Author: Joey Eschrich

<a href="http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/01/world-building-404-the-unknown.html#more "> Charlie Stross, "World Building 404: The Unknown Unknowns"</a> Great blog post from science fiction author Charlie Stross about building near-future worlds in SF stories. Stross discusses how authors should balance elements that are continuous and familiar from contemporary society ("known knowns"), elements that are predictable advances on current technologies and social structures ("known unknowns"), and "unknown unknowns," disruptive events or innovations that are as yet unforeseen. This post could provide a starting point for thinking about guidelines or best practices for writing speculative near-term science fiction stories that are inspiring and radically innovative while still being relatable for their audiences. This would likely call for a balance of the familiar and the unfamiliar, as Stross argues. Stories based on a future that is completely alien probably will not have the effect of inspiring tangible research or enhancing public engagement with science.

<a href="http://io9.com/5904969/must-watch-neil-degrasse-tyson-discusses-the-link-between-space-and-culture "> Neil deGrasse Tyson Discusses the Link Between Space and Culture,"</a> Robert T. Gonzales, io9.com I urge you to watch this video of Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking at the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. In it, he discusses the concept of "space as culture," emphasizing how space exploration and other large-scale scientific endeavors encourage society to dream about tomorrow. deGrasse Tyson focuses especially on how icons of scientific progress (in our project's language, **Hieroglyphs**) become imprinted on the collective imagination. Examples include linking the birth of the ecology movement to the photo of the Earth "rising over" the moon taken by Apollo 8, and connecting the iconic V2 rocket and its fins to the design of cars like the 1957 Chevrolet. These icons reflect the public's fascination with large-scale scientific endeavors and also push culture forward, helping us imagine cultural and social futures in the wake of radical technological change.

<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/budget-woes-force-nasa-redraw-plans-mars-16133857#.T4x2eLNrMR9 "> "Budget Woes Force NASA to Redraw Plans to Mars,"</a> Alicia Chang, AP News In response to budget difficulties, NASA has issued an open call for proposals from professional scientists and the general public about how to execute a 2018 mission to Mars to return soil and rock samples. The <a href="http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/marsconcepts2012/ "> call for proposals</a> is an attempt to find cheap, innovative ideas for this mission that will also contribute to NASA's longer-term goal of sending humans to Mars by 2030. What do we think about this idea? Is it realistic? Is NASA being specific enough about what kinds of ideas they need? Is this effort to crowdsource space innovation a promising development?

<a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/04/russia-space-craze/"> "The Space Craze That Gripped Russia Nearly 100 Years Ago,"</a> Adam Mann, Wired Really interesting article about the popular fascination in 1920s Russia with space travel and exploration, which was fueled by popular fiction and film, along with articles, public lectures, and museum-style exhibitions. This craze was integral to Russia's early domination of the space race, largely because it inspired young people growing up during the 1920s to pursue scientific careers and technological innovations. This is an excellent historical precedent to consider at Hieroglyph, as we ponder how to use fiction and narrative to spark innovation and moonshot thinking today.