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. B

    Anyone know the future uses of x rays within a hospital?

    Anyone know the future uses of x rays within a hospital? or what the future adaptations are to make it less harmful etc? help! xx
  2. F

    Future of weapons will look like

    Hey yall, just wondering what the future of weapons will look like. I was thinking a lot of emp type stuff and wanted to know what a defense is to emp. What kind of bombs will they use, what kind of ground weapons? Will they use biological weapons, what will be the tactics like how will they win...
  3. R

    Deciding My Future: 17-Year-Old's Dilemma

    This is my last year in school (17 years old), so i was deciding my future with my dad and we fighted about my career when i told him that i want to study physics, and he sayd that you can't cause you will not earn money, and stuff like that. So he impose that i must study administration, lol...
  4. Astronuc

    News Future Shock - Decreased Grain Supply, Increased Cost

    I heard recently that Wheat (grain) production decreased due to drought in Australia and other areas, e.g. midwest US. Several countries have curtailed or reduced export and in some cases are now importing. At the same time, the cost of production has increased, in part due to increased energy...
  5. L

    Were can i find list of subject that i can study in future?

    i don noe were 2 find the webside o place that i can find out the list of the subject or faculties which i can study in the future??nw i am taking the subject of physics, mathematics, and chemistry..can anybody suggest wat subject is suitable for me??
  6. Ivan Seeking

    History Exploring Lost Things Soon to be History in 50 Years or Less

    What will soon – within 50 years or less - be history. I have a lifelong habit of trying to guess how, why, when, and what customs, organizations, significant problems, familiar activities, devices, structures, or technology commonly used or seen today, will disappear as a function of...
  7. C

    Future Human: Making human's invisible without a suit

    Greetings, in the physics forum we've had a discussion on how to make a person invisible. Many people suggested complicated invisibility suits which I won't get into. I had an idea of how we could possibly biologically engineer a human body to be invisible without the need for a suit. I'm...
  8. M

    Raft to the Future: Unraveling Math Confusion

    Hello. It's been a long time since posting. I'm a layman who is intrigued but very confused about something I read recently. This article in Discover Magazine says: "We now know that mathematical truths cannot fall into predictable patterns and that perfect mathematical systems (ones that...
  9. G

    Is Living for the Moment or the Future the Better Approach?

    Someone says "live every moment as if you are going to die tomorrow or in a second" while someone says "if you don't have a plan, you don't have a life" Do you live and try to enjoy this moment for its own sake more or for the future more? By the way, in case you may find it helpfull to your...
  10. C

    Future engineering student seeks advice

    I plan on entering into an engineering program net year as a first year entrant. My grades should get me into the engineering program if I apply for first year entry. But should I do this? I only recently (grade 11) started taking my school work as seriously as I do now. My marks are in the...
  11. A

    Why can we not see the future?

    Why cannot we see the future? You see, all the laws of relativity, quantum mechanics and the other physics interaction laws are time-reversible Then why cannot we see the future as well? I mean, when I look at the sky, I'm supposed to see ALL the stars that have zero-space-time-interval with...
  12. Loren Booda

    Determination of past vs future probability

    How is estimating the probability that a future event might happen different from estimating the probability that a past event might have happened?
  13. S

    Could this be future free energy?

    could this be future free energy? http://www.boinc.ch/~sleepsleep/blend/fe.png" when the bowling ball drops down from left (air) tube, we would use its energy (due to gravity) to pull another bowling ball in (water) tube. if u see the graphic, there is a "air" pad that to make the...
  14. B

    The Future Predestined? Near Lightspeed Travel & Quantum Teleportation

    Lets say we mastered near lightspeed travel and instantaneous communication using quantum teleportation. Then we send the spaceship off to someplace 1 lightyear away. It turns around and for a brief moment travels twords Earth at near lightspeed. During this moment the spaceship asks Earth how...
  15. L

    Should We Return to the Moon with Apollo Technology?

    A few weeks ago NASA announced it's next generation of rockets. Based on The APollo design it will take us to orbit, ,the space station,and even The Moon. My questions are, do we want to do this? This would be taking us backwards since it's based on APollo technology. Is it reusable? Will it...
  16. F

    Future of Physics: Exploring Research & Potential

    I love physics more than any other science because it is so fundamental and true. However, it seems as though much of physics has already been discovered and all that remains is to apply those principles in engineering and such. On the other hand, I can see a lot of potential in biology as there...
  17. M

    What Is the Future of Cars and Petrol?

    hey.,.. I am just wondering wat the future is for cars and petrol? are we gona have electric cars or waterfueled cars? wats happening next? how long til petrol runs out?
  18. Gamma

    Use the equation of the straight line to predict future deaths.

