There is a lot to look forward to in the realm of future technology, whether it is robots that can read minds, AI that can produce images on its own, 3D-printed bones, or other mind-blowing technologies. Right off the bat,
we have seawater fuel at number 10.
When it comes to energy, the sea remains a vast untapped resource; with the North Pole melting, we are not likely to run out very soon. According to studies, it might be used as ship fuel shortly. Please bear with me while I explain how the process extracts carbon dioxide from seawater and converts it to carbon monoxide using a potassium-promoted molybdenum carbide catalyst. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis can then get used to transform the carbon monoxide into a hydrocarbon. Ships may then use this hydrocarbon instead of pre-loaded gasoline, which, as we all know, is fraught with dangers. The gasoline that hundreds of ships use to sail the seas and oceans every day is extremely polluting. CO2 conversion into chemicals and value-added fuels might lower greenhouse gas emissions in the long run.
However, there are a few challenges that we must address before we can go forward with greener marine routes. To begin with, saltwater has a carbon dioxide content of roughly 100 milligrams per liter. It is not a lot. To put it in perspective, about 45 million cubic meters of water would be required to run a cruise liner for roughly a week. The more water you treat, the more sea life you remove from the food chain, which might have long-term consequences. Second, even if it is water-based carbon, you are still releasing carbon into the atmosphere at the end of the day. You may argue that it is not neutral since it will ultimately return to the sea, but if you are environmentally sensitive, you realize this is a dangerous path to take.
Next up at Number 9, is 4D printing.
I am not proposing that mankind will be able to construct and access another dimension with the moniker "4D printing." Simply said, a 4D-printed product is a 3D-printed object that may change attributes when exposed to certain stimuli, such as being submerged underwater, heated, shaken, or not stirred. Jokes apart! As a result, the fourth D is time or the amount of time required for the stimulus to be relevant. For the time being, the most difficult aspect of this technology is identifying the appropriate "smart material" for various applications, namely a hydrogel or a shape memory polymer.
Although some work is getting done in this area, we are still far from getting customer-ready, as we have yet to perfect reversible material modifications. Healthcare, medications that activate only when the body reaches a specific temperature, fashion or garments that tighten in low temperatures, and home-making furniture that becomes hard under a given stimulus are among the uses now being studied. Another fascinating use is computational folding, which allows items larger than printers to get produced in a single piece.
Coming to Number 8, AI image-generation.
As artificial intelligence continues to execute occupations as effectively as humans, a new sector has emerged: art. OpenAI researchers have developed software that can generate graphics based on only spoken instructions. If you search for "a dog wearing a cowboy hat singing in the rain," you will find a slew of absolutely unique photographs. You may even select the style of art that your return request will get returned in.
However, the technology isn't finished and still has flaws, as seen by the fact that we provided it with bad design prompts for cartoon characters. The Dall-E technology is currently in its second version, and the team behind it intends to continue improving it. The technology might get utilized to construct art exhibitions in the future, for corporations to receive rapid, creative images, or, of course, to revolutionize the way we make memes on the internet.
Next, we got Number 7, 3D printed bones.
3D printing is a growing business that promises anything from low-cost housing to affordable robust armor, but one of the most intriguing applications is the creation of 3D printed bones. Ossiform is a medical 3D printing firm that makes patient-specific replacements for various bones out of tricalcium phosphate, a substance that has qualities comparable to human bones. It is really simple to use these 3D-printed bones. An MRI may be performed at a hospital and then uploaded to Ossiform, which creates a 3D model of the patient-specific implant required.
The surgeon approves the design, which may subsequently be produced and utilized in surgery. The use of tricalcium phosphate allows the body to remodel the implants into vascularized bone, which is unique to these 3D printed bones. They will allow for the full restoration of the function of the bone they are replacing. The implants have a porous construction with huge holes and channels for cells to connect to and rebuild bone to provide the greatest possible integration.
Now it’s time for Number 6, brain-reading robots.
