-
High Probability, High Impact Terrorist Threats.
The article cites terrorist threats ranked by U.S. military and industry professionals and futurists as having the highest probability of occurring. The threats include rumors spread of an impending attack in order to incite mass panic, an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil production and general Internet overload. The threats ranked as having the highest potential impact include a suitcase nuclear device placed on any target, an attack on the next U.S. presidential inauguration, and a dirty bomb detonated in a populated area.
-
"Not with a Bang": Civilization's Accelerating Challenge.
The article discusses the effects of increasing technological and societal complexity on modern civilizations. The author states that improvements in both information technology and biotechnology are causing the development of new types of crimes in the society. As the volume of electronic records improves, opportunities for theft evolve. The development of new crimes in modern civilizations contributes to the shortage of management talent. Young talents became attracted to technology-based crime because it can be lucrative and relatively risk-free.
-
2007 State of the Future.
The article reviews the book "2007 State of the Future," by Jerome C. Glenn and Theodore J. Gordon.
-
A Beneficial Institution Building a Creative Future.
The article presents a letter from Charles Trudell, an employee of the U.S. federal government and military for almost thirty years, congratulating the World Future Society on its 40th anniversary. He described how the organization has accomplished many things in recognition, promotion and application of the art and science of future studies since the 1960s. The author also noted how this periodical has provided a foundation of progressive thought through flexible wisdom, intelligent compassion and futuristic philosophy.
-
A Bill of Rights for 21st Century America.
The article reviews the book "A Bill of Rights for 21st Century America," by Joseph F. Coates.
-
A Futurist Mind-Set.
This article presents the author's explanation of the importance of mind-set in his daily work and its role in bringing clarity in a confusing world. The author says that his personal mind-set enables him to see the future in the trends of today. He shares the story of starting his business and how he got the idea for what kind of business to start. He makes illustrations of how a mind-set impacts a person's view of the world. He explains that the success of his book "Megatrends" and the books that followed can be attributed to his liberating mind-set.
-
A Global Civil War?
A letter to the editor commenting on the cover of the November/December 2006 issue of this periodical is presented.
-
A Handbook for Scenario Planning.
The article reviews the book "A Handbook for Scenario Planning," by Bill Ralston and Ian Wilson.
-
A New Ruler for the Digital Divide.
The article reports on the shrinking the gap between people who actively use modern information technology like the Internet and those who do not. Internet usage grew by 238% globally between 2000 and 2006. But, according to researcher Karine Barzilai-Nahon of the University of Washington, too many decision makers in local and national governments have a simplistic view of the issue of Internet accessibility. Barzilai-Nahon argues that a more sophisticated approach would provide a more accurate measurement of who is being left behind.
-
A Pandora's Box?
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The New Media Age: End of the Written Word?," published in the March-April 2007 issue.
-
A Prominent Role in the Future.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article about futurist Ed Cornish is presented.
-
A Safe Haven in the Himalayas.
The article discusses the utopian culture of the Kingdom of Bhutan, an isolated nation in the Himalayas. The Bhutanese government measures national health in terms of social and cultural well-being over material wealth. The government endeavors to fight cultural influences, environmental degradation and materialism in order to maintain the country's utopian culture. According to happiness expert and British economist Richard Layard, the utopian culture of Bhutan started to disintegrate in 1999 when the government allowed television into the country.
-
A Survival Scoreboard.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article by James Martin on the 17 great challenges of the 21st century.
-
Acid Oceans Imperil Shellfish.
The article reports on the increasing acidity of oceans. The Netherlands Institute of Ecology warns that high acidity level could lengthen the time spent by mussels, oysters and other shellfish in building their shells. By 2100, the calcification process of shellfish will decrease by 25 percent in mussels and 10 percent in oysters. Increasing ocean acidity is mainly caused by rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Longer calcification process will lower seafood supply and disrupt shoreline ecosystems.
-
Actions for Building Better Futures.
The article introduces various articles published within the issue, including one by William Thurmond about the sources of biodiesel, and another one by Norma Carr-Ruffino about hybrid vehicle technologies.
-
Adventures in Organization Building: Adding Star Power to Futuring.
The article discusses the history of the World Future Society. The organization was established in 1965. After several years, the organization decided to give educational courses to boost its revenues. In 1967, its chapters were established, with the earliest being the chapters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Los Angeles, California. The author states that despite the problems associated with the development of chapters, they can achieve wonders in offering personal experiences with other futurists.
-
Anticipations: The Remarkable Forecasts of H.G. Wells.
The article assesses the prediction made by the late futurologist H. G. Wells in 1901 concerning societal changes for 2001. Wells predict that technological developments will lead to increase in the speed of travel in the course of the twentieth century. He points to factors that are likely to lead in the decline of steam power for ships and railroads in favor of the internal combustion engine and turbines. Wells also expect the population of cities such as London, England, to increase to 20 million.
-
Antlike Robots.
The article reports on the invention of tiny robots by a group of European researchers. The tiny robots called swarm-bots can work in concert to accomplish tasks that other robots would be incapable of performing. Project coordinator Marco Dorigo tells that the robots are significant steps forward in this emerging subfield of robotics. The team is hoping to experiment with materials for the robots besides metal and plastic. Dorigo hopes to endow each of the robots with a self-sufficient source of power. The idea of tiny robots operating in concert conjures scenarios of little droid conspiracies against the human race.
-
Basic Economics and the Pursuit of Utopia.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Reinventing Utopia," by Lane Jennings in the July-August 2007 issue.
-
Battling "Epidemics" through Common Sense.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Coming Osteoporosis Epidemic: Trend Analysis," by Jay Herson which appeared in the March and April 2007 issue.
-
Biodiesel's Bright Future.
The article reports on the growth prospects of the biodiesel industry. Biodiesel is a renewable and clean-burning fuel derived from agricultural crops. It states that biodiesel could represent as much as 20 percent of all on-road diesel used in Brazil, Europe, China and India by 2020. The U.S. biodiesel production growth rate increased from 25 million gallons per year in 2004 to 78 million gallons by the beginning of 2005. China, India, Brazil and Europe seek to replace from 5 percent to 20 percent of their total petro-diesel consumption with biodiesel.
-
Blame Parents, Not Teachers, For Inflated Egos.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Youth's Irrational Exuberance," by Patrick Tucker which appeared in the March and April 2007 issue.
-
BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS.
This section presents an outlook related to business and economics across the world in 2008. According to Allen H. Kupetz, in his article "Our Cashless Future that was published in the May-June 2007 issue of this journal, counterfeiting of currency will proliferate, which will drive the move toward a cashless society. David M. Walker said in his article "Foresight for Government," which was published in the March-April 2007 issue of this journal, that U.S. federal deficits will reach unsustainable levels in as little as two decades. The July-August 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts" stated that socially responsible investing may get a boost from venture capitalists.
-
Capitalism with a Conscience.
The article reports on the growth of socially responsible investing (SRI). According to futurist Hazel Henderson, author of the book "Ethical Markets," value-based investors account for more than 11 percent of all investments in managed funds. She says that venture capitalists are the driving force behind the growth of SRI. Total investments by European and U.S. firms in green technologies increased to $3.6 billion, or by 45 percent, in 2006. Investor Nick Parker fears that the rapid inflow of investment in pollution control market could make the market volatile.
-
Catching Getaway Cars.
The article offers information on the Super X-Net nonlethal entrapment device from QinetiQ.
-
Cetron's Worst-Case Scenario.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Worst-Case Scenario: The Middle East," by Marvin Cetron and Owen Davies in the September-October 2007 issue.
-
China's Barriers to Growth.
The article discusses major barriers to China's economic development. A survey conducted by Global Futures and Foresight (GFF) and Fast Future cited bureaucracy as the biggest barrier to China's growth. Other concerns cited by surveyed businesses leaders and futurists include political corruption, energy shortages, lack of experienced managers, protectionist behavior, lack of market reforms, rising labor costs, transportation problems, lack of available financial resources and poor relations with Taiwan.
-
Closing Loopholes in Arms Trading.
The article reports on a Control Arms Campaign document which revealed that the globalization of the arms industry is helping abusive governments get their hands on banned weapons. The document stated though the practice is perfectly legal, the weapons have found their way to destinations such as Colombia and Sudan, where they are often used to kill or displace civilians. This trend in subcontracting the manufacture of weapons is fueled, in part, by a rise in military budgets across the globe. One remedy to the situation would be an international arms control treaty based on already existing humanitarian, human rights, and international criminal law.
-
Confronting Driver Distraction.
The article focuses on safer vehicles which contribute more to cases of driver distraction due to the decreased efforts exerted in driving them. According to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute for the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, driver distraction is responsible for 80% of motor-vehicle accidents in the country. Modern cars are provided with more safety and security features such as airbags and anti-lock brakes which have been found to encourage more aggressive driving. The author noted that drivers have become accustomed to multitasking inside the vehicle like they do in the workplace.
-
Correction.
A correction to the article "Love and Immigration" which appeared in the May and June 2007 issue of the journal is presented.
-
Correction.
A correction to the article "The Hybrid Phenomenon," by Norma Carr-Ruffino and John Acheson that was published in the July-August 2007 issue is presented.
-
Correction.
A correction to the article "The Energy Project: Independence by 2020," by Tsvi Bisk, that was previously published in the January- February 2007 issue is presented.
-
Countering Cyber Attacks.
The article presents information on the Cyber Threat Calculator which calculates the threat of attacks on the information infrastructure. The author reveals that the system is a project of the University of New Hampshire at Durham for the U.S. Department of Defense. According to Andrew Macpherson, director of the technical analysis group that developed the system, nation-states potentially pose the greatest threat with regard to cyber security to the U.S. He adds that the system uses data entered for a particular organization, with values assigned to variables that measure a potential attacker's intent and capability.
