speed Belt (Ribbon Conveyor) (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A great moving belt carrying people between cities. |
1932 | Sun-Tube (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A slicing ray of death! |
1932 | Search Beams (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) Penetrating rays that disclose the contents of rooms, ships, etc. |
1932 | Diskoid (from Slaves of Mercury by Nat Schachner) A huge flying saucer. |
1932 | Wandering Worlds (from When Worlds Collide by Edwin Balmer (w/P. Wylie)) Planets that are attached to no sun, and roam interstellar space. |
1932 | News-Dispenser (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg) Audio news ready when you are. |
1932 | Space-Tanned (from Slaves of Mercury by Warren Hammond) The characteristic darkening of the men of the spaceways. |
1932 | Space-Boat (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) A small space-worthy craft for use in emergencies. |
1932 | Magnet Grapnel (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) Used to pull another vessel closer when boarding in space. |
1932 | Violet Shrink Ray (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) A miniaturization ray. |
1932 | Shock-Rod (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) Knock out stick. |
1932 | Neo-Crystal (from Master of the Asteroid by Clark Ashton Smith) Unbreakable transparent window material. |
1932 | Water Pool Cushions Acceleration (from The Derelicts of Ganymede by John W. Campbell) The use of water to cushion and protect against extreme ship accelerations. |
1932 | Time-Space Television (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) A device for seeing into the past. |
1932 | Vacuum Cylinder (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Traveling first class, but like mail, in a tube system. |
1932 | Mirror Grid Multiple-View Surveillance Panel (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Very modern presentation combining multiple camera viewpoints, selectable using one monitor screen. |
1932 | Isolation Barrage (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) Device prevents eavesdropping. |
1932 | Electro-Magnet Anchor (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat) Attach a line to a spacecraft hull. |
1932 | Sol-Ido (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) The universal language of interplanetary travelers. |
1932 | Torpoon (from Seed of the Arctic Ice by H.G. Winter) Clever portmanteau of "torpedo" and "harpoon", an underwater whaling craft. |
1932 | Flame Projector (from Water-Bound World by Harl Vincent) Handheld device shoots flame. |
1932 | Gravity Beam (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) An conical attractive ray, it pulls ships to their doom. |
1932 | Atomic Pistol (from Mutiny on Mercury by Clifford Simak) Reduces the target to atomic dust. |
1932 | Protolectric Gun (from Electronic Siege by John W. Campbell) Fires twin beams of protons and electrons. |
1932 | Anti-Gravity Drive (from The Last Evolution by John W. Campbell) Electric force curves space. |
1932 | Laboratory Planet (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) A toy planet created in a laboratory; a fully functional world in miniature. |
1932 | Rotating Hollow Planetoid Habitat (from Electronic Siege by John W. Campbell) An asteroid (or planetoid) hollowed out, spun for artificial gravity, used as a habitat. |
1932 | Ship's Magnetic Plates (Magnetic Mooring) (from Asteroid of Gold by Clifford Simak) Keeps a mining ship attached to the surface of an asteroid. |
1932 | Asteroid Mining (Blasting) (from Asteroid of Gold by Clifford Simak) Setting charges on an asteroid. |
1932 | Intergalactic (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Going between galaxies. |
1932 | Government Machine (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) The automata that constitute the entire government, all in one building. |
1932 | Automatic Truck (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) A cargo-carrying vehicle that autonomously drives to the selected destination. |
1932 | Spaceship Garden (from The Heritage of the Earth by Harley S. Aldinger) A fully-enclosed garden on a spaceship producing edible foodstuffs. |
1932 | Manufactured Planet (from The Heritage of the Earth by Harley S. Aldinger) Is that a moon - or a space station? |
1932 | Pent House (from The Pent House by David H. Keller) An island in the sky - a hermetically sealed skyscraper isolated entirely from its surroundings. |
1932 | Negrian Death Ray (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) A ray that causes the cessation of life processes. |
1932 | Self-Propulsive Space Suit (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) A space suit outfitted with its own means of movement. |
1932 | Emergency Space-Boat (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun) An escape ship. |
1932 | Earth Normal (from The Pygmy Planet by Jack Williamson) Using the earth standard. |
1932 | Jump (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) Instantaneous movement over vast distances, points many light-years apart. |
1932 | Pneumatic-Tube Zone (from Mechanocracy by Miles J. Breuer) The portion of a city that is served by direct tubes to each dwelling. |
1932 | Space-Drive (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell) A means of providing propulsion for a spacecraft. |
1932 | Emergency Space-Suit (from Pirates of the Gorm by Nat Schachner) A compacted space-suit stored for emergency use. |
1932 | Gravity-Plates (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) Reliable, controllable gravity force. |
1932 | Hinged Mittens (for Space Suit) (from The Bluff of the Hawk by Anthony Gilmore) Space worthy mittens for space suits. |
1932 | Ostler Insulation Beam (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) A beam of energy stretching from one planet to another that protects space craft from radiation. |
1932 | Landing-Cradle (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) A supporting structure for a space craft landing on a planetary surface. |
1932 | Ether-Traffic (from The Duel on the Asteroid by P. Schuyler Miller (w/D. McDermott)) The communications spectrum of the solar system. |
1932 | Spaceboat (from Waves of Compulsion by Raymond Z. Gallun) Runabout for outer space. |
1932 | Pocket-Planet (from The Duel on the Asteroid by P. Schuyler Miller (w/D. McDermott)) An asteroid. |
1932 | Space Force (from Wandl, The Invader by Ray Cummings) That branch of the military with a presence outside the atmosphere. |
1932 | Electric Boat (from The Great Drought by S.P. Meek) A surface vessel powered by electricity. |
1932 | Light Beam Propulsion (Light-Ship) (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) Use of brilliant light as motive power for a space ship. |
1932 | Luminous Stake-Markers (from The Radium World by Frank K. Kelly) Illuminated pole designating a staked claim on the surface of a planet, moon or asteroid. |
1932 | Daisy Projector (from The Derelicts of Ganymede by John W. Campbell) Beam of energy penetrates the Heaviside layer to enable communication from planet to planet. |
1933 | Seleno-Cosmo-Tel (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Device to automatically avoid asteroids or other bodies. |
1933 | Helix Gun (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) A device for capturing ferrous meteors. |
1933 | Anadrenalin (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Has the opposite effect of adrenalin. |
1933 | Meteor Miner (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Someone who roams the solar system, hunting for metal in meteors. |
1933 | Magnetic Anchor (from Dead Star Station by Jack Williamson) A means of affixing an anchor point on a spacecraft hull. |
