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A brilliant ensemble of the world's most visionary scientists
provides twenty-five original, never-before-published essays about the advances
in science and technology that we may see within our lifetimes. Theoretical
physicist and bestselling author Paul Davies examines the likelihood that by the
year 2050 we will be able to establish a continuing human presence on Mars. Psychologist
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi investigates the ramifications of engineering high-IQ,
genetically happy babies. Psychiatrist Nancy Etcoff explains current research
into the creation of emotion-sensing jewelry that could gauge our moods and tell
us when to take an antidepressant pill. Evolutionary biologist Richard dawkins
explores the probability that we will soon be able to obtain a genome printout
that predicts our natural end for the same cost as a chest X-ray. (Will we want
to read it? And will insurance companies and governments have access to it?) This
fascinating and unprecedented book explores not only the practical possibilities
of the near future but also the social and political ramifications of the developments
of the strange new world to come. Includes original essays
by: Peter Atkins, Samuel Barondes, Paul Bloom, Rodney Brooks, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi,
Paul Davies, Richard Dawkins, Nancy Etcoff, Paul Ewald, David Gelernter, Brian
Goodwin, Alison Gopnik, Judith Rich Harris, Marc D. Hauser, John H. Holland, Stuart
Kauffman, Jaron Lanier, Joseph LeDoux, Geoffrey Miller, Martin Rees, Robert M.
Sapolsky, Roger C. Schank, Steven Strogatz, Lee Smolin and Ian Stewart.
John Brockman is the author/editor of twenty books. He is
the founder of Brockman, Inc., a literary and software agency, founder of The
Reality Club, president of Edge Foundation, Inc., and editor and publisher of
Edge, a Web site (www.edge.org) forum for leading scientists and thinkers.
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