-
Debating Fisheries' Fate.
The article reports on a study that predicts the occurrence of a total collapse of the global fishing industry before the year 2050. Authors found that this situation will occur if current fishing trends continue. Co-author Steve Palumbi of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California asserted the prediction. A group of researchers commented that the data overstates the situation and provokes unnecessary alarm. They say that management practices that set limits on allowable catches and that restrict fishing exports will have a positive impact on world fishing stocks.
-
Debating the Spread of Religion.
A response to a letter to the editor about the article "Religion in the Future Global Civilization" in the September-October 2006 issue is presented.
-
Debating the Spread of Religion.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Religion in the Future Global Civilization" in the September-October 2006 issue.
-
DEFEATING TERRORISM: IS IT POSSIBLE? IS IT PROBABLE?
The article explains the forecasts related to terrorism made by Forecasting International and examine the prospects for changing them. It has been forecast by Forecasting International that terrorist events will be more common, al-Qaeda will grow much larger, and jihadists will acquire nuclear weapons within the next ten years. The author argues that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. had been anticipated in a report entitled "Terror 2000: The Future Face of Terrorism." He recommends securing nuclear materials abandoned around the world and the West needs to monitor nuclear scientists in the Muslim world.
-
DEMOGRAPHY.
The article presents an outlook related to demography across the world in 2008. According to the September-October 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts," world population by 2050 may grow larger than previously expected, due in part to healthier, longer-living people. Eric Garland, in his article "Latinos in America's Cultural Laboratory" that was published in the January-February 2007 issue of this journal, stated that conflicts could arise between temporary immigrants and long-term immigrants in the U.S. The November-December 2006 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts" predicted that infant mortality could rise.
-
Designing for the "Other 90 Percent.".
The article presents information on a new exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, in New York City from May 4 through September 23, 2007. The author claims that the exhibition features simple technologies that deal with the everyday problems of the 90 percent of humanity usually neglected by the world's top designers. Among the simple technologies featured in the exhibition are a personal water-purification device called LifeStraw, a disaster-relief shelter dubbed Global Village Shelter, and an inexpensive laptop computer designed by Nicholas Negroponte.
-
Development in Hindsight: The Economics of Common Sense.
The article reviews the book "Development in Hindsight: The Economics of Common Sense," by Peter de Haan.
-
Device Thwarts Digital-Picture Taking.
The article offers information on a device created by a group of researchers from Georgia Tech University that may be able to block digital-picture taking. The device developed by Gregory Abowd, Jay Summet, James Clawson and Khai Truong is composed of camera-mounted sensors, a projector, and a computer. According to the author, the device works by targeting the special reflecting properties of the charge-coupled device sensors that are used in digital cameras. He adds that the device can be used to solve the problem associated with movie piracy.
-
Digital Storytelling.
This article features the operation of the Center for Digital Storytelling in the U.S. The center evolved out of the mixture of community arts practices, helping people make art for civic engagement, and the media explosion of the late 1980s and 1990s. It assists people in making short media pieces that combine a spoken narrative, still images, and design elements using digital photo manipulation and digital video editing tools. The visual culture is being used by the center to bring people back into language and the written word.
-
Dislocations and the Global Economy.
The article explores the dislocations caused by the emerging global economy. One of the problems associated with the emerging global economy as identified by the author is terrorism. He rejects the notion that the war on terrorism has more to do with irreconcilable ideological differences citing the case of Ireland which recovered economically from terrorism. The author also identifies employment insecurity as one of the factors tied to changes in the world economy. The use of offshore banking havens such as the Cayman Islands is also seen by the author as a hindrance to trace financial transactions for security purposes.
-
Dissolving Clothes.
The article offers information on the development of melting materials to be used for developing dissolvable dresses at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland and University of Sheffield in England. Such development is part of a collection of eco-friendly designs. The melting fabric is made of clear polymer that breaks down very slowly under normal wear. The user of the dress can just put the dress into a bowl of hot water to liquefy it instead of throwing it out once it is gone out of style.
-
Earl C. Joseph, Founder, First WFS Chapter.
The article presents an obituary for computer scientist Earl C. Joseph.
-
Educating Youth to Face Great Challenges.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The 17 Great Challenges of the 21st Century," by James Martin which appeared in the January-February 2007 issue.
-
EFFICIENCY: "WELL-TO-WHEEL" ANALYSIS.
The article assesses the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles based on the well-to-wheel analysis, a holistic approach that accounts for energy utilization throughout chain activities prior to the burning of the gasoline to provide propulsion. Based on a well-to-wheel analysis of Toyota, its Prius gasoline hybrid nearly matched the diesel hybrids. Toyota reports that Prius has fuel efficiency rating of 37 percent. The company also reports that its gasoline value chain was 79 percent efficient. The well-to-wheel efficiency rating of Prius is estimated at 29 percent.
-
ENERGY DIVERSITY AS A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE.
The article discusses the accomplishments of automobile maker General Motors (GM) in hybrid technology and its future strategies. GM has sold more than 2 million ethanol-powered cars and trucks. GM has also developed Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, which is powered by a next-generation electric propulsion system. The company will launch four hybrid models, including the Saturn Aura Green Line, Chevy Malibu sedans, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. It has started the production of fuel-cell powered Chevy Equinox crossover vehicles.
-
ENERGY.
The article presents an outlook related to energy across the world in 2008. William E. Halal, in his article "Technology's Promise: Highlights From the TechCast Project" that was published in the November-December 2006 issue of this journal, states that global oil production will soon peak. The March-April 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts" predict that ocean-current power will likely increase, which will be led by power-hungry coastal states in the U.S. In the article "Energy Diversity As a Business Imperative" that was published in the July-August 2007 issue of this journal, Elizabeth Lowery states that the number of vehicles will grow to 1.1 billion in 15 years. The September-October 2007 issue of "Tomorrow in Brief" states that hydrogen could be produced on demand for fuel cells.
-
ENVIRONMENT.
The article presents an outlook related to the environment across the world in 2008. The November-December 2006 issue of the "World Trends &Forecasts" state that the earth is on the verge of a significant species extinction event. According to the May-June 2007 issue of "Tomorrow in Brief," the Southern Ocean may be slowing global warming. In the July-August 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts," it is stated that the number of Africans imperiled by floods will grow 70-fold by 2080. The November-December 2006 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts" report that new materials that regulate their own temperature could cut energy costs.
-
Expanding the Human Mind: The Future of the Brain.
The article discusses the potential of neurobiology, robotics and computer technology as tools to enhance human's mental capability. Mental tasks that could be reduced to a set of written rules can be can be expressed in computer languages. Some futurists predict that future computers will have superhuman capacity, assisting human beings to perform their mental roles. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging allows neurobiologists to identify certain areas of the brain responsible for a particular task such as reading or problem solving. This could led to the full understanding of the complexity of the brain, allowing humans to have control over their mental capacity.
-
Fake "Editorial" Rings True.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Is Reading Obsolete?," by Michael Rogers which appeared in the March and April 2007 issue.
-
Fascism, Nazism, Communism, And the Absurd Cause.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable?," by Marvin J. Cetron in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
Faster, Animal-Free Drug Testing.
The article features a drug testing technique developed by SimuGen, which utilizes human cell cultures and advanced computer modeling to assess drug toxicity. The technique is expected to help expedite the drug approval process. According to SimuGen chief scientist Quin Wills, drug testing and approval could take as much as 15 years. He notes that many drugs fail due to late detection of toxicity. The use of animals for drug testing is expected to decline once the method is adopted by pharmaceutical firms.
-
Fighting Civil Wars With Education.
The article reports on a paper by University of Iowa researcher Clayton Thyne which showed the importance of investing in the education of young children to end civil wars. His studies showed that increasing primary education enrollment reduced the likelihood of civil war onset by 73 percent. While increasing income levels had a more dramatic impact, income levels are much harder to alter than education. Thyne added that education provides the opportunity for people of different backgrounds and ethnicities to develop the social skills necessary to express grievances in a nonviolent manner.
-
Finding Invisibility.
The article deals with the development of optical cloaking model by a group of European mathematicians. The computer model allows large objects such as submarines and airplanes to be invisible even at close range. According to Sébastien Guenneau, a researcher from the University of Liverpool, the model can prove that light can bend around an object that under a cloak and will not be diffracted by the object. He adds that this happens because the metamaterial that composes the cloak stretches the metrics of space in a same way to what heavy planets and stars do for the metrics of space-time in the general relativity theory of Albert Einstein.
-
Finding Utopia in the Netherlands.
The article discusses Netherlands' tolerance of abortion, prostitution, drug use and other vices. According to author Bruce Harris, most Dutch citizens have liberal attitude toward the decriminalization of major vices. According to Marc Chavannes of the Institute for Government Studies at the University of California, decriminalizing such morally-questionable practices helps Netherlands improve the moral and social welfare of its people. Netherlands has lower abortion rates and drug abuse cases as compared to other industrialized countries.
-
Forecasts for the Next 25 Years.
The article presents forecasts for the next 25 years from the members of The World Future Society and its magazine "The Futurist." By 2010, Hydrogen fuel cells will be cost competitive. Several cities including New York may emerge as hubs for high-speed, large-capacity supersonic planes, by 2015. Ocean currents may surpass wind as a source of power. A non-addictive painkiller derived from chemicals found in snail, one thousand times more potent than morphine could soon be on the market. Over the next 15 years, weapons of mass destruction will be even easier to obtain.
-
Foresight for Government.