    Hello, I have a set of data points to plot as graph. X axis: Year Y axis: Number of deaths due to cancer. The graph is of parabolic shape opening to the right. Following is my question: I have been asked to plot only the first and last points and connect those points with a...
  19. Cyrus

    Is Over-Engineering Hindering Your Success in Engineering Projects?

    My fluids final is over; however, I still have to complete my project for the course due this Monday. The project is a 10 page research paper on the bladder and prostate. Background In a healthy male, the prostate does not restrict the diameter of the urethra. This means the urethral...
  20. O

    Exploring the Possibility of Viewing the Future

    i have heard from many people that although time travel is theoretically impossible that viewing the future isn't and that even einstein who vehemently refused to believe that time travel was impossible that future that viewing was. i then heard that penrose believed it wasnt possible ata ll...
  21. C

    Exploring Sun's Energy Generation: Could It Power Our Future?

    hi, the way that sun generates energy is really impressive. as human we are trying to simulate the similar process, however there are two vital problems we have to overcome: 1: the necessary temperature for fussion: about 40,000,000 k! 2: the containment of the plasma.what do you think, could...
  22. M

    Nano Technology: The Future of Today

    Today wherever you go u will find people talking about nanao. now what is nano? Nano is the unit of length=10^-9. in nano technology it is the collection of atoms having dimention in nano range. Almost all the property of the particle changes to that of the bulk.
  23. B

    Lightning bolt power and Back to the Future

    This is the second time I write this post because the first time it got deleted...so I must say that I am not going to go into all the detail that I went into the first time I wrote this..not to mention that I'm a bit p.o.'d. In back to the future, doc brown says that a lightning bolt can...
  24. A

    News The Future of the US dollar and it's effect on the US economy

    This thread is to discuss the likely future trend for the value of the USD, it's continuing role as the world's major reserve currency and the likely impacts on the US economy. To kick it off here's a few interesting reads from the past few days...
  25. S

    Why Do You Travel Into The Future As You Approach The Speed Of Light?

    Time appears to pass more slowly for faster-moving bodies. In other words the faster you travel, the slower time will move for you. When you reach the speed of light time stops. If you travel faster than the speed of light it is assumed you can go back in time. All these natural...
  26. benzun_1999

    Exploring the Principles Behind Future Technologies

    Here u all are discusing about a lot of furutistic technologies. I feel we need to equally thing about the basis of these technologies that is the principles or ideas from which the tech will arise. so i would like to start a discussion here on the basis of these techs. -Benzun
  27. H

    Which Major Offers Highest Demand and Salary in the Future Job Market?

    I need to fall a decision which major to choose for an Institute of Technology. (SAT scores of Mid 50% Enrolled Freshmen: Crit. Rdg.: 555/Math: 580.) Although I know that personal interest should be the central criteria for falling a decision, I am nonetheless curious about the information...
  28. Pengwuino

    Is Bluetooth the Future of PC Applications?

    I've always thought the concept of bluetooth was awesome for PC's. I have a bluetooth keyboard and bluetooth mouse and they are great. Why hasn't Bluetooth technology taken off for PC applications? I've seen like, 2 printers that are bluetooth compatible and one got taken off of newegg and the...
  29. Ivan Seeking

    Music The Future of Music: Wonderings on 2 Centuries Ahead

    I often wonder what music will be like in a century or two. In fact I wonder if humans will have anything to do with music, beyond listening. Will we eventually write a program that is the perfect composer? Will all acoustic instruments be abandoned and replaced with electronic ones, or will we...
  30. E

    Programs Advice for future math and physics double major

    Hello, I am currently a senior in High School (America). I am enrolled in AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B and C: Mechanics. I have taken 6 previous AP exams, (most importantly AP Chemistry with a score of 5). I am enthralled with the study of mathematics and physics and maintained a grade of 100...
  31. Ivan Seeking

    Risk-Taking Pays Off: Celebrating My Success & Planning for the Future

    I just put about 50% of my business on the line and it paid off! Every significant success in my life involved significant risk. The lesson that I have learned over and over is this: Don't be afraid to get your head cut off; you'll grow a new one. Just celebrating and thinking in text...
  32. C

    Using math to determine the future?

