Future Fantastic

Did You Know?

• The theme music to Future Fantastic was by HAL, who later collaborated with Gillian Anderson on the track 'Extremis', released by Virgin Records in 1997.
• The episode 'Alien' was first broadcast on 21 June 1996 and featured interviews with 11 people, including astronaut Story Musgrave and author Arthur C. Clarke.
• The episode 'Immortal' was first broadcast on 30 August 1996 and featured 18 interviewees, including Marvin Minsky and Frank Tipler.
• Future Fantastic was broadcast in the United States on the Learning Channel in 1997.

Episodes

The episode Alien, first broadcast on 21 June 1996, discussed the possibility of encountering intelligent life on other planets. Interviewees included astronaut Story Musgrave, astronomers Seth Shostak, Frank Drake, Jill Tarter and Patrick Moore, author Arthur C. Clarke, scientist Richard F. Haines, UFO investigator Robert Sheaffer, biologist Jack Cohen, authors John Clute and David Bischoff, Area 51 investigator Glenn Campbell, and engineer Bob Lazar.

I, Robot, broadcast on 28 June 1996, examined the growing role of artificial intelligence, computers, and robots in everyday life. Those interviewed included roboticists Joe Engelberger, Red Whittaker, Takeo Kanade, Kevin Warwick and Rodney Brooks, cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky, and computer scientist Hans Moravec.

Starman, first broadcast on 5 July 1996, looked at how humans might eventually reach the stars. Interviewees included historian Nick Argento, authors Arthur C. Clarke, Frederik Pohl, Yoji Kondo, Jack Williamson and Robert L. Forward, rocket engineer Alan Bond, scientist Gerald A. Smith, physicist Michio Kaku, astronomer Patrick Moore, and artist Ron Miller.

Incredible Shrinking Planet, broadcast on 12 July 1996, explored the future of transport, including teleportation and time travel.

Brave New Body, first broadcast on 19 July 1996, looked into how body modification will shape future lives. Interviewees included plastic surgeons Joseph M. Rosen and Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, biologist Charles Vacanti, roboticist Mark Pauline, writer Martin Caidin, surgeon Donald Humphrey, futurist Max More, author Natasha Vita-More, eye surgeon Dr Eugene Dejuan, authors Bruce Sterling and Greg Bear, and biologist Walter Gehring.

Weird Science showed how humanity has come close to defying gravity, and achieving invisibility and perpetual energy.