In this article, the author examines the most significant long-term challenges facing the world community and outlines the steps that accountability agencies should take to help position their governments for the future. The author cites the worsening financial condition and growing long-term fiscal imbalance in the U.S. He argues that myopia, or shortsightedness, can undermine the willingness and ability to act of a nation. New Zealand and other countries have adopted fiscal sustainability reporting and various other measures that ensure a long-term focus. The author states that it is time for leaders in all sectors of society to learn from the past and from others while preparing for the future.
-
Four Scenarios for the Arctic.
The article looks at the key areas covered by the four scenarios for the Arctic region for 2040. The four scenarios are globalized frontier, adaptive frontier, fortress frontier and equitable frontier. One issue is transportation. For the globalized frontier, earlier and longer navigation season throughout the Arctic Ocean will increase commercial shipping. Another area is the well-being of the indigenous Arctic population. In the adaptive frontier, indigenous organizations have a greater say in environmental and economic development decision making. A third issue is regional environmental protection. Under the equitable frontier, new areas are added to existing Arctic national parks thus enhancing the environment and tourism industry.
-
Fractal Transactions: Launching the Future of Money.
The article focuses on fractal transactions, which refer to an automated form of real-time, nonlinear money distribution. This involves the flow of money into the transaction from one or more sources, instantly leaving the transaction and automatically distributing money to one or more recipients. Such transactions were developed with the aim of marketers of providing instant gratification, instant money exchange and satisfied customers. The success of the system, however, will rely on the development of a core architecture for fractal transactions that is open and flexible as well as secure and accountable.
-
Freedom from Mid-East Oil.
The article reviews the book "Freedom from Mid-East Oil," by Jerry Brown, Rinaldo Brutoco and James Cusumano.
-
Fusion Power for Space Propulsion.
This article reveals that researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville are working on the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment and they hope to develop a small-scale pulsed plasma thruster. According to Jason Cassibry of the University of Alabama's Propulsion Research Center, a larger, more powerful versions of pulsed plasma thruster can produce fusion for both power and space propulsion which would make possible human travel to the outer planets. According to researchers, this fusion energy-based propulsion technology will herald deep-space travel.
-
Future Fashions: Clothes That Make the Futurist.
The article offers information on various fashionable clothing trends that are deemed to be fashionable in the future. Smart fabrics and intelligent textile (SFIT) researchers are working with the fashion industry to create color-changing jeans, evening wear that emits different scents as the mood alters, undergarments that monitor vital signs, and built-in communications networks. A July-August 2007 issue of "Tomorrow in Brief" asserts that in the near future synthetic fabrics will be made using organic sources such as corn, rice, sugarcane residue, and grasses rather than petroleum.
-
Future Files: A History of the Next 50 Years.
The article reviews the book "Future Files: A History of the Next 50 Years," by Richard Watson.
-
Future Shock and the Magic of the Future.
The article discusses the author's experience of participating in the experiments developed by the World Future Society.
-
Futuring and World Peace.
The article discusses the World Future Society's peace advocacy movement. The society held its first conference in 1971 in the U.S., which was attended by prominent delegates from different part of the world. Some of the participants include authors Herman Kahn and Yoneji Masuda. The event was followed by a series of conferences from 1975 to 1980. Some of the obstacles experienced by the society in its advocacy movement include people's apathy on the future of humanity and advertisers' lack of interest on futurist publications.
-
Futuring Success Story: How Foresight Helps Mercedes-Benz Stay the Technology Leader.
The article presents information on how anticipating future developments has helped Mercedes-Benz maintain its leadership in technology, quality and customer satisfaction. By utilizing a 30-person foresight staff that specializes in sociology, engineering, physics and political science, the company's interdisciplinary scientists examine developments that will shape tomorrow's automobile markets. These researchers believe, huge changes in the automotive industry will involve alternative drives and fuels.
-
GASOLINE TAXES NEEDED TO STAVE OFF DISASTER.
The article offers insights on gasoline taxes in the United States. The author stated that taxing the use of gasoline as part of an ambitious alternative energy initiative is essential in order to emphasize that the consumption of fossil fuels and the proliferation of emissions-heavy activities may be endangering civilization itself. An increase in the charge for carbon of 2% or 3% in real terms per year is recommended because it is the persistent and predictable increase in the effective price of carbon that would give the policy traction. The author stressed that failing to act immediately would increase the likelihood that energy-intensive projects will continue to go forward, new buildings will be less energy-efficient and transportation will be more energy-intensive than necessary.
-
Germany to Build a Chinatown.
The article deals with a project to build a Chinatown at an abandoned airfield near former Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg in Berlin, Germany. The proposed development of the Chinatown which will cost $700 million has attracted capitalists and financiers both in Germany and China. While it is not yet finalized how many Chinese migrants will settle in the new German Chinatown, developers believe that the proposal will enhance Germans' understanding for China as well as the Chinese culture.
-
Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete in the Present.
The article reviews the book "Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete in the Present," by Bob Johansen.
-
Getting Ahead by Looking Ahead.
An excerpt from the book "Future, Inc.: How Businesses Can Anticipate and Profit from What's Next," by Eric Garland is presented.
-
GOING GREEN BY EMPOWERING CHOICE.
The article focuses on the price-driven search for oil substitutes in the United States. Although this search has renewed interest in fossil fuels that are dirtier than oil, it has also sped along the development of cleaner technologies. U.S. President George W. Bush has mentioned in his State of the Union address research in the use of ethanol derived from the cellulose of plants such as switchgrass. Companies such as BP and DuPont have contributed to the promotion of alternative energy resources by announcing a partnership to pilot the use of biobutanol. Experimental facility Greenfuel Technologies are looking into algae as a feedstock for liquid fuel production.
-
Great Plains Grasslands At Risk.
The article discusses the preliminary results of the study "Prairie Heating and CO<sub> 25 </sub> Enrichment (PHACE)," published in the June 2007 issue of "New Phytologist." The study showed that plant production could improve with rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, however, the levels of soil carbon and nitrogen would decrease. In this regard, the Rangeland Resources Research Unit and Colorado State University mention that future changes in the environment will affect nitrogen concentrations in forage grasses.
-
Growth in Ocean-Current Power Foreseen.
The article reports on the launch of a project by a group of researchers in Florida to tap the Gulf Stream for power. The Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton received a research grant of $5 million to examine how the robust ocean currents off of the coasts could be converted into electricity for the state's consumers. According to project leader Frank Driscoll, the new industry will give a clean, reliable, and renewable source of energy that can be used to generate electricity, unlimited hydrogen, and potable water.
-
Guilt-Free Food Indulgence.
This article reports that the trends shaping the food industry resemble those shaping society at large, such as a desire for extreme experiences and hybrid products. According to the Institute of Food Technologists, restaurants and grocers are offering more exotic or unusual products combined with the familiar, such as orange blossoms in yogurt or Japanese-influenced lox wrapped in seaweed. These luxury foods also consist of more nutrients, reducing the guilt of indulging consumers' food pleasures.
-
HEALTH AND MEDICINE.
The article presents an outlook related to health and medicine across the world in 2008. In the article "The Coming Osteoporosis Epidemic" that was published in the March-April 2007 issue of this journal, Jay Herson states that an osteoporosis epidemic will hit the U.S. in the next 10 years. The January-February 2007 issue of "Tomorrow in Brief" reports that doctors will use sonar to detect bone fractures. According to the March-April 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts," robots will assist surgeons rather than replace them in the operating room. In the July-August 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts," it is stated that cocoa could become the next miracle drug, or at least a vital food supplement.
-
High-Paying Careers of the Next Two Decades.
The article presents forecasts on the high-paying careers of the next two decades. Labor market forecasters believe that tomorrow's new jobs will increasingly be in the service sector, with career demands in health, communications and computers. Some of the new jobs will have unfamiliar titles, including bioinformationalists who work with the abundant genetic information, cybrarians who will monitor, organize and enforce policies on an exponentially growing Interne, and telemedicine technicians who will serve as part of a multi-site team providing medical diagnosis and treatment to people in remote areas.
-
How an Expert on Time Spends His Days.
This article features the scientific discoveries of U.S. sociologist John Robinson. He directs the Americans' Use of Time Project at the University of Maryland. He pioneered the time-diary research method. Robinson has written more than a hundred articles on time use. He was one of the first academics to chart the increase in U.S. television watching between 1965 and 1975. In 2007, Robinson has focused on how changing economic and social patterns influence the way that families use time. He is also studying the rise of the androgyny society.
-
How Attitudes Shape Our Future.
The article discusses the effect of attitude on shaping one's future. The author noted that attitude has critical implications for survival and is influenced by a complex web of personal factors. The psychological components of attitude are described, including the cognitive, evaluative, affective and conative components. Attitude in terms of its approach to the issue of global warming is explored, showcasing how beliefs are shaped by a combination of emotion and reason rather than rationale by itself. The author also showed how skeptics organize facts about an issue as compared to optimists.
-
How THE FUTURIST Was Born.
The article provides information on the history of this publication, which is the official newsletter of the World Future Society. The author described how working as a journalist prompted him to think about how other people could be made aware of the possibilities of the future. He recalled writing a prospectus in 1965 which reflected his continuing fear of war and his search for practical means of dealing with this fear. The prospectus also emphasized the need for a broad-based organization devoted to the study of the future which would encourage a cross-disciplinary approach to social and technological forecasting, as well as a journal for those who are interested in this field.
-
How to Be Happy.
The article discusses how people can better understand utopia or the pursuit of happiness and work toward a happier future. In the article "Reinventing Utopia," in the July-August 2007 issue, Lane Jennings asserts that artificial worlds created in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) allow players to indulge in new identities and activities that may not be possible or acceptable in real life. A psychologist recommends that consumers spend their money more on experiences which can help individuals meet personal goals, making them more interesting, likeable, and happy than materialistic people.
