I love how science fiction can spark the imagination of inventors and scientists to bring them to reality. http://www.dirtbikemods.com

I don't really know how to react to this article.............

I tried watching Battlestar Gallatica and was so bored I found myself surfing the internet for most of the show... Stargate Atlantis IMO is so much better.
http://japantravel.jopin.com

Sarcasm aside, it gives the feel of something a little more real and believable to see models on a combat planning table. Some of the best lies are modeled in truth... why not have crutches or canes instead of a glowing liquid encasement around an injury? Well, that's my $.02 -- the article was still a good read ;)

I agree this whole linked coomputer thingy scares the bejeebus outta me, i long for the day my monochromatic cathode ray tube T(otaly) R(eliable)S(ystem) III is online and computing me into the stars.
All jokes aside the whole idea is that they were able to create tech/robotica with IA and now these technophobic Space Farrers are still afraid of advancing technologically.

I love BSG,
Ya gotta love people trying to figure out ways to un screw things up. The Cylons are a Grandparents worst nightmare, They're Doing What!!! Those kids are from (your) side of the family.

K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid. Always works and never breaks down. What a concept.

Let's not forget that thin material they use for recording data. This "Paper" is produced by the amalgamation of fibres, typically vegetable fibers composed of cellulose, which are subsequently held together by hydrogen bonding. No need to fill electronic data media or carry unwieldy tablets.

Leave teh funneh to teh Onion.

Love the analogy , great work. Great show, what else can I say, except Thanks.

If you want to bash Battlestar Galactica maybe you should try and make a better show and more believable! Thats what they are trying to do instead of going all star treky. Makes it more believable because everything isnt far advanced. Try pulling your head out of your a** for 5 min and think about it.

I LOVE the low tech stuff. Makes it more believable. You don't need to look any farther then a modern day Navy ship to see that even with all of our "high tech" gadgets, K.I.S.S. is the rule of the day. They even have the uber high tech SOUND powered telephone... needs no electricity at all to work. Wow! where do I get one of those? No more pesky cell batteries to lose charge.

My biggest leap of faith is the lack of zero-gravity. The artificial gravity generation equipment on every single ship is so good that even with the power completely knocked out, it still works! Genius! Now if that isn't a major technological achievement I don't know WHAT is.

How about faster-than-light which doesn't require the ship to actually have any acceleration?
look in Star Wars, Star trek and anything else - all require the space ship to be moving "fast" and it then "accelerates" to hyper-velocity. In BSG, the FTL drives spin up, someone pushes the button and *blam*, it's done. Why couldn't Scotty come up with something like that?

What about the other high tech we've seen in the background, such as the water recycling system (where does fresh water come from on the Enterprise?) and everything else that they use to keep themselves alive with while in space?

Yes, gravity is a problem, but lets be honest, how easy (cost effect too) would it be to film a scifi series on a space ship where zerog was simulated in every episode? And the flaw in every scifi movie/tv show: every planet/asteroid has gravity = 1g (from earth).. Dagobah, Tatooine, Alderan, New Earth, New Caprica, etc.

My favourite aspect of BSG is that they got the physica *correct* for fighter jet mavouvers with the gas jets. How does an X-Wing turn? How does the Enterprise turn in space? How do they land the ship in "First contact", after the little warp manouver? And the initial speed for a viper comes from a catapault launch (more good physics!)

I'm surprised the original poster didn't mention the use of "plates of armour" on battlestars, a major leap from forward force fields that degrade and when they're at 0%, the whole ship can explode with one hit.

The original poster doesn't seem to understand that picking up a pen to write can feel much different (and produce vastly different results) to sitting in front of a keyboard.

Battlestar Galactica. Propably one of the most intruiging screen plays so far. As a Greek my self i was ver fscinated by some of the follow ups since season 1.
But this realy takes the cake. I waqtched so many Sci Fi before i thought to my self that if i would live to see another plasma beem tossing a person several feet away from his original position... i would cry in dispare.
Every one shows their apriciation of this show in a different way on this post. but the last 3 before me, Rak, Steel,and Sonic. Couldnt have placed it better. Thank you for your comments, that was really fast thinking and some brilliant ideas. :D

But the thing is that if u take a closer look to the society of BG, its is not so different of the one we live in right now. In fact if u asked me what year are we watching i would say that the show represents humanity in 2080-90. Everything is still the same, we are still the ones that weiger wars on eachother, we wear the same clothes, drink wiskey to forget hurtfull things, but we have evolved slitly in our Technology and engine systems.

