Understanding the Science for Tomorrow: Myth and Reality

by Jeffrey C. Grossman

Science and technology are, without a doubt, two forces that will change the way you live your life in the coming months, years, and decades. Nanotechnology, quantum computing, genetic engineering; these and other fascinating fields have the power to revolutionize almost
every aspect of existence, including how you eat and drink, how you communicate, how you travel, how you learn—even how long you live.

By the final lecture of Understanding the Science for Tomorrow, you'll have a stronger sense of some important fundamental scientific principles being used right this moment to innovate your life. You'll also find yourself filled with a sense of excitement and wonder for both how, and how quickly, science and technology are working to make your world a better place.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics, Audiobook, Popular Science, Education

Audible Audio

Published March 4, 2019

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov]

These 24 (30 minute) lectures provided a sense of excitement and wonder about where science may take us in the future. Professor Grossman is grounded in physics but his professional focus is in materials science and nanotechnology. Having said that, I found him to be an easily understood lecturer with a fine style of conveying a well-organized curriculum.

I found that he had a lot of interesting points to make in a variety of disciplines including: magnetism; transportation; computers; artificial intelligence; robotics; microscopes; genetic engineering; synthetic life; brain functioning; cancer; aging; food and food science; the use of viruses; water; biofuels; solar cells; batteries; nuclear energy; the future of communication and the possibilities of a hydrogen economy.

The audio format is fine for the course but the video format allows Grossman to show a lot of the very interesting developments and emphasize certain basic concepts. Again, it is the sense of excitement and the possibilities for our future that make this a superior series.

After a couple of years, a second time through the lectures helped put recent developments into perspective. This course holds up well.

[Yaaresse]

This was made in 2011, so is quite dated. I knew that going into it, and I was curious to see how much of the content, especially the predictions for future tech, would hold up. It did better than I would have bet, but I found the presenter's attitude disconcerting. He's one of those scientists who seems to think we should do stuff just because it's possible and that it's all going to be used for the greater good and with the best intents. Not a lot of talk about ethics or restraint in these lectures. He excitedly goes on about genetic manipulation or data mining as if it's the best thing since sliced bread without any real discussion about how these things can go sideways or be weaponized by those with less than noble end goals. Maybe I'm a pessimist, but watching this while reading Mukherjee's The Song of the Cell made for interesting contrast. Mukherjee is a lot more willing to acknowledge that there can be a dark side to science and that our advances is tech/science is fast outpacing our wisdom in using it.

[Toni]

Another dense one but 90% of the topics I have knew something about and I enjoyed hearing about again or debunking some junk science.
I wish this should be updated, as this version was 2011. Ain't gonna lie, I felt apprehensive about the material most days, especially the Nanotechnology being used for medicine. Yes, great to be able to detect disease ASAP but what if the fukkers take over my body???

L1: Changing the Game
L2: Magnetism - The Science of Attractions
L3: Transportation - The Science of How We Move
L4: Computers - Trillions of Bits per Second
L5: Artificial Intelligence - Thinking Machines
L6: Robotics - Living with Machines
L7: Microscopes - The Power of Seeing It All
L8: Nanotechnology - The New Science of Small
L9: Nanotechnology - Changing Everything
L10: Genetic Engineering - Life's Building Blocks
L11: Synthetic Life - Making Life from Scratch
L12: The Brain - Your Body's Supercomputer
L13: Cancer and Aging - Can They Be Defeated?
L14: Powerful Viruses - Future Friend or Foe?
L15: Food or Famine - Science Holds the Key
L16: Water—The Currency of the Next Century
L17: Biofuels—The Fuel of the Future?
L18: Solar Cells—Electricity from the Sun
L19: Batteries—Storing Energy Chemically
L20: The Hydrogen Economy—Fact or Fiction?
L21: Nuclear Energy—Harnessing Star Power
L22: Prediction—From Storms to Stocks
L23: Communication—Transcending Time and Space
L24: Science in the Future

[Andrew Maxwell]

Grossman does a fantastic job of explaining multiple complex topics and then diving into why these topics are truly exciting. He describes the many advances in technology in that topic that we use today and then he goes on to talk about current research and future projects with the potential to change the world. This would be a fantastic introduction into science for those that really don't have much of a scientific background. Because he covers so many diverse topics, Grossman doesn't go very in depth for each. So for those that already have a deep understanding of the topics, you probably won't learn new info but you'll still get to hear about the innovating new technologies being developed!

[Elizabeth]

An interesting overview of many science topics, but like many of the great courses series already outdated. For pure history series that doesn't matter much but for something including "science for tomorrow" a decade makes a huge difference. Still worth listening to but it made me wish for an updated version!

[Steven]

A series of lectures covering all the latest scientific advances at breakneck speed...