When Science FICTION Becomes Science ACTUAL! episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 26, 2026 · 10 MIN

When Science FICTION Becomes Science ACTUAL!

from Be Smart. · host Joe Hanson

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Why is some science fiction so good at predicting actual science? Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Do Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, Hugo Gernsback, Robert Heinlein, or Isaac Asimov hold a candle to H.G. Wells when it comes to correctly predicting the future of science via science fiction? And why does some science fiction do such a good job of predicting the future in the first place? Check out these other great H.G. Wells-inspired videos from our PBS friends: PBS Idea Channel: "What Is Fiction?" PBS Digital Studios/James W. Griffiths: "A Solitary World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWJKLYcypz8 Fun links to dig deeper: Arthur C. Clarke's 1945 article "Extra Terrestrial Relays" http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww/ Isaac Asimov's 1964 World's Fair predictions: http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/23/lifetimes/asi-v-fair.html Mouse memory "implantation": http://wapo.st/Md1gN3 Ray Bradbury hanging with Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyst-D-1ssk Isaac Asimov talks to Bill Moyers Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CwUuU6C4pk Isaac Asimov talks to Bill Moyers Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJAIERgWhZQ Music: "Ourobouros" by Kevin MacLeod "Opening Theme A" by Kevin MacLeod Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics John Knudsen - Gaffer Isaac Hammons - Sound Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Why is some science fiction so good at predicting actual science? Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub Do Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, Hugo Gernsback, Robert Heinlein, or Isaac Asimov hold a candle to H.G. Wells when it comes to correctly predicting the future of science via science fiction? And why does some science fiction do such a good job of predicting the future in the first place? Check out these other great H.G. Wells-inspired videos from our PBS friends: PBS Idea Channel: "What Is Fiction?" PBS Digital Studios/James W. Griffiths: "A Solitary World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWJKLYcypz8 Fun links to dig deeper: Arthur C. Clarke's 1945 article "Extra Terrestrial Relays" http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww/ Isaac Asimov's 1964 World's Fair predictions: http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/23/lifetimes/asi-v-fair.html Mouse memory "implantation": http://wapo.st/Md1gN3 Ray Bradbury hanging with Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyst-D-1ssk Isaac Asimov talks to Bill Moyers Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CwUuU6C4pk Isaac Asimov talks to Bill Moyers Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJAIERgWhZQ Music: "Ourobouros" by Kevin MacLeod "Opening Theme A" by Kevin MacLeod Joe Hanson - Host and writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer Katie Graham - Director of Photography Andrew Matthews - Editor and motion graphics John Knudsen - Gaffer Isaac Hammons - Sound Produced for PBS Digital Studios ----------- Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/itsokaytobesmart Twitter http://www.twitter.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.twitter.com/okaytobesmart Instagram http://www.instagram.com/DrJoeHanson http://www.instagram.com/okaytobesmart Merch https://store.dftba.com/collections/its-okay-to-be-smart Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartpbs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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When Science FICTION Becomes Science ACTUAL!

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This episode is 10 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 26, 2026.

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PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateOKAY ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Why is some science fiction so good at predicting actual science? Don’t miss our next video!...

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