Hey! I was wondering, where they got those models on the tactic table. These models look like the raiders and a basestar. But when the cylons attackt the colonies, noone new how they look like. Do they have a toy factory on the Galactica???

Funny! I love BSG and I can hardly wait until March. Does anyone know exactly when the new season will start?

I'm in the printing business, and I've always been amazed at their amazing paper cutting technology. No matter how large or small the sheet of paper, the cutters always put a perfectly proportional 45° chop on all four corners!!! I can't get my mind around it!

@SHANE - I know, it blows my mind. I'm thinking they have dies made for each size. No wonder production costs are through the roof!

I also like the way the show portrays technology - as NOT being important (vs. Star Trek, a show I loved, btw, in which technology and technobabble were protagonist).

Theres one thing I do have a gripe with: The human society in the BSG world have fought the cylons before, they know they are made of metal, can be armoured, etc etc. Why to their guns seem to always shoot BB's? I mean, every show that has a shootout, I see the BSG crew histericaly shooting away their little pebble guns and they never seem to drop a Cylon. The only times they've killed one, is when they use RPG-like weapons or "explosive" ammo, which almost nobody has on them anyway. That totally screws realism in the show, imo.

I think the gun thing makes sense in a way, they hadn't seen the cylons in what 40 years? They were probably used mnore against other humans, or at least other humans were a bigger threat at the time than the Cylons no one had heard from in 4 decades

One of the best parts of the show is the fact that most of the characters are flawed. In Star trek and other shows, everyone seems happy and they all get along with each other. Tigh is a drunk, starbuck has major issues, Adama and Apollo have a strained relationship, Baltar is just plain nuts and then there is the chain-smoking doctor with a bad bedside manner. These characters are more realistic than the ones in other sci-fi shows where everyone seems to have perfect happy lives. One more unrelated thing, someone who posted earlier really needs to get a book on english spelling and grammar.

Blechdose, the USN had Patternmaer and Modeler Ratings (enlisted personnel) until 1997. I'm figuring the Colonial fleet had something similar and since the Galactica was scheduled to become an educational facility I'm figuring there were probably some aboard at the time of the attack.

The paper thing is the funniest to me. Books, notepads, memos, etc. All with that cut. You'd think that they would realize the savings in factory scrap if they would just not do the chop.

I do have to say that the number attraction to the show is that they don't have all the gadgets. 1st, the story line requires that they don't, because of the Cylon attack. If they did have all the cool gadgets, they wouldn't have survived the first attack. Dead in the water.

On tools and weapons, even with the coolest iphone love available, we still use a wrench to fix the shower head and we still use much of the same ammo we have been using for over 50 years, in some case over 100 years (ie - 7.62x54 Russian).

I like that the show is everything you would find in your local stores, plus faster than light space travel.

This is one of the best articles I've seen. What creativity! :)

As I recently watch the first 3 serie's in a row, I could comment on some of the tech questions askt here :)
Oh btw, pardon my english, I'm dutch :P

Cornerd papers, I think it has to do with the Circle of 8, like the council in the old series, almost everything in the BGS universe has 8 side's. The gamecards the play with, Flag logo's, Colonu signs etc.. So its logical that where we think in squares they think in Hexygons..is it?

On the food/drink suply on Star Trek, they have replicators ( not confusing with those from stargate :) These can decompose any leftovers, unused items and waist into molucule's, and rebuilt anything from same molucule's, devided in 2 groups, organic and non organic ( aka food or cloth for instance), Basicly Picard was drinking his own piss when orderd a Earl Grey Hot :D

Zero G gravity: anit going near this, Babylon5 Was rotating to create Gravity, wich is the current basic theory for gravity in space....Maby everything is Magnetic? and I do mean everything then? :)

FTL Drive, well the instant acceleration is logical, as FTL means to fast for any sight to behold, means it instanly disapears to any viewer, what I'm wondering is how do they navigate? And Gpulling for planets? On StarTrek they need to clear any orbit before they can accelerate, and avoid stars by known starmaps, in BGS they "jump" just ahead it seams, weird.

