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I think it's better if Singularity is last in the list
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* Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
to:
* Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable,"cold" fusion (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) containment)
** In 1989, there was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion#Fleischmann%E2%80%93Pons_experiment a notorious experiment]] which claimed to achieve controllable cold nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was huntedas a result, usually by Big Oil Oil, governments wanting a monopoly, or other vested interests.
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable,
** In 1989, there was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion#Fleischmann%E2%80%93Pons_experiment a notorious experiment]] which claimed to achieve controllable cold nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted
* [[OurWormholesAreDifferent Wormholes]], usually interpreted to allow FasterThanLightTravel
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* [[OurWormholesAreDifferent Wormholes]], allowing interstellar travel without breaking the lightspeed barrier.
to:
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None
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to:
* [[OurWormholesAreDifferent Wormholes]], allowing interstellar travel without breaking the lightspeed barrier.
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None
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** Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or [[DeusEstMachina artificial intelligences]] capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality at will]]; fiction tends to use ClarkesThirdLaw as a handwave excuse along the lines of "of ''course'' good enough technology can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
to:
** This one is a bit of an unusual case, since it refers to phebotinum that does not actually exist and is deliberately undefined. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or [[DeusEstMachina artificial intelligences]] capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality at will]]; fiction tends to use ClarkesThirdLaw as a handwave excuse along the lines of "of ''course'' good enough technology can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
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Spelling/grammar fix(es)
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This happy state of affairs lasts only a certain period of time, however. Eventually, the general public comes to understand a certain piece of science enough that they're more likely to call BS and lose their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they see it used in a blatantly impossible way. Or the concept simply becomes cliche once a new and more intriguing science comes along to take its place.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's just a difficulty you face when you write in this particular genre.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's just a difficulty you face when you write in this particular genre.
to:
This happy state of affairs lasts only a certain period of time, however. Eventually, the general public comes to understand a certain piece of science enough that they're more likely to call BS and lose their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they see it used in a blatantly impossible way. Or the concept simply becomes cliche cliché once a new and more intriguing science comes along to take its place.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's just adifficulty you face when you write challenge of writing in this particular genre.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's just a
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* Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists inspires notions of super-science even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
* [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemy]] was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
* [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemy]] was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
to:
* Artisanal skill skills such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists inspires notions of super-science even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
* [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemy]] was widely practised inboth Europe and Asia Eurasia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
* [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemy]] was widely practised in
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* [[ClockPunk Mechanical gears]] and optics (Creator/ETAHoffmann, Creator/LFrankBaum).
* [[SteamPunk Steam power]].
* [[SteamPunk Steam power]].
to:
* [[ClockPunk Mechanical gears]] and optics (Creator/ETAHoffmann, Creator/LFrankBaum).
Creator/LFrankBaum)
* [[SteamPunk Steampower]].power]]
* [[SteamPunk Steam
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* Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'').
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
to:
* Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'').
Valdemar'')
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but ratheran intricate a ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather
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** Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
to:
** Starting Started with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
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* Transistors (predecessor to {{Nanomachines}}).
to:
* Transistors (predecessor to {{Nanomachines}}).{{Nanomachines}})
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* {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.
to:
* {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.BioAugmentation
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* Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion.
to:
* Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. fusion
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* {{Quantum mechanics|CanDoAnything}}.
** Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
* "Junk" DNA.
** Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
* "Junk" DNA.
to:
* {{Quantum mechanics|CanDoAnything}}.
mechanics|CanDoAnything}}
** Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but stillrequires requiring advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] mathematics to actually understand.
* "Junk"DNA. DNA
** Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still
* "Junk"
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* TheSingularity.
** Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligences capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will; fiction tends to grab ClarkesThirdLaw and run along with it, making no excuses but handwaves along the lines of "of ''course'' good enough technology can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
** Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligences capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will; fiction tends to grab ClarkesThirdLaw and run along with it, making no excuses but handwaves along the lines of "of ''course'' good enough technology can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
to:
* TheSingularity.
TheSingularity
** Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or [[DeusEstMachina artificialintelligences intelligences]] capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] reality at will; will]]; fiction tends to grab use ClarkesThirdLaw and run along with it, making no excuses but handwaves as a handwave excuse along the lines of "of ''course'' good enough technology can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
** Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or [[DeusEstMachina artificial
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None
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* Dark matter
to:
* [[OurDarkMatterIsMysterious Dark mattermatter]]
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None
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* [[Alchemy Is Magic Alchemy]] was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
to:
* [[Alchemy Is Magic [[AlchemyIsMagic Alchemy]] was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 17,18 (click to see context) from:
* Alchemy [[Alchemy Is Magic]]. Alchemy was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
to:
* Alchemy [[Alchemy Is Magic]]. Alchemy Magic Alchemy]] was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
to:
*Alchemy [[Alchemy Is Magic]]. Alchemy was widely practised in both Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. Alchemists tried to do all sorts of things, from turning base metals like lead into noble metals like gold, to making an elixir of immortality.
