Patent Law Trivia - Sci-fi writers and prior art

Geek Trivia: Strange (water)bedfellows http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5102-10881-6098825.html
Science fiction writers are sometimes known to inspire true science. In fact there's a documentary on the Discovery Channel discussing the impact that some of the sci-fi greats have had on the way that science and engineering has developed. This is one tit-bit I found amusing especially as it effects patents. I think I'll pass this around the patent lawyers I know.