1933 | Osprey Space Armor (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Space suit you can live in. |
1933 | Conscious Retarded Animation (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) A kind of hibernation, but leaves the user fully conscious, but aging at an incredibly slow rate. |
1933 | Corporol (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) Preserves and maintains the body. |
1933 | Iron Man Robot With Human Brain (from Iron Man by Paul Ernst) A huge robot with a tub containing a human brain. |
1933 | Spaceways (from Shambleau by C.L. Moore) A set route though space. |
1933 | Cosmo-Craft (from A Race Through Time by Donald Wandrei) A spacecraft for traveling through time and space. |
1933 | Vibratium Wall Time Machine (from Ancestral Voices by Nat Schachner) An element that is unstable in time makes time travel possible and enables the Grandfather Paradox. |
1933 | Lunar Tunnel (Human Pendulum) (from Captive of the Crater by D.D. Sharp) A tunnel through the center of the moon, and the man who fell through it. |
1933 | Asteroid Rocket (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) An engine attached to an asteroid to drive it through space. |
1933 | Space Tug (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A small vessel used to maneuver other ships. |
1933 | Landing on an Asteroid (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) An elaborate flight plan for landing a space ship on an asteroid. |
1933 | Ether Boat (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A space craft. |
1933 | Globular Glass Helmet (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) A bowl-shaped space helmet. |
1933 | Flip to Brake (from Murder on the Asteroid by Eando Binder) Maneuver to put the tail end (with rocket output) in the forward direction of travel to use for lowering velocity. |
1933 | Transfer Cable (from Dead Star Station by Jack Williamson) Move between two ships in space. |
1933 | Electric Machine Gun (Railgun) (from The Battery of Hate by John W. Campbell) A device that accelerates small projectiles magnetically using a strong electric current. |
1933 | Checker-City (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A city planned as a checker-board of alternating vegetation and buildings. |
1933 | Spectro-Flash Analysis (from Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson) Device for determining the content of meteorites. |
1933 | Vibra-Transmitter (Teleportation) (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) An early use of the notion of matter transmission. |
1933 | Belt Automatic-Equalizers (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) The wearer's experience of gravity will be just like Earth's. |
1933 | Tubular Space-Gangway (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A means of traversing the short distance between two ships in space. |
1933 | Granton Motor (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) Spacecraft propulsion system based on gravital radiation. |
1933 | Space-Sailor (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) A spaceman; someone who makes his living by voyaging in space. |
1933 | Historical Listening Machine (from The Machine That Knew Too Much by A.T. Locke) Device can hear sounds from down through the ages. |
1933 | Synthetic Food (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) Edible food for humans, grown in the laboratory. |
1933 | Food Preparation Machine (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) An automated device for the production of complete meals. |
1933 | Space-Suit Rockets (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly) Attached rockets allow movement in zero-gee space. |
1933 | Etheric Propulsion-Vibrations (from The Star-Roamers by Edmond Hamilton) Faster-than-light travel. |
1933 | Drink the Fungi (from The Three Suns of Ev by Edwin K. Sloat) A method of suicide or criminal punishment involving ingestion of spores. |
1933 | Human Serial Number (from Unto Us A Child Is Born by David H. Keller) A unique number tattooed on body of a person. |
1933 | Crystal Cylinder Ship (from The Three Suns of Ev by Edwin K. Sloat) A transparent space ship in the shape of a cylinder. |
1933 | Gateway (from Wanderer of Infinity by Harl Vincent) A device that opens a portal to another dimension. |
1933 | Solar-Powered Electric Helicopter (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by James Patrick Kelly) An electric helicopter, with sun cells. |
1934 | Deep-Space (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Typically refers to the vast empty regions of interstellar space. |
1934 | Needle-Ray (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Very thin beam of destruction. |
1934 | Out-Worlder (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A person from another planet. |
1934 | 3D Tank Display (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A transparent cube showing a three-dimensional display. |
1934 | Baby Robot (from Life Everlasting by David H. Keller) An infant robot. |
1934 | Robot-Surgeon (from Rex by Harl Vincent) A perfect robot for perfected human beings. |
1934 | Energy Weapon (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) A device that fires pure energy, used as a weapon. |
1934 | Healing Crystal (from A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A small object that burns off diseased tissue, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. |
1934 | Glass Pistol (from A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A clear glass gun that fires poisoned splinters. |
1934 | Invisibility Magnets (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) They can cloak a space ship by bending light around it. |
1934 | Aircab (from The Barrier by Harl Vincent) A flying autonomous taxi cab. |
1934 | Impermite (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) A substance that is impervious to penetration. |
1934 | General Strike of the Robots (from Rex by Harl Vincent) All over the world, robots cease their labors. |
1934 | Robots Refuse To Serve Man (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) When robots evolve their own perspectives, and ultimately refuse to act as servants to human beings. |
1934 | Stratoplane (from Colossus by Donald Wandrei) An airplane that flies up to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1934 | Metallic Fingers (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Robot fingers. |
1934 | Robot-Control Wave Band (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Special command circuit for robots. |
1934 | Robot Skin Covering (from Rex by Harl Vincent) Realistic covering for the bodies of robots. |
1934 | Penetron (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) A synthetic substance that is opaque unless penetrated by infra-red. |
1934 | Hypomatrin (from The Confession of Dr. DeKalb by Stanton A. Coblentz) A spinal anesthetic that allows the reformation of personality. |
1934 | Aliens Speak English (from The Mines of Haldar by Maurice G. Hugi) The skeleton men of Mercury speak English, but have a good reason for it. |
1934 | Ultrawave (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A means of faster-than-light (FTL) communication. |
1934 | Mutant (from The 100th Generation by Nat Schachner) A new organism resulting from an alteration in the DNA sequence of its genome or chromosome. |
1934 | Self-Aware Robot (from Rex by Harl Vincent) A robot that thinks and reasons for itself. |
1934 | Wine Pellets (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) Fine wine in convenient, dried form. |
1934 | Automatic Parking (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) Vehicle autonomously heads for a public hangar. |
1934 | Cone of Battle (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An offensive formation of space ships providing the ultimate in firepower. |