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this entry deserves some work to make it more aesthetically appealing; that's my take on it at the moment
Changed line(s) 14,59 (click to see context) from:
* Pre-sci-fi:
** If we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum, then herbalism is probably the oldest one in the book.
** Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists inspires notions of super-science even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
* Early Phlebotinum:
** [[ClockPunk Mechanical gears]] and optics (Creator/ETAHoffmann, Creator/LFrankBaum).
** [[SteamPunk Steam power]].
** Electricity, particularly [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]]. (FrankensteinsMonster)
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even today; all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric -- it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
** Magnetism %% Make an Insane Clown Posse joke at your own peril.
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar''). Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** Vivisection or radical surgery (''Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'')
** Radio waves and microwaves
*** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays, you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
** [[RadioactiveTropes Radiation and radioactivity]]: Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
*** Creator/JulesVerne lived just long enough to feature this one in one of his last novels, "The Chase of the Golden Meteor", published posthumously in 1908.
** Eugenics (originally conceived [ba-dum-tsh] as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]]; the idea of [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]] came later). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TropeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by EvilutionaryBiologist villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Cap's super-soldier serum]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]])
** [[FormulaicMagic Mathematical formulae]] (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed in ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
* 1950s-1970s Phlebotinum
** Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation-induced mutation]]
** [[ReverseThePolarity Polarity reversal]]
** [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain Untapped mental potential]]
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use it, and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** "Indigo children", coined by NewAge psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the '70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g., the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
** [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Curved space]]
** Transistors (predecessor to {{Nanomachines}}).
*** In the original 1960s ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, the secret of Tony Stark's PoweredArmor was "tiny transistors ''[...]'' so powerful that they can increase force of any device a thousandfold!"
** [[FantasticPlastic Plasteel hardware]]
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywater Polywater]], a supposed polymerized form of water "discovered" by a Soviet scientist in the early '60s. Attempts in the West to replicate polywater were inconsistent, which sparked hysteria in the media over a perceived tech gap. By the '70s, polywater was proven be the result of contaminants (like human sweat) getting into ordinary water samples, discrediting the theory and the hype surrounding it.
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a GreyGoo-like apocalypse scenario of all water on Earth becoming polymerized. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
*** ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The episodes ''[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]'' of the original series, and its eventual sequel ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]'' in ''The Next Generation'', both feature an intoxicating fluid based loosely on polywater (described as water that has somehow formed a dense chain of molecules).
* 1980s-1990s Phlebotinum
** {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.
** [[UnrealisticBlackHole Black Holes]]
** Chaos Theory
** {{Antimatter}}
** Superstrings
** Eugenics made a brief resurgence during this time, with [[UsefulNotes/IQTesting race and IQ]] being a popular discussion in TheNineties. Also, evolutionary psychology explained everything. Often retitled as "Evolution in action", so as to try to make it seem "[[AllNaturalSnakeOil natural]]" and proper.
** {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
** Liquid Crystals (a minor example, but a few Soviet stories from that time feature LC {{artificial intelligence}}s).
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
* 21st century Phlebotinum:
** If we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum, then herbalism is probably the oldest one in the book.
** Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists inspires notions of super-science even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
* Early Phlebotinum:
** [[ClockPunk Mechanical gears]] and optics (Creator/ETAHoffmann, Creator/LFrankBaum).
** [[SteamPunk Steam power]].
** Electricity, particularly [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]]. (FrankensteinsMonster)
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even today; all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric -- it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
** Magnetism %% Make an Insane Clown Posse joke at your own peril.
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar''). Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** Vivisection or radical surgery (''Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'')
** Radio waves and microwaves
*** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays, you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
** [[RadioactiveTropes Radiation and radioactivity]]: Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
*** Creator/JulesVerne lived just long enough to feature this one in one of his last novels, "The Chase of the Golden Meteor", published posthumously in 1908.
** Eugenics (originally conceived [ba-dum-tsh] as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]]; the idea of [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]] came later). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TropeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by EvilutionaryBiologist villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Cap's super-soldier serum]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]])
** [[FormulaicMagic Mathematical formulae]] (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed in ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
* 1950s-1970s Phlebotinum
** Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation-induced mutation]]
** [[ReverseThePolarity Polarity reversal]]
** [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain Untapped mental potential]]
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use it, and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** "Indigo children", coined by NewAge psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the '70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g., the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
** [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Curved space]]
** Transistors (predecessor to {{Nanomachines}}).
*** In the original 1960s ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, the secret of Tony Stark's PoweredArmor was "tiny transistors ''[...]'' so powerful that they can increase force of any device a thousandfold!"
