Science Fiction Timeline of Inventions (Listed by Publication Date)

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

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

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1600-1899 1900-1939 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's

Date Device Name (Novel Author)

1900 Aerocar - first use of idea? (from The Abduction of Alexandra Seine by Fred C. Smale)

1901 Cavorite - antigravity metal (from The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells)

1901 Breathing Dresses (from A Honeymoon In Space by George Griffith)

1903 Joystick Controls w/Remote Display (from The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells)

1907 Gravitation Screen (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)

1907 Neutral (Point) (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)

1907 Tik-Tok (from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum)

1907 Interplanetary Radiograph Station (from On The Martian Way by Harry Gore Bishop)

1909 The Book of the Machine (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 Cinematophote (Blue Optic Plate) - first reference to television (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 Telemedicine Apparatus - first known reference (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 Machine Apartment (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 Breed Humans For Machines (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 Video Communicator (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1909 The Machine - supplies every need (from The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster)

1910 Automaton Chessplayer - the first chess-playing computer (from Moxon's Master by Ambrose Bierce)

1911 Detectophone - machine translation of language (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Sub-Atlantic Tube - undersea tunnel (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Actinoscope (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Hypnobioscope - learn while you sleep (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Telautograph (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Telephot - early videophone (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Space-Sick (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Tele-Motor-Coasters - power skates (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Demagnitizing Ray (from The Lord of Labour by George Griffith)

1911 Personalized News (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Electric Rifle - Tom Swift's weapon of choice (from Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle by Victor Appleton)

1911 Language Rectifier - first reference to machine translation (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1911 Steelonium - very early reference (from Ralph 124c 41 + by Hugo Gernsback)

1912 Automated Restaurant - food from robots (from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

1914 Sunray Tank (from Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

1914 Atomic Bomb - very early reference (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)

1914 Sustained Atomic Reaction (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)

1914 Radioactive Ruin - first reference (from The World Set Free by H.G. Wells)

1915 Food Tablet - a pill for dinner (from John Jone's Dollar by H.S. Keeler)

1918 Magnetic Elevator - no watches allowed (from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

1920 Robot - the origin of the term (from R.U.R. by Karel Capek)

1920 Living Metal Cubes (from The Metal Monster by Abraham Merritt)

1923 Acoustic Apparatus (Osophone) - original patent filing (from Acoustic Apparatus by Hugo Gernsback)

1923 Parallel Universe (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)

1923 Wireless Access Point (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)

1923 Networked Telephone Answering Machine (from Men Like Gods by H.G. Wells)

1925 Blaster - a deadly energy weapon. (from When the Green Star Waned by Nictzin Dyalhis)

1925 Quadraturin (from Quadraturin by Sigizmund Krzhizhanowsky)

1926 Computer Vision (Artificial Eye) (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)

1926 Artificial Brain (from The Metal Giants by Edmond Hamilton)

1926 Blue Ray of Death (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1926 Artificial Life (from Across Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1927 Cold Ray (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton)

1927 Paralyzing Cone (from The Atomic Conquerors by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Psychophonic Nurse - a nanny robot (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller)

1928 Meteorometer - meteors ahead! (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Ultron Wire (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Ultrophone - FTL communication (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Inertron - light but strong (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Anti-Gravity Belt (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Repellor Anti-Gravity Rays (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Viewplate (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Rocket Gun (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Concentro (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Floater (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Grantline Comptometer - long before Mathematica (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)

1928 Disintegrator Ray (Dis Ray) (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Airlock (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1928 Jumper - float free (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Electric Diaper (from The Psychophonic Nurse by David H. Keller)

1928 Chest Disc - speak clearly (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Flying Harness (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1928 Pressure-Suit (from Skylark of Space by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1928 Ultraphone Ear-Disc - no need for Bluetooth (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Pain Ray - pain by nerve induction. (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Needle Pipe - needle gun (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)

