Space Trip - Christmas Present of the Year
News of the Future 15/12/2011 10:24
December 15, 2030 - There's no doubt what the most popular Christmas present will be this year. Influenced by the launch of the first manned mission to Mars next month, you will most likely get a present with stars, a gift card for a spacetrip.
The interest in the suborbital trips (100 km above the surface of the Earth) have grown steadily since the launch 20 years ago, but the market has basically exploded this year since the official announcement of the Mars mission. More low cost spacelines have entered the market and you can now find suborbital flights for as low as US$ 3,495.
Space tourism is one of the markets that have developed the most during the last decade, with the opening of the Starbright Hotel on the moon, as well as the low orbital hotels that started accepting guests. However, accommodation in space is still expensive for the average household, so the suborbital flights with thirty minutes weightlessness during the three-hour flight, with four hours preparation, will for some time be the most popular trip.
The spacelines might however in the future face fierce competition from space elevators, like the one that are projected for construction start within a couple of years. Once it is fully functional it will start to ship cargo to space, but it will as soon as possible accept passengers to get back the giant investment. Even though the elevator become successful, it will take several years before there will be more elevators in the world, to get in the competition for the space traffic with the spacelines.
Argument: Apart from the few tourists that already have been out in space, commercial space flights will soon be available for a broader public. Several organizations plan to put the first man on Mars by year 2030 and the launch window in January/February 2031 is possible. This combined will generate a great interest in the suborbital flights, which will lower the price.
Questions: What current tourist destinations/attractions will suffer from the development of space tourism? What activities will there be at the accommodations in space, for people to stay longer? How will the future interest in space tourism affect education and common knowledge about space among people?
Icelandic Hydrogen Finally Pushed Gasoline Off the Road
News of the Future 19/11/2011 10:03
November 19, 2040 - Today was a historic day for Iceland when their President this morning at a symbolic ceremony officially shut down the last gasoline pump in the country. Iceland is a model country when it comes to the fuel transition from gasoline to hydrogen and became today the first country in the world to complete it.
This date has been planned for about 5 years so it came as no surprise to the Icelanders that they can no longer fill their cars with gasoline. The governmental subventions for motorists to scrap their gasoline vehicles, combined with a mature used cars market of hydrogen vehicles due to their early adoption have made the transition possible. Another key factor has been the low price of hydrogen, Iceland has the cheapest hydrogen in the world since their domestic production meets demand.
Iceland is not only self-sufficient with hydrogen, all of it is produced through electrolysis based on hydro- and geothermal power. This means that 100% of the hydrogen consumed in Icelandic cars are produced from renewable sources, known to the consumer as Re-Hydro, compared to about 10% of the hydrogen in the US cars.
The transition has also resulted in that Iceland now has the most modern car fleet in the world. Half of the 233,000 vehicles are hydrogen-hybrids and half are fuel cell models, even though now three of four cars sold are fuel cell.
35 years ago the Icelandic car fleet consumed as much gasoline as the marine fleet, but due to the automotive subventions and the longer life length of boats, the marine fleet has not been able to keep pace. It will most likely take another 10 years before the last Icelandic fishing boat with a diesel engine is taken out of service. By then Iceland will have decreased their oil consumption with about 80% since year 2005.
For sentimental reasons some people had saved their gasoline vehicles to fill them up on the last day, so they can enjoy the smell of gasoline cruising around the island for the last time. The last man at the pump wasn’t there to be sentimental though: “I hope this tank will be enough to get me around to the car dealers today, cause I haven’t bought a hydrogen yet”.
Argument: The development of hydrogen-fueled cars is based on several different sources, with the optimistic scenarios for a fast introduction on the market, to the book The Hype about Hydrogen by Joseph J. Romm. The partly governmental initiative Icelandic New Energy is aiming for a total conversion to hydrogen in the transportation sector in Iceland to year 2050.
Questions: Is there any other country that has a better chance than Iceland to make a full transition away from the car gasoline society? What other positive effects will this have on the Icelandic economy, society and environment?
By Pontus Edenberg
Icelandic Hydrogen Finally Pushed Gasoline Off the Road
News of the Future 19/11/2011 10:03
November 19, 2040 - Today was a historic day for Iceland when their President this morning at a symbolic ceremony officially shut down the last gasoline pump in the country. Iceland is a model country when it comes to the fuel transition from gasoline to hydrogen and became today the first country in the world to complete it.
This date has been planned for about 5 years so it came as no surprise to the Icelanders that they can no longer fill their cars with gasoline. The governmental subventions for motorists to scrap their gasoline vehicles, combined with a mature used cars market of hydrogen vehicles due to their early adoption have made the transition possible. Another key factor has been the low price of hydrogen, Iceland has the cheapest hydrogen in the world since their domestic production meets demand.
