The skeptics' guide to the future : what yesterday's science and science fiction tell us about the world of tomorrow / Dr. Steven Novella with Bob Novella and Jay Novella.
"Our predictions of the future are a wild fantasy, inextricably linked to our present hopes and fears, biases and ignorance. Whether they be the outlandish leaps predicted in the 1920s, like multi-purpose utility belts with climate control capabilities and planes the size of luxury cruise ships, or the forecasts of the '60s, which didn't anticipate the sexual revolution or women's liberation, the path to the present is littered with failed predictions and incorrect estimations. The best we can do is try to absorb the lessons from futurism's checkered past, perhaps learning to do a little better. In THE SKEPTICS' GUIDE TO THE FUTURE, Steven Novella and his co-authors build upon the work of futurists of the past by examining what they got right, what they got wrong, and how they came to those conclusions. By exploring the pitfalls of each era, they give their own speculations about the distant future, transformed by unbelievable technology ranging from genetic manipulation to artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Applying their trademark skepticism, they carefully extrapolate upon each scientific development, leaving no stone unturned as they lay out a vision for the future"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781538709542
- ISBN: 1538709546
- Physical Description: 414 pages ; 21 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Grand Central Publishing, 2022.
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Science > Popular works. Science > Forecasting > Popular works. Technological forecasting > Popular works. |
Available copies
- 5 of 5 copies available at Missouri Evergreen. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at North Kansas City.
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- 0 current holds with 5 total copies.
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Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Kansas City Public Library | 500 NOVELLA 2023 (Text) | 0001012502061 | Nonfiction | Available | - |
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The Skeptics' Guide to the Future : What Yesterday's Science and Science Fiction Tell Us about the World of Tomorrow
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Table of Contents
The Skeptics' Guide to the Future : What Yesterday's Science and Science Fiction Tell Us about the World of Tomorrow
Section | Section Description | Page Number |
---|---|---|
A Glimpse of the Future | p. xv | |
Part 1 | An Introduction to the Future | |
1 | Futurism-Days of Future Passed | p. 3 |
2 | A Brief History of the Future | p. 8 |
3 | The Science of Futurism | p. 25 |
Future Fiction: 2063 CE | p. 30 | |
Part 2 | Today's Technology That Will Shape Tomorrow (and Tomorrow and Tomorrow...) | |
4 | Genetic Manipulation | p. 35 |
5 | Stem Cell Technology | p. 53 |
6 | Brain-Machine Interface | p. 65 |
7 | Robotics | p. 78 |
8 | Quantum Computing | p. 94 |
9 | Artificial Intelligence | p. 106 |
10 | Self-Driving Cars and Other Forms of Transportation | p. 120 |
11 | Two-Dimensional Materials and the Stuff the Future Will Be Made Of | p. 144 |
12 | Virtual/Augmented/Mixed Reality | p. 159 |
13 | Wearable Technology | p. 174 |
14 | Additive Manufacturing | p. 183 |
15 | Powering Our Future | p. 195 |
Future Fiction: 2209 CE | p. 211 | |
Part 3 | Future Technologies That Don't Exist (Yet) | |
16 | Fusion | p. 217 |
17 | Mature Na no technology | p. 228 |
18 | Synthetic Life | p. 239 |
19 | Room-Temperature Superconductors | p. 249 |
20 | Space Elevators | p. 255 |
Future Fiction: 2511 CE | p. 265 | |
Part 4 | The Future of Space Travel | |
21 | Nuclear-Thermal Propulsion and Other Advanced Rockets | p. 271 |
22 | Solar Sails and Laser Propulsion | p. 280 |
23 | Space Settlements | p. 291 |
24 | Terraforming Other Worlds | p. 303 |
Future Fiction: 23,744 CE | p. 311 | |
Part 5 | Science Fiction Tech-What Is and Isn't Possible | |
25 | Cold Fusion and Free Energy | p. 317 |
26 | Faster Than Light (FTL) Travel/Communication | p. 321 |
27 | Artificial Gravity/Antigravity | p. 330 |
28 | Transporters, Tractor Beams, Lightsabers, and Other Sci-Fi Gadgets | p. 337 |
29 | Regeneration/Immortality | p. 362 |
30 | Uploading Consciousness/The Matrix | p. 371 |
Conclusion | p. 378 | |
References | p. 383 | |
Index | p. 397 |