Future Definition and 789 Threads

The future is the time after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist can be categorized as either permanent, meaning that it will exist forever, or temporary, meaning that it will end. In the Occidental view, which uses a linear conception of time, the future is the portion of the projected timeline that is anticipated to occur. In special relativity, the future is considered absolute future, or the future light cone.In the philosophy of time, presentism is the belief that only the present exists and the future and the past are unreal. Religions consider the future when they address issues such as karma, life after death, and eschatologies that study what the end of time and the end of the world will be. Religious figures such as prophets and diviners have claimed to see into the future.
Future studies, or futurology, is the science, art, and practice of postulating possible futures. Modern practitioners stress the importance of alternative and plural futures, rather than one monolithic future, and the limitations of prediction and probability, versus the creation of possible and preferable futures. Predeterminism is the belief that the past, present, and future have been already decided.
The concept of the future has been explored extensively in cultural production, including art movements and genres devoted entirely to its elucidation, such as the 20th-century movement futurism.

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  1. Z

    Which University Offers the Best Aeronautical Engineering Program?

    Hey..I'm about to finish my school and will begin university this fall. I have the following courses to choose from (i.e. where I was accepted to). -McGill: http://www.mcgill.ca/mecheng/undergrad/curriculum/aeronautical/ -MEng from Bristol...
  2. M

    Programs Math Major at UCSD, and feeling depressed about the future.

    First of all, I used to be the kid that hated math back in high school. But did okay, besides in PreCalc. I go to UCSD now, it's my junior year, and I'm now a Math-Computer Science major. I only declared CSE recently. I got a D in my modern algebra class. I studied super hard too, but didn't...
  3. K

    Looking for advice regarding my future in Astronomy

    Hi, I'm a high school junior and have the for as long as I can remember been interested in the sciences. In the past few years my love for science has focused in on space. I've been starting to plan for college and have been mostly looking at getting into astronomy. However, physics and...
  4. R

    Entropy increases in both the future and past?

    Is it true that entropy increases no matter what direction you move in (past or future)? I find this hard to believe. Additionally, Isn't there a difference between entropy and disorder? Here is passage from "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene
  5. P

    Can the future affect the past

    In SCIAM, it seems it was the fall of 2010, I read an article where the past was being affected by the future. If I recall correctly, the researchers had measured the spin of an electron (many many times) and then they would randomly decide to do it again in the future. Somehow the act of...
  6. P

    Programs Will a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry restrict my future post-doc to chemistry?

    I'm thinking of doing a PhD in http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemistry/vacancies/adverts/studentships/2011/Zwijnenburg_2011_1" . I come from a physics background and have a MSci Mathematical Physics. I'm confident that this PhD is suitable for me, and all I have to do now is accept the offer, but I...
  7. F

    What changes has Obama made to NASA?

    So I'm confused. I understand that the Shuttle Program is coming to an end, which was expected. I'm a high schooler who really wants to become an astronaut, (I know, I'm silly) but I'm not exactly understanding what Obama has done to NASA, so could someone please elaborate? Are the Ares I and V...
  8. B

    Switch to a large company for future opportunities?

    I am early in my career working for a small niche company right now, doing a lot of mechanical design. It seems like great experience to me; I am learning a lot about machine parts, manufacturing processes, and drawings. However, I might have an opportunity to move into a large, well-connected...
  9. D

    Physics Current and Future Requirements for Medical Physics Career

    Hello Currently I am nearing the end of my BSc in Physics and I am leaning towards medical physics. I have heard that a MSc in Medical Physics is sufficient to land a job in the hospital, but recently I talked to a PhD candidate and she told me that nowadays a PhD is required to get a job in...
  10. H

    Engineering Which engineering degree will be highly sought after in the future?

    I was just curious which degree would be highly sought after. Also on another note, what is the career outlook for optical engineering?
  11. T

    Physics What are the career options for a physicist beyond academia?

    Hello guys, I'm a PhD student in Jena, Germany. I'm actually very worried about my future, and I'm trying to find something to do for my future to improve my career chances. So I'm looking for something more to study in my free times for that purpose. The problem within remaining in...
  12. A

    Programs Which type of REU for future PhD in Neuroscience?

    I am currently declared as a physics major and will be adding biology as a second major during the upcoming semester. I was originally set on astrophysics but the scarcity of post grad employment has me worried. Also astrophysics is a bit less "tangible" than neuroscience so I worry that I may...
  13. K

    What Futuristic Technologies Will Change Our World?

