It has become common among sci-fi fans to express disappointment that the shiny future we were promised once upon a childhood – flying cars, jetpacks, videophones, robot assistants – hasn’t completely come to pass. Not sure about the flying cars or robot assistants, although I’m sure they’re not far off at this point.

As for the videophones, they exist, though maybe not exactly in the form you’d expect. Video conferencing and Skype seem to be filling that role at the moment, but can actual video-transmitting phones be far behind?

But as far as the jetpack goes, we can officially stop whining: for a mere $86,000, you can soon purchase your very own Martin jet pack. Let the people say Amen.

From the time I saw my first bowl of fruit decaying before my eyes in a timelapse movie, I’ve been fascinated with the process of taking these exceedingly slow events and speeding them up for our amazement and study. The accretion and dissipation of clouds in the sky, the buildup of snow during a blizzard, the growing of plants… these are the things that fascinate me when seen in fast motion… nature’s stop-mo.

Wired has posted a bunch of them. If you’re fascinated by this stuff like I am, go have a look!