    Can you use math to calculate the outcome,say the outcome of our future's technology? Like calculate the resources we have right now and what new technology we will have in the next few years. Is this possible?
  33. A

    Exploring the Future of Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Careers

    I am still a undergrad(second year) student. I plan on and will do everything I possibly can to become a grad student after my 4 years as undergrad because physics is what I live for :!) . The 2 fields I am leanings towards is astrophysics and nuclear physics. Beeing a Astrophysicists has...
  34. S

    Back to the future - let's try it one more time

    so the discussion on the movie last time didnt go too well, coz i focused on scienctific concepts rather than the philosophy ... so i decided to make another thread 1)does back to the future at any point tell that marty actually slipped in parallel reality? or it doesn't become clear...
  35. S

    Why Does Back to the Future Require 88 MPH for Time Travel?

    sorry, I don't think I'm posting this thread in the right section, but then I'm not sure which section this thread belongs to I would really like to discuss the movie "Back to the Future (1985)" coz I just saw it ... btw something I couldn't understand was the significance of 88 miles...
  36. M

    I'm new/job at university/careers and future all in one.

    Like I said, I'm new here. I like math and science, that's algebra 2 and chemistry 1(high school). So yeah, I don't understand anything of what you guys are talking about, but I'd love to learn it. About my future, I'm good at school and I like math and science so I figure a career in math...
  37. D

    Earth's Future: What Needs to be Done Now?

    What will the Earth (ecologically) look like in 200 years time if humanity keeps going they way it is? and what NEEDS to be done NOW? simple question cheers,
  38. Ivan Seeking

    What Will Entertainment Look Like in the Year 2100?

    What qualifies as entertainment is a definition in flux. Vaudeville was once the rage but now seems comical for all the wrong reasons. Even television shows that I watched as a kid seem silly now; not to mention the free consolation prizes given away on one old show - a carton of Winston or...
  39. T

    Design: Classroom of the Future

    Hello again guys, Its been awhile since I have been able to get back here, but I have been really busy. I am currently a freshman in the engineering school at the University of Michigan. We have just got a project and I thought that it would be nice to get the input of fellow PF members...
  40. D

    Medical Can Opiates Shape a Future of Enhanced Intelligence and Pain-Free Existence?

    Using the MU1 and Kappa1 and all those receptors with diacetylmorphine or maybe other opium extracts, could we in the future live in a constantly satisfied, painless existence? Less Pain More Gain, intellectually?
  41. B

    Is Our Future Predetermined or Do We Shape It Ourselves?

    This is a big one. Who believes that our future's are not yet written and who believes that our fates are already written in time waiting to be told. I thought about this when I was watching an episode of the sci-fi series Red Dwarf, where they discuss the future and a there is a machine that...
  42. S

    Rebuild New Orleans for the future

    This is a unique opportunity to rebuild a city for sustainability. Here is an excellent http://openexchange.org/features/register.html with some great ideas.
  43. michael879

    A machine that predicts the future

    ok a friend and I came up with this hypothetical situation, and we both believe totally different things about it and I am positive I am right, but I suck at explaining stuff so if anyone can tell me if I am wrong or if I am right, can explain it better than I can? ok here are the two...
  44. B

    Programs Exploring My Future: Is a PhD Right For Me?

    Hi guys. I'm coming to the end of my BSc degree in Physics as I start my final year, so its time to think about the future. After working at RAL for a year a major scientific lab in the UK (though admittedly not doing science) I'm thinking of taking my degree further. However how can I be...
  45. Pengwuino

    Airline industry and the future of oil

    One thing that I've absolutely never seen brought up is how aircraft will be effected by depleating oil supplies. We figured out that we can go to hydrogen powered cars when we figure out all the kinks in the system and setup a mass distribution system... but what about aircraft? I just can't...
  46. K

    Projectile, Laser, Plasma: Weapons of the Future?

    In yuor opinion what is most likely to be the most used type of weapons in 50 to 100 years. Projectile, laser, plasma, etc.
  47. I

    News Labor in America – What is the future?

    "Teamsters, SEIU split from AFL-CIO" http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8682415/ "This Would Be A Very Painful Divorce" http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=2118733539359&lang=en-US&FORM=CVRE2 "Democrats alarmed by labor rift; AFL-CIO president bitter, calls move by breakaway unions a `grievous...
  48. Lisa!

    Is it possible to predict the future?

    Well I can't believe thatsomeone would be able to predict the future. I want to have your ideas about people or even religions who claim they're able to predict the future events.And I mostly want to discuss about Nostradamus. What do you think of him? Did he really predict future events? What...
  49. L

    Programs What kind of job does a Math major have?

    i just want to ask any math major ppl in here. What kind of job position are you holding and how much are you making. I am at the stage where i want to major in math but i am looking for stable incoming throughout my whole life. Engineering sounds more stable than mathematic major to me... So i...
  50. S

    Overcoming Fear of the Future: How Can Friends Help?

    The above question's answer I have been searching for quite sometime now. Hi, I m Smisha doing my 12th in Dubai and 16 yrs old. All my friends who are guys tend to change subjects when asked about their future. They are totally not set for it and one of them do agree that he is scared of his...
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