Ten Inventions Inspired by Science Fiction
The innovators behind objects like the cellphone or the helicopter took inspiration from works like “Star Trek” and War of the Worlds
![Leonard Nimoy, Ep. # 1, 'The Cage' 1966 - 1969](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/tMEGsGK5jRpl-Thl-uGyhlnJEjo=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/5b/02/5b02dcc0-ddb9-43e1-8b37-9238b7def6a6/star-wars-science-fiction-inventions.jpg)
Submarine
![Submarine](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/tV0gShM9R9KhF69KWp5PwswOau0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Submarine-1.jpg)
Helicopter
![Helicopter](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/68jhkn2YgqtCTbv4g25ASw0EBgA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Helicopter-2.jpg)
Rocket
![Rocket](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/FVh7N2C4dmC1FANX8QgyULlsA88=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Rocket-3.jpg)
Atomic Power
![Atomic Power](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/mM-BeG5PctddjkctKH0CkINUWPk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Atomic-Power-4.jpg)
Combat Information Center
![Combat Information Center](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/914lRzR1baX_3W58LhiR_oi3Uhk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Combat-Information-5.jpg)
The Waldo
![The Waldo](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/sssHHPpthpf0MYl5VVguTIfkr80=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Waldo-6.jpg)
Cellphone
![Cellphone](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/o5PdB2B4INh389EMHiCanHiUoOE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Cellphone-7.jpg)
Taser
![Taser](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/AqifinKwIxcs198PVbM5H2gWPvg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Taser-8.jpg)
QuickTime
![QuickTime](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/rmCw2MsH9sfYr4Gc2mqOnppnoig=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Quicktime-9.jpg)
Second Life
![Second Life](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/GCZI7XkPtaQn2xWTVkzltOnFWc4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/SciFi-Inventions-Second-Life-10.jpg)
Editor’s Note, October 14, 2021: A previous version of this article misnamed John W. Campbell as James W. Campbell. The story has been edited to correct that fact.