CleanBeta

10 Technologies That Change Everything

Ten technologies that are changing the way we live and work.

1. Nanorod solar cells, a photovoltaic material that can be spread like plastic wrap or paint, could be integrated with building materials, offering the prospect of cheap solar power.

Overview of two scans of a cell scaffold at differing resolutions. The two scans are registered into the same coordinate system.

2. Wireless networks harvesting information from tiny sensors could enable observation and monitoring of just about anything on a more granular level than ever imagined.

3. Tissue engineering, injecting mixtures of polymers, cells, and growth stimulators that solidify to form healthy cartilage and bone, could be extended to other tissues.

Tissue Engineering is a relatively new area of endeavor, involving cell biology and materials science. It involves the the development of biological materials that can repair, maintain, or enhance tissue function. Tissue engineering is an emerging, interdisciplinary field which is full of promise for those in need of organ and tissue replacement and repair. To date, the commercial success of tissue engineered products has been largely unfulfilled.

4. Molecular imaging enables researchers to watch genes, proteins, and other molecules at work in the body, leading to earlier detection and treatment of human diseases.

5. Nanoimprint lithography could improve the necessary means for nanofabrication, e.g. of future generation microprocessors.

6. Software assurance tools are being developed which will enable programmers to write nearly error-free software.

7. Glycomics, the effort to understand and harness sugars in the human body, could have a significant impact on health problems, from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer.

8. Quantum cryptography could fortify the security of electronic communications, by making eavesdropping detectable.

9. Mechatronics, the integration of mechanical systems with new electronic components and intelligent software control, will be used to improve many aspects of automobiles’ performance.

10. Grid computing will enable computers to access and assemble software resources into whatever application needed.