"Iron Man" is the one that I'd say doesn't belong. That "flux capacitor" doohickey that powered his armour is way beyond any science fact. What powered it? Nuclear energy? A reactor with that much power would be big as Three Miles Island? Fusion? No way to shrink the process to that small size. Matter/anti-matter? Ditto. And remember when he collided with that jet a transsonic speeds? Not enough padding in the world to surpress the impact, unless he's got inertial dampeners, and how realistic are those? An exosuit that magnifies our strength, has some weaponry, even provides for short duration flights is feasible, but this is beyond that.
-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Martin Baxter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This list lost me at "The Truman Show". I see that someone let the kids out again... ---------[ Received Mail Content ]---------- Subject : [scifinoir2] The 5 Most Scientifically Plausible Sci-Fi Movies Date : Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:21:52 -0000 >From : "ravenadal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com http://news.yahoo.com/s/newsarama/20081107/en_newsarama/the5mostscient ificallyplausiblescifimovies The 5 Most Scientifically Plausible Sci-Fi Movies Benjamin Radford special To Newsarama newsarama.com Fri Nov 7, 8:10 am ET Great science fiction isn't just about gooey aliens and gee-whiz technologies like teleporters. Unlike, say, the ever-popular fantasy genre, sci-fi is often grounded in the human condition and based on plausible-if speculative-science. Of course, some science fiction films are more plausible than others: Would the Galactic Empire really have enough manpower to build (and then rebuild) the Death Star in the Star Wars films? While legions of sci-fi nerds debate that question, here's are flicks that stand out: 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) It's no accident that the classic sci-fi film 2001 was rooted in good science, having sprung from the mind of the late, great Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke's background in science informed and inspired the setting in 2001, describing geosynchronous satellites, artificial intelligence, and commercial space travel. Clarke lived long enough to see the satellites he envisioned actually put into orbit, and in the deserts of New Mexico, a "spaceport" is planned that will allow paying passengers to see our pale blue dot from near space. 2. The Truman Show (1998) It's hard for many young people to remember, but there was a time before the 24-hour news feed and the reality TV craze. The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey as the unwitting star of a voyeuristic television show watched by billions around the planet, foretold the coming of America's weekly entertainment. Not only was close, continuous surveillance plausible, it already exists in current hits like Big Brother and Survivor. 3. Gattaca (1997) In the not-too-distant future world of Gattaca, children's genes are pre-selected by their upper-class parents for the best traits; those babies whose genes are imperfect are treated as second-class citizens. Today DNA analysis is common, and several companies offer genetic testing for as little as a few hundred dollars. Genetic profiling? Health insurance companies potentially denying claims based on genetic predisposition to a disease? For many, this fear is not science fiction but science fact. 4. Iron Man (2008) Marvel Comics hero Tony Stark is a genius inventor whose suit of armor-basically a souped-up mechanical exoskeleton run by computers- is probably more scientifically plausible than most superheroes. Though Iron Man's nifty gadgets, including his handy laser repulsors and jet boots, remain science fiction, in many cases the underlying scientific principles are sound. Practical problems, such as the suit's cost and weight, would make a real Iron Man unlikely. 5. Jurassic Park (1993) Part of what made Michael Crichton an enormously popular writer was his ability to extrapolate current science technology. Science fiction has always been about "What if?", and few modern authors blended science fact with science fiction so successfully. Though scientists are a long way off from cloning dinosaurs-they haven't gone much past Dolly the cloned sheep-the scientific fundamentals are there. By the end of the century, real cloned dinos might just be chasing down tourists! Related: >From 'Frankenstein' to 'Star Wars', The Best 'Genre' Per Decade - the 1970's Forging Iron Man's Movie Future Video: "Clone Wars: Downfall of a Droid" Preview Benjamin Radford is a writer, columnist for LiveScience, and film critic. He has written and directed two short films, one of which will be released in 2009. Learn more at his web site . Original Story: The 5 Most Scientifically Plausible Sci-Fi Movies Newsarama.com is the go-to source for the latest comic book and genre entertainment news, reviews and commentary. Newsarama's passionate audience contributes to lively discussions ranging from classic and new comics to movies, TV, manga, anime and more. Watch previews, interviews and more on our video player, sneak peeks of new comics on our Comic Book Viewer and sign up for our RSS feeds. And be sure to join our community so you can voice your opinion on our articles and in our lively forums.
