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Top 5 Scientific Endeavours
electricitylikesme
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Two formats for this thread. The first is just list what you think are the top 5 scientific endeavours currently being undertaken in the world. The alternative is to list what you think should be our top 5 scientific endeavors, in order of how you would favor them with funding.
The ones I'd like to see are:
1. Nuclear fission reactor development.
2. Proteomics research (lol cure cancer)
3. Large Hadron Collider.
4. ITER and other fusion research
5. Heavy lift rocketry.
You might note I've gone for big ticket physics items rather then little stuff which would favor my nanotechnological bent, but when you're going to think top 5 you've gotta think of the big stuff.
The ones I'd like to see are:
1. Nuclear fission reactor development.
2. Proteomics research (lol cure cancer)
3. Large Hadron Collider.
4. ITER and other fusion research
5. Heavy lift rocketry.
You might note I've gone for big ticket physics items rather then little stuff which would favor my nanotechnological bent, but when you're going to think top 5 you've gotta think of the big stuff.
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1. Quantum Computing
2. Genetic Engineering/Modification
3. Finding a good alternative to gasoline
4. Figuring out this whole string theory/other dimensions/etc stuff going on in physics
5. Stopping the aging process
Quantum Computing + Nanotech = ITER success = Large Hadron Collider success = Easy escape-velocity spacecrafts = win.
Infact, just Quantum Computing + Nanotech = ITER success = win, with almost limitless on-earth potential.
C'mon dude, carbon tubing. Who needs rocket science when we've got our elevator to the moon?
Space elevator
Stop aging
Terraforming
Figure the brain out
...
And... uh...
Teleportation
Wussy wuss.
Don't start this again
Or, start a new thread for it
Because it will consume this one if you do not
On topic: The big realms of important science seem to be energy sources, space exploration/colonization, medicine, and computing power. Or at least, these are the sexy realms.
One of two things is happening here, either my funny-meter is off this morning (which is entirely possible) or there were arguments about teleportation that I missed that were particularily heated and therefore are considered foul ball.
-Robert E. Howard
Tower of the Elephant
Gene based medicine
Non-chemical space propulsion systems
Space elevator
High efficiency solar energy collection
Holodeck (hey, a man can dream, can't he?)
My Top 5
1. True advanced Artificial Intelligence (Not just the play Poker variety);
2. Alternative clean fuel source;
3. Genetic Engineering/Modification;
4. Deep space research, including the exploration of other solar systems;
5. Teleportation.
Of course, I have a better chance of spraying gold out of a random orifice on my body and any of those five becoming a reality in my lifetime.
An artificial human brain, or something equivalent. As opposed to the artificial intelligence that I am fighting against when I play Command and Conquer.
edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test
You may be right but I don't think there is any doubt that when people in this thread say artificial intelligence, we are talking about a technological mind that is self aware to the extent that a human mind is.
I think the gold standard right now is 'comprehension'. You can have AI react to stimuli, but you can't have it explain it's actions outside a set of rules built into it's system.
2. Cure for caner/aids/common cold etc.
3. Space exploration and everything it entails (propulsion, better food, bigger windows, the whole 9)
4. A.I.
5. Undoing all the pollution and harm done to the environment.
#2: Make alternative energy not alternative
#3: Cure cancer (probably not too far away)
#4: Where's my flying car?
#5: Get high-efficiency agriculture tech to a point where it's cheap and widespread throughout the world
#1. Cures for cancer/aids/viruses
#2. Quantum computing
#3. Advanced space exploration
#4. Making it possible to colonize other planets/moons
#5. Energy alternatives, particularly alternatives to fuel
AI advancements freak me out.
Duh
Combine that with effective population control and licensed childbirth and you're golden
Well, AI comes in two flavors - "strong" and "weak". Most of us have dealt with "weak" AI - game logic falls under this. But "strong" AI, AI that can actually reason - that's what people are referring to.
I dunno how to answer.
And then you have strong AI that is smarter than its creators
Hopefully so much so that they figure out the human brain and fashion a sort of technological afterlife to house our consciousnesses after death
That's what I'm hoping for
Quantum computers and self-evolving AI ftw!
Genius.
You should read a novel called Stone
It's about a nanotech-heavy society with FTL travel and what are essentially immortal human beings in a zero growth rate population
There's also nasal sex
Good stuff
That and the space elevator and fusion reactors and Matrix-like VR.
2: Nanotechnology in the fighting of disease and cancer.
3: Finding alternative (longer lasting) power sources.
4: Space programmes into the colonizing of other planets and space travel.
5: Environmental research into halting global disasters and global warming.
This is the list of what i'd like as well as what's going on really.
2. Learning how to be good slaves to our robot masters
3. Learning how to come to terms with the meaningless of biologically-evolved life
4. Learning how to download our minds into the robot master hivemind
5. Learning how to come to grips with the fact that individuality is an archaic vestige
*This refers to the creation of an AI which is more intelligent than us, and thus better capable to create even more advanced versions of itself than we are—thus marking the epoch in history where humans cease to matter and evolution takes on a new, more intelligent and designed, form. All hail the metal lords!
You must be talking about a different one, because the space elevator everyone else is talking about only depends on the eventual and inevitable mass production of carbon nanotubes.
Sadly the cost for the amount we'd need is astronomically large.
And I hate to burst your guys bubbles, but Quantum Computing =/= Strong AI. Even in theory, QCs can't do it.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1278332,00.html
As for me, 1 Stop aging, 2 Fusion 3 Understanding how genes work 4 Near light speed travel and 5 Space elevator or that space pier thing if it's doable.
- "Proving once again the deadliest animal of all ... is the Zoo Keeper" - Philip J Fry
2) Quantum Computing
3) Alternatives to gasoline
4) The development and expanded utility of fullerenes
5) The replacement or supplimentation of human immunity with nanorobotics
Author? And...um... nasal sex? O_o