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Technological Progress
Science and technology were making early modern Europe a better place to live, but at what cost?
Wherever automation rises, religiosity falls.
Each of our three nearest stars might have an Earth-like planet in orbit around it. Here's what we'll learn when we finally observe it.
The idea that consciousness emerges naturally alongside intelligence could be an anthropocentric distortion.
Nobody actually knows what will come of AI. But we can console ourselves with the knowledge that nobody has ever really known anything about the future.
Who’s afraid of utopia? AI doubters have cold feet. History can warm them.
While many imagine terrifying futures run by AI, Rohit Krishnan is quietly identifying real problems and solutions.
Fear of technology is not new. But we misunderstand its origin. In reality, we don't fear technology but each other.
One hypothesis: "gossip traps."
Is Eliezer Yudkowsky the same false prophet that Paul Ehrlich was?
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works engineering division has devised many jaw-dropping aircraft. Here are some of the best — and one ship.
It is easy to underestimate how much the world can change within a lifetime.
Lots of people have seen lots of bizarre events and phenomena that defy our conventional experience. But is there a scientific explanation?
Some would say AI is immortal and all-knowing — Godlike, even.
Skepticism is appropriate when gazing into the futurist's crystal ball.
NASA has finally chosen which flagship mission, like Hubble and JWST, will launch in ~2040. Detecting alien life is now a reachable goal.
Humanity's newest, most powerful space telescope is performing even better than predicted. The reason why is unprecedented.
Here on Earth, the Sun is our primary source of light, heat, and energy. But it also poses a grave threat to human civilization.
The automated McDonald's has a staff comparable to other stores. But the crew members are all focused on making and packaging orders instead of delivering them.
The shift from steam to electricity was inevitable — but some foresaw it earlier than others.
We are still new at this.
The most important events in history have nothing to do with politics or wars.
ChatGPT's capabilities are astonishing.
Astronomers have been looking for radio waves sent by a distant civilization for more than 60 years.
Unfortunately, the Lunar Ark project is an idea more at home in science fiction than science fact.
Living is about staying busy.
Progress got derailed somewhere between indoor plumbing and the flying car. Why?
We asked 11 experts about the future of progress for humanity.
About the project The goal of driving more progress across the world—scientifically, politically, economically, socially, etc—is one shared by many. And yet, debates about the best way to maximize progress […]
The last 70 years have taken us farther than the previous 70,000. But can we accomplish more than creating a record saying, "We were here?"