Our 21st Century future: the possibilities are mind-blowing

By Dick Pelletier

      

    What can we expect over the next nine decades? Of course, no one can predict the future this far in advance with 100% accuracy, but if we multi-track expected breakthroughs in nanotech, biotech, infotech, and cognitive sciences; we can create a plausible scenario of how the future could unfold.

    The following timeline reveals achievements and events that experts predict could become reality as we trek through this 21st Century journey:

    2010s – More people become techno-savvy in a fully-wired world. Smart phones, the Internet, global trade, and automatic language translators give birth to a humanity focused on improving healthcare and raising living standards. Stem cell and genetic engineering breakthroughs emerge almost daily.

    2020s – Nanotech, computers, robots make life easier. Medical nanotech improves healthcare, ending many causes of death; quantum computers unravel the mysteries of consciousness, lowering crime rates worldwide; and household robots surpass cars as the most indispensable family purchase.

    2030s – Improved transportation, longer lifespan, stronger security systems make the world safer, more enjoyable. Driverless collision-proof cars have reduced auto deaths to near zero; hyperjets fly to anywhere on Earth in an hour or less; and except for violence and accidents, most people now enjoy an indefinite lifespan. Children born in the 2030s are predicted to live well into the next millennium.

    Pessimistic views of the future portray a world filled with terrorism and violence. However, this picture was proven wrong. By late 2030s, most military and police forces employ nano-sprays developed by the U.S. DOD that temporarily disrupts minds without killing. Although this system is seen by some as invading personal rights, it reduces crime and violence and has become the weapon of choice for wars.

    2040-2060 – Human-machine merges become reality, bringing us closer to conquering death. Physicist Paul Davies, in his book The Eerie Silence writes that humanity's future lies in transitioning into non-biological beings. "Biological life is transitory," he says, "It is only a fleeting phase of evolution."

    Futurist Ray Kurzweil agrees. In his recent book The Singularity is Near, Kurzweil says that merging with machines is the only logical outcome of future technologies. He predicts that by the 2040s, artificial intelligence will outthink humans and continue to improve exponentially. At this time, researchers will develop creative ways to interface with these smart machines allowing us to share their vast knowledge.

    By 2050, a few bold pioneers begin replacing their biology with stronger non-biological muscles, bones, organs, and brains. By 2060, overwhelming advantages of living in non-biological bodies has convinced most people to swap their biology for these powerful new bodies. Non-bio bodies auto-repair themselves when damaged; and in fatal accidents, consciousness and memories can be transferred into a new body.

    Instead of dying, victims of fatal accidents or acts of violence simply continue life in their new body. Death is now considered no more disruptive than a brief mental lapse. Most patients are not even aware that they had died.

    Economically built with nanotech machines, non-bio body parts are affordable and available worldwide. By 2100, nearly all 10 billion humans on Earth, Mars, and Moon live in powerful non-biological bodies.

    2060-2075 – After developing new energy systems, humanity heads for the stars. In searching for energy, forward thinkers see fusion-power, zero-point energy, and anti-gravity schemes as essential for our future. Interest in desktop fusion sky-rocketed after a 60-Minutes interview of SRI scientist Michael McKubre, who predicted fusion cells would one day power cars for four years between charges. Other ideas include zero-point energy, and devices that defy gravity and propel rockets without using any fuel.

    Influenced by successful Moon and Mars forays, a new era in world peace and prosperity has been achieved as countries begin collaborative efforts to develop the high frontier. By mid-century, humanity has embarked on a mass exodus to space.

    By 2060, terraforming efforts began to provide pleasant atmospheres on offworld communities with breathable air and Earth-like gravity. By 2075, Moon population had reached 10,000, Mars 50,000. By 2100, projected growth will rise to 2 million, Moon; 10 million, Mars.

    2075-2100 – Create faster-than-light travel via new drive systems, develop ways to control wormholes, locate other universes and learn how to communicate with them. Recognizing that the vast distances in space must become more manageable; scientists selected fusion-power and zero-point energy as the most probable technologies that could enable space ships to break the light speed barrier.

    For example, a 2070s hyper-drive vessel or 2080s warp-speed ship might reach Alpha Centauri, 4-light-years away in just 30 days, or make the 6-month trip to Mars in only 3-hours. Officials at NASA's Glenn Research Center have been searching for other options to travel faster than light-speeds and believe that in a distant future, humans could indeed harness wormholes for instant access to faraway stars.

    Travel through wormholes is the stuff of science fiction, but scientists have suggested that the quantum mechanics of something called the 'Casimer effect' could be used to produce a locally mass-negative region of space-time. Theoretically, this could one day lead to stabilizing wormholes, which would allow matter to be sent through its passageways.

    This would enable future space travelers to step into a Star Trek-like transport system, and instantly appear at a selected destination site billions of light years away.

    How quick might we become a space-faring civilization? NASA Glenn's Geoffrey Landis believes that by 2100, we will break the light-speed barrier and soon after, begin scattering our populations to the stars.

    Finally, we'll close this glance into the future with the following mind-blowing scenario: studies at the Swiss Large Hadron Collider revealed that other universes exist. Experts say the next step in exploring these universes will be to send and receive messages. This begs the question, could future technologies help us locate our alternate selves in a parallel world and interact with that world? Welcome, to the future.

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