Science Fiction Unit: Enrichment Reading by Kenda Haro

Examination Day - Henry Slesar (740)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:03:12 UTC

On his 12th birthday, Dickie Jordan learns he will have to take an intelligence exam required by the government. Dickie is curious about the exam, but as usual, his parents dismiss his questions. In a twist ending, Dickie experiences the consequences of gaining too much knowledge.

https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/examination-day?ref=commonlit.org

The Machine That Won the War - Isaac Azimov (800)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:07:58 UTC

After a long war between Earthlings and Denebians, three men discuss a machine named Multivac that is credited for winning the war for Earth. However, the three men doubt how Multivac made the wartime decisions that led to the Denebian defeat.

https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/the-machine-that-won-the-war?ref=commonlit.org

The Last Curiosity - Amy Tan (920)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:10:05 UTC

Set far in the future, after the destruction of mankind, all that is left on earth is an artificial intelligence called The Woken. In an effort to understand the human experience and mindset, The Woken design an experiment to live as humans and determine their own fate.

https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/the-last-curiosity?ref=commonlit.org

How scientists are using AI to talk to animals (720)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:17:58 UTC

The main idea of the article is the emerging field of digital bioacoustics, which uses improved sensors and artificial intelligence to observe and decode how a broad range of species, including plants, communicate. The technology is forcing us to rethink our relationship with other species and opening up new ways to think about conservation.

https://newsela.com/view/clt4kvvdq00073b6c8z6gekum

Opinion: Now that AI can write students’ essays, will everyone become a cheat? (950)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:23:42 UTC

The article is about the rise of artificial intelligence-generated writing tools, their potential for abuse by students, and the need for tech companies to develop an ethic of responsibility in order to mitigate their potential harms.

https://newsela.com/view/clbl1vfo4000k3b69gfzofvoz

Explained: Generative AI’s environmental impact

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:24:58 UTC

Rapid development and deployment of powerful generative AI models comes with environmental consequences, including increased electricity demand and water consumption.

https://news.mit.edu/2025/explained-generative-ai-environmental-impact-0117

The environmental impact of AI | Isha Gollapudi | TEDxNormal

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:26:55 UTC

Isha Gollapudi explores energy usage in computing and sustainability of manufacturing Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Isha looks at critical findings on the ramifications of virtualization on environmental sustainability and energy consumption, providing recommendations for policy formulation and technological innovation, and industry collaboration. This is not just about progress; it’s about balance, responsibility, and harmonious coexistence between technology and our planet. Isha Gollapudi, a senior at Normal Community High School, is an enterprise technology intern at State Farm and an active participant in her school's ADP program.

https://youtu.be/gr5CG-DZz3w?si=YrDFI07aDjQtUBn4

The Evolution of Science Fiction (Feat. Lindsay Ellis) | It's Lit!

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:29:09 UTC

Stories, tales, and myths from all around the world posing speculative questions around technologies have existed long before Ray Bradbury and Frank Herbert, from the time-traveling Japanese fairy tale "Urashima Tarō” to some of the speculative elements of 1001 Arabian Nights. But there are a few eras that begin to shape what we’ve come to know as science fiction today.

https://youtu.be/T4j5tGNms14?si=KzuNBu2IbDaxl7hN

Cold Conflict - Cold War History

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:31:43 UTC

The United States was not the only leading power on the world stage after the end of World War II; it had a new competitor for this power in the Soviet Union. Tensions between the former allies quickly grew, leading to a new kind of conflict—one heightened with the threat of atomic weapons—that came to dominate global politics for the remainder of the twentieth century.

Differences Between Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction (and Why They Matter)

kendaharo — 2025-04-13 16:34:47 UTC

Post-apocalyptic and dystopian books have certain things in common. They both take place in worlds that have experienced major upheaval. They both portray characters struggling against various threats or dangers. But they’re not the same thing.

https://www.cornettfiction.com/post-apocalyptic-and-dystopian-differences/#:~:text=Post%2Dapocalyptic%20stories%20take%20place,police%20states%2C%20surveillance%2C%20etc.