Post date: Feb 28, 2019 5:14:23 PM
Every year, MIT Technology Review produces a list of Ten Breakthrough Technologies. This year’s selection is a bit different: it was picked by Bill Gates, our first guest curator in 18 years.
Here are the top ten—and why they matter:
Robot dexterity. Robots are teaching themselves to handle the physical world. Why it matters: If robots could learn to deal with the messiness of the real world, they could do many more tasks.
New-wave nuclear power. Advanced fusion and fission reactors are edging closer to reality. Why it matters: It could make this power source safer and cheaper.
Predicting preemies. A simple blood test can predict if a pregnant woman is at risk of giving birth prematurely. Why it matters: 15 million babies are born prematurely every year; it’s the leading cause of death for children under age five.
Gut probe in a pill. A small, swallowable device captures detailed images of the gut without anesthesia, even in infants and children. Why it matters: The device makes it easier to screen for and study gut diseases, including one that keeps millions of children in poor countries from growing properly.
Custom cancer vaccines. The body’s natural defenses can be incited to destroy only cancer cells by identifying mutations unique to each tumor,. Why it matters: Conventional chemotherapies take a heavy toll on healthy cells and aren’t always effective against tumors.
The cow-free burger. Both lab-grown and plant-based alternatives approximate the taste and nutritional value of real meat without environmental devastation. Why it matters: Livestock production causes catastrophic deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse-gas emissions.
Carbon dioxide catcher. Practical and affordable ways to capture carbon dioxide from the air can soak up excess greenhouse-gas emissions. Why it matters: Removing CO2 from the atmosphere might be one of the last viable ways to stop catastrophic climate change.
An ECG on your wrist. It’s now easier for people to continuously monitor their hearts with wearable devices. Why it matters: They could turn wearables into serious medical devices, for example helping to detect heart attacks.
Sanitation without sewers. Energy-efficient toilets can operate without a sewer system and treat waste on the spot. Why it matters: 2.3 billion people lack safe sanitation, and many die as a result.
Smooth-talking AI assistants. New techniques that capture semantic relationships between words are making machines better at understanding natural language. Why it matters: AI assistants can now book restaurant reservations or coordinate package drop-offs rather than just obey simple commands.
The full list is here to read.