2020-2120: A Look Into the Next One-Hundred Years of Technological Advancement

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A Look Into the Next One-Hundred Years of Technological Advancement

Part of the MFA Thesis Reimagining Climate Change by Kaitlin Dowis This book has been typeset Helvetica Neue LT Std

©KaitlinDowis2020

2020-2120 A Look Into the Next One-Hundred Years of Technological Advancement

A compilation of predictions: Edited by Kaitlin Dowis

INTRODUCTION

The future is full of possibility and uncertainty. Many scientists have made predictions about what kind of technology will emerge in the next 100 years. This book is a compilation of predictions that come predominantly from scientists and engineers. The text contains a prediction for every year from 2020 to 2120. Every prediction is an advancement related to food production, transportation, energy production, medical innovation, climate, or other technological fields. All of the predictions are based on research and many of them stem from technology that is currently being developed. None of these predictions are based solely on science-fiction. This future timeline is assembled to give people an understanding of how future technology can help the world adapt to climate change.

Below is an icon key to help identify the different types of predictions that are listed.

Food Production Transportation Advancements Energy Production Medical Innovation Climate Predictions Other Advancements

CONTENTS

2020s

8-10

2030s

11-14

2040s

14-18

2050s

18-22

2060s

22-26

2070s

26-30

2080s

31-34

2090s

34-37

2100s

38-40

2110s

41-44

2020

Plastic Becomes More Recyclable

2021

Male Birth Control Enters the Market

2022

Amtrak from DC to NYC is Upgraded

2023

Neuralink Begins Brain Procedures

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The company, Licella has developed the Catalytic Hydrothermic Reactor (Cat-HTR). This reactor uses heat, pressure, and water to reduce the plastic down to more basic elements, namely the oils used to create the plastic in the first place. While the best idea for the future is to eventually not need to rely on oil at all, the Cat-HTR could help if it gets to a point where humanity is running out of oil before alternative energies can be fully developed. Best of all, the Cat-HTR can reduce any kind of plastic into oil without the need for sorting.

Furthermore, the plastic can be recycled over and over again, something that can’t be done with most recycled plastics now.

A male birth control pill has passed the first round of clinical testing, giving hope for less permanent contraception options for men – and potentially leveling the playing field when it comes to pregnancy prevention.

In the U.S., approximately 40 percent of pregnancies are unplanned. This is partly because society dictates that, unfairly, women are primarily responsible for pregnancy prevention and family planning.

The Northeast Corridor high-speed train upgrade is complete. The Amtrak spans from Washington D.C. to New York City. This train’s lightweight design, combined with minimal aerodynamic drag, would cut energy consumption by 20%.

Neuralink begins brain procedures to treat brain-related diseases such as autism, schizophrenia, and memory loss. Neuralink’s brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). BMIs are finally capable of the restoration of sensory and motor function and the treatment of neurological disorders.

2024

Home-Batteries Are Frequently Used

2025

3D Printed Clothes Enter the Market

2026

Drone Taxis Become a Reality

A self-powered home combines solar energy and home-battery to independently power your home day and night. During the day, solar panels may produce more energy than your home uses. Home-batteries store that excess solar energy and makes it available on demand, even after the sun has set. Tesla’s home-battery, the Powerwall, can detect an outage, disconnect from the grid, and automatically restore power to your home in a fraction of a second. You will not even notice that the power went out. Lights and appliances will continue to run without interruption. If you have solar and Powerwall, then solar energy will continue to power your home and recharge Powerwall. Without Powerwall, solar will shut down during an outage.

3D printing won’t replace weaving, knitting, and other conventional means of apparel manufacturing anytime soon, given its high cost and how difficult it is to make durable 3D-printed “fabrics” that are soft to the touch and which drape like traditional fabrics. We could print out customized garments right in the store, or maybe even from 3D printers in our own homes. “Imagine having a garment fit exactly to your size and preferences.”

Hyundai and Uber make drone taxis and urban air mobility a reality. With Uber’s leadership position in ridesharing and urban mobility, and Hyundai’s expertise in vehicle manufacturing, the pair transformed the concept of urban transportation. These are multi-prop and rotor drones that include a parachute deployment system for added safety. The drones are only one part of Uber and Hyundai’s three-part system, the other two parts include a land based transport vehicle that is configurable (the same unit is can be used for delivery, shuttle purposes, mobile restaurants, and medical clinics), and a landing pad for the drone. The landing pad serves as a commercial hub that contains things like shopping, restaurants, and other recreational spaces. This is a hub where the drone and the land vehicle can both dock.

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2027

New High-Speed Maglev

2028

Aquaculture Provides Most Seafood

2029

New International Space Station

10

Japan is home to the fastest trains in the world and in 2027, they broke their record with the new high-speed maglev that connects Tokyo and Nagoya. This new train route a more direct line and reduces the travel time between the two cities by approximately 50%, compared to the previous Tokaido Shinkansen maglev line.

The line is expected to connect Tokyo and Nagoya in 40 minutes, and eventually Tokyo and Osaka in 67 minutes, running at a maximum speed of 314 mph. The Nagoya– Osaka section originally planned to be completed by 2045. The government is, however, planning to support a speed-up of the timeline for the construction of the Osaka section by up to 8 years to 2037 with a loan.

Aquaculture provides the majority of the world’s seafood. Marine aquaculture (or farmed seafood) is vital for supporting our nation’s seafood production, year-round jobs, rebuilding protected species and habitats, and enhancing coastal resilience. Aquaculture—the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of animals and plants in all types of water environments—is one of the most resource-efficient ways to produce protein and has helped improve nutrition and food security in many parts of the world. In 2020 global aquaculture supplied more than 50 percent of all seafood produced for human consumption. In 2028 global aquaculture supplies more than 90 percent of all seafood produced for human consumption.

The Lunar Gateway, completed in 2029, is a mini-space station in lunar orbit and serves as a solar-powered communication hub, science laboratory, short-term habitation module, and holding area for rovers and other robots. While the project is led by NASA, the Gateway is meant to be developed, serviced, and utilized in collaboration with commercial and international partners: Canada, Europe, and Japan. It serves as the staging point for both robotic and crewed exploration of the lunar south pole, and will be the staging point for NASA’s Deep Space Transport concept for transport to Mars.

2030

The ITER Is Complete

2031

California Cities Now Connected by Train

2032

Water Electrolysis Becomes Energy Efficient

In France, 35 nations have collaborated to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that proves the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers our Sun and stars. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, is the first fusion device to produce net energy. ITER is the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of time and it is the first fusion device to test the integrated technologies, materials, and physics regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based electricity.

Thousands of engineers and scientists have contributed to the design of ITER since the experiment was first launched in 1985. The ITER Members—China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States— have been engaged in a 45-year collaboration to build and operate the ITER device.

The high-speed rail system for California is projected to encompass over 800 miles of rail, with 24 stations. The project is broken into ten separate sections due to its magnitude, and will run through areas of the state with extremely different geographical, environmental and economic issues. Each of the sections will go through the same individual Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement before significant work can begin in the area. Phase 1 of the high-speed rail system is complete. Phase 1 includes the 520 mile San Francisco to Los Angeles section of the program approved

by California voters in Proposition 1A in 2008, Phase 2 extends the train from San Fransisco to Sacramento and from Los Angeles to San Diego via the Inland Empire – this would complete the 800 miles of the system.

