Torn MacAlester's Blog, page 12

This Week 25–31 December

Feature

Here is my list of the best science fiction films. I tried to limit it to three films from each decade, starting from the 1950’s and continuing through 2019.  Of the three, I chose a best and a runner up for the decade.  I also create a category for honorable mention.  I’ve tried to avoid letting space travel films dominate the list, though there are several that I could not ignore.  I’ve gravitated toward films that have a good science theme. You will notice that some of the franchise favorites are left off the list.  I did so deliberately since my favorite films of those franchises have weak science.

Each of these movies has a strong point and each has some flaws. Of the decades represented, I found a mixed bag of movies that either had bad science in them or none whatsoever. There are certainly better movies than the ones I selected,  but they almost all fall into the mixed bag. As time goes on, I will provide reviews of these movies to explain why I think these are the best.

 

 

Here is the List:

1950s

Forbidden PlanetThe Day the Earth Stood StillThem!

1960s

2001: A Space OdysseyPlanet of the ApesDay of the Triffids

1970s

Andromeda StrainAlienSoylent Green

1980s

Blade RunnerCocoonAbyss

1990’s

GATACAThe Puppet MastersThe Matrix

2000’s

Pitch BlackThe Man from EarthPandorum

2010’s

The MartianEx MachinaCoherence

 

This week’s discord chat

Week of Dec 25 2022 [25th at 1 PM EDT (6 PM GMT), 28th at 9 PM EDT (29th 2AM GMT)]

Torn’s take on the best films of Science Fiction Torn’s Discord Server Realistic Large Scale Space Construction

To date, the largest structure built in space is the International Space Station (ISS).  ISS took over a decade to build and required over a decade to assemble.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html

The follow-on space stations that are expected to be built in the coming decade are all smaller but are expected to be commercial outposts.

https://www.space.com/nasa-commercial-space-station-rely-on-market-demand

But the really big space stations that could have there own spin gravity remain on the far horizon.  Two examples are the Stanford Torus Space Settlement, and the O’Neill Cylinder.

In a recent discussion, Anton Petrov reveals a study on the construction of an O’Neill cylinder.  His video is available below.

Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester available on Amazon.com Space Habitat with Spin Gravity This Week’s Short Fiction by Torn MacAlester

This week, I offer a return to the Moon story:  Golf and Outgassing.

For those of you interested, I include an article that peels back the fiction and discusses the science behind the story: Science of Golf and Outgassing

Big News in Science

The Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption of last January continues to provide a wealth of new science. Volcanos continue to surprise us. And this eruption is no exception.  In the article below, the authors explain how the eruption effected Earth’s ionosphere more than many solar storms.

 

Tonga Eruption Made Waves in Earth’s Ionosphere

Fusion

Articles about Fusion:

https://www.science.org/content/article/historic-explosion-long-sought-fusion-breakthrough

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/fusionfuel.php

 

Extrasolar Planets

 

Methods for finding exoplanets:

https://www.planetary.org/worlds/exoplanets

This helps determine the fraction of stars having planets and the number of planets per star for the Drake Equation.

Using spectra to determine composition and chemistry of atmosphere:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1304208111

This relates to fraction of worlds having life from the Drake Equation.

The post This Week 25–31 December appeared first on Torn Macalester.

This Week 18–24 December 2022

Feature

In science fiction, there has been a discussion as to what constitutes science fiction.  In modern terms, the thoughts are that modern science has to be a part of it.  However, this is not a universal opinion.  Many works in modern times are not even close to being  scientifically accurate. What about works from the past where the science was valid then but later has found to be flawed?

In Kepler’s Dream (Somnium), we find one of the earliest works of science fiction.  It is filled with the speculation of travel to another world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnium_(novel)

One that would not be realized until the 20th century that used the science that Kepler himself had laid the foundation. Kepler, using observational data collected by Tycho Brahe, developed a set of three laws that govern planetary motion.

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/310/orbits-and-keplers-laws/#:~:text=Kepler’s%20Laws%20of%20Planetary%20Motion&text=They%20describe%20how%20(1)%20planets,its%20semi%2Dmajor%20axis).

 

This week’s discord chat

Week of Dec 18 2022 [18th at 1 PM EDT (6 PM GMT), 21st at 9 PM EDT (22nd 2AM GMT)]

Kepler’s Dream (the first work of Science Fiction) Torn’s Discord Server Fusion breakthrough

Though not a powerplant, NIF manages to show through experiment that we aren’t wasting our time looking for the panacea of nuclear fusion. In my opinion, this is a breakthrough moment such as the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.  There are things that humanity learns to do that ensures the survival of ourselves and the rest of the planet. Fusion is one of them.