What surprised me most from this serie's The Smoking!? I'm a happy smoker, but got used to the typical US ban on smoking in YV shows. Everyone is smoking, like its as normal as doing a shit a day? I like it, makes it "real" but still....what will happen IF they ever arive at Earth? and walk around in "obviously" any US city?
Maby cool tip to the writers? First contact is Starbuck being jailed for smoking in a bar in New York ^_^

And best question: the Language? WHY is it everyone in space, alien, colonist and cylon alike speaks english??? IF we are surpose to be decendants from the 13the colonist, wy do we have so many languages here ( and genetic difference as well) and they dont? 12 colony's, and they all speak english? Ok we have seen asians and africans even latin/south americans on the show, and a lone lost Brit ( Baltar, maby THATS why he's the chosen one :) Shame really they havent adresed this somehow.
StarTrek had Universal translator technology inplanted in there ears, Babylon5 used hired translators or ambasadors, and Star Wars didnt even bother, they asumed english talking ppl knew THERE language and we just got magical subtitles :)
But loving it, 4 episodes to go on S3 dvd box, and just intime for S4 to start.
( PS howmany Vipers and raptors where onboard the Galactica during the first attack? seems there is an endless suply of them! :)

When will be have those on real life???

You forgot the nuke proof inside shieldind, the auntomatic doors on Pegasus's CIC,

Agreed with their anti - spam solution :D

The best of all they don't use Microsoft software otherwise the should be dead already

Battlestar Galactica is about the story, the people, the characters, the drama, the fight for survival and the underlying plot twists. It isn't about flashy sci-fi stuff. I won't bash, but so many other sci-fi shows are completely reliant on their flashy gizmos and have a story and character development that is paper thin at best. I think the show is very refreshing. I agree, though, that unless you are up with what is going on and all of the sub-plots and character stories, most episodes likely would be boring. I find it's the best show on TV, sci-fi or otherwise. Get it on DVD and catch up! :)

I have to tell you. I am a star wars fan from the first movie. I loved the flashy effects but i am also a little tired of the same old thing. The fact that the show uses these real life objects and applies real science such as no sound in space, small explosions due to no h20, takes a lot more creativity and thought then to hire a special effects whiz kid to dazzle us. All of the paraphernalia in this article adds to the realism of the show and the acting and story are fantastic. I can’t wait for the new season.

wow, BSG is a good show, but yall rip on star trek WAY too much. first of all, window screens on the bridge isnt a bad idea jackass- lets u no where u going- include DRADIS and your good to go. Secondly, FTL is awesome, but warp speed is good too- allows u to go a certain distance without having all your energy wasted on an FTL jump.

Thirdly, plasma weapons r not bad either- though projectile weaponry used in BSG is probably alot better when your in a energy- dampening field.

About the external appendages thing- you couldnt be more of a dumbass- it takes weeks to months for a cast to heal your body part. in star trek- u friggin use a hypospray or a dermal regenerator, or super hytech surgery and your good as new.

In essence, BSG is a great show- i love it, but dont crack on STar Trek too much, because theres alot of technology BSG can benefit from star fleet, like photon torpedoes, warp drive, shields, advanced medical technology, and most importantly- the ability to appear anywhere in an enemy ship: transporters.

someone pointed out that in Battlestar Galactica everyone all speaks english as far as we can tell, (by that i mean they could all be speaking some frakked up language but the shows producers thought it easier to film in english rather use subtitles all the time, which would be as pointless as a 'toaster' in a submarine.

but anyway back to the point about them all speaking english.

their society is obviously more advanced than ours and over time one dominant language would have emerged, a common tongue that everyone speaks at a basic level to allow for comunication, on our Earth, latin is the base language for what i see as our common tongue's which are english, spanish and french, with german up their as well.

in my opinion english is becoming the common tongue for planet, which is good for us Brits and other prodominantly english speaking nations, but also a wee insult as well. english being the easiest language to learn. or we Brits really suck at lauguages.

another possible reason they all speak english is that it is seen as the lauguage of the lords of Kobol and their fore seen as a religious Language that everyone is taught at childhood as well as their own tongue. as they all seem like a fairly religious bunch (especially those Sagitaurons) it would make sense they all speak the same language that their gods/lords spoke.

