Understanding the Science for Tomorrow: Myth and Reality

Nanotechnology, quantum computing, genetic engineering; these and other fascinating fields have the power to revolutionize almost every aspect of existence, including how you eat and drink, how you communicate, how you travel, how you learn—even how long you live.

And in recent decades, these forces have evolved and developed at a lightning-fast pace. So fast, in fact, that the future of science and technology couldn’t be any more exciting than it is now, as scientists are on the cusp of breakthroughs, including
•new energy sources such as biofuels, solar photovoltaics, and nuclear fusion;
•smaller, more powerful computers that can tap into the secrets of artificial intelligence and operate advanced robotic systems;
•tools and equipment for making water safer to drink and food easier to grow, package, and preserve; and
•new devices for speeding up the ways we travel from place to place and the ways we communicate and share information with one another.
These and other scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow will do more than enhance and improve everyday life. They also will help solve some of our world’s most pressing crises and dilemmas, including food and water shortages, clean and reusable energy needs, detection and curing of life-threatening illnesses, and so much more. And while some of these promises are surrounded by hype and myth, the truths about them are more startling—and more important—than you ever imagined.

Explore the many possibilities of what your future may look like with Understanding the Science for Tomorrow: Myth and Reality, a scientifically accurate and enlightening survey of today’s most advanced research in fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, and theoretical physics. These 24 lectures by research scientist and Professor Jeffrey C. Grossman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology delve into the genuine science of today’s—and tomorrow’s—hottest issues in an accessible manner that helps you grasp these sometimes esoteric topics. They are designed for anyone curious about the current state of science and technology and where it is likely to be heading in the near future.