Science Fiction as it relates to Science

The title of this post may lead some readers to quip, “There is no relationship,” but I think it can be demonstrated that speculative science fiction can play a valuable role in scientific endeavors.

Let’s begin by considering the scientific method. It’s a mental tool that has evolved to explain the phenomena of nature. It is supposed to be used in a way that leads to testable predictions that humans can use to manipulate their environment in a reproducible way. The steps of the method involve creating a hypothesis – a thought story or explanation of an observed phenomenon. The hypothesis must fit well with other known facts related to the phenomenon. Tools such as Occam’s Razor are often applied to ensure the hypothesis is as simple as possible.

The primary criterion for a hypothesis is that it leads to testable predictions. If it can’t be tested, then its explanatory value is roughly akin to that of magic. Science generally doesn’t operate on the basis of “It happens because it happens” or “It happens because of a wizard who wants it that way.” For those who are so-minded, one can say, “It happens because the universe is so constituted,” but that still doesn’t fit the criteria for testability.

The hypothesis is used to create predictions, and then experiments are designed to (hopefully) test the predictions. I’m not going to delve into the problems with experimenter bias except to state that it exists and can innocently lead to mistaken assumptions about how to test the predictions. Of course, some are biased and intentionally design experiments to prove their bias is correct or even falsely report the data.

Modern science is vulnerable to such problems due to the selection of experiments with sexy, positive results for publication and the relationship of being published with tenure and grants. But, that’s a structural problem that can and mostly is overcome by careful and conscientious researchers. There can also be bias due to established scientific fables, which are believed by a consensus of scientists that later turn out to be incorrect.

When a hypothesis generates predictions that turn out to be correct, it can be woven into existing knowledge to create a scientific theory – a logically reasoned and self-consistent model.

The benefits of this approach are well known. In essence, modern society exists mainly due to our use of science to discover and manipulate reality.

Now that we’ve looked at what science is let’s pause for a moment to the point before a hypothesis is generated. This could be during the course of a scientist’s research, or it could stem from a novel question sparked by anyone’s curiosity. Here, speculative science fiction can step in, not just as entertainment, but as a potentially valuable tool for sparking curiosity and asking intriguing questions.

The science fiction genre covers all sorts of stories ranging from those that postulate fictional (and often impossible) worlds, those that deal with social issues such as gender identity or political structures, and those that deal with worlds that are more in line with the reality we’re presented with daily. Those latter forms of speculative science fiction can postulate devices, principles, and discoveries. Devices can range from communication devices (who knew that Captain Kirk’s communicator would end up as a personal cell phone with unlimited functions) to weapons such as rail guns, plasma cannons, etc., to spaceships of various types.

When read by the right person, speculative science fiction can ignite critical “what if” questions that might eventually lead to scientific discoveries. This, in turn, could pave the way for the creation of new tools, enabling humans to explore uncharted territories. The potential of speculative thought to generate novel hypotheses suggests that science fiction plays a significant heuristic role in human development.

In light of this potential role, I’ve attempted to create devices such as FTL engines, matter transporters, and weapons that are loosely related to current research or, at the minimum, speculative theories. However, I must admit, my crystal ball broke the day before I started writing, so I highly doubt that my fictional devices will come into existence – at least in the form that I’ve described in my books.