Description

This course discusses the underlying science and physical plausibility (vs. flights of fancy) of prominent science fiction themes illustrated with movie/TV clips, videos and comics. Themes include giant insects/microbes and miniature humans in monster movies, faster-than-light travel (wormholes, warp drives), and time travel and its paradoxes. Other themes include “Are we alone?” (life in the universe, SETI, exoplanets), uploading consciousness, super-intelligent AI and “Do we live in a simulation?” (matrices). It concludes with parallel universes (the multiverse). The only requirement is curiosity about science fiction themes.