** [[FantasticPlastic Plasteel hardware]]
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywater Polywater]], a supposed polymerized form of water "discovered" by a Soviet scientist in the early '60s. Attempts in the West to replicate polywater were inconsistent, which sparked hysteria in the media over a perceived tech gap. By the '70s, polywater was proven be the result of contaminants (like human sweat) getting into ordinary water samples, discrediting the theory and the hype surrounding it.
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a GreyGoo-like apocalypse scenario of all water on Earth becoming polymerized. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
*** ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The episodes ''[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]'' of the original series, and its eventual sequel ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]'' in ''The Next Generation'', both feature an intoxicating fluid based loosely on polywater (described as water that has somehow formed a dense chain of molecules).
* 1980s-1990s Phlebotinum
** {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.
** [[UnrealisticBlackHole Black Holes]]
** Chaos Theory
** {{Antimatter}}
** Superstrings
** Eugenics made a brief resurgence during this time, with [[UsefulNotes/IQTesting race and IQ]] being a popular discussion in TheNineties. Also, evolutionary psychology explained everything. Often retitled as "Evolution in action", so as to try to make it seem "[[AllNaturalSnakeOil natural]]" and proper.
** {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
** Liquid Crystals (a minor example, but a few Soviet stories from that time feature LC {{artificial intelligence}}s).
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
* 21st century Phlebotinum:
to:
!!Pre-sci-fi
*Pre-sci-fi:
**If we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum, then herbalism is probably the oldest one in the book.
** * Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists inspires notions of super-science even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
!!Early Phlebotinum
*Early Phlebotinum:
**[[ClockPunk Mechanical gears]] and optics (Creator/ETAHoffmann, Creator/LFrankBaum).
** * [[SteamPunk Steam power]].
** * Electricity, particularly [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]]. (FrankensteinsMonster)
*** ** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even today; all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric -- it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
** * Magnetism %% Make an Insane Clown Posse joke at your own peril.
** * Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'').
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** * Vivisection or radical surgery (''Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'')
** * Radio waves and microwaves
*** ** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays, you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
** The term "aether" just meant a supposed medium for electromagnetic waves, but the word itself comes from Ancient Greek philosophy and has a vaguely mystical ring to it. Perhaps for this reason, it's milked for ElectromagneticGhosts and every other manner of radio-related weirdness.
* [[RadioactiveTropes Radiation andradioactivity]]: radioactivity]]
** Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
*** ** Creator/JulesVerne lived just long enough to feature this one in one of his last novels, "The Chase of the Golden Meteor", published posthumously in 1908.
* Eugenics
**Eugenics (originally Originally conceived [ba-dum-tsh] as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]]; the idea of [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]] came later). later.
** [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TropeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by EvilutionaryBiologist villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** * ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Cap's super-soldier serum]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]])
** * [[FormulaicMagic Mathematical formulae]] (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed in ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
* 1950s-1970s !!1950s-1970s Phlebotinum
** * Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation-induced mutation]]
** * [[ReverseThePolarity Polarity reversal]]
** * [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain Untapped mental potential]]
*** ** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use it, and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** ** "Indigo children", coined by NewAge psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the '70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g., the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
* GeneticMemory
* [[HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs Psychedelic drugs]]. (Hey, it was the Sixties!)
** ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' stands out as possibly the most iconic example.
* [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Curved space]]
** * Transistors (predecessor to {{Nanomachines}}).
*** ** In the original 1960s ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, the secret of Tony Stark's PoweredArmor was "tiny transistors ''[...]'' so powerful that they can increase force of any device a thousandfold!"
** * [[FantasticPlastic Plasteel hardware]]
** * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywater Polywater]], a supposed polymerized form of water "discovered" by a Soviet scientist in the early '60s. Attempts in the West to replicate polywater were inconsistent, which sparked hysteria in the media over a perceived tech gap. By the '70s, polywater was proven be the result of contaminants (like human sweat) getting into ordinary water samples, discrediting the theory and the hype surrounding it.
*** ** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a GreyGoo-like apocalypse scenario of all water on Earth becoming polymerized. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
*** ** ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The episodes ''[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]'' of the original series, and its eventual sequel ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]'' in ''The Next Generation'', both feature an intoxicating fluid based loosely on polywater (described as water that has somehow formed a dense chain of molecules).
* 1980s-1990s !!1980s-1990s Phlebotinum
** * {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.
** * [[UnrealisticBlackHole Black Holes]]
** * Chaos Theory
** * {{Antimatter}}
** * Superstrings
** * Eugenics made a brief resurgence during this time, with [[UsefulNotes/IQTesting race and IQ]] being a popular discussion in TheNineties. Also, evolutionary psychology explained everything. Often retitled as "Evolution in action", so as to try to make it seem "[[AllNaturalSnakeOil natural]]" and proper.
** * {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
** * Liquid Crystals (a minor example, but a few Soviet stories from that time feature LC {{artificial intelligence}}s).
** * Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. fusion.
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
* 21st !!21st century Phlebotinum:Phlebotinum
* Nanotechnology. The rest of modern material science sometimes as well.
