All the futuristic technologies in 'Black Panther,' and how close they are to becoming reality

"Black Panther" is officially a box office and cultural phenomenon.The Afro-futurist blockbuster takes place in Wakanda, a fictional African nation that is generations ahead of the rest of the world technologically, but chooses to hide its innovations in order to protect its people.Since there were some clear connections between the fantasies of "Black Panther" and actual innovation happening in the real world, we took a closer look at a some of the most exciting technologies featured in "Black Panther," and tried to figure out how close these technologies are to becoming reality. (Warning: Massive spoilers ahead.)SEE ALSO:How to use the new-look Snapchat like a pro, whether you're new to the app or you've been using it for years"Black Panther": Shuri's magnet-powered subwayThere are several references to futuristic vehicles in the film, but none got more screen time than the high-speed magnetic levitation subway that runs through Wakanda's famous vibranium mine.Like most of the tech in Wakanda, the magnetic levitation (or maglev) rail system was designed by Shuri, King T'Challa's teenage sister and Wakanda's very own Tony Stark equivalent."Black Panther" director Ryan Cooler, a native of Oakland, California, has said in interviews that the Bay Area Rapid Transit (or BART) offered some inspiration for the design of the fictional subway, but you wouldn't be able to tell by simply comparing the speed, efficiency and innovation of the two rail systems.Real Life: Elon Musk's HyperloopShuri's maglev may be years ahead of any current transit rail systems, but as with most conceivably achievable sci-fi tropes, Elon Musk is working on it.Just last week, SpaceX got a permit to begin excavations in Washington, DC for building the Hyperloop, a high-speed, vacuum-powered railway that Musk says will someday be able to carry passengers from New York to the capitol in under 30 minutes.The technology is still in its infancy and the permit to dig does not mean it will be ready to ride anytime soon, but SpaceX has been hosting student prototype competitions at its headquarters in California to speed up the research process, according to the SpaceX website.With any luck, someone young and innovative like Shuri will win the next competition and lead the charge into the future of high-speed rail."Black Panther": Remote pilotingIn the movie, both Shuri and CIA Agent Everett Ross are shown driving a car and flying a plane, respectively, from a remote location.Using a recurring piece of Wakandan technology, called a Kimoyo bead, they are able to see the view out of each vehicle, as well as touch and manipulate the controls, as if they were really in the driver's seat.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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