The production of hydrogen by water electrolysis becomes an energy efficient processes of attaining hydrogen, making hydrogen fuel cell cars the most sustainable vehicles on the market. Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

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One way of producing environmentally friendly hydrogen is by electrolysis with the electricity generated via solar cells. A great deal of research is underway into using nanotechnology to produce solar electricity at greater efficiencies and with cheaper components. Another method is photoelectrochemical hydrogen production cells. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells are being developed by nanotechnologists to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly manner.

2033

Resurrection of Extinct Species

2034

Invention of the Space Plane

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Resurrection of several extinct species has been achieved including the Caspian Tiger and the Dodo bird.

The animals that have been brought back from extinction are being reintroduced to their previous habitats.

Paleontologist Jack Horner has created several chicken-dinosaur hybrids using recovered dinosaur DNA. Critics of de-extinction in the popular science media have quickly pointed out drawbacks. From an ethical perspective, they have pointed to potential violations of animal welfare standards, the potential drain on resources that could be used in the conservation of still-existing species, and the implication that species destruction might be seen as permissible if it is reversible. The ecological objections have included the lack of ecosystems in which the re-created creatures could live, the potential invasiveness of the species in the ecosystem, and the potential for new disease vectors.

The space plane uses a pre-cooled jet engine to reach speeds of 3800 mph at 16 miles altitude using oxygen in the atmosphere to “breathe”. This provides a significant reduction in propellant consumption. It then closes the air inlet and operates as a highly efficient rocket to complete the remainder of its journey to orbit, 300 km (186 miles) above the Earth. This concept is known as the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (“SABRE”).

2035

Full Weather Modeling is Perfected

2037

Self-Driving Vehicles Dominate the Road

2036

The High-Definition Space Telescope is Operational

Zettaflop-scale computing is now available which is a thousand times more powerful than computers of 2020 and a million times more powerful than those of 2010.

One field seeing particular benefit during this time is meteorology. Weather forecasts can be generated with 99% accuracy over a two week period. Satellites can map wind and rain patterns in real time at phenomenal resolution – from square kilometres in previous decades, down to square metres with today’s technology. Climate and sea level predictions can also be achieved with greater detail than ever before, offering greater certainty about the long-term outlook for the planet.

Breakthroughs in telecommunications, sensors, and artificial intelligence have led to safer and more reliable self-driving cars that dominate the mainstream markets.

Now, autonomous vehicles can outperform even the best human drivers. A combination of GPS, on-board sensors, stability control, and adaptive cruise control allow a car to sense incoming objects from all directions, predict the movements of other vehicles on the road, and adapt to changing road and weather conditions.

Composed of 54 mirror segments, the High-Definition Space Telescope (HDST) would also be outfitted with a starlight-blocking coronagraph, enabling it to directly image exoplanets around stars up to 100 light-years away. Such a device could be built into the structure of the telescope, or, even better, could consist of a free-flying occulting disk thousands of kilometers away. The HDST would also be capable of resolving structures 330 light-years across in the universe when it was just 3 billion years old. This megascope provides images up to 24 times sharper than those from Hubble.

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2038

3D-Printed Human Organs Are Now Being Used

2039

First Synthetic Human Genome

2040

Printed Electronics

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3D printing is no longer limited to inorganic materials like polymers or metals. It is being adapted to construct living, biological systems. Layer after layer of cells, dispensed from printer heads, could be placed exactly where needed with precision down to micrometer scales. Initially demonstrated for simple components like blood vessels and tissues,more sophisticated versions later emerged in combination with scaffolds to hold larger structures in place. Eventually, the first complete organs were developed with sufficient nutrients, oxygen and growth vectors to survive as fully-functioning replacements. 3D-printing of major human organs is becoming feasible for the first time. Although yet to be fully perfected (as certain types of organs remain too complex), this is nevertheless a major boost for life extension efforts. In the coming decades, more and more of the 78 organs in the human body will become printable.

The first successful synthetic human genome is completed by the Human Genome Project group. In the more distant future, however, this area of biology advances to the point where entire synthetic people can be designed from scratch – new custom-made “super humans” able to resist all disease infections, or made immune to the radiation and vacuum in space, for example. This leads to profound ethical questions about the nature of life.

Printed electronics are commonly used. Many previously bulky or heavy devices can now be folded, stored or carried as easily as sheets of paper. This includes flexible TV displays that can be rolled or hung like posters. Also widespread are electronic newspapers with moving pictures, “smart” packaging and labels with animated text, along with signage in retail outlets that can be updated shop-wide at the touch of a button.

2041

Hypersonic Airliners

2042

In Vitro Meat

2043

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

These aircraft have a cruising speed of about 3,800 mph, enabling them to fly from Europe to Australia in less than four hours. With a range of more than 12,000 miles they can perform this journey without refueling and have excellent subsonic and supersonic fuel efficiency, thus avoiding the problems inherent in earlier supersonic aircraft. While these airliners are bigger than previous jets, they are actually lighter than Boeing 747s and can utilize conventional runways. They lack windows due to the heat generated by traveling so fast. One solution to this problem has been the installation of flat screen displays, showing images of the scene outside.

Recent advances in tissue engineering have made it possible to “grow” synthetic meat, using single animal cells. In-vitro meat has a number of advantages. Being just a lump of cultivated cells, it is produced without harm or cruelty to animals. It is unusually pure and healthy whilst retaining the original flavor, texture and appearance of real meat. Perhaps most importantly, it requires far less water and energy to produce, greatly lessening the impact on the environment. Like GM crops, there were political and psychological hurdles that delayed its adoption in some countries. However, rising food prices caused by population growth and ecological impacts, together with endorsements from animal welfare groups, later gave impetus to its development. Though still years away from completely replacing traditional meat, it is now a mainstream product in most countries around the world.

LISA is designed to sense gravitational waves with extreme precision. Three spacecraft are placed in a triangular formation, flying along an Earth-like heliocentric orbit. Laser interferometry is used to monitor fluctuations in the relative distances between them. To eliminate non-gravitational forces such as light pressure and solar wind on the test masses, each spacecraft is constructed as a zero-drag satellite and effectively “floats” around 15

the masses, using capacitive sensing to determine their relative position, with ultra-precise thrusters to remain properly centered at all times. Since LISA is the first dedicated, space-based gravitational wave detector, the mission adds a whole new sense to our perception of the Universe – enabling astronomers to “hear” events in ways not possible before and revealing many important phenomena that were previously invisible.

2044

First Spacecraft Lands on Titan

2045

Autonomous Fighting Machines

2046

Ectogenesis

16

The Dragonfly arrives on the surface of Saturn’s large moon Titan in 2044. Taking advantage of Titan’s dense atmosphere and low gravity, Dragonfly explores dozens of locations across the icy world, covering a total of 109 miles over a three-year period. It samples and measures the compositions of its organic surface materials to characterize the habitability of Titan’s environment and investigate the progression of prebiotic chemistry. The primary mission target is the huge Selk crater, produced by an impact large enough to have melted Titan’s water-ice crust and liberate oxygen in the distant past.

Highly mobile, autonomous fighting machines are appearing on the battlefield. Guided by AI, they can aim with inhuman precision and use powerful sensors, GPS and thermal vision. They can be deployed for weeks or months at a time if necessary, without need for rest or maintenance. They have other advantages such as a complete lack of remorse or fear; no need for training or retirement payments or other such costs. However, debates are raging over the morality and ethics of these weapons systems.

