21st century ...

2040-2049 timeline contents

2040 - Clean energy is widespread | Fusion power is nearing commercial availability | "Energy islands" are appearing in many coastal regions | Electronic telepathy is dominating telecommunications | Ultra-personalised healthcare | Tobacco has been largely eradicated | Claytronics are revolutionising consumer products | Breakthroughs in carbon nanotube production

2041 - Global average temperatures have risen by 2°C

2042 - Nanotech robot swarms are the latest in military hi-tech | Manned missions to Phobos and Deimos | Floating hotels in the sky

2044 - The last veterans of WW2 are passing away

2045 - Humans are becoming intimately merged with machines | Global food and water shortages |
Gulf Coast cities are being abandoned due to super hurricanes

2045-2049 - China transitions towards a democracy | Major extinctions of animal and plant life

2047 - Fully autonomous, intelligent military aircraft

2048 - The Antarctic Treaty comes up for review | Reversible biostasis is available | The near-Earth asteroid 2007 VK184 makes a close pass

2049 - Robots are a common feature of homes and workplaces | The Dead Sea is drying up

 

2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029 | 2030-2039 | 2040-2049 | 2050-2059 | 2060-2069 | 2070-2079 | 2080-2089 | 2090-2099 >

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2040

Clean energy is widespread

Widespread use of algae biofuel, nanotech fuel cells, solar PV and wind power are gradually relegating fossil fuels to obsolescence. The latter are, in any case, dwindling in availability - and have been for some time. Fusion power is also close to being developed now.

 

 

 

Fusion power is nearing commercial availability

A prototype commercial fusion reactor is entering its final phase of operation.* DEMO (DEMOnstration Power Plant) is the successor to ITER and has built on the success of that project, achieving a number of major breakthroughs. Among the earlier problems which have now been solved are: containing the plasma at high enough temperatures, maintaining a great enough density of reacting ions, and capturing high-energy neutrons from the reaction without melting the walls of the interior.

Constructed from 2024 to 2033, DEMO is now close to being perfected - having undergone several years of testing, expansion and upgrades. Later this decade, it will be capable of producing a sustained output of 2 gigawatts (GW), making fusion commercially available for the first time.*

 

Credit: Chepe Nicoli

 

 

"Energy islands" are appearing in many coastal regions

Many countries are now suffering chronic water shortages due to the effects of climate change and overpopulation. This is a particular problem in developing regions. Higher global temperatures are causing lakes, wells and reservoirs to run dry, even as populations continue to rise.

One strategy being used to alleviate this crisis involves compact, floating "energy islands". These combine offshore power generation with desalination plants. First developed in the 2010s, they are becoming a fairly common sight in tropical coastal areas, where conditions are ideal for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC).

Each island is hexagonal in shape and interlocked with other islands, forming artificial archipelagos. Wind turbines and concentrated solar power are installed on the topsides - while on the undersides, flash-evaporated seawater is used to drive turbine generators, in turn producing drinkable water.*

A single 250-megawatt OTEC plant can meet the energy demands of 250,000 households and provide 600 million litres of drinkable water each day.* Any surplus water can be used to support local agriculture and industry.

These islands also feature housing developments, fish farms, greenhouses and eco-tourism complexes, in addition to the water and power production facilities.

In the 22nd century, they will evolve into much larger versions - entire "micronations" capable of roaming the seas.*

Click to enlarge.

© Energy Islands. Image reproduced with permission.

 

 

Electronic telepathy is dominating telecommunications

The first generation of brain-computer interfaces reached the consumer market in around 2010. This technology was crude and limited to begin with: more of a novelty than a serious application. Devices could perform only the simplest of operations, such as directional commands.**

Some university experiments were successful in creating text messages, using thought power alone,* but were slow and required bulky equipment to do so.

Advances by 2020 enabled the sending of messages via wireless headsets and visors* - but the process remained sluggish and unreliable, often demanding a high degree of concentration.*

By 2030, however, exponential progress had been made in mapping and understanding the brain and its neuroelectrical signals.* This was filtering down rapidly to the consumer market. Detailed, real-time messages were becoming possible, using non-invasive methods. The graphical interfaces used in composing messages had also been much improved, with more intuitive navigation and features.

