May-June 2011, Vol. 45, No. 3

Articles

The Top 20 (Plus 5) Technologies for the World Ahead

By James H. Irvine and Sandra Schwarzbach

Breakthroughs now emerging in biotechnology, robotics, and other key areas bear the potential to reshape life on Earth. Two military analysts describe the 20 innovations that will have the biggest impacts in the near future, plus five prospective technologies that could have major repercussions in the longer term.

Global MegaCrisis: Four Scenarios, Two Perspectives

By William E. Halal and Michael Marien

Two futurists map out the convergence of multiple global challenges, offering divergent viewpoints—one optimistic and one pessimistic—on the likelihood of successfully meeting these challenges and turning them into global progress.

Solar Power from the Moon

By Patrick Tucker

A Japanese company is pitching an alternative energy plan that’s out of this world—and potentially the largest public infrastructure project in human history.

Finding Eden on the Moon

By Joseph N. Pelton

At a time when world leaders see few compelling objectives for space exploration, here is one: a colony on the Moon. The economic and scientific benefits would more than compensate for the up-front costs and time investment, argues a former dean of the International Space University.

Why Farmers Need a Pay Raise

By Julian Cribb

Global commercial trends threaten farmers’ livelihoods—and the global food supply along with them, argues an agricultural policy watcher. The consequences for human beings everywhere could be dire.

Building a Better Future for Haiti

The former Haitian ambassador to the United States visited the offices of the World Future Society in January, seeking help for rebuilding his country. This remarkable meeting offered the Society the opportunity to outline the futuring process and to clarify what it can—and cannot—do.

World Trends & Forecasts

Book Reviews

By Rick Docksai

Africa’s farmers innovate to meet formidable challenges, offering lessons for the rest of the world, says the Worldwatch Institute.

By Rick Docksai

You can’t predict your future, but you can direct it, says a professional futures workshop leader.

Departments

Tomorrow in Brief

  • Recycled Heat
  • Greener Architecture with Bio-Buildings
  • Anti-Stress Devices
  • Brain Pacemaker
  • Curious Case of Contagious Cancer

Future Scope

  • E-Books Will Replace Textbooks
  • Global Model Forecasts Civil Unrest
  • Teens Trust Parents More Than the Internet
  • Threats to (and from) Sharks
  • WordBuzz: Hetail

Daniel Bell and the Post-Industrial Society

By Edward Cornish

The late sociologist was best known for defining and describing the new era and social realities that information technologies were helping to create in the twentieth century.

Future Active

  • Workshop Targets Domestic Violence in Uganda
  • The New “Peace Building”
  • Asia’s Next 50 Years

Search The Futurist Archives for material going back to 1992.