Technology in Atlas Shrugged Technology in Atlas Shrugged Technology in Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand's novel includes a variety of technological products and devices In addition to real world technology aircraft automobiles diesel engines phonograph records radios telephones television and traffic signals Atlas Shrugged also includes various fictional technologies or fictional variants on real inventions.
Spoiler warning Plot and or ending details follow.
Fictional technology
Fictional inventions mentioned in the book include refractor rays Gulch mirage Rearden Metal a sonic death ray Project X voice activated door locks Gulch power station motors powered by static electricity palm activated door locks Galt's NY lab shale oil drilling and a nerve induction torture machine.
Traffic Signals
Early on the book mentions the screech of a traffic signal as it changes This implies the older technology of mechanical traffic signals the kind which displayed a pennant or flag indicating stop or go and the inverse indicator in the opposite direction Traffic signals using lights have been around for over years so anything of this type is very old compared to today.
Project X
Project X is an invention of the scientists at the state science institute requiring tons of Rearden Metal Basically it is a death ray and is capable of destroying anything The scientists claim that the project will be used to preserve peace and squash rebellion It is destroyed towards the end of the book and emits a pulse of radiation that destroys everything in the surrounding area including Cuffy Meigs and Dr Stadler as well as the Taggart Bridge.
Rearden Metal
Rearden metal is a fictitious metal alloy invented by Hank Rearden It is lighter than traditional steel but stronger and is to steel what steel was to iron It is described as greenish blue Among its ingredients are iron and copper.
Initially no one is willing to use Rearden metal because no one wants to stick his neck out and be the first to try it Finally Dagny Taggart places an order for Rearden Metal when she needs rails to rebuild the dying Rio Norte Line.
The first thing made from Rearden metal is a bracelet.
Rearden metal is mentioned in sections and.