*
**
!!Early Phlebotinum
*
**
** Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
** The term "aether" just meant a supposed medium for electromagnetic waves, but the word itself comes from Ancient Greek philosophy and has a vaguely mystical ring to it. Perhaps for this reason, it's milked for ElectromagneticGhosts and every other manner of radio-related weirdness.
* [[RadioactiveTropes Radiation and
** Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
* Eugenics
**
** [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TropeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by EvilutionaryBiologist villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
* GeneticMemory
* [[HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs Psychedelic drugs]]. (Hey, it was the Sixties!)
** ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' stands out as possibly the most iconic example.
* [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Curved space]]
** In 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e., no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
* Nanotechnology. The rest of modern material science sometimes as well.
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** Isolinear whatever
** Dark matter
** Dark matter
to:
** Aerogels
** Amorphous metals
** Smart materials
* Isolinear whatever
** Non-linear whatever, likewise.
* Dark matter
** Amorphous metals
** Smart materials
* Isolinear whatever
** Non-linear whatever, likewise.
* Dark matter
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** {{Quantum mechanics|CanDoAnything}}. Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as dormant superpowers, disk space for a message from ancient aliens, or the like. In reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use any more (no longer being fish, proto-mammals, etc.), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as dormant superpowers, disk space for a message from ancient aliens, or the like. In reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use any more (no longer being fish, proto-mammals, etc.), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
to:
** Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
** 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as dormant superpowers, disk space for a message from ancient aliens, or the like. In reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use any more (no longer being fish, proto-mammals, etc.), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression
*** ''Literature/{{Blindsight}}'' draws on this premise to introduce a vampire into a hard SF story.
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** {{Pheromones}}
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle accelerators]]
** Aerogel
** Amorphous metals
** Smart materials
** Gravitational waves
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It tends to come with a handwave along the lines of "of ''course'' [[ClarkesThirdLaw good enough technology]] can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle accelerators]]
** Aerogel
** Amorphous metals
** Smart materials
** Gravitational waves
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It tends to come with a handwave along the lines of "of ''course'' [[ClarkesThirdLaw good enough technology]] can do that, humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
to:
* {{Pheromones}}
** Amorphous metals
** Smart materials
**
* TheSingularity.
**
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Added DiffLines:
** [[RadioactiveTropes Radiation and radioactivity]]: Starting with the discovery of X-rays in 1895 and the radioactivity of uranium in 1896. Got particularly popular after the discovery of radium in 1911, with various near-miraculous properties attributed to it. Very rapidly became much less popular in the 1920s when people learned what the [[SicklyGreenGlow green-glowing paint]] could do to you.
*** Creator/JulesVerne lived just long enough to feature this one in one of his last novels, "The Chase of the Golden Meteor", published posthumously in 1908.
*** Creator/JulesVerne lived just long enough to feature this one in one of his last novels, "The Chase of the Golden Meteor", published posthumously in 1908.
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Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a doomsday prediction of all water on Earth becoming undrinkable. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
to:
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a doomsday prediction GreyGoo-like apocalypse scenario of all water on Earth becoming undrinkable.polymerized. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
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Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
to:
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polywater Polywater]], a supposed polymerized form of water "discovered" by a Soviet scientist in the early '60s. Attempts in the West to replicate polywater were inconsistent, which sparked hysteria in the media over a perceived tech gap. By the '70s, polywater was proven be the result of contaminants (like human sweat) getting into ordinary water samples, discrediting the theory and the hype surrounding it.
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a doomsday prediction of all water on Earth becoming undrinkable. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
*** ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The episodes ''[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]'' of the original series, and its eventual sequel ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]'' in ''The Next Generation'', both feature an intoxicating fluid based loosely on polywater (described as water that has somehow formed a dense chain of molecules).
*** A common belief regarding polywater is that it could convert ordinary water into more of itself, leading to a doomsday prediction of all water on Earth becoming undrinkable. This is the basis of the 1963 novel ''Literature/CatsCradle''.
*** ''Franchise/StarTrek'': The episodes ''[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]'' of the original series, and its eventual sequel ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E2TheNakedNow The Naked Now]]'' in ''The Next Generation'', both feature an intoxicating fluid based loosely on polywater (described as water that has somehow formed a dense chain of molecules).
