Worst sci-fi science gaffes?

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2002-07-13 08:43pm

Of course, the writers probably have read the Hitchhiker's Guide, as one of the engineering displays in TNG was labelled "Infinite Improbability Drive." It would explain how the ship runs into so many temporal whatsits, at the least.
How about the general sci-fi abuse of "constant thrust equals constant velocity" (i.e. turn engines off, glide to a full and complete stop, nevermind that there is no such thing as an absolute stop)? It possibly could make sense with FTL drives, but this happens in sublight as well.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-13 11:14pm

Of course, the writers probably have read the Hitchhiker's Guide

You assume they can read. I assure you they cannot, thus techno-babble.

adam warlock · Post by **adam warlock** » 2002-07-14 11:32am

Of course the whole book is making fun of Science Fiction, but still very fun to read.

yeah

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-07-14 01:14pm

Hey Hey Now Your doing a great-disevers to the hard working Script writing Hobos of America
I'm sure if you had to sleep in a box near the Train-Tracks working for Sandwhichs your scripts might not be the best either!

Please take a moment out of your day to think of the hard working Hobos of America

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-07-14 01:58pm

I just realized that we're all forgetting the biggest gaffe of all in Star Trek: the Infamous Baryon Sweep.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2002-07-14 04:58pm

I wish to mention the most common realism holes in sci-fi.... such as....

Sounds in the vacuum of space....
Aerodynamic spaceships which don't need their aerodynamic shape anyhow....

and finally...

EXPLOSIONS in space!!!

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2002-07-14 05:12pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote: EXPLOSIONS in space!!!

Things can explode in space. The real problem is the fire.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-07-14 05:20pm

Fire, and the shockwaves. Uh oh, better not stand too close to that nuke! We might get hit by a wave that doesn't disturb a medium!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-07-15 04:03pm

I like it when ships in zero-g space get hit and "list to one side", so everybody inside falls to that side. What- doesn't the artificial-G equipment move along with the ship?

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-07-15 04:16pm

I like it when ships in zero-g space get hit and "list to one side", so everybody inside falls to that side. What- doesn't the artificial-G equipment move along with the ship?

Its an insurance matter

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-15 05:43pm

Darth Wong wrote:I like it when ships in zero-g space get hit and "list to one side", so everybody inside falls to that side. What- doesn't the artificial-G equipment move along with the ship?

ST actors say that was the weirdest part of being on the show. Havig to throw themselves to the side when the ship got hit. Also notice they didn't fall when the ship banks or turns.

Smiling Bandit · Post by **Smiling Bandit** » 2002-07-16 01:33pm

Aerodynamic spaceships which don't need their aerodynamic shape anyhow....

Well, in SW many ships are designed for both air and space flight. And many ships would use it bevause the designers thought it looked nice.

Cromag · Post by **Cromag** » 2002-07-16 01:57pm

Yes, Star Trek has too many to count, but I still think the "crack in the event horizon" of a black hole deserves special mention.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-07-16 02:55pm

Acutal its a Quantum Sigulatariy which there talking about indication Trekky Hobo writers have a third grade education level

A Quantum Sigularty is a fancy term for a black hole at the moleculer leve
IE The Black Hole is smalller then the point on a pin

How exatly a ship its Traped in Such a thing then fines a hole in it

I have no clue...

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-07-16 06:58pm

A black hole is infinitely small.

I personally like how "gravitational distortions" are always large, blue, swirling things that don't seem. Or how the Enterprise can "surf" gravitational waves.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2002-07-17 01:25am

Point of fact:
All black holes are the same size, that is 1 point. Infinitly small.
The more the mass of the black hole the larger the "event horizon," or point of no return.
A black hole is, by it's nature, invisible. The event horizon is powerfuly visable when matter, spiraling into the black hole, (but not yet past the event horizon,) is broken down to the subatomic level by tidal forces, releasing tremendous amounts of radiation.

spongyblue · Post by **spongyblue** » 2002-07-20 07:41pm

The biggest goof I've seen? Goes to those wizards at Star Trek again and this one is simple. SEAT BELTS. I'm in the military and they shove saftey issues up your ass till you choke. They Feds ships look like floating accounting firms than starships.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2002-07-20 08:02pm

Another one I thought up. Atomic disrupters from the Fourth Empire.

They induce Fission in any element. Big, explosive fission.

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-20 10:40pm

ST should be sued for not providing a carseat for Weasly!

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2002-07-20 10:48pm

Can Weasley be considered a Sci-Fi gaffe????

David · Post by **David** » 2002-07-20 10:54pm

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2002-07-20 10:59pm

Originally posted by Simon H.Johanses

Aerodynamic spaceships which don't need their aerodynamic shape anyhow....

You are partially correct, however in terms of a vaccum, space is far from perfect. It is true up to a point, beyond this we will have to deal with gas and dust in interstellar space when the speed is high enough. For example there is roughly one nuclear particle per cubic centimeter in space. Not very much, however when traveling at close to the speed of light the pressure presented by this, is equivalent to that of the Earth's atmosphere at al altitude of 90km.

Granted that most space craft do not travel close to the speed of light in the 'normal' space, but even space ships traveling at low relativelistic speeds will benefit from smooth aerodynamic designs.

Mr. B · Post by **Mr. B** » 2002-07-21 12:51am

The plot in every episode of voyager would definitly count.

Like how the ratings were falling so they brought in Seven of Nine, who just happened to have huge tits.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2002-07-21 01:42am

Crown wrote: You are partially correct, however in terms of a vaccum, space is far from perfect. It is true up to a point, beyond this we will have to deal with gas and dust in interstellar space when the speed is high enough. For example there is roughly one nuclear particle per cubic centimeter in space. Not very much, however when traveling at close to the speed of light the pressure presented by this, is equivalent to that of the Earth's atmosphere at al altitude of 90km.

Oh good grief.

Drag at relativistic speeds resembles atmospheric drag in much the same way a hail of bullets resembles a gentle breeze. The particle density is nowhere near high enough for hull streamlining to have any benefit; the only significant criteria for hull design is getting a thick enough blanket of armor between the interplanetary/interstellar medium and anything important.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-07-21 02:18am

Why don't we just calculate the impact of the CMB on the vessel's hull, while we're at it? True, it's only about 3 degrees Kelvin, but it could still slow a ship down.

Just think about it. At relativistic velocities, you're traveling at at least 30,000km/sec. What's a 90km/hr wind against that, especially when you're talking masses that are separated by many orders of magnitude?