The 2020s: moving towards mid-century and beyond

By Dick Pelletier

      

    This is the second in a 5-part series describing what to expect as humanity moves towards mid-century and beyond. Four areas dominate attention during the 2020s: industrializing the world, exploring the high frontier, reducing deaths, and unraveling the mysteries of consciousness.

    In Technology's Promise, author William Halal claims that industrialization will cover most of the globe by 2029, creating excessive demands for resources. Modernizing China and India alone could double world energy and food consumption, the author says. But others believe this crisis will be offset by hugely-profitable Eco-oriented businesses developing fossil fuel alternatives, genetically-modified foods and nano-engineered products.

    Molecular nanotech becomes the prime force driving industrialization by enabling products to be created labor-free with low material costs. By 2029, nanotech is credited for providing a scarcity-free life for most of our planet's 8.5 billion inhabitants.

    Space tourism and other off-world opportunities attract 2020s entrepreneurs with lofty dreams. Mitsubishi's space-launched solar panels supply energy for 294,000 Tokyo homes; Bigelow Aerospace habitats appeal to businesses whose products benefit from zero gravity; and Virgin Galactic boasts a waiting list of passengers eager to visit the newly-constructed Moon Colony.

    Physicist Stephen Hawking believes humanity must expand to space. If only 1% of the 1,000 stars within 30 light years of Earth have planets with liquid water, that would make 10 such worlds in our neighborhood, he says. Hawking believes that life could be wiped out by global warming, nuclear war, or genetically-engineered viruses. If we are to survive, he warns, we must spread our populations to the stars.

    But vast distances make travel to other solar systems impossible with 2020s technologies. Development of faster-than-light-speed travel is a must, and in the coming decades, forward-thinkers believe warp-speed drives; even wormhole travel may become possible.

    One by one – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, aging; nearly all human illnesses have been brought under control with genetic engineering, stem cells, and nanorobots. By the end of the 2020s, only accidents and violence allow the "grim reaper" to claim lives.

    Some refer to the 2020s as the "Age of Consciousness." During fMRI scans, researchers observe our 100-billion neurons as they perform quintillions of interactions between each other to generate thoughts and actions. Positive futurists believe that deciphering these interactions will provide a better understanding of how consciousness works.

    Neuroscientists reason that if we were successful in decoding the Human Genome; why not tackle the monumental task of decoding consciousness? Digital computers cannot crunch the massive numbers necessary to analyze and record these interactions, but optical computers available in the 2010s and quantum computers expected by 2020 could do the job.

    Decoding consciousness will enable scientists to program this elusive trait into robots allowing them to more closely mimic human behavior. But more important, some say, is to discover how negative and violent thoughts are created and devise non-invasive ways to prevent them from forming, but without diminishing free will. This could reduce most crimes and violence.

    Will this "magical future" happen? Although some events may seem impossible to comprehend today, 2020's technologies could turn them into reality.

    Next week: The 2030s – driverless/pilotless aircars; spreading wealth; indefinite lifespans become credible; machines outthink humans.

This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.