06 January 2009

What will change everything? Edge.org's annual question

Edge.org's annual question for 2009 is: "What game-changing scientific ideas and developments do you expect to live to see?" With thoughtful answers from 151 thinkers and doers, including TED's Chris Anderson and an array of TEDTalks stars, this is a document to savor as we start the new year.

Helen Fisher writes:

Hidden Persuaders '09: Every time we do or think or feel anything the brain is doing something. But what? And can we use what scientists are learning about these neural gymnastics to get what we want? I think we can and we will, in my life time, due to some mind—bending developments in contemporary neuroscience.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi predicts:

The End of Analytic Science: The idea that will change the game of knowledge is the realization that it is more important to understand events, objects, and processes in their relationship with each other than in their singular structure. Western science has achieved wonders with its analytic focus, but it is now time to take synthesis seriously.

TED's Chris Anderson looks forward to:

A Web-Empowered Revolution in Teaching: There are many scary things about today's world. But one that is truly thrilling is that the means of spreading both knowledge and inspiration have never been greater. Five years ago, an amazing teacher or professor with the ability to truly catalyze the lives of his or her students could realistically hope to impact maybe 100 people each year. Today that same teacher can have their words spread on video to millions of eager students.

Read the answers to Edge.org's 2009 question >>

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