Which field of science holds the most potential in the coming century?

[sassafrassquatch]

If they can get it to work, fusion. Otherwise my money is on nanotech.

[YourLocalJesus]

I'd like to see cold fusion and hyperspace travel

[cloud]

I was thinking neuroscience and robotics, which i forgot to add.
There is quantum computering also

I think Automation (Industrial, Corporate, and Domestic) is something that has had great potential for a long time. Imagine being a business owner simply having to do minimal maintenance to a "machine" that takes and fulfills orders--complete with custom manufacturing, automated delivery, and collection/analysis of customer feedback. But out labor market would go through a temporary crisis in "unskilled" work if an industry focused on automating everything were to flourish.

I entirely agree.

I'd like to see cold fusion and hyperspace travel

To dream is easy, to make it happen and get involved is hard.
How many of us get to be in jobs that develops cutting edge technologies?

[cloud]

I have a hunch the first AI breakthroughs will happen in Japan, not the U.S.
Japan is really advanced in the field of robotics.

PS this thread is just a brainstorm of which science i should go into in university.

and how do you turn this thread into a poll?

[Jack Flak]

If you didn't know, AI and robotics are two completely separate fields. --Mr. FYI

[rhinosaur]

Most of the interesting new developments are (not surprisingly) happening at the interfaces of the fields you list. For example, my own research combines nanotechnology, engineering, physics, and chemistry. Some of my associates are at the interface of nanotechnology, engineering, and biochemistry.

The boundaries between the fields are artificial and useless, except for taking classes. To excel in science, you've got to incorporate all kinds of techniques and technologies.

[Antisocial one]

From objective viewpoint.
I think that there is noway of telling that, from our current perspective.

[Jasz]

i also hope that collaboration across disciplines will be supported by (further) improved analytics, data mining and data sharing

[kuranes]

Originally Posted by Antisocial one

From objective viewpoint.
I think that there is noway of telling that, from our current perspective.

Of course not. We're just speculating here. The period of time in question is so long - an entire century. Considering the rate that technology speeds along, further empowering us to speed along, it may turn out that some kind of applied Neuro-Psychology becomes more important than any "technology" ( as conceived of as being a manipulation of things outside of "us" ) as we finally start getting into the nitty gritty of our own minds studying themselves, and thus our real motivations and the implications thereof.

[Lateralus]

Most potential? Potential for what? Immortality (or something close to it) would alter civilization more than anything else, so I'm going to say genetics/biology/nanotechnology.