But did you ever notice that sci-fi characters rely heavily on lasers?

"Uh oh, captain, there's a giant lizard coming at us!"
"Shoot the laser at it."

"Uh oh, captain, how do I get to the planet's surface?"
"We'll shoot you down there with a laser."

"Uh oh, captain, I have a horrible disease."
"The doctor will shoot a laser at you and cure you."

"Uh oh, captain, our space ship battery is out of power!"
"Let's all shoot our lasers at it to charge it up."

"Uh oh, captain, I'm hungry!"
"We have a laser that makes food."

Yes, sci-fi is fun, but it can get a bit wacky. Science shouldn't be an excuse for lazy writing. New inventions have to be presented carefully and realistically in a story.

You have to do it right, the way Jule's Verne did in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, and H.G. Wells  did in The Time Machine.

Otherwise things just get silly.

And if you think sci-fi makes the future world look silly ... brace yourself!

The world is silly now!

Here is an activity that features two concept cars (or experimental cars) that major automobile companies are actually making RIGHT NOW.

Follow these directions:

#1:

Get out a pad and pencil.

Clear your mind.

Click here to see the kind of car a goldfish would drive.

Now click here to see a human being in that car.

Now write what that human being in that car is thinking at that moment.