A new way of producing children without having to endure a lengthy, painful and potentially dangerous pregnancy cycle. Women are no longer solely responsible for childbirth and are free from worries about whether a certain lifestyle or environment was harming the fetus’ development. Every aspect of the nine-month process

is monitored in perfect detail by the machines – ensuring a safe and efficient alternative to natural birth. Those with damaged, diseased or removed uterus could also take advantage of the procedure. Homosexual couples and single men can also have children without having to use surrogate mothers. This is another option available for pregnant women seeking an abortion to place their embryo in these artificial wombs, allowing somebody else to adopt it rather than destroying the fetus. Some expressed concerns that children born in this way could lack an essential bond with their mothers that other children had. However, these machines were able to use vocal recordings, movement, and other sensations to accurately simulate a natural gestation.

2047

Full Immersion Virtual Reality

2048

Beginning of Teleportation

For the first time, human brains are being merged with computer intelligence. Rather than a user experience on a screen, people can now experience a program from within their own nervous systems, as though it were an extension of their mind. A minimally invasive procedure inserts nanobots that are self-guided towards neurons in the brain, responsible for visual, auditory and other senses. Here, they remain in a dormant state, but in close proximity to the brain cells. When the user wishes to experience a simulated reality, the nanobots immediately move into place, suppressing all of the inputs coming from the real senses and replacing them with signals corresponding to the virtual environment. If the user decides to move their limbs and muscles, the nanobots again intercept these neuro-chemical signals – suppressing the “real world” limbs from moving, and instead causing their “virtual” limbs to move within their mind. This means a user can be sitting in a fixed position, while experiencing a high degree of activity and movement.

In the early 2000s, scientists were able to transfer particles of light (with zero mass) over short distances.

Further experiments in quantum entanglement led to successful teleportation of the first complete atom. This 17

was followed by the first molecules, consisting of multiple atoms. In 2047, the first complex organic molecules such as DNA and proteins are being teleported.

2049

Orbital Solar Power

2050

Chuo Shinkansen High Speed Maglev

2051

Super Hurricanes

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The system involves placing several large satellites into geosynchronous Earth orbit. Initially, this is financed and carried out jointly by government agencies and private corporations. The surfaces on each satellite’s solar array capture the energy of sunlight, which is then beamed down to Earth via microwaves or lasers. Large collecting dishes on the ground receive the energy and convert it to usable electricity. The climate benefits from orbital solar power as well, since there are no greenhouse gas emissions. These projects are initially expensive though, due to the hostility of the space environment.

Panels require high-strength shielding to protect against space junk and their huge surface areas can make them vulnerable to incoming debris. Some of the more hi-tech stations feature nanotechnology-based composites that can self-heal. Degradation of the solar panels comes close to making them uneconomical at first, though further advances in technology later solve this issue.

The Chuo Shinkansen high speed maglev route is complete: Tokyo and Osaka are now connected by a direct high-speed maglev route – the Chou Shinkansen.

This project began construction in 2014, at a cost of over 9 trillion yen ($115bn). By 2027, the first trains were running between Tokyo and Nagoya,* and by 2045 the route has been extended to Osaka,** with trains travelling beneath the Japanese Alps (Akaishi Mountains).

The first generation of these vehicles reached 313 mph (505 km/h), but newer and even faster designs are now in use.

Gulf Coast cities are being abandoned due to super hurricanes: The rapid growth of CO2 emissions has led to rising sea levels, a warming of coastal waters and a

more volatile climate system. In the Gulf of Mexico, a new category of “super hurricane” has emerged. This is becoming a regular occurrence by now. These extreme weather events are nightmarish in scale and intensity. At their peak, winds of 200mph bring untold devastation.

Trees are uprooted and hurled like matchsticks, while skyscrapers visibly sway. Storm surges and flash floods travel up rivers with surreal speed, overwhelming defenses and bringing waves tens of meters high.

Damage from these and various other disasters has run into hundreds of billions of dollars. A number of Gulf coast cities are being permanently abandoned during this time, including Houston and New Orleans.

2052

Sustainable Skyscrapers

2053

Bionic Eyes

Sustainable Skyscrapers are built complete with the internalized creation of food, water and other resources. Farms often comprise multiple floors of a tower – regardless of its purpose – while rain, mist and condensation are constantly trapped and stored.

Advanced 3D printers are available locally on site to manufacture everything from household furniture, to personal transportation, and replacement parts for the building itself. Energy is typically provided by photovoltaics and wind turbines. These are often integrated seamlessly into the building design, so as not to harm the aesthetic appeal. Solar power, for instance, can be collected by window panes or special photovoltaic paints applied to outside surfaces.

Bionic eyes are perfected. The implants not only provide a cure for blindness, but also a means of further enhancing the day-to-day experience of users, with such features as embedded cameras, WiFi, augmented reality, infrared, zoom capability and so on. This is now tempting even healthy adults to upgrade their sight in one or both eyes by taking advantage of the improvements offered by computerized vision.* These types of devices had already been available some years earlier to the military and certain other specialized or high-profile citizens, but are now inexpensive enough to have 19

reached the mainstream. There are issues related to the technology – chiefly in regard to privacy and security, which helps in exposing a number of government and corporate scandals.

2054

Autonomous Military Aircraft

2055

Super Grids

2056

Smaller, Safer, Hi-Tech Automobiles

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Fully autonomous, intelligent military aircraft: Most of today’s jet fighters are now entirely computer controlled.

These unmanned planes have fully autonomous capability from the moment they take off, to the moment they land. A combination of strong AI, swarming behavior and hypersonic technology is employed to create near-instantaneous effects throughout the battle space.

The need for reliable, clean, cost-effective energy has led to the creation of electrical “supergrids” across much of the world. These allow nations to share power from abundant green sources and distribute it to those regions most in need. By cooperating in this way, it is possible to greatly reduce waste and to optimize power supplies on a continent-wide scale, at all times of the year. For instance, winter gales in the North Sea can provide a surplus of wind power, which is complemented by the summer winds of Morocco and Egypt.

Meanwhile, solar panels in northern Africa generate three times the electricity compared with the same panels in northern Europe, due to much greater intensity of sunlight. Long distance transmission technology has seen major advances over the decades. Each country is connected to the grid using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, instead of traditional alternating current (AC) lines. This results in far greater efficiency, since DC lines have much lower electrical losses over long distances.

Increased living costs, lifestyle changes and environmental factors have resulted in smaller, more energy-efficient cars that are usually rented on demand rather than owned. More people than ever before are choosing to

live and work alone, while the number of children per couple has also declined, which is reducing the demand for larger and more expensive vehicles. Practically all cars in the developed world are now self-driving* and either hybrid or pure electric, while traffic flow and other road management issues are handled by advanced networks of AI. The resulting fall in congestion has boosted economies by billions of dollars. Air pollution has also declined greatly. The inherent safety of being controlled by machine intelligence, rather than human hands, allows for greater speed of travel. An increasing number of countries are removing the speed limits on highways. Even when crashes do occur, which is extremely rare, built-in safety features and tougher materials (e.g. carbon nanotubes) mean that fatalities are becoming virtually non-existent.

