Science Fiction has long based its stories not only on science, but the “What If?” What would happen if this technology existed? What would happen if we could fly to the moon? What would happen if we could speak on a phone without using wires? What would happen if my kids put Mentos in Diet Coke?
As a new contributor here on the Raven Blog, I’ll be looking at Sci Fi and Future Technology. One of the fun aspects of letting out my inner geek is to take a little bit of breaking science news and playing “What If.” I have files and files of interesting tidbits that have sparked my imagination, as I’m sure all SF/F writers have since Mary Shelley put pen to paper and wrote Frankenstein.
This brings me to Green Goo.
Green Goo is the concept of using biology to “create new materials and new artificial life forms.“ Basically, changing biology on the molecular level, but in the case of Green Goo, these changes become rampant and change all/most living things until the ecosystem is destroyed. This is a concept that has evolved from research into nano structures aka nanotech, aka the science of small. Nanotechnology is manipulation on the molecular level. It’s appeared in small doses so far, in flash memory and computer chip technology, etc. It is truly a future technology.
Nanotech has appeared in Science Fiction in the last few decades, and in some very fun ways in movies and television. Anyone remember those replicators in Stargate SG1? Those little creatures that break down everything to build more of themselves? If unhampered, those pesky bits of nanotech could destroy everything in their path.
Fifth a human-form Replicator. Image Copyright: MGM.
Like the replicators, Green Goo is feared for its potential harm in the form of toxicity, or even so far as nanotech spreading over the Earth, breaking down the environment in an apocolytic level destruction. Not so fun for the people who fear this.
Great fun for the writer.
Anyway, I’ll be playing in my green goo in my latest project for … wait for it…. Nano. Nano is short for Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month. & I’m all about the nano in November. While I’m stuck in my goo, go out and try the Diet Coke and Mentos thing. Totally as a science experiment, not to see the fun eruptions.
Be sure to wear a raincoat.
***
Ella Drake is a Dark Paranormal and Science Fiction Romance author published with Cobblestone Press, Liquid Silver Books, and Samhain Publishing. Sometimes she dabbles in Weird SF stories (free read on her website). To learn more about Ella, visit her on her webpage at www.elladrake.com. Ella can also be found on facebook and twitter.