1934 | Credit (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) A basic unit of currency. |
1934 | Evacuating Arms (from Space Flotsam by Raymond Z. Gallun) Empty out the contents of an airlock exposed to space. |
1934 | Space Warp (from Redmask of the Outlands by Nat Schachner) The very fabric of space-time. |
1934 | Manual Search For Habitable Planet (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A tedious search for habitable planets by hand. |
1934 | Air-Car (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A personal flying car |
1934 | Beam Car (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) A vehicle like an elevator car, but which travels on a radio and magnetic beam, from the surface of a planet up to a satellite. |
1934 | Black Cube Teaching Machine (from The Flame From Mars by Jack Williamson) A device that offers recorded images, teaching the user. |
1934 | Silica Sphere (Dyson sphere) (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) An enclosed environment, excavated on Mars, and then placed into the heavens (it's Phobos) |
1934 | Gyrocars with Photo-Electric Braking (from Photo Control by Bernard Brown) Force the tires into maximum contact with the road, then use photo-electric sensors to control braking and turns. |
1934 | Electron Gun (from The Great Thirst by Nat Schachner) How to add a lot of electrons to a lot of positrons? |
1934 | Positron Beam (from The Great Thirst by Nat Schachner) Vast numbers of positrons, the antimatter counterpart of the electron, are beamed around the Earth. |
1934 | Vibrowriter (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller) A device that translated speech and typed it out for you. |
1934 | Machine City (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) A city that is a self-maintaining whole entity. |
1934 | Radio-Dirigible Torpedo (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A drone missile that is controlled remotely by an operator. |
1934 | Electric-Space-Strain Projector (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) Device enables the wireless transmission of power. |
1934 | Space Mittens (from Space Flotsam by Raymond Z. Gallun) Protect your hands in space. |
1934 | Planetary Propulsion-Blasts (from Thundering Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Devices capable of moving and steering planets to new orbits or new stars. |
1934 | Spy Ray Goggles (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A form of radiation that can penetrate walls to allow the user to 'see' what is happening on the other side. |
1934 | Homorium (from The Last Men by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A kind of nursery that could bring a human being to maturity in a single year. |
1934 | Sound-Transposing Machine (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller) A device that scans a printed page and reads it out loud. |
1934 | Inertialess Drive (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Faster-than-light travel achieved! |
1934 | Levitators (from Lost City of Mars by Harl Vincent) Allows free flight in the interior volume of a vast sphere in space. |
1934 | Liquid Mirror Telescope on Mars (from Old Faithful by Raymond Z. Gallun) A large telescope using a spinning bowl of mercury as the mirror. |
1934 | Metal Message In Space (from The Menace From Space by John Edwards) A message sent to other worlds, inscribed on metal. |
1934 | Invisibility Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A means of concealing a physical object to the naked eye. |
1934 | Ingestible Communication Capsule (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A tiny transmitter that can be swallowed, which makes possible voice communication. |
1934 | Artificial Planet (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A very large constructed object in space. |
1934 | Synthetic Food Dispenser (from Twilight by John W. Campbell) A machine that could make whatever food you wanted from basic elements. |
1934 | Living Machines (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Robots that are able to learn. |
1934 | Wrist Search Display (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A wearable device that uses its own search beam to view scenes close by. |
1934 | Solar Engine (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) A space ship that gets it motive power from the rays of the sun. |
1934 | Automatic Navigator (from A Matter of Size by Harry Bates) Device steers your spaceship to its destination without additional effort from you. |
1934 | Bergenholm Drive (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A device that renders a spaceship free of inertia. |
1934 | Ether-Wall (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An invisibility field. |
1934 | Platinum Alloy Disc (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A silvery disc used for data record storage. |
1934 | Moving a Planet (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Early use of the concept of moving a planet to a new sun. |
1934 | Extradimensional (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) From another dimension. |
1934 | Communicator (from Skylark of Valeron by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small device that works to communicate over large distances. |
1934 | Darkness Bomb (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell) A small bulb containing a vapor that causes darkness to occur. |
1934 | Mentanical Communication (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Thinking, learning robots have a special means of communication. |
1934 | Ablative Heat (Reentry) Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A single-use shield or covering designed to accept the heat of reentry and burn off. |
1934 | Protective Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An energy shield for one person. |
1934 | Emergency Lifeboat (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A small craft used as a bail-out vehicle from a large space station or spacecraft. |
1934 | Electro-Telescope (from The Mines of Haldar by Maurice G. Hugi) A device that could clearly image space battles and space ships, even from a great distance. |
1934 | Laws Against Human Drivers (from Photo Control by Bernard Brown) The idea that autonomous vehicles should be the only cars on the road, for safety. |
1934 | Flying Wing (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A V-shaped plane capable of flight to the edge of the atmosphere. |
1934 | Lewiston (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) Standard blaster pistol with terrifying power. |
1934 | Mentanicals (from The Mentanicals by Francis Flagg) Robots capable of mentation - i.e., thought. |
1934 | Standish (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A beam weapon of frightful intensity. |
1934 | Acceleration-tank (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A water-filled tank used to ease the strains of acceleration. |
1935 | Machine (Thinking Machine) (from The Machine by John W. Campbell) A very early reference to a thinking machine in charge of a planet. |
1935 | Micro-Cosmos (Microcosm) (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) The universe in miniature. |
1935 | Ball-Taxi (from Earth Rehabilitators, Consolidated by Henry J. Kostkos) A floating, spherical cab. |
1935 | Mudshoes (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Footgear specialized for the semisolid soil of Venus |
1935 | Fruit-Picking Machine (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) An humanoid machine for automatic fruit picking. |
1935 | Transkin (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A hooded protective suit worn on Venus. |