By 2040, the technology is largely perfected for everyday use. It works well and is cheap enough to have spread to even developing countries. Privacy and security issues have been resolved, with personal firewalls able to restrict any unwanted intrusion or hacking attempts. The headsets, visors and earphones necessary for users have been miniaturised and made more comfortable. Some are even fully implantable. Whether for business or personal use, people everywhere are now enjoying a faster, more sophisticated, more private way of communicating.

This form of "electronic telepathy" - along with the convergence of other network-based technologies - is radically reshaping society and culture during this time. A speculative bubble is formed on the stock markets, with investors everywhere forecasting a revolution in telecoms. This temporarily overheats the economy, resulting in a crash similar to that of the dotcom collapse of early 2000.

 

© Saniphoto | Dreamstime.com

 

 

Ultra-personalised healthcare

By now, most countries have established a national biorepository and genomic information system, with mandatory entry for every person.* In other words, governments now have a genetic sample of every citizen. This is needed for a variety of reasons - from national security, to public health, citizen ID, immigration control, resolution of crimes and more - but the most common use is in healthcare.

These genomic information systems are integrated with electronic health records and personal health records, allowing identification and treatment of individual disease/healthcare issues at the earliest opportunity. Hard data from these systems allow doctors and surgeons to better treat their patients, while government and researchers can target time and resources more efficiently. By utilising such a broad spectrum of information, medical schools and healthcare providers can train and employ the best mix of specialists for their patient population.

The focus of healthcare has shifted dramatically in recent years - to preventative methods, rather than traditional reactionary methods after a disease state has occurred. In addition to saving more lives, this is having tremendous economic benefits too.

One or more nanotech implants are now utilised by the majority of citizens.* Once again, these devices are tailored to meet their exact personal health requirements. For example, they can be used to identify a patient who is unable to communicate for some reason. Or they can be stored with vital clinical information about a patient during an emergency situation. They can be used as tracking devices for patients with a mental illness. They can also be programmed to monitor specific conditions - and to dispense medication as needed, while simultaneously alerting a healthcare provider.

 

 

Tobacco has been largely eradicated

In the USA, tobacco use peaked in the early 1960s with nearly 45% of adults smoking regularly. As the health risks became more apparent, efforts were made by government, public health advocates, grassroots organisations and others to raise awareness. These campaigns were remarkably successful in stemming the rates of smoking and tobacco-related disease and death. Smoking was banned in aeroplanes, office buildings and later in public locations such as bars and restaurants. Strict laws on the advertising of tobacco products and their use in movies and television were also introduced. In addition, improvements were made in the availability and efficacy of smoking cessation aids and pharmaceuticals.

By the early 1990s, the number of US adult smokers had plunged to 25% and by 2010 the figure was down to 20%. By 2020, smoking in public was banned across every US state and in many other countries around the world, with smoking rates continuing to decline.

Efforts continued over the following two decades and once again proved to be highly successful. The costs of government interventions were surprisingly small - less than 50 US cents per person, per year, in countries such as India and China. By 2040, less than 5% of the global population is smoking.*

 

 

 

Claytronics are revolutionising consumer products

Claytronics - also known as programmable matter - are now embedded in countless everyday items. This technology involves the manipulation of tiny devices known as catoms (claytronic atoms). Joined electrostatically, these work in concert to produce dramatic changes at the macroscale.

Objects featuring these catoms can be radically altered in form and function. Furniture can morph into new types, for instance. A bed could suddenly become a sofa, or a large table. Chairs can be instantly moulded to precisely suit the individual. Walls, carpets, ceilings, doors and other surfaces can modify their colour or texture on demand.

Electronic devices feature this exotic material. They can be highly adaptable to their environments, for instance - altering their structure to cope with dust and heat in a desert, then later shifting to resist humidity and moisture in a jungle, or even becoming completely waterproof. They can be personalised too: devices worn on the head or ears can mould themselves to fit the individual.

