Science fiction often exaggerates or distorts science for dramatic effect—but many movies and TV shows have a nugget of realism at their core. The humanoid robot, Sophia, is one of the most sophisticated AI robots to date. Robots, artificial intelligence, space travel, dinosaurs, and more have been the subject of science fiction for decades. Many of these stories are inspired by real science.
Science fiction has exploded in popularity over the past few decades, with Marvel movies topping box office earnings lists and long-running franchises likeundergoing a revival. But it isn’t just the entertainment-seeking public that loves science fiction: So do scientists, many of whom were inspired to get into their fields because of science fiction they watched as kids. And while the science in the shows and movies scientists love is often exaggerated or outright invented, many contain a nugget of realism at their core, or a message about the role of science in society that resonates with researchers well into adulthoo