2057

Genetically Engineering Babies

2058

Handheld MRI Scanners

The ability to manipulate DNA has come a long way since its discovery in 1953. A century on, wealthy parents now have the option of creating “perfect” babies in the laboratory. This is done by picking and choosing their best hereditary traits. Gender, height, skin, hair and eye color – along with hundreds of other characteristics – can be programmed into the embryo prior to birth. The embryo is then grown in an artificial uterus.* The most advanced (and controversial) techniques involve manipulating the brain to improve the child’s intelligence, behavior and personality. Many conservative and religious groups decry what they see as the commercialization of the human body.

The ability to scan, analyze and diagnose the body has taken a huge leap forward by now. 3D imaging of internal structures and brain activity is now possible using real-time video, rather than static photos. This can be accomplished with devices no bigger than a camera or tablet. A new generation of machines began to evolve, based on supersensitive atomic magnetometers, detecting the tiniest magnetic fields. These replaced the enormous doughnut-shaped magnets used in the past.

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By the late 2050s, MRI scans have become as quick and easy as taking a photograph, with a hundredfold decrease in cost. This is allowing healthcare programs in developing countries to benefit particularly.

2059

Mars has a Permanent Human Presence

2060

The End of the Oil Age

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A permanent team of scientists is present on Mars.

The first civilian tourist has also arrived. Travel to Mars was made cheaper and faster thanks to nuclear pulse propulsion, cutting journey times from six months to just a few weeks. The base will soon be expanded with new facilities providing more energy, food production and recycling systems, along with mining equipment and other tools. Vehicles are now being supplied, improving mobility and enabling citizens to roam hundreds of miles. More sophisticated long term bases are now being planned to accommodate larger teams of scientists as well as corporate interests. The habitat modules are constructed partially underground, giving protection from the Sun’s ultraviolet glare. Radiation-absorbing materials based on advanced nanotechnology are used in spacesuits, as well as on the exterior of the vehicles. These same materials have filters to block even the tiniest particles of dust, providing long term protection against the environment outside.

For most of the 20th century, prospectors discovered far more oil than industrial societies could consume.

This was an era of cheap and plentiful energy that saw huge growth in the world’s economy and population. By 1970, however, a major slowdown in discoveries was observed. This continued into the 21st century and the industry now faced competition from renewables. By the late 2050s, the end of the 200-year oil age is being witnessed, as the final dregs of economically viable reserves are extracted.* Plastics and other oil-based products have been replaced by alternatives, such as bioplastics.

2061

Virtual Reality Schooling

2062

Nanofabricators

2063

Human-Like AI

Full immersion virtual reality allows modern “schools” to exist as purely online institutions, with a seemingly infinite variety of classes and subjects. These can be experienced through self-guiding neural implants – or more commonly, by simply wearing an external device like a headset or visor. Free software and the negligible cost of hardware have brought unprecedented levels of education to Third World countries. The lack of required physical infrastructure and reduced need to pay teachers* has given even the poorest neighborhoods access to a range of study far beyond anything seen in the past. While schools and colleges still exist in the physical world, these are declining in number and have been heavily influenced by information technology. Instead of paper or textbooks, students make use of portable tablet devices with essentially limitless power and bandwidth, again at negligible cost. As a consequence, global illiteracy has fallen below 1%.

Nanofabricators are a mainstream consumer product: These all-purpose, desktop machines can reproduce a seemingly infinite variety of items. In effect, they are like miniature factories – more advanced versions of 3D printers seen in earlier decades. They have been around in certain military, corporate and medical environments for a while, but are now a mainstream consumer product. In appearance, they resemble a combined washing machine/microwave oven. Raw materials are purchased separately and can be loaded in solid, liquid or powder form. An interior compartment is accessed via a small hatch, where objects are constructed atom-by-atom.

The process takes a matter of minutes and the assembled items can be used immediately. New schematics can be accessed from the web and programmed into the machine.

Analysts expect that people will continue to become more reliant on networked artificial intelligence (AI) in complex digital systems. Some say we will continue 23

on the historic arc of augmenting our lives with mostly positive results as we widely implement these networked tools. Some say our increasing dependence on these AI and related systems is likely to lead to widespread difficulties. By 2063, advancing AI and related technology systems are enhancing human capacities and empowering them. There is still a concern that advancing AI and related technology systems will lessen human autonomy and agency to such an extent that most people will not be better off than the way things have been until now.

2064

Longevity Treatments Able to Halt Aging

2065

Self-Assembling Buildings

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In the early 2000s a Harvard team that recently uncovered a chemical that reverses the aging process in cells. The scientists fed mice NAD, a naturally occurring compound that enhances mitochondria – the cell’s energy factories – leading to a more efficient metabolism and less toxic waste. After just a week, tissue from older mice resembled that of six-month-old mice, an ‘amazingly rapid’ rate of reversal that astonished scientists. In human years, this would be like a 60-year-old converting to a 20-year-old practically before our eyes, delivering the tantalizing dream of combining the maturity and wisdom of age with the robust vitality of youth. In the 2060s, for those who avail themselves of the pricey new drugs, the healthy super-old population could be more common at age 100, 120 or more.

Entire homes and offices are beginning to be built using nanotechnology alone. The machines responsible are comparable to larger versions of 3D printers and nanofabricators. For some of the more “unique” building designs or features, traditional methods of construction and engineering are still incorporated. Even these will eventually be replaced by self-assemblers as the technology advances further. Atom by atom, these intelligent machines lay the foundations, core, framework, flooring, electrics, doors and other components – while robots inspect the interior, perform safety checks and make adjustments where necessary. By the 2070s, even skyscrapers and other tall structures can be erected using

this method. The process is so rapid, it takes a matter of days from groundwork to final completion. Humans are rarely if ever needed on site.

2066

The Antimatter Spacecraft is Invented

2067

Earthscrapers

In 2010, particles of antimatter were trapped for the first time at CERN in Geneva. With energy density roughly 10 billion times more powerful than chemical reactions such as hydrogen and oxygen combustion, antimatter held potential as the ultimate source of spacecraft propulsion. Unfortunately, it was extraordinarily difficult and expensive to produce, with a few grams costing trillions of dollars and total production from 1950 to 2010 being just 10 nanograms. In the early-mid 21st century, scientific and technological progress began occurring at an exponential rate. Anti-proton production began to increase substantially, aided by ever-more sophisticated models and simulations, together with AI programs that matched – and even exceed – human intelligence.

This happened in parallel with rapid advances in engine design, materials science and fusion power. By the late 2060s, the first prototype antimatter-powered spacecraft is demonstrated.

Underground habitats are commonplace: underground towers, often referred to as “earthscrapers,” can reach hundreds of meters below the Earth’s surface, utilizing new materials and structural techniques in combination with self-sufficient power generation and production of food/water, fully automated recycling, heat management and so on. Some facilities are even powered by fusion, while others have access to geothermal energy if placed in the appropriate geographical location. Subterranean gardens, sports and entertainment, virtual reality and other features ensure that occupants are kept stimulated and free of claustrophobia.