-
How to Buy Happiness.
The article discusses the benefits from investing in memory-making experiences. According to researcher Leaf Van Boven, such experiences are more valuable than material possessions in their contribution to social relationships. He believes that experiences are important to social relationships because they contribute to well-being and life satisfaction. In addition, experiences help individuals attain personal goals in ways that material goods usually cannot, such as challenging a person to overcome feat by mountain climbing and cleansing one's soul by being involved in a volunteer work.
-
How to Catch a Falling Civilization.
The article discusses various reports published within the issue, including one by Nader Elhefnawy on the negative outlook for the Western civilization and another by Joseph Pelton on the Global Legal Information Network.
-
HOW TO PRICE BIOFUELS.
The author recommends ways to make alternative fuels more economically viable. He notes that alternative fuels failed to materialize during the 1990's due to the dropping of oil prices, forcing alternative fuel developers to close down. He thinks that alternative energy will fully materialize if oil prices remain high. He recommends that oil subsidies be restructured to prevent oil price rollback.
-
Hydrogen Power On Demand.
The article describes a new method for obtaining hydrogen invented by a professor at Purdue University. The method could make it easier to switch small internal combustion engines like lawn mowers from gasoline to fuel cells. The researchers discovered that hydrogen is generated when water is added to an alloy of aluminum and gallium. According to Jerry Woodall, electrical and computer engineering professor and inventor of the process, the hydrogen is generated on demand so it can be produced when needed.
-
Illiterates with Doctorates, Revisited.
In this article, the author explains the state of reading and writing in the digital age. Reading and writing have been greatly affected by digital media. The digital age has already proved its ability to connect people around the globe in a dazzling array of discussion groups, chat rooms, and blogs. The author affirms that these technologies can make a person to be an educated illiterate. He considers the phenomenal growth of nonprint forms of information storage and exchange, including the increasing number of people who used YouTube and MySpace.
-
IMPERIAL PARALLELS.
An interview with Cullen Murphy, editor at large of "Vanity Fair" and author of "Are We Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America." When asked about what motivated him to write the book, he said he wondered about the comparison between Rome and the U.S. for years. He offers his views on why societies often stagnate, decline and collapse. He talks about what Americans can do to anneal the society from collapse.
-
In Defense of Scenario Planning.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "A Handbook for Scenario Planning," which appeared in the March and April 2007 issue.
-
Iraqi Values Shift Toward the Secular.
This article focuses on a survey which revealed the decline in popular support for a religious government in Iraq, released by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. Political values are increasingly secular and nationalistic. Iraqis have a strong sense of national identity that transcends religious and political lines. The recent outpouring of national pride at the 2007 Asian Cup victory of the Iraqi soccer team showed that this sense of national pride remains strong, despite all the sectarian strife and violence.
-
Is Clean Coal Feasible?
This article focuses on the technology of carbon capture and storage (CCS), seen by government officials and scientists as the ideal way to reduce the carbon emissions from power plants. It describes how the CCS technology would allow the public to meet its energy needs at the same time as cutting carbon emissions. It discusses the effort of the U.S. and Great Britain to invest in the development of a CCS power plant. It outlines the various obstacles to CCS implementation and the arguments against CCS implementation.
-
Is Reading Obsolete?
In this article, the author addresses the future of reading. To achieve his goal, the author used a fictional approach, producing what was meant to be a 2025 editorial rather callously suggesting that the ability to read long pieces of text was becoming obsolete. He introduced the editorial with an actual quote from an article published in the "Washington Post" citing research that only 31% of college students are able to read and extrapolate from a complex book. In the end, the author was encouraged that so many people would ardently defend reading.
-
IS THE UNITED STATES BOUND FOR COLLAPSE?
The author reflects on the collapse of the American civilization. He cites the book "Are We Rome?," by Cullen Murphy, who addresses the issue of the state of decline and fall of the American civilization. He asserts that the country is still rich in its reserves of idealism. He states that the country's greatest resource is the courage and intelligence of its people.
-
Is Tyranny Doomed?
The article reviews the book "The J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall," by Ian Bremmer.
-
Japan's Approach to Aging and Dying.
The article discusses the efforts of Japan to respond to the trend toward aging and dying. To enhance social ties, housing complexes are developing community centers that are staffed by mostly senior volunteers. Housing officials also conduct patrols that monitor unclaimed mail in the boxes of residents, and they ask the gas company to notify them when an elderly resident stops to order gas. In addition, Keepers, for-profit company, offer services such as cleaning up the mess usually found when a body is discovered in a disheveled residence.
-
Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization.
The article reviews the book "Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization," by Akbar Ahmed.
-
Laser Surveillance.
The article offers information on a laser-based item monitoring system developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The system could provide a better balance of privacy and protection. It has the ability to scan reflective tags on objects, as well as detect small changes in reflected signals that indicate possible tampering. The system could thus bypass the need for privacy-invading videos and is less susceptible to jamming than bar-code readers and radio frequency identification.
-
Latinos in America's Cultural Laboratory.
New Song for a New Future
-
Literature in Decline, But Literacy Alive and Well.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The New Media Age: End of the Written Word?," which appeared in the March-April 2007 issue.
-
Love and Immigration.
The article discusses the apparent link between immigration and a decline in the rate of intermarriages in the U.S. based on a report by researchers at Ohio State University. According to sociology professor Zhenchao Qian, the decline in the rate of intermarriages are a significant departure from previous trends. Qian also claims that more native-born Asian Americans and Hispanics are marrying their foreign-born counterparts. The researchers also found that interracial relationships are lowest among African Americans.
-
Managing a Future of Extremes.
The article reviews the book "The Extreme Future: The Top Trends That Will Reshape the World for the Next 5, 10, and 20 Years," by James Canton.
-
Men Not at Work.
This article focuses on a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which reveals declining number of men in the workforce. It explains that the country experienced an increase in the participation of women in the labor force since the 1950s. Economist Mitra Toossi of the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that if current trends continue, by 2020 only 70 percent of working age men will participate in the U.S. labor force and this will decline further to 66 percent by 2050. It points out the factors that contributed to the decline of participation of men in the labor force.
-
Methods for Thinking about the Future.
The article reviews the book "Thinking About the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight," edited by Andy Hines and Peter Bishop.
-
Microinsurance for Megadisasters.
The article presents a reprint of the article "Reducing Natural Disaster Risk in Cities," by Zoë Chafe, which appeared in "State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future," edited by Linda Starke. According to the author, microinsurance allows individuals to poor risk with one another, often at the community level, and often through existing insurance or microfinance companies. He cites the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the Indian city of Bhuj as an example of a natural disaster covered by the microinsurance scheme. He also claims that government involvement could help poor people avoid high-interest lenders.
-
Military Sociologists Examine Leadership Flexibility.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century" in the November-December 2006 issue.
-
Modeling Our Minds.
This article reports on the development of cognitive technologies by scientists at Sandia National Laboratories. The technologies were developed using machines to help human function better and creating models of human cognition to help machines interact more naturally with users. Potential applications of the technologies include training military personnel and improving terrorist threat detection. Comments from Russ Skocypec, senior manager of Sandia's Human, Systems and Simulation Technologies Department, regarding the issue are given.
-
Music-Making for the Disabled.
The article offers information on the virtual keyboard developed by Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute media communications student Zane Van Dusen. When the keyboard interface is used, the user sits in front of a camera and chooses a point to track like the tip of the nose and when the user points at the keyboard image, the software tracks the correct note to play. The creator of the keyboard suggests that it could also have therapeutic benefits, that is, by providing an outlet for creative expression among people with extremely limited mobility and motivating young children with disabilities to work harder in physical therapy.
-
Nanoscale Electric Generators.
The article offers information on a nanogenerator that is capable of drawing energy from ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibrations and other unlikely sources. Developed by a team headed by materials scientist Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Institute of Technology, the nanogenerator utilizes a wide range of zinc oxide nanowires on a novel plate electrode. The nanowires produce small electrical charges when triggered by a stimuli from the environment. The generator is small enough to fit on nanodevices and biomedical devices implanted into human body.
-
Nanotech: Big Risks, Big Opportunities.
The article examines the economic benefits and environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, as well as its policy implications. The Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress commissioned a report to explore legal issues surrounding nanotechnology. The report states that nanotechnology will greatly contribute to the development of high-technology industries. However, an environmental advocacy group claims that nanomaterials could cause brain damage. The committee report suggests that labeling policies and safety tests be considered to improve the safety of nanotechnology.
-
Nanotechnology Breakthroughs of the Next 15 Years.
The article presents nanotechnology breakthroughs of the next 15 years, according to a group of nanotechnology experts. Two to five years from 2007, car tires will need only once a year, complete medical diagnostics could be performed on a single computer chip and the availability of portable concentrators that produce drinkable water from air. Five to ten years from now, there will be smart buildings that self-stabilize during earthquakes or bombings. Ten to fifteen years thereafter, artificial intelligence could become so sophisticated, that it is hard for people to identify if they are talking to a human or a machine.
-
New Theories of Everything.
The article reviews the book "New Theories of Everything," by John D. Barrow.
-
No Security without Understanding.
The author comments on the implications of the regional war in the Middle East for U.S. liberalism. The author argues that the U.S. should realize that they will not be able to control democracy and freedom in the Middle East. The author adds that the war will develop hatred among the people in the region which can later on trigger the birth of new terrorists.
-
No to a Global Welfare System!