1935 | Air-Tight Cities (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) Cities with breathable air constructed on worlds with no atmosphere. |
1935 | New Suns From Old (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) Creating new stars by crashing together the cinders of dead stars. |
1935 | Trans-Oceanic Rocket (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Also, a rocket-plane. |
1935 | Thermlectrium (from Blindness by John W. Campbell) An alloy that turns heat directly into electricity. |
1935 | Micro-Telescope (from The Cosmic Pantograph by Edmond Hamilton) An astronomical instrument for looking at objects in a miniature universe. |
1935 | Floater (Vehicle) (from The Machine by John W. Campbell) A conveyance distinguished primarily by antigravity power. |
1935 | Unattended Factory (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) A factory that works entirely automatically, without human guidance. |
1935 | Conscious Farm Machines (from The Hidden Colony by Otfrid von Hanstein) Farm machinery that worked on their own. |
1935 | Emotion Meter (from The Emotion Meter by W. Varick Nevins, III) A device for empirically determining human emotion. |
1935 | Bloodhound Machine (from Crimes of the Year 2000 by Ray Cummings) Could positively identify a person using their scent alone. |
1935 | First Contact (from Proxima Centauri by Murray Leinster) The initial encounter with a non-human race. |
1935 | Living Space Ship (from Proxima Centauri by Murray Leinster) A space ship made of a living substance, in this case cellulose. |
1935 | Subjunctivisor (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Projects a possible future, based on your own impressions. |
1935 | Magno-Bars (from The Meteor Miners by L.A. Eshbach) Electromagnet-tipped rods used by meteor miners to capture iron-rich asteroids in space. |
1935 | Automatic Toll Payment (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) An automated car that pays its own toll. |
1935 | Automatic Air Mail Plane (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) A pilotless airplane for delivery of cargo. |
1935 | Thermide (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A chemical which, added to water, boiled and sterilized it instantly. |
1935 | Driverless Taxi (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller) A taxi that does not require a driver. |
1935 | Magic Spectacles (from Pygmalion's Spectacles by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Very early take on virtual reality hardware. |
1935 | Time Line (from Liners of Time by John Russell Fearn) Time seen linearly, as a distinguishable series of events. |
1935 | Electric Menu (from Liners of Time by John Russell Fearn) Ordering of food is automated, without waiters. |
1935 | Doughpot (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) A mass of white, dough-like protoplasm, ranging in size from a single cell to perhaps twenty tons of mushy filth. |
1935 | Xixtline (from Parasite Planet by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Venusian drug provides a rejuvenate effect. |
1935 | Meteor Swarm Mining (from The Meteor Miners by L.A. Eshbach) A fleet of ships hunting for meteoric iron - in space! |
1935 | Horsten Psychomat (from The Worlds of If by Stanley G. Weinbaum) Re-creates a mental scene for the viewer. |
1936 | Chronoscope (from Elimination by John W. Campbell) A device used to see into specific internals of time. |
1936 | Teaching Machine (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) A helmet placed on the head focuses illimitable knowledge into even the head of an earth man. |
1936 | Foam Station Sprayer (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A device that stills the stormy Great Red Spot on Jupiter. |
1936 | Radiation-Proof Oxygen Suit (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A specialized space suit for use in radium mining on Jupiter. |
1936 | Jupiter Mining Shoes (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) Specialized footgear for walking on the Great Red Spot. |
1936 | Bladder Birds (from Redemption Cairn by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) Alien life well adapted. |
1936 | Molecule Replacement Lamp (from Red Storm on Jupiter by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A means of attaining practical invisibility. |
1936 | Sounding Projectile (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) Provides a way to tell whether there’s a soldid surface on a cloudy planet. |
1936 | Synthetic Intellect (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device for providing a robot with intelligence. |
1936 | Automat (from Mad Robot by Raymond Z. Gallun) Unusual name for an intelligent robot; short for "automaton"? |
1936 | Multi-Generation Space Vessel (Generation Ship) (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) A space ship and voyage intended to last across multiple human generations. |
1936 | Probability Time Wave Tube (from Elimination by John W. Campbell) A device that allows the user to see every possible event. |
1936 | Golden Ray of Synchronized Vibrations (from The Return of the Murians by Nat Schachner) Disrupts matter by hurling electrons out of their energy states and scattering them. |
1936 | Indoor Weighted Belt (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Device to stay grounded in low gravity on the Moon. |
1936 | Electric Tractor (from World of Purple Light by Warner Van Lorne) A farm cultivator that runs entirely on electricity. |
1936 | Radiation Shield (from The Ultimate Weapon by John W. Campbell) A clever use for the water you need to take anyway. |
1936 | Emergency Repulsion (Repulsive Ray) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A beam of force that repels one object from another. |
1936 | Automated Search For Habitable Planets (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Automated use of telescopes and other devices to search the universe for Earth-like planets. |
1936 | Starways (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) The well-traveled paths from star to star. |
1936 | Telespectroscope (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Device for searching for habitable (Earth-like) planets. |
1936 | Emergency Repulsion Ray (from Earth-Venus 12 by Gabriel Wilson) A handheld means of propulsion in space. |
1936 | Paralyzing Ray (Bolar Current) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A beam that forces a person to remain rooted to a particular spot. |
1936 | Volplane (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A small vehicle used in transporting people around the moon's surface. |
1936 | Photoelectric Telescope (Photoelectric Eyes) (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) An astronomical telescope that uses the photoelectric effect to gather light, and then to present the finished image on a screen. |
1936 | Asteroid Lanes (Blasted) (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) Actually clearing safe routes through asteroid belts. |
1936 | Meteor Particles (Sand Blast) (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) Tiny sand-sized asteroids sand-blasting the hull of a spacecraft. |
1936 | Vitrisheen (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) A translucent glass-like fashion choice. |
1936 | Luxobe Crystals (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) They give light. |
1936 | Cartograph (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) A device that shows you a record of your travels - a GPS readout. |
1936 | Audiphone (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Communication between space suits in the airless void of space. |
1936 | Zed-Ray (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) A penetrating beam that would disclose the details inside of a closed object. |