Iceland is not only self-sufficient with hydrogen, all of it is produced through electrolysis based on hydro- and geothermal power. This means that 100% of the hydrogen consumed in Icelandic cars are produced from renewable sources, known to the consumer as Re-Hydro, compared to about 10% of the hydrogen in the US cars.
The transition has also resulted in that Iceland now has the most modern car fleet in the world. Half of the 233,000 vehicles are hydrogen-hybrids and half are fuel cell models, even though now three of four cars sold are fuel cell.
35 years ago the Icelandic car fleet consumed as much gasoline as the marine fleet, but due to the automotive subventions and the longer life length of boats, the marine fleet has not been able to keep pace. It will most likely take another 10 years before the last Icelandic fishing boat with a diesel engine is taken out of service. By then Iceland will have decreased their oil consumption with about 80% since year 2005.
For sentimental reasons some people had saved their gasoline vehicles to fill them up on the last day, so they can enjoy the smell of gasoline cruising around the island for the last time. The last man at the pump wasn’t there to be sentimental though: “I hope this tank will be enough to get me around to the car dealers today, cause I haven’t bought a hydrogen yet”.
Argument: The development of hydrogen-fueled cars is based on several different sources, with the optimistic scenarios for a fast introduction on the market, to the book The Hype about Hydrogen by Joseph J. Romm. The partly governmental initiative Icelandic New Energy is aiming for a total conversion to hydrogen in the transportation sector in Iceland to year 2050.
Questions: Is there any other country that has a better chance than Iceland to make a full transition away from the car gasoline society? What other positive effects will this have on the Icelandic economy, society and environment?
By Pontus Edenberg
Seafood Consumption to New Heights in the US
News of the Future 07/11/2011 09:26
November 7, 2025 - Last year the Americans consumed more than 6.6 billion pounds (3.0 million metric tons) edible weight of seafood for the first time. This is 18.9 pounds per person, which is a new record up 1.6% from the year before, compared to 16.6 pounds per person 20 years ago.
The main reason for the increase is that seafood in general has become cheaper over the years, due to the fact that more than 50% of the supply now is farm-raised. The development of new techniques in aquaculture has made production more flexible and less expensive. The most popular seafood last year was still shrimp, salmon, tilapia, and catfish.
Argument: The information is a revision of Seafood Vision 2020 by H.M. Johnson & Associates, based on the US consumption of seafood in year 2004 published by NOAA Fisheries Service.
Questions: How will the increase of seafood consumption in the US affect the beef and chicken industry? Will the development in aquaculture give new possibilities in other marine areas?
Seafood Consumption to New Heights in the US
News of the Future 07/11/2011 09:26
November 7, 2025 - Last year the Americans consumed more than 6.6 billion pounds (3.0 million metric tons) edible weight of seafood for the first time. This is 18.9 pounds per person, which is a new record up 1.6% from the year before, compared to 16.6 pounds per person 20 years ago.
The main reason for the increase is that seafood in general has become cheaper over the years, due to the fact that more than 50% of the supply now is farm-raised. The development of new techniques in aquaculture has made production more flexible and less expensive. The most popular seafood last year was still shrimp, salmon, tilapia, and catfish.
Argument: The information is a revision of Seafood Vision 2020 by H.M. Johnson & Associates, based on the US consumption of seafood in year 2004 published by NOAA Fisheries Service.
Questions: How will the increase of seafood consumption in the US affect the beef and chicken industry? Will the development in aquaculture give new possibilities in other marine areas?
South Korea has the Highest Proportion of Senior Citizens
News of the Future 01/11/2011 09:21
November 1, 2050 - With 37.3% senior citizens of the total population, South Korea has the highest proportion in the world today. South Korea has thereby passed Japan where 36.5% are over the age of 65.
Japan has currently though the highest life expectancy rate at birth for any population ever, with 88.3 years compared to 84.4 years for the population of South Korea.
The ratio of senior citizens compared to the economically active population (age 15-64) in South Korea has increased to 69.4% compared to only 37.3% 20 years ago. However, elderly people generally work longer before they retire. Even though people live longer than ever before in South Korea, the total population continues to decrease due to the low fertility rate and is now 44.6 million.
Argument: According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea, and the United Nations, South Korea will have the highest proportion of senior citizens in the world by year 2050.
Questions: How will the society change when the proportion of aging people will increase? What kind of products and services will they be interested in? Sine they in general will be healthier than today, will there be new activities for them?
South Korea has the Highest Proportion of Senior Citizens
News of the Future 01/11/2011 09:21
November 1, 2050 - With 37.3% senior citizens of the total population, South Korea has the highest proportion in the world today. South Korea has thereby passed Japan where 36.5% are over the age of 65.
