Fullerenes in popular culture
Encyclopedia
Fine art
Physicist-turned-artist Julian Voss-AndreaeJulian Voss-Andreae
Julian Voss-Andreae is a German sculptor living and working in the U.S.Voss-Andreae started out as a painter and later studied experimental physics at the universities of Berlin, Edinburgh and Vienna...
has created several sculptures symbolizing wave-particle duality in Buckminsterfullerenes. Voss-Andreae
Julian Voss-Andreae
Julian Voss-Andreae is a German sculptor living and working in the U.S.Voss-Andreae started out as a painter and later studied experimental physics at the universities of Berlin, Edinburgh and Vienna...
participated in research demonstrating that even objects as large as Buckminsterfullerenes obey the peculiar laws of quantum physics. After this, Voss-Andreae changed careers to become a full-time artist. Since then he has created objects such as a 2' (60 cm) diameter bronze structure called "Quantum Buckyball" (2004) consisting of four nested buckyballs. His largest fullerene-based sculpture is located in a private Park in Portland, Oregon (USA). "Quantum Reality (Large Buckyball Around Trees)" (2007) is a 30' (9 m) diameter steel structure intersected by several trees that grow freely through the structure and support it in mid-air, just above arm's reach.
Literature
- In Stel PavlouStel PavlouStelios Grant Pavlou is a British author and screenwriter.-Biography:Stel Pavlou was born in Gillingham, Kent in England, of Greek Cypriot descent. He grew up in Rochester and Chatham, Medway and attended Chatham Grammar School for Boys. The middle child of three, his younger brother is the...
's novel DecipherDecipher (novel)Decipher is a speculative fiction novel by Stel Pavlou , published in 2001 in England by Simon and Schuster and 2002 in the United States by St. Martin's Press. It is published in many languages with some significant title changes...
(2001), buckyballs, nanotechnology and complexity theory are used in the creation of flocking nano-swarms that form human-sized golems. C60 is said to be the building block of the Lost City of AtlantisAtlantisAtlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. C900 is mentioned (p. 292), a non-metal magnet.
- In Neal StephensonNeal StephensonNeal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction.Difficult to categorize, his novels have been variously referred to as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and postcyberpunk...
's 1995 cyberpunkCyberpunkCyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
/postcyberpunk novel The Diamond AgeThe Diamond AgeThe Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson. It is to some extent a science fiction bildungsroman, focused on a young girl named Nell, and set in a future world in which nanotechnology affects all aspects of life. The novel deals with themes of...
(1995), buckyballs are nanotechnological containers for things such as rod logic computers.
- In Green Mars by Kim Stanley RobinsonKim Stanley RobinsonKim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer known for his award-winning Mars trilogy. His work delves into ecological and sociological themes regularly, and many of his novels appear to be the direct result of his own scientific fascinations, such as the fifteen years of research...
, fullerenes of various sizes, "including some thirties," are created in the fall of the first space elevatorSpace elevatorA space elevator, also known as a geostationary orbital tether or a beanstalk, is a proposed non-rocket spacelaunch structure...
(a cable of carbon) onto the surface of Mars.
- Buckyballs are used as a barrier in the novella Iron by Poul AndersonPoul AndersonPoul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories...
, which forms part of the book Man-Kzin Wars by Larry NivenLarry NivenLaurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
, Poul Anderson and Dean IngDean IngDean Ing is an American author, who usually writes in the science fiction and techno-thriller genres.Dean Charles Ing was formerly a member of the United States Air Force, an aerospace engineer, and a university professor who holds a doctorate in communications theory. He has been a professional...
.
- In Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. ClarkeSir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
's novel 3001: The Final Odyssey, BuckminsterFullerene is the substance used to build the massive station-ring around earth and the necessary surface supports to maintain it.
- In Ian McDonaldIan McDonald (author)Ian McDonald is a British science fiction novelist, living in Belfast. His themes include nanotechnology, postcyberpunk settings, and the impact of rapid social and technological change on non-Western societies.- Biography :...
's novel Chaga (U.S. title: Evolution's Shore) and its sequel Kirinya, the Chaga, an alien lifeform that transforms the landscape of Earth as well as retrovirusRetrovirusA retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...
-infected animals and humans that come in contact with it, is composed of fullerenes; one character nicknames it the "buckyball jungle."
- In Simon HawkeSimon HawkeSimon Hawke is an American author of mainly science fiction and fantasy novels. He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D...
's Reluctant Sorcerer trilogy, fullerene is a highly necessary component of Simon Brewster's travelling machine.
- Buckyballs are integral to James RollinsJames Rollins* For the American baseball pitcher, see Jim Czajkowski* For the American baseball shortstop, see Jimmy Rollins* For the 19th century American politician from Missouri, see James S. Rollins...
's novel Sandstorm.
- In Paul PreussPaul PreussPaul Preuss is an American writer of science fiction and science articles and is a science consultant for film companies. He is perhaps best known for the novels in Arthur C...