1936 | Husk of an Atom (from The Roaring Blot by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A negative universe substance. |
1936 | Dimension Shifting Apparatus (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton) Achieves faster than light space travel by moving into a different, parallel dimension. |
1936 | Android (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) A synthetic being having the form of a human being. |
1936 | Violet-Gun (Ion Gun) (from The Brain Stealers of Mars by John W. Campbell) Ultra-violet fury! |
1936 | Geodynes (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Spacecraft propulsion that pushes against the very fabric of space itself. |
1936 | Solar Radiant Energy Weapon (from The Weapon by Raymond Z. Gallun) The device absorbs solar rays and then emits a powerful, coherent ray. |
1936 | Time Loop (from The Time Entity by Eando Binder) A series of events repeats, the stream crosses over itself. |
1936 | Space Legs (from Flight of the Typhoon by Clifton B. Kruse) The ability to walk under high gee acceleration on a space ship. |
1936 | Tubular Field of Force (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Can pull an object through space. |
1936 | Vision Tubes (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) Microminaturized vision for UAV's. |
1936 | Dark Vapor Bubble (from Man-Jewels for Xothar by H.G. Wells) A kind of field that keeps an alien base provided with an atmosphere. |
1936 | Nutrient Gelatin Tank (from The Isotope Men by Nat Schachner) Essential hardware for creating a new, improved humanity - isotope men! |
1936 | Scarab Robot Flying Insect (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) A tiny flying robotic machine, used for surveillance. |
1936 | Atom Compactor (Metal Earthworm) (from Death Dives Deep by Paul Ernst) A tunneling device. |
1936 | Robot With Human's Brain (from Revenge of the Robot by Otis Adelbert Kline) A very early example of encasing a human brain in a robotic body. |
1936 | Protective Energy Halo (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that cast a hemisphere of protective beams. |
1936 | Electronized Gravity Plate (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings) Artificial gravity for use on space stations and spacecraft. |
1936 | Wire Gun (from Shadow Gold by Ray Cummings) Shoots a length of constricting wire. |
1936 | Planetary Engineering (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson) Remaking or modifying an entire planet. |
1936 | Beckerley Electrical Field (from Smothered Seas by R.M. Farley (w/SG Weinbaum)) An energy field that can protect a city or large area. |
1936 | Giant Flat Panel Display (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) Movie screen-sized flat panel display for live televised images. |
1936 | Shoggoths (from At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft) Bioengineered creatures, able to change shape, created for labor. |
1936 | Wireless Wrist Intercom (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A portable wireless intercom, worn on the wrist. |
1936 | Transparent Flat Panel Display (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A fifty-inch flat panel display that is (or can be) transparent. |
1936 | Needle Beam Gat (from Moon Crystals by J. Harvey Haggard) A thin disintegrator beam. |
1936 | Rocketrix (from Redemption Cairn by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) A female rocket pilot. |
1936 | Lanson Screen (from The Lanson Screen by Leo Zagat) An elliptical shield of force large enough to enclose a city. |
1936 | Desktop Flat Panel Intercom (from The Shape of Things To Come by H.G. Wells) A small desktop screen intercom system. |
1937 | Mercy Gas (from The Saga of Pelican West by Eric Frank Russell) Breathe it and die. |
1937 | Miniature Universe (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) A microcosmic universe created in the laboratory. |
1937 | Ultra-microrobot (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun) A nanomachine; a machine whose parts are no bigger than atoms. |
1937 | Poldek (from The Saga of Pelican West by Eric Frank Russell) Ability to sense life. |
1937 | Designed Bacteria (from Seeds of the Dusk by Raymond Z. Gallun) Very early reference to the idea of bacteria designed to wipe out a particular species, and no others. |
1937 | Proton Pistol (Proton Beam) (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that unleashed a 'protonic storm' of energy. |
1937 | Locatimeter (from The Iron World by Otis Adelbert Kline) A method for a plane to know its location over the Earth. |
1937 | Thionite (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A deadly drug. |
1937 | Blast-Off (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) The act of firing a rocket into space. |
1937 | Robot Dog (from The Iron World by Otis Adelbert Kline) A mechanical, robotic dog. |
1937 | Repulsor Screen (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) Diverts troublesome asteroids. |
1937 | Gravity Neutralizing Disks (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton) Two plates between which Earth's gravitational influence is cancelled out. |
1937 | Alien Life Form (from The Hothouse Planet by Arthur K. Barnes) Living organisms of non-Earth origin. |
1937 | Groundcar (or Ground Car) (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A non-skimming, non-flying vehicle. |
1937 | Space Laboratory (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) A specialized space station, for scientific research. |
1937 | Antron (from Minus Planet by John D. Clark, Ph.D) A single particle of antimatter - an antiproton. |
1937 | Opaque Helmet (from Wanderer of the Void by Dr. Arch Carr) A spacesuit helmet that has no see-through components at all; fully enclosed metal. |
1937 | Stratocar (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A vehicle intended for use in traveling through the upper atmosphere. |
1937 | Sub-Space (from Crystallized Thought by Nat Schachner) A dimension or a transmission medium other than our own, which allows faster-than-light communication or movement. |
1937 | Ether Eddy (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A shimmering region of space marking a break-through into another universe. |
1937 | Drop Shaft (Neutralization of Inertia) (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) An 'elevator shaft' in which the user can fall at the speed of gravity, then be stopped without inertia (i.e., instantly). |
1937 | Artificial eye (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A surgically-implanted artificial eyeball. |
1937 | Photo-Electric Mosaic (from Beyond Which Limits by Nat Schachner) A means of capturing astronomical images. |
1937 | Rocket Tug (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) The equivalent of a tug boat for space ships. |
1937 | Light Traps (Dyson Sphere) (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Surrounding a sun, a set of devices to capture or focus solar power. |
1937 | Ultra-Communicator (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A communication system that transfers voice commands from one person to selected others. |
1937 | Gold-Fish-Bowl World (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) An artificial water planet. |
1937 | Wind-Suncatcher (from Down on the Farm by Simpson Stokes) A combination wind turbine and solar energy gathering device. |
1937 | Near-Space Solar Energy Collectors (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Generating power from solar radiation closer to the source. |
1937 | Artificial Planet (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon) Constructed bodies the size of planets for habitation. |
1937 | Mechanical Cow (Nibbler) (from Down on the Farm by Simpson Stokes) An autonomous mechanism that performs some of the actions of an ordinary bovine. |