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Time for a Global Welfare System?" by Anil Hira in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
NOT ALL HYBRIDS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
The article discusses the environmental impact of hybrid, energy efficient vehicles. It notes that promoting hybrid vehicles is an integral part of the environmental policy of a government. The author comments that the success of hybrid technology will depend on its ability to increase fuel economy rather than accelerate speed without increasing gas consumption. It states that the introduction of hybrid cars has increased the environmental awareness of drivers. It claims that the feasibility of plug-in hybrid technology to enable longer and faster speed driving will depend on battery advances.
-
ON DARK AGES.
The author reflects on the decline of western civilization. He states that not every story that the writers tell is the same, but there is a great deal of overlap in their accounts of particular declining societies, and declining societies in general. He asserts that materialist theorists usually find economic explanations for the decline. He cites several books which talked about civilization decline, including "The Idea of Western Decline," by Arthur Herman.
-
Our Cashless FUTURE.
The article discusses the rapid growth of wireless telecommunication systems which is hastening the arrival of a cashless society. The author claims that the digital currency system has the potential to solve the counterfeiting of paper currency in the U.S., which is the inevitable result of innovations in optical scanning technology. He argues that the increasing popularity of credit and debit cards is an evidence of the movement toward a cashless society. The three critical issues identified by the author as determinants of the success or failure of the migration to a cashless society include security, privacy and ease of use.
-
Peacemaking and the Purpose Of THE FUTURIST.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Search for Foresight: Futuring and World Peace," by Edwards Cornish, in the July-August 2007 issue.
-
Personal Meaning in the World Future Society.
The article presents a letter from Peter F. Eder, a contributing editor of this periodical for Marketing and Communications, regarding the impact that this periodical and the World Future Society has had on his life. He recalled reading two different issues of this publication which stood out among others. One was the December 1983 issue which was devoted to the book "1984," by George Orwell, a book which the author considered as the major motivation in his early interest in the study of the future. The other memorable issue was released in March/April 1988 and which contained the article "Living and Dying With AIDS: One Futurist's Struggle," by Hank E. Koehn, a prominent futurist and banker who described a six-month-long battle with AIDS.
-
Petroleum-Free Clothing.
The article offers information on Ingeo, an environmentally-friendly synthetic fabric from NatureWorks LLC.
-
Phototherapy for Skin Problems.
This article reports on the promise of laser light treatment or photodynamic therapy (PDT) for patients with skin problems ranging from acne to cancer. It explains that PDT uses pulsed laser energy to activate a photosynthesizing agent on a patient's skin. PDT can shrink oil glands in acne patients based on studies reported by the "American Academy of Dermatology." This helps improve scarring and skin texture. PDT offers dermatologists new therapies to treat acne. Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland have developed a lightweight and portable bandage with its own light source that can be used to treat skin cancer.
-
Plastic Blood.
This article reports on the development of a sterile, plastic blood by researchers at the University of Sheffield in England. The blood consists of millions of plastic molecules and resembles hemoglobin. It can be used as a temporary blood substitute in emergency situations. The blood can be used with any blood type and contains iron atoms that help transport oxygen through the body. Unlike donated blood, which has a shelf-life of just 35 days and must be refrigerated, the plastic blood can be stored for months at room temperature.
-
Political vs. Authentic Islam.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable?" by Marvin Cetron in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
Poverty, Illiteracy, and Terrorism.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable," by Marvin J. Cetron, in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
Predicting Panic.
The article offers information on three-dimensional (3-D) computational models being developed by Paul M. Torrens, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Geographical Sciences, to simulate pedestrian behavior and predict their movements. The program is aimed to help city planners, shopping center developers, safety and health workers, and even homeland security analysts to anticipate the dynamics of crowds. The model infuses virtual people with individual variables such as age, sex, size, health, and body language, and mixes in crowd features, such as panic, and characteristics of a specific environment. According to Torrens, the simulation will model both motion and emotion.
-
Presidents Agree.
The article presents the views of several U.S. Presidents on the World Future Society. Ronald Reagan believes the efforts of the organization in examining ideas and data that will shape the world of tomorrow can make a substantial contribution to human freedom by anticipating major trends and preparing decisionmakers in every field for new challenges and opportunities. George H.W. Bush commends the organization's hard work and dedication toward furthering the educational and scientific goals of the generation. George W. Bush expresses appreciation for the society's efforts to expand human knowledge and contribute to a culture of responsibility in society.
-
Profits and Prophecy.
The article reviews the book "Turning the Future into Revenue: What Businesses and Individuals Need to Know to Shape Their Futures," by Glen Hiemstra.
-
Promoting Parenthood In Japan.
This article discusses the problems of declining birthrate and aging population in Japan. It says that one professor in Japan has claimed that the country may run out of people in the next 900 years. It explains that Japan shares this demographic future with many Western industrialized countries. It points out that social trends such as delaying or forgoing marriage and childbearing contributed much to this demographic problem. It presents statistics on the average age at first marriage for Japanese men and women and the number of children per married couple in 2005. It explains that companies and government in Japan are employing strategies to encourage the Japanese to have more children.
-
Questioning the Future Osteoporosis "Epidemic.".
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Coming Osteoporosis Epidemic: Trend Analysis," by Jay Herson, in the March-April 2007 issue.
-
Reinventing Utopia.
Sources and Recommended Readings
-
Research in the Virtual Marketplace.
The article reports that market research firms are increasing the use of virtual communities for their data collection operations. Virtual communities and other online tools allow market researchers to overcome real word's physical limitations. To attract Internet users to participate on online surveys, researchers provide incentives such as electronic rewards and other forms of cyber payments. Social science researchers, activists and conference organizers are also increasingly relying on virtual communities.
-
RESOURCES.
The article presents an outlook related to natural resources across the world in 2008. In the article "Thinking About the Arctic's Future: Scenarios for 2040" that was published in the September-October 2007 issue, Lawson W. Brigham states that rising prices for natural resources could lead to a full-scale rush to develop the Arctic. According to the March-April 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts," a total, but temporary, collapse in the global fishing industry will occur before the year 2050. William E. Halal, in his article "Technology's Promise: Highlights From the TechCast Project" that was published in the November-December 2006 issue," said that water will be in the twenty-first century what oil was in the twentieth century.
-
Restoring Mother Nature's Capital.
The article reports that the World Resources Institute (WRI) is calling for action to restore the natural capital and critical ecosystem services on which humans depend. WRI president Jonathan Lash argues that it is necessary to expand the climate debate beyond monitoring greenhouse gases to focus on how climate change is affecting ecosystem services. In this regard, it is important to change the perception of economists to nature's services. Such services should be included in accounts or predictions about national economic well-being.
-
Rich and Richer, Poor and Poorer.
This article focuses on a University of Michigan study which revealed that the long-term trend of increasing net worth among the wealthy is widening the gap between the rich and poor in the U.S. The study showed that the top two percentile of U.S. families saw their net worth double between 1984 and 2005 and the poorest ten percent of families had negative net worth. Short-term debt and reduced participation in the stock market were two factors contributing to deterioration of net worth among poorer households.
-
Rise in Number of Skin Cancer Cases.
The article reports on an increase in the number of skin cancer cases in the U.S. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 108,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the country in 2007. It is stated that the diagnoses of melanoma increased by more than 1 percent per year between 1995 and 2004, in contrast to a decline in overall cancer rates during the same period. Dermatology specialist Israel Eckman said that there is a correlation between more people coming in for screening and thereby a net increase in the diagnosis of melanoma. A study published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" found that women were more likely to request a screening than men and accounted for nearly 62 percent of the screenings administered.
-
Rise of the Cashless Do-Gooders.
The author presents an account of his efforts to help churches and nonprofit organizations accept on-site, cashless donations. According to the author, his company SecureGive was established in June 2004. He reveals that his initial search for companies that can help churches accept cashless donations was not accepted by the companies and individuals he had talked with. Their reluctance to support his idea prompted the author to immerse himself in the banking and payment processing industry, with an emphasis on how funds are electronically transferred. His efforts resulted in the installation of the SecureGive donation kiosk.
-
Rising Waters, Drowning Hope.
The article discusses the vulnerability of poor, urban dwellers to floods and presents strategies to help poor communities avoid flood loss and injury. According to Actionaid International, urbanization aggravates flooding by covering large parts of the ground with roofs, roads, and pavements and by obstructing natural channels. Slum areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding, where drainage systems are often blocked by debris and waste. Slum dwellers residing along riverbanks are advised to relocate to higher ground.
-
Roger Herman.
This article pays tribute to the late U.S. workforce trend analyst Roger E. Herman.
-
Save the Snakes!
This article reports on how an endangered timber rattlesnake is being implanted with a radio transmitter by researchers at Purdue University in Indiana. Once found in abundance in the state, the snakes are now hard to find because they become victims of habitat loss and human persecution. The radio transistor will help biologists monitor how the snake's movement through their habitat is affected by logging, climate and other variables. The goal of the effort is to create landuse management strategies that will benefit the species.
-
Save the Thermosphere!
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Thinner Air?," which appeared in the March-April 2007 issue.
-
Scenario: A Cashless New York City.
The author presents a fictional account of a day in a future cashless New York City. She forecasts that by 2020, New Yorkers may carry computerized identity cards with individual member numbers, given only to those who want them. She envisions the widespread use of digital currency all over the city, at restaurants and museums. She describes a day in which she swipes her card to get automatic discount on city-promoted products. Her bus fare across town to the Metropolitan Museum is automatically deducted from her pre-filled NYCitizen account.
-
Secularization as the Road to Peace.
A letter to the editor in response to the article "Religion in the Future Global Civilization," by Thomas R. McFaul in the September/October 2006 issue is presented.
-
Security First: For a Muscular, Moral Foreign Policy.
