Almost Science Fiction Science Stories – I’ve had a lot of science stories pile up that I can use to generate stories. Which do you like? You can tell me your ideas–and get free books for them.
Ready? Let’s go!
Rethinking paralysis
Credit: IEEE Spectrum
What is it? Swiss neuroscientists are helping a paralyzed man walk using a brain-spine interface (BSI) that turns thought into movement.
Why does it matter? While researchers have made some progress in treating spinal cord injury and paralysis, scientists have yet to restore natural, voluntary walking motion in a paralyzed person. Gert-Jan Oskam, the man at the center of the Swiss study, says the new BSI feels much more intuitive than earlier versions. “The stimulation before was controlling me, and now I’m controlling the stimulation,” Oskam says. He can now walk more than 600 feet per day and stand for three minutes unaided.
I’ve already had characters recuperate from limb loss by regenerating limbs. Paralysis fixing is a matter of regrowing nerves. I have written some stories about people getting up from wheelchairs through nerve regrowth. Check out this short story:
Assisted Living
by Andy Zach
I need to tell you about my own zombie story. It’s about
how my parents became zombies.
As soon as the zombie turkeys appeared in Illinois, I
started cultures of their zombie turkey bacteria in petri dishes.
When other animals, squirrels, rabbits, and cows began
turning zombie, I added cultures of their bacteria. I sought the
ultimate source of animal revivification. It was my PhD thesis
and my life’s work.
I’ve always wanted to revive animals from the dead. It
seemed the secret was through the special bacteria for each
species. Naturally, when humans became zombies, I cultivated
their bacteria too.
That’s where this story starts. My parents were in an assisted living home, and I brought them to my house for a
family reunion. Like all reunions, the house was filled with sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles, and food. Lots of good
Greek food—gyros, moussaka, and of course, lots of ouzo, the Grecian licorice liquor. We also had cold cuts and a sandwich bar for the in-laws who didn’t do Greek. The trouble began at the bar.
My father, Giorgos “Gyros” Zacharias, loves Vegemite vegetable spread. He usually ate it on whole-wheat bread. He
acquired the taste while traveling in Australia for his import-export business. That was also where he got his nickname,
“Gyros.”
Assisted Living – continued
We had whole-wheat bread, but somehow my wife and I neglected to stock up on Vegemite.
“Anastasios?” he asked me as he pushed his walker toward me.
“What, Dad?”
“Where’s the Vegemite?”
“Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to get it.”
“That’s okay. I’ll just look around for it.”
“I don’t think you’ll find any.”
“You’ll be surprised. I’m good at finding things.”
I was.
The next time I saw him, he was dancing the sirtaki on the patio while playing the “Zorba’s Dance” on his bazouki, a
Greek mandolin. He eyes glowed bright red.
“Dad! What happened? You’ve become a zombie!”
“Zombie? Who cares! I feel great! Dance with me, Anastasios. Opa!”
I don’t have a free copy of this short story, but you can get a signed copy of my short story collection Oops! by clicking here.
If you want an Oops! ebook, click here for Amazon.
What would are your ideas for this news story? Let me know, and I’ll send you a free book. Just click here.
Your Next Almost Science Fiction Science
Good old NASA gave a montage of exoplanets they’ve discovered. Where would you like to live? Which one would you write about? Lemme know!
More Almost Science Fiction Coming Up!
I love this remarkable picture of an unusual cloud formation. I’d write a story where this is a common occurrence.
How would you handle this? Get your book now, right here. You can also email me at [email protected] or you can write a comment on this blog.
Why do I give books away? Ideas are the most important resource a writer can have. Who knows if your idea will give me a great novel?