A lump of rock more than 40 meters in diameter speeding through space at 28,000 mph, once considered the most dangerous object in the universe, is about to become the site for humanity’s next “giant leap for mankind.” NASA engineers have selected asteroid 2000SG344 – which in 2000 was given a significant chance of slamming into Earth with the explosive power of 750 Hiroshimas – as the perfect space object to study. The operation would take place before the 2030 Mars journey, a speculative trip bandied about ever since the first President Bush mentioned in 1989 that America should send men to the red planet. The asteroid mission represents a crucial step for America’s space program. A report to be published next month in the journal Acta Astronautica describes plans to use the soon-to-be-developed Orion space ship for a three-to-six month round-trip to the asteroid, with two explorers spending up to two weeks on the rock’s surface. As well as providing experience for longer Mars trips, samples taken from the rock could help scientists convert sub-surface ice into drinking water and breathable oxygen, understand more about the birth of the solar system, and how best to defend Earth against dangerous asteroid collisions. Join discussion...

Personal robots have been a long time coming, but scientists now say we can expect revolutionary machines that surpass human physical and intellectual abilities within 22 years. Today’s robots are mostly industrial types found in factories. Example would be an arm that inserts a product into a box and places it on a conveyor belt. Domestic robots in the service area – vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and security systems – are just beginning to find their way into homes. UN statistics show worldwide robotics sales increasing by double digits every year, which has encouraged a host of companies to invest aggressively in robotic products. Robo-pets like Sony’s Aibo and NEC’s PaPeRo, priced from $2,000 to $5,000, are pleasing children and providing companionship for handicapped and elderly people around the globe. Available soon in the $10,000 to $30,000 range will be human-like robots such as Sony Qrio, Honda Asimo, and Toyota Personal Robot. These realistic marvels can speak and understand crude language, recognize family members by sight, and perform many butler, chef, and maid services. Join discussion...

Imagine playing football at age 200 with your great-great grandchildren, or boarding a hyperspace ship to visit relatives on Mars. If life extension scientists achieve their goals, regardless of age, your “rejuvenated” body of the future will soon become ageless and remain forever healthy, enabling you to enjoy all the technology wonders predicted for the 21st century and beyond. A growing number of researchers from around the world believe that eternal health and youth can be realized. Aging is a destructive biochemical event, experts say, and scientists are on the brink of developing interventions for all of its life-destroying processes. In a recent 60 Minutes interview, anti-aging guru Aubrey de Grey said that scientific research will soon radically extend lifespans. “First generation therapies will give us maybe thirty extra years of healthy living,” de Grey said; “new therapies will then add another thirty years, always keeping us one step ahead of the grim reaper.” Futurist Ray Kurzweil, in his best-selling book Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever, confirmed that we are in early stages of an anti-aging revolution. “By 2020,” Kurzweil says, “biotech upgrades will add more than one year of life expectancy to our lives each year.” Join discussion...

What kind of a world can we expect in 2050? Although no one can accurately predict events that far ahead, by observing where science is today, and factoring in exponential advances in nanotech, biotech, infotech, and cognitive sciences, we can make plausible guesses at how the future might unfold. We begin our glance into tomorrow’s world with what renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil calls, “The Biotech Revolution.” Already in beginning stages today, this monumental understanding of the human body is predicted to grow exponentially in the next decade. Join discussion...