1937 | Space Dock (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) Like a port for spacecraft; they can deliver their passengers and cargo. |
1937 | Electelscope (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) Telescope uses electronics applied to optics. |
1937 | Heat Generating Magnetic Disks (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) Devices used to artificially raise the temperature of the surface of moons to a reasonable level. |
1937 | Plani-Glass (from Crystalized Thought by Nat Schachner) Transparent and light and has the tensile strength of steel! |
1937 | Self-Propelled Space Suit (from The Cavern of the Shining Pool by Leo Zagat) A vacuum suit with a means of propelling itself built in. |
1937 | Automatic Reversed Memory (from Brain Control by Dave Cummins) A device that activates memories and plays them back in reverse order. |
1937 | X Gun (X-Beam Projector) (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) A device that projected soft x-rays into small planetoids to determine their composition. |
1937 | Etherometer (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A device that looked at the 'ether' pervading space as a means of determining gravitation field strength. |
1937 | Blast Rifle (from Exiles of the Stratosphere by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A gun that creates a short-range energy blast. |
1937 | Sono-Induction Coils (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) A public address system consisting of buried coils. |
1937 | Concentrated Light (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) Beam of powerfully concentrated light pressure. |
1937 | Vibration Screen (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) Subtle rays prevent electronic surveillance. |
1937 | Subphoton Search Ray (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) A special ray beam that penetrates into hidden bunkers; images are caught on special film cameras. |
1937 | Atomic Drill (from Minus Planet by John D. Clark, Ph.D) An atomic-powered auger, for use in drilling deep into planets and asteroids. |
1937 | Multiple Sample Voice (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner) The use of multiple voice samples to create a single, smoothed voice. |
1937 | Spectroscopic Robot Converter (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles) Accepted the return of soft x-ray radiation, and translated it into Fraunhofer spectra. |
1938 | Control Helmet (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton) A device which causes an entire race of people to think and feel the same as the wearer. |
1938 | Field-Projector (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton) A device that dematerializes a person and then sends forth a ray that will then rematerialize a person at the end. |
1938 | Buggaroo (from The Secret of the Canali by Clifton B. Kruse) Martian creature for transportation. |
1938 | Steel-Lined Space Boots (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) In combination with a magnetized floor, allows the user to walk in zero gravity. |
1938 | Teleray (from Cosmic Teletype by Carl Jacobi) Destruction over great distances. |
1938 | Psychode (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) A device that enables communication by thought alone. |
1938 | Reversal Coils (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) Provide both entry into a negative universe and propulsion. |
1938 | Magnetic Flame Gun (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) Device shoots charged positive nuclei. |
1938 | Coronium Ore (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) A radiolite substance to revolutionize industry. |
1938 | Alcatraz of Space (from Reunion on Ganymede by Clifford Simak) A planetoid prison. |
1938 | Rocket-Polo (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) Polo played with rocket-powered craft. |
1938 | Gyrotomic (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) A small gyrostabilized hovercraft. |
1938 | Helicoptomic (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) A hovering craft used by referees in rocket polo. |
1938 | Invisible Watchmen (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Automated 'home security' sentry system that targets and eliminates intruders. |
1938 | Brain-Case (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A device designed to transport a living human (or alien, if similar) brain. |
1938 | Radium Salt (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Radioactive materials used as an assassination weapon. |
1938 | Hand-Rocket (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A handheld device that used reaction matter to aid explorers in space suits to move around easily in zero gee. |
1938 | Interplanetary Passport (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Required document for space travelers. |
1938 | Basic Robot Personality (from Simultaneous Worlds by Nat Schachner) Providing simple personalities to robots. |
1938 | Robot Emotions (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) Devices or techniques that give rise to emotions in robots. |
1938 | Robot Animals (from Reunion on Ganymede by Clifford Simak) Artificial animals created using robotic elements. |
1938 | Mass Detector (Gravitator) (from Roamer of the Stars by Clyde Wilson) A device that finds substantial masses, particularly in the path of a space craft. |
1938 | Gogglelike Televisors (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman) A screen technology placed very close to the eyes. |
1938 | Robot Cook (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) A household robot that can cook meals. |
1938 | Space-Court (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) The place of judgement for crimes committed in interstellar space. |
1938 | Helen O'Loy (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) A robot is enhanced to offer feelings and affection. |
1938 | Preserved Brains (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) Preserving a brain, and then communicating with it. |
1938 | Multispecies Hotel (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A hotel set up to serve beings from different planets. |
1938 | Tractor Boots (from Magician of Dream Valley by Raymond Z. Gallun) Space suit footgear that has atom-driven caterpillar treads. |
1938 | Air-Blanket (from Hollywood on the Moon by Henry Kuttner) A dome-less protective air shield. |
1938 | Artificial Eye Drone (from Glimpse by Manly Wade Wellman) A remote flying device that transmits its view to the operator. |
1938 | Beam-Pistol (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton) A handheld ray gun. |
1938 | Banning Gun (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) Shoots a pencil heat ray. |
1938 | Surface Car (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A specialized vehicle for traveling on a planetary surface. |
1938 | Paralysis Ray (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A special ray that produces paralysis. |
1938 | Automatic Commercial Deletion (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Device automatically detects commercials and turns off the set for the duration. |
1938 | Lightweight Vacuum Armor (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A simplified space suit, used where conditions were similar to Earth rather than in the more rigorous conditions of space. |
1938 | Pneumatic Bumpers (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) An inflatable bumper system for ground-based motor vehicles. |
1938 | Interplanetary Restaurant (from Asteroid Pirates by Royal W. Heckman) An eatery and watering hole designed for use by a variety of space-faring races. |
