After a trip to the dentist, viral superstar David said it best: “Is this real life?” Most of us assume: yes. Of course, the reality we are living in is exactly that. Reality. Others go the other way.

Science-fiction often informs actual scientific breakthroughs, from the 1984 novel Neuromancer predicting the internet to Star Trek's 3D-printers becoming a reality. According to a recent article ...