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Here are four awesome sci-fi devices we probably won't live long enough to see in use (and yes, the lightsaber is one of them).

In case the word "fiction" in "science fiction" didn't already tip you off, science fiction tends to have an inversely proportional relationship with logic and reality, which means that the more awesomely mind-blowing the story is, the less likely it is to actually happen. This is probably why a bunch of well-trained Stormtroopers with laser guns can't hit three airheads in cramped corridors, the Flash can outrun light without pureeing his insides, and the Hulk still manages to fit his gigantic green frame in purple size 30s whenever the guy at McDonald's forgets to give him extra ketchup. Through the years, humanity has managed to make some of its greatest geek wet dreams come true.




However, some of the more interesting (and complicated) hallmarks of science fiction might take a bit more than inspiration, perspiration, and a hundred years of trial and error before being perfected for mass consumption.

Time Machine

Solving the enigma of time travel isn't as simple as finding a DeLorean with a futuristic-by-'80s-standards dashboard. Einstein's theory of special relativity presents the idea that time slows down as an object approaches the speed of light. Think of it as playing tag with time, outrunning it while sticking your tongue out, until it realizes how much of a jerk you are and stops chasing you. According to noted astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, this means that moving forwards through time is possible. However, when asked about traveling back to the past, Hawking dismissed the idea, perhaps with a gentle digital scoff. Traveling to the past would allow people to violate the fundamental rule of cause and effect (e.g. kill themselves), and is therefore impossible. The best part is that if this turns out to be wrong, I can go back in time and stop myself from writing this. Then again, the fact that you're reading this right now means my future self didn't go back in time to stop myself from writing this, which in turn means I'm correct, and that I need a couple of aspirins right now.

Teleporter

One thing to understand about teleportation is that it probably won't work the way you think it would. Scientists who have actually managed to "teleport" particles explain that the process actually involves making an exact duplicate of the particle by turning it into information and transmitting it to the other end, simultaneously destroying the original particle. A teleporter would work much like a VoIP system, except for solid matter instead of sound.

"Wait a minute, Mr Writer, did you just say destroy?"

Indeed. Teleporting a person would involve disassembling the person down to the molecular level, copying the particles, transmitting the copies to the desired location as information, and then converting and reassembling the particles. The original person subsequently stops existing. Yeah, I'll take a cab instead, thanks.

Flying Car

"Well," you say as you try to hide your frustration, "at least we'll have flying cars soon, right? I mean, we already have airplanes and helicopters and you…you just hate nice things, don't you, Mr Party-Pooping Writer? Hater." Well, the good news is that people have already tried to make flying cars (they're more like really small helicopters than actual The Jetsons-style cars, though). Unfortunately, flying cars are bound to be more trouble than they're worth. Lawmakers all over the world would have to draft an entirely new set of laws, and you'd have to learn to drive without road signs, traffic lights, and, well, roads. Flying cars are also bound to be much more expensive to produce, acquire and maintain - simply trying to get that thing off the ground would burn your gas supply. Besides, think about how even a minor vehicular accident would be less of a passive-aggressive Tweet and more of a terrifying experiment to prove just how much gravity hates you.

Laser Blade Weapon…Fine, "Lightsaber"

The lightsaber is one of the most famous weapons in science fiction, and probably the most memorable thing about the Star Wars franchise. Considering that the franchise also put Carrie Fisher in a metal bikini, that's quite an accomplishment. If there's one thing every child and geek has wanted for Christmas at some point, this would be it. It's deadly, precise, and wicked cool. It's also totally not going to happen in this century, or maybe ever. Actually, people have been able to make gadgets that look as close to lightsabers as operationally (and legally) possible. Unfortunately, there's one simple problem that stops us from creating "real" lightsabers, and it's not a potential lawsuit. The laser has to stop at some point to form a "blade", and lasers kind of can't do that. I guess we'll just be swinging our glowsticks and making whoongk whoongk sounds with our mouths for the foreseeable future.

And with that last statement, Mr Party-Pooping Writer has managed to make himself depressed, and needs a drink. Or several.

Author Bio
Monique Jones is an Engineer who deals with telephone systems. Besides being an Engineer, she also works as a part time writer. She helps her colleagues and other people about their communication issues, giving effective solutions to address their needs.