SciFi Saturday News – Water On Mars, Realism In SciFi Movies And Star Wars Rumors Confirmed

By Cynthia Sax on October 3, 2015

I’m always looking for ideas for my next SciFi romance. Here are some of the inspiring real world stories I’ve seen this week.

Water On Mars

The big news was, of course, the photos of water on Mars.

Michael Daly shares

“Dark, narrow, 100 metre-long streaks on Mars, believed to have been formed by flowing water, are seen in an image produced by NASA.”

The images in this article are sure to inspire you.

Ridley Scott And Realism In SciFi Movies

I love this interview with Ridley Scott

“The fantasy of space, which is now also a reality, is a marvelous platform and a form of theatre. Honestly, almost anything goes. But, if anything goes whether you do a play, a book or a film, you’ve got to actually make your own rule book and stick within the confines of the rules you make. So, if I’m doing space fantasy like Alien or Prometheus, I’ve got to draw up the sidelines of the rule book and stick within them. It’s still a fantasy because it’s never going to happen. (The Martian) is a lot easier because, actually, you can lean very heavily on the science in the book. This was a much more realistic movie.”

Possible NASA Projects For Launch In 2020

Want to tie your SciFi Romance into existing NASA projects? They’ve announced possible projects for launch in 2020.

Rich McCormick shares

“Among those selected for this stage of funding are the Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam), which promises to discover “ten times more near-Earth objects” than have been discovered so far, and “Lucy,” which aims to scout Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids to learn more about the birth of our solar system.”

Admiral Ackbar Returning In Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The rumors that Admiral Ackbar, the fishlike character from the original Star Wars, is returning to The Force Awakens are confirmed. Tim Rose, the actor, is also raving about the movie.

“…if you were a fan of the original three, you’re going to absolutely love this one to bits.”

Star Trek Beyond Filming

Star Trek Beyond has started filming in Dubai. Why Dubai?

Chris Pine shares

“I am always good for discovering new places and this is such a stunning city.” “I woke up this morning, opened up the blinds and looked out. It looks like whatever tomorrow will be. It’s future-land!”

Which SciFi stories are inspiring you?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.

Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.

Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.

When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO

On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html

On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646

Topics: SciFi News | 2 Comments »

SciFi Saturday News – Modern Cyborgs, Space Junk Billionaires And More Star Wars Rumors

By Cynthia Sax on September 26, 2015

Looking for ideas for your next SciFi romance? Here are some of the SciFi inspiring stories I’ve seen this week.

Modern Cyborgs

Jill Margo shares

“Men seem surprisingly open to the idea of having cancer-detecting biosensors implanted in their bodies, according to a report in Science as Culture.

One day such sensors could hopefully aid in the treatment or repair of tissue and organs without external human direction or control.

The report says sensors would bring them another step closer to becoming cyborgs, hypothetical people with mechanical elements built into their bodies that extend their physical abilities extended beyond human limitations.”

Dark Matter

Edwin Cartlidge shares

“For years, high-energy radiation from space has been teasing scientists with inconclusive hints of dark matter. But a definitive answer may be at hand. A team of physicists says that certain galactic x-rays could be a sign of decaying dark matter, and that an upcoming satellite mission should prove or disprove their claim.”

Space Junk Billionaires?

Robert Ferris shares

“Call it “space debris” or “space junk,” there is enough material floating through space or orbiting the Earth that some companies believe they can build a business around it, according to an article in Nature News. Space debris can be natural, such as meteroids, or human-made, such as old satellites or parts of spacecraft.”

I know what you’re thinking—space junk billionaires!

The Next Space Station

John Wenz shares

“All good things must come to an end, and that’s true even of the International Space Station. The orbital laboratory, which has been remarkable on many levels (including getting the US and Russia to get along, sort of), is set to be decommissioned in 2024. Russia already has plans for its own space station, but the American space program hasn’t put forward anything new.

At a meeting sponsored by the Secure World Foundation and the Alliance for Space Development, though, one solution was proposed: a privately owned or commercial space station, utilizing corporate (rather than national) stakeholders.”

Space Junk Billionaires. Now Space Station Billionaires. I sense the start of a series.

More Star Wars Rumors

The latest rumor about Star Wars: The Force Awakens is that Darth Vader might be resurrected.

Kirsten Acuna shares

“We know Vader is definitely tied to the storyline of “The Force Awakens.” We’ve seen his old, melted helmet in a teaser trailer.
Just how much will Vader be a part of the new “Star Wars” trilogy?

We also know Vader serves as the inspiration for the new villainous Kylo Ren in December’s film, so much so that Ren has been described as “obsessed” with the Dark Lord.

This is where those two ideas merge.

A lot of fans are thinking Kylo Ren wants to resurrect Vader — especially since it seems like he’s after Luke’s lightsaber, which was originally Anakin’s.”

I’m all for this happening. I love me some Darth.

Star Trek Villains

Idris Elba is set to play a villain on Star Trek Beyond. Here are his thoughts…

“Simon [Pegg] and the team have written a very interesting, complex journey for my character. You’ve never seen me play a character like this.”

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.

Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.

Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.

When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO

On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html

On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646

Topics: SciFi News | Comments Off on SciFi Saturday News – Modern Cyborgs, Space Junk Billionaires And More Star Wars Rumors

SciFi Saturday News – New Star Wars Droid, Hamburgers In Space and Robot Love

By Cynthia Sax on September 5, 2015

I’m deep in the writing cave for the next 10 days, cut off from the SciFi world and completely offline. I wrote this on Thursday. If aliens visited on Friday or that blasted JJ Abrams leaked another teaser for Star Wars over night, that won’t be covered. (grins)

Next week, SciFi Saturday News will be posted two days late, on the Monday, for the same reason.