Many vehicles now make use of claytronics. Car surfaces can change colour at the touch of a button. Or they can self-heal: fixing bumps, scratches and other damage. Tyres can be instantly adapted for different terrain types or weather conditions. Transparent windows can be instantly blacked-out for privacy.

Claytronics are especially popular in children's toys, with figures taking on astonishingly lifelike forms.

Various other everyday objects are now becoming highly configurable and morphable. Further into the future, claytronics will enable the creation of entire simulated humans.*

 

 

 

Breakthroughs in carbon nanotube production

After decades of research, new processes have been developed for synthesising carbon nanotubes. These promise to revolutionise the fields of engineering, architecture and materials science.

Having been limited to a few centimetres, these structures can now reach potentially thousands of miles in length.* Purification techniques ensure maximum tensile strength, making them hundreds of times stronger than steel.

Among the many applications, the technology for a space elevator is now available. Political and financial will are the only remaining obstacles for such a project.*

 

 

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2041

Global average temperatures have risen by 2°C

At the Copenhagen Summit in 2009, a rise of 2°C was agreed as the maximum "safe" limit for global warming. In the early 2040s, this danger point is passed.* This occurs despite a plunge in crude oil production – CO2 emissions from past decades are yet to have their full effect on the climate system,* while other hydrocarbons (such as coal and "unconventional" oil) saw increased use in the years following peak oil. Although a transition to clean energy is now being achieved, global warming remains a deadly threat to civilisation. From this point onwards, any further increase in temperature will lead to runaway positive feedbacks, exceeding man's ability to control them.

It should be noted that 2°C is merely the average global increase. In some regions – such as the poles – the rise has been substantially greater already. The Arctic is now completely free of ice for several weeks a year,* while Greenland has reached a tipping point of irreversible melting.

In America, the arid conditions have continued to get worse. They are now spreading into the Southeastern states, where soybean production has been slashed by half, and a similar yield decrease has occurred for soyghum.* Meanwhile, invasive species of insects are migrating to new latitudes, driven by warmer temperatures. Bark beetles, for example, are moving north and killing off huge areas of forest that provide food to grizzly bears and other fauna.

In Europe, the Alps are becoming largely devoid of snow, for the first time in millions of years.* Having served a role as the "water towers of Europe", this is having a substantial impact on water supplies. Major rivers such as the Rhine, Rhone and Danube have until now relied on snow and glacial melt from these mountains. Switzerland is being especially hard hit, with much of its electricity based on hydroelectric power. In addition, record heatwaves are causing gigantic wildfires, the likes of which have never been experienced before. The Mediterranean has lost a fifth of its rainfall and now has an additional six weeks of heatwave conditions each year. At the foot of the Alps, rockfalls triggered by melting permafrost have caused widespread destruction to villages and towns. Tourism has been decimated, with skiing impossible in many areas.

In South America, a similar situation has occurred. Melting glaciers in the Andes have caused water shortages for tens of millions of people.* Refugee movements are now a major issue for the region. In Columbia, there has been a marked decline in coffee production - one of the country's main exports - accounting for a significant percentage of world harvests.*

In Asia too, there is a water crisis. Pakistan's major rivers - the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - are delivering less than half of their historic supply. The nuclear-armed country is now at war with neighbouring India, following conflicts over resources.* Monsoon rainfalls have become increasingly unpredictable in the region, while sea level rises are causing further devastation to Bangladesh, which has yet to recover from the disasters of the 2020s.

Developing regions are disproportionately affected by climate change, and Africa is the worst-hit location of all. Biblical-scale droughts are becoming the norm here, with most of the continent seeing catastrophic declines in agricultural yields. In Mali, three-quarters of the population is starving.*

In the Western Pacific, Tuvalu is now sharing the same fate as the Maldives: most of the island nation has been washed off the face of the Earth, leaving its people effectively homeless.*

 

© Viktor Pravdica | Dreamstime.com

 

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2042

Nanotech robot swarms are the latest in military hi-tech

In addition to larger machines, a new class of miniature robots is now appearing on the battlefield.* These are so small that they are barely visible to the naked eye, measuring less than a millimetre across. Viewed through a microscope, they would appear like tiny insects equipped with metallic wings and armed with diamond-sharp claws and teeth.

