Top 10 emerging technologies of 2024 (According to science)

The upcoming technologies are set to make the current ones seem like child’s play. Science is pushing the limits of what’s possible, tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges. From the AI revolutionizing scientific discovery to breakthroughs in organ transplantation, these innovations hold the promise of reshaping our lives. Let’s explore the top 10 technologies that could define our future, uncovering their potential and the ethical dilemmas they present.

10. Genomics for Transplants: A Pig’s Heart in a Human Chest

In January 2024, David Bennett Sr. became the first human to receive a genetically modified pig heart. This breakthrough in xenotransplantation offers hope to the over 100,000 Americans waiting for organ transplants. By genetically modifying pig organs to be more compatible with human bodies, scientists aim to create an unlimited supply of transplantable organs. However, the technology faces ethical concerns from animal rights activists and risks of zoonotic diseases. Despite these challenges, the potential to save countless lives is enormous, raising profound questions about the boundaries between human and animal.

9. Alternative Livestock Feeds: From Waste to Nourishment

As global population growth strains food systems, scientists are looking to unexpected sources for livestock feed. We produce over 1.3 billion tons of food waste annually, and repurposing this waste could address both food scarcity and waste management. One approach uses black soldier fly larvae to break down food waste, and the insects can be processed into animal feed. Trials have shown that chickens fed insect-based diets grow as well as those on conventional feeds. Another innovation is single-cell proteins from bacteria, yeast, or algae, which can be grown on industrial byproducts. However, scaling up production, ensuring consistent quality, and navigating regulatory hurdles present challenges. Consumer acceptance of meat from animals fed these novel diets remains uncertain, but these alternatives offer a path toward more sustainable animal agriculture.

8. Carbon-Capturing Microbes

Engineered microbes are emerging as unlikely heroes in the fight against climate change. Scientists have modified certain bacteria and algae to consume CO2 more efficiently, converting it into useful products like biofuels or biodegradable plastics. One such microbe, Synechococcus elongatus, has been engineered to produce ethanol from CO2 with greater efficiency than many plants. At scale, these microbes could sequester gigatons of CO2 annually, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, ensuring the stability and safety of these engineered organisms in open environments is crucial. Concerns about ecological disruptions and energy requirements for maintaining optimal conditions at an industrial scale present significant hurdles.

7. Elastocaloric: The Cool New Way to Heat and Cool

Elastocaloric materials could revolutionize the way we heat and cool our world. When stretched or compressed, these materials change temperature, absorbing heat in the process. Elastocaloric systems could be 20 to 30% more efficient than traditional vapor compression systems used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Given that cooling accounts for about 10% of global electricity consumption, this improvement is significant. Moreover, these systems don’t require harmful refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases. However, current elastocaloric materials—often nickel-titanium alloys—are expensive and degrade over time. Scientists are exploring more abundant, eco-friendly options like natural rubber, though these are still in the early stages of development.

6. Immersive Technology for the Built World

Immersive technology is blurring the line between the digital and physical worlds, changing how we design, construct, and interact with our surroundings. Cities like Helsinki are using digital twins to simulate and optimize everything from traffic flow to energy consumption, allowing planners to test scenarios before implementing changes. Augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing building processes, with workers using AR glasses to view 3D blueprints overlaid on physical spaces, reducing errors by up to 90%. However, this technology raises privacy concerns as built environments become more connected and data-driven. There’s also the risk of a deepening digital divide, as access to these technologies may not be equitable.

5. Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology could turn our wireless infrastructure into a vast sensing system. ISAC uses radio waves not just to transmit data but to gather information about the environment, creating detailed maps of surroundings, detecting movement, and monitoring air quality. Applications range from real-time traffic monitoring in smart cities to non-invasive patient monitoring in healthcare. For autonomous vehicles, it could provide an additional layer of environmental awareness. Early tests suggest that ISAC could increase network capacity by up to 50%, but it raises significant privacy concerns as a system that can detect movement through walls could easily be misused for surveillance.

4. High Altitude Platform Stations: Bringing the Internet to New Heights

High-altitude platform stations (HAPS) are essentially flying cell towers operating at altitudes of about 20 km. They aim to provide internet connectivity to areas where traditional infrastructure is impractical or impossible. As of 2023, over 2.6 billion people in 100 countries still lack internet access. HAPS could change that, bringing educational resources, telemedicine, and economic opportunities to previously unconnected communities. They can also be deployed quickly in response to natural disasters, restoring communication when it’s needed most. However, keeping these platforms aloft for extended periods requires advanced materials and energy systems. Navigating complex international airspace regulations and addressing potential environmental impacts are ongoing challenges.

3. Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) are smart panels that can dynamically alter their electromagnetic properties, redirecting signals to areas with poor coverage or enhancing signal strength. Early studies suggest that RIS could increase network capacity by up to 10 times while reducing energy consumption in dense urban environments. Beyond improving phone signals, RIS could enable precise indoor positioning, accurate to within a centimeter, revolutionizing industries from healthcare to manufacturing. However, creating surfaces that can effectively manipulate signals across a wide range of frequencies is technically complex and potentially expensive. Privacy concerns have also been raised, as these surfaces could potentially be used for targeted surveillance.

2. Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs)

Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) are designed to protect personal information in our data-driven world. These include advanced encryption methods and synthetic data generation. Homomorphic encryption allows computations on encrypted data without decrypting it first, potentially revolutionizing fields like healthcare by enabling analysis of sensitive medical data without compromising patient privacy. Federated learning allows AI models to be trained on distributed datasets without centralizing data, already used by companies like Google to improve keyboard predictions without accessing users’ personal messages. PETs could enable new forms of collaboration and data sharing, unlocking previously inaccessible insights. However, many of these technologies are computationally intensive, potentially slowing down systems or increasing costs.

1. AI for Scientific Discovery: Unleashing the Power of Machine Minds

AI is fundamentally changing how we explore and understand our world. In drug discovery, the first AI-designed drug entered human clinical trials in 2023, developed in just 12 months at a fraction of the usual cost. This could open up possibilities for treating rare diseases previously considered economically unfeasible. In materials science, AI is predicting the properties of new compounds before they’re synthesized. One AI system recently identified a new material for more efficient solar cells, potentially accelerating our transition to renewable energy. Even in theoretical physics, AI is making breakthroughs. In 2023, an AI model solved a decades-old problem in nuclear fusion, identifying optimal magnetic field configurations overlooked by human scientists. AI can identify patterns in vast data sets, leading to new hypotheses across fields from astronomy to neuroscience. However, concerns about the “black box” nature of some AI systems raise questions about reproducibility and scientific understanding. There’s also a risk of AI perpetuating biases in training data, potentially skewing research. Ensuring equitable access to these technologies is crucial to prevent a scientific divide between those with and without access to advanced AI systems. As we venture into this AI-driven scientific frontier, we must balance its immense potential with careful consideration of its implications.

These top 10 technologies of 2024 promise to reshape our world, but their true impact will depend on how we choose to develop and apply them. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, Thanks for reading.