Ask a Science Blogger 2

While preparing for my talk, I guess I really missed the boat on this one.

So the question was:

Will the 'human' race be around in 100 years?

Well if it isn't around, it's only 'cuz it went somewhere else. (That would be a resounding yes.)

As for predicting the future. What shall I say?

- Major source of energy in 100 years? Fusion.
- Food will be mostly synthetic. With the excess energy from the fusion power plants we can easily produce organic compounds from CO2, N2 and H2O. Only the rich will be able to afford biologically derived food. The term organic will take on a new meaning.
- Will robots takeover the world? No, although there may be a moratorium on self-replicating robots. If you don't understand why, perhaps it's because you don't understand how evolution works. Incidentally this whole robo-evolution debate will force most laypeople to accept evolution, not because social conservatives give up, but because rich folks and public policy leaders will be forced to recognize that the robo-evolution is too scary.
- With all the new technology, will people be any happier? Of course not.

Now having said all this I'll quote Arthur C Clark.

At the present rate of progress, it is almost impossible to imagine any technical feat that cannot be achieved - if it can be achieved at all - within the next few hundred years.

and

If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run - and often in the short one - the most daring prophecies seem laughably conservative.