Japan has currently though the highest life expectancy rate at birth for any population ever, with 88.3 years compared to 84.4 years for the population of South Korea.
The ratio of senior citizens compared to the economically active population (age 15-64) in South Korea has increased to 69.4% compared to only 37.3% 20 years ago. However, elderly people generally work longer before they retire. Even though people live longer than ever before in South Korea, the total population continues to decrease due to the low fertility rate and is now 44.6 million.
Argument: According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea, and the United Nations, South Korea will have the highest proportion of senior citizens in the world by year 2050.
Questions: How will the society change when the proportion of aging people will increase? What kind of products and services will they be interested in? Sine they in general will be healthier than today, will there be new activities for them?
Deaths from HIV in the US Continue to Decline
News of the Future 24/10/2011 10:17
October 24, 2030 - For the first time in 45 years the number of deaths from HIV in the US will be below 5,500 this year. Since the peak in 1995 when almost 55,000 people gave in for the disease, casualties have declined.
The reason for the declining mortality from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is due to more knowledge among the general population of how to be protected against the disease, and the availability of more effective highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The last decades have seen progress in the developing of medicines to treat AIDS however there is no definite cure in sight.
Even though these numbers for the US are satisfying, AIDS has globally been outstanding in causing more deaths than any other epidemic, now counting more than 180 million people worldwide since it was recognized in year 1981. The projected life expectancy rate at birth are now five years lower in the whole of Africa, and the population is 280 million lower, than it would have been without the occurrence of AIDS.
Argument: According to the study Comparing The Public Health Burden of Chronic Hepatitis C and HIV Infection in United States, deaths from HIV in the US will be 4,200-6,700 in year 2030. The numbers of deaths worldwide from AIDS have been published by the United Nations in the report The Impact of AIDS.
Questions: The human population will be 3.5% lower in year 2030 than it would have been without the occurrence of AIDS and even if a cure is found, more than 40 million people will die before the epidemic is extinct. What is the loss of value for humanity to loose such a big part of the population? Can that value be invested today to prevent the disease to spread further?
Deaths from HIV in the US Continue to Decline
News of the Future 24/10/2011 10:17
October 24, 2030 - For the first time in 45 years the number of deaths from HIV in the US will be below 5,500 this year. Since the peak in 1995 when almost 55,000 people gave in for the disease, casualties have declined.
The reason for the declining mortality from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is due to more knowledge among the general population of how to be protected against the disease, and the availability of more effective highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The last decades have seen progress in the developing of medicines to treat AIDS however there is no definite cure in sight.
Even though these numbers for the US are satisfying, AIDS has globally been outstanding in causing more deaths than any other epidemic, now counting more than 180 million people worldwide since it was recognized in year 1981. The projected life expectancy rate at birth are now five years lower in the whole of Africa, and the population is 280 million lower, than it would have been without the occurrence of AIDS.
Argument: According to the study Comparing The Public Health Burden of Chronic Hepatitis C and HIV Infection in United States, deaths from HIV in the US will be 4,200-6,700 in year 2030. The numbers of deaths worldwide from AIDS have been published by the United Nations in the report The Impact of AIDS.
Questions: The human population will be 3.5% lower in year 2030 than it would have been without the occurrence of AIDS and even if a cure is found, more than 40 million people will die before the epidemic is extinct. What is the loss of value for humanity to loose such a big part of the population? Can that value be invested today to prevent the disease to spread further?
Senior Drivers Account for 25% of US Driver Fatalities
News of the Future 19/10/2011 10:13
October 19, 2030 - Drivers aged 65 and older account for 25% of the total driver fatalities in the US, a figure that has doubled over the last 30 years. The reason for the increase is mainly the aging population.
Older drivers are though less represented in police reported car crashes, 16% of total, but due to age related physiological changes, they are more likely to die from their injuries.
Of all fatal traffic accidents, almost half of them are due to misjudgment, and one-third are related to psychological factors, mainly lack of sleep and inattention. The total number of fatal accidents however, continues to decrease in relation to vehicle-miles of travel, because of the latest inventions within the safety area.
Different solutions have been discussed in making driving more safe for older people, but something you can do yourself if you are in that age group is to take a refresher driving course, get regular check-ups for hearing, vision and general health, and stay strong and healthy through activity and exercise.
Argument: According to the report Older driver involvements in police reported crashes and fatal crashes: trends and projections drivers aged 65 and older will account for 25% of the total driver fatalities in the US by year 2030.
Questions: Since frailty of older people, where drivers aged 70-74 are twice as likely to die when involved in a crash compared to drivers aged 30-59 (for drivers aged 80 and older the risk is five times as high), their need when an accident occur differs from younger people. Will there be special senior safety packages available, for instance including wider seat belts?
Showing page
2 of 10
<< Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 Next >>