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Elevators that shoot up to space, devices that control the weather, machines that instantly teleport humans from one place to another. These are the stuff science fiction stories are made of.
But could these amazing technologies make the transition to the real world? Well, since nothing is impossible, they just might. Here’s a look at the two of the best and most incredible technologies that will hopefully be a part of our future:
Space Elevators
Could you be hoisted to the high heavens and back in an elevator? Could seeing the stars and the planets finally be possible for the average person? In what could be a relatively cheap and minimally risk-free way of going to outer space, space elevators are touted as the next medium of choice in space travel.
Man has been exploring the universe in a rocket since the advent of the space age decades ago. Though they have been successfully zooming us to the heavens, rockets can only go so fast – and are severely limited by the power generated from the chemical explosion that propels them. If outer space is to be the next tourist destination, what we need is a space elevator.
The concept of space elevators is not new. In fact, Russian scientists have been dreaming of this concept for decades. So how does it work?
By hoisting a cable from an anchor on earth to a counterweight in space, electrically powered cars could run through the cable, carrying cargo and people to and from space in an inexpensive and efficient way. Which allow for wide-scale space exploration and travel.
The biggest obstacle to building a space elevator is in finding a material strong enough for this daunting venture. But with the discovery of carbon nanotubes (narrow cylindrical molecules made of carbon atoms) this crazy concept just might work.
We could soon be traveling in zero gravity towards the Moon or Mars. Space is the frontier of the future, the next vacation hotspot.
Weather Control
For centuries, man has always dreamt of controlling the weather. Historically, rain dances, magical incantations and religious practices are employed by different civilizations in an attempt to influence the rain to fall or the sun to shine.
Science, on the other hand, has employed more technological means. One early example of a device for weather control is the lightning rod. Cloud seeding is also used to trigger and produce rain.
Technology to manipulate the weather has advanced so much in recent years.
Scientists are in the development stages of attempting to weaken cyclones and reducing the devastating effects of hurricanes through artificial means. In fact, the Chinese government has planned to shoot down threatening rain clouds with the use of rocket launchers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
But one thing we learned from science: Never say never. Technology has proven time and time again that what could be impossible through today’s means just might happen in the future. Thoughts and pipe dreams know no bounds. Today’s crazy idea is tomorrow’s must-have gadget. What we know for sure – the future is only limited by our imagination.
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