1928 Raytron Apparatus - aerial surveillance (from Beyond the Stars by Ray Cummings)

1928 Ultron (from Armageddon: 2419 A.D. by Philip Frances Nowlan)

1928 Gravity-Screen (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Heat Transmitter - warmth to outer planets (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 De-atomizing Ray - a disintegration beam (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Space-Lanes - like the space-ways (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Telechart - the one indispensable aid (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Steering a Star - driving a sun (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Attractive Ray - first use of idea? (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Vibration-Propelled Cruiser - waves in spacetime (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Private Space Cruiser (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1928 Telestereo - earliest reference to holograms? (from Crashing Suns by Edmond Hamilton)

1929 Ships Propelled By Light Pressure (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)

1929 Vibration Machine (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)

1929 Brain Placed In Metal Body (from The Comet Doom by Edmond Hamilton)

1929 O-220 (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

1929 Harbenite (from Tarzan at the Eath's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs)

1929 Space Travel (from A Baby on Neptune by Clare Wagner Harris (w/MJ Breuer))

1930 Gyroscope Seats (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Artificial Gravity System (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon)

1930 Artificial Transparent Element - see through it (from Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon)

1930 Glassite (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Artificial Gravity - first mention (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Lunar Mining - moon mining camp (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Invisible Cloak -long before Harry Potter (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Pencil Heat Ray - narrow beam (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Moon Walk - presages Apollo (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Solar-Powered Aircraft (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Lux (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Space Lock (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Eavesdropping Ray - hears through walls (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Gravity Assist - very early use (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Low-scale Detectors (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Paralyzing Ray - early use (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Tight-Beam - hard to find (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 The Cosmic Express (from The Cosmic Express by Jack Williamson)

1930 Moon Dome - first reference (from Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1930 Vacuum Armor (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 Helicops (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Spaceport (from The Birth of a New Republic by M. Breuer (w/J. Williamson))

1930 Vacuum Suit (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 Matched-Frequency Separable Units (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 Shield (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 Visiplate - early flat panel viewer (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1930 Ray Gun (from The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell)

1930 Neutronium - how dense is it (from Skylark Three by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1931 Space Helmet (from The Disc-Men of Jupiter by Manly Wade Wellman)

1931 Mechanical Thought Transformers (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone)

1931 Object-Finder Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone)

1931 Attractor - come hither and stay still (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone)

1931 Matter Transmitter - ride the beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone)

1931 Annihilator Beam (from The Conquest of Gola by L.F. Stone)

1931 Deviatoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Emergency Corrective Rockets (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Thought Screen (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Transparent Spherical Ship (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Atmosphere Tester (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Gravito-Statoscope (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Space Suit - early reference (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Hyperspace (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell)

1931 City of Space - rotating habitat (from The Prince of Space by Jack Williamson)

1931 Ultra-Light Vision System (from Space Hounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1931 Tractor Beam - pulling force at a distance (from Space Hounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1931 Photoelectric Course Warning - aid to spaceship pilots (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson)

1931 Helio-Beryllium (from Out Around Rigel by Robert H. Wilson)

1931 Dimensoscope - see into new dimensions (from The Fifth-Dimension Catapult by Murray Leinster)

1931 Pentavalent Nitrogen - most powerful chemical explosive. (from Space Hounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1931 Pressor (Pressor Beam) - push not pull (from Space Hounds of IPC by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1931 Disruptor Tube (Disruptor Ray) - pale beam of destruction (from The Emperor of the Stars by Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat))

1931 Gravograph (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1931 Power Planet - power for Earth (from Power Planet by Murray Leinster)

1931 Space-Helmet (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1931 Zero-Ray (from An Adventure in Futurity by Clark Ashton Smith)

1931 Suit-Phone (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1931 Magnetic Clamps (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Neutronic Dust (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Space-Liner - first use of phrase (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Gate (from Through Purple Cloud by Jack Williamson)