The usage of brain-reading technology has vastly increased in recent years, and it is no longer a science fiction stereotype. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne have tried one of the most fascinating and practical uses we have seen so far (EPFL). These researchers have created a way for tetraplegic patients who can't move their upper or lower body to interact with the world using a machine-learning algorithm, a robot arm, and a brain-computer interface.
In tests, the robot arm would go around an obstruction and do simple tasks. The system would then use an EEG cap to analyze signals from the brain and automatically detect whether the arm had made a wrong action, such as moving too near to the obstacle or traveling too quickly. The system may then adjust to the person's preferences and brain signals over time. It might lead to brain-controlled wheelchairs or support gadgets for tetraplegic patients in the future.
Moving on to Number 5, Virtual Reality Universes
The firm that was formerly known as Facebook has changed its name to Meta. It is Zuckerberg's first foray into the metaverse, an embodied internet accessed mostly through virtual and augmented reality. Meta will begin to invest more time in technology for accessing this new reality – largely in VR – as part of this approach. Meta has been working on a new headgear under the name 'Project Cambria' since 2021. Unlike earlier VR endeavors from the company, such as the Oculus Quest 2, this one won't get aimed at the general public, instead of aiming to provide the finest VR experience possible.
The Cambria is said to get focused on the enhanced eye and facial tracking to improve the accuracy of avatars and in-game motions, a greater resolution, a larger field of view, and even a smaller headset. VR is receiving a lot of financing right now, thanks to Meta, Google, Sony, and a slew of other large tech firms, and will see significant advancements in the next years.
Next up are Airports for drones and flying taxis at Number 4.
Our packed cities are in dire need of a break, and respite from the air, rather than the roads, may be available. With the first Urban AirPort obtaining money from the UK government, plans for a different sort of transportation hub — one for delivery drones and electric air taxis – are becoming a reality. It is getting constructed in Coventry. The hub will be a testbed for the firm behind it, and ideally a proof of concept.
The objective is to replace as many delivery trucks and personal automobiles on our roads with a clean alternative in the shape of a new type of small aircraft, with designs getting developed by Hyundai and Airbus. The importance of infrastructure will be critical. Air corridors that connect a city center to a local airport or distribution center are getting investigated by organizations such as the Civil Aviation Authority.
It’s time for Number 3, Living Robots.
Tiny hybrid robots produced from frog embryo stem cells might one day swim through human bodies to particular places in need of medication or collect microplastic in the oceans. "These are innovative living robots," said Joshua Bongard, a computer scientist and robotics expert at the University of Vermont who worked on the xenobots. "They're neither a regular robot nor a recognized animal species." It's a new kind of artifact: a programmed, living creature. "
Moving on to Number 2, floating farms
By 2050, the UN estimates that there will be two billion more people on the planet, resulting in a 70% increase in food consumption. By that time, 80% of us will be living in cities, and the majority of the food we consume in cities will be imported. So farms near cities that are anchored on the sea or inland lakes would undoubtedly minimize food miles. But how would they operate in practice? Forward Thinking Architecture's Javier Ponce designed a 24-meter-tall, three-tiered building with solar panels on top to supply electricity.
The middle layer uses liquid fertilizers rather than soil to cultivate a variety of vegetables over a 51,000m2 area. A single 350 x 200 meter Smart Floating Farm may generate 8.1 tonnes of vegetables and 1.7 tonnes of fish each year. Because we'll need a lot of them, the units are intended to bolt together. Every day, Dubai imports 11,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables.
Finally, Number 1, A new normal in managing cancer.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a novel cancer therapy strategy that targets enzymes. Enzymes play a critical part in the translation of DNA into proteins, which can become misregulated, overproduced, and cause cancer. The research might lead to the development of a new class of cancer treatments for the UK's 3,100 persons diagnosed with myeloid leukemia each year. White blood cells generally defend the body from infection and the progression of tissue damage, but they become changed and aberrant in people with AML.
The ensuing malignancy spreads quickly and aggressively, necessitating prompt treatment in both children and adults. STM2457, a drug-like molecule discovered by Kouzarides and colleagues, can prevent the cancer-causing effect of METTL3. So, what do you think about these? Which of these do you find the most impressive?
You must be logged in to post a comment.