The Year 2026 in Science Fiction
Here’s how science fiction novels and movies imagined the year 2026. Science fiction vs reality: what actually happened? Warning! This post contains spoilers.
The Oscar Wilde Quote That Wasn’t: The ‘Caprice vs. Passion’ Misattribution
The quote, “The only difference between a caprice and a lifelong passion is that the caprice lasts a little longer,” certainly sounds like something Oscar Wilde would say. Known for his wit, irony, and sharp commentary on human nature, Wilde’s…
When a Tweet Shakes Science: The Satirical Take on Social Media’s Influence
All of science overturned by a single tweet – random Twitter non-expert proves new claim by tweeting it; now all scientists abandon centuries of work: In an unprecedented shake-up of scientific thought, a single tweet by a random non-expert on…
The Naming of Cats: A Scene from Logan’s Run [1976 Sci-Fi Movie]
One of the greatest scenes in cinema history: it brings together my passion for cats and science fiction. In the 1976 classic Logan’s Run, the scene with the old man and his cats offers a striking contrast between the dystopian…
Spotting Perseverance: A Tiny Glimpse of NASA’s Rover from Mars Orbit
Open the image below (4000×2250 pixels), then zoom in to find the small, bright, bluish-white object. Congratulations: you’ve just spotted NASA’s Perseverance rover from Mars orbit! If you look carefully, you can even pick out the rover’s tracks!
How to Land a Space Shuttle? The Incredible Reentry and Landing Process
Imagine that both engines of the plane you’re on have failed, and the plane must make a powerless landing. A terrifying scenario, isn’t it? A situation so dangerous that it requires a Mayday call, where the chances of the pilots…
Your Name in Landsat
Did you know there’s a NASA website where you can spell out your name using Landsat Earth images? Well, now you do.
Day and Night Aren’t Equal on the Equinox: It’s Equilux
Contrary to popular belief, the lengths of day and night aren’t exactly equal on the equinox. While the equinox is often celebrated as the day when daylight and darkness perfectly balance, this isn’t entirely accurate. The phenomenon that truly represents…
Stranded in Space: The Story of Sergei Krikalev, the Last Soviet Cosmonaut
The late 1980s and early 1990s were pivotal years in history. The Soviet Union was in turmoil, and the end of this vast union of republics, established in 1917, seemed inevitable. Then, in 1991, the once unthinkable happened: the greatest…
STS-74 Crew Visible in the Space Shuttle Windows [Photo from Mir Space Station]
This might be one of the best photos of the Space Shuttle in history (in my opinion, the best) – even if it’s not the best, it’s definitely one of the most interesting: On November 15, 1995, Russian cosmonaut Sergei…
The scale of the Solar System and the first flybys of planets
Artist and designer Josh Worth created an interactive website called “If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: A Tediously Accurate Map of the Solar System,” which I mentioned in this post. On Josh Worth’s amazing website, the scale is so…
The Sky Beckons: How Science-Fiction Predicted SpaceX’s Rocket Landings Back in 1959
When it comes to space exploration, the science fiction of the mid-20th century was a bit overly enthusiastic. According to the science fiction novels and films of the classic era, the 1990s and 2000s were supposed to be a time…