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When Science Fiction and Science Fact Collide

By Korrina Gidwani

Science fiction. What did you imagine after reading that phrase? Perhaps you thought of time travel, teleportation, extraterrestrial beings, or another aspect along those lines.  

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math. Now, what did you envision after seeing this common abbreviation? You may have pictured aerospace engineering, social sciences, medical research, or a similar topic in STEM.  

Next, imagine a combination of the two fields. The powerful intersection between STEM and science fiction, although novel and unfamiliar, has demonstrated its influence on society over the past few decades. Past studies have revealed extensive connections between science fiction and advancements in several STEM fields, including physics, mathematics, technology, and theoretical neuroscience. Science fiction works have even predicted modern inventions, such as communications satellites, which leads researchers to believe that this combinative field may shape future technological advancements and guide scientific research. Although this unique field has been studied across the world, several researchers have made strides in research regarding science fiction and biomedical studies right in our own backyard, here at the University of Pittsburgh.  

Jeff Aziz, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Pittsburgh, has dedicated his recent investigative efforts to the portrayal of prosthetics in science fiction pieces. Badr Albanna, a professor in Pitt’s Department of Neuroscience, has also connected his knowledge of prosthetics with science fiction when conducting research on cochlear implants and teaching an integrative class on theoretical neuroscience. According to both professors, the purpose of science fiction is to alter one or more characteristics of an imaginative society and delve into the subsequent effects on human populations and social structures. The fictional society usually mimics the societal conditions present when the story was written. Science fiction serves as a “thought experiment” in which authors can test the boundaries of certain societal aspects and explore the limits of the human mind and body. For example, the novel 1984 incorporates dystopian components, such as intense surveillance and stringent societal norms, to examine the feasibility of totalitarian rule in a society modeled off our existing society in 1948. Similarly, the Star Trek series aims to explore the role of technology, such as robots and spacecrafts, within another fictional society. Dr. Aziz discussed how science fiction authors have applied similar techniques when studying the function and meaning of prosthetic devices.  

Before detailing the instances of prosthetics in science fiction works throughout the 19th through 21st centuries, Dr. Aziz recounted a brief history of prosthetics and its gradual integration into science fiction works. If tools that advance human capabilities are viewed as “prosthetic”, then prosthetic use dates back to our Hominin ancestors in the prehistoric era. For example, our ancestors’ ability to produce new tools with a stronger grip and further reach is an example of humans fine tuning the capabilities of outdated items. Likewise, modern technology is an old invention that has undergone significant transformations over time. Similarly, our typical ideation of a prosthetic implant, a device that replaces missing limbs, has gradually become more advanced compared to its outdated counterparts.  

“To a certain extent, all technology is prosthetic,” said Dr. Aziz. 

Evidence from one Egyptian tomb revealed that a prosthetic toe was implemented to restore the form and function of a missing toe. In the 16th century, craftsmen began to produce surprisingly complex prosthetic devices. For instance, Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon, relied on his medical knowledge and experience to craft advanced prosthetics for soldiers who lost limbs during a war. His feelings of frustration towards the lack of function and precision in existing prosthetic limbs motivated him to re-imagine the process of designing and producing prosthetic devices. Paré even collaborated with other industries, such as blacksmithing and clockwork, to amass as much expertise and resources as possible. He produced complex prosthetics that brought medical professionals and engineers one step closer to their ultimate goal: to manufacture prosthetics with a capacity to generate sensory feedback or perform sophisticated digital manipulations (e.g., gripping objects). Paré’s vision of body-powered prosthetic devices is now a reality in modern society.   

Now, fast-forward several centuries. Although prosthetics and science fiction have both existed separately for decades, the inclusion of prosthetic devices into literary works of science fiction occurred gradually. The intersection of these fields increased in popularity throughout the 20th century. One noteworthy example of a figure who facilitated this intersection is Arthur C. Clark, an author and researcher who explored the feasibility of radar and satellite technology through both science and literature. In the mid 1900’s, Clark collaborated with English scientists to perfect radar and satellite technology. Advanced technology was still unfamiliar at the time, which made it challenging for most people to accept and understand such growth.  

Years later, Clark published fictional novels centered on the happenings of outer space. His key themes included communication in space and extraterrestrial life forms. Clark was not the first person to propose the broadcasting of television signals through space or the launching of rockets into outer space. However, he was the first person to popularize such ambitious ideas. By integrating these technologies into fictional universes in literature, the public could develop an understanding of his ideas and explore the use of similar technologies within their own society. Moreover, Clark grounded his ideas in theoretical science in order to boost their credibility and feasibility. Clark’s literary works allowed the public to become comfortable and fascinated with the integration of novel technology, such as radar and satellite technology, in modern society. Ultimately, Clark was able to use science fiction literature to popularize his inventions and boost the public’s acceptance of modern technology, which speaks volumes about the transformative ability of science fiction. 