1938 | Atomic Explosive (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A handheld bomb that melted its way into an armored door, then detonated. |
1938 | Psychoprobe (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Get to the truth. |
1938 | Vacuum-Cupped Sandals (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) Used for walking in weightless environments. |
1938 | Proxy Robot (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A remote-controlled floating telepresence robot, for use by aliens who cannot share an atmosphere. |
1938 | Tetrahedron Interference Projector (from The Great Illusion by Will Garth) Projects a field of force around the Solar System, bending the light of stars to make them seem more distant. |
1938 | Eros Ship-Planetoid (from The Great Illusion by Will Garth) A vast cylindrical ship, long thought to be a planetoid. |
1938 | Liquid Metal (from The Dual World by Arthur K. Barnes) Metal that can be sprayed on. |
1938 | Emergency Air-Suit (from Voyage 13 by Ray Cummings) A light-duty space suit. |
1938 | Sub-Etheric (from Legion of Time by Jack Williamson) Below the level at which ordinary light is propagated. |
1938 | Time Tunnel (from Rule 18 by Clifford Simak) A gateway into the past. |
1938 | Rocketeering (from Ra For The Rajah by John Victor Peterson) Racing around in rockets |
1938 | Zero-Gravity (from If Science Reached the Earth's Core by John R. Binder) A state in which gravity is effectively absent or cancelled out. |
1938 | Artificially Produced Speech (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) Speech produced by mechanical means, rather than with vocal chords. |
1938 | Air-o-Stat (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) Provides life-giving air in spacecraft. |
1938 | Transfer Refuge (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A portable environment chamber, able to support unique and different lifeforms. |
1938 | Individual Flyer (from Asteroid Pirates by Royal W. Heckman) Personal antigravity and wing unit. |
1938 | Teleoperated Robot Surrogate (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman) A robot that is entirely controlled remotely by a person who sees with the point of view of the robot. |
1938 | Etherphone Receiver (from Hotel Cosmos by Raymond Z. Gallun) A special earpiece to hear coded updates. |
1938 | Autobus (from Tidal Moon by Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum) Robot-guided public transportation. |
1938 | Atomic-Powered Lifting Suits (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) Special exoskeletons that would allow an ordinary human being to walk in doubled gravity. |
1938 | Selective Television (from The Challenge of Atlantis by Arthur J. Burks) A special kind of 'television' that let the user choose any scene around the world. |
1938 | Tiny Atomic-Power Drive Unit (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell) A very small power generator that is atomic powered. |
1938 | Cube Being (from The Infinite Enemy by Jack Williamson) A living being comprised of linked cubes. |
1938 | Cosmic Teletype (from Cosmic Teletype by Carl Jacobi) A device that utilizes the fourth dimensional continuum to achieve communication at great distances. |
1938 | Mech (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey) An alternative name for simplified robot. |
1938 | Visi-Screen (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes) A display device. |
1939 | Portable Atomic Heater (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Compact source of energy. |
1939 | Space Walk (from Moon Heaven by Dom Passante) Standard term for moving through the void of space. |
1939 | Robot-Boss (from Women's World by David C. Cooke) A mechanical device that tells people what to do. |
1939 | Brain-Plate (from Women's World by David C. Cooke) Ensures the obedience of robots. |
1939 | Space-Contraction Drive (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) Slip through endless interstellar space by making the distance smaller. |
1939 | Space Charts (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A pictorial representation of suns in space. |
1939 | Opti-Phone (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) Yet another name for a videophone. |
1939 | Moon Valley Breathable Atmosphere (from Moon Heaven by Dom Passante) Atmosphere is retained in a deep valley on a moon or otherwise airless body. |
1939 | Adaptene (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) Parent of all hormones, it makes possible the adaptation of the human organism to alien worlds. |
1939 | Corrosite Gas (from The Machine That Thought by William Callahan) A highly corrosive gas. |
1939 | Cosmic Storm (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A vast tempest in space! |
1939 | Duplication Chamber (from The 4-Sided Triangle by William F. Temple) A means of precisely duplicating an object. |
1939 | Colony World (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) A planet settled by a single group. |
1939 | Galaxy Superbrain (from Short-Wave Madness by Robert Castle) The idea that the galaxy itself is a conscious entity. |
1939 | Synthetic Intellect (from The Machine That Thought by William Callahan) A machine mind, created and improved by more primitive machine minds. |
1939 | Extra-Terra Bio-Institute (ETBI) Bio-Conditioning (from The Impossible World by Eando Binder) The overarching work of adapting human beings to alien worlds. |
1939 | Air-Mine (from The Space Visitors by Edmond Hamilton) Fight invasion from above with an analogous method to mining the surface of the sea. |
1939 | New Moon Casino Satellite (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An enormous artificial moon, it was far easier to get to than the Old Moon. |
1939 | Visiwave (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Even faster than ultrawave! a means of instantaneous communication over lightyear distances. |
1939 | Geopeller (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An atomic powered, miniaturized means of propulsion. |
1939 | Atomic Torch (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) An atomic-powered cutting and welding tool. |
1939 | Outbound Interplanetary Traffic (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) The rules of the spacelanes. |
1939 | Spacecraft Invisibility Electronics (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A means of rendering a spacecraft invisible to detection by electromagnetic means. |
1939 | Stereoscopic Vernier and Cube (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) A means of photographing in depth. |
1939 | Hall of Euthanasia (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A place for (mostly) voluntary suicide. |
1939 | Hand-Jetting (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Making use of hand-held rockets or other reaction devices to move through space. |
1939 | Orbiting Casino Advertising Sign (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) The mightiest billboard in the Solar System! |
1939 | Durite (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Super-strong material used to counter reaction-blasts. |
1939 | Move an Asteroid (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Using practical techniques to change the orbit of an asteroid or small moon. |
1939 | Floating Spherical Pool (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Control of gravity permits mid-air pools of water. |
1939 | Geofractor (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Device provides instantaneous teleportation of selected objects over vast distances. |
1939 | Geofractor Shield (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Protects the bearer against unwanted geofractor use. |
1939 | Chart Cabinet (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Used in astrogation, this device can see the positions of stars and planets over a thousand year period. |
