New Study Examines the Links Between Science Fiction and Astronomy

"Today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s science fact," a quote attributed to Isaac Asimov, summarizes the complex relationship between science fiction and science. This relationship is not unilateral. Science fiction constantly evolves, reflecting new scientific discoveries while science finds inspiration in imaginative works by authors and filmmakers. In some instances, visionaries blend both roles, such as Asimov himself.

A recent study conducted by Samuel Boissier, a researcher with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and director of research at the Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), examines this relationship. In today’s environment of misinformation and fake media, it's crucial to explore the interplay between science, art, and science fiction. According to Boissier, this examination allows scientists to engage with the public in relatable and accessible ways.

The connection between science fiction and scientific reality enjoys extensive documentation and academic research. Many recent examples highlight this, including portrayals of exoplanets, popular presentations of space travel, and the lives of professional scientists. When ideas lack solid proof, such as fast-than-light (FTL) travel or the EMDrive, narratives often dismiss them as "science fiction." Nevertheless, many authors in this genre are actual scientists or accurately represent scientific principles in their works, leading to the term "hard SF."

In his paper, Boissier, a professional astronomer and astrophysicist, discusses using hard science fiction for educational purposes in astronomy and astrophysics. This idea occurs through various forms of popular media including literature, film, and video games.

He highlights their expansive reach:

"Science fiction uses astronomy to captivate audiences through blockbusters like "Interstellar", streaming series ('Don’t Look Up", "The Expanse"), and books from authors like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, alongside modern authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson." Furthermore, he suggests that these stories effectively illustrate physics or astronomical facts, bridging the gap between their work and what audiences understand.

According to Boissier, these examples not only contain hard science but also introduce unfamiliar concepts. The "Mass Effect" series, for instance, includes the Berserker Hypothesis as a resolution to Fermi’s Paradox. Similarly, "The Expanse" series effectively portrays realistic outtakes of life on Mars and the effects of microgravity, making its scientific basis compelling.

Regarding literature, Asimov and Clarke stand out for using the genre to muse on ideas rooted in science. Asimov’s "I, Robot" series delves into artificial intelligence’s potential societal effects, initially addressing clichés pertaining to robot uprisings. In a twist, the 2004 film adaptation embraced the very concepts Asimov sought to evade.

Clarke, known as "the prophet of the future," penned "Islands in the Sky" (1952), introducing the concept of a |Space Elevator" located in New Guinea. His |Rendezvous with Rama| imaginative exploration involves an O’Neill Cylinder and extraterrestrial life. However, Clarke’s most famous work, *2001: A Space Odyssey*, concurrently released with the film in 1968, melded two of his short stories exploring alien artifacts and ancient human contact.

As Boissier noted, such pivotal works have motivated many to pursue careers in astronomy and STEM fields. A recent study indicated that 93% of British astronomers express an interest in science fiction, while 69% credit fiction as influencing their career choices. Boissier is preparing a comparative study for French astronomers presented during the 2024 meeting of the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Yet the link between science fiction and popular media is reciprocal. Boissier related an insightful conversation with Frank Selsis, his colleague, who provided examples of how science fiction spurred scientific research. As he recounted, during the discovery of the exoplanet around TRAPPIST-1, author Laurence Suhner was inspired to write a short story as the observations were shared in Nature.

Selsis is the director of the ECLIPSE lab at the University of Bordeaux and was involved in discovering the potentially habitable Proxima Centauri b in August 2016. He created a study inspired by discussion with Luvan, a French author. Selsis’s lectures at the Teich Bird Sanctuary addressed the relationship between science fiction and exoplanet research.

Earlier SSP reported that Gaia telescope uncovers 352 asteroids orbiting potential moons.