Recap

Star Wars Science

Writer Jeanne Cavelos discussed how after 30 years, Star Wars still remains an amazing vision for the future, and that a number of George Lucas' concepts are being theorized or demonstrated in science. For instance, 'hyperspace' travel-- going from one location to another without all the space in between, may eventually be possible through wormholes. Space is not uniform, but filled with curves and warps-- these curvatures might provide us with shortcuts, she explained.

Lucas' mystical vision of "the force" seemed to violate scientific principles, yet there is now evidence that certain species are utilizing special senses. Birds make use of magnetic forces that allow them to migrate to the same locations, and Cavelos suggested that their cryptochromes (receptors) allow them to "see" these magnetic fields. Fish, she added, can sense the presence of other fish from "deformities" in surrounding electrical fields.

She also spoke about Star Trek's concept of warp drive which could possibly be developed through the extraction and contraction of space. Exotic matter providing a repulsive force might allow a craft to "surf a wave of disturbance," she detailed.

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Robot Round-Up

R2D2 and C3PO, the fictional robots in Star Wars (pictured) made an impression with their human-like personas. 30 years later, here's a look at the very latest in robotics:

A robot camel jockey won an inventors' prize.

The Ripsaw unmanned tank can plow through small buildings.

Korea has developed 'emotional' robots.

A robotic cockroach fooled other roaches into thinking it was one of them.

The WAO-1 is billed as a face-massaging robot.

The military has developed a robotic spy bird to keep an eye on things.

And Honda's Asimo, an autonomous robot, is now in its 2nd generation.