1939 | Gravitic (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Relating to gravity. |
1939 | Ultra-Vibrator (from Into Another Dimension by Maurice Duclos) Transports objects into another dimension through intense vibration. |
1939 | Acceleration Hammock (from Pioneer - 1957 by Henry Gade) Webbing used to cushion acceleration in spacecraft. |
1939 | Permalloy (from Fugitives From Earth by Nelson S. Bond) Protects ships from the hazards of space. |
1939 | Electric Brain Stimulator (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A device that coordinated the waves of the brain with an external device to improve performance. |
1939 | Barber Helmet (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) Cuts your hair quickly and efficiently. |
1939 | Movie Pill (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) Gives you the experience of having seen a movie. |
1939 | Asteroid Prison (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A jail is the sole occupant of an asteroid. |
1939 | Metal Desk Car (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A combination work desk and vehicle for librarians and researchers; part desk part carnival ride. |
1939 | Pleasure Planet (from After World's End by Jack Williamson) A vast world devoted to enjoyment. |
1939 | Killer Robot (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) An autonomous robot made for the express purpose of killing living creatures. |
1939 | Visual Pattern Recognition (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) A robot's ability to respond to programmed visual stimulus |
1939 | Solar-Powered Robot (from Rust by Joseph E. Kelleam) A robot powered by sunlight. |
1939 | Spacedog (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Experienced hands on space ships. |
1939 | Extraecliptic Travel Lanes (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Organized interplanetary travel using routes not confined to the ecliptic. |
1939 | Vortex Gun (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) A device that projects whirling fields of atomic instability. |
1939 | Radio-Facsimile Receiver (from Ben Gleed, King of Speed by Don Wilcox) A device that prints a newspaper in your home. |
1939 | Inertia Tank (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that protected its delicate contents by cushioning. |
1939 | Synthite Food (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell) Compact food for space travelers. |
1939 | Telescribe (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) Creates a written record of distress signals and other reports. |
1939 | Mechanical Judge (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A device that makes legal decisions. |
1939 | Automatic Delivery Library (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A library able to deliver any volume within a few moments. |
1939 | Electrical Valet (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) A robotic manservant, skilled in dressing its owner. |
1939 | Neuronic Control Apparatus (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device that communicated with a brain implant, granting both sight and control. |
1939 | Identification Ring (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) An apparently ordinary ring, which minutely describes and identifies its wearer. |
1939 | Microsurgery Tool (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) Miniaturized device for surgical precision. |
1939 | Space Marines (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) A space-based military force. |
1939 | Inertia Screen (from Space Rating by John Berryman) A device that canceled out the law of inertia to help decelerating space craft occupants. |
1939 | Super-Weapon (from Robot Nemesis by E.E. 'Doc' Smith) A generic term for an advanced destructive device or technology. |
1939 | Force-Screen (from The Dweller in Outer Darkness by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.) A variation on the force shield idea. |
1939 | Robot Surgery (from Secret of the Buried City by John Russell Fearn) Robots operate an advance operating theater. |
1939 | Meteoric Dust Cloud (from Secret of the Buried City by John Russell Fearn) A vast cloud in space, through which the solar system moved for a decade. |
1939 | Shock Hammock (from Habit by Lester del Rey) Special netting oriented for pilots in high gee spacecraft. |
1939 | Neuronic Receptor-Transmitter (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun) A device which, implanted in the brain, can both transmit sight and sound, and enable control of the body by a remote operator. |
1939 | Ballistic Calculator (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) An on-board computer for a spaceship to calculate its course and perform other related tasks. |
1939 | Ultraset (Ultrawave Set) (from Habit by Lester del Rey) A device that used ultrawave faster-than-light (FTL) communication. |
1939 | Manmade Black Hole (from One Against The Legion by Jack Williamson) Using the power of a hole in the continuum. |
1939 | Robot Observatory (from Space Rating by John Berryman) A fully automated astronomical observatory, placed on a planet (typically, one that does not support human life). |
1939 | Space-Post (from Episode On Dhee Minor by Harry Walton) A trading post in space. |
1939 | Inflatable Roofed Valley (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) A habitat on an asteroid created by placing a tent-like roof over a natural valley or depression, and then inflating it. |
1939 | Smoke Filter (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Allows grizzled spacemen to smoke in space ships. |
1939 | Etheric Typhoon (from A Question of Salvage by Malcolm Jameson) The idea that space itself can have disturbances. |
1939 | Anti-Acceleration Engine For Space Suits (from Black Destroyer by A.E. van Vogt) Counteracts the effects of high acceleration. |
1939 | Thermalite (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell) A transparent material that allows almost no heat to escape. |
1939 | Synthetic Spider Silk (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein) Artificial fabric thread as strong as steel. |
1939 | Directed Cars in Tunnels (from The Lord of Tranerica by Stanton A. Coblentz) Self-driving vehicles. |
1939 | Chronovitameter (from Lifeline by Robert Heinlein) Device that can determine a person's date of birth - and the date on which he or she will die. |
1939 | Polyceltron Iconoscope Televisor (from Newscast by Harl Vincent) A portable camera and microphone setup that could broadcast on-the-spot news. |
1939 | Transparent Car Roof (from Sinister Barrier by Eric Frank Russell) You can see through the roof of the car. |
1939 | Rocket Racing (from Habit by Lester del Rey) Use of reaction mass vehicles for races held within the solar system. |
1939 | Metalite (from Black Destroyer by A.E. van Vogt) Strong metal you can see through. |
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BeamBike Solar Power Canopy For Electric Bikes
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California Fireman Arrested For Starting Fires
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MouthPad Supports Head And Tongue Tracking
re: Alfred Bester
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REALLY Remote Control Excavators
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Disney Helping Robots Dance
re: Fritz Lang
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re: Harry Harrison
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Detecting Drones In Ukraine With Candy (Sukork)
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(See More Science Fiction in the News)
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