‘Star Trek’ Fusion Impulse Engine in the Works
4th October 2012
“The fusion fuel we’re focusing on is deuterium [a stable isotope of hydrogen] and Li6 [a stable isotope of the metal lithium] in a crystal structure,” Txchnologist quotes team member and aerospace engineering Ph.D. candidate Ross Cortez saying. “That’s basically dilithium crystals we’re using.” Let’s pause and savor that for a moment. Dilithium crystals. Awesome.
October 4th, 2012 at 10:56
“Let us learn to dream, gentlemen, and then perhaps we shall learn the truth.” – August Kekule, 1865
Not so unusual that science fiction inspires invention. Jules Verne inspired submarines and scuba gear. The Motorola flip phone was inspired by Star Trek’s communicators. I suspect Mary Shelley inspired transplant surgery.
Edison said that invention was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, but that inspiration is the catalyst that makes everything else come together.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:49
I think Leonardo actually envisioned the submarine first, but the rest of what you say is spot-on.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:50
So when do they come up with pocket phasors?
October 4th, 2012 at 21:32
A lot of Da Vinci’s designs were, for all intents and purposes, science fiction. His helicopter, parachute, and submarine probably did inspire future designs. Verne’s Nautilus inspired people to think of a practical submarine, and esp. the first nuclear sub which bore the same name.