The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Science

Could The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspire future scientific inventions? Which science-fiction creations could become science fact, and which are far-fetched fantasy?

Scientists are investigating the possibilities of interstellar travel, colonising other planets and to develop theories for concepts such as time travel, teleportation and alternate realities – all of which are alluded to in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Michael Hanlon, author of The Science of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss with the audience the possibilities of such future technological developments.

Could The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspire future scientific inventions? Which science-fiction creations could become science fact, and which are far-fetched fantasy?

Scientists are investigating the possibilities of interstellar travel, colonising other planets and to develop theories for concepts such as time travel, teleportation and alternate realities – all of which are alluded to in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Michael Hanlon, author of The Science of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss with the audience the possibilities of such future technological developments.

2005 is fast becoming the year of science fiction, and now the Science Museum’s Dana Centre is launching a series of debates to explore the fact and fiction behind one of the nation’s best-loved sci-fi classics, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as the Science Museum launches its major Hitchhiker’s exhibition.

Since the 1950s science fiction has marvelled at the weird and wonderful possibilities of science, including time-travel, teleportation, androids and aliens. But how much of this speculation has become science fact?

The events at the Dana Centre – London’s only venue for adults to discuss contemporary and controversial science – will take experts from a variety of fields to explore artificial intelligence, space tourism and the science of Hitchhiker’s through three evenings of informal discussion and debate.

Each evening will raise a range of perplexing questions including: Which ideas in science fiction have been developed further in true scientific research and development? Could a robot eventually have human feelings and emotions and should developments like these be encouraged or suppressed? What would it feel like to be a space tourist?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Exhibition opens at the Science Museum on 28 May. The exhibition has been specially created by the Museum and makers of the new movie, recreating the fantastic voyage of Arthur Dent, and along the way exploring some of the science which shapes our lives, the universe and everything.

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