Future Science
The scientific discipline on our society has historically, been somewhat rigid and inflexible, following practices that were instigated a century or more ago. This has made it difficult for new ideas and innovation to become readily accepted but technology has assisted scientific advancement and opened many doors. Having said that I understand the need for order and control, essential facets when dealing with subject matter of which we know nothing. Vested interests must not be permitted to smother or negate the value of those who possess insight and imagination and can visualise future technologies and their application. There have been those in human history who demonstrated this ability and were not recognised until after their demise or until their predictions became reality. Leonardo Di Vinci, H G Wells, Arthur C Clarke are a few who come to mind.
We see further than ever before but cannot yet travel beyond our own satellite moon just a miniscule distance away. The advent of computers has speeded up technological delevopment and made it more accessible. We suspect the space around us is filled with energy, which we must learn to tap if we are to stop the destruction of our planet. Each new discovery multiplies the opportunities to progress but also presents new problems. The 20th century's most notable scientist, Albert Einstein, produced a theory which predicted that it was not possible to travel faster than light. Even half light speed would require vast amounts of energy and increase mass beyond manageable limits. These predictions, if true, would prevent us from travelling much beyond our own tiny solar system, one of many millions in our galaxy alone. But scientific opinion constantly changes and this theory is now thought to be incorrect. There have always been the sceptics who's vision is constricted by their limited imagination. It was claimed that travelling at 20mph in Stevenson's Rocket would suffocate the passengers. The point I'm making is that, for most of us, our understanding limits our imagination. Are we really confined to our small solar system? No, I doubt that very much. I firmly believe that we will continue to reveal the the structure of the universe and learn how to use the forces of nature to take us where we want to go.
The only aspect which is difficult to predict is the timescale in which this might happen. So much could stand in our way. Scientific research and development has not been a high priority on political agendas unless, of course, it had a military objective. This still diverts large amounts of resource and money, which could be applied to more pressing needs, such as global warming. Some would say that this fact alone illustrates the extent to which human intellect has developed so is best kept confined to this planet until we sought ourselves out. It is my belief that the 21st century will be pivotal in mankinds continued survival, from several standpoints. 1) We have to survive ourselves and the continuous bickering between races, who are gradually obtaining the latest tools of war with the capabilty to destroy us all. 2) We have to survive the effects of global warming and stop producing the pollutants which are feeding the phenomena. 3) We have to learn to manage the potentially devastating technology's, currently in early development. 4) Finally and probably the most difficult, we have to limit the human global population to what this planet can sustain on a continuous basis. This is not just a question of food production, as some would claim. It must encompass all the effects and by-products that human occupation produces on the Earth's delicately balanced environmental systems. And we have to do it now!
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