25

2068

Nanotech Clothing Enters the Market

2069

Picotechnology is Becoming Practical

2070

Plastic Recycling Reaches 90% Worldwide

26

Construction via self-assembling nanotechnology has been around for a number of decades. Until now, the process was only practical using bulky and/or conspicuous machinery, nanofabricators, or objects suspended in tanks of catalytic fluids. However, recent advances in nanorobotics have allowed for more subtle and rapid construction of macro-scale objects in a more compact form-factor and with less impact on Earth’s natural resources. As happened with early nanotech adoption in the 2020s, one of the easiest and most common applications has been in fabrics. Today, a high-end home closet may consist of simply a thin surface or pad built into the wall or floor, concealing a mass of nanobots and molecular building materials. A user can stand on or touch this surface and issue instructions to the machine on what to create. Each nanobot is then programmed with the final clothing design and set into motion.

Technology on the scale of trillionths of a meter is becoming practical now. Known as “picotechnology”, this is orders of magnitude smaller than nanotechnology of earlier decades. Among other applications, it allows the structure and properties of individual atoms to be altered via manipulation of energy states within electrons. This can produce metastable states with highly unusual properties, creating new and exotic forms of matter.

With increasing pressure from both consumers and governments, hundreds of the world’s leading packaging brands committed to ensure that 100% of their plastic packaging could be reused, recycled or composted.

This spread to recently developed economies with higher incomes, now able to afford the necessary waste management infrastructure. By 2050, most countries had either substantially reduced or even eliminated plastic entering landfills. A new generation of domestic appliances for dealing with household waste have emerged, now able to deconstruct and recycle a seemingly infinite variety of plastic products. Inexpensive, compact and

easy to use, these are typically desktop machines in the same form-factor as a 3D printer, offering the dual functions of assembly and disassembly. As well as being popular in the home, they are found in many public venues and workplaces. Alongside these high-tech machines are regular drone and robotic patrols in towns and cities, which can identify and pick up discarded litter within a matter of minutes.

2071

The First Space Elevator is Invented

2072

Space Tourism Begins

By the late 2070s, following 15 years of construction, a space elevator reaching from the Earth’s surface into geostationary orbit will become fully operational. The construction process involves placing a spacecraft at a fixed position (22,236 mi above the equator) then gradually extending a tether down to “grow” the cable towards Earth. It also extends upwards from this point (to over 29,204 mi) a height at which objects can escape the pull of gravity altogether. A large counterweight is placed at this outer end to keep it taut. Locations that are most suitable as ground stations include French Guiana, Central Africa, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

For the more adventurous, guided excursions on the lunar surface are possible. However, being somewhat more expensive and complicated, these are generally still reserved for those on above-average incomes. In addition, anything longer than a simple tour requires dedication and training that means it is often considered a rather extreme leisure activity, akin to mountain climbers or deep sea divers of the past. Among the most popular tour destinations are the Apollo landing sites, which have been surrounded by perimeter fencing and made into UNESCO World Heritage sites. Beyond these “tourist traps” are many areas of geological interest, which are being visited by explorers and researchers keen to claim their place in the history books.

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2073

Construction of Trans-Atlantic Tunnel

2074

Deadly Heat Waves Begin

2075

Hyper-Intelligent Computers are Invented

28

The construction of trans-atlantic tunnel has begun.

Built from advanced automation and robots, and controlled by AI, this is among the largest, most ambitious engineering projects ever undertaken. With a hyperfast Maglev that can travel as fast as 4,000mph, passengers using the tunnel can be delivered from Europe to America in under an hour. Carbon nanotubes, along with powerful geo-sensing devices, have been paramount in the structure’s design. These devices can self-adjust in the event of undersea earthquakes, for example. Also noteworthy is that the train cars operate in a complete vacuum. This eliminates air friction, allowing hypersonic speeds to be reached. Estimated cost of the project is $88-175bn.

Heatwaves have become annual occurrences. In the peak of summer, temperatures in major cities such as London and Paris reach over 104°F. In some of the more southerly parts of the continent, temperatures of over 122°F are reported. Thousands are dying of heat exhaustion. Forest mega-fires rage in many places while prolonged, ongoing droughts are causing many rivers to run permanently dry. Spain, Italy and the Balkans are turning into desert nations, with climates similar to North Africa. By mid-21st century (2036–2065), the annual numbers of days with temperatures exceeding 100 °F and 105 °F doubled and tripled, respectively, compared to a 1971–2000 baseline. By late century (2070–2099) with a high emissions scenario, there are four-fold and eight-fold increases from late 20th century conditions in the annual numbers of days with heat indices exceeding 100°F and 105°F, respectively; 63% of the country would experience no analog conditions once or more annually; and extreme heat index events exceeding 100°F would nearly triple in length.

Due to Moore’s Law, $1000 of computing power is now equivalent to a billion Earth’s worth of human brains.

Laptop-sized computers of today can perform the

equivalent of all human thought over the last ten thousand years in less than ten microseconds. Technology is progressing so fast that – in order for people to comprehend it – neural upgrades have become necessary on a regular basis.

2076

Conventional Meat Becomes Obsolete Public attitudes towards meat in general were shifting.

Preferences gradually moved away from traditional animal slaughter, in favor of alternative ways to produce meat. The climate crisis, resulting in part from the livestock industry (accounting for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions), gave added momentum to the need for change. Plant-based vegan meat replacements emerged as a popular substitute in the 2010s. These meat replacements could mimic the sensory experience of meat. However, an even more realistic alternative was in development: cultured meat, produced by in vitro cultivation of animal cells. The first lab-grown burger had cost $384,000. Other scientists and companies were beginning to research and develop their own versions.

Tens of millions of dollars began to flow into this industry.

By the early 2020s, cultured meat was commercially available in a number of restaurants and supermarkets around the world. Cultured meat had the potential to drastically reduce environmental impacts, with 95% lower greenhouse gas emissions and requiring 99% less land. By the 2080s, the world has changed almost beyond recognition. Biotechnology has swept aside traditional agriculture and its many related infrastructures – rendering vast areas of farmland redundant and providing an opportunity to restore forests, rivers, lakes and other natural features. Many regions have banned the slaughter of animals. Most households with at least a middle income or above have access to a kitchen appliance that can replicate meat products within a matter of minutes. Many people today look back in horror at the farming practices of the past, which killed upwards of 65 billion animals per year and had gigantic environmental impacts.

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2077

Most Law Enforcement Officers are Androids

2078

Hypersonic Vactrains are Built Worldwide

2079

Fully Automated Homes Become Common

30

Fully autonomous, human-like mobile robots are deployed in many cities now. These androids are highly intelligent, able to operate in almost any environment and dealing with various duties. As well as their powerful sensory and communication abilities, they have access to bank accounts, tax, travel, shopping and criminal records, allowing them to instantly identify people on the street. The presence of these machines is freeing-up a tremendous amount of time for human officers. They are also being used in crowd control and riot situations.

With inhuman strength and speed, a single android can be highly intimidating and easily take on dozens of people if needed. Special controls are embedded in their programming to prevent the use of excessive force.

Much of the world has now established a hypersonic, evacuated tube transport system connecting major population centers. Routes extend primarily throughout Russia, Northern Europe, Canada and the US. These trains are more advanced versions of the slower, simpler prototypes first introduced decades previously. This form of transport works by combining the principles of maglev trains and pneumatic tubes. The trains, or vactrains as they are called, travel inside a closed tube, levitated and pushed forward by magnetic fields. After passing through an airlock, the train cars enter a complete vacuum inside the tube. With no air friction to slow it down, the vactrain can reach speeds far beyond that of any traditional rail system. The fastest routes can now reach speeds of around 4,000 mph (around five times the speed of sound) compared to a 300 mph maglev train a century earlier.