In my article about the Kardashev scale, I discuss the level of civilization established by the amount of power available. With the development of nuclear fusion, our Earth’s civilization will reach the level of Class 1.  This brings benefits almost beyond belief:

https://www.science.org/content/article/historic-explosion-long-sought-fusion-breakthrough

http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/fusionfuel.php

In a recent discussion on Star Talk, Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses the implications of the successful experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s National Ignition Facility. Check out the video below.

Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester available on Amazon.com Fusion! This Week’s Short Fiction by Torn MacAlester

This week I recommend  Stranger a vignette featuring characters from Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester. Enjoy!

Big News in Science

Astronomers have a list of things that we assume will be found on exoplanets. In the video below, Dr. Becky reviews JWST’s life detection capabilities.

These capabilities have an impact on the parameters in the Drake Equation. Specifically, the fraction of planets that support life, , can now be constrained by observation. Using the data  collected from JWST over the next few years, we’ll have some idea value of this parameter.

Here is another article about planetary atmosphere spectra as it applies to habitability:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1304208111

The post This Week 18–24 December 2022 appeared first on Torn Macalester.

This Week 11–17 Dec 2022

Feature

Congratulations to NASA for their successful Artemis 1 mission.  From launch until splashdown, this has been an intriguing series of firsts. Though I write science fiction about the Moon, I recognize the efforts to make this science fact.  I look forward to the Artemis II mission.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/splashdown-nasa-s-orion-returns-to-earth-after-historic-moon-mission

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-artemis-1-moon-mission-successfuly-returns-to-earth-175007566.html

 

This week’s discord chat

Week of Dec 11 2022 [11th at 1 PM EDT (6 PM GMT), 14th at 9 PM EDT (15th 2AM GMT)]

Why Science is important in Science Fiction Torn’s Discord Server Artemis 1 Splash Down Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester available on Amazon.com This Week’s Short Fiction by Torn MacAlester

This week I recommend Clash of Titans a short featuring characters from Thunder Moon Tussle by Torn MacAlester. Enjoy!

Big News in Science

Astronomers have a list of things that we assume will be found on exoplanets.  Here is something that we now have ‘data’ to prove.  Check it out.

 

The post This Week 11–17 Dec 2022 appeared first on Torn Macalester.

Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester: This week my novel “Thunder Moon Tussle”

This week the Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester will be my novel “Thunder Moon Tussle”.  Chat will be on Sunday 1–2 PM EST (6–7 PM GMT) and Wednesday 9–10 PM EST (2–3 AM GMT Thursday).  This will be at Torn’s Discord Channel.

Torn’s Discord Channel

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Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester: Kardashev Scale

This week’s topic: The Kardashev Scale

Hi, I will have my Sunday Discord chat at 1–2 PM EST (6–7 PM GMT) and the Wednesday Discord chat on wed 9–10 PM EST (2–3 AM GMT Thrursday).  This weeks topic is the The Kardashev Scale. Torn’s Discord Channel

Discord Chat

The post Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester: Kardashev Scale appeared first on Torn Macalester.

Sunday Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester: The Fermi Paradox

This week’s topic: The Fermi Paradox

Hi, I will have my Sunday Discord chat at 1–2 PM EST (6–7 PM GMT).  This weeks topic is the Fermi Paradox. Torn’s Discord Channel

Discord Chat

The post Sunday Discord Chat with Torn MacAlester: The Fermi Paradox appeared first on Torn Macalester.

Short Fiction: Cold Contact by Torn MacAlester

Cold Contact is a science fiction short originally written for the Fiction Fountain. Of the current stories on my website, it is the one not working on the similar theme to the others.

You can read more of my short fiction at: Short Fiction.

Most of the short fiction fits into a timeline of events: Timeline.

 

 

Cold Contact

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Sunday Discord Chat

The Sunday Discord Chat starts in a few minutes at 1 PM EST (6 PM GMT).  https://tornmacalester.com/discord/

Discord

The post Sunday Discord Chat appeared first on Torn Macalester.

Thursday Discord Chat with Torn

Tonight at 9–10 PM EDT (1–2 AM GMT) Torn will be on Discord for a discussion.

Torn’s Discord Channel

The post Thursday Discord Chat with Torn appeared first on Torn Macalester.

Short Story: Morgan’s Road

Nelson once felt independent. His life as a lunar prospector at least seemed that way. With his money supply dwindling, the stark reality of his freedom had faded to disappointment. The moon would likely win, and Nelson would return to Earth. Then the stranger Morgan arrived making Nelson question everything he knew about the moon, prospecting, and independence. Nelson struggles to resolve his finances and the mystery presented by Morgan.

Find out what happens to Nelson and Morgan in: Morgan’s Road a short story by Torn MacAlester

The post Short Story: Morgan’s Road appeared first on Torn Macalester.