The article reviews the book "Security First: For a Muscular, Moral Foreign Policy," by Amitai Etzioni.
-
Setting Happiness as a National Goal.
The author comments that happiness should be the ultimate goal of government policies. He thinks that rich countries like Great Britain and the U.S. are less happy than poorer countries due to the dissatisfaction caused by the culture of materialism. He proposes that schools be required to teach students how to live a happy life. He also urges the government to provide free mental health services to those of who are mentally-depressed.
-
Smaller Cars for Real Efficiency.
Letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles "The Hybrid Phenomenon," by Norma-Carr Ruffino and John Acheson and "Biodiesel's Bright Future," by William Thurmond in the July-August 2007 issue.
-
Smart Fashion.
The article focuses on the potential development of communications and digitally-enhanced clothing. The Smart Fabrics 2007 trade show that was held in Washington, D.C., has presented samples of products from the emerging field of smart fabrics and intelligent textiles. Tim Shea, project manager for Venture Development Corp., expects wider implementation of already existing technologies like Global Positioning System (GPS) and heart monitoring in sporting gear for athletes. Shea also believes that color-changing dresses, smart purses or bags, and accessories like jewelry that use fiber optic technology will be launched in the future.
-
SOCIETY AND VALUES.
The article presents an outlook related to society and values across the world in 2008. According to Peter Wagschal, in his article "Illiterates With Doctorates, Revisited" that was published in the March-April 2007 issue of this journal, technology will lead to educated illiterates. In the article "Japan's Approach to Aging and Dying" that was published in the September-October 2007, Arthur B. Shostak states that more elderly people will age and die alone in the U.S. and Japan. The January-February 2007 issue of "World Trends &Forecasts" states that communications systems are altering human behavior.
-
Solutions for a World in Crisis.
This article presents information on articles published within the issue dealing with how to address the global problem of terrorism which is largely initiated by Islamic extremists.
-
Southern Ocean May Slow Warming.
This article reports that researchers at the University of Arizona say that the Southern Ocean may absorb 20 percent more carbon dioxide than current climate models show because westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere have moved southward over the past 30 years. The researchers explain that as the winds continue to shift poleward, they could slow down the rate of global warming. However, this scenario means a change in ocean chemistry that could affect the habitats and livelihoods of marine organisms.
-
Space Colonies Envisioned.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article about space colonies in the September-October 2007 issue.
-
SportsCast.
The article focuses on ten controversial issues that create major impacts on the international sports industry. The wealth of sports leagues and events can be increased if they unify as a single brand, such as the National Football League and put media rights out to bid from major networks, attract corporate sponsorships and sell merchandise. The women's revolution increased the number of women who participate in sports as well as the hours of media coverage of such events. Technological innovations also have a positive impact on athletes in terms of extending careers and enabling recovery from severe injuries.
-
Subprime Lenders Target Women Unfairly.
This article reveals that subprime lenders in the U.S. housing sector unfairly target women, according to Consumer Federation of America (CFA). It says that the country experienced a record rates in subprime lending, an expensive and risky loan product reserved for borrowers with troubled credit, with the boom in real estate that started in 2002. It explains that around 19 percent of all home loans in 2005 were subprime. It warns that almost 2.2 million subprime borrowers in the country could lose their homes due to foreclosure on their loans. CFA recommends several actions to address this problem including increased enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
-
Sunspots as Prediction Tool.
This article describes how sunspot patterns could help farmers in eastern Africa predict bad weather. According to paleoclimatologist Curt Stager of Paul Smith's College, unusually heavy periods of rainfall in the region have occurred approximately one year ahead of peak periods of sunspot activity. Sunspots, which are increases in the sun's energy output, occur in regular 11-year cycles. Therefore, sunspot patterns could provide a valuable tool for forecasting the heavy rainfalls that often lead to flooding in the region.
-
Super Crunchers: Why Thinking By Numbers Is the New Way to Be Smart.
The article reviews the book "Super Crunchers: Why Thinking By Numbers Is the New Way to Be Smart," by Ian Ayres.
-
Survival of the Cutest.
This article focuses on a study conducted by University of Washington biologist David Stokes that aims to shed light on which animal traits appeal to humans. It explains that conservation biologists believe human preference for cute or attractive creatures will increasingly affect which species survive and which one perish in the future. Stokes investigates the aesthetic appeal of different types of penguins. Stokes says that humans often base their attraction on superficial criteria such as color and cuteness. Stokes identifies which animals have a good chance of surviving.
-
Surviving the Century: Facing Climate Chaos and Other Global Challenges.
The article reviews the book "Surviving the Century: Facing Climate Chaos and Other Global Challenges," edited by Herbert Girardet.
-
Tapping the Power of DNA To Run Computers.
The article offers information on an electronic device that uses chemical-electrical properties in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to create an interface between biological molecules and medical devices implanted into a human body. Known as nanoactuator, the device was developed by the University of Portsmouth researchers and considered as a breakthrough development in bio-nanotechnology. The nanoactuator reports events that occur between single molecules. The device consists of a strand of DNA, a microchip, a bead magnet and a mechanical lever.
-
TECHNOLOGY.
The article presents an outlook related to technology across the world in 2008. According to William E. Halal, in his article "Technology's Promise: Highlights From the TechCast Project" that was published in the November-December 2006 issue of this journal, quantum computers will arrive by 2021. He also states that most security systems will use biometrics by 2010. In the article "Not With a Bang: Civilization's Accelerating Challenge" that was published in the September-October 2007 issue of this journal, Arnold Brown said that decisions will increasingly be made by non-human entities. In his book "Beyond AI: Creating the Conscience of the Machine," J. Storrs Hall states that artificial intelligence will evolve from roughly mimicking human intelligence to vastly surpassing it.
-
The 17 Great Challenges of the Twenty-First Century.
The article presents a reprint from the book "The Meaning of the 21st Century," by James Martin. It focuses on 17 challenges to the human population brought about by the 21st century that must be addressed to ensure the survival of mankind. The author noted that people must put in place rules, codes of behavior and means of governance, among others, that would enable them to cooperate and thrive on planet Earth. The challenges that must be faced include saving the Earth, reversing poverty and steadying population growth. Likewise, people must exert efforts in achieving sustainable lifestyles, defusing terrorism and preventing all-out war among different countries.
-
The Artificial Mind and the Posthuman Future.
The article reviews the book "Beyond Al: Creating the Conscience of the Machine," by J. Storrs Hall.
-
THE CAR MAKERS: WHO IS IN THE LEAD AND WHO IS CATCHING UP?
The article features various automobile companies that develop hybrid vehicles. Toyota has the most advanced hybrid technology in the industry. The company is two generations of patents ahead of its rivals, having used more than 650 patents on its Prius hybrid model. Honda was the first automobile company to sell hybrid passenger cars in the U.S. Its first hybrid model, the 2000 Insight, was released in 1999. Ford was the first American automobile maker to launch a hybrid vehicle. Its Escape hybrid sports utility vehicle produces 80 percent less smog than ordinary vehicles.
-
THE COMING Osteoporosis Epidemic.
Can Depression Cause Bone Loss?
-
THE CURE FOR OIL ADDICTION IS LEADERSHIP.
The article offers insights on reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil. The author pointed out that the country's huge imports of oil from other countries has been subsidizing its avowed enemies in the Middle East in a time of war and has enabled too much reliance on petroleum in general, with consumers wasting the precious resource on energy-inefficient vehicles. Significant reform in this area, which would have beneficial economic environmental, trade and strategic implications, is expected to arise from presidential leadership.
-
The Dangers of Visual Culture.
This article explores the consequences of visual culture. The average person sees tens of thousands of images in the course of a day. These images can be seen on television, in newspapers and magazines, on Web sites, and in products. There are shocking images but because of their sheer number and ease of replication, they become less magical and less shocking. Anyone with a digital camera and a computer can produce and alter an image. As a result, the power of the image has been diluted in one sense, but strengthened in another. The potential costs of moving from the printed word to the image are immense.
-
The Earth Charter in Action: Toward a Sustainable World.
The article reviews the book "The Earth Charter in Action: Toward a Sustainable World," edited by Peter Blaze Corcoran.
-
The Energy of the Mob.
This article focuses on the crowd farm project made by architecture students James Graham and Thaddeus Jusczyk of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Architecture to capture the untamed energy of urban crowds and convert it into a source of electrical power. The project is a series of connected floor blocks that depress very slightly when people walk, run or jump on them, causing the blocks to move against one another. The design converts the slippage into power. The students hope that the crowd farm idea will compel people to appreciate the tiny impacts that they have on the environment.
-
The Energy Project: INDEPENDENCE BY 2020.
The article focuses on the need for countries, particularly the United States, to formulate a coherent energy policy dedicated to downgrading oil as the dominant international commodity. According to the author, this action would contribute greatly to the health of the shared environment as well as international stability once oil becomes a commodity on the level of coffee or sugar rather than the lifeblood of Western economies. A global effort on the part of industrialized nations to transition their economies to next-generation fuels and vehicles is encouraged.
-
The Fall of the Word, and Civilization.
In this article, the author examines the strategic aspects of the postliterate era. The author considers television as a dis-educating force. He asserts that instead of reading words and numbers, more and more people are forming their views on the basis of pictures. In addition, the author argues that imagery does not provide enough data to formulate reasoned views on how to stop a conflict and prevent its renewal. In that sense, the author concluded that television is an information black hole.
-
The Future of Sports Media.
The article focuses on the future of the relationship between sports leagues and teams and mass media. The sports media model in the United States involved a process wherein sports properties sold their rights to the media, primarily network television, which in turn sold the sports content to advertisers. This group then gained audiences and potential customers for these products. Due largely to the emergence of cable television networks, this model began to change. One company that was able to improve on the model and communicate with fans through every distribution model available is the synergistic sports-media brand Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
-
THE FUTURIST BOOKSHELF.
