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Every year, technology advances at a breakneck pace, bringing new ideas and ground-breaking initiatives to the fore. Scientists, engineers, and some extremely bright brains are working on the next piece of futuristic technology that will revolutionise our life at any given time. Although it may appear that scientific progress is stable, we have had a time of tremendous technical advancement in the last half-century.
There are advancements taking place right now that look like they sprang straight out of a science-fiction novel. There is a lot to look forward to in the realm of future technology, whether it’s robots that can read minds, bionic eyes, sweat-powered timepieces, or lots of other mind-blowing technologies. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most significant and intriguing concepts.
1. Brain reading robots
The use 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 tested one of the most interesting and practical applications we’ve seen thus far (EPFL).
These researchers have created a way for tetraplegic patients (those who can’t move their upper or lower bodies) 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 analyse signals from the brain and automatically detect when the arm had made an erroneous action, such as moving too close to the obstacle or travelling too fast.
The programme can then adjust to the person’s preferences and brain signals over time. This could lead to brain-controlled wheelchairs or support gadgets for tetraplegic patients in the future.
2. 3D printed bones
3D printing is a growing business that promises anything from low-cost housing to affordable robust armour, but one of the most intriguing applications is the creation of 3D printed bones.
Ossiform is a medical 3D printing firm that creates patient-specific replacements of various bones out of tricalcium phosphate, a substance that has qualities comparable to human bones.
It’s really simple to use these 3D printed bones. An MRI can 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 can subsequently be produced and used in surgery.
The use of tricalcium phosphate allows the body to remodel the implants into vascularised bone, which is unique to these 3D printed bones. That is, they will allow for the full restoration of function of the bone they are replacing. The implants have a porous construction with huge pores and channels for cells to adhere to and reconstruct bone, allowing for the best potential integration.
3. Lab-made dairy products
You’ve probably heard of cultured “beef” and Wagyu steaks made in a lab cell by cell, but what about other animal-based foods? A rising number of biotech firms around the world are looking into lab-made dairy, which includes milk, ice cream, cheese, and eggs. And more than one person believes they’ve figured it out.
The dairy sector isn’t even close to being environmentally friendly. It accounts for 4% of global carbon emissions, more than air travel and shipping combined, and demand for a greener splash to pour into our tea cups and cereal bowls is growing.
Milk isn’t nearly as tough to make in a laboratory as meat. Instead of growing it from stem cells, most scientists try to make it through fermentation, hunting for the milk proteins whey and casein. Some products, such as Perfect Day’s, are now on the market in the United States, with continuous research aimed at replicating the mouthfeel and nutritional benefits of ordinary cow’s milk.
Aside from that, researchers are working on lab-made mozzarella, as well as other cheeses and ice cream, that melts properly on top of a pizza.
4. Hydrogen planes
When it comes to commercial aircraft, carbon emissions are a major worry, but there is a potential answer that has gotten a lot of money.
Plans for a hydrogen-powered plane have been revealed as part of a £15 million UK initiative. Fly Zero is the name of the project, which is being directed by the Aerospace Technology Institute in collaboration with the UK government.
A proposal for a mid-size plane fueled entirely by liquid hydrogen has been developed as part of the project. It would be capable of transporting 279 people halfway across the world without stopping.
If this technology is realised, it might imply a zero-carbon trip from London to Western America with no pauses, or a single-stop journey from London to New Zealand.
5. Digital “twins” that track your health
Humans can stroll into the medbay in Star Trek, where many of our future technology ideas originated, and have their complete body digitally examined for symptoms of illness and injuries. According to the creators of Q Bio, doing so in real life would enhance health outcomes while also reducing the burden on doctors.
The US company has developed a scanner that can measure hundreds of indicators in under an hour, ranging from hormone levels to fat buildup in the liver to inflammatory markers or cancer signs.
It plans to use this information to create a 3D digital twin of a patient’s body, which can be followed over time and updated with each new scan.
Q Bio CEO Jeff Kaditz expects that it will usher in a new era of preventative, personalised medicine, in which doctors can use the massive quantities of data gathered to not just prioritise which patients need to be seen right away, but also to develop more complex ways of detecting illness.
6. Virtual reality universes
The corporation once known as Facebook has changed its name to Meta after a major rebranding. This is the first step for Zuckerberg and his massive staff into the metaverse, which is 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 headset under the name ‘Project Cambria’ since 2021.
