Science Fiction

Most scientists you met probably didn't let you into their confidence.
I met one guy who held meetings that were hard to stay awake through...
I late found he was a published fiction writer.
Not everyone is as big a show off as me...
Del

del, was he into science fiction BEFORE he became a scientist?

Does the word "Genesis" mean anything to you, Murphy?

i have'nt been called murphy since my wife called me that while we were having sex.

Sounds like you've ever met any real scientists.

Well obviously the Scientist had to come first before a concept that was later developed

History of Science Fiction

But getting back to the original heart of the question, while Science Fiction helps drive Scientists (among other professions) in their new concepts and ideas it is not the primary source of Scientist's imagination.

Sometimes all it takes is a single idea from a single individual and these can come from the most unlikely sources (taking a bath, sitting under a tree, walking along observing the world, a dream, etc).

The Scientist

The scientist uses facts to over come some obstacle in what he creates. We have been doing that since we climb down from the trees. It was necessary for survival.

The dreamer is either still in the tree or he got ate.

Now those scientist that made it, have sired some dreamers along the way. The modern day science fiction writer. Now they can create some good entertainment but it would not depend on them to create a vehicle to get me to Mars.