    I have seen threads for the most pointless inventions, the best, and so on. But what about the ones that haven't been invented yet? I want all of you to post a futuristic technology that has not yet been discovered or invented and share them. Later ill put on a poll where people can vote for...
  14. S

    Discovering My Passion: My Journey to Becoming a Theoretical Physicist at 17

    Please bear with me when I say that I am 17 (just turned) year old and have a profound interest and an unsatisfiable curious thirst when it comes to the extraordinarily world that is Physics. What I have come to this forum is to humbly ask of you guys for help and any possible advice you...
  15. T

    Calculating Present & Future Worth of Computer System Investment

    Homework Statement A local business is going to purchase a computer system which consists of: *10 computers @ $2,500.00 each *1 network server @ $5,000.00 * Hardware and software required for each computer : $500.00 per workstation * Upgrades, maintenance: $50.00/month * At the end of...
  16. B

    Confused about future in academics and career

    Hey everyone. I'm a senior in high school and need some serious guidance for my future major and job. I can say that I'm a very good student, academically, yet I lack the passion for anything right now. I want my knowledge to be powerful, on a level where it impacts the world. There are very...
  17. P

    Is Time Defined Differently for Each Observer?

    I have read some books by brain Greene in whch he discusses the concept of fixed moments in time, never changing, He goes on to discuss how time slices will be different depending on observers relative motions in space and that the past present and future definitions of events will differ from...
  18. F

    Exploring the Future of Photonics

    So I'm applying to graduate school and have taken an interest in Photonics, but I'm not really sure of where photonics is really headed, the reason i bring this up is: -When talking to my communication electronics professor he mentioned that photonics was something everyone thought was going...
  19. G

    Infinite Past and Future: Surprising Consequences of Time Dilation

    From the equation of time dilation we can deduce a consequence that surprise me . If we know that in our frame system is future and in other frame system is past , and from pointview of the other frame system must be another frame system that is past from our pointview and so on from the...
  20. S

    Your worried about confounders. how a future study could be carried

    Your worried about confounders. how a future study could be carried out in which one would not have to worry about confounders. What options would you choose (ignore ethical and feasibility issues for this study - focus on theoretical) (Check all that apply) 1 We will take sisters and give...
  21. P

    Should I Still Apply to Cambridge with My Current Grades and Health Challenges?

    Hi, I'm from Canada and I'll be applying next year to Cambridge. Long story short, I'm a first year IB students and so far my first semester is predicted to look like this: French HL: 70 + English HL: 80 + Physics HL: 80+ Biology HL: 80+ Math HL: 90+ Chemistry HL: 70+ I haven't had such a...
  22. O

    Future of Physics: Job Opportunities and Salary Expectations in Research

    Hi... I want to study physics but the problem is that i don't know how is it to find a job... I would like work on a lab for research... Is there any future on physics?
  23. rhody

    Ought oh IPV6 may be in your near future

    Ought oh... IPV6 may be in your near future BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11736394" and And who would have thought that your Domain Name tied to your IP address would be so valuable. I wonder what "Go Daddy's" business plans will be when this begins to happen. Will it...
  24. Darth Frodo

    Exploring Future Research Areas in Theoretical Physics: A Student's Dilemma

    Hey guys I just signed up, I would like to say that this is a great site. Firstly I am in 5th year. I am unaware of the US equivilant but I just have 5th and 6th year to complete before college. I am worried. I wish to do theoretical physics in university. I wish to get a doctorate and...
  25. T

    Is the future of Cosmology limitless or are we bound by fundamental questions?

    I have some general, fundermental questions about Cosmology and the future of Cosmology: 1. Is there a resource or management initative of some kind, which is keeping track of all the theories, sub theories, completely different theories and competing theories related to cosmology? If so is...
  26. C

    Paleontology Future: Major for Grad School?

    I am a senior in high school. My focus of interest has always been on paleontology and ancient life for as long as I can remember. I am currently applying to colleges and am wondering what I should choose to major in. I was originally going to major in international business and minor in...
  27. S

    Hypothetical Question about Earth's Distant Future

    Hello, I am not a physicist and I am writing a fictious story about Earth's distant future so I would like to base it as possibly close to a plausible scenario. Therefore I ask for your help. Assume that the moon is blown up. Would that cause the Earth's rotation to slowly fade away? And...
  28. R

    Virtual Engineering and the future of Aerospace

    On Ask The Experts which is a cool new site for technology enthusiasts, there is an article in its ATE Defence Space and Aerospace which looks at the what can be derived and achieved when virtual engineering is applied to the aerospace industry http://tinyurl.com/39q2eqh its suggestions are...
  29. R

    Is Spintronics the Future of the Electronics Industry?

    Developing smaller, more efficient, and more powerful electronic devices has been the trend. However, as the size of the individual bits approaches atomic dimension, tunneling effects as well as heat-control are expected to cause major problems and essentially render the conventional use of...
  30. PhanthomJay

    Looking Back Through Spacetime in the Future

    Just wondering. The Hubble looks back 13 billion light years and photographs galaxies in their early formative stages not too long after the Big bang. Now let's say 13 billion years from now, if man and woman and galaxies are still alive, the version of the Hubble, in the year 13,000,002,010AD...
  31. P

    Why our brain doesn't let us see into future in dreams or waking state?

    Hi I have suffered from poor sleep due to anxiety and have had bad dreams. I began to research on sleeping problems and i came across a thread in a forum where someone wrote that altered mind states can occur as a result of anxiety stress and this let's the brain do things such as see or have...
  32. B

    Best experimental techniques to learn for a future postdoc/lecturership/job?

