Major Applications of Science in the next few decades
1. Introduction
With a huge amount of scientific research being carried out it is easy to loose track of what the end user applications are.
However by mapping the applications cited in research and in predictions about the future a relatively small number of applications are found to reoccur frequently.
This is my non-methodical first attempt at compiling a list of some of these applications. I welcome any suggestions of additions or criticisms.
2. Sources
Physorg.com - Collection of recently published research in the categories of Nanotechnology, Physics, Space and Earth, Electronics, Technology, Biology and Chemistry,
most recently accessed in 2012.
Wfs.org - The World Future Society Predictions from 1999 to 2012 contains the predictions of a wide range of futurists from a range
of publications.
3.1 Major Applications
1. Energy Creation
- 1.1 Nuclear Fusion
- 1.2 Solar power
2. Energy Storage
- 2.1 Batteries (for powered cars, robots)
- 2.2 Fuel cells
- 2.3 Capacitors
3. Genetic engineering
- 3.1 Synthetic Biology: organisms to fit design specification
- 3.2 Bioinformatics
- 3.3 Biological robots
- 3.4 Medical DNA sequencing for everyone
4. Computing
- 4.1 Artificial Intelligence
- 4.2 Humanoid Robots
- 4.3 3D nanostructured chips or new materials for AI and computing
- 4.4 Quantum computers
5. Transport
6. Materials / Nanotech manufacturing
- 6.1 High performance superconductors and magnets (e.g. for power transmission and maglev)
- 6.2 Nanoscale manufacturing - anything related to nanotechnology including manufacturing processes, materials, electronics, energy, solid state physics and
thin film chemistry.
- 6.3 High strength nanostructured materials (including for example for aircraft and wind turbines)
7. Display devices
3.2 Other applications that fit these categories
- Self driving cars (Computing)
- Smart homes (Computing)
- Realistic virtual reality (Computing / Display devices)
- Nanobot weapons (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Nano recycling bots (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Printable electronics (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Medical Nanotechnology (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Sensors (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Nano water filtration for irrigation and desalination (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Efficient catalysts for splitting water for hydrogen production and desalination (Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Improved telecommunications (Computing / Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Brain / computer interface and cyborgs (Computing / Nanoscale manufacturing)
- Deep crust geothermal power (Energy creation)
- Microalgae as a fuel source (Energy creation / Genetic engineering)
- Storing energy as compressed air (Energy storage)
- Return of nuclear batteries (Energy storage)
3.3 Other applications that do not fit these categories
- Building satellites on the moon (Space)
- Laser satellites to replace radio waves (Space)
- Carbon capture by pumping CO2 from power plants into farming greenhouses (Pollution reduction)
- Catalytic converters (Pollution reduction)
- Multistorey farming in skyscrapers (Agriculture)
- Cashless society (Social not scientific issue)
- Pods to replace trains (Organisational not scientific problem)
- Underground tunnels to replace roads and train tracks (Engineering not scientific problem)
4. Conclusion
A very small number of sources were used, and so important applications will have been missed. Classification of major categories can be done in many ways, someone else may have categories for telecoms, mining, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace and defence for instance. Nanotechnology covers many areas that could be categorised separately. It is likely there will be many alternative technologies competing in each of these areas, and it is impossible to predict the tools, materials and techniques that will be used. Analysis of previous innovations suggests that most new technologies will be developed by teams of Phds in industry. Analysis of Phds available in the UK, suggests that the UK is a leader in genetic engineering, but that there is much less research in the other areas.
