2006-12-11 05:39:44 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes, pretty much every scientist thinks about the future. While it's nice to understand science - the way the world works - for just the pleasure of understanding, the real satisfaction in science comes when it is applied. Technology, engineering, and medicine are all examples of applied science; all examples of uses of science in the future from when discoveries were made.
And the application of science is actually a reduction of uncertainty. If it wasn't for scientific discoveries in human biology, you would be a lot less certain about your prospects to live past 50. Scientific advances in thermodynamics and materials science from a few hundred years ago up to now make me pretty certain I can drive to the bank in plenty of time to make my house payments. We may not be able to time travel, but with satellite-based weather reports, I know a lot more about the certainty of my future (i.e. tomorrow's weather) than my great grandfather did 100 years ago.
People are thinking about the future and uncertainty all the time! You thought about the future when you asked that question - because our answers are in the future from the time when you asked!
2006-12-11 05:51:44 · answer #1 · answered by dougdell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The future IS uncertainty. Just as we are...usually certain about history because it can be proven, remembered, and analyzed, the future cannot. Every second, of every minute, of every day, of every year, is changing from uncertainty to certainty. By the time a best answer is chosen, a lot of things could happen, contact with an alien race, mass extintinction of humanity, nuclear war, or zits on the forehead. Can any one of these things happen, yes. Will any of these things happen? Stay tuned.
2006-12-11 05:46:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man goes to psychiatrist, says he feels all alone in an uncaring universe where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says Treament is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up. Man bursts into tears, says, But Doctor, I am Pagliacci. Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains. (Watchmen.)
Seriously, the future is SO uncertain, I sometimes think it would have been better not to have been born at all. But, how many people are THAT lucky...?
11 DEC 06, 1858 hrs, GMT.
2006-12-11 05:54:20 · answer #3 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, from short term furture to long term future. No one knows what might happen. Like, what if my company goes under, and i lose my job. And what if a giant space rock hits the earth, and we all die. And things like global warming, and what if the sun burns out... Or what caused the ice age? Will we have another one? what will we do? I'm kind of a worry wart, but i think about it all the time.
2006-12-11 05:45:50 · answer #4 · answered by Stark 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I expect they do.
Personally, I think that uncertainty is the only thing you can be sure of.
Ta.
2006-12-11 05:42:22 · answer #5 · answered by chopchubes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget the asteroids and comets. We will self destruct within the next 10 years.
The human being has turned into a race of hating war mongers and they will push the button.
I feel sorry for the children.
2006-12-11 05:46:38 · answer #6 · answered by ROBSTER 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"the 1st is that climate systems are complicated. we don't understand precisely how plenty a given exchange in anthropogenic CO2 will certainly exchange international temperatures, by using fact we don't understand precisely what feedbacks exist." Wow! Is Chem Flunky transforming into a climate realist?
2016-12-30 06:39:40 · answer #7 · answered by melvina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep. Just realize you can't predict the future-
so expect âñÿthïng!
2006-12-11 05:43:53 · answer #8 · answered by Bugmän 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - and the future is definitely uncertain.
2006-12-11 05:52:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. All the time.
2006-12-11 05:41:47 · answer #10 · answered by Jeff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