The article reviews several books, including "Ageless Nation: The Quest for Superlongevity and Physical Perfection," by Michael G. Zey, "Alternative Pathways in Science and Industry: Activism, Innovation and the Environment in an Era of Globalization," by David J. Hess and "Annihilation From Within: The Ultimate Threat to Nations," by Fred Charles Iklé.
-
THE FUTURIST BOOKSHELF.
The article reviews several books, including "Annihilation from Within: The Ultimate Threat to Nations," by Fred Charles Iklé, "The Archaeology of Tomorrow: Architectures and the Spirit of Place," by Travis Price and "The Carbon Buster's Home Energy Handbook," by Godo Stoyke.
-
THE FUTURIST BOOKSHELF.
The article reviews several books, including "The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy: Classic Concepts and New Perspectives," edited by Carl W. Stern and Michael S. Deimler, "Mind Set! Reset Your Thinking to See the Future," by John Naisbitt, and "A Short History of the Future: Surviving the 2030 Spike," by Colin Mason.
-
The Hybrid Phenomenon.
PINCHING PENNIES: THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF BUYING A HYBRID
-
The Intersection of Economics and the Arts.
The article features a report on the intersection between economics and the arts in the U.S. According to the report from University of Minnesota, most working artists split their time among the various sectors fairly evenly. Roughly 39 percent spend most of their arts time in the commercial sector, and 42 percent engage in part-time commercial work. Ensuring the long-term survivability of the arts will require more than teaching musicians, painters, or writers how to adapt to difficult economic realities.
-
The New Media Age.
The article reports on the growing interest in visual media in the U.S. People in the developed world are spending less time reading books and more time interacting with visual media such as television, podcasts, and video games. The proportion of 17-year-olds who read for enjoyment almost every day fell from 31% to 22% between 1984 and 2004 in the U.S., according to the National Assessment of Education. Meanwhile, television watching continues to rise about 3% a year, and almost 87% of kids aged 8 to 17 have a video-game player in their home in 2007.
-
The Ottoman Legacy in Today's Middle East.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable," by Marvin J. Cetron, in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
The Over-Mediated World.
The article focuses on the effect of technology on human value systems and communication. It references the book "Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in the Technological Age," by Michael Bugeja, director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University. According to Bugeja, the availability of media such as television, computers, radio and MP3 players cause people to have less time for nurturing primary relationships. People are more likely to communicate through social networks, consequently leading them to ignore the people in their immediate environment.
-
The Perils of a Postliterate Future.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Voice-In/Voice-Out Computers and the Postliterate Era," by William Crossman which appeared in the March-April 2007 issue.
-
The Postliterate Future.
In this article, the author explores the terrain of the visual age in the U.S. The author observes that imagination is outperformed by the instant picture. Movies, television, videos, and DVDs are replacing storytellers and books. The author also discusses the consequences of this scenario. He asserts that as more people lose the capability to imagine, the U.S. becomes less informed, active, and independent minded. In addition, the author assesses the factors which contributed to the durability of MTV and the arrival of the video iPod.
-
The Power of Trash.
This article reports that a team of engineers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana has developed a portable generator that turns food, paper, plastic and other trash into electricity for military applications. The research team explains that the so-called "tactical biorefinery" can process several different kinds of waste at once, converting it into fuel and producing around 90 percent more energy than the process consumes. The "tactical biorefinery" can also help the military eliminate telltale information in a unit's waste, thus enhancing its security.
-
The Rise of Bionic Surgery.
The article reports on the rise of robotic surgery in 2007. According to Allison Okamura of the Johns Hopkins University Department of Mechanical Engineering in Maryland, the real potential of robotic surgery or computer-enhanced surgery is to make surgeons more present in the operating room, rather than less so. It will enhance the capability of the surgeon in a way that maintains the minimally invasive approach. Another potential use of this technology is helping surgeons to better visualize the anatomical landscape during a procedure. Surgical robots can also photograph, survey, and collect data.
-
The Rise of Brain-Focused Teaching.
The article discusses the 2003 Fast ForWord Language study which applied neuromapping technology to teaching. A group of dyslexic students underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans while participating in various reading tasks, including tasks that dealt with sounding out words. The scientists behind the study found that the brain of the dyslexic subjects, particularly the portion of the brain associated with hearing and processing sound, was influencing the dyslexia. Research findings were then used by the scientists to create more visceral lesson plans, according to the author.
-
The State of the Future Turns Ten.
The article reviews the book "2006 State of the Future," by Jerome C. Glenn and Theodore J. Gordon.
-
The Truth and the Future.
The article presents a letter from Brenda Walsh, a Racine Dominican Sister, congratulating this periodical for its role in forecasting on issues such as global warming, the global village and trade and other aspects of life. She described how this periodical has educated her about the need for the future to be based on truth. The author also pointed out how the World Future Society has emphasized the importance of a global vision in helping to lift up the most alienated in human communities. Walsh commended the organization for its willingness to adapt to the emerging needs of those who are interested in the study of the future.
-
The World Future Society at 40: First Impressions.
The author recalls the humble beginnings and grand aspirations of the World Future Society in relation to its 40th anniversary in 2007. He reveals that the Society was established on a back porch in Bethesda, Maryland and its founders were journalist Ed Cornish, his wife Sally, their three young sons, and several neighborhood volunteers. The author also discloses that he began writing book reviews as a volunteer and he became a full-time copy editor when a paid job was available. He claims that the Society is optimistic that the world could change itself.
-
The World Future Society's Emergence from Dream to Reality.
In this article, the author describes how volunteers sharing ideas and ideals were drawn to the new, forward-looking organization called the World Future Society. The author recalls that volunteers came to the rescue and their enthusiasm was truly inspiring. He recounts how he located a volunteer to help publish the brochure and later "The Futurist." In addition, the author shares his observation that people seemed to have many different reasons for joining the organization. He cites that some wanted to know about the future largely as a matter of personal curiosity and others had a serious interest in learning what was expected in the future so they could be prepared for it.
-
The World Future Society's First Conference.
The author presents an account of the first World Future Society conference that was held in the U.S. in 1971. He reveals that the idea to hold an international meeting was well received by the members of the board of the Society in February 1969. He claims that his main concern was the lack of sufficient funds to finance the conference. The author discloses that scholarly papers were presented and the speakers included socio-economist Robert Theobald and social psychologist Donald Michael. He admits that the conference has had misadventures, though it was highly successful.
-
Thinking about the Arctic's Future: Scenarios for 2040.
Assessing the Impacts of Arctic Climate Change
-
THINKING GLOBALLY, ACTING LOCALLY, LIVING PERSONALLY.
SCHOLARS AND FUTURISTS EXPLORE RANGE OF HOPES AND VISIONS
-
Thinner Air?
The article reports on the possible impacts of carbon-dioxide emissions on the Earth's thermosphere. A team of geophysical scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and Pennsylvania State University predicted that carbon-dioxide emissions could reduce the thermosphere by three percent by 2017. According to co-author Stan Solomon, this shows the far-ranging impacts of greenhouse-gas emissions. But there could be one important benefit of this thinning: Satellites in low Earth orbit would have less resistance and could stay in operation longer, the study found.
-
Time for a Global Welfare System?
The article proposes a systemic reform of global institutions as a way to create greater security in a world that is being confronted with terrorism, pandemics, and climate change. The author argues that a proposal to create a global institutional system with regulatory and welfare capacity will create huge nationalistic reactions, but the emergence of China indicates that the world order has shifted. He explains that a new global taxation framework can serve as the foundation of an initiative to generate revenues for development. He calls on world leaders to think about new solutions because the current policies are not working well.
-
TOMORROW IN BRIEF.
The article presents news briefs related to health research and other topics. According to a study reported in the journal "Neurology" physical fitness accounted for more than 3% of the difference in old-age cognitive function. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers released results of a survey of matrimonial lawyers which revealed that there was particularly high interest in prenuptial agreements among baby boomers, who are now in the 40 to 60 age range. Although the strategy of planting seed corn earlier in the spring in order to extend the growing season and produce more crops is being practiced by corn farmers in the United States, researchers warn that this system could backfire over the long term.
-
TOMORROW IN BRIEF.
The article provides updates concerning the future of science as of March 2007. The biowaste from processed rice could become a vital source of electricity, according to a team of Vietnamese and German researchers. Part-time master of business administration programs are continuing to grow as executives increasingly return to the classroom. A portable artificial lung could give hope to people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
-
TOWARD a GLOBAL RULE of LAW: A Practical Step toward World Peace.
The article offers information on the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a computer-based network that operates out of GLIN Central at the Law Library of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. GLIN aims to allow everyone to see and understand the diversity of legal systems and laws that exist around the world, and to be able to do so at the click of the mouse. An overview of the growth of intellectual infrastructure is offered. It is inferred that the network's searchable electronic database allows access in 15 languages under a controlled thesaurus. It also discusses how the network got started.
-
Tracking Government Performance.
This article focuses on the World Bank studies of governance effectiveness conducted between 1996 and 2006. The studies show that many countries have made improvements on at least one measure of performance, but others have regressed on some measures, dimming prospects for meeting important human needs. The indicators include voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law and control of corruption. These indicators are based on data from the public sector, the private sector, non-governmental organization experts and responding citizens.
-
Two-Parent Families: Adoptive vs. Natural.
