Preface to this issue

In 1949, at the advent of the computer age, Popular Mechanics boldly predicted that “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” This prediction is so far from reality that we find it humorous today. On the other hand, what once was considered “science fiction” may eventually become reality. The mythical submarine of Jules Verne was followed by today’s fleet of undersea vessels. Hence, perhaps we should reconsider the feasibility of scientific advancements that seem outlandish, even foolish. After all, science and technology are advancing at an apparently accelerating pace.

As such, we offer twelve essays that address scientific advancements that we believe have the potential to affect us in the near future. These essays encompass a wide range of scientific advancements such as a vaccine for cancer, the production of flying cars, and the development of quantum computers. Although we will not attempt to predict exactly when these advancements will occur, we think that science is progressing so rapidly that you will see these advancements realized in your lifetime. We challenge you to leave behind preconceptions of the limits of today’s science and technology, and dream of a world where we are limited only by our imaginations.