Buildings in developed nations have become highly automated and self-sufficient. In addition to robots, a typical new home now includes a localized power supply, on-site water production and waste management, a multi-layered building envelope which provides a variety of dynamic effects, air

purification systems, interactive surfaces, intelligent/ self-maintaining appliances, and a modest size. Energy can be generated by the building itself. Walls, roofs and windows can absorb almost all wavelengths of light from the Sun with organic solar technology, turning it into heat and electricity. This is converted and stored in any number of ways, from hydrogen to batteries. In countries where sunlight is less frequent, microturbines may be used in place of solar. Rain is captured by external guttering, then stored and converted into drinking water using nanofiltration systems. Meanwhile, plastics and other kitchen waste can be placed in recycling machines, ground into extremely fine powder, then later re-used. Air within the home is kept fresh, purified and completely free of dust and microbes. Appliances that don’t repair or maintain themselves in some way have become largely obsolete by now.

2080

Homeless Dying from Heat Waves is an Issue

2081

20 Hour Work Weeks Due to Automation

Extreme heat is already the leading cause of weather related death in the United States. If the number of homeless people continues to increase alongside temperatures, it will be a recipe for serious health consequences.

In the early 2080s, death of the homeless population due to rising temperatures is at an all time high.

The growth of personal manufacturing in the form of 3D printers and nanofabricators, alongside increasingly common means of local power generation, began to significantly alter the economy. As production became more decentralized, work became less of a requirement for basic living. Spending on necessities like food, cars, clothing, household furnishings and utilities had already declined from 55% in 1950, to under 35% by the 2010s.

With such items becoming producible on a personal and community scale, work hours in many places were gradually becoming a matter of choice rather than need.

By the 2040s, the average workweek had fallen below 30 hours. This trend continued, falling below 20 hours during the closing years of the 21st century.

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2082

Migration Due to Rising Temperatures

2083

Some Humans Are Becoming Mostly Bionic

Cities near the Equator are becoming too hot to visit or live. There is a mass migration movement from some of the hottest places in the world. Canada and Russia are experiencing high rates of immigration.

Today, the average citizen has access to a wide array of biotechnology implants and personal medical devices.

These include fully artificial organs that never fail, bionic eyes and ears providing Superman-like senses, nanoscale brain interfaces to augment the wearer’s intelligence, synthetic blood and bodily fluids that can filter deadly toxins and provide hours’ worth of oxygen in a single breath.

2084

Polar Bears Face Extinction

2085

Asbestos Production Ends Globally

32

Between 2000 and 2050, polar bear numbers dropped by 70 percent, due to shrinking ice sheets caused by global warming. By 2080, they have disappeared from Greenland entirely – and from the northern Canadian coast – leaving only dwindling numbers in the interior Arctic archipelago. Of the few which remain in the wild, ice breaking up earlier in the year means they are forced ashore before they have time to build up sufficient fat stores. Others are forced to swim huge distances, which exhausts them, leading to drowning. The effects of global warming have led to thinner, stressed bears, decreased reproduction, and lower juvenile survival rates. The majority of polar bears now live in captivity.

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals, all of which form into long, fibrous, crystalline shapes. Viewed at the microscopic level, each fiber is composed of millions of tiny “fibrils” that can be released by abrasion or other processes. In the late 1970s, court documents proved that asbestos industry officials had known of the dangers since the 1930s, but concealed them from the public. The continued long-term use of asbestos after harmful health effects were known

or suspected, and the slow emergence of symptoms decades after exposure ceased, made asbestos litigation the longest, most expensive mass tort in U.S. history, involving more than 8,000 defendants and 700,000 claimants. The production of Asbestos is now banned globally.

2086

Brain Tumor Survival Rates Increase

2087

Fusion Power is Widespread

2088

Books Are Obsolete

Due to their invasive and infiltrative nature, brain tumors were once considered a death sentence. Detection usually occurred in advanced stages when the presence of the tumor had caused unexplained symptoms. In the 21st century, however, detection and treatment methods improved greatly with nano-robotics, gene therapy and technologies able to scan, analyze and run emulations of complete brains in astonishing detail. Alongside this was the gradual emergence of “transhumans�, who began utilizing permanent implants in their brains and bodies, alerting them to the first signs of danger. Towards the end of this century, five-year survival rates for brain cancer are approaching 100% in many countries, the US being among the first.

Most leading countries now have at least one fusion plant either commercially operational, or in the process of construction. These reactors offer a clean, safe and abundant supply of energy.

Libraries still exist and are more numerous but smaller.

Physical objects, such as books and manuscripts, are digitally archived to be preserve and authenticated.

Scanning the global databases for information is easily accessible and tailored to the interests of the user. Physical books have all been replaced by digital downloads located on a global network accessed by computers or hand-held devices which will feature a high resolution display that is more readable than a book.

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2089

The World Population Reaches 10 Billion

2090

Hurricane Defense Fields Become Operational

2091

Starman has Close Encounter with Earth

34

The world population is just over 10 billion people. There is little to no growth in the world population by this time due to the amount of births equaling deaths. By this time, the average life expectancy worldwide is 82.6 years.

By 2088, the South Atlantic states are generating over 300 gigawatts of offshore wind power – fully half of their technical resource potential. In addition to providing abundant clean energy, these vast networks now serve an incredibly important extra function: the sheer scale of wind farms now spread across the coasts is sufficient to interact with and alter the strength of approaching hurricanes. After using satellites to analyze wind patterns, thousands of floating platforms are maneuvered by AI to their optimal positions. The energy extracted by these wind turbines, when fully optimized, can diminish a hurricane’s peak wind speed by over 90 mph, enough to reduce it from category 5 to category 1 or less, and reduce storm surges by almost 80%. These hurricane defense fields are not infallible and many other impacts of climate change remain to be solved.

Nevertheless, the ability to partially control an aspect of the world’s weather system is hailed as a major milestone in the fight against global warming.

In 2018, SpaceX conducted the launch of the Falcon Heavy, a partially reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to transport people and cargo beyond Earth’s orbit. The rocket was carrying a Tesla Roadster with a mannequin, nicknamed Starman, appearing to “drive” the car while wearing a spacesuit. The Roadster, released upon reaching outer space, had sufficient velocity to escape Earth’s gravity. It entered into an elliptical heliocentric orbit that would eventually cross the orbit of Mars. In 2091, after a period of 73 years, Starman makes a close approach of Earth. Continuing to circle the inner Solar System for millions of years into the future, with a small probability of colliding with Earth (6%) and Venus (2.5%) during the first million years.

2092

Antarctica is the Fastest Developing Region

2093

Marine Algae Farms Are Integral in Agriculture

2094

Mars Terraforming Process Begins

Due to global warming, temperatures at the poles have risen more than anywhere else in the world. Parts of Western Antarctica are now comparable with the climates of Alaska, Iceland and northern Scandinavia.

In some areas, melting of surface ice has resulted in conditions appropriate for large-scale human settlement.