As for the paper in Battlestar Galactica that is just sheer genious.

How do u turn an ordinary bland thing like paper into something other worldly and completly different. cut perfectly 45 degree pieces off of the corners so that somethin square becomes an octagon. it reminds us in every episode that this is not this world we are lookin at on our screens cause here everthing is square base shape ie 4 sides.(and yeh anyone else notice paper is the same shape as Cylon Blood when Baltar discribes it to Adama with his little drawing on the Gamma Ray Photography viewing apparatus)

Want to get the skivvy on real world technology then you need to visit http://Future-Past.com Future-Past is dedicated to documenting the real world origins of the props used in Battlestar Galactica from Mini Series to The Series.

Featured on the web site are selected items from BSG that provide insight into the complex production design process. The result is a record of Future-Pasts research into the production department's efforts in creating Battlestar Galactica's retro-futuristic props, insight into sets and filming locations along with in depth cast and crew interviews.

Who do you think is the last Cylon vote now at finalcylon.com

Ooh as to this article, obviously doesn't apply to artificial gravity and the Jump Drive

Great example of how gadgets turned everyone into nerds. This move backward justifies why a non-nerd such as myself thinks BSG is the best sci-fi show ever created. Too bad they screwed up with Sci-fi instead of airing it on NBC. It probably would have been on through 6 seasons instead of 4 that's too short. Let's see BSG, the early years, on NBC. Razor was pretty much a teaser for that wasn't it?

Very funny, nice satire

Ok, so here is your tax paying dollars hard at work. I’m active duty Navy, and I’m a BIG Sci-Fi fan. I’ll even admit that Star Trek had a little to do with the branch of military service I joined. I’ve loved Star Trek for as long as I can remember. And I’m also a big Star Wars, Babylon 5, Stargate, Buck Rogers, Space 1999, Lost in Space, and a few others that I’m sure you would get bored reading.

I do believe that we as a society have been brain washed to believe that good science fiction has to be very Star Trek-esque, or Star Wars-esque. Phasers, Photon Torpedos, light sabers, lazer guns, etc. But as Wikipedia explains science fiction…

Science fiction is largely based on writing entertainingly and rationally about alternate possibilities in settings that are contrary to known reality. These include:
-A setting in the future, in alternative time lines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archeological record
-A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens
-Stories that contradict known or supposed laws of nature
-Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as time travel or psionics, or new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots, or of new and different political or social systems
Exploring the consequences of such differences is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".

So yes, I do think that BSG is the total personification of what SciFi really is. Now, if you are wondering about the “CUT CORNERS” of the paper, I believe I remember hearing one of the producers telling us why all the paper has cut corners. It had to do with making a joke at how they cut corners in production to save money.

Has anyone ever thought about what the Galactica would be truly like? Take a modern day Battleship and attach 4 aircraft carriers to it, put some kind of space shuttle (and here’s where the sci-fi comes into play) FTL engines on it, and put the thing into space.

One of the biggest disappointments in the entire Sci-Fi realm that I find disturbing is that there would be no fire in space. Fire needs oxygen to ignite. If a ship, space station, or nuclear bomb blows up in outer space, there would be no fire, at the same time there would be no TV show either. Viewers are not going to want to see reality, because space being a vacuum, ships would implode not explode. So breach the hull, and the ship implodes into a medal ball, not explodes into a bunch of pieces.

Isn’t sci-fi great? We could debate this till we are blue in the face.

Good one, heh!

IN NEW CAPRICA; Rebels use KALASHNIKOV AK-47 GUNS..What the hell is that???? This gun is Russian made:)How can this guys use that !!!!

this article really cracks me ups. i love it and the show.

ladies - looking for a fun BSG fan site? check out my group on the sugar network.
http://teamsugar.com/group/953329

I was waiting for someone else to bring up the point that 1994 NAVY did. the 45 degree paper cuts was a joke from the producers that originated in them cutting corners in cost as much as they could in the mini-series. They were short on cash and needed to cut costs anywhere they could. The corner-cutting eventually ended up with cutting the corners of all papers and books, frames, etc.It actually ended up being more of a pain in the ass (and a little more expensive) to cut all those corners, but the idea was too cool so they kept it in the show.

