Some of you, dear readers, may live well into your 150s — and even retain your brains and curves until the end. Not bad, is it? Wait until you learn that your granddaughter could spend her summer internship on the Moon and that her son may be able to upload his mind into a computer to avoid death.
I’m not even exaggerating; I may be underestimating the technological advances of the last year. Below is a list of those accomplishments, as well as what to expect shortly.
- CRISPR edits DNA in order to combat genetic diseases.
CRISPR is a DNA editing technology that relies on two key molecules. Cas9, the first molecule, functions similarly to biological scissors. It can cut DNA in specific locations, allowing for edits (removal, change, or addition). The second molecule is an enzyme that acts as a GPS, providing the Cas9 scissors with precise coordinates for editing DNA.
The primary application of CRISPR is to turn off or replace bad genes to cure disease. The changes do not spread to the patients’ children, removing the concern about tampering with the human genome.
Two separate CRISPR experiments succeeded in reversing blindness in September 2021. One of the patients was able to re-see colors for the first time in years after the treatment when he noticed a red car driving past him about a month later. Even more impressive, for the first time, injections were used in the experiments. Typically, researchers remove sick cells from patients’ bodies, edit them in a lab, and then reinsert them. The discovery promises significantly less painful treatments for those afflicted by unequal gene distribution.
Now comes the scary part.
CRISPR can be used to create superhuman offspring. Embryos can now be edited to have beautiful faces, perfect bodies, longer lifespans, and brilliant brains.
The only things keeping us from crossing the line are decency and international treaties. But, for better or worse, someone will break the rules because, as humans, we always do.
- Neuralink makes telepathy a reality.
Neuralink researchers implanted 1,024 ultra-thin electrodes into the brain of a macaque named Pager in early 2021. It was an interface that linked the adorable monkey to the computer.
Pager then repeatedly played a simple videogame to calibrate Neuralink’s algorithms. Several hours and banana smoothies later, Neuralink had decoded the Pager’s intentions, allowing him to play the telepathic game, Pong.
“It’s not magic,” said one of Neuralink’s representatives. “Neuralink works because it records and decodes electrical signals from the brain.”
The company’s next goal is to enable paralyzed people to use computers and phones solely through brain activity. Because these people are unable to move a joystick or click a mouse, calibration will be based on mental exercises such as imagining hand movements.
In the future, Neuralink hopes to enable humans to interact with Artificial Intelligence and even upload their brains into a computer. Both projects would necessitate a massive amount of computational power, which is a problem that we’re getting better at solving thanks to quantum theory. And speaking of which…
- IBM unleashes the quantum computing power
Quantum computing is a branch of mathematics that specializes in what is known as “Combinatorial Optimization.”
It’s when you examine a variety of options to find the best possible solution — whether it’s which stocks to invest in, which drugs work best together, or what’s the cheapest way to build electric cars.
Is it still too abstract?
Assume you want to seat 10 people at a dinner table in such a way that the evening is as enjoyable as possible. There are over 3 million possible combinations, and yes, classic computers can assist you in finding the best one. However, the calculations would take months because traditional computers would have to go through each of the 3 million combinations one by one.
Quantum computers, on the other hand, analyze those combinations concurrently and produce results on a much shorter timescale. A combinatorial calculation that would take a week on a traditional computer takes only a second on IBM’s new Quantum Computer. Yes, one second rather than one week.
“We anticipate that our users will be able to explore uncharted computational territory with Eagle [the computer’s name],” IBM said. The goal is to scale quantum computers into “paradigm-shifting systems capable of addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges today.”
- Injectable chips become a reality.
In May 2021, a team of Columbia Engineering researchers published a paper describing the smallest chip ever built. It’s the size of a dust mite and can only be seen under a microscope. Even more impressive, it operates as a stand-alone system, with no need for wires or additional devices.
The chip is a medical device that collects biological data from the body part into which it is implanted. The device is powered and communicated using ultrasound.
“We wanted to see how far we could push the limits of how small a functional chip we could make,” the research team explained. “This should pave the way for the development of wireless, miniaturized implantable medical devices that can sense various things, be used in clinical applications, and eventually be approved for human use.”
It is not yet approved for human use, so it is not included in the COVID vaccines and will most likely never be. The first use-cases could involve patients with neurological diseases and astronauts, both of whom require continuous monitoring.
- A starship enters orbit
The Holy Grail of space exploration is fully reusable rockets. They not only cut the cost of space launches by a factor of 100, but they also cut the amount of metallic junk we send into orbit.