1931 Neutronic Dust (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Evolution Machine (from The Man Who Evolved by Edmond Hamilton)

1931 Sargasso of Space (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1931 Faster-Than-Light - ftl (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell)

1931 Reaction-Motors (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Force-Field - an energy barrier (from Islands of Space by John W. Campbell)

1931 Matter Annihilation Ray (from Twelve Hours To Live by Jack Williamson)

1931 Wreck-Pack (from The Sargasso of Space by Edmond Hamilton)

1932 Antigravity - first use (from The Vanguard of Neptune by J.M. Walsh)

1932 Feelies (Feely) (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Space Liner - first use of phrase (from Electronic Siege by John W. Campbell)

1932 Bokanovsky's Process (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Scent-Organ (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Sunward (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat)

1932 Bone-Building Compounds (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1932 Meteor Warning System - incoming meteor swarm detected (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1932 Rigid Metallic Clothing - almost an exoskeleton (from A Conquest of Two Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1932 Hypnopædia (Sleep-Teaching) - learn while asleep (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Artificial Womb - very early use of concept (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1932 Space-Armor - armored protection (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1932 Space Freighter - for hauling big loads (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat)

1932 Negative Gravity Field (from 50th Century Revolt by A.G. Stangland)

1932 Tele-Screen (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg)

1932 News-Dispenser (from After Armageddon by Francis Flagg)

1932 Magnet Grapnel (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat)

1932 Space-Boat (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1932 Battle Sphere (from The Space Rover by Edwin K. Sloat)

1932 Space Men - first use of this term (from Revolt of the Star Men by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1932 Super-Photon (from Invaders From The Infinite by John W. Campbell)

1932 Wandering Worlds (from When Worlds Collide by Edwin Balmer (w/P. Wylie))

1932 Alpha Plus (from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

1933 Vibra-Transmitter (Teleportation) (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly)

1933 Gateway (from Wanderer of Infinity by Harl Vincent)

1933 Granton Motor (from Into the Meteorite Orbit by Frank K. Kelly)

1933 Electric Machine Gun (Railgun) - electromagnetic acceleration (from The Battery of Hate by John W. Campbell)

1934 Deep-Space - my dwelling place (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Inertialess Drive (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Vibrowriter - automatic transcription (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller)

1934 Flying Wing - Northrup's all-metal dream (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Liquid Mirror Telescope on Mars - alien LMT (from Old Faithful by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1934 Moving a Planet - early use of idea (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Standish - a mean beam of energy (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Platinum Alloy Disc - first CD or DVD? (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Sound-Transposing Machine (from The Lost Language by David H. Keller)

1934 Machine City (from Twilight by John W. Campbell)

1934 Visiphone (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Lifeboat - early mention (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Ultrawave - FTL communication (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Spy Ray Goggles - see through walls (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Invisibility Shield (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Ingestible Communication Capsule - only in emergencies (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Lewiston (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Planetary Propulsion-Blasts - moving a planet (from Thundering Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1934 Cone of Battle - the ultimate weapon (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Acceleration-tank - very early reference (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Synthetic Food Dispenser - before the Jetsons (from Twilight by John W. Campbell)

1934 Radio-Dirigible Torpedo (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Darkness Bomb - infra-infra-infra fluorescence! (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell)

1934 Mother Ship - first use of expression (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Ablative Heat (Reentry) Shield - very early reference (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Protective Shield - personal force field (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Emergency Lifeboat - very early space rescue vehicle (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Ether-Wall - an invisibility field. (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Homorium (from The Last Men by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.)

