Write a story about a brilliant scientist making a startling discovery.

Posted in Science Fiction on Nov 25, 2022

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✍️ 45 stories

“Playing God” by Sam Porter

🏆 Winner of Contest #174

It was approaching 2am when Lexi made the discovery that would fracture the world. She skulled the rest of her black coffee and sat the paper cup down on the smooth, white table. She was at the university working on her PhD thesis. The research involved creating controlled, miniature black holes in a Vacuity Machine and then testing its potential for hyper-space travel. It was mostly hypothetical research.Lexi ran the formulas through the Vacuity Machine over and over again. She was analysing the results of her most recent trial, b...

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“The Defect” by Michał Przywara

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #174

Android Jim dashed out of his lab and made his way to the water cooler, where all fifty-seven of the other employees were congregating. They buzzed with laughter, and everyone wore party hats, smoked cigars, and drank champagne. Everyone but Android Jim.“Android Jim!” shouted CEO Yamagawa. The others cheered, and the accounting department blew noisemakers.“Android Jim!” shouted VP Pharmaceuticals McCain. “Your cure for hypercancer works flawlessly! It saved millions of lives!” Again everyone cheered. “More importantly, it’s made all of us mi...

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“Diary of a Scientist” by Jack Bell

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #174

Saturday, May 26 Getting fired may well be the making of me. Can science, true science, flourish in a large institution? The Melville Neurological Institute talked a good game, always promising me freedom of scientific research, but, when it came to the crunch, they let the bean-counters shut me down. I don’t think I was unreasonable. I recognize the need for institutional bureaucracy—I enjoy a regular supply of clean pipettes as much as the next research scientist—but no bean-counter EVER comes into MY laboratory and tells me what to do...

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“The Law of Rare Events” by Terry Wayne Carpenter

Submitted to Contest #174

Warning: sexual fetish content. A darkness passes over the quiescent surveillance of drones mining precious metals beneath the ocean floor. What else could be hiding down here? Drones are the only things capable of withstanding the pressure and heat this deep in earth’s crust. The drones and their Spider Captain, of course. Upon first glance, Chester Jones thinks nothing of it, and goes back to thumbing through the photos stored on his phone: Annika… Nata… Anita… Cherise… Only five more days until the transport arrives and he can get o...

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“Definition C” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #174

Apryl, a new patient, was the young wife of Carl's attorney friend, Michael: a professional courtesy, money never changed hands at this level. They had the same dentist, as well, and formed a sort of Super Friends group of white collar grads.Carl thought it a bit unfair, as he rarely needed the lawyer nor the dentist, but they always seemed to need the psychology services he offered. For someone who had graduated at the top of his class, he was definitely getting the short end of the stick, but was it particularly enlightened of him to resen...

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“Raising a Dead Horse” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #174

Lupita Smith held the skull of the horse in her hands. “I can feel the magic in it. It’s not completely dead.” “Maybe I should smash it with a hammer then,” said Sir Danielle Longbow coldly. “Those flaming horses helped slaughter my knights.” “They’re steeds, just as a living horse is not to blame for the actions of the rider, you can hardly hold this one responsible. I can feel the remains of its so...

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“Haven’t Lived…” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #174

“As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.” ― Albert Einstein Artie Fischer began his day convinced he was on the cusp of something big. The theoretical physicist had focused on his pet research project for months. A breakthrough so close, it lay in tasting range. Those months passed, one season blurring into another. Artie scarcely knew the time of day. Eating had no priority. His team worked non-stop. They’d say, ‘I’ll sleep when I’m d...

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“Plaga Iuventae” by Steffen Lettau

Submitted to Contest #174

Author's note: this is a fictional take on a virus based on a real genetic condition called Progeria. The author acknowledges those who suffer from the condition, in any and all of its levels of severity, and wants to express that this story is not an accurate depiction, nor demeaning, of those diagnosed with the condition. The author also acknowledges that this story does not accurately depict, nor demean, any Vietnam War veteran living or not. If Claire Patterson was alive today, he would be pardoned. Why would I say this? Because ...

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“British Isles 1819” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #174

British Isles 1819 Dear Diary, This is my 831st try with the time machine. Each experiment before was beneath my touch. I am cock-sure that my calculations have been nothing less than accurate. After a belated cup of tea and stroll around the pond I have concluded that my scientific research of kinetic energy will surpass anything anyone here, especially in London, can overcome. The testing of such a device I will endeavor. Furthermore, I wish myself luck. Yours truly G.A.T. New York City 2022 “I got my 23 and Me results!” Said ...