SpaceX completed a test flight over their South Texas facility in May 2021. The starship reached a six-mile altitude, performed a few maneuvers, and gracefully landed on the same spot from which it took off.
Elon Musk, the Starship’s chief engineer, stated that it can carry up to 100 metric tonnes per flight. He intends to start orbital flights as early as 2022 and iterate on the design until it ticks all the boxes.
Starships would then be mass-produced to power a future in which humanity would establish Moon bases and build colonies on Mars. In the meantime, we’ll keep gathering information about space.
6. NASA’s mini helicopter flies over Mars.
NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in February 2021. Its goal is to examine the Martian landscape for signs of past and present life.
First, Perseverance returned stunning images of our neighboring planet. Then it launched a mini-helicopter to see if our technology could fly in Mars’ thin atmosphere. The answer was a resounding “YES!” as the small chopper executed a flawless 30-second hover maneuver.
“We have no idea where [the mini helicopter] will take us,” NASA’s Steve Jurczyk said in a press release. “However, today’s findings suggest that the sky — at least on Mars — may not be the limit.”
Although the mini helicopter does not have cameras or sensors, future devices may. We now know that we can make things fly on Mars, and the next step is to use that knowledge to learn more about humanity’s second home.
- Intelligent clothing for both humans and robots
Consider a suit that analyzes your movements and recommends better postures. Consider a winter glove that doubles as a remote control. You’d have a personal coach available to you at all times, and your grandfather would only need to lift a finger to facetime you.
Stop imagining because MIT has already done so.
Researchers wove conductive yarn to create pressure-sensitive textiles. The data is then collected and analyzed by an algorithm, which transforms it into potential applications that aren’t just for humans.
“Imagine robots that are no longer tactilely blind and have’skins’ […] like we do as humans,” said Wan Shou, an MIT postdoc. Robots will be able to better analyze their surroundings and self-correct as a result of smart clothing.
It’s also worth noting that MIT’s smart textile is suitable for mass production. So, perhaps the next fashion trend (among humans) will be superhero outfits, similar to Iron Man’s but lacking the metal, lasers, and guns.
8. DeepMind solves biological mysteries
In July 2021, Google’s DeepMind solved the “protein folding problem,” a “grand challenge” in biology. In layman’s terms, they were able to predict how our biology works on a very small scale.
In a very Google-like move, the team behind the breakthrough made their discovery available in a free searchable database. Scientists can now search through over 350,000 protein structures to develop better drugs, accelerate experiments, and even aid in the fight against pandemics.
Imagine your body as a hyper-complex puzzle made of microscopic pieces that can assemble in hundreds of thousands of different ways to better understand the Protein Folding Problem. Your body behaves differently depending on the layout of these tiny structures. It becomes ill, defends itself against viral attacks, or heals itself.
Biologists have known for a long time that we could solve this biological puzzle — the protein folding problem. However, it would require a massive amount of computing power, which explains why they have been stuck for over 50 years.
Then, in July 2021, Google created an AI-powered algorithm that solved the problem.
- An Australian firm creates a high-tech artificial heart.
The first version, known as BiVACOR TAH, is already available. It is intended to be “a long-term device that can replace the entire function of the patient’s native heart.”
BiVACOR TAH has a 10-year lifespan before needing to be replaced. It’s small enough to be implanted in children and women while also being powerful enough to meet the cardiovascular needs of a young male during workout sessions. The autonomy is 10 hours per charge.
Future designs will be less intrusive and will use wireless technology rather than the current portable kits. “This will provide patients with unprecedented freedom to live a life free of the limitations of heart disease.” Not to mention that they will be the first true Cyborgs.
- Growing Interest in Concentrated Solar Power
Some historians believe that Archimedes, a brilliant Greek scientist, used death rays to defend his city from invaders. He allegedly used polished shields to focus sunlight into a small area, burning Roman battleships from afar.
While the story’s veracity remains in doubt, the technology involved is very real. It is used by solar energy companies to capture heat inside a liquid, which then powers turbines to generate electricity. In a nutshell, that is Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
CSP’s main strength is its ability to store large amounts of energy using low-cost technology. Instead of storing electricity inexpensive batteries, CSP plants store heat in thermos-like reservoirs. Heat is converted into electricity whenever it is required, emitting no CO2.