The icy continent’s northern peninsula is now home to a multitude of towns and conurbations, with a total population numbering in the millions. Even farming and crop growing is now possible in some of the most northerly areas. Rapid immigration from countries all over the world has created a diverse mix of people and cultures flocking to this new land of opportunity. In a way, the settlement of Antarctica is similar to that of America in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Algae grows 10 times faster than terrestrial plants, and less than a tenth of the land is needed to produce an equivalent amount of biomass. It grows on nonproductive and non-arable land, so it doesn’t compete with other crops for land. Since it doesn’t require fresh water, it can be fertilized more efficiently than land crops, and you can avoid the intensive water usage, wasteful fertilizer runoff, and downstream eutrophication associated with modern agriculture. Algae provides a valuable source of carbon-neutral fuels, feed for the agriculture and aquaculture industries, and high-protein food products for direct human consumption.

With space travel becoming low cost, and journeys between planets now relatively routine, serious plans are underway for the transformation of Mars, with the ultimate goal of making it habitable for humans. Exactly who should be given control of Mars and its resources – or if the planet should have independence – is the subject of much debate and speculation around this time. Justifications for choosing Mars over other potential terraforming targets include the presence of water and a geological history that suggests it once harbored 35

a dense atmosphere similar to Earth’s. Hazards and difficulties include low gravity, low light levels relative to Earth’s, and the lack of a magnetic field.

2095

36

Controlled-Environment Cities Controlled-Environment (CE) Cities begin construction in areas of the world that are becoming too hot to sustain most life. This concept was developed from Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA). CEA is a technology based approach toward food production. It provides protection and maintain optimal growing conditions throughout the development of the crop. Plants are often grown using hydroponic methods in order to supply the proper amounts of water and nutrients to the root zone. CEA optimizes the use of resources such as water, energy, space, capital and labor. Methodologies based on this technology were used in the creation of CE Cities. These cities could sustain temperatures from the 60˚F to 80˚F while outside temperatures could range from 20˚F to 140˚F. Climates optimal for growing crops are also easily created and sustained within these cities.

Solar energy can be captured and released to boost the temperature during cooler periods. Waste heat from livestock can also be used for heating, such as, the placement of a chicken coop to recover the heat generated by the chickens, which would otherwise be wasted.

Another method is geothermal heating. Sensors are used to monitor the temperature and adjust the furnace operation. This can be as simple as a basic thermostat, but can be more complicated in larger operations. These CE Cities are usually comprised of a network of geodesic domes, the reason for the structure is that they are best for wind and storm resistance, regulating temperature, air flow and ventilation, and maximum solar gain and light. Geodesic domes use stable triangles approximating spheres to create multiple load carrying paths from point of load to point of support. Triangles are the strongest shape because they have fixed angles and don’t distort very easily.

2096

First CE City in Singapore

2097

First CE City in France

2098

First CE City in The United States

2099

Singapore is the first country to finish a Controlled-Environment City. Singapore has been one of the most advanced countries when it comes to controlled-environment technology. In the early 2000s they established Gardens by the Bay, an extensive garden that includes two controlled-environment bio-domes. Singapore’s CE City focuses highly on climate diversity as well as diversity within plant species. Having such a diverse collection of plants and flowers is something that Singapore takes pride in.

France finishes construction on their first Controlled-Environment City. France’s first CE City contains the world’s largest single bio-dome. It spans a colossal 300,000 square feet, and is connected to smaller dome structures that make up the city. It features a double-insulated, transparent, shell-like roof on an unprecedented scale. Plastic and steel are used to construct the dome and it is constructed partially embedded in the earth to use natural insulation. Excess heat created by the complex will also be recycled for use in outlying dome structures.

The United States finishes construction on a Controlled-Environment City in Arizona. This CE City was named Salt City because it was built along the Salt River and Theodore Roosevelt Lake. The city uses these water sources as reservoirs. The reservoirs have built in purifiers so that the water can be fully recycled and reused within the city. This CE City is made up of a network of bio-domes that are connected by tunnels and a Maglev Vactrain that travels within the city in addition to out of the state.

First CE City in The United Kingdom The UK finishes construction on their first Controlled-Environment City. The UK was the first country to synthetically replicate every climate type in the world. These 37

domes are covered in hexagonal weather-proof glass panes. Inside the biomes are over one million different plant species, each one reflecting the climates of their respective biomes. The Tropical Biome features rubber plants, bananas, and bamboo stalks towering above residents in the nearly 20 acre dome. The Mediterranean Biome is only 10 acres, but is filled to capacity with olive plants and grape vines.

2100

Sustainable Presence on Mars

2101

The First Colony on Mars

2102

Thought Transmission Communication

38

Nasa and SpaceX have been working closely together to built and maintain the first sustainable off-world presence on Mars. It has been 40 years since the end of the oil age and Mars receives 95% of its energy from solar power. Although the terraforming process on Mars is underway, the life sustaining structures on Mars are all currently using controlled-environment technology.

The First Colony on Mars has been completed by SpaceX. This colony is comprised of people that were carefully chosen by their physical health and skill in their fields. At this time, all the people transported to the colony need to have skills that contributed to a fully functioning and sustainable society. Other than people in the engineering and medical fields, there are many agricultural specialists and environmental scientists that work closely with SpaceX to plan for the most sustainable future on Mars.

Communication through thought transmission is perfected by Sonya Xan. Transmission is just as easy as other forms of brain augmentation. Picking up thoughts and relaying them to another brain is the next step after storing them on the Internet.

2103

The First Weather Control Device

2104

Universal Point System Replaces Currency

2105

Cloning Historical Figures Begins

The first weather control device creates a small rainstorm. There is already some weather control technology for mediating tornadoes, making it rain and so on, and thanks to climate change concerns, a huge amount of knowledge is being gleaned on how weather works.

We now have technology to be able to control weather when we need to. It isn’t cheap enough to use routinely and is mostly used to avoid severe damage in key areas. A majority of scientists in the US support a federal program to explore methods for engineering the Earth’s climate (otherwise known as geoengineering). These technologies aim to protect against the worst effects of man-made climate change.

Everyone on Earth begins to use the universal point system in place of traditional currency. All nations benefited from this transition since there is no longer be currency risk in international trade. Traders no longer had to hedge their positions in fear of currency fluctuations. All transaction costs related to international finance were eliminated as well. Individuals traveling abroad would benefit as well as businesses conducting operations in other countries. Breaking down a currency barrier lead to increased trade amongst nations.

These human clones begin as normal infants, each brought to term by a human mother. The only difference is that the reproduction is asexual instead of sexual.

Scientists would take a donated egg, fuse it with­a cell from the person to be cloned and then implant it in the mother. This procedure is known as somatic cell nuclear transfer. Individuals who are dead and have been for years are now able to be cloned, provided enough genetic material has been preserved. The resulting clone baby would have none of the memories or experiences of its clone parent. But genetically, it would be identical.

A clone of Einstein would possess the same mental advantages the original possessed at birth.

39

2106

Average Life Expectancy Reaches 120 Years Average life expectancy for humans reaches 120 years due to biological engineering and machine augmentation. Most humans have undergone life-extending procedures, treatments and therapies. These luxuries are no longer available exclusively for the wealthy, prices of treatments have been drastically lowered due to mass production and availability.

2107

The 3 Official Languages of Earth

2108

Augmentation used to Increase Intelligence Most humans use machine augmentation to increase their intelligence. Ubiquitous, large-scale automation has led to vast swathes of human employees being replaced by virtual or robotic counterparts. Strong AI now occupies almost every level of business, government, the military, manufacturing and service sectors. Rather than being separate entities, these AIs are often merged with human minds, greatly extending the latter’s capability.

For instance, knowledge and skills can now be downloaded and stored directly within the brain. As well as basic information and data, this includes many physical abilities. A person can learn self-defense, become an expert in any sport, or be taught to operate a new vehicle, all within a matter of seconds.

2109

The First Gravity Propulsion System

40

English, Spanish and Mandarin are the official languages of Earth. Minor languages were dying at a huge rate for decades and the other major ones are mostly in areas where everyone educated speaks at least one of the other three. Previous languages of Earth are all documented and are still studied by historians.

The first gravity propulsion system is completed by SpaceX. The ability to control gravity or inertial forces, is referred to as gravity propulsion (thrusting without rockets). The creation of synthetic gravity environments for space crews was a means to create zero-gravity environments on Earth. Since the early 2000s the science behind gravity propulsion has been questioned. Science

has proven that gravity and electromagnetism are linked phenomena and scientists have always been quite adept at controlling electromagnetic phenomena, this eventually led to using control of electromagnetism to control gravity. SpaceX and Nasa plan to use this new technology to travel more efficiently in space, in addition to within the atmosphere and at the greatest depths of the ocean.

2110

UAP Documents are Released to the Public

2111

Anti-gravity Vehicles are Developed

2112

Solar and Fusion Provides Most Energy

The United States government released confidential documents about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena from the year 1960 to 2050. The Department of Defense has authorized the release of classified files and video footage to the public with the intent to clear up myths and conspiracies. These files confirm the claims made by Bob Lazar (Lazar claimed to work for the government in the 1980s). Lazar claimed that he worked with artifacts that were not from Earth at a site referred to as S-4.

Upon the discovery of gravity propulsion technology, Tesla begins development of the first anti-gravity land vehicles. This These vehicles will make travel exponentially more convenient. Following the development of this technology, the way roads and high ways are designed are about to change. With the option of multi level lanes that would extend off the ground, these invisible unpaved roads open up a multitude of possibilities.

98% of energy on Earth and Mars comes from solar and fusion. Fusion energy has abundant resources, does not exhibit nuclear runaway, and it has zero-carbon emissions. Giant solar power stations have been launched into Earth’s orbit throughout recent decades. Since the sun always shines in space, an orbital solar power station is seen as an inexhaustible source of clean energy.

41

2113

Development of the Anti-Gravity Spacecraft

2114

Space Elevators Aid to Space Travel

2115

The First Space Museum is Constructed

42

SpaceX and Nasa begin development on anti-gravity aircraft and spacecraft. It is now possible for a spacecraft to accelerate to speeds approaching that of light without crushing the contents of the craft. A mass moving faster than 57.7 percent of the speed of light will gravitationally repel other masses lying within a narrow antigravity beam in front of it. This “beam” intensifies as the speed of the mass approaches that of light. Propulsion of a body speeding through space can accelerate quickly while reducing internal tidal forces that could tear the cargo apart. The development of this space craft will lead to the option of extremely quick space travel.

Destinations that would have previously taken decades to travel to will now only take a fraction of the time.

Space elevators make space travel more convenient.

The design would permit vehicles to travel along a cable from a planetary surface, such as the Earth’s, directly into space or orbit, without the use of large rockets. The implementation of space elevators will not only create a quick way to travel through Earth’s atmosphere, it will create a strong acceleration in space development and tourism. Scientists from all over the world will now be able to access stations that orbit around our planet. There are already plans for a museum and several resorts that will be placed in Earth’s orbit.

The first space museum is constructed and launched into Earth’s orbit. Upon opening, patrons now can board a space elevator that will take them to the International Space Museum. This museum showcases the evolution of technology from Nasa and SpaceX as well as findings from our solar system and satelites that are no longer in use. The International Space Museum does not charge an entry fee for visitors. It’s a bit more like a national park—once you get to the park, you don’t have to pay more money to experience the landscape. Even though there are no entry fees, patrons still have to pay for the transport to get there.

2116

The First Biological Water Desalinator

2117

The First Mobile Island is Launched

2118

Water-Cities Form to Farm Algae

The first biologically engineered water desalinator is finished in Dubai. This technology was developed by combining bio-technology and artificial intelligence. The desalinator crosses the genes of a jellyfish, the species that contains the most water, and a mangrove root, the worlds most efficient biological desalinator. By combining these two genes, scientists and engineers in Dubai were able to create a giant mile wide jellyfish, that can naturally filter fresh water from the sea, sucking out pollutants, turning salt water into fresh water, and pumping that water back onto land.

The first mobile island is launched off the coast of Dubai.

Dubai has always been the leader world leader in creating its own land masses but they finally took it one step further. This island uses gravity propulsion and traditional turbines to propel the large floating craft. Entirely autosufficient, this island takes up the four main challenges: climate, biodiversity, water and health. It has reached a positive energetic balance with zero carbon emission by the integration of all the renewable energies (solar, thermal and photovoltaic energies, wind energy, hydraulic, tidal power station, osmotic energies, phytopurification, biomass) producing thus durably more energy that it consumes. It is a true amphibian half aquatic and half terrestrial city, able to accommodate 50,000 inhabitants and inviting the biodiversity to develop its fauna and flora around a central lagoon of soft water collecting and purifying the rain waters. There is also a section of this island that is fully submerged that is used to desalinate extra salt water and farm algae for sustainable energy.

Water-cities start forming around the world to farm algae and fish. 10 billion people need to be fed and nature can’t keep up with demand. Ocean farming is on the rise. Algae farming is also used to generate renewable energy, and growth of feedstock or resource extraction via genetically modified seaweed or algae. Saltwater algae that’s been genetically modified to absorb more 43

nitrogen from the air than conventional algae frees up to 68% of the fresh water that is now tied up in conventional agriculture. This water is moved to thirsty populations and areas of the world with low water supply.

2119

Depths of the Ocean are being Explored

2120

1 Million Colonists are Shuttled to Mars

44

Unexplored ocean depths are finally being explored with anti-gravity watercraft. Due to gravity propulsion and anti-gravity technology, submersible deep sea vessels have been engineered to counter the immense pressure caused by descending into the greatest depths of the ocean. Now, with this technology, manned vessels can descend to the oceans greatest depths.

SpaceX has successfully shuttled 1 million colonists to Mars. A million plus intrepid humans now live in Martian settlements. In the early 2000s Elon Musk theorizes that the threshold for a self-sustaining city on Mars or a civilization would be a million people. If you can only go every two years and if you have 100 people per ship, that is 10,000 trips. One hundred years later, his prediction has come to fruition.

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SOURCES Special thanks to futuretimeline.net for providing an in-depth guide for future predictions.

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The future is full of possibility and uncertainty. Many scientists have made predictions about what kind of technology will emerge in the next 100 years.

This book is a compilation of predictions that come predominantly from scientists and engineers. The text contains a prediction for every year from 2020 to 2120. Every prediction is an advancement related to food production, transportation, energy production, medical innovation, climate, or other technological fields. All of the predictions are based on research and many of them stem from technology that is currently being developed. None of these predictions are based solely on sciencefiction. This future timeline is assembled to give people an understanding of how future technology can help the world adapt to climate change.