How to design moving parts

[curious aardvark]

Okay and now rethink your answer assuming there is new technology you don't know about and a whole host of new materials with amazing properties.
ie: it's in the future :-)

[Ama-fessional Molder]

I know a lot about material properties actually. I did say it could be done in theory.

[curious aardvark]

ah yes but you're still thinking about existing materiails and technology.

It's the difference between 'proper' science fiction and the stuff where they use existing technology and try to write modern science based fiction. The only person who's ever consistently pulled that off is michael crichton.

Given the ridiculous leaps in un redicted technology in recent years, us imaginative sf writers probably have a better chance in getting a prediction right.