Individually, they are relatively harmless. However, the strength of these robots lies in their terrifying numbers, and their ability to work in autonomous networks guided by remote computers. Released from capsules dropped by UAVs, these machines are deployed in colossal swarms – often consisting of many trillions of individuals. At full spread, they can sometimes cover an area the size of a small town.

Collectively, they would appear like a diffuse, greyish cloud. For a potential enemy, the first warning sign of their approach might be a glittering of reflected sunlight in the distance. This would be followed by a high-pitched buzzing or humming sound, at the edge of the human auditory range. The next indicator would be the crumbling of trees, buildings and other nearby objects. Then the robots would attack... engulfing their victims like a swarm of locusts, eating through flesh within seconds and reducing organic material to dust.

Even those hidden within bunkers or underground shelters are vulnerable – the swarms dissolve all but the most heavily reinforced armour and can easily penetrate cracks, air vents, keyholes and the like.

In addition to their offensive capabilities, nanotech robot swarms can serve in a defensive role. By floating at low altitude in the sky, they can provide cover to advancing ground forces, acting as a shield or “buffer” against incoming projectiles.

This form of technology is so deadly that it has been placed in the same category as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons by the UN. A number of international treaties are signed over the following years, limiting its use. Safety mechanisms are also introduced, minimising its potential for adaption. Self-replicating variants, for example, are flat-out banned, as these could potentially consume the entire biosphere in a worst-case scenario. Fears are growing of a potential terrorist incident (or "nanocaust").

 

 

Manned missions to Phobos and Deimos

A decade after the Mars landings, follow-up missions to its satellites are being undertaken. Due to the low gravity and lack of atmosphere, these missions are actually easier (and cheaper) than going to Mars itself.

These tiny moons are found to contain pockets of water ice, along with carbon and silicates - greatly increasing their potential for colonisation.*

On Phobos, a series of habitation modules are subsequently built, together with small experimental mining facilities and a solar parabolic reflector. This allows the basics of carbon nanotube (CNT) production, as well as conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. Over the next few decades, the base is expanded further, eventually becoming self-sufficient.

Both moons are colonised, but Phobos in particular will play a key role in the development of Mars, being much closer to its parent planet than Deimos. As well as supplying raw materials, it will act as a stepping stone for astronauts arriving from Earth.

Click to enlarge.

Credit: NASA

 

 

Floating hotels in the sky*

Giant, vertical airships powered by a combination of hydrogen and solar energy are now a common method of holiday travel for the rich and famous. These ships are nearly 900ft tall when docked. They are capable of lifting 400 tons of payload, in addition to ferrying over 100 passengers and 20 crew to their destination.

Cruising at a maximum altitude of 12,000ft, the ships drift at a leisurely 60-90mph, depending on wind conditions. Popular routes include London to New York (37 hours) and Los Angeles to Shanghai (four days).

Huge internal spaces offer plentiful room for living, dining and relaxing. The lower deck contains a glass bottom floor, enabling passengers to view the land and sea beneath.

Safety is ensured thanks to self-sealing lifting bags. These are made from nanotechnology materials that minimise any potential for skin rupture.*

 

 

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2044

The last veterans of WW2 are passing away

During this decade, the last surviving veterans of World War II are passing away. A small number of them reach their 120th year, allowing them to attend the 100th anniversary commemorations of D-Day, on 6th June 2044.

