Movies
Hollywood, Oscars, blockbusters! Movies and films can whisk you away to a realm of fantasy or gritty reality, but they are also pretty good as showing off a bit of science. Some of the earliest films have revelled in a little sci-fi, such as the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon or Fritz Lang's iconic 1927 movie Metropolis. How much is science fact, and how much is science fiction depends on the producers, but the impact of science on the Silver Screen can never be underestimated.
Ghostbusters: A psychologist explains why we believe in the paranormal
Should we get Venkman and co. on speed dial?
The science of Dune: Could we really make smart drugs?
'The spice' is an extremely precious commodity that greatly enhances the user's mental abilities. Could we recreate this in real life?
Here's how we could make a real-life Dune force field
In the sci-fi epic Dune, characters carry a portable force field that protects them from speeding projectiles. Could we make one of these for real?
null
undefined
Marvel gifts to buy for your superhero-loving friends and family
If you know someone who loves Marvel, this is the present guide for you. Take a look below to get fresh inspiration for Marvel gift ideas.
The best Star Trek gifts for sci-fi fans
Treat the Trekkies in your life this season with a quirky Star Trek gift.
Mjölnir: The physics that could stop the unworthy from wielding Thor's hammer
Is it security coded, or is it simply tampering with physics?
Marvel’s Morbius: The real-life “living vampires” behind the myths
With the release of yet another vampire movie, an expert in dark personalities explains why this myth is so enduring.
The Matrix: Are we living in a simulation?
Don your black leather and a pair of shades, it’s time to take a trip into the Matrix.
Scream: The psychology of why we love horror movies
Fear is a negative emotion, so why do we flock to the cinema to get a thrill?
Did zombie movies prepare us for the pandemic?
All those late nights watching Netflix really did do us some good.
No Way Home: An arachnologist critiques Spider-Man's powers
Spidey may be a superhero worthy of the Avengers, but are his abilities really within the bounds of what spiders can do?
A master archer critiques Hawkeye's bow skills
He may not be everyone's favourite Avenger, but his archery skills are legendary. Could he really pull it off?
Interview: Dune's lead designer reveals inspiration behind the film's look and feel
Patrice Vermette was responsible for creating the universe we see onscreen. Here's how he went about bringing it to life.
Could humans be the dominant species in the Universe, and we just don't know it yet?
In the universe of Dune, humans are one of the only species we see. Could it be that we've evolved on other planets, too?
Venom: Why the alien symbiote isn’t as scary as a real parasite from Earth
In Venom, Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a mild-mannered journalist who is infected by an extraterrestrial parasite. But a real-life parasite could be even worse.
The science of Dune: where the ideas behind the story's strange universe came from
Dune mixes stories about political greed, ecological abuse and unchecked technological progress in a fully realised universe. Here, we talk to award-winning sci-fi author Stephen Baxter to find out where Frank Herbert’s idea came from and how it shaped what came after it…
Free Guy: Why video game AI will always be stupid
Will we want non-player characters in video games to think, feel and interact, like in movie Free Guy?
No Time To Die: A GP's take on the state of James Bond's health
Would 007 pass a physical ahead of new movie No Time To Die?
10 friendly alien invasion films that will have you welcoming our bug-eyed overlords
Think all alien arrivals are here to take over the planet? Think again, here are some extra terrestrials we would genuinely welcome with open arms (most of the time).
Dog motion capture makes for more authentic virtual animals
Let's face it, it’s not possible to put a motion-capture suit on a wild animal.
The science of Picard with Dr Erin Macdonald
We talk to Dr Erin Macdonald about supernovae, faster-than-light travel, and what a science consultant really does.
Star Trek Picard premiere: solving plot holes, supernovae and our Sun’s fate
The show’s new science consultant, Dr Erin Macdonald, talks to production assistant Holly Spanner about the science of supernovae.
History Extra | Hidden Figures: the incredible real history behind the film
Revealing the inspirational untold story of female African-American mathematicians working at Nasa during the 1960s, the film Hidden Figures is based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The movie follows the story of three women involved in the race to propel mankind into space. We spoke to Margot about the exceptional real-life women who broke the mould and smashed through the racial and gender prejudices of their time.
Six sci-fi inventions we're still waiting for
Have you ever seen a science fiction blockbuster and thought: “I want one of those!”? Here's what some of the UK's top scientists have to say about our favourite sci-fi inventions.