Unlike earlier VR endeavours from the company, such as the Oculus Quest 2, this one won’t be aimed at the general public, instead aiming to provide the finest VR experience possible.
The Cambria is said to be focused on better eye and facial tracking (to improve the accuracy of avatars and in-game movements), a higher resolution, a larger field-of-view, and even a smaller headgear.
VR is receiving a lot of financing right now, thanks to Meta, Google, Sony, and a slew of other big tech companies, and will see significant advancements in the next years.
7. Direct air capture
Trees have remained one of the most effective ways to lower CO2 levels in the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. New technologies, on the other hand, may be able to provide the same function as trees, absorbing carbon dioxide at higher quantities while taking up less space.
Direct Air Capture is the name for this technology (DAC). It entails extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and either storing it in deep geological caverns beneath the ground or combining it with hydrogen to create synthetic fuels.
While this technology has a lot of potential, it currently has a lot of drawbacks. Direct air capture facilities are presently operational, although the existing versions need a significant amount of energy to operate. If energy levels can be reduced in the future, DAC could be one of the most important technical achievements for the environment’s future.
8. Green funerals
Individuals confronting the realities of the climate catastrophe are prioritising sustainable living, but what about eco-friendly death? Death is typically a carbon-intensive process, marking the end of our ecological impact. According to reports, the typical cremation emits 400 kg of carbon dioxide into the environment. So, what’s a more environmentally friendly option?
You may be composting instead in Washington State, USA. Bodies are placed in rooms with bark, dirt, straw, and other natural decomposition aids. Your body is reduced to soil in 30 days and can be restored to a garden or woodland. The business behind the procedure, Recompose, claims that it uses an eighth of the carbon dioxide produced by cremation.
Fungi are used as an alternative technology. Luke Perry, the late actor, was buried in a bespoke “mushroom suit” designed by the start-up Coeio in 2019. The company claims that its suit, which is built with mushrooms and other microbes, aids decomposition and neutralises toxins produced when a person decomposes normally.
The majority of alternate methods for disposing of our bodies after death are not based on new technology; rather, they are awaiting cultural acceptance. Another example is alkaline hydrolysis, which entails breaking down the body into its chemical components in a pressurised room over a six-hour period. It’s lawful in several US states and emits fewer pollutants than more traditional ways.
9. Artificial eyes
For decades, bionic eyes have been a staple of science fiction, but real-world research is finally catching up with far-sighted novelists. People with various types of vision impairment will soon be able to see again thanks to a slew of new technology.
In January 2021, Israeli surgeons successfully inserted the world’s first artificial cornea into a 78-year-old man who was blind on both sides. The patient was able to read and recognise family members soon after his bandages were removed. The implant also fuses naturally to human tissue and is not rejected by the recipient’s body.
Belgian scientists developed an artificial iris that may be fitted to smart contact lenses to correct a variety of eye impairments in 2020. Scientists are even developing wireless brain implants that do away with the need for glasses.
Researchers at Australia’s Montash University are conducting experiments for a system in which users wear a pair of glasses equipped with a camera. This feeds data straight to the implant, which sits on the brain’s surface and provides a basic sense of sight to the user.
10. Car batteries that charge in 10 minutes
Fast-charging electric vehicles is considered as critical to their adoption, as drivers may stop at a service station and fully charge their car in the time it takes to buy a coffee and use the restroom — less time than a traditional break.
Rapid charging, on the other hand, can harm lithium-ion batteries, according to researchers at Penn State University in the United States. This is because rapid charging at lower temperatures causes the flow of lithium particles called as ions from one electrode to another to charge the unit and hold the energy ready for use to become clogged.
Lithium spikes would not form and heat damage would be avoided if the batteries could be heated to 60°C for just 10 minutes and then swiftly cooled to ambient temperatures.
They came up with a self-heating battery design that uses a thin nickel foil to form an electrical circuit that heats up in less than 30 seconds and warms the inside of the battery. The cooling system built inside the car would be used to provide the quick cooling required when the battery is charged.
Their research, which was published in the journal Joule, revealed that they could fully charge an electric vehicle in under 10 minutes.
We all hope for a better and smart future. Don’t we?
The last few decades have seen many technological advances, but the next few decades are going to bring about a surge of new technologies that will change our lives forever. Our hope is that this blog post has made you think about how technology will impact the world, and how it will impact each person’s life. We hope this blog post has provided you with a few new perspectives, and even possibly inspired you to go out and create some of these visions yourself!
