Week 9: Space and Art

Art, specifically science fiction, has greatly influenced science. Many scientists have grown up with science fiction and go on to try to recreate the technologies they read or saw when they were younger.

One technology that scientists have attempted to recreate is the blaster technology used in Star Wars. These guns work by firing a laser at the target instead of using metal bullets. A team of researchers at the University of Warsaw created a high powered laser that could fire a laser pulse like these blasters. However, these lasers move at the speed of light and are not so easily visible like the lasers in the movies (Star).

Another technology from science fiction that scientists are attempting to replicate is the ability to teleport people and objects like in Star Trek. At team in the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have recently announced that they were able to transmit information quantum information between electrons instantaneously and reliably (Statt). Shortly afterward the U.S. army reported it had achieved the same thing (LaFrance). Although teleporting objects and people is still not possible, the advances in quantum teleportation in a small way mirrors the technology in Star Trek.

Although there has been an abundance of science fiction set in space, the theme of space in other artwork has not reached the same level of cultural impact. One such work of art that attempts to address this deficit is the cosmic dancer. The cosmic dancer is a sculpture that was taken into space so it can be observed from different directions. This allows the viewer to appreciate the sculpture without the limitation that gravity would normally place on the perspective of the viewer (Woods).

In a similar manner, many other artists have used parabolic zero gravity flights or chambers filled with liquid in order to work in a low gravity environment (Forde). Space art and science has come full circle, with artists who are inspired by scientists who were initially inspired science fiction.

Works Cited

Forde, Kathleen. "ART & ZERO GRAVITY." Dancing on the Ceiling. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <zerogravity.empac.rpi.edu>.

LaFrance, Adrienne. "The U.S. Army Says It Can Teleport Quantum Data Now, Too." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 10 June 2014. Web. 31 May 2015.  <http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/06/the-us-army-says-it-can-teleport-quantum-data-now-too/372545/>.

Star, Michelle. "This Is What a 'Star Wars' Blaster Bolt Would Look like in Real Life." CNET. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.cnet.com/news/this-is-what-a-star-wars-blaster-bolt-would-look-like-in-real-life/>.

Statt, Nick. "Scientists Achieve Reliable Quantum Teleportation for First Time." CNET. N.p., 29 May 2014. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-achieve-reliable-quantum-teleportation-for-the-first-time/>.

Woods, Arthur. "Cosmic Dancer." The Cosmic Dancer Project : Home : Arthur Woods. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.cosmicdancer.com/index.php>.