Mid-21st Century and beyond: global village aims for the stars

By Dick Pelletier

      

    This last of our 5-part series on what to expect as we move towards mid-century and beyond examines an amazing future unfolding from 2050-to-2100 that includes: non-biological self-repairing bodies; nanotech-enabled weather-on-demand systems; intelligent alien world discovered; humanity becomes a global village scattering its populations to the stars.

                                                      Non-biological Bodies
    Imagine living in a powerful body immune to damage from disease, accidents, or violence. In Fantastic Voyage, authors Ray Kurzweil and Terry Grossman describe how our bodies will evolve. Today's frail body has a high failure rate – more than 50 million are expected to die in 2009. During the following two decades, biotech and nanotech advances provide a stronger body, drastically lowering death rates around the world.

    This brings us to a super-body fashioned from non-biological tissues and organs, which by mid-century could boast a zero failure rate. Even if a destructive accident or violent incident were to occur, nanobots would immediately construct a new body, retrieve memories and consciousness, and allow life to continue. In the future, death may be no more disruptive than a bee sting.

                                                          Weather Control
    Geologists describe Earth's atmosphere as an envelope of air, rotating with the continents and oceans, receiving enormous energy from the Sun's radiation, which powers weather events. Typical force expended in a tornado funnel is equal to about fifty kilotons of explosives; a thunderstorm, ten times this much, and an Atlantic hurricane can build 1,000 megatons of power.

    Now enter nanotech. Forward-thinkers predict that between 2050 and 2075, nanobots could be launched into the sky to change the chemical makeup of the atmosphere, allowing the weather to be tamed. Say goodbye to dangerous storms and hello to "weather-on-demand." By the 2070s, scientists could be directing rain and sunshine to fall where needed.

                                                          Discovering Aliens
    In the 2030s, aided by a group of recently-launched high-powered space telescopes, James Webb, Darwin, SIM PlanetQuest, and Black Hole Imager, scientists discovered proof of intelligent alien life on an Earth-like planet orbiting a nearby star 30 light years from Earth. Considered the most amazing event in human history, this discovery has made the world realize we are not alone.

    In 2060, researchers at the Cern Large Hadron Collider created a data-only wormhole connection between Earth and the alien planet, allowing realtime exchange of photos and information. Our new neighbors call their home Garth and their technological abilities parallel ours. A physical meeting is planned for early 22nd century. Welcome to the federation.

                                                              Global Village

    The choice was ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the planet. Fundamental changes were needed in our values and ways of living and advanced nanotech combined with artificial general intelligence showed us how to make those changes. We have evolved from separate squabbling cultures into a peaceful global village utilizing 100% of our planet's energy with every citizen enjoying a scarcity-free life.

    By 2100, humanity has become what futurists describe as a Type-1 Civilization, a society working as one voice eager to explore the cosmos. Can this sci-fi-like "magical future" happen in just 90 years? Positive futurists believe that it can.

Please note: This article represents a milestone in the Futuretalk column. This is our 300th published piece, and I would like to thank everyone for your interest in science and technologies presented in a forward view, Dick Pelletier.

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