A new national survey result released by the Pew Research Internet Project revealed that the majority of the Americans, or 59 percent, is positive that current technological and scientific changes will lead to a better future in the next 50 years.
Researchers from Smithsonian and the Pew Research Center interviewed 1,001 people by landline or cellphone in February. The participants were asked about their opinion on the current developments in technology and science, as well as their predictions in the next 50 years.
After analyzing the responses of the participants, the researchers found that 59 percent believes that the current developments will lead to a better future for the next five decades. However, 30 percent think that it is leading humans to destruction.
Furthermore, many are excited about the possibility of using lab-grown organs for human transplants. Eighty-one percent believes that this technology will be possible in the next five decades. Just recently, lab-grown vaginas were successfully implanted in four human subjects and they have functioned very well for the past eight years. In February, scientists were also able to grow a pair of human lungs in the lab; they were also growing other parts such as liver and tracheas.
While lab-grown human organs received optimistic feedback from the respondents, other inventions failed. Only 39 percent agreed that teleportation will be possible for the next 50 years while only 33 percent believes that humans can live on other planets. Controlling our weather system is also impossible according to 79 percent of the respondents.
There are technologies that people described as a "change for the worse." These include DNA alteration on babies or "designer babies", robots caregivers which are now being experimented in Japan, drones flying in the U.S airspace, and devices that can show information around the world.
When asked about the top three potential inventions that they would like to own, the respondents chose driverless cars, time machine, and ability to extend life or cure major diseases.