The world of 2100 and beyond - Reaching for the Stars
February 29 2008 / by futuretalk
Category: Space Year: General Rating: 13
By Futuretalk
Experts predict that over the next nine decades, exponential advances in biotech, nanotech, infotech, and cognitive sciences will enable humanity to evolve from a group of self-centered squabbling cultures to become a peaceful global village with amazing technological abilities.
Best selling author and physicist Michio Kaku says that by 2100, we will be able to control the weather, extend human health and life indefinitely, and create self-sustaining space colonies on moon, Mars, and in artificial habitats a few hundred miles above Earth.
Powerful telescopes developed during this century will provide amazing views of our universe, allowing scientists to find millions of Earth-like planets and identify those that might harbor intelligent life. But the light-speed barrier will prevent communicating with these new worlds. For example, if we found life in the Andromeda Galaxy, 2.3 million light years away, it would take millions of years just to say hi.
However, physicists David Hochberg and Thomas Kephart believe they recently discovered evidence of massive numbers of self-stabilizing wormholes that were left over when the universe was formed. These marvels, they say, could one day be used as portals enabling us to travel to, or communicate with faraway places in the universe instantly; thus erasing the light-speed barrier.
With this network of wormholes at our disposal and the knowledge of how to use them, tomorrow’s space pioneers will be free to explore much of the cosmos. As we discover uninhabited planets in areas ideal for colonization, we will dispatch nanobots to terraform our newly-discovered worlds making them human-friendly. By mid-22nd century, forward-thinkers say, more humans could live in space than on Earth.
When we meet other intelligent life forms in our travels, space visionaries predict that we will find some life forms less advanced than us, some more advanced, and many similar to us. But experts wonder, “Will we possess the intelligence to recognize encounters that pose a danger to humanity?”
The positive answer is yes, experts say; the ability to defend our species will grow exponentially along with other technologies as we advance into this futuristic world. Remember, even Star Trek’s Borg couldn’t defeat The Federation.
And as we proceed further into the millennium, our wildest dreams will become possible. Some predict that one day we could even visit our “other selves” in a parallel universe (a concept discussed by physicist Stephen Hawking).
Entertainment possibilities are nearly limitless in this incredible future. For example, as a game or science project, we could select a lifeless planet in some remote section of the galaxy; dispatch trillions of nanobots to make it life-friendly, then play “creator” to the life forms that evolve on our private world.
Although it took 2 million years for us to leave the safety of the forests and build a modern civilization, it may take only a few decades to depart our friendly solar system and begin this amazing adventure to the stars.
Many hope that this “magical future” will become reality, but the world now stands at a turning point. Can humanity proceed without terrorists destroying everything? If society will focus on peace and harmony instead of relatively insignificant grievances, the answer is an enthusiastic yes.
Comments welcome.
Comment Thread (3 Responses)
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If we reach a level at which light speed is erased and portals to parallel universes are open, why would we still be interested in boring things making planets life-friendly?
We’ll be converting those planets into computronium as soon as we reach them, because our mental endeavors will be incomprehensibly much more interesting than anything we can do in physical world.
Posted by: johnfrink February 29, 2008
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To Johnfrink, we may not be interested in boring activities like making planets life-friendly. In fact, it is impossible to predict human desires 10-15 decades ahead.
I guess, in fashioning a future like this, it helps to lean on stuff like Star Trek and other fictional accountings of how the future might unfold.
However, I imagine that 22nd century life will be far more exciting and interesting than today’s hum-drum existence; I only hope that technology will enable yours truly and everyone reading this piece to survive and become part of it.
Posted by: futuretalk March 01, 2008
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Terrorists destroying everything is the least of my concerns, usually terrorists are a small body of people who of course CAN cause a lot of damage but the people who are making the big decisions have caused much more damage.. world war two, hiroshima, etc etc etc. Our government needs a refurbishment aswell as legislation before we rush in where angels dare to tread.
Posted by: Virulent March 02, 2008
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