On this date, a time capsule is opened at the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, close to the site of the Normandy landings which claimed so many lives. This contains press articles from the time - including a message from President Eisenhower to future generations.*

 

© Lenor | Dreamstime.com

 

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2045

Humans are becoming intimately merged with machines

In some fields, the pace of technology has become so fast that humans can no longer comprehend it - unless they augment their own intelligence. This is particularly true of computing, nanotechnology, medicine and neuroscience, all of which have seen exponential progress.*

The typical home PC of today has an integrated AI system equivalent to over a billion human brains.* This machine can think for itself, communicate with its owner and suggest new ideas in ways that surpass even the greatest minds on Earth. Due to the flood of data being exchanged on the Internet and elsewhere, these computers receive literally millions of emails, status updates, news reports and other alerts each day.

The only way for a user to interpret this avalanche of information is to merge their consciousness with the machine. A growing segment of society is now turning to on-person hardware to achieve this. The most advanced method involves the use of microscopic, wireless, implantable devices linking neural activity directly to electronic circuitry. These "nanobots" have already been used in full immersion VR and certain medical procedures. The latest versions are capable of marrying AI with human intelligence in ways that combine the best aspects of both.

No monitor or projector of any kind is required for the latest generation of computers. The nanobots instead produce a virtual image of the screen which is augmented in the user's field of vision.

 

Credit: sellingpix

 

This operating system is controlled by their thoughts - and those of the AI - running at speeds vastly greater than a real time physical version would allow. Thousands of individual actions can be initiated within a microsecond, thanks to the robust wireless connections between the nanobots and neurons.

If necessary, the user's entire sensory experience can be instantly shifted to a full immersion virtual reality. This is a popular choice for gaming and entertainment, but also has many practical applications in the world of business. Meetings and conferences can be hastily scheduled between vast numbers of participants from around the globe - sometimes with barely a few second's notice - and lasting only a few seconds in duration. Communicating at this speed is no longer possible using conventional means, which is creating an enormous divide between those who have the technology and those who don't.

For many people, nanobot implants are becoming permanent and essential - rather than temporary and optional - due to the bewildering speed and level of information now being encountered in day-to-day situations together with the explosive growth of AI. Military personnel, scientists and medical staff were among the first to take advantage of them, but mainstream society is now following.

People are merging with machines in various other ways, too. Nanobots can boost immune systems, for example - helping to exterminate pathogens. They can also regulate blood pressure, or repair some of the damage caused by the ageing process, or accelerate the healing of wounds. Cybernetic organs are now available that almost never fail and can filter deadly poisons. Brain-computer interfaces are increasingly used in middle class homes to open doors, control lighting and operate everyday appliances.

The most extreme cases of enhancement involve people opting for "decentralised" circulatory systems - along with a form of synthetic blood - reducing physical vulnerability still further. This particular option is only available to the rich, as it involves a highly complicated procedure that radically alters their internal anatomy. The end result is that a person can survive multiple gunshot wounds or other damage relatively easily. Certain politicians are taking advantage of this - especially those in unstable regions - along with gangland bosses and career criminals.

The line between man and machine is starting to blur. Later this century, there will no longer be a clear distinction.

 

© Billyfoto | Dreamstime.com

 

 

Global food and water shortages

The demand for food and fresh water is far outstripping the supply. Climate change is devastating entire regions, turning vast areas of farmland and forest into arid desert, creating literally tens of millions of refugees. There is a great deal of conflict across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the southern states of America, South America, and parts of southern Europe during this time.

 

© Kampanart Phatphirom | Dreamstime.com

 

 

Gulf Coast cities are being abandoned due to super hurricanes

The growing concentration of atmospheric CO2 has led to rising sea levels, a warming of coastal waters and a more volatile weather 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 nearly 200mph bring untold devastation. Even some of the most heavily reinforced buildings are destroyed. Trees are uprooted and hurled around like matchsticks, while skyscrapers visibly sway. Storm surges and flash floods travel up rivers with almost surreal speed, overwhelming defences and bringing waves thirty feet high.

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

 

Credit: NASA

 

 

2045-2049

China transitions towards a democracy

Faced with growing social unrest, China transitions towards a Russian-style democracy. The ongoing internet/IT revolution and the resulting decentralisation of communication has brought down many of its former barriers.

