Will mankind have another huge discovery/invention/innovation?

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

Originally posted by: edro
Controlled Fusion

But you're right... it's hard to imagine something that could revolutionize our lives as much as electricity has.

It hasn't even been that long and society has changed dramatically. It truly is remarkable.

Electricity is great, but essentially unlimited electricity will be crazy.

All those energy intensive processes like raw material production will be extremely cheap.

That would probably be followed by the invention of a safe high density energy storage medium.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: Smartazz

Originally posted by: edro
Controlled Fusion

But you're right... it's hard to imagine something that could revolutionize our lives as much as electricity has.

It hasn't even been that long and society has changed dramatically. It truly is remarkable.

Electricity is great, but essentially unlimited electricity will be crazy.

All those energy intensive processes like raw material production will be extremely cheap.

That would probably be followed by the invention of a safe high density energy storage medium.

I think that unlimited energy might be required before teleportation ever really makes any waves. I remember reading that teleporting things takes a lot of energy.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The next major advancement for mankind will be the realization that there is no God, and that all religion is a pursuit of foolishness. Only when we achieve this, will we be released from the confines of stupidity. Everyone knows this.

Do you say this stuff just to say it, or do you really think that's an advancement?



Anyway, I think our understanding of quantum mechanics is going to bring about amazing breakthroughs in the next 100 years. Also, propulsion technology that is able to take us to other planets cheaply and quickly will be huge.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The next major advancement for mankind will be the realization that there is no God, and that all religion is a pursuit of foolishness. Only when we achieve this, will we be released from the confines of stupidity. Everyone knows this.

Do you say this stuff just to say it, or do you really think that's an advancement?

I think that there would be benefits to this happening, however I believe that there would be unforeseen consequences if people suddenly stopped following religion altogether. Some people still do need a way to be controlled and stay in check. Who knows what would happen? Also, I doubt that it would be much of an advancement because a lot of the people paving the way for tomorrow aren't religious zealots to begin with, so your point is irrelevant.

 

[Saint Nick]

Nanotechnology.

 

[TallBill]

The ability to "copy" the contents of a brain into a cloned body which has been aged to the person's desire. (and of course genetically altered to prevent genetic disease). The path to immortality. Simply get yearly backups, or more often if wealthy.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: om3gawave
Nanotechnology.

+1. And AI.

 

[SirStev0]

if we ever plan on advancing, then yes.


If Republicans, conservatives, and the religious right have their way, never again.

 

[yhelothar]

Brain computer interfaces.
Being able to program the brain like in the matrix, or go into any world anyone can conjure up.
Having computer enhancements to the body like the borg :devil;
There's also nanobots that's being developed that allows our blood to carry far more oxygen so we could all have the stanima of Lance Armstrong.
In short, next huge shift would be the enhancement of the human species via the biological integration of their technology.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The next major advancement for mankind will be the realization that there is no God, and that all religion is a pursuit of foolishness. Only when we achieve this, will we be released from the confines of stupidity. Everyone knows this.

Do you say this stuff just to say it, or do you really think that's an advancement?



Anyway, I think our understanding of quantum mechanics is going to bring about amazing breakthroughs in the next 100 years. Also, propulsion technology that is able to take us to other planets cheaply and quickly will be huge.

Of course it would be an advancement. It would be like children realizing that there is no Santa. Religion has held the human race back for thousands of years. It is time for it to end. Everyone knows this.

 

[adlep]

cold fusion

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The next major advancement for mankind will be the realization that there is no God, and that all religion is a pursuit of foolishness. Only when we achieve this, will we be released from the confines of stupidity. Everyone knows this.

Do you say this stuff just to say it, or do you really think that's an advancement?



Anyway, I think our understanding of quantum mechanics is going to bring about amazing breakthroughs in the next 100 years. Also, propulsion technology that is able to take us to other planets cheaply and quickly will be huge.

Of course it would be an advancement. It would be like children realizing that there is no Santa. Religion has held the human race back for thousands of years. It is time for it to end. Everyone knows this.

But I'm arguing that it doesn't making a difference whether or not people believe in religion. It holds certain people back, but not everyone. The people advancing society aren't being held back completely by it.

 

[DrPizza]

nanotechnology has been around for decades. It's only in recent years that it gained that nickname.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

But I'm arguing that it doesn't making a difference whether or not people believe in religion. It holds certain people back, but not everyone. The people advancing society aren't being held back completely by it.

It does make a difference. Open your eyes, my friend. The stupidity of religion infests nearly every aspect of our society. I would have no problem if people just practiced their religion quietly, but that is not the case. The fools come out to voice their ignorant opinions at every opportunity. They corrupt their children's minds with religious garbage, ensuring the continuation of stupidity for generations to come. This madness must end. Only then will humanity advance. Everyone knows this.

