New Articles From Paleofuture

This week we looked at how TV tech was going to transform war, the fancy runways of the 1920s, what robotic pets should smell like, and more.

New this week:

• Strange ideas from the 1970s for the robotic pets of tomorrow, the futuristic runways of the future from the 1920s, and the grandfather of science fiction’s remote-controlled tank of 1945.

• And just for subscribers: Prediction about the four-hour workday from one of the smartest guys around in 1923.

• Don’t forget that Paleofuture+ subscribers can now read every single comic strip from the Closer Than We Think series published from 1958 to 1963. It really is one of the most beautiful examples of retrofuturism.

The Remote-Controlled Tank of 1945 Was a Prediction for the Future of War

Today, the U.S. military is experimenting with robotic tanks to destroy an enemy without risking the lives of U.S. service members. And while these high-tech machines can conjure up memories of the 1991 movie Terminator 2 for many people who were alive to see that horrific vision for humanity’s future on the big screen, the remote-controlled tank actually has a much longer history in the popular imagination.

This 1970s Computer Magazine Imagined Robotic Pets of the Future That Smelled and Even Tasted Real

Humanoid robots are really hard to build. They require a lot of intricate mechanical engineering to do something as simple as opening a door or walking just a few steps without falling down. But computer nerds of the 1970s understood the difficulties of creating human-like robots, while speculating there was an area where robots would be much easier to build: Pets.

That Viral Video From 1956 About Avoiding a Future Plague is Totally Fake

Have you seen that viral video from 1956 that explains how to avoid the plagues of the future? It seems to predict social media, America’s obesity problem, and even the covid-19 pandemic. But it’s completely fake.

This 1920s Designer Imagined Airplane Runways for Tall Buildings and Gigantic Mountains

In the early 1920s, fans of science and technology were certain that a world of frequent air travel was just over the horizon. People would be zipping from place to place like it was nothing. But there was just one problem for both dense urban areas and isolated mountaintops: How do you give planes enough space to take off and land?

New Benefit for Paleofuture+ Members: Exclusive Access to 'Closer Than We Think'

Paleofuture+ has just added a new benefit for subscribers. Members can now read every single comic strip from Closer Than We Think, one of the most beautiful and inspirational examples of retro-futurism.

Predictions for the Four-Hour Work Day in 2023 Were Met With Celebration and Ridicule in 1923

By the year 2023, the regular workday will be just four hours. At least that was the prediction from one of the smartest guys around in 1923.