 

 

 

Major extinctions of animal and plant life

By the end of this decade, many well-known animal species are going extinct, or else have declined in such huge numbers that only those in captivity now exist.

Off the eastern coast of Australia one of the world's most beautiful natural wonders - the Great Barrier Reef - has been virtually destroyed by climate change, with less than 2% of coral remaining.* Rising levels of greenhouse gases have made the water too acidic for calcium-based organisms to grow.* Most of the colourful fish for which the reef is famous have also disappeared. On land, more than 50% of the continent's 400 butterfly species have died out, as well as numerous reptiles including Boyd's forest dragon, a rare and colourful lizard.

In Europe, an astonishing 50% of amphibians have disappeared due to pollution, disease and loss of habitat caused by climate change. This includes many previously common species of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians.* On the same continent, more than 20% of bird species have been lost, and around 15% of plants.

In South Africa's Kruger national park, a major conservation area, nearly 60% of the species under its protection have been lost. In the same region, 35% of proteaceae flowering plants have disappeared - including the national flower, the King Protea.*

In South America, nearly half of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed, with more than 2,000 native tree species becoming extinct.

In Mexico, nearly 30% of animal species are either extinct, or critically endangered.

In Southeast Asia, the Indian elephant is on the brink of extinction. Once a common sight in this part of the world, it has declined in huge numbers due to poaching for the ivory of its tusks, loss of habitat, and human conflict.

In the Arctic, nearly 70% of polar bears have disappeared due to the shrinking of summer ice caused by global warming. By 2080 they will disappear from Greenland entirely, and from the northern Canadian coast, leaving only dwindling numbers in the interior Arctic archipelago.

Many other well-known species of fish, bird and mammal become critically endangered around this time.

This period is often referred to as the Holocene extinction event. As a direct result of human influences, the rate of species extinctions this century is between 100 and 1000 times the natural "background" or average extinction rates in the evolutionary time scale of Earth.

 

Credit: Elisei Shafer

 

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2047

Fully autonomous, intelligent military aircraft

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 behaviour and hypersonic technology is employed to create near-instantaneous effects throughout the battlespace.*

The growth of network-centric warfare and the increasing complexity of enemy types, movements and environmental factors has led to major advances in target recognition technology and collision avoidance systems. This allows whole squadrons of pilotless planes to synchronise, attack from multiple vectors and regroup in seconds. Further autonomy is provided by auto air refueling, self-repair and other systems.

With the emergence of AI, personnel costs have shifted from operations, maintenance and training, to design and development. Machines can perform repairs in-flight (including the use of "self-healing" nanotechnology composites) while routine ground maintenance requires little or no human labour, being done mostly by robots. New tactics and information can simply be programmed into the aircraft, or they can "learn" from others in the swarm.

With their hypersonic engines, inhuman reaction times and improved weaponry, these craft would run rings around human pilots of earlier decades. Following the retirement of the F-35 Lightning II, manned fighter planes are now essentially obsolete.

 

Credit: DARPA

 

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2048

The Antarctic Treaty comes up for review

Antarctica is the last remaining unspoilt wilderness; untouched by the massive industrialisation common everywhere else on the planet. It covers an area of 13.7 million sq km (5.3 million sq miles) and is covered by an ice sheet 4 km (2.5 miles) deep. It has no human inhabitants, other than a small number of scientists in research stations.

The vast, icy continent is governed by the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, which came into effect in 1961. This was signed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the USA and Russia. The first seven of these countries have historic claims to the continent (none of which are generally recognised) and the Treaty preserves the status quo, neither recognising nor repudiating the old claims, but forbidding their expansion in any way. The terms of the Treaty also forbid the assertion of new claims.

The discovery of a hole in the ozone layer, and other concerns, led to the addition of a new environmental protocol agreed in 1991. This entered force in 1998. It was intended to protect Antarctica's environment and ecosystems, and included a total ban on the exploitation of mineral and energy resources, as well as strict regulation of pollution and other damaging activities. The protocol is open for review in 2048, exactly 50 years after it was implemented.*

Much has changed in the last half century. Earth's population is over 50% larger. Massive industrial growth has occurred in southeast Asia - with an exponential rise in the production of vehicles, new buildings, power plants and infrastructure. Alongside this, a rampant consumerist culture (in both East and West) continues to encourage an endless expansion of people's material standard of living.