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Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar''). Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]"; it was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
to:
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar''). Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", magnetism" or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]"; it force]]". It was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, wrong, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
** Eugenics (originally conceived as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]]; [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]] came later). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TrobeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by [[EvilutionaryBiologist villains]] or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
to:
** Eugenics (originally conceived [ba-dum-tsh] as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]]; the idea of [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]] came later). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[TrobeBreaker [[TropeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by [[EvilutionaryBiologist villains]] EvilutionaryBiologist villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
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* 2000s-2010s Phlebotinum:
to:
* 2000s-2010s 21st century Phlebotinum:
Changed line(s) 69,70 (click to see context) from:
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It tends to come with a handwave along the lines of "of ''course'' [[ClarkesThirdLAw a sufficiently advanced being]] could do that, we're just too ignorant to understand how."
to:
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It tends to come with a handwave along the lines of "of ''course'' [[ClarkesThirdLAw a sufficiently advanced being]] could [[ClarkesThirdLaw good enough technology]] can do that, we're humans are just too ignorant to understand how."
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Changed line(s) 6,13 (click to see context) from:
This happy state of affairs lasts only a certain period of time, however. Phlebotinum becomes so ''last decade'' when it becomes a cliche, when the real science itself becomes better understood by the general public such that they are more likely to recognize scientific BS when they smell it (and lose their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief), or when a new and more intriguing science comes along to take the place of yesterday's phlebotinum.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's one of the difficulties you face when you write in this particular genre.
The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at least if they have "[[ScienceHero science]]!" as any part of their background. (The magical and alien ones have less trouble with this - for now.) Often as part of a CosmicRetcon brought on by a CrisisCrossover, a hero or villain will have his or her [[MultipleChoicePast origin story updated]] to use a newer form of phlebotinum if the old one has gotten too stale and moldy for modern audiences. Compare MetaOrigin.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier, isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's one of the difficulties you face when you write in this particular genre.
The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at least if they have "[[ScienceHero science]]!" as any part of their background. (The magical and alien ones have less trouble with this - for now.) Often as part of a CosmicRetcon brought on by a CrisisCrossover, a hero or villain will have his or her [[MultipleChoicePast origin story updated]] to use a newer form of phlebotinum if the old one has gotten too stale and moldy for modern audiences. Compare MetaOrigin.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier, isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
to:
This happy state of affairs lasts only a certain period of time, however. Phlebotinum becomes so ''last decade'' when it becomes a cliche, when the real science itself becomes better understood by Eventually, the general public such comes to understand a certain piece of science enough that they are they're more likely to recognize scientific call BS when they smell it (and and lose their WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief), or WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief when they see it used in a blatantly impossible way. Or the concept simply becomes cliche once a new and more intriguing science comes along to take the place of yesterday's phlebotinum.
its place.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That'sone of the difficulties just a difficulty you face when you write in this particular genre.
The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at leastif they have "[[ScienceHero science]]!" as any part of the ScienceHero types or those who got their background. (The magical and alien ones have less trouble with this - for now.) powers in a FreakLabAccident. Often as part of a CosmicRetcon brought on by a CrisisCrossover, {{Reboot}} or CosmicRetcon, a hero or villain will have his or her their [[MultipleChoicePast origin story updated]] to use a newer form of phlebotinum if the old one has gotten too stale and moldy for modern audiences. Compare MetaOrigin.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier, isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particularphlebotinum type is well past its sell-by date.
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's
The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at least
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier, isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular
Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
** Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
to:
** Artisanal skill such as [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into inspires notions of super-science in later periods, even today, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman"]] as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
Changed line(s) 28,29 (click to see context) from:
** Eugenics (achieved through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]], not via later [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]]). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[ValuesDissonance destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica the super-soldier serum]]; [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]]), although in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later {{retcon}}ned into being powered by [[DoingInTheScientist the mystical "Speed Force"]], probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica the super-soldier serum]]; [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]]), although in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later {{retcon}}ned into being powered by [[DoingInTheScientist the mystical "Speed Force"]], probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.
to:
** Eugenics (achieved (originally conceived as being through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective breeding]], not via later breeding]]; [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods]]). methods]] came later). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[ValuesDissonance [[TrobeBreaker destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by villains [[EvilutionaryBiologist villains]] or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmericathe Cap's super-soldier serum]]; serum]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula]]), although in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later {{retcon}}ned into being powered by [[DoingInTheScientist the mystical "Speed Force"]], probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.formula]])
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica
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** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use any more (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
to:
** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as dormant superpowers, disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and aliens, or the like. In reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use any more (no longer being, say, fish), being fish, proto-mammals, etc.), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
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** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
to:
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper altering reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves handwave along the lines of "oh, of "of ''course'' such an [[ClarkesThirdLAw a sufficiently advanced being being]] could do that, you're we're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] ignorant to understand how."