Someone was mentioning earlier that english is the easiest language to learn, it is in fact considered the hardest to learn as it doesn't really follow any rules or make sense. Spanish is considered the easiest. As for explosions in space mentioned by the navy guy, a ship in a vacuum will actually explode not implode. A ship has atmospheric pressure inside that is applying pressure, (a great deal as well), to the hull as it tries to get out into the lesser pressure of vacuum. A submarine in very deep water is the opposite, it will implode due to the enormous pressure of the water against the hull from the outside. You could have fire briefly in space when a ship explodes due to the escaping oxygen as the hull ruptures. And yes, there would likely be a large bright ball of energy when a nuke blows up in space, just look at any star that shines in space, they arn't burning oxygen, they are nuclear, burning lots of hydrogen, just like an H-bomb. They don't have and endless supply of vipers, they have been manufacturing them since the attact. They have mining ships in the fleet and one episode, scar I think, had a mining operation where they had found a source of metals that would allow them to replenish their supply of vipers, (some of the ships seem to have refining abilities and machining equipment that would allow the manufacture of just about anything). Kerem was talking about the russian guns on Caprica, don't forget the military Hummers that they had as well, or the citroen parked in the garage that anders went to blow up.

Someone was mentioning earlier that english is the easiest language to learn, it is in fact considered the hardest to learn as it doesn't really follow any rules or make sense. Spanish is considered the easiest. As for explosions in space mentioned by the navy guy, a ship in a vacuum will actually explode not implode. A ship has atmospheric pressure inside that is applying pressure, (a great deal as well), to the hull as it tries to get out into the lesser pressure of vacuum. A submarine in very deep water is the opposite, it will implode due to the enormous pressure of the water against the hull from the outside. You could have fire briefly in space when a ship explodes due to the escaping oxygen as the hull ruptures. And yes, there would likely be a large bright ball of energy when a nuke blows up in space, just look at any star that shines in space, they arn't burning oxygen, they are nuclear, burning lots of hydrogen, just like an H-bomb. They don't have and endless supply of vipers, they have been manufacturing them since the attact. They have mining ships in the fleet and one episode, scar I think, had a mining operation where they had found a source of metals that would allow them to replenish their supply of vipers, (some of the ships seem to have refining abilities and machining equipment that would allow the manufacture of just about anything). Kerem was talking about the russian guns on Caprica, don't forget the military Hummers that they had as well, or the citroen parked in the garage that anders went to blow up.

Someone was mentioning earlier that english is the easiest language to learn, it is in fact considered the hardest to learn as it doesn't really follow any rules or make sense. Spanish is considered the easiest. As for explosions in space mentioned by the navy guy, a ship in a vacuum will actually explode not implode. A ship has atmospheric pressure inside that is applying pressure, (a great deal as well), to the hull as it tries to get out into the lesser pressure of vacuum. A submarine in very deep water is the opposite, it will implode due to the enormous pressure of the water against the hull from the outside. You could have fire briefly in space when a ship explodes due to the escaping oxygen as the hull ruptures. And yes, there would likely be a large bright ball of energy when a nuke blows up in space, just look at any star that shines in space, they arn't burning oxygen, they are nuclear, burning lots of hydrogen, just like an H-bomb. They don't have and endless supply of vipers, they have been manufacturing them since the attact. They have mining ships in the fleet and one episode, scar I think, had a mining operation where they had found a source of metals that would allow them to replenish their supply of vipers, (some of the ships seem to have refining abilities and machining equipment that would allow the manufacture of just about anything). Kerem was talking about the russian guns on Caprica, don't forget the military Hummers that they had as well, or the citroen parked in the garage that anders went to blow up.

correct me if Im wrong, but isnt the BSG one of the "old world" ships that they just happened to be decommissioning during a surprise attack? So wouldnt it be fair to say that on a say new ship things might be a bit more advanced?

