6 Science Fiction Prompts for National Poetry Month
Posting short (200 character) science fiction stories based in real science every day for National Poetry Month.
April 6, 2021 Monkey Mind Control
Excited, Joel 14, paralyzed in a ski accident waited as surgeons chipped his brother. The chip sent brain activity in Marty’s mind to a spinal receiver causing movement in Joel’s arms and legs. No one expected the chip to cause Marty to go crazy.
Science: A 2014 study in Nature Communications describes how one monkey can control the movements of another with its mind. “Using two rhesus macaques, scientists implanted a chip into the brain of the “master” monkey that could convert its brain activity and send electrical impulses into the spine of a sedated primate. The master macaque was able to move a cursor by controlling a joystick in the hand of the sedated primate.” — Science Mag, Monkey Mind Control by Nadia Whitehead
April 5, 2021 Selfishness Kills, a Science Fiction Writing Prompt
A Nyakyusa tale, Selfishness Kills
begins “ijolo” old times
there was a mountain
on top all peaceful
then 3 people built there
“Ʊlʊ tengaa no” means peace
“tengaamu” peaceful
“tengaana” settle in peace
but the root “tenga” means make bed
Science: Many short stories can be found in the example sentences of bilingual dictionaries where the mind of different cultures can be explored. Words from “The Verb in Nyakyusa: A focus on tense, aspect and modality” by Bastian Persohn
April 4, 2021 Termite Man’s Origin Story, a Science Fiction Writing Prompt
Unafraid Yac
reached in a Zaï hole
to plant a yellow plum
a waiting soldier termite
powerful jaw bite
Yac’s skin molten hot
replaced by a tough exoskeleton
enabled him to dig tree pits faster
he can save the world
but what will his family see
April 4, 2021 Zaï Holes by the Numbers, a Science Fiction Writing Prompt
20 years holes dug
add manure
attract tunneling termites
who draw water to new trees
push back the desert
62 acres a forest seen
from space gets Yacouba Sawdogo
a Burkina Faso farmer
1/10 of an acre
and a little “laafɩ” peace in Mossi
Science: Zaï holes also catch water, but take a slightly different approach. They are holes dug in the soil. Traditionally they were used in a limited way to restore barren land. Yacouba Sawadogo introduced the innovation of filling them with manure and other biodegradable waste, in order to provide a source of nutrients for plant life. The manure attracts termites, whose tunnels help break up the soil further. He also increased the size of the holes slightly over the traditional models. Zaï holes have been used to help cultivate trees, sorghum, and millet. (Wikipedia)
April 3, 2021 Beetle Juice, a Science Fiction Writing Prompt
“Crunch” sounded the landing
Bob looked up
cursed beetles
continued counting stolen money
attracted by 3 am light
a drab brown bug crawled
along the window frame
the bug mounted with a tiny camera
streaming to the waiting detective
Science “Our electronics and actuator weigh 248 milligrams and can steer the camera over 60° based on commands from a smartphone. The camera streams “first person” 160 pixels–by–120 pixels monochrome video at 1 to 5 frames per second (fps) to a Bluetooth radio from up to 120 meters away. We mounted this vision system on two species of freely walking live beetles, demonstrating that triggering image capture using an onboard accelerometer achieves operational times of up to 6 hours with a 10–milliamp hour battery.” Wireless Steerable Vision for Live Insects and Insect-Scale Robots.
April 2, 2021 Synesthesia, A Super Power, a Science Fiction Writing Prompt
Together evolving
synesthesia and violence
Amy a superhero
sees colors of a gunshot
erupting 5 miles away
on a hillside she solves
small town cases
then an offer
from New York City
Science: “The synesthetic colour experience can provide the conditions for promoting binocular rivalry, much like stimulus features that induce rivalry in normal vision.” Paffen, C. L., et al. (2011). “Colour-grapheme synesthesia affects binocular vision.” Front Psychol 2: 314.
Inspiration: We have to find a way to end #gunviolence Here is a super short story on Amy whose superpower is synesthesia. A brain health expert, Kimberly Burnham, PhD (Integrative Medicine) writes poetry on Medium.
April 1, 2021 Murder by Tornado
Tim, a tech wizard
created an app
his phone reproduced
the tornado’s song
an X on a map
a quick call
then he saw the tornado spin
his unsuspecting victim’s car
100 feet up
Inspiration: It is April 1st which means #National #Poetry Month has started. I am going to post a short (200 characters or less) #science #fiction poem based on real science everyday for #April. The poems can be used as #writing #prompts for full length #stories or #role #playing #games.
Science: “1,000 tornadoes strike the United States each year, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing about 60 people on average.” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201123161029.htm
Inspiration: I used to live in Oklahoma where a tornado hit a couple of miles from our home sending thousands of dollars-worth of cars from a dealership into the air but leaving our neighborhood untouched. I was fascinated by the fact that terrible damage can be done in one area while a few houses away there everything is calm. — A brain health expert, Kimberly Burnham, PhD (Integrative Medicine) writes poetry at https://healthy-brain.medium.com