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** VirtualReality tropes, particularly {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
to:
** VirtualReality tropes, particularly {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
Changed line(s) 69,70 (click to see context) from:
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to AI or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can [[RealityWarper alter reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
to:
** TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to AI {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can artificial intelligence capable of [[RealityWarper alter altering reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
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** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'') Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]"; it was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
to:
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'') Valdemar''). Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", or "[[LifeEnergy life force]]"; it was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
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** Artisanal skill such as [[UltimateBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw "he's a really good craftsman" as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
to:
** Artisanal skill such as [[UltimateBlacksmith [[TheBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw [[UltimateBlacksmith "he's a really good craftsman" craftsman"]] as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
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Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
** Artisanal skill such as blacksmithing. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw "he's a really good craftsman" as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
to:
** Artisanal skill such as blacksmithing.[[UltimateBlacksmith blacksmithing]]. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw "he's a really good craftsman" as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
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** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality what we have found so far is old genes we don't use anymore (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middles of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
to:
** "Junk" DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality reality, what we have found so far is old genes which we don't use anymore any more (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middles middle of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections which we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
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->''"Ah, carbon nanotubes. They are to modern half-assed science fiction what 'radiation' was to half-assed science fiction fifty years ago.''"
to:
->''"Ah, carbon nanotubes. They are to modern half-assed science fiction what 'radiation' was to half-assed science fiction fifty years ago.''""''
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The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at least if they have "[[ScienceHero science]]!" as any part of their background. (The magical and alien ones have less trouble with this - for now.) Often as part of a CosmicRetCon brought on by a CrisisCrossover, a hero or villain will have his or her [[MultipleChoicePast origin story updated]] to use a newer form of phlebotinum if the old one has gotten too stale and moldy for modern audiences. Compare MetaOrigin.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
to:
The phenomenon of outdated phlebotinum tends to dog comic book superheroes in particular, at least if they have "[[ScienceHero science]]!" as any part of their background. (The magical and alien ones have less trouble with this - for now.) Often as part of a CosmicRetCon CosmicRetcon brought on by a CrisisCrossover, a hero or villain will have his or her [[MultipleChoicePast origin story updated]] to use a newer form of phlebotinum if the old one has gotten too stale and moldy for modern audiences. Compare MetaOrigin.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTropeearlier earlier, isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. "Soft" sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope
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** Electricity, particularly [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]]. (''[[{{Film/Frankenstein1931}} Frankenstein's Monster]]'')
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even today — all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric — it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even today — all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric — it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
to:
** Electricity, particularly [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]]. (''[[{{Film/Frankenstein1931}} Frankenstein's Monster]]'')
(FrankensteinsMonster)
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized eventoday — today; all-electric ship-sized helicopter anyone?[[note]]The largest and heaviest helo now in production, the Soviet/Russian Mi-26, is roughly the size of a railroad car and is far from being electric — -- it is powered by the two enormous turboshaft engines that guzzle kerosene by the tonne.[[/note]]
*** Creator/JulesVerne was ''HUGE'' on electricity, with some of its uses proposed by him not being realized even
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*** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
** Eugenics (achieved through selective breeding, not via later laboratory methods). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[ValuesDissonance destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from {{Social Darwinist}}s in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[SuperSerum Super soldier serum]]; Dr. Jekyll's formula), although UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later [[RetCon retconned]] into being powered by the mystical "[[MetaOrigin Speed Force]]", probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.
** Mathematical formulae (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed, and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
** Eugenics (achieved through selective breeding, not via later laboratory methods). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[ValuesDissonance destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from {{Social Darwinist}}s in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type ([[SuperSerum Super soldier serum]]; Dr. Jekyll's formula), although UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later [[RetCon retconned]] into being powered by the mystical "[[MetaOrigin Speed Force]]", probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.
** Mathematical formulae (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed, and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
to:
*** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays nowadays, you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
** Eugenics (achieved through [[SuperBreedingProgram selectivebreeding, breeding]], not via later [[DesignerBabies laboratory methods). methods]]). [[ThoseWackyNazis The Nazis]] pretty much [[ValuesDissonance destroyed the popularity]] of this phlebotinum, though they had help from {{Social Darwinist}}s [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinists]] in other countries as well. When it resurfaces, it tends to be used by villains or the otherwise morally ambiguous.
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type([[SuperSerum Super soldier ([[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica the super-soldier serum]]; [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Dr. Jekyll's formula), formula]]), although UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, ComicBook/TheFlash got his powers by having a bunch of random chemicals spilled all over him at the same time he got hit by lightning -- two phlebotina for the price of one! Note that all of the DCU speedsters were later [[RetCon retconned]] {{retcon}}ned into being powered by [[DoingInTheScientist the mystical "[[MetaOrigin Speed Force]]", "Speed Force"]], probably to stop the endless process of phlebotinum decay going on with their "scientific" origins.
** [[FormulaicMagic Mathematicalformulae formulae]] (source of the original Johnny Quick's speed, speed in ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', and much of the "magic" in Creator/HPLovecraft's works.)
** Eugenics (achieved through [[SuperBreedingProgram selective
** ChemistryCanDoAnything, particularly the pharmaceutical type
** [[FormulaicMagic Mathematical
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** [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and genetic mutation]].
to:
** [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and genetic mutation]].[[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation-induced mutation]]
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** [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain Untapped mental potential]].