1934 Credit - first use (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell)

1934 3D Tank Display (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1934 Electric-Space-Strain Projector - wireless power transmission (from The Mightiest Machine by John W. Campbell)

1934 Artificial Planet - before the Death Star (from Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1935 Thermlectrium (from Blindness by John W. Campbell)

1935 Automatic Air Mail Plane (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller)

1935 Driverless Taxi (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller)

1935 Automatic Toll Payment (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller)

1935 Automatic Automobile (from The Living Machine by David H. Keller)

1935 Machine (Thinking Machine) - very early description of an intelligent computer (from The Machine by John W. Campbell)

1936 Probability Time Wave Tube (from Elimination by John W. Campbell)

1936 Radiation Shield (from The Ultimate Weapon by John W. Campbell)

1936 Shoggoths (from At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft)

1936 Search For Habitable Planets (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton)

1936 Gravity Detector (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Tubular Field of Force (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Geodynes - pushing against the fabric of space (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Photoelectric Telescope (Photoelectric Eyes) - astronomical pictures produced automatically (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Cartograph - a GPS-like trip readout (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Planetary Engineering (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Space Warp - first use of this idea (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Desktop Flat Panel Intercom (from Things To Come by H.G. Wells)

1936 Giant Flat Panel Display (from Things To Come by H.G. Wells)

1936 Wireless Wrist Intercom - like a cell phone (from Things To Come by H.G. Wells)

1936 Scarab Robot Flying Insect - tiny robotic insect (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1936 Android (from The Cometeers by Jack Williamson)

1936 Indoor Weighted Belt (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Telespectroscope (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton)

1936 Dimension Shifting Apparatus (from Cosmic Quest by Edmond Hamilton)

1936 Electronized Gravity Plate - artificial gravity (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Paralyzing Ray (Bolar Current) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Zed-Ray (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Audiphone (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Protective Energy Halo (from The Scarab by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1936 Starways (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Emergency Repulsion (Repulsive Ray) (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Electro-Telescope (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Volplane (from Blood of the Moon by Ray Cummings)

1936 Transparent Flat Panel Display - early flat panel (from Things To Come by H.G. Wells)

1937 Ultra-Communicator (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1937 Miniature Universe (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1937 Drop Shaft (Neutralization of Inertia) - watch that first step (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1937 Automatic Reversed Memory - EEG in reverse (from Brain Control by Dave Cummins)

1937 X Gun (X-Beam Projector) - see inside a planetoid (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles)

1937 Spectroscopic Robot Converter - see the composition of planetoids (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles)

1937 Reaction Pistol - zero gee maneuvering (from Diamond Planetoid by Gordon A. Giles)

1937 Etherometer - check the ether for gravity waves (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.)

1937 Heat Generating Magnetic Disks - red giants at work (from Spawn of the Red Giants by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.)

1937 Sono-Induction Coils - buried speaker technology (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner)

1937 Groundcar (or Ground Car) - the old-fashioned present (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1937 Gravity Neutralizing Disks (from Fessenden's Worlds by Edmond Hamilton)

1937 Artificial eye - first use of this idea? (from Galactic Patrol by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1937 Vibration Screen - keep spy beams out! (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner)

1937 Subphoton Search Ray - see through walls (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner)

1937 Multiple Sample Voice - sound mixing 30's style (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner)

1937 Blast Rifle (from Exiles of the Stratosphere by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.)

1937 Designed Bacteria - purposive genetic modification (from Seeds of Dusk by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1937 Ultra-microrobot - small as an insect (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1937 Proton Pistol (Proton Beam) - beams of fury (from A Menace in Miniature by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1937 Artificial Planet (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon)

1937 Near-Space Solar Energy Collectors (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon)

1937 Gold-Fish-Bowl World (from Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon)

1937 Concentrated Light - predicts the laser (from The Shining One by Nat Schachner)

1938 Televisor - wrap TV around the world (from The Challenge of Atlantis by Arthur J. Burks)

1938 Radium Salt - assassin's choice (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Helen O'Loy - or Helen of Alloys (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey)

