Innovations and looking to the future...
Discussion
I know that everyone's getting depressed about the recession, but I was wondering last night about recent technical innovations. In the past few years I've not really heard about many new and exciting things being thought up, nothing that might change the world anyway.
The only thing I can think of is the idea of a hydrogen-fuelled car, but even that's not such a new idea, so has anyone got anything they can think of that's about to change the world?
The only thing I can think of is the idea of a hydrogen-fuelled car, but even that's not such a new idea, so has anyone got anything they can think of that's about to change the world?
Fusion is the answer. But I expect the environmentalists are already thinking of reasons why it's bad. Oh yes, gottit. It might go bang and kill us all.
I see the 21st century as a battle between technology that will take mankind on to the next stage, and the Luddites who will take us back to the Middle Ages through fear and media control. I'm not sure who will win.
I see the 21st century as a battle between technology that will take mankind on to the next stage, and the Luddites who will take us back to the Middle Ages through fear and media control. I'm not sure who will win.
AL...Ease said:
Has anything else been discovered about fusion recently or is it just that we're finally resigned to the necessity of it?
Why "resigned to the necessity of it?" It's possibly the cleanest, most efficient power source in the known universe. How can it be anything other than a good idea in the long term? Ok, it might not be cheap, but compared to running out of fossil fuels, cheap at pretty much any price.organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) provide light with small power input and can be applied to all sorts of shapes. Flat panel lighting. Wall paper lighting etc.
Stem cell medicine definitely comming within 10 years.
I also believe there will be an increasing take up of electric vehicles in the next few years because of the introduction of cars with sufficient power to do 130 mph and 2-300 miles on a charge. Still very costly though.
Space tourism via Virgin Galactic and others
Stem cell medicine definitely comming within 10 years.
I also believe there will be an increasing take up of electric vehicles in the next few years because of the introduction of cars with sufficient power to do 130 mph and 2-300 miles on a charge. Still very costly though.
Space tourism via Virgin Galactic and others
Snake the Sniper said:
They're currently spending a lot of money working on fusion. They are upgrading the reactor at the Rutherford Lab, IIRC, with the aim of it being used to train techs for a new type of reactor.
Benefits & learnings from the LHC design being folded into next gen fusion reactor - forecast to be viable commercially by 2035Snake the Sniper said:
AL...Ease said:
Has anything else been discovered about fusion recently or is it just that we're finally resigned to the necessity of it?
Why "resigned to the necessity of it?" It's possibly the cleanest, most efficient power source in the known universe. How can it be anything other than a good idea in the long term? Ok, it might not be cheap, but compared to running out of fossil fuels, cheap at pretty much any price.Am afraid, as far as the automotive industry is concerned, there will be very few major innovations in 3+ years time (delay caused by product development). Any R&D spend that isn't directly committed to new vehicle programmes has been cut pretty much across the board, and where development is taking place, it's all into "green" technologies in the major push to meet the various emissions rules round the world...
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