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use it--and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** "Indigo children", coined by New Age psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the 70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g. the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
** [[{{Hyperspace}} Curved space]]
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use it--and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** "Indigo children", coined by New Age psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the 70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g. the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
** [[{{Hyperspace}} Curved space]]
to:
** [[NinetyPercentOfYourBrain Untapped mental potential]].
potential]]
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to useit--and it, and that meant most important writers in science fiction for several decades.
*** "Indigo children", coined byNew Age NewAge psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the 70s '70s to describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works (e.g. , the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations]].
**[[{{Hyperspace}} [[SubspaceOrHyperspace Curved space]]
*** Heavily popularized by Creator/JohnWCampbell, editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'', which became ''Magazine/{{Analog}}''; he was extremely open-minded towards the paranormal and encouraged his writers to use
*** "Indigo children", coined by
**
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*** In the original 1960s ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, the secret of Tony Stark's PoweredArmor was "tiny transistors (...) so powerful that they can increase force of any device a thousandfold!"
to:
*** In the original 1960s ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, the secret of Tony Stark's PoweredArmor was "tiny transistors (...) ''[...]'' so powerful that they can increase force of any device a thousandfold!"
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** [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke Genetic Engineering]] and BioAugmentation.
to:
** [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke Genetic Engineering]] {{Genetic engineering|IsTheNewNuke}} and BioAugmentation.
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** Eugenics (Made a brief resurgence during this time, with [[UsefulNotes/IQTesting race and IQ]] being a popular discussion in TheNineties. Also, [[strike:sociobiology]] evolutionary psychology explained everything.) Often retitled as "Evolution in action", so as to try to make it seem "[[AllNaturalSnakeOil natural]]" and proper.
to:
** Eugenics (Made made a brief resurgence during this time, with [[UsefulNotes/IQTesting race and IQ]] being a popular discussion in TheNineties. Also, [[strike:sociobiology]] evolutionary psychology explained everything.) everything. Often retitled as "Evolution in action", so as to try to make it seem "[[AllNaturalSnakeOil natural]]" and proper.
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** Liquid Crystals (a minor example, but a few Soviet stories from that time feature LC AIs).
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In 1989 there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e. no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In 1989 there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e. no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
to:
** Liquid Crystals (a minor example, but a few Soviet stories from that time feature LC AIs).
{{artificial intelligence}}s).
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In1989 1989, there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e. , no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In
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** [[QuantumMechanicsCanDoAnything Quantum mechanics]]: Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
** "Junk" DNA: 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality what we have found so far is old genes we don't use anymore (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middles of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
** "Junk" DNA: 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality what we have found so far is old genes we don't use anymore (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middles of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
to:
** [[QuantumMechanicsCanDoAnything Quantum mechanics]]: {{Quantum mechanics|CanDoAnything}}. Listen to a believer in some supernatural phenomenon or other explaining why it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics "really" is scientifically plausible]] and the word "quantum" will inevitably come up. Quantum mechanics has the advantage of having been around for 90 years (so everyone has a vague idea of what it is) but still requires advanced [[EverybodyHatesMathematics mathematics]] to actually understand.
** "Junk"DNA: DNA. 95-99% of our DNA is not currently expressed as proteins. Fiction likes to repurpose it as disk space for a message from ancient alien visitors and the like. In reality what we have found so far is old genes we don't use anymore (no longer being, say, fish), ancient malware (viral retrotransposons), regulatory code that indirectly controls gene expression, "introns" in the middles of genes that make it harder for viral DNA to latch on to them, and information-poor repeating sections we still don't understand but which might be as unglamorous as physical spacers to aid the gene expression pathway.
** "Junk"
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** Pheromones
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle Accelerators]]
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle Accelerators]]
to:
** Pheromones
{{Pheromones}}
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator ParticleAccelerators]]accelerators]]
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle
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** Gravitational Waves
** TheSingularity: Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to AI or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can [[RealityWarper alter reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
** TheSingularity: Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to AI or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can [[RealityWarper alter reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
to:
** Gravitational Waves
waves
**TheSingularity: TheSingularity. Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, it usually refers to AI or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can [[RealityWarper alter reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of ''course'' such an advanced being could do that, you're just [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to understand how."
**
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RadiationInducedSuperpowers
to:
* RadiationInducedSuperpowers
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Renamed trope
Changed line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) from:
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[ILoveNuclearPower radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's one of the difficulties you face when you write in this particular genre.
to:
This can lead to readers of speculative fiction having difficulty reading works written a few decades ago and taking them seriously, because "''everyone'' knows [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning can't do that]], and neither can [[ILoveNuclearPower [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers radiation]]!" They didn't when the work was created, but oh well. That's one of the difficulties you face when you write in this particular genre.
