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. N

    Other Should a Future Physicist Master Calculus or Programming?

    Which skill is more important for Physics in the modern era? From what I know, Newton (along with some other fellows) developed Calculus in order to solve problems in Physics. Because of this, it's safe to say that Calculus is an essential branch of mathematics to understand when it comes to...
  2. L

    Methods of leaving Earth in the distant future

    I'm writing a short story that takes place about 10,000 years in the future, and people leave the planet regularly, including civilians, and they're able to explore the galaxy. During this 10,000 year period in the future, they've even set up colonies throughout the galaxy. Right now, our method...
  3. F

    Schools About my future: college choice EE or ME?

    Hi! I already posted something here, but I think there's no problem in asking something different yet a bit related with my previous post. In the future, I see myself starting a company of electrical motors and generators. I want to master the designing and the technology used in order to build...
  4. R

    Other What to do over the summer - Future engineer

    I'm a few weeks into my summer, and I haven't really been doing anything. Most of my days are spent sitting on my computer bored or watching shows that I'm following. I'm in the process of setting up an internship, but at this point we're just waiting for the process to continue which might be a...
  5. doodlendrawmn

    Time travel -- Back to the Future

    Hello, My friends and I have had about a 3 month dicussion going regarding time travel.We have to get this right. Its also something they have been debating on their podcast. The question or argument is. In the movie "Back to The Future" Marty goes back in time from 1985 to 1955.which after...
  6. davidbenari

    Other Is BigData/MachineLearning/DeepLearning really the future?

    Browsing through the internet, I keep hearing of these areas as if they hold so much promise. But, it could be the case that the internet is being exaggerated. Do you think it is the case that humanity will see great advances in these areas and will depend largely on these advances? Why...
  7. V

    Can Photon Entanglement Revolutionize Aerospace Sensor Technology?

    Greetings, I am a Technical Director for an aerospace company, 38 years. I am always looking for ways to build new sensors. Photon entanglement will cut the RADAR mile in half, provide longer duty cycles, no need for an airborne receiver, and more. However, I have been involved in science for 45...
  8. Vivan Vatsa

    What is going to be the future of computer industry?

    this question always arises in my mind after working on my iPad, that what will be the future of computer industry, 10 years from now... Is it going to help us or will it be the main cause of destruction. We humans are no magician, who can tell the future but I want suggestion on-- How you all...
  9. kolleamm

    Where is the future of computing heading?

    I've read many articles on "breakthroughs" in new computing technologies however that's the last I ever hear of it. I was told that for the short term, multi core computing would likely see some advancement. What about technologies that could completely replace silicon chips like carbon nanotube...
  10. raphalbatros

    B Predicting the future of a deterministic universe

    I was discussing with some friends the other day. We were philosophizing about a hypothetical universe which is governed by the principles of causal determinism. (Go look at the Wikipedia page on determinism for more details about causal determinism.) Our first concern was: Could a computer...
  11. Docscientist

    How do you visualise your future self?

    I read this somewhere "what you think you become" said by Buddha. I'm convinced that how you visualise yourself to be is how you really are.That must apply to your future self too. I'd be glad to see your worthy answers.
  12. Dakota

    Time Travel to Future: Is There a Minimum Speed?

    Theoretically you can travel back in time by moving faster than the speed of light, or the universal speed limit. Is there a minimum speed? 0. But with gravity you would be moving, so if you move against gravity relative to yourself you are moving. So if there was a place in the universe free of...
  13. D

    How to study future and previous subjects over the summer.

    I am an incoming 4th year Electronics Engineering student. I sort of want to address my problem over the summer, the problem being that I have a weak foundation in maths. I do get above average scores in class despite this problem but I feel like it is holding me back. Also, I want to study my...
  14. A

    Time reversal of gravity and Richard Feynman lecture on past and future

    My question is on the assumption that there is nothing in laws of nature that says if gravity had time reversal then nothing would appear odd. The example professor Feynman gave was a system with objects rotating due to gravitational attraction that rotated in a clockwise manner with normal...
  15. J

    Will tilt-rotors replace helicopters in the future?

    Hello all, I am curious about other peoples opinions on the future of tilt-rotor aircraft such as ospreys. I would like to know if anybody thinks they stand a chance of over taking helicopters in civilian and or military use.
  16. S

    Direction for Future: I'm Finishing High School & Want to be a Physicist

    I am finishing high school this year and i want to be a theoretical physicist. My academic result in mathematics is not good throughout last 5 years. But physics is my dream. I want to overcome every obstacles. I think i am not bad at mathematics but the reason behind my bad result was lack of...
  17. BTBlueSkies

    SpaceTime... Why can we access past but not future events

    If general relativity, space and time are postulated as a 4D non euclidean space that exist absolutely. All past, present, and future events are static moments in this model. In this model, the present moment can access and has knowledge of past events, but cannot access or have knowledge of...
  18. heartshapedbox

    Finding future x position with changing velocity

    Homework Statement At what time in the future will the x-component of the masses position be at 0m? Homework Equations x=x,initial+(integral0,t)(v,xcomponent)(dt) The Attempt at a Solution The solution is 3.1 seconds... not really sure where to start :(
  19. T

    More math/science prodigies in the future?

