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I could've sworn I read an article that talked about reprogramming DNA. I thought it referred to doing it in living organisms, but that does seem hopelessly complicated.

Someone I knew had a rare childhood cancer where tumors doubled in size every 24 hours. It was based around a defective gene that, once turned on, couldn't be stopped.

Japanese researchers reported a few months ago that they had successfully transmitted power using microwaves, so it's close - as long as you don't get in the way of the microwave blast. Solar and wind power would go a long way toward solving energy needs, provided battery tech to store extra power improves. It's bizarre that oil companies keep fighting it, rather than leading new advances in energy tech to diversify their companies away from one source of revenue.

What's the cure for cancer you're referring to? I know there's research going on that can specifically target cancer cells without killing healthy cells, but I'm guessing the cancer cells will find a way to mutate to survive that too.

I need to pick up the pace of my writing to stay ahead of all the new tech. At one point I had several balding characters until I realized 2000 years ought to be enough to cure that. I do have a military man who shaves his head, but he doesn't live long enough to even warrant mentioning it.

Dirk

I love it when there's no concensus. :-)

I'll try writing it as I have been and let people tell me if it works.

Thanks all.
Dirk

I tend to find balance by standing with both feet on the ground, rather than just with one. :-)

Dirk

I've narrowed it down to espresso or bubble bath. :-)

Thanks, Vern. Also a great idea.

Sol, is anyone else reported having trouble getting email links to work on Android phones (using the phone's default mail client)? It's the links you provide in emails about new content, new messages, new forum posts, etc. The email shows the link's html text, but it's not clickable. The same email opened in gmail from my desktop has the clickable link and works as expected. I'm running Android KitKat on a Moto G phone.

Thanks.
Dirk

LOL. Actually, any goo that dissolve cars whole can probably clean up our landfills too.

Dagnee, that quote your responded to wasn't mine, but I will say that according to your definition, all science fiction can be viewed as fantasy, it's just a question of degrees. Are Star Trek transporters sci-fi or fantasy? I lost count of the number of times Commander Data used technobabble to justify the solution to whatever emergency they were facing. What about "aerial" dogfights in the gravityless vacuum of space as pictured in Star Wars? With sound! Those two franchises are generally considered space opera (a subgenre of sci-fi), same place where I put mine.

Besides, the science says that the strongest superacids (nasty stuff) can dissolve anything pretty much instantaneously, so it's doable, albeit complicated. Mine is a simplified variant of that. As Gene Roddenberry is quoted as saying, when a cop pulls out a gun, he doesn't stop to explain it.

Thanks to all.
Dirk

EDIT: In case anyone is curious, the strongest acid is fluoroantimonic acid (20 quintillion times stronger than sulphuric acid). Apparently, the only thing capable of containing it is, oddly enough, teflon.

It is the far future, but I need an excuse for a very large vat of uncovered acid, big enough to pitch something in about the size of loaf of bread and have it instantly destroyed by the acid. Superacids can do that. I can come up with other reasons for a vat of acid, but there's a particular vehicle I was hoping to dissolve first. The latter isn't critical, but a nice to have.

Either way, it's been decades since I took chemistry, and I need at least a basic understanding of the process. As Charles suggested, I could strip the car first, but modern recycling techniques simply crush and melt the metal frame. I can't use heat in this case. It has to be an acid.

Dirk

Thank you both very much. I got my questions answered.

Dirk

I'm familiar with Job, and have read many books for and against the existence of God, including some extreme views on both ends of the spectrum.

There are two "versions" of God in the book, one in each of the two characters' heads, telling them different, even conflicting things. The intent is to keep open throughout the book whether this is the real God doing these things for a purpose, or simply mental illness on the part of the two teens. God doesn't really "toy" with them, except for some light humor.

Joseph, the fundamentalist, is the character who is beginning to ask questions. He's been tasked by God to create a revolution in faith for the 41st century, to save mankind from a self-inflicted Apocalypse. Joseph's been told to write a new Bible, new commandments, etc. Everything is on the table.

As part of Joseph's struggle, I want to include faith-based arguments for some of the more troubling aspects of the Bible, including God's wrath. The arguments I've read are usually either 1.) the Bible was written a long time ago and not everything in it is true, or 2.) every word in the Bible is the Word of God, and if you question it, you're going to Hell.

I'm wondering if those of a Christian faith have come across other answers.

Thanks.
Dirk

Fair enough.