BB-8 – A New Star Wars Droid

I LOVE R2-D2 so I’m super stoked that Star Wars will introduce a new droid character.

Lucasfilm concept designer Christian Alzmann shares
“J.J. wanted something rolling on a sphere, so I tried a lot of different designs developing that idea. He would give direction on the kinds of shapes to use, and that led to a personality for the droid. Of course, the original sketch had very pleasing, round shapes, so you kind of figured it wasn’t going to be a very serious or angry character. Ultimately, BB-8 developed out of a back-and-forth process with J.J. where he gave feedback on each iteration of the design.”

Robot Love

Speaking of robot love, a Sky News poll found that 15% of British men and 2% of British women would have sex with a robot.

Top academic Dr Helen Driscoll shares “Robophilia may be alien now, but could be normal in the near future as attitudes evolve with technology.”

Astronaut Chris Hadfield Rates Space Movies

My favorite astronaut Chris Hadfield talked about the accuracy of popular space movies. “Gravity made me wince. They changed the laws of physics. The characters were completely wrong.”

Great Views From Space

The Guardian compiled some of the most gorgeous views from the International Space Station. These will inspire any SciFi writer!

Colonies On Mars

“Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has teamed up with the Florida Institute of Technology with the aim of establishing a human colony on Mars within 25 years.”

Space Hamburger

Astronaut Scott Kelly took a pic of his space hamburger. I hoped it tasted better than it looked!

Star Trek Into Darkness And Underwear Scenes

Alice Eve talked about that infamous underwear scene in Star Trek Into Darkness.

“I’m an educated, independent woman and I decided that would be a fine thing to do and me and J.J. [Abrams] did it and there was nothing underhand or awkward. Then it kind of took on a life of its own. But I don’t think that’s what will remain of that image.”

“I think what will remain is the movie, the power, the fact that its like a Princess Leia moment. The fact that it’s something that’s allowed to be iconic, aside from the male moments being iconic. Yes she’s an intelligent, strong, educated woman who…also has a six-pack.”

What SciFi news inspired you this week?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.

Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.

Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.

When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO

On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html

On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646

Topics: SciFi News | 1 Comment »

SciFi Saturday News – Star Trek Beyond Leonard Nimoy Tribute, New Star Wars Characters, And Awesome Space Photos

By Cynthia Sax on August 29, 2015

These are some of the interesting SciFi developments I spotted this week.


Awesome Photo Of The Twin Jet Nebula

The Hubble Space Telescope snapped one of the most gorgeous photos I’ve ever seen. As Amanda Kooser shares

“A two-lobed nebula blossoms outward from a central star system. Jets of gas extend in elongated bubbles.” Read the entire article if you wish to learn more about nebula.


Astronauts Drink Recycled Urine

From the beautiful to the gross. (grins) Ellen Brait shares

“What’s the difference between American and Russian astronauts on the International Space Station? The Americans drink their urine, the Russians don’t.

“It tastes like bottled water,” Layne Carter, water subsystem manager for the ISS at Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Center told Bloomberg. “As long as you can psychologically get past the point that it’s recycled urine and condensate that comes out of the air.”

Condensate is the collected breath and sweat of the crew, shower runoff, and urine from animals on board the station.”

A Closer Look At Ceres

I love referring to real planet names in my stories. I usually add something to them. Ceres would become Ceres IV because they’re not the same planet. But I think it’s important that we are familiar with the names.

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft snapped this awesome photo of Ceres. Ceres is small, no bigger than 590 miles at its widest point (compared to Earth at 7,926 miles – http://www.space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth.html ) but it is fascinating, a great setting for a story.

More Planets! Kepler 452b

Dirk Schulze-Makuch shares

“The discovery of Kepler 452b, a planet orbiting a star similar to our own sun and just 4 percent larger and 10 percent brighter, hit the news recently. Detected by the Kepler Space Telescope, the planet is a so-called “super Earth” with five times the mass of Earth and a 60 percent larger diameter. Kepler 452b orbits its star every 385 days, again very similar to our own world.”

John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate spoke at the NASA’s headquarters in Washington.

“On the 20th anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the Kepler exoplanet explorer has discovered a planet and star which most closely resemble the Earth and our Sun”.

Star Wars, JJ Abrams and Kylo Ren

JJ Abrams continues to drive me and all other Star Wars fans crazy with teasers about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This week, he was talking about Kylo Ren, the mysterious broadsaber wielding hooded character.

“Kylo Ren is not a Sith.” JJ Abrams shares. “He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

Star Trek Beyond Tribute To Leonard Nimoy

Because the Star Wars hype isn’t enough to drive me bonkers, the cast of Star Trek is adding to the excitement.

Alyssa Montemurro shares

“The cast of ‘Star Trek Beyond’ have paid a moving tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy through a new video created as part of their Star Trek: To Boldly Go charity campaign — a cause that was near and dear to his heart.”

Zachary Quinto, Star Trek Beyond’s Spock, shares.

“Leonard was an actor, a champion of the arts and a true inspiration to so many. Through his legendary portrayal of Spock, he influenced countless scientists and artists, myself and the rest of the cast included. It was an honor and a privilege to know him and to call him a friend. Leonard’s love for the human spirit shone through everything he did. He touched lives around the world and he is greatly missed.”

So true!


What SciFi news did you find interesting this week?

***

Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.

Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.

Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.

When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?

Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO

On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html

On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on SciFi Saturday News – Star Trek Beyond Leonard Nimoy Tribute, New Star Wars Characters, And Awesome Space Photos