CSP growth has been slow in recent years, but a recent development with South Africa may give it a boost. Since 2016, the country has been attempting to construct a CSP Solar Tower, but unfortunate delays have kept piling up.
Finally, in 2021, the government reached an agreement with new investors, reviving the project. The plant will generate 100 megawatts of power, enough to power 200,000 homes, and will save 440 tonnes of CO2 per year. Hopefully, this will inspire other countries to follow suit or encourage the development of more green technologies.
- MIT and CFS bring us one step closer to nuclear fusion.
Nuclear fusion is a process that occurs within the sun. Hydrogen atoms collide, forming helium and releasing massive amounts of energy. We can replicate the same process on Earth to create a reactor that generates more energy than it consumes while emitting almost no waste.
To put it another way, nuclear fusion = infinite green energy.
How does one go about constructing such a reactor? Two technologies are required: microwaves (similar to the ones you have in your kitchen, but slightly more sophisticated) and super magnets. Powering the latter is a significant challenge.
The best magnets available to us work only when cooled to almost absolute zero — about 4 Kelvins — which necessitates the use of heavy machinery and a massive amount of energy. In 2018, MIT researchers and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) wondered if they could make magnets that required less cooling. Nuclear fusion would then become simpler and less expensive to achieve.
Three years later, SPARC, a super magnet, was born.
SPARC generates a magnetic field equivalent to 20 Teslas, which is powerful enough to lift a dozen cargo trucks as if they were tiny screws. It requires a temperature of 20 Kelvins rather than 4, which appears to be a minor improvement. In reality, those 16 degrees mean that SPARC takes up 40 times the space of a typical super magnet. It is also less energy-consuming.
A scientific committee has a meme that says, “Nuclear Fusion is always 20 years away.” However, breakthroughs like SPARC lend credence to the claim.
- It will be entertaining to watch the race to the Metaverse.
The Metaverse is a software-created world. Except for one minor difference, it’s similar to an online role-playing video game (World of Warcraft, anyone?). It is acceptable to meet your boss there.
You’ll be able to do everything you can do online inside the Metaverse, including work, entertainment, and dating. Your experience, on the other hand, will be much more immersive and interactive.
It is unclear whether the Metaverse will be a parallel reality or an additional layer to the existing one. To put it another way, it could rely on Virtual Reality (think Ready Player One) or Augmented Reality (think Tony Stark’s glasses).
In any case, Zuckerberg will not be the only dog in the fight. It would be foolish to even wager on him. According to Prof. Scott Galloway, Apple and Epic Games appear to be better positioned to build and commercialize the Metaverse.
The former would use AirPods in conjunction with iPhone screens to create an elegant Augmented Reality experience. The latter would use immersive VR headsets to open a portal to fantasy worlds. Epic’s first Metaverse applications would be games, but later versions could include areas such as work and tourism.
Expect fierce competition, which will lead to new hardware and software accomplishments (looking at you, Web3).
13. NFTs and Web3
This is not a technological breakthrough in and of itself. Rather, it’s a huge step forward in adoption. Collectors and traders will spend $22 billion on NFTs in 2021, up from $100 million in 2020. Creators, artists, and even businesses boarded the hype train and appeared to enjoy the ride.
For the time being, the most common NFT application is art, but more are on the way. For example, we could use the Non-Fungible feature to ensure authenticity, issue academic credentials, create in-game items, design (digital) fashion, and more.
But, for those use cases to emerge, we’ll need new Apps or dApps. The latter is an abbreviation for “Decentralized Apps,” which are built on the same technology that gave rise to NFTs. Yes, it is the only Blockchain technology.
Web3 is a version of the internet that is based on blockchains. On the surface, the new web will resemble the current internet. But there will be one additional benefit. In addition to interacting with online platforms, it will be possible to own a piece of them.
In other words, it will no longer be a small group of people who decide what is appropriate to say online or how to manage personal data. Instead, it will be up to you and me, the users, to decide via polls.
For this reason alone, NFT and Web3 not only deserve to be on this list but may even take the lead.
Conclusion
With gene editing, artificial organs, Metaverses, and spaceships, my initial predictions may appear less far-fetched. Or perhaps they still do. After all, it is natural that we are ill-equipped to predict the future. Our minds are always drawn to what we know best — the past.
To that end, let me quote Gibson once more: “When the past is always with you, it may as well be present; and if it is present, it will be future as well.”
So, instead of looking back, perhaps we should look forward, at the endless possibilities, and dare I hope for a bright tomorrow.