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“The King of Xanadu” by Delbert Griffith

Submitted to Contest #174

Grit and Balloon made their way back to the camp after a morning of panhandling at the corner of the service road of I-10 and Huebner. Grit, especially, liked this corner and often fought to defend his territory. It was a prime area for panhandling; the motorists were good for about $30 before 2:00 P.M. This was quitting time and Grit never deviated from his God-given right to panhandle until 2:00 and then drink himself silly the rest of the day. It was all different now, though. Grit had recently become the leader of the camp, the man they ...

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“The Hippocampus” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #174

When I was just beginning medical school, and I heard the term ‘hippocampus’ for the very first time, I joked with the guy beside me in the class, both of us feeling safe from scowls sitting at the back. I said, ‘The hippo campus must be a place at the university where people of exceptionally large size like to hang out and float in a very big pool naked.’ We both laughed, but then our very serious teacher gave us a stern stare that silenced the two of us for the res...

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“Barneus Love” by Franke Lucifer

Submitted to Contest #174

(Content Warning: Strong Language. Adult Themes.) “So what’s going on Professor East?” David kneads through the tense muscularity of his patient, expertly modulating the pressure and position of his touch. East lets out a deep sigh as he succumbs to the rough strength of David’s experienced hands. David takes a mental note. After a long pause, East replies to the question. “Well, I’m back on Xanax if that answers anything.” East. What a strange name. Evolutionary biologist. Tenured professor within Harvard’s Department of Reptilian Instr...

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“Deep Sea” by Beth Elliott

Submitted to Contest #174

On what would have been December 12th of the Earth year 2155, two blue suns simultaneously rose and set on a distant planet. The cool light moved in an invisible atmospheric breeze, blending twilight and dawn across the sky into a shifting fabric of color, greens and blues and purples and other colors that didn’t exist anywhere else but here, in this place. The unearthly beauty of this event was not lost on the planet’s sole inhabitant. Tan looked out of the thick plexiglass window of his residential dome, drinking instant coffee out of a ...

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“Wholly Recyclable” by Michelle SHAAY

Submitted to Contest #174

The lab was as quiet as a museum while everyone focused on their specific assignments. This marked day 1000 for Dr. Craddock and his team of unorthodox, resourceful thinkers. Dr. Craddock, once a tenured professor gave it all up to pursue something much greater. "I am very much a scientist and realist," he said while walking around to each lab station. "You have been an integral part of my contribution to humanity. We will change the world for the better." As a genetic mapping pioneer, he hungered for acceptance in the alternative science co...

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“Right In Two” by Daniel Legare

Submitted to Contest #174

Warning: Graphic imagery and language. The park bench is painted with frost and I curse Dr. Fillmore under my foggy breath for dragging me out here this early. I look up and let my eyes rummage through the multiplicity of stars, the morning light only just beginning to peak out in the faintest hue over the horizon. A hand on my shoulder pulls me out of my whimsy and I turn to see Dr. Fillmore. “God, you scared me. Why don’t you have a coat on? It’s freezing-” “Come with me, now,” he says before turning around and walking briskly to...

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Write a story about a brilliant scientist making a startling discovery.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 45 stories

“Playing God” by Sam Porter

“The Defect” by Michał Przywara

“Diary of a Scientist” by Jack Bell

“The Law of Rare Events” by Terry Wayne Carpenter

“Definition C” by Wendy Kaminski

“Raising a Dead Horse” by Graham Kinross

“Haven’t Lived…” by John K Adams

“Plaga Iuventae” by Steffen Lettau

“British Isles 1819” by Savannah Wagner

“The King of Xanadu” by Delbert Griffith

“The Hippocampus” by John Steckley

“Barneus Love” by Franke Lucifer

“Deep Sea” by Beth Elliott

“Wholly Recyclable” by Michelle SHAAY

“Right In Two” by Daniel Legare

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story where someone says, “Everything is changing.”

Write about two old friends meeting for the first time in years.

Write a story about someone coming to terms with how different they are from their younger self.

Write about someone whose desire to constantly improve something borders on obsessive.

Contest #174

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

238

Contest entries

96

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: