X-Men Succeed in Making First Space Elevator Using Nanotechnology

Cyclops tells the press about the importance of
the pace elevator in Marvel's X-Club #1

Imagine the possibilities of an elevator that could bring people and supplies all the way up to an orbiting space station. A space elevator has long since been a dream of science fiction, and more recently with the discovery of carbon nanotubes, is making its way into real science. As scientists use nanotechnology to create stronger and thinner materials, we become closer to achieving this dream. This week, in the pages of Marvel Comics, the X-Men's science team figured it out.

NASA depiction of a space elevator.
Artist: Pat Rawling

The science geek in me loves all the science talk in comic books. It doesn't always make a lot of sense, but it often lines up with some of the big science ideas that make their way into pop culture. For example, the Fantastic Four got their super powers in 1961 from cosmic radiation while traveling into outer space. This was the same year that Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space.  Throughout the 1960's the word "atomic" was associated with just about everything in comics, and now in the new millennium its "nano" that keeps popping up.

I'm a member of the NISE Network, a community of scientists and educators that teach about nano-technology.  Nanotechnology is already changing our lives, and may end up having a bigger impact than the invention of personal computers or the internet.  Nano refers to a nanometer, which is one billion times smaller than a meter.  It is the same ratio as the size of the Earth compared to the size of a marble.  By studying and working with materials at the nano scale scientists can make things we never could before.  They are producing better sports equipment, clear sunblock, anti-stick substances, medicine, artificial flavors for our food, and spray-on coatings for our produce.  Nano-technology may even hold the key to fighting cancer, defeating AIDS, and to creating better photo-voltaic cells in solar panels.  If you've never hear of nanotechnology, check out the site and prepare to be amazed.

The cover of Marvel's X-Club #1
shows the four members of the
X-Men's Science team.

Okay, so back to that space elevator in the comic book. For those who keep up with the fictional world of Marvel comic books, you may know that the super-hero group, the X-Men, have founded a sanctuary and sovereign nation for mutants off the cost of San Francisco.   Utopia houses around 200 mutants.  On the island, the X-Men have a group of scientists called the "X-Club," which consists of two male mutant scientists, a female human scientist (Go Dr. Kavita Rao!), and a self-aware female robot (don't ask). The X-Club characters are normally supporting roles, but their new mini-series puts them in the spotlight.  And since the mutant nation is trying to convince the world not to fear and hate them, building a space elevator for humankind seemed like a good idea for public relations.

In the comic book, the leader of the X-Men tells the press that this project is part of a new era of privatized space exploration, and that it may benefit humankind by helping to monitor the ecological health of the earth, and harvest electricity for those communities that need it.  Is Cyclops just trying to gain credibility for his nation, or would a space elevator really do all of that?  I mean, in real life.

X-Club's Dr. Nemesis explains his process.

Of course we won't know until it finally happens, but a space elevator would be a big deal.  NASA and the US Military think so, and are researching the details.  Google thinks so, too.  They are trying to learn to build one in their secret research lab.

A space elevator would cut down dramatically on the costs of sending people and supplies into space.  Using rockets is very expensive, and a space elevator or elevators would cut down the need for them.  The space station on the other end of the elevator could conduct all kinds of science experiments.  A big part of what NASA does now is monitor the Earth.  I think we can assume that a space elevator would do some of this as well.  The station could also possibly be used to assemble and launch other space vehicles or satellites.  In this way the station could help launch, assemble, and repair solar energy-collecting satellites.  These could harness solar energy in space and beam it back down for us to use as electricity.  We are really just at the beginning of privatized space exploration.  With advances in nanotechnology it is a real possibility that space elevators may become a part of our lives in the coming decades.

I could keep writing about the comic book and about space elevators, but I think this post is just long enough.  Please, send me your comments, and if you're interested in this topic I've posted some links and a video below.

NASA's space elevator article: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/

NOVA's space elevator site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-elevator.html

The International Space Elevator Consortium: http://isec.org/