1938 Robot Emotions - mech feelings (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey)

1938 Robot Cook - tasty meals nightly (from Helen O'Loy by Lester del Rey)

1938 Teleoperated Robot Surrogate - love via robot (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman)

1938 Invisible Watchmen (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Air-o-Stat (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Visi-Screen - future display (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Psychoprobe - head examined (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Surface Car (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Paralysis Ray - very early use (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Sub-Etheric (from Legion of Time by Jack Williamson)

1938 Brain-Case (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Cosmic Teletype (from Cosmic Teletype by Carl Jacobi)

1938 Preserved Brains (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Space-Court (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Beam-Pistol (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Field-Projector (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Automatic Commercial Deletion - no more commercials (from Satellite Five by Arthur K. Barnes)

1938 Control Helmet (from Easy Money by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Space-Tanned (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Tiny Atomic-Power Drive Unit - compact power of the atom (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell)

1938 Atomic-Powered Lifting Suits (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell)

1938 Pneumatic Bumpers (from The Brain Pirates by John W. Campbell)

1938 Gogglelike Televisors (from The Robot and the Lady by Manly Wade Wellman)

1938 Interplanetary Passport (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1938 Hand-Rocket (from Murder in the Void by Edmond Hamilton)

1939 Thermalite (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell)

1939 Super-Weapon - first use of term (from Robot Nemesis by E.E. 'Doc' Smith)

1939 Synthetic Spider Silk (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Synthite Food - Artificially Flavored Solids (from Planet of Eternal Night by John W. Campbell)

1939 Space Marines (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Ultraset (Ultrawave Set) - fast comm (from Habit by Lester del Rey)

1939 Shock Hammock (from Habit by Lester del Rey)

1939 Rocket Racing (from Habit by Lester del Rey)

1939 Inertia Screen - next up, right angle turns (from Space Rating by John Berryman)

1939 Inertia Tank (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1939 Microsurgery Tool - first description (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1939 Smoke Filter (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Neuronic Control Apparatus - put your experience in reverse (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun)

1939 Force-Screen - protective energy (from The Dweller in Outer Darkness by Frank Belknap Long, Jr.)

1939 Moon Skis - ah the lunar powder (from Requiem by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Ballistic Calculator - trajectories between planets (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Inflatable Roofed Valley - early inflatable reference (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Move an Asteroid (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Durite (from Misfit by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Chronovitameter - your birth and death revealed (from Lifeline by Robert Heinlein)

1939 Neuronic Receptor-Transmitter (from Masson's Secret by Raymond Z. Gallun)

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

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re: Larry Niven
(4/29/2013)

Smartphone Sensor System Tracks Gunfire
re: Greg Bear
(4/27/2013)

Bacteria Now Make Biofuel Like Oil
re: Hal Clement
(4/25/2013)

Peel And Stick Thin Film Solar Cells
re: Larry Niven
(4/24/2013)

A Big Collection Of Small Books
re: Frank Herbert
(4/23/2013)

Mu-Gripper Microsurgical 'Robots'
re: Neal Stephenson
(4/21/2013)

Bartendro Robot Bartender
re: Harry Harrison
(4/19/2013)

Implantable Bioengineered Rat Kidney Tested
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/17/2013)

Microbattery Extreme High Performance
re: Alfred Bester
(4/17/2013)

Fujitsu Touchscreen Mixes Real And Virtual Worlds
re: Frederik Pohl
(4/16/2013)

Take An Infinite Walk In Flexible Spaces
re: Ray Bradbury
(4/15/2013)

The i-limb Ultra Revolution Prosthetic Hand
re: Philip K. Dick
(4/14/2013)

SHEPHERD-MIL, A Birdlike Soaring UAV
re: Philip E. High
(4/13/2013)

Nanowire Memristor Networks Form 'Brains'
re: Edmond Hamilton
(4/12/2013)

Projo Robot Teaching Assistant
re: Isaac Asimov
(4/12/2013)

(See More Science Fiction in the News)

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

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