The article features a study conducted by sociologists at Indiana University and the University of Connecticut, which compared adoptive parenting with biological parenting. Researchers measured parental investment index of both groups of parents, which comprises indicators such as the presence of personal computer in the home, amount of time spent reading or going over homework and number of meals eaten together. The findings revealed that adoptive parents and biological parents provide the same level of parental investment.
-
U.S. Government Outlines Major Challenges.
The article features the report of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) which examines major challenges facing the U.S. in the field of financing, economy, defense and homeland security, education, energy, environment, foreign policy, health care and the nation's critical infrastructures. The report states the security threats have evolved to form a multifaceted nature which requires law enforcement agencies to assume unfamiliar roles. The report also points to income disparity, labor shortage, deteriorating social security and rising population of minority groups as major trends shaping the future of the U.S.
-
UK to Build Zero-Carbon Homes Exclusively by 2016.
The article reports on the proposal of the government of Great Britain to make newly constructed homes non-fluorocarbon emitting by 2016. Communities Secretary of State Ruth Kelly says that sustainable and environmentally friendly residential buildings should be built in response to climate change and rising population. A proposal was made which seeks to increase energy efficiency of homes by 25 percent by 2010 and 45 percent by 2013. It is noted that home builders are expected to maximize the use of built-in heating and cooling systems run by renewable energy.
-
Values Conflicts in Stem-Cell Research.
Scholars on the Stem-Cell Issue
-
Valuing a Company's Innovators.
The article focuses on annual reports for investors in Great Britain which dealt with the role of relationship capital in company performance and the long-term value of efficient employees. The reports offer accounts of research and development spending as well as statistics of parents that remain their property after the innovators have left the company. However, the reports are less likely to reflect on the numbers of innovative workers who have resigned, thus decreasing the companies' future prospects for innovation.
-
Vending for Health.
This article reports on the optimism of YoNaturals Healthy Vending Machine that the food industry's declining fortune can be reversed by replacing soft drinks and candy bars with dried fruit, organic milk and vitamin water among other healthy choices. The snack-vending machines segment of the food industry is in precarious condition because of the campaign against childhood obesity in the U.S. In past, healthy-choice snack vending machines have failed, but the consumer trend toward healthy lifestyle could bolster this segment of the food industry.
-
Violent Crime and Cash: The Connection.
The author reflects on the connection between violent crime and cash. He cites a U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation data that in 2005 more than 1,000 citizens were shot, stabbed or beaten to death in the course of violent crimes such as robberies, burglaries and theft. He criticizes the reluctance of prominent economists and influential organizations to open public debate on the advantages and disadvantages of transforming cash into a federal electronic currency. The author claims that industry is not making the U.S. cashless because business is about profits.
-
Virtual Immortality for Virtual Eternity.
The article discusses the use of artificial intelligence and computer technologies to create virtual representation capable of behaving in a manner representative of a human test subject. The University of Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory is working on project that seeks to create such virtual reality by integrating graphics and video game-type technology with speech recognition, speech synthesis and facial expression recognition applications. These technologies could revolutionize the way historical archives are retrieved and presented.
-
Voice-In/Voice-Out Computers and the Postliterate Era.
In this article, the author assesses the future of voice-in/voice-out (VIVO) talking computers. The author predicts that by the year 2050, VIVO talking computers incorporating multisensory, multimodal technology will make written language obsolete, and all writing and reading will be replaced by speech and multisensory content, recreating a worldwide oral culture. VIVO technology offers three great potential opportunities: VIVOs will allow functionally nonliterate people to access all information via the Internet and Web without having to learn to read and write; its instantaneous language-translation function will allow everyone to speak with everyone else; and it will allow disabled people to access all information by speaking, listening, looking, or signing.
-
Voices from the Flood Zone.
The article features Africans' experiences with floods. A resident from Freetown, Sierra Leone, says that she immediately brings her belongings to high beds once she sees signs of heavy rain. A flood victim in Nairobi, Kenya says that flood victims could be locked for up to two days. He says that parents are prompted to take their children from bedroom to the rooftop. A resident in Mabatini, Nairobi complains that the local communities are not invited to participate in flood management. He urges the government to engage the public in its flood prevention projects.
-
War Is a No-Win Scenario.
The author comments on the regional war in the Middle East. The author states that the Middle Eastern war would threaten the global security environment. The death and destruction caused by the war would transcend geopolitical boundaries and possibly infiltrate other neighboring countries. The humanitarian crisis may lead to the involvement of the allies of the U.S. in the war.
-
War of Cultures Is a Myth.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable," by Marvin J. Cetron, in the May-June 2007 issue.
-
War on Food-Borne Illnesses.
The article reports on the invention of two technologies that may help combat food-borne pathogens such as Listeria and Escherichia coli. A laser-based technology analyzes light refracted by bacterial colonies when the laser is beamed into a Petri dish. According to food scientist Arun Bhunia, the technique can recognize Listeria monocytogenes. The second technology involves using chlorine dioxide gas to kill pathogens on fresh produce. According to food-science professor Richard Linton, it is a more effective technique than washing and scrubbing.
-
Welcome to Arden: The World of William Shakespeare.
The article reviews the video game "Arden: The World of William Shakespeare," developed by Indiana University.
-
WHO FAILED ROME? A TALE OF TWO EMPERORS.
The article features the two emperors of Rome thought to be the one responsible for the decline of Rome. Known as "The Moralist," Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantine, who reigned from 306 to 337 Christian Era, was the first openly Christian emperor who seized the throne at a time when most Romans regarded Christianity as a foreign and dangerous influence. He is also credited with signing the Edict of Milan, a letter proclaiming religious toleration throughout the empire. Considered as the last of the five good emperors, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who reigned from 161 to 180 Christian Era, waged a relentless war against the Germanic tribes north of the Danube and stretched the boundaries of the empire to their historical limit.
-
Why No Space for Space?
A letter to the editor about a lack of interest in space travel, exploration, and industrialization in the pages of "The Futurist" is presented.
-
Why No Space for Space?
A response to a letter to the editor about a lack of interest in space travel, exploration, and industrialization in the pages of "The Futurist" is presented.
-
Will Cocoa Give Us the Next "Penicillin"?
The article examines the therapeutic effects of cocoa. According to Norman Hollenberg, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, cocoa could reduce the risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer and other major diseases. He says that a compound called epicatechin is mainly responsible for cocoa's therapeutic effects. Hollenberg also found out that a cocoa-drinking ethnic population in Panama have relatively lower risk of developing cancer as compared to the mainland population. Epicatechin has been proven to be capable of lowering blood pressure and increasing blood flow to the brain.
-
Wind Energy: Power from the Prairie.
The article focuses on the use of wind energy in the United States. North Dakota has been ranked by the U.S. Department of Energy as the top state for its potential to produce wind energy. The Great Plains, especially North and South Dakota, are considered a prime location due to the wind that blows most of the time and the vast prairie which allows the wind to flow smoothly and faster without causing the turbulence found in mountainous or wooded regions. Wind energy is unique, with the amount of energy generated by turbines increasing dramatically as the speed of the wind increases.
-
Wireless Devices May Compromise Privacy.
This article reports on the discovery by researchers Tadayoshi Kohno, Scott Saponas, Jonathan Lester and Carl Hartung of the University of Washington that the Nike+iPod shoes poses privacy and security risks for their owners. It explains that the Nike+iPod stores and plays digital music files. It also comes with a receiver that fits into an iPod Nano device and stores information that has been transferred wirelessly from the shoe. The researchers detail how they were able to use Nike+iPod Sport Kit as a tracking device. The team offers suggestions on how to address the problem of privacy and security risks posed by Nike+iPod shoes.
-
Wishful Thinking on Tolerance?
A letter to the editor in response to the article "Religion in the Future Global Civilization," by Thomas R. McFaul published in a previous issue is presented.
-
WORLD AFFAIRS.
The article presents an outlook related to world affairs in 2008. In the article "Strategy and the Search for Peace" that was published in the November-December 2006 issue of this journal, Gregory D. Foster said that wars may look less like wars, as enemies deploy nonmilitary strategies against one another. Marvin J. Cetron, in his article "Defeating Terrorism: Is It Possible? Is It Probable?" that was published in the May-June 2007 issue of this journal, states that terrorist events will become more common and more deadly. According to Cetron and Owen Davies, in the article "Worst-Case Scenario: The Middle East" that was published in the September-October 2007 issue of this journal, a new era of nuclear proliferation may emerge in the Middle East.
-
World Population Forecast Rises.
The article forecasts an increase in world population by 2050. According to the United Nations (UN), the vast majority of population growth will be observable in developing countries. The UN also mentions that between 2005 and 2050, half of the population rise will be accounted for by an increase in the population aged 60 years or over, whereas the population of children will decline slightly. The agency adds that in developed nations, the population aged 60 or over is predicted to nearly double.
-
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: THE MIDDLE EAST.
A Realistic Look at Iran's Missile Capabilities
-
Wrestling with the "How" in the Search for Peace.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "10 Imperatives for Peace" in the November-December 2006 issue.
-
Your Legacy as a Leader.
The article reviews the book "Your Leadership Legacy: Why Looking Toward the Future Will Make You a Better Leader Today," by Robert M. Galford and Regina Fazio Maruca.
-
Youth's Irrational Exuberance.
The article reports on a study which found that a number of teenagers harbor unrealistic expectations about what they can achieve. The Florida State University study asserted that this generation-wide phenomenon could lead to anxiety, stress, and lost time and resources. The study tracked changes in educational and occupational plans of high-school seniors between 1976 and 2000 and found a significant and growing gap between stated goals and actual achievements. Sociology professor John Reynolds stated that teenagers are highly ambitious and increasingly unrealistic.
Have a comment about this page?
Please, contact us. If this is a correction, your suggested change will be reviewed by our editorial staff.