The year 2010 didn’t seem like too long ago. However, technology is moving at the speed of light. More than a decade ago, Instagram, tinder, and Uber did not exist. Nobody wore smartwatches, no one talked with their gadget, and Tesla was just an afterthought. Back then, the Higgs Boson was somewhere in the wind. Pluto was just a tiny spot in the MilkyWay, and genetic coding was only possible theoretically.
Image source – Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license
We have the privilege of living in a world where technology and science can help us make our lives a lot better. The technology that we are already familiar with pays the way for scientists to innovate further and develop more creative ways to change our lives for the better. The next decade will probably move even quicker related to technological advancements when technologies that come out on a particular day become obsolete on the next.
If you have an interest in the latest technological advances, then this article is for you. Today, we will share some of the latest technological developments that will fascinate you. You can find some of these listed below;
1. Space Tourism
Today, technology has made it possible for us to fly from one country to another without any issues. Scientists are working hard to make it possible for us to travel to the atmosphere and track the earth from space. Organizations like Virgin Galactic, Amazon’s Blue Origin, and SpaceX are trying to make space travel a reality. One day they will give up a front-row seat aboard their spaceship and take us into the far ends of the Galaxy.
Amazon’s New Shephard spacecraft will take passengers to 100km above sea level and drop back to earth through a parachute- a prime example of preparing people for the journey into space.
2. Ghost Hunting
Conducting a ghost hunt or a paranormal investigation is indeed a bone-chilling experience. Imagine yourself walking through an abandoned park with leaves rustling and the wind slowly howling, adding more to your fears. The tingle in your spine gradually becomes more and more prominent as you find your way through a dark alleyway.
While most people find ghosts scary, some are curious and brave enough to search for them intentionally. Therefore, you must utilize the technology available to you to ensure that your investigation goes as smoothly and safely as possible. Companies such as SpiritShack are turning ghost hunting into reality and easy-to-do than it ever was. They provide a range of standard or specialized ghost hunting equipment that can make any paranormal investigation safe and effective.
3. Metal Printing using 3D Printers
3D printing is an old tech that has been around for a few decades. While it mainly targeted designers and hobbyists, printing materials other than plastics, specifically metal, was always expensive. However, due to technological advancements, 3d- printing metal is slowly becoming less costly and practical enough to create metal parts for various applications such as the automotive and manufacturing industry.
In short, when manufacturers want to maintain their inventory, instead of starting everything from scratch, printing particular parts can be an easy option. Such as a replacement part for an old car, whenever there is a need for it. Also, large factories that churn out thousands of components daily can utilize such a production technique to cut costs and reduce downtime.
4. Self-Driving Cars
How much time does an average person spend on their commute? If Apple, Tesla, or Google have their way, you might see self-driving cars on the road sooner than later. Although these cars already exist, and every automobile company is racing to dominate the automotive market, it still might require some testing.
Some people find it extremely fascinating, while others find it hard to trust a computer to drive them safely to their location. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are actively investing in autonomous cars. It is safe to say, whether you like it or not, self-driving cars are the way of the future.
5. Super-Fast Internet
Does anyone remember the days of the dial-up modem? We are sure that millennials won’t. Remember when you tried to connect to the internet using a measly 56k modem? Well, long gone are those days.
Google now provides super-fast internet with speeds up to 1 gigabit/sec, which is around 100 times faster than your regular 100mbps broadband connection. The Li-Fi link uses light to transmit data from one point to another at speeds of about 224 gigabits/sec, which is approximately 200 times faster than Google’s offering.
In fact, even Wi-Fi is operating at high speed while consuming around ten-thousand times less energy. Your internet problems will soon be long gone, and IoT will connect multiple devices, house sensors, and other technologies on a worldwide platform.
6. DNA Engineering
In 2019, the first gene-edited babies were born, and it caused an uproar in our societies. The two babies had their DNA altered through CRISPR to protect them from HIV. The process included using bacterial enzymes to remove specific DNA sequences that can cause HIV to become active inside a human’s body. However, He Jiankui, the Chinese researcher who led the procedure, was sent to jail for failing to obtain consent and disregarding safety protocols.
According to numerous ethically sound studies, CRISPR will help the human race battle life-threatening diseases in the future. Who knows, maybe it can cure cancer one day, right? In fact, in 2018, two trials used the CRISPR procedures to help three cancer patients get their healthy immune cells back. Although it did not cure their cancer 100 percent, it was undoubtedly a big step in the field of healthcare.
Conclusion
The human race is on the brink of overcoming its most formidable challenges. Other expected challenges that technology might deal with include effective methods to cure life-threatening diseases, worldwide hunger, and increased life expectancy. After all, why are scientists working day and night on such technological advancements? They are doing it to improve the life of every human being on this planet. If not that, then it is undoubtedly unnecessary to take such huge steps.