All of this has placed a substantial drain on the Earth's resources, which is becoming alarmingly obvious by now. Metal supplies in particular are falling sharply, even with large-scale recycling systems in place.* Despite objections from environmentalists, there is general consensus among the international community that some limited exploitation of Antarctica should be permitted, in certain specially controlled areas. Over the next few years, a new treaty is drawn up with a modified set of clauses, though disputes continue over territorial boundaries.

There are significant logistical challenges to mining and mineral extraction in the region - such as the isolation, extreme cold, rough seas and thick ice sheet. However, new technologies look set to mitigate these problems, including the use of robots, heavy automation and alternative methods of drilling. In addition, climate change and the melting of ice is making it possible to exploit some previously inaccessible areas of the western ice sheet.

 

© Staphy | Dreamstime.com

 

 

Reversible biostasis is available

Nanotechnology has continued to progress exponentially, transforming society in ways that were only recently considered science fiction.** Towards the end of this decade, it's becoming possible to actually "freeze" people in a form of suspended animation. This is achieved by shutting down their metabolism and preserving cell structures, using a complex arrangement of nanobots.

These microscopic machines have been around for a while now, in a variety of roles. They are already a staple of military hardware, medical equipment, entertainment devices and general-purpose computing. This latest generation reaches a new level of sophistication. Networked together in the trillions, they are self-guided through the bloodstream and into every cell. Here, they can block the molecular machinery of metabolism and tie structures together with stabilising cross-links, held firmly in place. As water is expelled and replaced with preservative fluid, nanobots pack themselves solidly around each cell, preventing any damage or deterioration.*

Once the patient has been fully stabilised in this way, they are essentially frozen in time. They can be kept in this condition for years, if necessary. To a casual observer, they would appear cold and dead.

The procedure leads to a number of useful applications. In medicine, for example, it provides the deepest possible anaesthesia, giving surgeons unlimited time to work. It can be used for medical emergencies in remote locations, stabilising a patient's condition until help arrives. In space travel it helps future astronauts with long journeys, avoiding problems of boredom and/or food supplies. It can be used in covert spying missions, where an individual might be required to lie in a restricted space for extended periods of time. More commonly, it can be used by citizens as a life extension technology, or for personal financial reasons.

The process is reversed with cell repair machines - so only very minor damage is done, without any lasting harm. Nanobots enter the patient's tissues and remove the "packing" around cells, replacing it with water. The cross-links are then removed; any damage to structures is easily repaired. Salt, ATP and blood sugar levels are then restored. Finally, the metabolic machinery is unblocked and the patient's body rapidly comes to life again.

 

 

The near-Earth asteroid 2007 VK184 makes a close pass

This object - measuring 130m in diameter - has a 1 in 3,000 chance of hitting the Earth on this date. It was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey in 2007. Ignoring the acceleration of the asteroid due to the Earth's gravity, its velocity relative to the Earth at the intersection of their orbits would be 15.63 km/s.

If such an impact were to occur, it would likely break into several pieces in the atmosphere. However, these individual chunks of rock may still be large enough to cause widespread devastation, if landing in populated areas. For comparison, the Tunguska event of 1908 was thought to have been caused by an object measuring 30-50m. This was large enough to produce an airburst equivalent to thousands of Hiroshima bombs.

