We’ve all binge‑watched Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who, dreaming of hoverboards, laser pistols, lightsabers and a host of other sci‑fi wonders. In fact, ten fictional technologies have already crossed the boundary into the real world, proving that tomorrow’s gadgetry is often just a lab away. Below you’ll find a countdown of the most jaw‑dropping examples that are already being built, tested or sold today.
10. Fictional Technologies That Are Already Real
10. Real-Life Adamantium
Seattle‑based Modumetal has cracked the code on a process called nanolamination, where an electric field shepherds metallic ions into precise positions. By toggling that field, researchers can layer metal atoms one sheet at a time, effectively “building” a metal with virtually no microscopic flaws.
The result is a brand‑new class of alloy that costs almost the same as ordinary steel but is dramatically tougher. In laboratory tests the engineered metal can be up to ten times stronger than conventional steel, while also resisting corrosion and cracking like never before.
Because of its extreme durability, this super‑steel is poised to revolutionise everything from offshore oil platforms to suspension bridges, heavy‑duty armor and other infrastructure where traditional steel is the go‑to material.
9. Tricorders (Sort Of)
Back in 2011, the X Prize Foundation, backed by Qualcomm, announced a $7 million bounty for a real‑world tricorder – the handheld scanner made famous by Star Trek. The challenge demanded a device under 2.3 kg that could continuously monitor the five major vital signs and diagnose at least twelve ailments, plus confirm when a person was perfectly healthy.
Although no team hit every target, two groups earned sizable awards in 2017 – $2.6 million and $1 million – for prototypes that can record vital statistics and identify nine medical conditions. Even without the grand prize, these devices bring hospital‑grade diagnostics into a portable format anyone could use at home, in a car or on the job.
The original goal was a consumer‑grade health monitor, not a tool for first‑responders or doctors. By keeping tabs on your body 24/7, potential problems could be spotted early, potentially saving millions of lives.
8. Exoskeletons
Exoskeletons are exactly what the name suggests – external frames that augment a wearer’s strength, speed or endurance. Early versions appeared in the 1960s when General Electric built a hydraulically‑driven, full‑body suit that was far too bulky for practical use.
Fast forward to today and powered exoskeletons are a reality in cutting‑edge factories and warehouses, especially in South Korea and other high‑tech economies. By 2017, several hundred units were already deployed worldwide, helping workers lift heavy loads and reducing strain‑related injuries.
Beyond industrial use, researchers are testing exoskeletons to assist people with disabilities, and future plans include police, emergency‑services, military and medical personnel benefitting from the extra power these suits provide.
7. Stealth Suits
The notion of invisibility has haunted storytellers from Harry Potter to The Lord of the Rings, and modern engineers are now chasing that dream. Startup Stealth Wear, founded by Adam R. Harvey, blends high‑tech fabric with traditional Islamic clothing to produce garments that hide the wearer from thermal‑imaging cameras.
The secret lies in a synthetic weave that reflects infrared energy, essentially erasing the wearer’s heat signature. In FLIR (forward‑looking infrared) tests, subjects cloaked in the fabric appeared virtually invisible, with faces that could not be distinguished.
While the technology could be a boon for personal privacy, it also raises questions about misuse, as it could aid anyone looking to evade surveillance.
6. Real‑Time Language Translation Devices
Imagine jet‑setting to a foreign country without ever opening a phrasebook. Waverly Labs’ Pilot Earbuds make that dream plausible: they capture spoken words, identify the language, translate on the fly and deliver the result straight into the wearer’s ear via synthesized speech.
The earbuds raised more than $4 million on crowdfunding platforms and now retail for $249. By comparison, Google’s Pixel Buds cost $149, though many users claim the latter fall short of the Pilot’s accuracy.
For travelers who’d rather spend time exploring than memorising grammar, these earbuds offer a convenient, real‑time bridge between languages.
5. Cryonics
Cryogenic preservation – the practice of freezing bodies or organs at ultra‑low temperatures – is a complex but proven technology. After legal death, a cryonics provider removes bodily fluids, fills the body with a medical‑grade antifreeze and stores it in a liquid‑nitrogen tank.
Remarkably, many life‑insurance policies will cover the cost of this service, allowing clients to name a cryonics firm as the beneficiary. The Alcor Life Extension Foundation charges $200,000 to freeze an entire body, while a brain‑only preservation costs $80,000.
The success rate remains unknown; the hope is that future medical breakthroughs will enable revival or brain‑transplant into a younger host, turning today’s sci‑fi fantasy into tomorrow’s reality.
4. ‘Solid Light’ (Think Lightsabers)
Anyone who has watched Star Wars knows the iconic lightsaber – a blade of pure, solid light capable of slicing through almost anything. While a true lightsaber remains out of reach, a 2018 study in Physical Review X showed that Princeton engineers can lock photons together so they behave like a solid material rather than a typical beam.
The experiment, which required an intricate optical setup, produced a tiny “crystallised‑light” sample where photons acted more like atoms, hinting at a pathway toward macroscopic solid‑light structures.
Researchers are now exploring how to coax this exotic form of light into larger, usable shapes that could one day emulate the mythical blade of a Jedi.
3. Laser Weapons
Laser weaponry has been a staple of science‑fiction for decades, and today the technology is moving from the page to the battlefield. While not yet mass‑produced for everyday use, high‑energy lasers can already disable small boats, drones and incoming missiles.
The key advantage is speed: light travels at roughly 300,000 km s⁻¹, dwarfing the ~853 m s⁻¹ muzzle velocity of a .50 caliber sniper rifle. Moreover, lasers eliminate many variables that affect ballistics – wind, barrel wear, human error – offering pinpoint accuracy when paired with advanced targeting computers.
The U.S. Navy is actively developing laser systems capable of shooting down missiles before they strike, a potential game‑changer in future arms races.
2. Force Fields
Boeing recently filed a patent describing a plasma‑based “force field” that could shield vehicles or structures from shock‑wave explosions. Sensors would detect an incoming blast, trigger a rapid heating of surrounding air, and generate a plasma barrier that absorbs, reflects or diverts the explosive force.
While the concept has yet to be deployed in a real‑world system, it promises protection against high‑energy detonations – think of a hospital or data centre shielded from a nearby blast.
Limitations remain: solid projectiles such as bullets or rockets would still pierce the field, meaning the technology is currently suited only for blast‑type threats.
1. Cybernetic Implants
Cybernetic implants encompass any electronic device surgically integrated into a living organism to augment its capabilities. The first widely‑used implant was the cardiac pacemaker, which has evolved from a bulky, unreliable unit to a tiny, highly dependable pill‑sized gadget that regulates heartbeats with precision.
Today, startups are pushing the envelope far beyond rhythm control. Cyborg Nest’s North Sense implant lets wearers feel the Earth’s magnetic field, effectively giving a built‑in compass. The device, no larger than a couple of centimeters, uses internal magnets to convey directional data directly to the brain.
Perhaps the most eye‑catching example is artist Neil Harbisson’s antenna, which translates colour frequencies into audible tones, allowing him to “hear” colour. Researchers are also exploring implants that could boost cognition, enhance physical performance, or even enable rudimentary telekinesis – though for now, hearing colours remains the most tangible breakthrough.
My name is Alex Sakdner, a freelance writer who focuses on everyday tech breakthroughs, from quirky consumer gadgets to world‑changing innovations. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of ten fictional technologies that have already made the leap into reality.