Science Fiction

What we find at the intersection of science fact and science fiction, from utopian metropolises to visitors from other worlds.

Latest in Science Fiction

Jeff VanderMeer next to book cover for Absolution
Science

Jeff VanderMeer talks about his new novel and ‘deranged court jester’ Elon Musk

By Andrew Paul

Starship Titanic promo art displaying the ship's in-game bots
Technology

The improbable voyage of Starship Titanic, the 1998 Douglas Adams video game filled with ‘unhinged’ chatbots

By Andrew Paul

Make it snow! Researchers explore sci-fi scenarios of human weather control
Environment

Make it snow! Researchers explore sci-fi scenarios of human weather control

By Mack DeGeurin

Vernor Vinge
Science

Vernor Vinge, influential sci-fi author who warned of AI ‘Singularity,’ has died

By Andrew Paul

The science of Dune’s magnificent, merciless sandworms
Science

The science of Dune’s magnificent, merciless sandworms

By Robin Andrews

Reading sci-fi novels can help kids understand real science
Science

Reading sci-fi novels can help kids understand real science

By Emily Midkiff/The Conversation

A movie still from 'Psycho,' showing the silhouette of a man holding a knife.
Science

How horror movie soundtracks prey on our fears

By Ben Guarino

Internet data server farm with green and pink glowing LED lights
Science

Nature generates more data than the internet … for now

By Rahul Rao

Giganotosaurus vs. T. rex in a screenshot from Jurassic World Dominion
Science

Giganotosaurus vs. T. rex: Who would win in a battle of the big dinosaurs?

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Agent Smith clones from The Matrix to show the concept of singularity in AI and AGI
Science

What happens if AI grows smarter than humans? The answer worries scientists.

By Rahul Rao

CDC zombie preparedness guide comic panel from 2011
Health

That time the CDC got people hyped for a zombie apocalypse

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling

Google Sycamore processor for quantum computer hanging from a server room with gold and blue wires
Technology

Quantum computers can’t teleport things—yet

By Rahul Rao

Arctic researcher studying permafrost samples for viruses and other microbes. Image is black and white.
Environment

Ancient frozen viruses don’t pose a threat to your health—yet

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Pale-skinned person with silver hair in black dress to look like vampire sipping on a glass of red wine or blood
Health

Is it OK to drink blood?

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Gila monster lizard and real-life dragon hissing in the desert
Science

Could dragons be real? Not in the way we think.

By Purbita Saha

American flag suspended from an alien pole to signify recent UAP investigations by NASA and the DOD
Science

UFO research is stigmatized. NASA wants to change that.

By Tatyana Woodall

How Popular Science covered ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ in 1968
Science

How Popular Science covered ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ in 1968

By Herbert Shuldiner

A surreal illustration of a smart home in the future.
Science

‘Home@Heart,’ a short story from an alternate future

By Sameem Siddiqui

An abstract illustration of a person remembering a tomato.
Science

‘The Memory of Tomatoes,’ a short story from an alternate future

By Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam

Surrealist illustration of data flowing out of a computer.
Science

‘Shared Data,’ a short story from an alternate future

By Malka Older