Sonic Screwdriver FOR REAL!

News announced today reveals that Doctor Who’s infamous tool could soon be part of every mans tool kit. OMG I hear all sci-fi cry (like me), I could soon own my very own Sonic Screwdriver?! Well, Ultrasonic engineers at Bristol University and The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair are uncovering how a real life version of the fictional screwdriver - which uses sonic technology to open locks and undo screws - could be created.

Professor of Ultrasonics, Bruce Drinkwater, who is working with The Big Bang to inspire young scientists of the future, says the answer lies in ultrasonic sound waves. By operating the waves at frequencies way beyond the realms of human hearing, they can be used to apply forces to objects.

The technology is already being trialled in modern manufacturing to fix parts together and ultrasonic force fields are being developed within the medical field to separate diseased cells from healthy cells. Professor Drinkwater and The Big Bang team are now exploring whether super powerful versions of these sound beams could bring Doctor Who’s iconic device to life.

Anyway, I won’t confuse you with ALL the details, if you want to know more then book your tickets for The Big Bang at the ICC London ExCeL from 10 – 12 March 2011

No Ordinary Family jumps across the pond

This one's for all my UK readers. If you've been reading about a new sci-fi show called No Ordinary Family (see my earlier post on the show) then fear not as it is coming to digital channel Watch from 11th January 2011! Think of it as a light heartened Heroes, except their a family that were one day normal, and the next day no so normal. With a dad that creates e-fits in a police station, a scientist mum and two teenagers this show has plenty of drama, comedy and action to keep you entertained.

I've seen a few episodes ahead and from what I've seen it looks to be a promising show so add it to your New Year's list of things to watch.

From A to Lost

Looking for the perfect Christmas present for the ultimate Lost fan, but can't afford the complete boxset? The look no further as the Lost Encyclopedia is what you need! Of course I only use Christmas as an excuse, most of you reading this post will be wanting this book for yourself rather than someone else. In that case, if like me you constantly need answers whilst watching a show (I have a Superman encyclopedia for Smallville and Superman movies!) then the Lost Encyclopedia will just be an excuse for you to go back and watch the entire series with the answers to all those questions in your hands.

As with all encyclopedia's this is an easy to navigate book, simply turn to the index at the back, look up what you are looking for, be it Sawyer or black smoke and viola, every page where that character, thing, etc is metioned will be displayed. In fact there are over 400 pages of facts and images on characters, items, locations, plotlines, relationships and of course mythologies. I've tried to catch it out, but honestly I think everything you could possibly wonder is in this book.

Now all I need to do it read it from cover to cover and hopefully all those questions that never got answered in the show will become clear! 


The Lost Encyclopedia is authored by Paul Terry, Editor of Lost: The Official Magazine and Tara Bennett, editor of the US edition of SFX magazine and is available from all good and DK.

Camp Glee

With Glee being such a smash hit it was only a matter of time before another network created a carbon copy and of course that network would be youth focused channel the CW. The show that’s in development is called ‘Acting Out’ and is set to be a musical, dancing dramedy, a cross between Glee and... wait for it... Bad Santa?! Writer/director of Bandslam Todd Graff and the film’s producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas have been recruited to develop the show which will explore the relationships of counsellors and and staff of a down-on-its-luck summer camp. Graff also wrote and directed the film Camp so I expect will be drawing on his experiences from that.

Hawaii Five-0 Gets Full Season

Great news today, Hawaii Five-0 has been signed on for a full season by CBS, making this the first successful TV show for Alex O'Loughlin. Alex previously starred in cult hit Moonlight about a vampire PI and after that the short lived Three Rivers. Unfortunately Moonlight was cancelled only months before Twilight hit cinemas, making vampires the latest craze. If only the network held on to it for a full season it could still have been going today. BUT then we wouldn't have Alex in Hawaii Five-0.

So to celebrate I've put together a few pictures from both shows to help you decide which you would rather see Alex as, a vampire private detective or Dectective Steve McGarrett....

Hawaiian hottie or Smouldering Vamp?

American James Bond or LA Vampire?

Clean cut cop or Floppy haired PI?

Action hero or Scary dead man?

Or how about a hot doctor in the not so hot Three Rivers?

Which will you go for?

Breaking News: Man of Steel has a director!

So he was on the list of possible directors, but Zack Snyder has revealed that he is all set to direct the next revamp of Superman: The Man of Steel. News is spreading across the pond via Twitter, and I must say as a fan of Watchmen he was my favourite choice. He's done some great things so I look forward to what he will bring.

Now who will he bring on as his Superman...?

Here come the Men in Black (again)

Men in Black was a fun family sci-fi film. Correct. But for me it was the film that started my love of sci-fi and shaped my decision for what to study at university.  Highlighting the fact that the ‘Government’ could have the technology used in the film to wipe our memories, therefore making us oblivious to aliens living amongst us may seem far stretched, but who knows, considering this technology ‘wipes’ the memories of the public we would never know if this is happening or not.

This film made me realise that a popular entertainment film can deliver messages about the world, politics, science and more. From this I went on to study media studies specialising in digital media and science fiction.

Now Men in Black 3 is set to be released in 2012, a full ten years after the first instalment and news released last week highlighted that Emma Thompson is in talks to star in the next film in the trilogy.
And ten years on I might not be working in film or sci-fi specific for that matter, but here I am blogging about it and my passion for the subject is stronger than ever.


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