What breakthrough in technology do you think would benefit mankind most?

Question

How & Why?

Answer 1

I don't think we need any miracle fuel source or nanotech since these things either shift the powers that be (we'd be robbed by electricity plants, hydrogen plants, whatever, instead of petroleum plants) or introduce more problems (nano-weapondry).

Something like what's described by the book "Light of Other Days" from Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter: a device that allows people to see the past in 100% clarity with no subjective interpretation and/or obfuscation.

This pretty much makes everyone all of a sudden "honest" and effectively eliminates lying and distortion from the lowest personal level to national levels (ahem WMD) and beyond.

I would much prefer that we evolve on our own to become better people, but that's not gonna happen. Instead we just learn more effective ways to harm our neighbors (or ourselves). So we'll just need something that will force us to behave ourselves.

Answer 2

A viable nanotechnology that can be controlled as independent automatons would be the technology that would benefit mankind at this time the most.

Having microscopic machines that could enter the human body and repair everything, remove toxins and heavy metals, and stay inside to maintain and keep out viruses and bacteria would keep us alive indefinitely.

We would also have the ability to put them into larger mechanisms to manufacture everything from automobiles to food products, perfectly manufactured down to the molecular level.

This would allow 'replicator centers' to spring up all over the world where everyone would go and wait in line and get anything they so desired as long as it was not directly manufactured as a weapon.

That would benefit mankind because it would remove poverty and allow every human to be as healthy as their brain allowed.

Everything else after that would just be a matter of time and effort to discover, and with unlimited lifespans and unlimited resources, the time and effort would be negligible.

Answer 3

either nanotechnology or alternate fuel vehicles.
nanotechnology offers unlimited applications for both mechanical and health concerns. there really is no limit as of yet for nanotechnology and all of its uses
alternate fuel will grant people globally to cease their dependance on fossil fuels by almost 90%. we still will need fossil fuels for some things but we won't be so addicted to it as we are now.

Answer 4

The ability to heal people using non-toxic pharmaceutical drugs. People die everyday from the supposed "cure" that is supposed to fix their illnesses. That is sick in itself.

Answer 5

I must agree with the Nanotech answer.

Answer 6

Turning our garbage into fuel