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    The Future in 9 Big Questions: On The Web: What Else Is in Store?

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    The Future in 9 Big Questions: On The Web: What Else Is in Store?

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    Senior Library
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    The Future in 9 Big Questions: On The Web: What Else Is in Store?

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    Senior Library

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 2

    SEPTEMBER 2016

    VO LU M E 3 1 5 , N U M B E R 3

    28

    THE FUTURE IN
    9 BIG QUESTIONS
    How smart are we? We changed
    the world irrevocably and may soon
    transform ourselves as a species.
    Heres a status report on
    the humanexperiment.
    G EO LO GY

    30 A History in Layers

    ON THE C OVE R
    Prediction is very dicult,
    especially if its about the
    future. With this caveat
    from physicist Niels Bohr
    in mind, we look at what
    science has to tell us
    about the trajectory of
    the human species.
    Illustration by
    Charles Williams.

    What mark will we leave on


    the planet? By Jan Zalasiewicz
    E N V IRO NME NT

    38 Coping Skills

    Will climate change us? By Katie Peek


    P O PUL ATIO N

    42 A Tale of Two Worlds

    Who will be the winners and losers


    in an increasingly crowded world?
    By Mara Hvistendahl
    ECO NO MICS

    48 The Threat of Inequality

    Can civil society endure extreme


    economic disparity? By Angus Deaton
    B I OTEC H NO LO GY

    54 The Red Line

    Will we learn to control our genetic


    destinies? By Stephen S. Hall
    H E A LTH

    62 Living to 120

    Can we defeat aging? By Bill Gifford


    RO BOTICS

    70 All Too Human

    Would we want to live forever


    (if we could)? By Hillary Rosner
    S PAC E

    76 Deep Time, Deep Survival


    How long will our species last?
    By David Grinspoon
    ESSAY

    80 The Great Unknown

    Can we trust our own predictions?


    By Kim Stanley Robinson

    Photograph by Andrew Myers

    sad0916ToC3p.indd 1

    On the Web: What Else Is in Store?

    Scientic American took to the streets to ask people what


    they most want to know about the future. Find the video,
    plus interactive maps and more predictions from experts,
    at ScienticAmerican.com/report/future-of-humanity

    September 2016, ScientificAmerican.com 1

    7/21/16 5:47 PM

    4 From the Editor


    5 Letters
    7 Science Agenda
    When it comes to science, the political conversation
    is appalling. By the Editors

    8 Forum
    The universe is teeming with lifeor not. By Paul Davies

    10 Advances
    Medical marijuana could lessen opioid dependence.
    Chiral molecules in space. An updated kilogram.
    10

    24 The Science of Health


    Genetically based cancer care faces an uphill climb.
    By Jessica Wapner

    27 TechnoFiles
    What should you do with all those obsolete cassettes?
    By David Pogue

    86 Recommended
    Global Seed Vault. How to reverse science denial.
    The search for alien life goes on. By Clara Moskowitz

    88 Skeptic
    Where the known meets the unknown. By Michael Shermer
    24

    90 Anti Gravity
    Can cat training be simple? By Steve Mirsky

    91 50, 100 & 150 Years Ago


    92 Graphic Science
    Urban wealth moves downtown, pushing out the poor.
    By Katie Peek
    ON THE WEB

    2016 Summer Olympics

    Scientific American (ISSN 0036-8733), Volume 315, Number 3, September 2016, published monthly by Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc., 1 New York Plaza, Suite 4500, New York, N.Y. 10004-1562. Periodicals
    postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 40012504. Canadian BN No. 127387652RT; TVQ1218059275 TQ0001.
    Publication Mail Agreement #40012504. Return undeliverable mail to Scientific American, P.O. Box 819, Stn Main, Markham, ON L3P 8A2. I ndividual Subscription rates: 1 year $49.99 (USD), Canada $59.99 (USD), International
    $69.99 (USD). Institutional Subscription rates: Schools and Public Libraries: 1 year $84 (USD), Canada $89 (USD), International $96 (USD). Businesses and Colleges/Universities: 1 year $399 (USD), Canada $405 (USD), International
    $411 (USD). Postmaster: Send address changes to Scientific American, Box 3187, Harlan, Iowa 51537. Reprints available: w
     rite Reprint Department, Scientific American, 1 New York Plaza, Suite 4500, New York, N.Y.
    10004-1562; fax: 646-563-7138; [email protected]. Subscription inquiries: U.S. and Canada (800) 333-1199; other (515) 248-7684. Send e-mail to [email protected]. Printed in U.S.A.
    Copyright 2016 by Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found atwww.springernature.com/us). Scientific American maintains
    a strict policy of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers.

    MARI TEFRE (Svalbard Global Seed Vault)

    86

     cientific American investigates artificial enhancements,


    S
    Zika fears and the limits of human achievement at the
    Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro.
    Go to www.ScientificAmerican.com/sep2016/olympics

    2 Scientific American, September 2016

    sad0916ToC3p.indd 2

    7/21/16 5:47 PM

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