Steles

Steles

By: Susie Ellicks, Jen Duffy, Katie Endress, and Colleen Griffin Period 6

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

“‘This’ he said, ‘is a stele.’ He touched it to an inked mark just below his shoulder, a curious shape almost like a star. Two arms of the star jutted out from the rest of the mark, unconnected. ‘And this,’ he said, ‘is what happens when Shadowhunters are wounded.’

With the tip of the stele, he traced a line connecting the two arms of the star. When he lowered his hand, the mark was shining as if it had been etched with phosphorescent ink. As Clary watched, it sank into his skin, like a weighted object sinking into water. It left behind a ghostly reminder: a pale, thin scar, almost invisible. …

‘That was an iratze, a healing rune,’ Jace said. ‘Finishing the rune with the stele activates it.’ He shoved the slim wand into his belt and shrugged his jacket back on.” (93-94)

This idea does not seem very feasible scientifically, but it could possibly work on a smaller scale as a placebo. It could be used on people for protection or on people who are injured, for example medical officers using it to treat soldiers, but if it is used as a placebo it may not work on those who over-think it. We chose the stele for our technology because it seems like a very cool, powerful idea that would work really well, especially on little kids if it is used as a placebo. Ethical questions that it brings up would be Would it be moral to only share the technology with certain people (like the military or important government officials) and keep it from the general public? Or should everyone be able to use it?

The Molecular Detachment Device By David Chapnick and Liam Smith

The Molecular Detachment Device, from Ender's Game
By David Chapnick and Liam Smith
Period 1



"At the focal point of two beams, it sets up a field in which molecules can't hold together anymore. Electrons can't be shared... The field spreads out in a sphere, but it gets weaker the farther it spreads. Except that where it actually runs into a lot of molecules, it gets stronger and starts over" (272).

We picked this technology because of its ties to both molecular chemistry and quantum mechanics.  This technology was used in the book Ender's Game to destroy an entire planet, and as the technology is described in the book, it's only practical application is as a weapon of mass destruction.  As such, there are definite ethical questions regarding its use in warfare. As far as its feasibility, it certainly is not possible to create such a field with modern technology, however, it might be possible with future technology to set up an electromagnetic field that disrupts the intermolecular forces binding molecules together.  Also, electron-positron annihilation might cause the same effect, but we would need to do more research to discover more. While this technology is certainly not the most practical technology envisioned in science-fiction, it raises questions about the advancement in particle physics and quantum mechanics and the need to better understand the interactions between the basic building blocks of the universe.

Chris Noeth & James Goguen Post 1

Chris Noeth & James Goguen

Transmuter from Foundation

'With this machine,' began Ponyets, as his hand dropped softly onto the central chamber and caressed its hard, round flanks, 'I can turn the iron you discard into gold of the finest quality' (Asimov, pg 156)

This technology could be a huge part of life in future years if scientists can become smart enough to develop such a machine.

Is it feasible?
Yes it is definitely possible although it likely will not happen for many many years.

Why did you pick the transmuter?
We picked the transmuter because it relates to our class so much considering we just read a book where an entire section of the book was about this device.

How could it be used?
To make money or gold and help fight world poverty in turn fighting world hunger and making the world a better place.

Are there ethical questions about it?
None that I can see.

Force Fields and Shields

Foundation by Isaac Asimov -
“Hardin still smiled and his force-field aura scarcely brightened as it absorbed the energies of the nuclear blast.” (135)
“The molecules of air caught in the sudden surge of atomic disruption, tore into glowing, burning ions, and marked out the blinding thin line that struck at Mallow’s heart - and splashed!” (212)

In Foundation, the force fields are nuclear powered, and for personal protection. They are a chain worn around the waist, and able to protect one from nuclear blasts.

Are they feasible?

No, it does not seem that a forcefield of this nature is feasible because of the nuclear power, and no matter to the actual shield. But, as the video shows, on a larger scale, a “force field” is not unreal. But as for a personal force shield like the one in Foundation, nothing in the foreseeable future will likely be even remotely close to it.

What could we use them for? 

