HOW SUPERCOOL TECH WORKS

MEDICAL MARVELS 151

Synthetic skin Organ growing

A flexible plastic laced with silicon and gold is being developed Researchers have learned how to grow extra kidneys
as a touch-sensitive, synthetic skin. Tiny electronic sensors inside lab rats, a process that could be scaled up to
inside it can pick up pressure, heat, cold, and moisture, make it possible to grow new organs inside human
thus offering the same span of senses as human skin. bodies to replace damaged ones. The system requires
special human body cells to be grown in the lab.
These are then implanted into an adult body,
where they continue to grow into a new organ.

Model patient

SimMan is a robot patient used to teach nurses and doctors
how to look after real people. Trainers can instruct it to speak,
bleed, sweat, breathe in and out, urinate, and even cry. The
robot can simulate the many different ways human patients
need help from medical staff, giving them a valuable chance
to practice without harming anyone if they get it wrong.



FUTURESome of the inventions in this chapter
haven’t been created yet. They are possible
in theory—we just need to figure out how
to make them work. Other concepts have
already been realized. Artificial intelligence
is already pretty sophisticated, and commuter
drones are not science fiction—they exist.
We will have to wait a little longer for flying

6cars, quantum computers, and teleportation
machines. The future will be full of the
coolest tech imaginable.

154 FUTURE

Modular phone

Phonebloks is the brainchild of Dutch designer Dave Hakkens.
The phone is fully customizable—meaning each user can
have a phone that suits his or her personal preferences
and needs. It’s as easy as selecting the parts.

HOW IT WORKS Plug-in modules
on the back give
the phone its suite
of features and

capabilities.

Phonebloks modules plug into a base, or motherboard. This
connects the modules so they communicate with one another.
Two screws lock everything together. Users choose modules
to suit their needs. For example, they might choose a basic
phone camera or a more sophisticated camera module made
by a camera manufacturer.

Users create their A bigger battery could be Standard-sized,
own phone with the chosen by someone who interchangeable
specific set of features might go longer without modules fit
being able to charge their every phone.
they want.
Modules have metal phone than most.

pins that plug into
holes in the base.

PHONEBLOKS

One of the most visible pieces of technology in our modern world is the cell
phone. But with most people changing their phone regularly to keep up with
the latest technology, the disposal of old phones has created mountains of waste.
A concept called Phonebloks seeks to reduce this waste by creating a phone
made of separate pieces called modules that can be easily replaced.

PHONEBLOKS 155

A replaceable touch screen
covers the front of the phone and
displays the available features.

The parts

There are plug-in modules for every part of the
phone. They include touch screen, camera, Wi-Fi,
battery, memory, speaker, Bluetooth, microphone,
power supply, ringer, and gyroscope modules.

Electronic waste

Hundreds of millions of cell phones are thrown away every
year. They contain valuable materials that can be recovered.
A million cell phones contain 75 lb (34 kg) of gold, 770 lb
(350 kg) of silver, 30 lb (15 kg) of palladium, and 35,000 lb
(16,000 kg) of copper. Taiwanese artist Lin Shih-Pao built
a car from 25,000 used cell phones to show how they can
be recycled as art.

Lin Shih-Pao’s installation

156 LIVE

PASSENGER

DRONE

Drones are uncrewed aircraft piloted by remote control
or flying autonomously. The Ehang 184 is a drone with
a difference: human cargo. This octocopter—so named
for its eight independent rotors—has no pilot. Its passenger
selects a flight plan and destination, and the drone does
the rest, able to carry a person on a 20-minute flight
at speeds of up to 62 mph (100 km/h).

Droneport

It is estimated that only one-third of
Africans live within walking distance
of an all-season road, which means
that getting vital medical supplies to
isolated communities is a huge problem.
Rwanda, dubbed the “land of a thousand
hills,” has been selected as the location of
the world’s first droneport. It is hoped that
automated long-distance drones, taking off
from the droneport, will be able to go where
roads don’t, and take life-saving supplies to
some of the most remote areas on Earth.

A droneport concept for Rwanda

The drone is made from PASSENGER DRONE 157
molded carbon fiber and
lightweight aluminum. The rotors work in pairs, with
each one spinning in the opposite
direction than its partner.

The drone’s flight Safety first
lights are suited to
day and night flying. The battery-powered Ehang 184 is a
fully automated drone with room for
HOW IT WORKS one passenger. Designed with safety
in mind, it has eight rotors and eight
A tablet in the passenger cabin controls independent power supplies, which
the Ehang’s flight plan. This connects with a ensure the aircraft will always be
central server, which coordinates the journey able to fly, even if one fails.
with other aircraft in the area, overriding flight
requests when flight conditions are poor. The A live GPS map
drone follows an inverted U flight path, taking shows the drone’s
off and landing vertically and cruising at a progress during
constant altitude of 1,640 ft (500 m), using the flight.
satellite data to navigate its flight path.
The passenger
The passenger can check the can decide to
status of the aircraft and hover or land
control cabin conditions. at any location.

The drone control app runs
on a normal tablet computer

158 FUTURE

BECOMING

INVISIBLE

Most people have probably wondered what it might be
like to be invisible, but there is currently no way of making
people disappear. That may not be the case for much longer,
however, as scientists are trying to develop ways to make
things invisible, and they’ve had some success. So far,
these prototype invisibility systems work only under strictly
controlled laboratory conditions, and for relatively small
things. The next step is to take them out of the laboratory
and make them work in the real world. If they are successful,
you might be flitting by unseen before you know it!

What use is invisibility?

The ability to make
someone or something
invisible is interesting, but
what use would it be? Imagine
the view from an airliner with
an invisible floor or walls. People
who study wild animals and
film them usually have to hide
from view. Their work would
be a lot easier if they could
make themselves invisible.

African lioness in her natural habitat The disappearing hand trick

Military forces are very Researchers at the University of Rochester
interested in invisibility research. in New York have succeeded in making
Stealth technology has rendered things vanish. Unlike other invisibility
aircraft such as the B-2 stealth systems, which rely on complex
bomber virtually undetectable arrangements of cameras and mirrors, the
by radar. Imagine how much Rochester system uses inexpensive lenses.
more difficult it would be to
fight against soldiers, tanks, or
aircraft if they could be made
more difficult to see or even
invisible on the battlefield.

B-2 Bomber

BECOMING INVISIBLE 159

Lenses bend light
around the hand.

Part of the hand vanishes,
but the background
remains visible.

HOW IT WORKS 5 The final lens
expands the light
The University of Rochester’s invisibility system relies on the ability of lenses beam, reproducing the
to bend light. One lens concentrates a background image into a narrow beam. pattern over the hand.
Two more lenses stop the beam from expanding until it reaches the fourth 4 The light beam passes
lens, which restores the image to its original size. Anything placed outside the between the splayed fingers.
narrow beam (the cloaked region) will not be seen through the fourth lens.

1 Light from the 3 Extra lenses keep Anything outside the narrow
pattern enters the beam narrow. beam becomes invisible.
the first lens.
2 The first lens
produces a narrow
light beam.

160 FUTURE

SPACE
FRONTIERS

The new rockets and spacecraft that will be needed to help us explore further in
space are already being built and tested. Engineers are also thinking about how
to do things that seem impossible today. It is possible that faster-than-light galactic
travel, elevators reaching to space, and hibernating astronauts will all become reality.

SLS

NASA is developing the world’s most powerful rocket for launching craft carrying
astronauts and cargo into orbit. Called the Space Launch System (SLS), its first flight
is scheduled for 2021. SLS will be able to lift 143 tons (130 metric tons)—more than
the weight of 85 family cars—and take people farther into space than ever before.

Space tether

An unusual idea for moving
spacecraft in space is to use a long
cable known as a space tether. As a
spacecraft passes through a planet’s
magnetic field, electricity flows along
the tether. The energy could perhaps
be channeled as a fuel-saving power.
A rotating tether might also be used
to catch a spacecraft and catapult
it into a higher orbit.

SPACE FRONTIERS 161

Warp drive

To travel faster than light,
starships in movies are
said to have the ability to
expand the space behind
them and contract the
space in front of them.
Scientifically speaking,
the idea could potentially
work, but we currently
do not have the ability
to do it. If we could find
a way, it would allow us
to venture farther in our
universe than we could
even imagine now.

Space elevator

Imagine riding an elevator from Earth into space. Engineers
suggest that such a creation could be made of super-strong
carbon ribbons, anchored to the ground and extending
62,000 miles (100,000 km) into space. Elevator cars would
climb up the ribbons into space.

Sleeper craft

For long space flights to Mars and beyond, NASA is
investigating the possibility of putting astronauts into a
deep sleep called torpor, similar to hibernation in animals.
This might be done by lowering the astronauts’ body
temperature. They could then be woken on arrival.

162 FUTURE

HYPERLOOP

Imagine taking a trip at speeds of HOW IT WORKS
760 mph (1,220 km/h). You could go from
San Francisco, California, to Los Angeles, A Hyperloop capsule will be propelled by electromagnetic motors.
California—a trip that normally takes When an electric current is applied, magnets in the capsule and
nearly six hours by car—in only 30 minutes. track cause the capsule to move forward. A fan sucks in air from
The extraordinary vehicle that could make the front of the capsule and blows most of it backward behind it.
this possible is called the Hyperloop. Some of it is blown downward to create a cushion that supports
Passengers will sit in capsules inside a tube the capsule instead of wheels, like a puck on an air hockey table.
that serves as the track. A combination of
magnets, electricity, and air causes the Inside the nose cone, a fan
capsule to zip by. Each section of the tube sucks in air and pushes it
is flexible, meaning it is earthquake-proof, backward and downward.
and the capsules are prevented from
bumping into one another by air pressure.

Each passenger Magnetic forces boost
cabin is big enough the Hyperloop’s speed
for 6-8 people. or slow it down.

The Hyperloop’s
streamlined body slips
through the remaining
air in the tunnel easily.

Hyperloop HYPERLOOP 163
760 mph (1,220 km/h)
Comparing speeds
Commercial airliner
560 mph (900 km/h) Hyperloop aims to combine the speed
of air transportation, or even faster
Maglev train speeds, with the convenience of rail
270 mph (430 km/h) travel. Its average speed would be about
600 mph (965 km/h)—a little faster than
Bullet train an airliner’s cruising speed. At this speed,
185 mph (300 km/h) it would be three times faster than a
Japanese bullet train, and it would easily
Top speed win a race against the current rail speed
record holder in passenger service, the
Super fast travel Shanghai Maglev Train (SMT).

Hyperloop will whisk passengers from city to city
faster than a jet airliner. You may not be able to
enjoy the view, though, because the capsules will
travel inside tubes. Test tracks are being built to
develop the concept’s technology.

Most of the air is sucked
out of the tunnel to
enable the capsule
to travel faster.

Hyperloop has no wheels.
Instead, it rides on top
of a thin cushion of air.

164 FUTURE

HOW IT WORKS

1 A traveler
stands on a
teleporter pod,
which scans the
traveler and maps
the positions of
all the matter
in his body.

2 Powerful Traveler is inside teleporter
scanning disrupts
the atoms in the
traveler’s body
and causes
the person to
dematerialize.

3 The scan data
is transmitted. It
is received by
another pod,
which uses it
to recreate,
or materialize,
the traveler.

Arriving safely

Teleportation is not so much traveling as
communication between two points—only
the message in this case is your whole body. The
possibility of being able to go on a faraway vacation
in seconds is a long way off, but may be possible.

TELEPORTATION 165

TELEPORTATION

What would it be like to dematerialize in a teleporter? Would your thoughts,
memories, and personality be teleported, along with the particles that make
up your body? Would the teleported person really be “you” in every way? This
may seem impossible, but scientists are actually carrying out research and
experimentation in teleportation and they’ve had some success. So far, only
a tiny bit of light energy has been teleported this way, with a record distance
currently of 89 miles (143 km). It might not be impossible after all!

Quantum leap

Quantum entanglement

Teleportation research uses something
called quantum entanglement. Two
particles or photons are entangled if they
are synchronized so closely that altering
one automatically alters the other, even
if they are far apart. It enables scientists
to teleport bits of quantum information
(called qubits) in experiments.

Teleportation may improve
credit card security

Long before it becomes possible to
teleport people (if it ever does), quantum
teleportation could lead to lightning-fast
internet services and better credit card
security—because they both involve
moving a lot of information quickly.

166 FUTURE

INTERNET OF The oven can be controlled remotely or
follow instructions from a recipe to
THINGS come on at the right temperature and
at the right time for each day’s meals.
There are more devices connected to the internet than there Lights come on automatically as a person
are people on Earth. As this number increases, and the devices approaches a room, using signals from
become interconnected, it will form the Internet of Things his or her personal activity tracker. The
(IoT). The IoT will give people remote access to their house lighting level adapts to the time of day
and office and allow them to interact in new ways with and weather, as well as to activity such
public spaces such as stores, tourist attractions, and as eating, watching TV, or working.
transportation networks. The data collected by these A chip on your pet monitors its activity
devices will be used to build intelligent systems that and location, giving a warning if it
help people live healthier and more efficient lives. enters forbidden areas, and opening
feeders when it is hungry.
Biometric locks on the exterior doors
record who is currently in the house
and can be programmed to open to
accept prearranged deliveries.

Weather forecasts and sensors
around the house are used to adjust
the temperature inside the home to
keep it at optimal levels for the time of
day and the homeowner’s preference.
The refrigerator scans food to track
what items are inside, how long they
have been there, how often they are
used, and how much is left.

As well as being used for watching
television, the screens in the house
are controllers for all the other
systems in the home.

INTERNET OF THINGS 167

HOW IT WORKS

In the home, the IoT will work by coordinating smart devices and analyzing the behavior of their owner.
This means that one system, such as a smart fridge, can learn to manage a person’s groceries automatically,
taking into consideration the habits of the owner. It can also attempt to improve the owner’s health by suggesting
solutions to simple problems, such as ordering healthier food for the refrigerator or diagnosing an illness.

INPUT ACTION ANALYSIS SOLUTION POTENTIAL
SUGGESTED ILLNESS
Human makes a System responds PATTERNS
choice in one smart to human input or ESTABLISHED IDENTIFIED
to communication OVER TIME
device linked to from another smart DATA FROM
home IoT system. OTHER USERS
device in home
IoT system.

INNER-
COMMUNICATION

Smart devices in
the home IoT system

collaborate.

When a human inputs something Human inputs are analyzed and Your IoT system can take information
into one smart device of their home patterns established. For example, if from various smart devices to fix problems
IoT system, the action occurs, but it you normally watch TV on Tuesday you might be unaware of. It could take
will also result in adjustments to nights, the TV and the lights will learn information from your activity tracker,
other parts of the system—for this; the TV will turn on and the lights your fridge, and even your bathroom to
instance, if you turn the TV on, will automatically dim on Tuesday tell if you are sick, then use data from
the lights may dim. nights if you are there. other people to suggest a solution for you.

Internet at home

The Internet of Things will transform the home, connecting
everyday devices together. They can all be operated remotely
from central controllers, but these systems also share information
and respond automatically to each other’s actions.

On the road

Outside the home, the IoT will
revolutionize our everyday lives in
interesting ways. Traffic jams may be
a thing of the past, because the IoT takes
up-to-the-minute information from all
modes of transportation to keep you on
the move. This data will then present you
with the best routes around delays—but
the IoT will not send everybody the same
route, reducing the chances of further
jams on alternative routes.

Traffic congestion

FUTURE

ARTIFICIAL

INTELLIGENCE

Computers are getting better at acting like humans. As a result, artificial intelligence
(AI) is progressing at an unprecedented rate, and often in areas you might not realize. AI
systems are now able to diagnose diseases from a set of symptoms, play complex board
games against human competitors, and translate speech from one language to another
in real time. As an AI does these things and more, it learns from the things that happen
afterward, much in the way that humans do—with each situation improving the AI
system’s understanding of future situations.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 169

Hello, my name is Kingshuk. How are you? Breaking language barriers

Hello Kingshuk, I’m Smiljka. I’m in school, we Skype Translator is one example of an AI
are having a lesson about India. Where in the system. It enables people speaking in two
country do you live? different languages to have a conversation
in real time. The translator recognizes what
I live in New Delhi. I really love it. This is a is said in one language and translates it
historic city and the food here is delicious. into another, and back again.
Where do you live?
HOW IT WORKS
I live near London. It’s nice but it’s very cold
right now. AI-driven translators, such as Skype Translator, enable
you to talk to your friends in real time, even if they
Type a message in English here do not speak the same language as you. The artificial
intelligence at work here is the translator’s ability to
The Turing Test understand exactly what the speakers mean, which is
determined by the translator breaking down the noises
In 1950, the English mathematician Alan Turing developed a you make into small parts and comparing them with
test to check whether or not a machine is intelligent. The test, known words in its internet-linked database. It must
which became known as the Turing Test, involves a person be able to do this in a split second in order for a
and a machine communicating conversation to run smoothly.
with each other using text. If
the person can’t tell whether 1 When the first It’s ah nice
he or she is communicating person speaks, the but it’s very
with a machine or another translator analyzes the cold right now.
person, then the machine sound and compares it
has passed the test. to recorded audio
snippets in its database
to identify the words.

“it’s ah nice...” 2 Any unnecessary
“it’s ah nice...” sounds—such as ums,
“it’s nice...” ahs, and repetitions—are

removed from the speech;

they are unimportant to

its meaning.

3 Skype Translator ENGLISH
then uses its artificially
intelligent “knowledge” HINDI
of languages to translate
the words into the second 4 The translated words
person’s language. are shown to the second
person and can be spoken
by the program’s voice
generator. A response
from the second person
starts the cycle again.

170 FUTURE

HOW IT WORKS Flying car

Lift Wing While the driver has control
rotors on the road, when flying,
the TF-X uses an autopilot,
Wing which navigates to a
preselected landing site.
Thrust is provided in level
flight by the large tail fan
at the rear, powered by a
fuel-burning engine.

1. To take off, no runway is needed. The wings
fold out and the wing rotors point up, so the
car’s takeoff is close to vertical. Once airborne,
the wing rotors rotate forward. The takeoff is
completely automatic—the driver does not
need to control it.

Tail fan

2. The cruising speed is 200 mph (320 km/h)
and the maximum trip length is 500 miles
(800 km). During the cruise, the batteries
that power the wheels and rotors are
recharged by the spinning tail fan.

3. Like the takeoff, landing is automatic. On the road
The driver preselects a landing zone, and if the
weather permits, the TF-X lands safely. The driver The vehicle is powered by an electric
can take back control if the touchdown site is motor when on the ground. The wings
unsafe. If the engines all fail, a parachute are folded down for driving. This
deploys, preventing the craft from crashing. prevents unwanted forces from
reducing grip on the road at high
speeds. The long rotors on the wing
tips are housed inside compartments
along the side of the chassis.

TF-X on the road

FLYING CAR 171

FLYING CAR

The future for the humble car is, perhaps, in the air. TF-X is a concept
car designed to transform everyday trips by making it possible to ascend
to the skies. The vehicle will seat four people, and it will be able to
take off vertically. Terrafugia, the American company who came

up with the idea, hope to have the car in production by the
end of the 2020s, when hybrid engine technology will
have advanced enough to provide power for both
road and air transportation.

The plastic and
carbon fiber
body is strong
but lightweight.

The wing rotors are
folded back during

forward flight.

Flying high The TF-X design uses
technology pioneered by the
People have been dreaming V-22 Osprey military aircraft.
of flying cars for decades. The Osprey can tilt its rotors
One of the first to get off upward to take off like a
the ground was the Aerocar, helicopter and then swing,
developed between the 1940s them forward to fly fast at
and 1960s. Its wings were subsonic speed, like a plane.
detached and folded into a
trailer for driving on roads.

Aerocar The V-22 Osprey

172 FUTURE

SPACE

TELESCOPE

At half the length of a 737 airliner, the James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST) is the largest space telescope ever thought up. Due to launch
in 2021, it is destined to search for the faint heat signatures coming
from the very first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang.
The satellite is named after the NASA director who oversaw the
Apollo missions that sent astronauts to the moon.

Largest mirror in space

The James Webb Space Telescope has a 21 ft (6.5 m)
wide gold-coated mirror that is designed to pick up
heat coming from the very edge of the universe. The
mirror is shaded from the unwanted heat of the sun
and Earth by a tennis-court-sized shield.

Curved primary
mirror made of
18 hexagonal units

Antenna for
communication

with Earth

Control systems are located Star tracker orientates
in the spacecraft bus the spacecraft

SPACE TELESCOPE 173

HOW IT WORKS

The JWST is so sensitive, it could detect the body early stars. On their 13.6-billion-year journey
heat of a bumblebee on the moon. The spacecraft to Earth, the visible light waves from these
is looking for heat, or infrared radiation, because stars have been stretched and have become
that is all that is left of the light that shone from invisible heat waves.

Dark ages, First stars Expanding universe
before the first stretches stars’ light
waves, turning them
stars formed into heat waves

Big Bang

JWST

Radiation Type Gamma ray X-ray Ultraviolet Visible Infrared Microwave Radio
(Wavelength in m) (10-12) (10-10) (10-8) (0.5 x 10-8) (10-5) (10-2)
(10-2)

Secondary mirror reflects
heat picked up by main
mirror onto central camera

Eye in Space

The JWST will replace the Hubble
Space Telescope (HST)—which
launched in 1990—as the largest
mirror working in space. The larger
the mirror, the more things it can
see, and the JWST’s mirror is seven
times larger than that of the HST.
It is so large that, for it to fit inside
a rocket, it has to be made from
hexagonal segments that will
fold out after reaching orbit.

The hexagonal mirrors of the JWST

Earth’s orbit
Sun

Earth

Layered heat shield (91350mmilliilolinonmkilmes) Moon JWST’s orbit
reflects heat away (01..95 mmiilllliioonn mkmile) s L2
from the mirror

JWST’s position L2

The JWST needs to work somewhere very dark and cold. It will take
up the position beyond Earth called L2. The gravity of Earth and the sun
will work together to swing the JWST around the sun at the same pace
as Earth, meaning it will always be shielded from the hot, bright glare
of the sun by Earth.

FUTURE

QUANTUM D-Wave

COMPUTER This thumbnail-sized
chip is the processor for the
Superconductors are materials that, when chilled to very low temperatures, D-Wave quantum computer. It
allow electricity to pass easily through them—and they could help bring is not made of silicon but from
about a revolution in how computers store information. Computers that superconducting niobium wires.
make use of superconductors are called quantum computers, and the It contains 1,000 quantum bits,
D-Wave 2X is one such machine. A 32-bit classical computer handles or qubits, which can work
32 bits of information at a time; however, a 32-quantum bit, or qubit, 100 million times faster than
computer can handle 4,294,967,296 bits all at once, greatly increasing a classical computer chip.
what computers can do and how fast they can do it.

QUANTUM COMPUTER 175

HOW IT WORKS On Off

A traditional computer processor is A bit, short for “binary unit,”
a set of billions of switches. These are can have one of two states:
represented as a code of 1s (for on) and 1 or 0. It is impossible for it
0s (for off). Quantum computers get their to be anything in between.
processing power from storing information
on a subatomic particle. When we measure
a characteristic of a particle, it can
represent a 1 or a 0. However, before we
measure it, quantum effects mean the
particle is both on and off, both 0 and 1,
at the same time. This unknown state
means it is a quantum bit, or qubit.

Completely isolated A 1 or a 0 can be represented by a This point
characteristic of a particle such as an is neither 1
The D-Wave computer is housed in atom or electron. But quantum physics nor 0 but a
this special room. Inside is a near perfect has shown that these particles can have combination
vacuum, while the walls shield the two characteristics, meaning they’d of the two.
processor from Earth’s magnetism. A represent 0 and 1 at the same time.
powerful refrigeration system cools It is possible to calculate
the computer to –459°F (–273°C )— Every point can be the chance of the qubit
considerably colder than outer space! expressed as two being 0 and the chance
numbers, which are of it being 1, and so one
The D-Wave room has 15 layers of shielding the probability of qubit contains two bits
it being 0 or 1. of information.

70%

30%

After silicon

Silicon electronics work by creating
tiny gaps that block electric
currents. To cram more electronics
on to a microchip, those gaps must
get smaller. However, if they get
too small, they stop working.
Designers are exploring new ways
of processing information. One
option is to use photonic circuits
that use pulses of light, not
electricity, to transmit information.

A photonic circuit

176 FUTURE

Ripples in space

In 1916, German-born scientist Albert Einstein
predicted that massive accelerating objects
produce gravity waves that ripple through
space and time. The waves detected in 2016
were made by two black holes colliding
1.3 billion light-years away from Earth.

HOW IT WORKS

The instrument that 2 A beam splitter Beam B A gravity wave stretches
detected the gravity splits the laser and squeezes space and
waves used laser beams beam in two. 3 The beams travel time—distorting both.
to detect tiny changes 2 miles (4 km) and
in the distance between Beam A bounce off a mirror. Direction of
mirrors caused by gravity gravity wave
waves. The instrument is 4 The beams 5 If light is detected,
so sensitive that it can should recombine and it means that a gravity
detect a change of one- cancel each other out, wave has distorted the
thousandth the width of beams, and therefore
an atomic nucleus over producing darkness. gravity waves exist.
its 2-mile (4 km) length.

1 A laser produces a
beam of light.

GRAVITY WAVES 177

GRAVITY

WAVES

In early 2016, a team of scientists belonging to the
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(LIGO) in the United States held a press conference to
make an important announcement. They had made a
discovery that may be one of the most remarkable and
important scientific breakthroughs of the past hundred
years. They had made the first-ever direct detection of
ripples in space and time called gravity waves.

New knowledge

Black hole A supernova produces X-rays

The first pictures of an actual black hole Every time scientists found a new way to look at the universe—in
were made in 2019 by scientists working visible light, and then at radio wavelengths, X-rays, and so on—they
with the Event Horizon Telescope. The made new discoveries. Gravity waves give them yet another new way
image produced by their work was of to look at the universe.
the supermassive black hole at the
center of the Messier 87 galaxy. LISA

The M87 black hole There are plans to launch a gravity-wave detector called LISA (Laser
Interferometric Space Antenna) in 2034. Three spacecraft 3 million miles
(5 million km) apart will bounce laser beams between them and search
for gravity waves.



REFERENCE

180 REFERENCE

WHAT’S NEXT?

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation will probably develop in three ways: superfast Self-driving cars and trucks will make road transportation safer.
vehicles for carrying people who can’t wait, more spacious and Airliners using the latest scientific research will jet people
comfortable transportation for the masses, and large robotic around the globe faster than the speed of sound.
cargo vehicles for hauling goods all around the world. Hypersonic (more than five times faster than the speed
of sound) aircraft will make it possible to fly halfway
Electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles will become more around the world in only a couple of hours.
popular than vehicles running on fossil fuels.

MILITARY

The internet, GPS, radar, jet engines,
and computers all had their origins in
military research, and the military will
continue to be a major driver of
innovation and invention.

Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
(UCAVs) will replace manned attack
planes and autonomous robots, and
remotely controlled vehicles will
become commonplace.

Stealth technology and conventional
camouflage will be enhanced by increasingly
effective invisibility systems.

Governments around the world will spend
more time and money on securing their
countries against attacks on their national
security from the internet.

SPACE WHAT’S NEXT 181

ENERGY

Following the first manned landing on Mars in the 2030s, space agencies begin Increasing global energy demands
to plan for their next manned landing—possibly on one of Jupiter’s moons. will drive improvements in existing
Meanwhile, private companies will continue to exploit near-Earth space. sources of energy and the development
of new energy sources. Environmental
The first privately funded space station will receive its first guests concerns mean that new energy
for a vacation in orbit. technologies will have to be
clean and green.
A new Space Race to establish the first permanently manned Moonbase
will be contested between the United States and China. After decades of research, the first
nuclear power stations based on atomic
A space probe will land on Jupiter’s moon Europa and bore down through fusion will be built.
the surface ice into the ocean below to search for life.
Airborne wind turbines tethered to
Space telescopes may observe a planet that appears to exhibit signs of the ground will generate electricity from
intelligent life, including radio transmissions and a debris field that may be high-speed, high-altitude winds.
the remains of rockets and spacecraft.
Countries with access to the ocean will
Scientists may begin transforming Mars to prepare for the day when human extract hydrogen from seawater and
settlers start moving there. use it as a fuel for electricity generation
and transportation.
COMMUNICATIONS
Solar power satellites may be launched
Communications encompass everything from newspapers to capture solar energy and beam it
and broadcasting to broadband and telephones—and all down to Earth.
will be transformed by future technologies.

Smartphones will not remain as stand-alone handsets for much
longer; they are likely to be built into all sorts of other devices.

Traditional news organizations will cease to exist; instead, they will
be replaced by individuals posting reports, eyewitness accounts, and
opinion pieces online on their own video channels.

In a few decades, personal computers will be as powerful as
today’s supercomputers.

Television will be broadcast in UDTV (Ultra-high Definition TV),
with 16 times the definition of television today.

182 REFERENCE

BIOTECHNOLOGY ROBOTICS

Biotechnology, the combination of
living organisms and technology to solve
problems and make commercial products,
is expected to have a far-reaching impact on
four fields in particular: medicine, agriculture,
industry, and the environment.

Genetically improved photosynthesis
will increase crop yields to help feed the
growing global population.

Sensors built from genetically engineered
living cells will be implanted in the human
body to collect medical data.

Solar panels will be grown from living
plant cells.

Superfast computer memory devices will
be made from naturally magnetic bacteria.

Bacteria will be employed to clean up pollution.

NANOTECHNOLOGY Robots will become an increasingly common
feature of our lives. More capable, internet-
Tiny technologies will find linked robots with more advanced artificial
applications throughout all sorts of intelligence will work alongside human
industries, including manufacturing, workers in business and industry. Labor-
agriculture, electronics, energy, and saving robotic devices will become more
health care. Materials created to common in our homes.
order, atom by atom, will be tailored
to the precise properties needed for As artificial intelligence improves, robots
each application. will be able to do an increasing number of jobs
and potentially do them better than humans.
Nanotech coatings on buildings and
bridges will neutralize air pollution. Japan, the world leader in robot technology,
will send humanoid robots into space in place
Diamond-like materials 50 times of astronauts.
stronger than steel will be developed
by nanotechnology. Robots will begin to replace dogs to
guide blind people and assist people with
Nanobots the size of blood cells will be other disabilities.
injected into the human body to repair
damage, or seek out invaders such as
viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells.

Shrinking nanotechnology even further
to smaller scales called picotechnology
and femtotechnology will be used to
manipulate matter at the atomic and
subatomic scale.

EVERYDAY LIFE WHAT’S NEXT 183

Technology will continue to subtly Advances in genetics and biotechnology may finally
affect our everyday lives, with many reveal mechanisms for curing cancer and Alzheimer’s
small advances such as faster internet disease, and for repairing damage to spinal cords,
connections making new ways of eyes, and brains. The cell damage that causes the
working and learning possible. effects of aging may be reversible, too.

Schools may be phased out in favor of It will become possible to upload a human mind
live streaming of lessons to children’s homes. to a supercomputer.

Car manufacturers will produce cars with The Internet of DNA may become a reality, enabling
a self-repairing coating on their bodywork. researchers to access the genomes of thousands of
people online, to increase their ability to find cures
Internet and real-time translation programs for common illnesses.
will make it possible for people to communicate
with each other, in any language, all over New body parts and even whole organs will be made by
the world. 3-D bio-printing, printing layer upon layer of living cells.

Coins and paper money will finally disappear, Survival rates for many cancers will reach almost
fully replaced by digital payment methods. 100 percent, thanks to advances in medical knowledge
made possible by technology.
HEALTH AND MEDICINE
The cost of expensive drugs will fall when they are
mass-produced using genetically engineered organisms
instead of making them chemically.

184 GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

3 3-D printer Each atom is made of C catalyst way of receiving information
A computer- even smaller particles called A substance that (input), somewhere to store
controlled printing subatomic particles. The speeds up the rate information (memory), a part
machine that can produce a nucleus at the center of a chemical reaction but that processes information
three-dimensional object by contains protons and does not itself change in (the central processing unit,
printing layer upon layer of neutrons, and these are the process. or processor), and a way to
plastic or another material. surrounded by electrons. display information (output).
cell
4 4K (Ultra HD) atomic fusion The smallest unit of a living D dark matter
Extremely high- A chemical reaction where organism and the building An unknown
resolution (3840 x two or more atomic nuclei blocks of plants and animals. physical substance
2160 pixels) pictures, videos, collide to become a new Also, a cell is one of the that is thought to form about
or screens that have four times nucleus. This process releases electricity-generating units five-sixths of the matter in
the level of detail of Full HD a lot of energy. within a battery. the universe.
(1920 x 1080 pixels).
augmented reality cerebral palsy downdraft
A activity A view of the real world An illness that involves A downward-flowing current
tracker supplemented with computer- impaired muscle coordination of air. The air blown
An electronic generated information. typically caused by damage downward by a helicopter
device that senses the wearer’s to the brain before or just or other rotorcraft is an
movements and records autonomous after birth. example of downdraft.
them for analysis, often A device or system that is
by using an app on a capable of completing a chip drone
smartphone or computer. complex task by itself.
A set of tiny electronic circuits A remotely controlled

air resistance B battery mounted on a single piece pilotless aircraft.
A force that tries to slow A device that stores
objects down when they chemical energy of semiconducting material, E electronic ink
move through air. Also and can be used to convert Material that responds
known as drag. that energy into electrical usually silicon. One chip can to electrical impulses
energy. When a battery is hold up to several billion
altitude connected to a closed path switches, called transistors.
The height of an object called a circuit, electric
or point above sea level or current flows from one end There are different types by changing its appearance
the ground. of the battery through
the circuit and back to of chips. Memory chips store to create text and images
artificial intelligence the other end of the battery.
A branch of computer science data. Microprocessors contain on a screen.
concerned with developing Big Bang
computer systems that The event that is thought a computer’s central processing energy
simulate human learning to mark the birth of our
and decision-making. universe approximately unit (CPU).
13.7 billion years ago.
atom circuit The capacity to do work.
The smallest possible particle Bluetooth
of a chemical element. A standard method for Energy cannot be created
Atoms are the basic building exchanging data between
blocks of matter. They join devices by a wireless (radio) An unbroken path that allows or destroyed, but it can be
together to form molecules. link over short distances.
electricity to flow along it. converted from one form

collaborative robot to another. Every activity in

the universe involves the

A robot designed to work conversion of energy.

with human workers in ethylene

a shared workspace. tetrafluoroethylene

computer A type of plastic, also known

An electronic machine that as ETFE, that is strong

processes information according and corrosion-resistant

to sets of instructions called over a wide temperature

programs. Computers have a range. ETFE sheeting is used

185

for roofing and cladding H hard disk ion maglev
in the construction industry. The place where a An atom or molecule that has A transportation system that
computer’s files gained or lost one or more uses magnetic levitation for
F friction
A force between are stored. electrons and, as a result, has support and propulsion. A
two surfaces that heat an electric charge. strong magnetic field lifts
the vehicle above its track
J jet engine
are in contact. It tends to A form of energy, also known A type of internal and propels it along.
resist them sliding past as thermal energy, that is combustion engine mass
each other. stored in a substance as

G G-force vibrations of its atoms in which fuel is burned in air The amount of matter in
A force produced
by acceleration or molecules. to create a jet of fast-moving something.
Higgs boson gas to propel an aircraft or microprocessor
other vehicle.

and measured by comparing The subatomic particle K kinetic energy The main chip in a computer
The energy that
it to the force of gravity responsible for matter having something has that contains the computer’s
at the Earth’s surface, which mass. It was observed by central processing unit (CPU)
is 1G. experiments carried out by the and carries out the instructions

GPS Large Hadron Collider in 2012. because it is moving. of a computer program. Also

hydraulic known as a processor.

Global Positioning System, L Large Hadron miniaturization
Collider Reducing something in size.
a network of satellites Operated by the movement The world’s biggest Usually used to refer to the trend
orbiting Earth, transmitting of a liquid (usually oil)
radio signals to receivers on under pressure.

Earth that use the signals Hyperloop and most powerful subatomic of computer chips becoming

to calculate their position. particle collider, designed to smaller and more powerful.

GPS is the basis of A proposed high-speed accelerate two beams of protons
transportation system that relies to almost the speed of light and motherboard
satellite navigation.

graphene on pressurized capsules being then smash them into each The main circuit board

propelled through a closed tube. other to test the predictions of a computer or other

An ultra-thin honeycomb inertia of scientific theories. electric device.

structure of carbon that is LCD N nanotube
Liquid Crystal Display, LCDs use A tiny cylinder,
stronger than steel. The tendency of a physical electric currents to make tiny visible only under
gravity object to resist any change to
its state of motion.

A force of attraction between crystals appear light or dark a microscope, that strengthens
any two masses in the universe. information technology to form letters or images on
a material.

All masses have their own force The use of computers, a screen. neutrino

of gravity, but the effect is networks, and communication LED

usually noticeable only for the technology to store, process, An elementary particle with

most massive objects such as and transmit data. Light-emitting diode—a small zero electric charge and

stars, planets, and moons. insulation electronic component tht glows almost no mass.

gravity waves when an electric current flows niobium

Material that reduces or through it.

Ripples in spacetime produced prevents the loss of sound, lift A silver-gray metal used in

by intense gravitational forces, heat, or electric current. superconducting materials.

predicted in 1916 and finally Internet of Things An upward force on an aircraft

observed in 2016. wing caused by the movement OLED
Organic
gyroscope The network of everyday of air around it. light-emitting
A wheel that is able to spin objects, such as cars, magnetic diode, an LED in which the
about an axis that is itself free kitchen appliances, light-emitting substance
to move. Gyroscopes are used medical implants, and Ofield
buildings, that contain M The region around

in mobile phones to determine embedded internet- a magnet where magnetic forces is a carbon-based

the positioning of the phone. connected devices. can be detected. organic compound.

186 GLOSSARY / INDEX

organic quantum smart TV an invented world, with which
Relating to materials that are entanglement A television set that can be a user can interact.
made of carbon. A linkage or relationship connected to the internet to
between two particles such access extra services. W weight
P payload that the quantum state of one A force
The passengers or determines the quantum state stack effect produced by
cargo carried by a of the other, even if they are The movement of air into, gravity acting on an object’s
vehicle, especially satellites separated in space. through, and out of buildings mass. While mass remains
or other space hardware, due to the buoyancy of warm constant, weight depends
launched by a rocket. quark air compared to cooler air. Also on the local force of gravity.
A subatomic particle found known as the chimney effect.
photon inside larger particles (called Wi-Fi
The zero-mass elementary hadrons), such as the proton Space Race A short-range wireless (radio)
particle of electromagnetic and neutron. Rivalry between the United technology that is used to
radiation, including visible States and the Soviet Union connect electronic devices to
light. Like all elementary R recycling (USSR) in space exploration computer networks such as
particles, it also exhibits Reusing materials in the 1960s, with the aim the internet.
wave-like properties. and products that of landing astronauts on
would otherwise be thrown the moon. wireless
pixel away as waste. A description of technology
A tiny colored dot that forms stealth that transfers information
the smallest part of a picture RFID Any technology designed between devices that
on a display such as a Radio frequency identification. to make detection difficult are not connected to
television or computer screen. A method for tracking things to detect, especially by sight each other by wires or
by using electronic tags that or radar. any other physical link.
potential energy respond to radio signals.
One of several forms of energy subatomic particle
that something has because robot A particle that is smaller than
of its position or state. A computer-controlled an atom. Protons, neutrons,
For example, a stretched machine capable of carrying electrons, and quarks are
rubber band has elastic out some or all of its actions examples of subatomic
potential energy. autonomously. particles.

processor rocket core sync
See microprocessor. The central stage of a Short for synchronize, and
multistage rocket to means making processes or
proton which booster rockets data in different devices match
A subatomic particle with a may be attached. by copying information from
positive electric charge, found one device to another.
in the nucleus of an atom. rotor
A rotating part of a machine. T turbine
prototype The rotating part of an electric A device with blades
An early version of a product motor and a helicopter’s that rotate when a
or part, built for testing or spinning blades are examples liquid or gas flows through it,
demonstration purposes of rotors. converting the kinetic energy
before large-scale of the liquid or gas into
production begins. S SEM rotary motion and
Scanning electron electrical energy.
Q quantum microscope, a type
The smallest unit of electron microscope that V virtual reality
of any form of produces images of a sample An environment
energy. For example, the magnified up to about 500,000 created by
photon is the quantum times by scanning it with a a computer to simulate
of electromagnetic energy. beam of electrons. part of the real world or

187

INDEX

Bold page numbers refer to main astronauts 31, 44, 56, 57, 142–143, C C-Thru helmet computers, continued
entries; italic numbers indicate the 148–149, 160, 161 124–125 tablets 16–17, 27, 36, 37, 157
glossary section cameras: action 12–13, 25 The Turing Test 169
atoms 164, 175, 181, 182, 184 video processing unit 144, 145
3-D pens 18–19 Australia: Canberra Arboretum 84 C-Thru helmet 125
3-D printers 10, 18, 19, 20, 30–31, 184 augmented reality 67, 185 digital 12–13, 140–141 concrete 75, 81, 83, 88, 89, 90, 96,
autolauncher 131 for drivers 62 97, 98
3Doodler 18 autopilot 170 edible 140
Go-Pro Hero2 12–13 controllers 25
A accelerometers 25, 29, 140 B Bagger 293 109 health 140, 144, 145 PS4 Dualshock 25
acrylic: in buildings 76 bacteria 53, 98, 182 in mobile phones 155
plexiglass 93 batteries 102, 103, 115, 184 PlayStation 4 24–25 conveyor belts 97, 104, 108
activity trackers 138–139, 184 in robots 104 coolers 89
rechargeable 49, 102, 103, 135, 170 Canada: Capilano Suspension Bridge 86 Copenhagen Wheel bicycle 62
Internet of Things 166 Baumgartner, Felix 12 capacitor boards 29 copper 155
for pets 127, 166 Bertha (tunnel borer) 96–97 carbon 71, 115
Aerocar 171 bicycles 148 carbon fibre 58, 157, 171 D D-Wave computer 174, 175
agriculture 71, 137, 182 cars 155, 183 dark matter 112, 184
Airbus Beluga 64–65 Copenhagen Wheel 62 Aerocar 171 dams 120–121
air: as insulation 81 ElliptoGO 54–55 amphibious 63 Denmark 52, 76–77
transportation 163 lights 115 electric 48–49, 103, 114, 180 diggers 108–109
aircraft 99 binary code 85 EO2 63 diodes 26–27, 115
Airbus Beluga 64–65 bioluminescence 39 flying 170–171 diving equipment 125
Airlander 58–59 biomedicine 150 Tesla Model S 48–49 DNA 145, 150, 183
cargo 59, 64–65, 156–157 bionic limbs 134–135 TF-X 170–171 dogs 126, 127
drones 59, 136–137, 156–157 biostamps 150 Caterpillar 8750 108 downloads 127, 133
engines 60–61, 118–119 biotechnology 150, 182, 183 cats 127 draglines 108
flying cars 170–171 black holes 176, 177 cells, human 151 drones 59, 136–137, 184
jet 50, 60–61 Bluetooth® 22, 25, 36, 138, chargers: SOFT Rocker 117
octocopters 156–157 155, 184 superchargers 102 droneport 156
SpaceShipTwo 50–51 books 16, 17, 32, 85, 133 chemicals: harmful 146 Ehang 184 156–157
stealth 158 brain 134, 144, 145, 183 reactions 38, 39 Dudeney, Henry Ernest 129
unmanned 136–137, 156–157 Brazil: Suite Vollard 128 China: Hydropolis 92–93 dyes 39
V-22 Osprey 171 bridges: cantilever 86, 87 Shanghai maglev trains 43
Volocopter 70–71 Capilano Suspension Bridge 86 Three Gorges Dam 120–121 E e-ink 132, 133, 184
Airlander 58–59 footbridges 85, 86, 87 chips 23, 174 e-readers 132–133
algae 52 Henderson Waves 85 see also microchips Egypt, ancient 134
aluminum: in buildings 74, 77 Loopgraafbrug 86 circuit boards 107 Ehang 184 156–157
in drones 157 Rolling Bridge 84 CleverPet 126–127 Einstein, Albert 176
in rockets 44 Scale Lane Bridge 86–87 clothes: printed 18 Ekso exoskeletal suit 110–111
in smart watch 23 Bio-Bus 52–53 protective 124–125 electric motors 48, 49, 62, 104,
Amazon Fire HD 16–17 biogas 52, 53 collars 127
animals 39, 65, 76–77, 110, 126, B-2 stealth bomber 158 Compact Muon Solenoid 112 135, 137, 170
127, 146 buildings: art galleries 82–83, compressors 119 electrical fields 29, 37, 132
anti-virus robots 150 computer-generated imagery electricity 52, 102, 116, 160
apps: computer programming 107 90–91 (CGI) 11
cycling 62 Blue Planet aquarium 76–77 computers 15, 23 hydroelectricity 120, 121
headphone 21 Burj Khalifa 74–75 artificial intelligence (AI) 168–169 from solar 114, 115, 116, 128, 148
health 138 Gigafactory 102–103 D-Wave computer 174 and transport 162
navigation 157 Guggenheim Museum 90–91 drones 136 electrodes 133, 144, 145
pets 127 D*Dynamic house 128–129 graphics 14, 15, 24, 36 electroluminescent (EL) strip 117
photography 141 hotels 92–93 Hackaball 107 electromagnetic motors 162
toy 35 Hydropolis 92–93 Osborne 1 37 electronic paper 132
wheelchair 47 Icehotel 78–79 processors 10, 14, 15, 37, 106, electronic waste 155
aquariums: Blue Planet 76–77 Khan Shatyr 80–81 electrons 26, 102, 175
architects 30, 82, 83, 91, 116, 117 Lotus Temple 88–89 140, 175 elevators see lifts
architecture see bridges, buildings Pompidou Center 82–83 quantum computers 174–175 ElliptoGO bicycle 54–55
Argus II 144–145 Rocket Tower 81 Raspberry Pi 106–107 energy 49, 112, 113
art galleries 82–83, 90–91 rotating 128–129 robots 105 alternative 52, 53, 181
artificial intelligence (AI) 168–169, Sharifa-ha House 85 Surface Book 36–37 hydro 120, 121
182, 184 Suite Vollard 128 light 39
Tate Modern 90 solar 116, 128, 181
Three Gorges Dam 120–121 engines: jet 60–61, 118–119
rocket 44, 45, 50, 57
EO2 car 63

188 INDEX

excavators, bucket-wheel 108–109 health, continued LEDs 115 New Horizons 68–69
exercise: activity tracker 138–139 and biotechnology 182, 183 legs, bionic 134, 135 niobium 174, 185
Ekso exoskeletal suit 110–111 lenses, and invisibility 159 nitrogen, liquid 42, 43
bicycles 54–55 eyesight 144–145 Lexus Slide hoverboard 42–43
in space 142, 148 images inside the body 140 lifts 74, 161 O oceans: Ocean Cleanup project
exoskeletons 110, 111 medical supplies 156 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 146–147
experiments, scientific 112, 148, 149 monitoring 150 trash in 146–147
eyesight: Argus II 144–145 nanobots 182 cameras 140 octocopters 156–157
organs 151, 183 light 114–115, 166, 167 organ growing 151
F factories 102–103 and robots 150, 151 organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
Falcon Heavy rocket 44–45 synthetic skin 151 bending 159
fans: flying cars 170 see also exercise bulbs 115 26–27, 185
and circuits 175 Orion spacecraft 56–57, 142, 143
jet engines 118, 119 heart rate, measuring 138 e-readers 132 Össur 135
Fire HD 10 16–17 heat insulators 79 electroluminescent (EL) strip 117 oxygen, liquid 44, 45
firefighting 124–125 heat shield 57, 173 emergency 38
flight: flying car 170–171 heat waves 173 as fuel 52 P palladium 155
helium 58, 59, 131 games with 126 Panono digital camera
jet wing 60–61 helmets, C-Thru 124–125 OLED 26, 27 140–141
see also aircraft Higgs boson particle 112 waves 173 panoramas 140
food: cooking 114 holograms 10, 11 lithium 44 parachutes 57, 61, 170
and pets 126, 127 HoloLens 10–11 Loon 130–131 parks 85
printed 19 hotels 92–93 loudspeakers 127 particle accelerators 112
in space 142, 148 houses 85, 128–129, 166, 167 passports 32
football 32, 33 hoverboards 42–43 M magnesium 36 Pate, Bryan 54
forests 84, 85 Hubble Space Telescope 173 magnetic levitation 42–43 payments 144, 183
formwork 88 human body see health maglev trains 43
France: Pompidou Center 82–83 hydrogen peroxide 39 magnets 42, 43, 162 contactless 32
FroliCat Bolt 127 Hyperloop 162–163 mapping: drones 136 pets 126–127
fuel: bio gas 52, 53 Mars, living on 142–143 Phonebloks 154–155
biomethane 52, 53 I IBM 22 materials, new 98–99 photodegradation 146
hydrogen 180, 181 ice, as building material 78, 79 media centers 14–15 photography: inside the body 140
kerosene 44 implants, eye 144, 145 memory, computer 182
oxygen, liquid 44, 45 India: Lotus Temple 88–89 Messier 87 177 panoramas 140–141
furniture 116–117 infrared radiation 173 metal, lightest 99 photonic circuits 175
Instrument 1 28–29 microcapsules 133 photosynthesis 182
G Galaxy Buds 22 International Space Station 148–149 microchips 15, 115 Piano, Renzo 82
Galaxy Watch Active2 22–23 pianos 20, 29
games: consoles 14–15, 24–25, 126–127 equipment 31 in medicine 150 pilots 11, 60, 61
Garmin vivofit2 139 internet 165, 169, 180, 183 Microlibrary Bima 85 pipes 82, 83
gearwheels 54 microphones 127 pixels 17, 37, 186
generators 121 access 130, 131 microprocessors 71 plants: Canberra Arboretum 84
genetic code 145, 150 devices connected to 14, 22, 106 Microsoft: HoloLens 10–11
Germany 82, 99, 108 in space 142, 148
Gigafactory 102–103 Internet of Things 166–167 Surface Book 36–37 lotus flower 88, 89
glass: as a building material 74, 82 invisibility 158–159 military machines 158, 171, plastic: building material 80, 81, 95
glasses 144–145 Iran: Sharifi-ha House 85 ethylene terafluoroethylene (ETFE)
Global Positioning System (GPS): islands, artificial 92–93, 94–95 180
miniaturization 22 80, 81
tracking via 127, 138, 157, 180 J Japan 146, 182 mirrors 127 liquid 18
glowsticks 38–39 jelly 29 mylar 59
gold 151, 155, 172 jet engines 60–61, 118–119 gravity waves 176 plexiglass 93
GoPro Hero2 camera 12–13 telescopes 172, 173 and spacecraft 68
GoPro HERO7 Black 13 Marine Trent 119 mixed reality 10, 11 synthetic skin 151
graphene 115 jet wing 60–61 mobile phones: materials in 155 thermoplastic 19
graphics 14, 24, 36 modules 154 waste 146, 147
gravity 51, 142, 173 K Kazakhstan: Khan Shatyr Phonebloks 154–155 PlayStation 4 (PS4) 24–25
80–81 screens 27 Pluto 69
gravity assist 69 kerosene 44 smartphones 117, 127 pollution 102, 146, 147, 182
gravity waves 176–177 Kevlar 59 moon 143 PrecisionHawk Lancaster (drone)
Great Pacific Garbage Patch 147 keyboards, music 28–29 musical instruments 20–21 136, 137
Guggenheim Museum 90–91 kidneys, growing 151 Instrument 1 28–29 printers: 3-D 10, 18–19, 20,
guitars 21, 28, 29 30–31, 184
gyres 147 L Large Hadron Collider N nanotechnology 182 processors 10, 11, 15, 37, 106, 140,
112–113 nanotubes 98, 185 174, 175, 186
H Hakkens, Dave 154 Large Synoptic Survey NASA 56, 142, 143, 160, 172 prosthetics 134–135
headphones 21 navigation 157 protons 112, 186
health 167 Telescope 12 Netherlands 86, 98 PS4 Dualshock 25
Laser Interferometric Space nerve signals 134, 145
activity trackers 138–139 neutrons 112
bionic limbs 134–135 Antenna 177
lasers 20, 99, 127, 136, 176, 177

189

Q quantum: computers 174–175 ships: cargo 66–67 T tablets 16–17, 37, 157 United Kingdom, continued
entanglement 165 cruise 66 apps 35 Tate Modern 90
quarks 113, 186 engines 119 screens 27 transportation 52
qubits 165, 174 remote-controlled 66–67 tangibles 21
Ship Intelligence 66 teleportation 164–165 United States of America 99, 116, 158
R radio-frequency identification warships 119 telescopes: Hubble Space Telescope 173 Art on Track 90
(RFID) tags 32–33, 186 Gigafactory 102–103
radio signals 32, 69 shoes 63 James Webb Space Telescope Guggenheim Museum 90–91
silicon 22, 151 172–173 Hyperloop 162–163, 185
see also Bluetooth® silver 155 invisibility 158
radio wave 32 SimMan 151 Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Plus Pool (+ Pool) 93
Raspberry Pi computer 106–107 Singapore 85 12 skyscrapers 74
reaction force 70 skin, synthetic 151 spaceport 51
reading 132–133 Skype Translator 169 television 166 tunnel boring 96
recording equipment 12–13 skyscrapers 74–75 OLED 26–27
recycling: mobile phones 155 sleep trackers 138 universe 173, 177
smartphones 23, 24, 117, 127, 138 Terrafugia 171
plastic waste 146 smart watches 22–23 Tesla cars 48–49, 102-103 V V-22 Osprey 171
remotely controlled technology: smoke 124, 125 text, e-readers 133 vacation resorts: cruise ships 66
snice 79 TF-X (car) 170–171 vehicles: construction 108–109
bionic suits 111 snow, as building material 79 theremin 29
ships 66–67 sockets, solar-powered 115 thermoplastic 19 see also transportation
rescue services: clothing 124–125 SOFT Rocker 116–117 thrust 170 video 140, 145
thermal imaging 136 software 106, 138 thrusters, propeller-powered 58 video processing unit (VPU) 144, 145
reservoirs 121 solar panels 92, 93, 102, 114, timer, automatic 127 violins 20, 28
retinas 144, 145 touchpads 25 virtual-reality headset 24
RFID see radio-frequency 116–117, 128, 148, 182 Volocoptor 70–71
identification space: astronauts 56, 57, 142–143, CleverPet 127
rivers, pollution 146 Instrument 1 29 Wwarp drive 161
robots 180, 182, 186 148–149, 160, 161 touchscreens 133 waste: electronic 154–155
Baxter 104–105 Falcon Heavy rocket 44–45 car 49 sewage 52, 53
health 135, 150, 151 gravity waves 176, 177 replaceable 155 WaterCar Panther car 63
industrial 105 International Space Station 31, 51, Surface Book 37 water: in construction 79, 89
prosthetics 135 toys 34–35
ships 66–67 148–149 for pets 126–127 as a coolant 88, 89
SimMan 151 lift 161 trackpad 25 buildings on 92–93
see also drones Mars 142–143 tracking devices 33 electricity from 120–121, 181
rockets 56, 57, 81, 160 moons 44, 56, 57, 143, 181 fitness 138–139 weightlessness 50, 51, 148, 149
Falcon Heavy 44–45 New Horizons 68–69 pets 127 wheelchairs: WHILL 46–47
Rogers, Richard 82 Orion spacecraft 56–57, 142 trains: with an art gallery 90 Wi-Fi (wireless networking) 127,
Rolls-Royce 66, 118 Pluto 68, 69 Hyperloop 162–163, 185 140, 186
Rossy, Yves 60–61 research 149 maglev 43 windows 116, 128, 129, 149
rotors 70, 71, 157, 186 robots 182 monorail 94 wings: flying car 170, 171
flying cars 170, 171 Space Launch System (SLS) 160 translators 168, 169 wireless technology 21, 22, 25
rubbish 121, 146 SpaceShipTwo 50–51 transportation 167 see also Bluetooth®; Wi-Fi
as fuel 52 telescopes 12, 172–173, 181 Hyperloop 162–163, 185 worm gears 126
Rwanda 156 tether 160 monorail 94 Wright, Frank Lloyd 91
tourism 51, 181 water taxis 92 Wristify 138
S satellite technology 95 warp drive 161 see also aircraft; cars; WÜF collar 127
sculpture, ice 78, 79 weightlessness 50, 51, 148 motorbikes; trains
screens: e-readers 132, 133 sports: accessories 12–13 trash 121, 146 X X-rays 177
buildings 53 as fuel 52 Xbox One 14–15
color 37 cycling 54–55, 62 trees 84
detachable 36, 37 football 32, 33 tunnels: boring machines Z zips 63
flexible 26, 27 steel 75, 81, 83
OLED TV 26–27 stove, solar 114 96–97
robots 105 stratosphere 131 Hyperloop 162, 163
touchscreens 16, 17, 37, 133, subatomic particles 112, 113, 175, 186 turbines: dams 120, 121
155 Suite Vollard 128 Turing, Alan 169
self-cleaning materials 99 superchargers 102
sensors 104, 105, 110 superconductors 42, 43, 174 U ultraviolet: light 17
activity trackers 138 supernova 177 radiation 146
drones 136, 137 Sweden: Icehotel 78–79 United Arab Emirates:
optical 138 swimming pools 92, 93
PlayStation 4 25 Symbionic Leg 135 Burj Khalifa 74–75
synthetic skin 151 synthetic skin 151 Palm Jumeirah 94–95
Shih-Pao, Lin 155 United Kingdom: Rocket Tower 81
Rolling Bridge 84
Royal Navy 119
Scale Lane Bridge 86–87

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The publisher would like to thank the following people Scalevo: (cla). 47 Courtesy of Whill: (br, cr, cra). 48-49 Tesla (crb). Getty Images: Lionel Flusin (cb). 114 GoSun Stove: (bl,
for their help with making the book: Motors: (All images). 50–51 Courtesy Virgin Galactic. 51 br). Volvo Car Uk Ltd: (c). 115 Columbia University’s
Victoria Pyke for proofreading; Carron Brown for the index; Corbis: Sergei Chirikov / epa (crb). 52–53 Wessex Water/ Engineering School: Konkuk University, Korea Research
Meenal Goel, Rashika Kachroo, Roshni Kapur for design Julian James photography. 52 Amager Resource Center:
assistance; Ann Baggaley, Kathakali Banerjee, Shatarupa (clb). Science Photo Library: Pascal Goetgheluck (cl). 54–55 Institute of Standards and Science, Seoul National University
Chaudhuri, Virien Chopra, Agnibesh Das, Sarah Isle, Sukriti ElliptiGO Inc.. 55 Reuters: Baz Ratner (cr). 56–57 NASA: (cr). Revolights: (tl). Kyuho Song: (bl, bc). 116–117 Kenedy
Kapoor, Priyanka Kharbanda, Ashwin Khurana, Deeksha Robert Markowitz. 56 NASA: MSFC (bl). 57 ESA: NASA (ca). & Violich Architecture, Ltd. 116 SolarWindow
Miglani, and Sonia Yooshing for editorial assistance. NASA: (bl, br, crb). 58–59 Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd. 59 Technologies, Inc.: (cl). 117 Kenedy & Violich Architecture,
Corbis: John Lund / Blend Images (cla). 60-61 Jetman Dubai: Ltd: (cra, crb). 118–119 Rolls-Royce plc. 119 BAE Systems
All technologies, names, and designs are protected by jetman.com (All images). 62 Courtesy of Superpedestrian: 2007: (crb). Rolls-Royce plc: (cr). 120–121 Corbis: Cheng
copyright and trademark. Michael D Spencer (tr). iStockphoto.com: Joe_Potato (b). 63 Min / Xinhua Press. 121 Corbis: Xiao Yijiu / Xinhua Press (cl).
DFKI GmbH: (cra). Nike: (br). Courtesy of WaterCar: (bl); 122 Corbis: KTSDESIGN / Science Photo Library (tr). Getty
Special thanks to all of the manufacturers, design and www.WaterCar.com (clb). 64–65 Olivier Cabaret. 64 Airbus- Images: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO (cr). Omer
architectural studios, and photographers who answered image exm company: Hervé Goussé (c). 65 Dreamstime. Hacıomeroglu: (br). NASA: JPL-Caltech (tl). 124–125 Omer
numerous queries and gave permission to use their com: Travis Fisher (tr). 66–67 Rolls-Royce plc. 66 Used with Hacıomeroglu. 124 Omer Hacıomeroglu: (cl). 125 Courtesy
images throughout the book. permission of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.: (cra). 67 Rolls- of U.S. Navy: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chelsea
Royce plc: (tr). 68–69 NASA: Goddard Space Flight Center. Kennedy (bc). 126–127 Courtesy of Cleverpet. 127 WÜF,
Picture Credits 69 NASA: JHUAPL / SwRI (c). 70–71 Volocopter: e-volo getwuf.com: (cra). 128–129 Courtesy of D*Haus. 128
The publisher would like to thank the following for GmbH. Dreamstime.com: Phanuwatn (grass). 71 Volocopter: Reuters: (cl). 130–131 Source: Loon: (c). 131 Source: Loon:
their kind permission to reproduce their photographs: e-volo GmbH (cr). 72 Joseph Viker: (br). Alamy Stock Photo: (tc). 132–133 Science Photo Library: Steve Gschmeissner.
68images.com - Axel Schmies (bl). The Solomon R. 133 Amazon.com, Inc.: (br). 134–135 Alamy Stock Photo:
(Key: a-above, b-below, c-center, l-left, r-right, t-top) Guggenheim Museum, New York: David Heald © SRGF, NY. Vladislav Ociacia. 134 Össur UK: (bc). 135 Össur UK: (cr, br).
(tl). Getty Images: Kimberley Coole (tr). 74-75 Alamy Stock 136–137 PrecisionHawk. 136 Getty Images: Cessna
2 123RF.com: Sebastian Kaulitzki (br). Artiphon, Inc. (tl). 2 Photo: 68images.com - Axel Schmies. 75 Getty Images: Chris Citation Jet / AFP (bc). PrecisionHawk: (bl, cb, crb). 138–139
123RF.com: Sebastian Kaulitzki (br). Artiphon, Inc. (tl). Jackson (cb). Rex by Shutterstock: MC Films (br). Imre Solt: Garmin. 138 EMBR labs: Niccolo Casas (c). 139 Garmin: (cr).
Courtesy of Whill: (bc). EHANG, Inc.: (tc). Getty Images: (cb). 76–77 Adam Mork Architectural Photography. 77 140–141 Panono. 140 Science Photo Library: Andy Crump
Lionel Flusin (ca); Image By Steve Passlow (crb). Gewers 3XN Architects: (cla). Adam Mork Architectural (c). 141 Panono: (b). 142–143 Foster + Partners. 142 Getty
Pudewill: (clb). Omer Hacıomeroglu: (cb). 2-191 Photography: (br, cr). 78–79 ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi: Images: Stocktrek Images (bl). NASA: (clb). 143 NASA: (cl).
iStockphoto.com: fazon1 (Background). 4 reactable.com: Christopher Hauser. 79 Getty Images: Jonathan Nackstrand 144–145 Second Sight Medical Products. 145 Second
(cra). 5 Getty Images: Joseph Viker: (cra). Rolls-Royce plc: (cr). ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi: Paulina Holmgren (crb); Martin Sight Medical Products: (cra). Corbis: Science Picture Co.
(cla). 6 Courtesy of D*Haus: (cra). Getty Images: Lionel Smedsén (cb); Asaf Kliger (bc). 80–81 Joseph Viker. 81 (bc). Second Sight Medical Products: (r). 146–147
Flusin (cla). 7 Courtesy of International Business Machines Alamy Stock Photo: blickwinkel (br). Foster + Partners: (cr). TheOceanCleanup.com. 146 Getty Images: Paul Kennedy
Corporation: (cla). Terrafugia/www.terrafugia.com: (cra). 8 82–83 Alamy Stock Photo: Photos 12. 82 Corbis: Yann (br). 148 NASA: (cb, bc). 150 Corbis: KTSDESIGN / Science
SHARP corporation: (bl). Courtesy of Gopro: (br). Used with Arthus-Bertrand (clb). Alamy Stock Photo: Agencja Photo Library (b). Courtesy of MC10 Inc.: (tr). 151 Corbis:
permission from Microsoft (tl). ROLI.com: (tr). 10–11 Used Fotograficzna Caro (cb). 83 123RF.com: lachris77 VOISIN / PHANIE / phanie / Phanie Sarl (cl). Getty Images:
with permission from Microsoft. 10 Used with permission (cr). Alamy Stock Photo: Nina Reistad (br). Dreamstime.com: Science Photo Library - SCIEPRO (crb). Seoul National
from Microsoft: (cl, bl). 11 U.S. Air Force: Airman 1st Class Patricia Hofmeester (tr); Francisco Javier Gil Oreja (crb). University: Dae-Hyeong Kim (cla). 152 Courtesy of
Anthony Jennings (bc). 12–13 Samuel Twist. 12 LSST Robert Harding Picture Library: Christian Reister (cra). International Business Machines Corporation: (tr).
Corporation: Todd Mason, Mason Productions Inc. (clb). Rex 84 Heatherwick Studio Rolling Bridge: Steve Speller (cra). Hyperloop Transportation Technologies: (tl). 153
by Shutterstock: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA (tl). 13 Courtesy of National Arboretum, Canberra: John Gollings (bl). 85 Terrafugia/www.terrafugia.com: (b). 154–155 Phonebloks.
Gopro: (br, ca, tl, tr). 14–15 Used with permission from Corbis: Charles Pertwee (bl). Nextoffice: Parham Taghioff (br). 154 Phonebloks: (tr). 155 Corbis: Ritchie B. Tongo (br). 156–
Microsoft: (tc). 14 Used with permission from Microsoft: SHAU: Architecture by SHAU Indonesia. Photo: Sanrok Studio 157 EHANG, Inc.. 156 Foster + Partners: (bl). 157 EHANG,
(br). 15 Used with permission from Microsoft: (cla, br). (tr, tl). 86 Dreamstime.com: Ronniechua (bc). Getty Images: Inc.: (bc). 158–159 University of Rochester: J. Adam
16–17 Amazon.com, Inc.: (clb). 17 Amazon.com, Inc.: (br). Barcroft (bl). 87 McDowell+Benedetti (architect), Alan Fenster. 158 U.S. Air Force: Staff Sgt Jeremy M. Wilson (bl).
iStockphoto.com: ZernLiew (cra, tr). 18–19 3Doodler. 19 Baxter Associates (structural engineer) and Qualter Hall 160 NASA: (bl). Science Photo Library: Martin Marietta
Bocusini by Print2Taste: (br). 20 3Dvarius: Laurent Bernadac (M&E designer and contractor): Timothy Soar (All images). Corporation (cr). 161 Dreamstime.com: Peter Jurik (tl). NASA:
(br); Thomas Tetu (bl). ROLI.com: (cr). 21 Doppler Labs: (tc, 88–89 Latitude Image: Nicolas Chorier. 88 Dreamstime. (bl). SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc.: (crb). 162–163
tl). reactable.com: (b). Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK), com: Paul Prescott (clb). Getty Images: Kimberley Coole (cla). Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. 164–165
Pro Music Department: (tr). 22–23 Samsung Electronics: 90–91 The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York: Dreamstime.com: Brian Sedgbeer. 164 Dorling Kindersley:
(c). 22 Dreamstime.com: Guruxox (ca, tc). Getty Images: David Heald © SRGF, NY. 90 Alamy Stock Photo: Russell Kord Jamie Marshall (cra/Street). Science Photo Library: Christian
Yoshikazu Tsuno (tl). Samsung Electronics: (tr). 24–25 IHS (c). Art on Track: (bc). The Tate Modern: © Tate, London 2016 Darkin (cra, br). 165 Corbis: Hero Images (crb). Science Photo
Technology. 25 © 2016 Hello Games Limited: No Man’s Sky (cb). 92–93 Gewers Pudewill. 92 Gewers Pudewill: (cla). 93 Library: Richard Kail (cr). 166 123RF.com: Valerijs Kostreckis.
is a trade mark of Hello Games Limited (tr). IHS Technology: Rendering of + POOL. Design by Family & PlayLab. www. 168–169 Alamy Stock Photo: Blend Images (girl); Design
(br). Sony Computer Entertainment UK Limited: (crb). pluspool.org: (br). 94–95 Courtesy of Nakheel. 94 Pics Inc (boy). 170–171 Terrafugia/www.terrafugia.com.
26–27 LG Electronics. Corbis: Fotofeeling / Westend61 Alexander Heilner: (cla). 95 NASA: (cla). 96–97 Corbis: 170 Terrafugia/www.terrafugia.com: (br). 171 Corbis: (bc);
(waterfall). 27 123RF.com: Mariusz Blach (c). Getty Images: Catherine Bassetti. 96 Corbis: Catherine Bassetti (cla). Ed Darack / Science Faction (br). 172–173 NASA: Northrop
Jung Yeon-Je (br). 28–29 Artiphon, Inc.: (All images). 29 Washington State Department of Transportation: (clb). 97 Grumman. 173 NASA: (cr). 174–175 © D-Wave Systems
Artiphon, Inc.: (cla). Getty Images: Sovfoto (br). Noisy Jelly: Corbis: Catherine Bassetti (cra). 98 123RF.com: Sebastian Inc. All rights reserved. 175 NASA: Quantum Artificial
(cra). 30–31 Getty Images: Andrzej Wojcicki / Science Photo Kaulitzki (br). TU Delft: Renee Mors, Delft University of Intelligence Laboratory (bl). Courtesy of International
Library. 31 NASA: Emmett Given (br). 32–33 Corbis: Albert Technology (cl, clb). 99 Jens Bauer/KIT: (bl). Copyright 2016 Business Machines Corporation: (bc). 177 NASA: (crb).
Pena / Icon Sportswire. 32 Dreamstime.com: Norgal (bl). 34 HRL Laboratories: Dan Little Photography (r). Wyss Institute Science Photo Library: Mark Garlick (cr). 177 Alamy Stock
elemental path: CogniToys Dino (tr). Mattel, Inc.: © 2016 at Harvard University: (cl). 100 Corbis: Jan Woitas / dpa (br); Photo: Event Horizon Telescope / UPI (bl). 191 Alamy Stock
Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved (bc). 35 Courtesy of Osmo: Patrick Pleul / dpa (tl). Courtesy of Ekso Bionics: (bl). 102- Photo: blickwinkel (clb). Columbia University’s Engineering
(b). Wondernik: (cla, cra). 36–37 Used with permission 103 Tesla Motors: (All images). 104–105 Ken Richardson School: Konkuk University, Korea Research Institute of
from Microsoft: (All images). 37 Alamy Stock Photo: Photography. 104 Ken Richardson Photography: (c, clb). Standards and Science, Seoul National University (tc). Corbis:
Interfoto (bc). Science Photo Library: Manfred Kage (crb). 105 Ken Richardson Photography: (cla/eyes). Corbis: Jan John Lund / Blend Images (tr). DFKI GmbH: (bc). NASA:
38–39 Getty Images: Image By Steve Passlow. 39 Alamy Woitas / dpa (crb). 106–107 raspberrypi.org: (c). 106 Corbis: Lockheed Martin Corporation (crb). Science Photo Library:
Stock Photo: Stocktrek Images, Inc. (bc). 40 Jetman Dubai: Frank Duenzl / dpa (clb). 107 Hackaball Ltd: (cra). Claudia Marcelloni, CERN (bl). The Solomon R. Guggenheim
(clb). Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd.: (br). Volocopter: e-volo Dreamstime.com: Pavelzhuravlev92 (bc/hand). raspberrypi. Museum, New York: David Heald © SRGF, NY. (cla). Courtesy
GmbH (tl). ElliptiGO Inc.: (tr). 42–43 Courtesy of Lexus org: (bc/Pi case). 108–109 Corbis: Patrick Pleul / dpa. 108 Virgin Galactic: (ca).
Division (UK). 42 Lexus: (cl) 43 Alamy Stock Photo: Henry Caterpillar Inc.: (bl). 110-111 Courtesy of Ekso Bionics. 110
Westheim Photography (cr); Stan Rohrer (crb). Lexus: (clb). naturepl.com: John Abbott (br). 111 Courtesy of Ekso All other images © Dorling Kindersley
44–45 SpaceX. 44 Nick Kaloterakis: (clb). 45 Blue Origin: Bionics: (bl). 112–113 © CERN: Maximilien Brice. 112
(cra). 46–47 46 Courtesy of Whill: (cl). Courtesy of Science Photo Library: Cern (tc); Claudia Marcelloni, CERN For further information see: www.dkimages.com