    It's a fact that there are more people in maths and science then ever before. This includes more students as well as more academics at Universities. Many of the students and even academics marry each other. They will then have children who may turn out to be prodigies in a discipline related to...
  20. Iconoclast

    Is Our Future Already Determined by the Laws of Physics?

    So I was watching a PBS spacetime video about... spacetime. It says that, according to relativity, your future is not only pre-determined,but it already exists. I would like someone to confirm that, because that sounds incredible. If that is a scientific fact, why isn't it more known by the...
  21. zAbso

    The Slowing of Light: Exploring New Possibilities

    Something that recently caught my attention was the slowing of light particles - and keeping them slow. Light naturally slows when passing through transparent mediums, it is only in a vacuum that light move at it's true speed. By passing light through a mask made of transparent liquid crystals...
  22. G

    Future Professions: What Will We Do in the Automated Economy?

    What do you think, what will be the professions of future, when we can automatize more and more jobs? Could be the list changed by introducing transhumanism? (I rather think in direct brain-computer contact than someone willingly replace limbs for example.)
  23. A

    Abt seeing the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye in future

    According to what I've read, the andromeda galaxy is approaching the milky way galaxy. Also, I've just recently discovered (on the net) that andromeda has a much larger subtended angle than the moon or sun. Hence, as it approaches it's angle subtended will keep increasing. I've also known that...
  24. jmex

    Drafting: Exploring the Future of Piping Design

    Hello, I am working as a drafter more than a year now in a valve industry but always keen to learn more. I do like designing, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics and as a drafter I came to learn API. I want to know if piping design course is worth to undergo? I mean looking at current scenario...
  25. S

    Is a Career in Astrophysics or Math Promising?

    Hi, so I am currently in tenth grade, from India preparing for my boards. I am worried about my future career as I have no clear idea and I need guidance. I get good grades in maths and I like physics and sciences. I have always been fascinated my astrophysics and have read The theory of...
  26. Dishsoap

    Inhospitality during visit == future rejection?

    Greetings PFers, I'm sorry but you may be in for a bit of a rant :) I must admit I had a very frustrating experience today when visiting a prospective graduate school, and I'm wondering whether their disinterest in me means that I will be rejected and therefore would be better off not applying...
  27. Aero_Arnendu

    Engineering What is the future of an Aerospace Engineer ?

    Hello Friends, I am Arnendu...Wanted to be an Aerospace Engineer in future... I want some answer regarding this.. At first - 1) Which is better - Aerospace or Aeronautical or Mechanical as mechanical engineers have a wide range of work and they also have the right to join an...
  28. S

    Is the future undetermined or simply undeterminable?

    I'm not entirely sure how to clarify this question, so instead I'll pose another one that should serve the same purpose. If, hypothetically, someone in the future devised a way to travel back in time (which to my understanding has never been shown to violate any laws of physics) after...
  29. H

    Possible fusion power plants of the future

    Question about fusion power sources. An article I just read stated that they would be safe as if anything went wrong they would just stop working. Is this correct ? If so than why do stars continue to burn and seem (to me at least) to be self feeding. Respectfully, Pat Hagar
  30. mykamakiri

    Total mass and/or future of dark energy = cyclic universe?

    In an article called "From big bang to big bounce" published in New Scientist in 2008, author Anil Ananthaswamy outlines two different theories that lead to our universe being cyclic. 1: "Cosmologists are still very much in the dark about dark energy. Some theoretical models speculate that the...
  31. T

    The Science Behind Back to the Future Day

    http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/live/2015/oct/21/back-to-the-future-day-live-experience-21-october-2015-round-the-world Where's my Hover board?
  32. TMECLT

    Programs What Major Is Best For My Future?

    I know that when I get out of school I want to help develop solar roadways, bike paths, and parking lots. Potentially even help with the efficiency rate of solar panels. However, I'm currently a mechanical engineering student with a concentration in energy. The only way to get a concentration in...
  33. PhysicsKid0123

    Insights on future prospects: Applied vs Computational Math

    Hello Physics Forums community, I'm looking for opinions, advice, really anything, to help me better understand what I'm going into and what may be better for me after gradation. I am posting this under academic guidance because these are decisions that I need to make while I am in college. This...
  34. H

    Which [Aerospace] subject should I focus on to study for the future?

