Unobtainium Why?
- Thread starter Blatherscythe
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Unobtanium [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium] has been a staple of sci-fi since at least the 70's, probably earlier (since it's been around in engineering longer). Larry Niven invented "scrith", a type of unobtanium with tensile strength on the order of the strong nuclear force (that keeps quarks together to form nuclei).
Other "unobtaniums" include dilithium (Star Trek), adamantium (Marvel), carbonite (Star Wars) and elerium-115 (X-Com: UFO Defense). Element Zero in Mass Effect is another one.
It should be noted that in engineering "unobtanium" can be something else than an actual element -- as in the proposed nano-materials to be used in space elevators. There it's actually (doped) carbon, but the nano-scale structure of the material gives it unusual properties. However, since there hasn't yet been created a sufficiently strong and light type of nano-wire in sufficient quantity to actually build a space elevator, the material is as-of-yet "unobtanium".
In contrast, "handwavium" exists through Proof by Handwaving, and is thus unlikely to even be possible. That's usually the category that sci-fi unobtanium falls into.
In sci-fi it's usually some exotic form of matter with vastly different properties than the Standard Model of particle physics can account for, or simply unexplained (ie, proven by handwaving).
Other "unobtaniums" include dilithium (Star Trek), adamantium (Marvel), carbonite (Star Wars) and elerium-115 (X-Com: UFO Defense). Element Zero in Mass Effect is another one.
It should be noted that in engineering "unobtanium" can be something else than an actual element -- as in the proposed nano-materials to be used in space elevators. There it's actually (doped) carbon, but the nano-scale structure of the material gives it unusual properties. However, since there hasn't yet been created a sufficiently strong and light type of nano-wire in sufficient quantity to actually build a space elevator, the material is as-of-yet "unobtanium".
In contrast, "handwavium" exists through Proof by Handwaving, and is thus unlikely to even be possible. That's usually the category that sci-fi unobtanium falls into.
In sci-fi it's usually some exotic form of matter with vastly different properties than the Standard Model of particle physics can account for, or simply unexplained (ie, proven by handwaving).
Uh... no. It symbolized other things... besides that. Like destroying the Amazon and native culture...Hopeless Bastard said:
I'm assuming it's super-oil.
But it could just as well be phlebotinum, solidified fairy dust, magic metal, tree brains, or just plain and simple nutrients that can keep a fully grown man going for days, weeks even, solidified into a rock.
Sorry.
But it could just as well be phlebotinum, solidified fairy dust, magic metal, tree brains, or just plain and simple nutrients that can keep a fully grown man going for days, weeks even, solidified into a rock.
Aaah yes, 20 million dollar per kilo cheapness, it's practiacally a bargain!soapyshooter said:
Sorry.
The correct answer (from the videogame) is that it is used to power very fast, very fancy trains (called maglev trains).
Retarded.
Retarded.
Dude, respect, please. This is the king of sci-fi you're talking about.ziggy161 said:
I like the explaination about unobtainium that 'the core' gives us. It's a material that gets stronger as it gets more stress added. It also apparently generates electricity from heat directly. As an engineer, I hate that movie, but as a science fiction fan, it's pretty fun to watch.
i see the sarcasm. Its supply and demand. Its 20 mil now, but they use it to power engines of the spaceship so they can get more mining equipment to pandora, more equipment = more unobatinum=more fuel to bring more mining equipment. Its a supply loop, economics 101. so its expensive now but will be cheaper.SeanTheSheep said:
It obviously the only substance that schnozzberries will grow in and everyone wants to grow some schnozzberries! Because schnozzberries taste like schnozzberries!
Probably because of its unobtainable nature. Seeing as they have to mine it on another planet and the company has a monopoly on it.Blatherscythe said:
Some sort of super efficient clean burning fuel source, or alternatively, an Über strong yet surprisingly light metal. Also, a really weak joke.
Technically not true, superconductors aren't necessarily expensive, for example lead is a superconductor at 7K. The main issue that we're currently having with superconductivity is creating what we call high temperature superconductors, ie. superconductors which exhibit superconductivity at temperatures of above about 77K (the boiling point of nitrogen at atmospheric pressure). So far the best we've got is at a temperature of 138K or around -135 degrees celsius. Sorry for correcting you, its just I am doing an astronomy PhD and this was covered in the 3rd year of my undergraduate physics course and I thought it was interesting, most probably because I'm weird.soapyshooter said:
Well i guess i should've said a cheap superconductor at room temperature as many people have been pointing out.d319tm said:Technically not true, superconductors aren't necessarily expensive, for example lead is a superconductor at 7K. The main issue that we're currently having with superconductivity is creating what we call high temperature superconductors, ie. superconductors which exhibit superconductivity at temperatures of above about 77K (the boiling point of nitrogen at atmospheric pressure). So far the best we've got is at a temperature of 138K or around -135 degrees celsius. Sorry for correcting you, its just I am doing an astronomy PhD and this was covered in the 3rd year of my undergraduate physics course and I thought it was interesting, most probably because I'm weird.soapyshooter said:
PhD is astronomy huh? know anything about Project Valkyrie spaceship designs? Reading about those give me nerdgasms. haha