 

[SAWYER]

Be able to download your brain and transfer it to a new body/brain

 

[miketheidiot]

the internet, genetic engineering, fission, fussion, plastics; are all on par with electricity, or will be.


the big future techs: terraforming, near-light speed space travel, couple others

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Nuclear technology holds so much promise for solving so many problems. But idiots on our planet insist that nuclear energy is somehow "Bad." Using nuclear rockets, we can reduce travel to Mars to weeks instead of months, we can have nearly unlimited supplies of energy (all clean), and we can use it in medicine.

There are sooo many awesome technologies out there that we're on the brink of discovering, but the stupid religious zealots and politicians are holding us back.

 

[Smartazz]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: Smartazz

But I'm arguing that it doesn't making a difference whether or not people believe in religion. It holds certain people back, but not everyone. The people advancing society aren't being held back completely by it.

It does make a difference. Open your eyes, my friend. The stupidity of religion infests nearly every aspect of our society. I would have no problem if people just practiced their religion quietly, but that is not the case. The fools come out to voice their ignorant opinions at every opportunity. They corrupt their children's minds with religious garbage, ensuring the continuation of stupidity for generations to come. This madness must end. Only then will humanity advance. Everyone knows this.

But that doesn't keep things from physically getting invented. Who cares what the mass public believes? As long as things keep getting invented and religious fanatics stay out of our way, it won't matter.

 

[zinfamous]

without question.

http://www.newyorker.com/repor.../090928fa_fact_specter

Synthetic Biology, and its potential, is one of the coolest things imaginable right now.


To think that we have ever reached the end of advancement is to argue that there is nothing more to investigate, nothing more to invent. This is the same argument that stops with "God did it," which is intellectually vacant.

 

[theflyingpig]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

But that doesn't keep things from physically getting invented. Who cares what the mass public believes? As long as things keep getting invented and religious fanatics stay out of our way, it won't matter.

But that is the problem. Religious fools always meddle in the affairs of others. Religion has slowed our progress by centuries. We must not allow this to continue. Everyone knows this.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Smartazz
Do you think that mankind will make another amazing advancement such as the use of electricity, before we go extinct?

Yes, and it will happen in our lifetimes. One such advance was the establishment of the internet. In conjunction with the wireless cell networks and smartphones, we now have access to a huge wealth of information at our fingertips almost anywhere in the world.

Possible future advances:

The ability to artificially expand our intelligence, by augmenting it with hardware/software.
Methods for extending human lifespan way beyond the max of ~100 years.
Development of "real" artificial intelligence.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
nanotechnology has been around for decades. It's only in recent years that it gained that nickname.

I was at a conference almost 10 years ago where Nick Holonyak went on a rant about how nanotechnology and quantum computing were (are?) catchy phrases for ideas that just aren't materializing. He compared them to the evolution of the transistor and pointed out how progress in solid state transistors was so rapid versus the millions being poured into nanotechnology and quantum computing... and what do we have? Even 10 years later, his point still stands.


Anyway... huge discovery and/or inventions:
- efficient space propulsion systems
- worm holes and/or bending space/time
- teleportation
- zombie uprising
- alien overlords

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Smartazz

Originally posted by: theflyingpig

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
The next major advancement for mankind will be the realization that there is no God, and that all religion is a pursuit of foolishness. Only when we achieve this, will we be released from the confines of stupidity. Everyone knows this.

Do you say this stuff just to say it, or do you really think that's an advancement?



Anyway, I think our understanding of quantum mechanics is going to bring about amazing breakthroughs in the next 100 years. Also, propulsion technology that is able to take us to other planets cheaply and quickly will be huge.

Of course it would be an advancement. It would be like children realizing that there is no Santa. Religion has held the human race back for thousands of years. It is time for it to end. Everyone knows this.

But I'm arguing that it doesn't making a difference whether or not people believe in religion. It holds certain people back, but not everyone. The people advancing society aren't being held back completely by it.

Exactly. People aren't governed by religion the way they were 300 years ago.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
nanotechnology has been around for decades. It's only in recent years that it gained that nickname.

Picotechnology is where it's at.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: edro
Controlled Fusion

But you're right... it's hard to imagine something that could revolutionize our lives as much as electricity has.

We already have controlled fusion reactors, and they have achieved a positive efficiency rating.


Some problems I have heard of:
- The efficiency still isn't enough to make a commercial power plant viable.
- It's also not nearly enough to make it profitable.
- Degradation of the reactor casing due to neutron bombardment.




Another big shift will be sentient computers. First we'll get to the point of computer which have the raw storage and/or computing capacity of a human brain. Next would come some ability to generate new things, new concepts, new ideas. Once a computer is capable of figuring out how to improve itself, either its own hardware, or its programming, who knows how far it could go.
My only concern with this is whether or not humanity is intelligent and mature enough to coexist with such a thing. I'd lean very much toward "no" and say that we'd act on million-year-old reactions of fear and aggression.
Such a smart species, and so very very profoundly stupid at the same time.