 

Source: JPL Small-Body Database Browser

 

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2049

Robots are a common feature of homes and workplaces

Robots are now appearing in mainstream society in a wide variety of forms and functions.* Mobile androids are especially popular amongst the elderly, widowed and those who are disabled or incapacitated - in which role they serve as companions, guides and carers. They are also popular amongst the lonely and socially anxious, who can develop relationships without the fear or hang-ups normally associated with human company.* Those seeking "alternative" lifestyles are also making use of androids.*

 

© Dimdimich | Dreamstime.com

 

Sports enthusiasts are making use of robots - as running partners, for example, on squash and tennis courts, and in certain fighting/fencing games where they can simulate world-class players. Countries such as Japan and Korea have even started broadcasting their own "Robot Olympics", attracting millions of viewers.*

The cheapest android models are available for less than $1,000 now, and are stocked by many high street retailers - including hardware stores, department stores and electronics shops. Some of the more advanced models feature lifelike skin, hair, eyes, lip movement and other features. All of the personal information required to cater for their "owner" is pre-programmed into the android's brain.

Government legislation regarding these machines is complicated - and requires years to be fully implemented - but in every country, without exception, the machines adhere to three basic laws. These were postulated almost a century earlier by the science fiction writer, Isaac Asimov:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law

In urban locations, robots are usually powered by wireless energy transfer. In more remote outdoor environments they can utilise internal super-batteries and photovoltaic polymers coated on their bodies. Piezoelectric meshes in their skins - which generate small amounts of electricity through movement - provide a tertiary source of power.

Practically every warehouse and factory in the developed world now has operations run entirely by robots - which can navigate their way through aisles and shelves, identify products and load them onto delivery vans with little or no human intervention (and at speeds and efficiencies which far outpace the latter). Even most delivery trucks are now automated, thanks to advanced AI and road traffic systems, with robots unloading goods when the vehicle has reached its destination.

One particular fad at the moment is for robot cats, dogs and other domestic pets with highly realistic movements and behaviour, often indistinguishable from the real thing. These have a number of advantages - such as never getting sick or dying, never requiring food or water, never scratching or biting their owners, and never leaving a mess around the home. Certain species of tropical fish are also popular in robot form, especially those which have recently become extinct. In museums and outdoor exhibitions, breathtaking recreations of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life are now on display.

 

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Almost every large office and corporation features robots now - from wheeled models which distribute post, to those in reception-based roles which meet and greet visitors and assist with queries, to more advanced models capable of handling security and maintaining facilities.

In hospitals, delicate procedures involving nanotechnology devices are given over exclusively to robot machinery, capable of far greater precision than human hands.

Agriculture and food production is heavily reliant on robots. With much of the world's arable land turning to desert, hydroponic "vertical farms" are a common feature of urban centres. These carefully controlled environments are tended by robots and automated systems, and often require the analytical skills of machines rather than humans.

The physical side of military operations is handled extensively by robots now - on land, in the air, and at sea. Formidable humanoid machines equipped with a plethora of devastating firepower can be sent deep into enemy territory, left to operate autonomously for months at a time if necessary, and serving in a wide variety of roles; from solitary patrol and scouting missions, to offensive strikes involving thousands of machines working in unison. Human enemies stand little to no chance against this kind of onslaught, which is giving developed nations an overwhelming advantage over terrorist renegades.

In space, robots have probed and explored hundreds of moons in the outer solar system, and are playing a key role in the Moon colonies.

 

 

The Dead Sea is drying up

The Dead Sea is a unique geological feature. Located between Israel and Jordan, it is the lowest point on Earth. With an extremely high content of mineral salts (20%), over six times greater than any ocean, it is completely devoid of life, except for extremophile bacteria. The salts are so concentrated that swimmers can float like corks, without using a life vest. The water of the sea is also purported to relieve pain and treat several different skin conditions and arthritis. For these reasons, it has been a world famous tourist attraction.

By the late 2040s, however, the sea has almost vanished. Its main supply of water - the River Jordan to the north - has seen extensive diversions for industry, agriculture and domestic use. This has reduced its flow to just a trickle by the time it reaches the Dead Sea, far from adequate to replace the water lost by evaporation.

For decades, the Dead Sea has plummeted in depth. The problem is compounded by rising global temperatures, which have accelerated the evaporation of water; and the growing population in the region. By now, little more than a pond remains. This is despite efforts to divert water from the Mediterranean and nearby Red Sea.*

 

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