20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: The Possibilities of an Unknown Future Essay

When envisioning the future, a majority of the images and ideas that come to mind are things presented and seen within Sci-Fi novels and shows. In the classic book by Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the technologies shown such as a high-powered submarine and scuba equipment, were considered to be futuristic Sci-Fi elements. Granted, this book took place almost 200 years ago at a time of early industrialization and budding technology, but it causes one to wonder if the sci-fi elements we read about today like smart technology, space travel, and bio engineering are the everyday elements of tomorrow. However, the future is not only talking about the possibilities of advanced science and technology, but also the shifting and growth of the political and economic systems of the world. With an ever-changing world market, the rise and fall of superpowers, and the constant threat of war, the future of these systems is significantly different to what is seen today.

Throughout the past century science and technology has advanced dramatically. From the first telephone to artificial intelligence, the rapid expansion of technology and science is setting up for a future full of pioneering concepts and ideas. One of the most impactful things present in the future will be the advancement of bio engineering technologies such as Nanotechnology, 3D printed bones, and genetic engineering programs like Krispr. Nanotechnology is a budding industry that works to control and modify matter on an atomic scale. At one-billionth of a meter, Nanotechnology could be injected into the bloodstream to break blood clots, kill cancerous/harmful cells, and repair any other internal damage. For other damage such as bone repair and organ damage 3D printer technologies are beginning to be used in the medical field to possibly replace the need for bone grafts and organ donations. Bio engineering industries have also begun to explore gene editing technologies such as CRISPR. In recent developments, CRISPR was able to adopt the immune system of a bacterium allowing them to actively edit DNA. While now it is controversial whether or not the technology is ethical, especially if it is applied to human embryos, it has the potential to fight complex illnesses such as Cystic Fibrosis, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), mental illnesses, cancer, and hemophilia. Arguably the most revolutionary change likely to be present in the future is the colonization of Mars and quite possibly the Moon as well. Headed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX program, the first Human landing on Mars is predicted to occur before 2030. From there it is only a matter of time before the first colonies form. Other than that, everything in our known universe is light years away. If hypothetically, we were able to use wormholes to cover astronomical distances in a matter of hours such as hyperspace or teleportation, the way we look at space travel would be significantly altered. From the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, the technology used for space travel has advanced exponentially. With the growing digital world, much of the everyday life is becoming more and more embedded into a virtual world. To start, programmers and scientists are first starting to look into the creation of quantum enforced firewalls that are completely hack proof. Meaning, personal, political, or military information will be able to be 100% secure. Also, chip technologies the size of a grain of rice could be implemented under the skin of an individual’s wrist holding their social security, birth certificate, and financial information. This would eliminate the need for debit cards because you can pay for anything with the simple touch of your wrist and would lower the risk of identity theft. The future holds countless possibilities of what technology and sciences could be present, but based on the things studied today, we get a glimpse of the potential it holds.

Although there will be technological and scientific advancements in the future, the political and economic structures of today will also continue to shift and grow as the world changes. Attempting to predict how the economy and political systems of the world will change is tricky because it is a topic full of variables and unknowns. With the threat of war, advancements in the world economy, and the transfers of political power, the world in the future could be drastically different to what is known today. If the world were to enter a third world war, depending on which nations win and lose, the geographical borders and throughout the world would experience a shift in power structures. The networks of trade and the overall world economy will continue to grow in wealth and goods. Specifically, the United States (at the rate it is growing) will likely become self-reliant economically without needing to rely on the imports of international goods and raw materials. Politically, the United States will hopefully still govern under a democratic structure with elections and a balance of power. Furthermore, because of technology such as the quantum reinforced programs mentioned above, elections will be completely hack proof. Internationally, it would not be a surprise if there is a rise and fall in political reformations and dictators, similar to the rise and fall of the USSR and Nazi Regime in WWII. Also, a more theoretical and advanced idea, there would be a one world ‘Earth’ government and a one world ‘Mars’ government. If far into the future there are two large and advanced civilizations on Mars and Earth each planet would likely function under their own unified government. Similar to a set up like the United Nations, there would be ruling representatives from all over the world that would come together to run as a single governing body with a judicial and legislative system. This would conceptually bring a ‘Utopian’ society without war and potentially, under a united economy, without poverty as well. The future is vast and the possibilities are endless as the world shifts and nations grow, the present we know today could be reconstructed in ways that could never be predicted.

The idea of the future has been a topic pondered by people since the beginning of time. From the beginning of civilization, the world has advanced exponentially. From studying the stars in ancient civilizations to sending the first man to the moon to possibly colonizing Mars, the opportunities are endless to what the human race can achieve. In a world of variation, the unknowns of the future could lead to different set-ups in the political and economic structures internationally. While it is hard to accurately predict what will happen, the future is a kaleidoscope of potential and is waiting to be uncovered.