Space
Red Dwarf bested other sci-fi on these 10 concepts
Space.com reports the BBC sitcom beat famous shows and movies to ideas like white holes and quantum entanglement.
Space.com reports that the BBC sitcom 'Red Dwarf' frequently introduced sci-fi concepts before they appeared in more famous shows and movies. Here are 10 such ideas, as identified by Space.com.
Fever dreams made real
In the 1988 episode 'Confidence and Paranoia', Lister's fever causes his inner conflicts to become tangible people. Space.com notes that this plot predates the 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' episode 'If Wishes Were Horses', where imaginations come to life.
Virtual reality ahead of its time
'Better than Life', from 1988, features a total-immersion virtual reality game. Space.com points out that this technology resembles the OASIS in 'Ready Player One', which arrived decades later.
Backward time travel
In 'Backwards', time runs in reverse for the crew. Space.com compares this to the 2020 film 'Tenet', where inverted entropy creates similar confusion.
Stepping into photos
The 1989 episode 'Timeslides' lets characters enter photographs. Space.com connects this to 'Black Mirror's' 'Eulogy', which uses photo exploration for memory.
Stranded and talking
'Marooned' strands Lister and Rimmer on an ice planet, forcing them to converse. Space.com says this mirrors the 'Star Trek: Enterprise' bottle episode 'Shuttlepod One'.
Shape-shifting companions
'Camille' introduces a being that appears as each person's ideal partner. Space.com links this to the Vorlons in 'Babylon 5', who project angelic forms.
White hole wonder
'White Hole' brings the theoretical white hole to television. Space.com notes that 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' later featured a white hole in its season four finale.
Luck as a property
'Quarantine' features viruses that grant luck. Space.com compares this to Marvel's Domino, who manipulates probability.
Hard light holograms
In 'Legion', Rimmer gains a hard light projection. Space.com sees a successor in the 'Star Trek: Voyager' Emergency Medical Hologram's mobile emitter.
Quantum entanglement
'Entangled' ties two characters through quantum mechanics. Space.com finds a parallel in 'The Marvels', where quantum entanglement causes body-swapping.
Honorable mention: Party amnesia
'Thanks for the Memory' involves amnesia from a wild party. Space.com notes the same premise in 'The Hangover' film.
Related stories
Space
DJI Neo Fly More Combo drops to $242 in Amazon deal
The bundle includes three batteries for roughly one hour of flight time and is $100 off its regular price.
Astronomy
Two Studies Catch Dwarf Stars Eating Their Companions
Research published in Nature Astronomy describes a white dwarf feeding on a planet's atmosphere and a red dwarf slowly consuming a brown dwarf, with implications for Earth's future.
Space
Apollo 7: NASA's first crewed Apollo flight
On Oct. 11, 1968, Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele and Walter Cunningham launched on the mission that rebooted the Apollo program after the Apollo 1 fire.