Sci-fi writers join war on terror

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yevaud

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Looking to prevent the next terrorist attack, the Homeland Security Department is tapping into the wild imaginations of a group of self-described "deviant" thinkers: science-fiction writers.<br /><br />"We spend our entire careers living in the future," says author Arlan Andrews, one of a handful of writers the government brought to Washington this month to attend a Homeland Security conference on science and technology.<br /><br />Those responsible for keeping the nation safe from devastating attacks realize that in addition to border agents, police and airport screeners, they "need people to think of crazy ideas," Andrews says.<br /><br />The writers make up a group called Sigma, which Andrews put together 15 years ago to advise government officials. The last time the group gathered was in the late 1990s, when members met with government scientists to discuss what a post-nuclear age might look like, says group member Greg Bear. He has written 30 sci-fi books, including the best seller Darwin's Radio.<br /><br />Now, the Homeland Security Department is calling on the group to help with the government's latest top mission of combating terrorism.<br /><br />Although some sci-fi writers' futuristic ideas might sound crazy now, scientists know that they often have what seems to be an uncanny ability to see into the future.<br /><br />"Fifty years ago, science-fiction writers told us about flying cars and a wireless handheld communicator," says Christopher Kelly, spokesman for Homeland Security's Science and Technology division. "Although flying cars haven't evolved, cellphones today are a way of life. We need to look everywhere for ideas, and science-fiction writers clearly inform the debate."<br /><br />Bear says the writers offer powerful imaginations that can conjure up not only possible methods of attack, but also ideas about how governments and individuals will respond and what kinds of high-tech tools could prevent attacks.<br /><br />http://www.usatoday.</safety_wrapper <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>
 
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summoner

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Great idea not only are the scifi writers future thinkers a good majority of them are also well educated in the sciences and know what may or may not be legitimate science. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>
 
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yevaud

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I am reminded directly of the group of SF writers the government gathers together in the Pournelle and Niven novel, <i>Footfall</i>. How odd it's actually happened in real life. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>
 
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vagueship

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The scary part is that the government thinks this is an off the wall idea. Any invention/strategy/etc is innovated by creativity.
 
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qso1

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Maybe the government should also apply this approach to the NASA VSE, especially on questions regarding what to do on the moon. How would a sci fi author deal with helium 3 mining for example. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>
 
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superluminal

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I have this Idea.<br />I've invented ,( In My mind ) a secret weapon that renders all (nuclear weapons only) suddenly inert.<br />Including ours.<br />The umpty sextillion dollar question is, <br /><br />How would one build such a weapon ?<br />And, should one even do so, if it were possible?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>
 
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hracctsold

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Eric,<br /><br />Would that be compared to the universal solvent, and what you you keep it in, if it was truly universal in content?
 
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yevaud

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That would be a projected field that moderates all nuclear reactions, and prevents chain-reactions from occurring. This idea has been written into, yes, Science Fiction previously. I recollect it referred to as a "Nuclear Dampening Field" before.<br /><br />Thought you'd find that interesting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>
 
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space_tycoon

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I would hope that in addition to considering possible terrorism scenarios, they would also offer their uncoventional perspectives on the policies and actions which motivate terrorists.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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derekmcd

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Wouldn't that require removing mass from particles? A Higgs shield perhaps? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>
 
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superluminal

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Station keepers.<br />( IF!!! ), ( In the Near Future) there existed, a 10 kilometer diameter, glass precision polished magnifying glass, placed in a specific precise iris focusable orbit, <br /><br />and <br /><br />The guarded control of this potentially devastating device were placed in a fair well governed political body (not the present UN) of distinguished Representatives legally elected from each Nation by it's voting public as Station Keepers not Politicians, Then nuclear weapons would no longer be a threat.<br /><br />( Eyeball 1 in orbit ) , is also uniquely capable of many more functions. <br /><br />Besides being able to instantly destroy any unauthorized missile launches from Earth, This huge eyeball glass would make the grandest telescope possible from an Earthlings perspective.<br /><br />Also, at times of non defensive use, if decayed U-238 were launched into Earth orbit, at a specific non threatening destroy co ordinance point, This powerful Big Peace Eye, could be used to eradicate spent U-238 and let the pulverized dust be pushed outward by the solar wind into the Ancient Martians red rusty back yard. <br /><br />The Big Eye, also at specific times, could supply pulse power to solar sail star ships journeying to wards other star systems.<br /> In this Earthlings humble concerned opinion,<br /><br /> Nuclear Proliferation is the biggest TERRORIST on this Good Ship Earth.<br />The best way to eliminate a major threat weapon is to have a weapon that makes that devastating weapon no longer a threat.<br />Also, a focusable eye lense in orbit could serve in perturbing Earth threatening asteroids. <br /><br />This Eyeball in space, could do just that.<br /><br />I personally never once insinuated, that building a Eyeball in space would be easy.<br /><br />John Kennedy said this about going to the Moon.<br /><br />We do (this) not because it is easy, We do (This) because it is HARD. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Columbia and Challenger </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3" color="#3366ff">Starships of Heroes</font></strong></p> </div>
 
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yevaud

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As I recollect, it had to do with moderating down Neutron activity (no chain reactions would be possible). How, of course, is mere Science Fiction. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>
 
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