This article pegs the brilliance of the show's approach to technology. Really, what's interesting about the tech in this show is in counterpoint to what we're used to: much of which has come via successive waves of Star Trek: warp drive, photon torpedos, phasers, transporters. (All of which is fun.) Instead, the tech in this show is almost a point-by-point refutation: Blow a ship away? Use bullets or missiles. Fix the engines? Get a wrench. Power an engine? Use liquid fuel. Of course BSG was (re)created by a veteran ST:NG writer. So I've always seen the tech as a pointed counterpoint to "the latest tech-babble-speak of the week" syndrome. Also, if you can get away from that and have a successful show, that takes some pretty strong writing chops. (And didn't Firefly kind of do the same thing?)

This article was awsome, the sound powerd phones, yah we still use them aboard ships in the USCG. Notice how they walk through hatches made of STEEL that actually seals air tight, because a star ship aint that different from a naval battle ship. What really impressed me is how the Marines never "laser" (point their guns) at their own people. They also keep their finger off of the trigger untill they are ready to shoot. BSG is probably the most reality based Sci Fi show in history and as far as I am concerened is the best show ever put on telivision.

FTL drives don't really travel faster than light. They merge two points in space/time and you jump from one point to the next. Yes, you do this jump faster than the time it takes light to reach the destination point, but it is not as though the ship is traveling in the conventional way.

the whole point of non-connected computers and wired phones was to keep hackers and "evil doers" from screwing with their infrastructure. This was addressed in the pilot episode. That's why they've survived. duh!!!!!!

The simple fact that BSG 'takes a new approach' to tech isn't enough to make it 'good'. The fact that we still use '50s-era technology thousands of years in the future makes me sick. If BSG is what we've achieved in several thousand years of time, then Six is right - we DO deserve to die.

I like the show. The only gripe I have with it is:

The ships wouldn't make any frackin sound flying around in space lol.

Wow, great article!

I find that the whole low-tech concept in a space opera to be a great idea overall, and I'm so glad they don't resort to cheap SFX like the Trek transporter, viewscreen, and okudagrams. Those really lent a cheap feel to Trek, and the physical buttons and the use of actual ships to transport you from one vessel to another lends a great feeling of realism. I'm not military, but as I'm told, ships will never use touch-screens in place of buttons because of the tactile contact necessary in high-stress situations, and BSG replicates it, and I love the fact that their bridge is buried deep inside the hull and that the navigation is done by computer. It mimics how submarines navigate, and it's a given that spaceships which engage in combat would navigate the same way: by sensor.

Why does everyone assume that the Colonials speak American English? Isn't it just as possible that they are speaking foreign languages and that for ease of viewing they were 'translated' by the production team, similar to WWII movies and documentaries? It's entirely possible that the Colonials' languages are either similar, or they are all taught in schools to be multi-lingual(something American schools need to start doing).

I think the show is less flash, and more epic tale. It can be cheesy sometimes, but nowhere near as cheesy as Star Trek and Stargate. It's not a show for people whose sole prerequisite for good sci-fi is technology and strange looking aliens.

We were supposed to have flying cars 10 years ago, and I don't see any.

sarcastic ass.....i love it

In answer to all the people that moaned that the Galactica did not accelerate one little bit to use their FTL i beleive that the makers of BSG had the perception that they were not flying through space as much as folding space thats why its all over in the blink of an eye. I'm not a scientist but i have seen ducometaries that say some scientists beleive this is how we will travel accross vast distances.

Bio youre an idiot "The fact that we still use '50s-era technology thousands of years in the future makes me sick.". If you had watched the show at all yould realise it's a hundred and fifty thousand years in the past.

Galactica is a relic destined to become a museum. It employed obscolete technology on purpose! Their enemy was and is more advanced than them and as such they looked backward so they could make use of systems that were not likely to be compromised by the enemy. All the technologically advanced Colonial ships were advanced and this is why they failed! The Cylons compromised their systems and in turn rendered them defenceless!

All these point have been made in one way or another b4! However some idiots just dont listen! lol. Read the entire thread before commenting! it saves embarrasement later!