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** [[ILoveNuclearPower Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and genetic mutation]].
to:
** [[ILoveNuclearPower [[RadiationInducedSuperpowers Nuclear energy, including bombs, reactors, and genetic mutation]].
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* ILoveNuclearPower
Added DiffLines:
RadiationInducedSuperpowers
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
*** [[PsychicPowers Indigo Children]] also tend to be popular in Japanese works, due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations.
to:
*** [[PsychicPowers Indigo Children]] also tend "Indigo children", coined by New Age psychic Nancy Ann Tappe in the 70s to be describe children with special or supernatural traits. The idea proved especially popular in Japanese works, works (e.g. the "newtypes" of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', 1979), due to a belief that the atomic bomb blasts of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII [[BizarreBabyBoom altered the DNA of unborn children and subsequent generations.generations]].
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** Virtual Reality
to:
** Virtual RealityVirtualReality tropes, particularly {{Cyberspace}}, in conjunction with the rise of the Internet and advancing computer technology.
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** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle Accelerators]]. In particular, the LHC.
to:
** [[MagicalParticleAccelerator Particle Accelerators]]. In particular, the LHC.Accelerators]]
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** TheSingularity: Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, this means pretty much but a super-smart AI (achieved by whichever means), but it usually comes with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of course a super-smart AI could do it, you're just [[EvolutionaryLevels a few steps behind]] to be able to comprehend how, [[SonOfAnApe filthy ape]]" that serve as an explanation to everything else.
to:
** TheSingularity: Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, this means pretty much but a super-smart AI (achieved by whichever means), but it usually comes refers to AI or a SuperiorSpecies so hyper-advanced that they can [[RealityWarper alter reality]] at will. It also tends to come with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of course a super-smart AI ''course'' such an advanced being could do it, that, you're just [[EvolutionaryLevels a few steps behind]] [[ClarkesThirdLaw too ignorant]] to be able to comprehend how, [[SonOfAnApe filthy ape]]" that serve as an explanation to everything else.
understand how."
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to:
** Nuclear fusion, particularly cold fusion. In 1989 there was a notorious experiment which claimed to achieve controllable, "cold" (i.e. no need for a huge facility or containment) nuclear fusion. It was soon found to be faulty, but a few stories ran along with the concept. Typical premise was that a humble scientist figured out the key to cold fusion and was hunted as a result, usually by Big Oil or other vested interests.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 12,13 (click to see context) from:
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness "Soft" sci-fi]] can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
to:
Here is a rough timeline of phlebotinum through the ages. The decades are very approximate -- [[UnbuiltTrope earlier isolated examples]] may exist. Also, the expiration date of various phlebotinum varies widely; some types wear out in a decade while others are still in use thirty years after their introduction. [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness "Soft" sci-fi]] sci-fi can get away with using scientific theories that "hard" sci-fi has given up on, and of course a particularly clever writer may decide to dig up some rusty old phlebotinum and [[{{Reconstruction}} put a new shine on it]], just for kicks. So isolated examples of old phlebotinum in new bottles show up from time to time even though that particular phlebotinum is well past its sell-by date.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'') Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", or "{{life force}}"; it was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
to:
** Mesmerism (Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar'') Do note that as originally understood (at least by its creator), Mesmerism was not hypnosis, but rather an intricate ritual combining mysticism and electricity to adjust what Mesmer called a person's "animal magnetism", or "{{life force}}"; "[[LifeEnergy life force]]"; it was not until later that it was realized that all of his electrical apparatus and magnetism theories were pointless, and he had instead accidentally invented hypnosis in the experiments/rituals.
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* Pre-sci-fi:
** If we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum, then herbalism is probably the oldest one in the book.
** Artisanal skill such as blacksmithing. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw "he's a really good craftsman" as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
** If we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum, then herbalism is probably the oldest one in the book.
** Artisanal skill such as blacksmithing. Much like the arcane knowledge of scientists wowed people into notions of super-science in later periods, myths and legends often saw "he's a really good craftsman" as an explanation enough for flying machines and the like.
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** Herbalism: probably the oldest one in the book, if we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum.
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** Herbalism: probably the oldest one in the book, if we decide to count all the mythical herbs granting immortality or other powers as Phlebotinum.
*** One of Creator/HPLovecraft's characters uses a cathode ray tube against an EldritchAbomination. Oddly (or not so -- nowadays you wouldn't expect an X-ray device to kill on the spot), it fails while old-fashioned fire and acid work fine.
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* 2000s 2000s-2010s Phlebotinum:
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** TheSingularity: Taken strictly in separation from other phlebotina listed here, this means pretty much but a super-smart AI (achieved by whichever means), but it usually comes with a spectrum of handwaves along the lines of "oh, of course a super-smart AI could do it, you're just [[EvolutionaryLevels a few steps behind]] to be able to comprehend how, [[SonOfAnApe filthy ape]]" that serve as an explanation to everything else.