If possible, it would be used in the army for sure, and to protect many people of importance and/or wealth. The Trophy system is a good example of how it may be used, but for each soldier.

Why did we decide to focus on them?

We picked the forcefield because it is an interesting concept. If it could ever be made, it could bring many benefits to the army, and even protect people from assassination.

Are they ethical?

In most cases, they seem like they will be put to good use, for good reasons, and don't seem to harm anyone. It may get out of control and also be used from crime, making someone near invincible which could cause some problems for law enforcement.

Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TctJhFYTHo - Trophy System - basically a modern force field

This force field used in the military around tanks senses and neutralizes missiles that are about to hit the tank. It neutralizes by either detonating the missile in the air or splitting it into useless pieces of metal.

Period 6 Group 3: Invisibility Cloaks

 

“‘It’s an invisibility cloak.’ said Ron, a look of awe on his face. ‘I’m sure it is---try it on.’

Harry threw the cloak around his shoulders and Ron gave a yell.

‘It is! Look down!’

Harry looked down at his feet, but they were gone. He dashed to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection looked back at him, just his head suspended in midair, his body completely invisible. He pulled the cloak over his head and his reflection vanished completely.”

              p. 201, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

An invisibility cloak is used to completely hide the wearer from others without casting a shadow. While most cloaks are made of Demiguise hair or imbibed with a Disillusionment Charm, Harry’s cloak is one of a kind. It is part of the Deathly Hallows and was originally used by Death in order to sneak up on unsuspecting victims. Unlike it’s copies, it does not fade with age, nor does it’s power wear down, making it the ultimate “weapon” of stealth. The cloak itself is very old and was handed from Death to Ignotus Peverell, an ancestor of Harry. There is not any type of cloaking device today that can completely render the individual operating it invisible because the cloak would have to manipulate and bend light at all frequencies of light. However, researchers have been successful at creating cloaking devices made up of metamaterials, or non-naturally occurring materials that can cloak a copper cylinder by manipulating certain wavelengths of light around it. If scientists were able to produce invisibility cloaks, they could be used for warfare or spying purposes, though they would have to be able to completely hide an individual and not cast a shadow. In short, we believe that invisibility cloaks are possible to manufacture, but perhaps only on a small scale and only on certain wavelengths of light.

Lightsabers in Starwars

Emily Lottes, Brianna Curro and Ben Hart

Mr. Goldner

Period 7

  "This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary."

  ―Obi-Wan Kenobi

In the Star Wars saga, the Order of the Jedi is distinguished from others men and alien races by their Lightsabers. A light saber is a sword-like weapon formed by the light of a crystal. A Lightsaber is a weapon of rank and honor for the Jedi because it requires skill to learn how to properly wield it.

Lightsabers, as portrayed in Star Wars, are infeasible given current technology. The energy that is required to power a laser sword is tremendously high, especially considering the power source needs to fit in a sword hilt. The closest tool we have available to a Lightsaber is a military grade, hand-held laser. Military grade hand-held lasers are strong enough to light paper on fire and burn holes through ping-pong balls. Another alternative to a real lightsaber is a thermal lance, which is a rod-shaped construction tool used to melt metals by heating up oxygen to extreme temperatures. However, both lasers and thermal lances fall short of creating a real Lightsaber as depicted in Star Wars. Lightsabers in Star Wars act as solid blades and are also capable of deflecting laser-based projectiles.

Nanotechnology - KristinaYamkovoy, Zach Trotz, Tristan Shoemaker, Brandon Leahy

“Nanotech materials were stronger. Computers were infinitesimal. Power supplies were much more potent. It was almost difficult not to build things that were lighter than air.” - The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson (pg. 56)

Nanomachinery is a constantly growing field of technological research, with innovations occurring around the clock. It is the manipulation of atoms and molecules in order to make larger products, often by molecular assemblers, which are devices that guide production on an atomic scale. This field of research is presented in futuristic science fiction novels as a fully fleshed out industry, that every single person alive relies on. In the book The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, the lives of every single character in the book revolve around their interactions with nanomachinery. “