Writing a book set in the future means diving into the world of science and technology, which, as it turns out, involves a lot more than just Googling "cool future stuff." For my book, I plunged headfirst into the depths of research on how to create free, self-sustaining, unlimited energy. I've come to learn there's a reason why us puny humans have not figured it out yet. It's harder than figuring out all your streaming subscriptions.
The Ancient Way: Tokamaks
Let's start with the ancient way, which is actually not that ancient unless you count anything pre-Netflix as ancient. Enter the tokamak, a device straight out of a science nerd's dream. It's a doughnut-shaped machine that uses magnetic fields to contain hot plasma. Think of it as a cosmic donut maker, except instead of jelly filling, you get nuclear fusion. Delicious and energy-efficient!
The New Way: Ultra High Temperature Superconductors
Now, let's fast forward to the future. Imagine self-energizing ultra high temperature superconductors. Normally, superconductors need to be chilled to temperatures colder than your ex's heart to work properly. But in my book, we've got these babies running at ultra high temperatures, defying the laws of material science and common sense.
Why does this matter? Well, in reality, material science still has a ways to go before UHT superconductors become a thing, but it is actually coming! That's the beauty of writing sci-fi: you get to turn “wouldn't it be cool if…” into “and then it happened.”
Sci-Fi Becoming Fact
The best part about writing sci-fi is watching your wildest ideas inch closer to reality. Today's sci-fi is tomorrow's fact. Who knew that the communicators in Star Trek would become our smartphones, or that we'd be seriously discussing the ethics of AI like in Blade Runner? It's fantastic to see how our imaginations pave the way for future innovations.
Conclusion
So, here's to the future, where tokamaks and ultra high temperature superconductors might just save the day. Writing about these technologies not only fuels the story but also inspires real-world science. Keep dreaming big, writing boldly, and maybe one day, your sci-fi fantasy will light up the world — literally.