Dozens of other literary works from the 19th to 21st centuries have emphasized prosthetic use as well, but rather than apply a predictive approach, they have highlighted characters’ internal journeys after acquiring a prosthetic device and explored the response of futuristic societies to humans with technological components. For instance, in Samuel Delany’s Nova, Prince Red, one of the main characters, relies on a prosthetic device. Delany draws attention to Prince Red’s internal journey. Prince Red is extremely sensitive to his differences and lashes out at people when they point out his prosthetic. On the other hand, Mouse, a musician born with damaged vocal cords, is not resentful of his different abilities and instead channels his thoughts through the “sensory syrinx”, a fictional instrument in Nova. Readers have pointed out similarities between Mouse and differently abled artists, such as Stevie Wonder and Link Wray. Therefore, readers believe that Delany aimed to explore contrasting viewpoints towards society’s definition of “non-normative” bodies at the time. Moreover, he attempted to reflect societal norms while inserting references towards current events in society. After George Herbert Walker Bush worked to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, the science fiction community experienced a surge in materials highlighting the internal journeys of differently abled main characters. Since science fiction has always been positioned to explore unique perspectives, authors at that time utilized futuristic societies to explore what it means to have a disability or possess a prosthetic device, which contributed to attempts to dissolve associated stereotypes and promote conversations regarding these topics.  

Similarly, Roger Zelazny and Philip Dick’s fictional novel, Deus Irae, follows Tibor McMasters, a professional painter born without arms and legs. He uses prosthetics made from missile parts and prosthetic guidance systems from nuclear missiles. Zelazny further explored society’s response to prosthetics and unfamiliar forms of immortality in the novel Creatures of Light and Darkness. The novel focuses on the Steel General, a soldier who fought in several wars spanning multiple centuries. After sustaining life-threatening injuries in combat, he replaces all of his missing limbs with metal prosthetics. Zelazny’s imaginative society views the soldier as immortal since the metal pieces will continue to exist after he passes away. In addition, Delany’s Nova explores the feasibility of human bodies plugged into technology. Through these plugs, humans can operate technological devices in the workplace as a part of their own body. After plugging into manufacturing devices, they can craft products with their own “hands” and visualize their surroundings with their own “eyes”. This use of prosthetic technology reverses the alienation of labor described by Karl Marx in the 1800s. Dr. Albanna and Dr. Aziz both touched on Star Wars and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Both works are standout examples that explore what it means to be human. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker frequently expresses his concerns towards his prosthetic arm. He is convinced that the prosthetic altered his identity and often questions whether his mechanical components make him intrinsically evil or more of a machine than a human. The use of electricity to reanimate frog’s legs in England served as Shelley’s inspiration when writing Frankenstein. The “monster” is human in some ways, but also contains technological components. They both agreed that Frankenstein was unique in that it pushed the boundaries of society’s definition of “normative human beings” at the time.  

Lastly, another work that not only explored internal journeys of main characters, but also challenged societal views and perspectives, was Johnny Mnemonic, a movie from 1995. This movie explores neural prosthetics and cognitive enhancements in a futuristic setting. It emphasizes a novel view that neuroprosthetics are normal, which in turn, pushed society to reconsider their close-minded definitions of “normativity”. Dr. Albanna connected this idea to his course on theoretical neuroscience, which applies concepts from neuroscience, physics, and linear algebra to question the limitations of neurological systems.  

“Prototypical neurons may limit our view of how neural networks function,” Dr. Albanna stated in reference to his research that aims to improve the sensory feedback experience of cochlear implants for people interested in utilizing an auditory prosthetic.  

Dr. Albanna acknowledged that such science fiction works are essential as “science fiction is a productive venue to discuss the social and ethical implications of various topics.” 

As for the future of this combinative field, can it truly be used to “predict the future”? According to Dr. Aziz, it certainly can.  

“Science fiction is comparable to a simulation,” he explained, which speaks to its ability to predict or shape future technological advancements, to a certain extent.  

There are several modern advancements that mimic re-imagined prosthetics from science fiction works. One prominent example is a prosthetic with sensory feedback capability. For example, a prosthetic device can be crafted and integrated into the visual cortex. The visual cortex can be stimulated with a low-resolution version of a real image that a human eye could analyze. To further expand on this concept, Dr. Albanna cited his collaborative research project with Dr. Michele Insanally in the Pitt School of Medicine. Dr. Insanally’s team aims to create an advanced cochlear implant that utilizes cortical feedback.  

“Advanced prosthetics can listen to external sounds and reproduce electrical impulses that stimulate the cochlear nerves. This stimulation results in sensation and perception comparable to a real sound that an intact cochlea could interpret,” Dr. Albanna explained in reference to Dr. Insanally’s cochlear implant that is currently under development.  

This advanced cochlear implant is quite similar to the visual prosthetic that Dr. Aziz mentioned as well. Prosthetic devices that can actively interact with its environment are the result of centuries of scientific research, but alongside these developments, these ideas have been explored through science fiction works as well. At the same time, this predictive phenomenon extends outside the realm of science. Internally, we are aware of our desires – technologically, economically, and socially – and often work to shape the future on both small and large scales.  

In reality, science fiction is a form of innovation in itself; it exemplifies human thought processes as they evaluate their surroundings and determine ways to improve the efficiency and accuracy of regular tasks or objects. Simultaneously, thanks to authors such as Samuel Delany, Ursula Le Guin, and Roger Zelazny, science fiction has transformed into a field with implications beyond fictional stories and imaginative technologies. Due to its frequent application of predictive thought experiments, science fiction and other humanities disciplines have combined with STEM to produce a novel field that will extensively shape the future of our society. Through dialogues in science fiction works, we can both produce and ponder the powerful effects of technological advancements within our modern society.