Science fiction is a literary and cultural mode of inquiry that employs speculative narratives grounded in extrapolations of scientific, technological, or socio-political developments. As a research field, it investigates the historical evolution of these narratives, their thematic engagement with scientific concepts and their potential applications (such as nuclear processes or artificial intelligence), their socio-cultural implications, and their role in shaping public perception of science and the future. Key characteristics of this concept include its interdisciplinary nature, serving as a heuristic tool for exploring complex ethical, political, and epistemological questions arising from scientific and technological change, and its significance lies in its function as a cultural barometer reflecting contemporary anxieties and aspirations regarding potential futures.