's novel CoreCore (novel)Core is a science fiction novel by author Paul Preuss. First published in August 1993, it is about a group of scientists who must undertake a dangerous trip to the core of the Earth.A 2003 film, The Core, was loosely based on this novel.-Synopsis:...
(1993), fullerenes are lubricants which can function in various ways at the extreme pressures and temperatures found within the earth's interiorStructure of the EarthThe interior structure of the Earth, similar to the outer, is layered. These layers can be defined by either their chemical or their rheological properties. The Earth has an outer silicate solid crust, a highly viscous mantle, a liquid outer core that is much less viscous than the mantle, and a...
.
- Karl SchroederKarl SchroederKarl Schroeder is an award-winning Canadian science fiction author. His novels present far-future speculations on topics such as nanotechnology, terraforming, augmented reality and interstellar travel, and have a deeply philosophical streak...
's novel Sun of SunsSun of SunsSun of Suns, Book One of Virga, is a science fiction novel by Karl Schroeder, published by Tor in 2006. It is set in the fictional world of Virga, a world of multiple artificial suns, a fullerene sphere filled with air and full of drifting rocks and nations floating around Candesce, . The story...
and its sequels feature a man-made fullerene Dyson sphereDyson sphereA Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output...
-like habitat, described as a fullerene balloon.
- In Clive CusslerClive CusslerClive Eric Cussler is an American adventure novelist and marine archaeologist. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than seventeen times...
's novel Sacred StoneSacred StoneSacred Stone is the second book in The Oregon Files series of novels by best-selling author Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo. It was released on October 5, 2004 by Berkley....
, buckyballs are mentioned as a possible vehicle from outer space that could contain alien pathogens.
Movies and television
- In the 2009 film Avatar, the animal life of the moon Pandora have bones reinforced with naturally occurring carbon-nanotubes. http://imsdb.com/scripts/Avatar.html
- In the television series Gene Roddenberry's AndromedaAndromeda (TV series)Andromeda is a Canadian-American science fiction television series, based on unused material by the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and produced by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry. It starred Kevin Sorbo as High Guard Captain Dylan Hunt...
, fullerenes are common materials, used in the construction of high-durability objects such as ship hulls and body armor. In addition, in lieu of tractor beamTractor beamA tractor beam is a device with the ability to attract one object to another from a distance. Since the 1990s, technology and research has labored to make it a reality, mostly at microscopic level. Less commonly, a similar beam that repels is called a pressor beam or repulsor beam...
s, ships use buckycables to ensnare and pull other ships.
- In the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fictional universe, the fullerene carbon-70 is one of the primary constituents of the late 24th century communicatorCommunicator (Star Trek)Communicators are devices used for voice communication in the fictional universe of Star Trek. They allow direct contact between individuals or via a ship's communication system....
s.
- In the Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "Firstborn", Worf's son, Alexander, wields a model of a Fullerene. http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Firstborn_(episode)
- In the 2007 remake of The Andromeda Strain, buckyballs are the encapsulating structure around the Andromeda "organism" which collides with the Project Scoop satellite.
- In the TV series “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" one character manages to scribble the letters Tb3N@C84 (possibly referring to the unusual fullerene molecule) in his own blood on a wall before dying. The show was cancelled before the exact meaning of this writing was revealed; however, some speculate it had something to do with the series of liquid metal Terminators or time travel since Fullerene molecules have been discussed for use in nanotechnology and quantum physics.
Video games
- In the massively multiplayer online gameMassively multiplayer online gameA massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
Eve OnlineEVE OnlineEve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
, exotic fullerene compounds are utilized as a core component in the construction of tech level 3 starships.
- In the PC game Civilization: Call to PowerCivilization: Call to PowerCivilization: Call to Power is a PC turn-based strategy game developed by Activision as a successor to the extremely successful Civilization computer game by Sid Meier. It was ported to Linux by Loki Software....
, one of the scientific advancements available is a city-encompasing force field of C60 bucky balls.
- In the online browser-based game Kingdom of LoathingKingdom of LoathingKingdom of Loathing is a browser-based, multiplayer role-playing game designed and operated by Asymmetric Publications, including creator Zack "Jick" Johnson and writer Josh "Mr. Skullhead" Nite. The game was released in 2003...
, combat items called "buckyballs" were available during the game's ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2007 event.
Other
- Tagon's Toughs, the mercenaries in the web comic Schlock MercenarySchlock MercenarySchlock Mercenary is a comedic webcomic written and drawn by Howard Tayler. It follows the tribulations of a star-travelling mercenary company in a satiric, mildly dystopian 31st-century space opera setting...
, often use fullerene personal combat armour, worn as regular clothes. The title character, Schlock, is a carbo-silicate amorph whose body consists largely of nanotubes.
- In his blog 'Old Scrote's Home', Jake Allsop takes over the education of wildfowl where Konrad Lorentz left off, by teaching Mallard to appreciate nanotechnology.
- On 4 September 2010, GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
used an interactively rotatable fullerene C60 as the second 'o' in its logoGoogle logoGoogle has had several logos since its renaming from BackRub. The current official Google logo was designed by Ruth Kedar, and is a wordmark based on the Catull typeface....
to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the fullerenes.