Yes, Arthur C. Clarke is still alive, and, at 89 years old, he's just as sharp as ever, if this interview in IEEE Spectrum is any indication. Popular Science sat down with the legendary science fiction writer and futurist at his Sri Lankan home in 2004, but that was before the private spaceflight industry transformed from a dream into reality.

Clarke is a big fan of Bigelow Aerospace, and he believes his concept of a space elevator will be realized in the coming decades. He also hopes to be a customer when the space tourism business really gets running.—Gregory Mone

Click here for a photo gallery of our favorite bombshell fembots from television and film.

Fembots were a pop-culture staple long before Austin Powers battled them-witness the popularity of The Bionic Woman, The Stepford Wives and Blade Runner. But what is it about curvaceous cyborgs that stirs the imagination?