    Hello everybody, I've registered to the forum to ask for some guidence and this is my first message in the forum so, yeah! Recently, I've earned a government scholarship to study Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering at M.Sc. and Ph.D. level abroad (preferably UK, decided by the Ministry). I have...
  35. S

    Can I Get Into a Top PhD Program Despite a Few Bad Grades?

    Hi, I am an italian physics student. I know that this is a recurrent topic but I want some specific advice. This year I am completing my third year of university to get my bachelor degree. Then I have to get my master. In these three years I got a lot of very good-top grade, and 2 average-bad...
  36. magi

    Automotive How Will Future Flying Car Technology Overcome Turbulence?

    -- Hello. When people started flying it was quite bumpy because of turbulence below 10000 meter. So todays air travel is mostly above 10000 meter to avoid a bumping turbulent ride. To develop a future flying car this must be dealt with because people don't want to be thrown around in the...
  37. Borek

    Hoverboard - the future is now ;)

    But just before you rush to order one, watch this:
  38. C

    Future time measurement units for a tidal locked exoplanet

    Lets assume that a human colony wants to reform time measurement units for more practical. Reasoning: -circadian rhythm a bit exceeds 24h, so perfect day would be around 24h and 10 minutes ( http://www.circadiansleepdisorders.org/info/cycle_length.php ) -readjusting year zero, somewhere...
  39. Monsterboy

    Future possibilities of Planetary society's solar sail idea.

    I don't know how long this solar sail idea has been here , the Planetary society's second solar sail failed to achieve its objective right ? I am interested in the applications of this technique. 1) Is it possible to use them to deflect large asteroids and comets away from the Earth ? 2) Is...
  40. H

    Medical Physics Job Market and Future Outlook

    Hello Everyone, I hope that you all are well, I'm a new user here at Physics Forums and one who plans on studying medical physics in graduate school, and hopes to pursue a residency. My question is regarding the job market for those medical physicists who have been able to complete a medical...
  41. GiantSheeps

    Can We Combine Solar Sails and Ion Thrusters for Faster Space Travel?

    I've heard a lot of people talk about solar sails versus things like Ion thrusters, and it seems that both have their advantages and disadvantages. So I was wondering whether or not it's possible to use both on a single spacecraft ? That way you could get the speed of an ion thruster along with...
  42. J

    Can future events affect the past?

    In a new experiment done,an Australian team of physicists have said they have said they had a particle in the future affect the past. https://cosmosmagazine.com/physical-sciences/time-travel-and-single-atom
  43. A

    The Future of Gravitational Lensing: What Physicists Expect in 15 Years

    What do physicists expect to do or find with lensing in the next fifteen years? Is there some specific object(s) they are looking for, or a concept?
  44. A

    Job vs Academic Experience for MS&E PhD & Future Career

    Hi all again. I had received very good advice from my previous posts on PhysicsForum. Those advices certainly have helped me to navigate through all the confusions I have for my future career path. So I really appreciate the help from all of you. As I become more informed, I have more specific...
  45. C

    What Political System Best Suits a Rebuilding Society on a Distant Planet?

    Purpose: RPG game set in moderately futuristic setting, post apocalyptic, but already world under reconstruction Setting: far away planet (don't ask about transport, soft SF), small population (less than 10 mln). Used schizo tech, no technology would put a person from early XXIst century in...
  46. FocusMiah

    Questions about future employment

    I had some questions about future employment in the field. First, I would like to know what is needed to help get my foot in the door at any given company. What items are needed, such as a resume, portfolio, or any other important documents? I know that teams are a large part of any...
  47. L

    Optimizing High Speed Transit for Comfort and Safety: A Scientific Approach

    Hi everyone, I am an aspiring writer, and I have come here seeking some insight/a second opinion. I recently decided to work on my one novel, a science fiction story, and unlike some other sci-fi writers, I want to make my book as scientifically plausible as I can, without relying on something...
  48. Zeedr

    Is this idea remotely possible in the distant future?

    Hello, I was just brainstorming for futuristic inventions with context for a sci-fi, high fidelity game (because I'm too cool to revise for exams) - and I thought of one, but my physics and engineering knowledge is at best sketchy when it comes to gravity and nuclear fusion combinations, I was...
  49. C

    Schools Concerned about my grades this term and future grad school

    I go to a university that operates on a three quarter per year system, with 10 weeks per quarter. This quarter started out fine, but my dad's condition suddenly deteriorated and he passed away (I was led to believe he had at least 2 years left from doctor expectations about the development of...
  50. T

    Can I Pursue a PhD in Electrical Engineering or Physics with a Low GPA?

    Hey guys, I would really, really like to go to graduate school for PhD in either Electrical Engineering or condensed matter/semiconductor physics. I will be graduating in December with two degrees from two different universities (yes, simultaneously), one a BS in Electrical engineering and the...
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