Since science fiction allows authors and filmmakers to explore a scientific and technological aspect that has or has had an affect on the past, present, or future, it’s a wonderful genre to experiment with.
However, the science fiction films that have the most impact are usually those that deal with a scientific element that is not only existing in the real world but is also actively developing.
Kubrick’s iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey, Ex Machina, and the more contemporary film The Creator are a few examples. All of the movies are based on a technology that was just emerging at the time it was created and hadn’t yet fully demonstrated any meaningful effects on society.
The 2014 extravaganza Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a particularly well-known example of a science fiction movie with this concept.
Set in the not-too-distant future, Interstellar follows NASA’s scientists and crew as they travel the cosmos in the Endurance. Since Earth is becoming less and less habitable, the spacecraft and its crew are searching for a new home for humanity. There is a real-world element that was significant prior to, during, and years after the premiere of Interstellar, which is the cause for leaving the world behind.
What Happened to Earth in Interstellar?
Beginning in 2067, Interstellar depicts humanity at a point when they have all but given up. They understand that mankind are slowly dying along with the planet Earth. Dust storms are a common occurrence worldwide, and the crops are withering quickly. Despite the dire circumstances, there is harmony among the populace and the world is free of the violent conflict typically found in post-apocalyptic science fiction.
Individuals make every effort to lead as normal a life as possible. They preserve particular facets of society and culture, such as professional sports events, religious activities, and educational institutions.
But because people are in such need of farmers, they are particularly picky about who they allow to continue their education beyond high school and seek jobs in non-agricultural fields. This is revealed to Cooper, the main character, when he is summoned to his kids’ school to talk about their educational future. The principal informs Cooper that his son Tom’s exam results are insufficient for institutions to accept him:
There is now no need for additional engineers in the world. We ran out of food instead of television screens and airplanes. Farmers are essential to the world.
Coop discovers the secret NASA facility and discovers their plan for rescue as the dust storms and crop fires continue to frighten him and the rest of the world. According to Professor Brand, a NASA scientist and his former college instructor, a blight is to blame for Earth’s disintegration and crop failure.
Interstellar’s Blight, Explained
Simply said, a blight is a disease of plants. Either a fungus or another bacterial infection is the cause of this disease, which can be transmitted by wind, water, insects, or other animals that eat the contaminated plant. The Great Famine in Ireland, which destroyed the nation’s potato supply in the middle of the 19th century, is the most well-known example in actual history.
According to Interstellar, by 2067, corn was the only major crop still standing after the blight had destroyed almost all of them. Even corn has its limitations. Professor Brand informs Coop of the threats humanity faces in the near future after he discovers he is at NASA’s headquarters:
Blight. Seven years ago, wheat. This year, okra. It’s simply corn now. […] Eighty percent of the atmosphere on Earth is nitrogen. Nitrogen isn’t even anything we breathe. As blight grows, the amount of oxygen in our air decreases. The first to suffocate will be the last to starve. Furthermore, the generation of your daughter will be the last to live on the planet.
Although a vaccine of some kind might be developed to protect humans from contracting the disease, scientists are unable to stop the disease from spreading and destroying crops one by one. Eventually, however, the blight itself makes the air unfit for human consumption. Because it is too late to save Earth, NASA experts conclude that leaving is the only viable option.
The blight-induced death of the Earth makes comparisons to the real-world climate issue. Various fungi may evolve and adapt to survive as a result of rising global temperatures (think of HBO’s The Last of Us). Some of these fungus, however, have the potential to seriously harm all life on Earth, including the plants and animals that inhabit it.
As a result, Interstellar is one of the sci-fi movies that tackles a scientific idea that is highly applicable in the actual world in addition to being a fantastic adventure.
The scary future of Earth depicted in Interstellar seems more pertinent than ever. Is our reality being predicted by science fiction? Explore the science underlying your favorite movies in greater detail—for more stimulating information on technology and film, visit our website!