    What are the best things to learn during your PhD in terms of helping you get a job in physics afterwards? Spectroscopy? FPGA Programming? Vacuum techniques? Nanofabrication? etc. Please give some examples with reasons.
  33. D

    The Illusion of the Future: Equal Existence of All States

    Imagine viewing the world from state X at 1 pm, and viewing the world from state Y at 2 pm. State Y is required to be in existence in principle at the viewing of state Y, and at state X equally. This is because neither is more valid of a state to view the world from. Neither can claim it is more...
  34. N

    MechE or Engineering physics for a future in the nuclear field

    Hi, first of all i would like to apologize for the probably rather bad English. I am this semester starting my first year at the university. It starts of with three years (undergrad) and then ends with a two year masters exam. The field is Mechanical engineering. So the masters that i can...
  35. N

    Future researcher, ChemE vs Physics

    Im entering my 3rd year of chemical engineering undergraduate study and I am still really torn between ChemE and physics. They both are exciting to me. I actually like physics more, however, the way I see it, ChemE will give me more opportunities while still providing similar intellectual...
  36. B

    Canadian Student Asks: Is It Possible to Pursue Engineering and Physics?

    Hello, I am a Canadian student, currently studying Mathematical Physics at the University of Waterloo. I finished my first year and I can safely say that I enjoyed my program. I performed relatively well on my Math courses, getting 80s however, my physics marks were sub-par, scraping 76 in...
  37. D

    Cosmic Rays a problem for PC reliability in near future?

    Is it to become a major problem as transitors get smaller & RAM amount goes up? A blog on NS said "This problem is projected to become a major limiter of computer reliability in the next decade." Will it be like moore's law with transistors size being a limitation? My comp has 4GB RAM &...
  38. B

    Stargazing Do we see the future through telescopes? or the past?

    If a star 100 light years away from Earth exploded this very second, we would only see the explosion 100 years from now. If this is true, and if we pointed a telescope at that star right now itself, would we then be able to see it explode right away or would it still take us 100 years to see...
  39. L

    Present Decisions and Future Implications

    Hello all. I'm an 18 year old high school graduate going into university next year. I consider myself to be a longtime lurker of these forums, and cannot say how grateful I am to have stumbled upon them. The breadth of the quality of people and knowledge on this forum is quite admirable...
  40. M

    Using wave\particle duality to predict future event?

    This is going to be a little weird so please bear with me for a moment. Based on the results of experiments like the delayed choice quantum eraser it would seem that you could use one of these experiments to determine the results of a future random event. Say for example you ran a series of...
  41. N

    What is the Internet's role in shaping our future?

    The nature of 'the future' is solely connected to the idea of information. One might have well assumed that the future would be realized with some new, fantastic material, something so out of this world that the humanity had yet even whisper it's name in thought. Little did we know that this...
  42. M

    Future of human spaceflight (again)

    Hi, I'm really not sure what NASA's requirements and such are, but have you ever considered that NASA may very well end all manned space programs in the near future? There are a lot of people who want to see NASA's budget all into robotic exploration.
  43. M

    What should we be doing for future astronomers?

    Given the expanding universe, one fine night astronomers will look up and see the milky way and those galaxies in our local group and nothing else. Is there a grand project we can come up with to present to our descendants in the hope that they can do better with the data than we have been able...
  44. A

    Future Human Evolution: Will We Survive to Evolve?

    Do you think that the human species will survive long enough to produce a new subspecies or a separate species? Personally, I think we are doomed to kill ourselves off prior to an new development. However, our species comes from a long line of individuals that have adapted and survived many...
  45. S

    Wind & Solar: A Renewable Energy Future?

    From the little bit I've read online it seems like wind and solar have the most potential. Also, can you get student loans if you are unemployed? (I have a good credit rating and I'm in the US)
  46. T

    Brainstorming Ideas for the Future of Mass Transportation

    Share your idea about futuristic mass transport,please.. Thank you..
  47. S

    GEM*STAR: Future of Green Energy Reactors?

    So the latest thing I've seen being talked about is GEM*STAR (Green Energy Multiplier*Subcritical Technology for Alternative Reactors) http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/04/molten-salt-based-accelerator-driven.html They claim they are leveraging the ever improving efficiencies in producing...
  48. P

    Best foreign language for Future Physicist

    Which foreign language will be most useful for a future physicist working in nuclear fusion multinational collaboration projects? Or is english all he needs? I aspire to work for the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project) in which EU, US, Japan, China, India, S...
  49. M

    Congrats and Best Wishes for Your Common Future!

    I don't know where else to put this - or indeed even if there's already a thread for it (I couldn't find one) - but in response to the big, pink link overhead, I feel like saying congratulations and my best wishes for your common future. I am partial to internet founded relationships because...
  50. D

    Advice for the future (phys/eng/medic)

    Hi all, I think this is my first proper post on here, it's a great forum and I will definitely be making good use of this forum in the future. I am just thinking out aloud here, and you guys know full well what you are talking about. Right, I have an unconditional offer to go to college...
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