One of 100 billion nerve cells in the human brain, the neuron waits, ready. Suddenly, a neighbor releases signaling molecules with an attention-getting message, like the irresistible chatter of a next-door gossip who has a hot tidbit. The receiving cell, excited, experiences fluctuations in ion concentration, creating a small electric current flow. Then it, too, releases communication signals down the line. The cascade continues until a large region of the brain is buzzing with heightened processing. Imaging scans would reveal the additional blood flow and electrical activity as thousands of neurons flare in response.
A good idea can be like that—it stirs everything up—whether it is being shared throughout a network of cells in one person’s brain or in the world at large, through a community of people. Good ideas motivate us to action. They lead us to reflect on how to make things better. They spur us not to settle only for what is possible today.
That is why we are celebrating a set of innovative projects with our cover story for this issue, “World Changing Ideas.” In this new annual section, we detail 20 ways to push the frontiers in areas that are critical to improving modern life: energy, transportation, environment, electronics and robotics, and health and medicine. Some of the inventions are dazzlingly simple—such as how SolarCity, headquartered in California, removes the biggest obstacle to solar-panel installations by homeowners: their upfront cost. Some are head-thumpingly obvious in hindsight, such as employing zoning to thwart the currently nearly uninhibited resource depletion of the world’s oceans. (For more on that topic, see this month's Perspectives.) And some, such as Hewlett-Packard’s Central Nervous System for the Earth, a planned array of up to a trillion pushpin-size sensors for the globe, are mind-bendingly sophisticated in their scope and potential implications.
All the concepts in this section inspire hope that advances in science and technology will keep improving our lives in the years ahead. Read the article, then, for a look at the future.
One place where humanity’s creative problem-solving abilities are in high demand is in the battle against global climate change. While government policy leaders debate their countries’ responses to this phenomenon, it continues to disrupt ecosystems with unsettling speed. As Katey Walter Anthony describes in “Methane: A Menace Surfaces,” thawing Arctic permafrost is doing more than causing damage by heaving and cracking the foundations of buildings: it is also creating lakes that emit methane, a gas that, pound for pound, has more than 20 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide. These new methane emissions could accelerate the process of global warming. Walter Anthony’s research serves as yet more evidence for the great need to address this problem. But will we act on our ideas in time?
Note: This article was originally printed with the title, "Wanted: Bright Ideas."
This article was originally published with the title Wanted: Bright Ideas.
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7 Comments
Add CommentHow is this for a bright idea? A TRUE patent system.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOstensibly the patent system represents and agreement between inventors and society to encourage them to solve societys problems. But patent reform, now being discussed, represents an agreement between two other parties; the patent attorney industry, and the patent thieves. Inventors are never consulted about patent law or changes to it.
One of my first inventions (some decades ago) was a device which could reduce fossil fuel use in commuting by 50%. Perhaps I should promote it again? Of course.
But I will not do so, until the fraudulent patent system is changed. Ask why does the patent system have its own very special rules for evidence - totally unlike rules for evidence in ANY other courts of law? The answer is to milk inventors of as much money as possible, irrespective of whether they get their 'stupid' ideas off the ground or not.
The patent system kills most inventions and also kills inventors. Including Americas best inventor.
I am prepared to kill to protect my inventions and I am prepared to die to get true patent reform - a patent system which recognises and inventors human rights - particularly UNDHR pat 17 and part 27.
Civilisation can got to hell (and appears to be doing so) for all I care - until we have a TRUE patent system.
IPROAG
The Intellectual Property Rightful Owners Action Group.
I will agree that there is a lot of windpower several thousand feet up. I would like to suggest that the windmills be hung from helium filled blimps or dirigibles
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI will agree that there is a lot of windpower several thousand feet high. I would like to suggest that the windmills to generate the electric power be hung from or attached to helium filled dirigibles.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere is a new bladeless fan technology,seen it on line.Dysons air multiplier.Don't know how this works?Wonder if it could be used in reverse with robotic12's idea?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishelp find some cures
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/
Following studies of fertile 'Terra Preta' (Dark earths) in the amazon forests, it was discovered that charcoal buried in soils would survive thousands of years at least. This led to the development of biomass pyrolysis, which is basically just copying what the indians did to fertilize their soils, but using modern technology.The process takes any wet or dry biomass and converts it into hydrogen, biogas, biofuel or biochar as required. The biochar is therefore sequestered CO2. There is no energy input required. See www.eprida.com for details.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWHENEVER THERE IS AN OIL TANKER LEAKING IN ONE OF THE TANKER AROUND THE WORLD, WOULD IT BE NOT A GOOD IDEA TO RESCUE SOME OF THE OIL THROUGH ANOTHER TANKER, THAT MAY SAVE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF OIL SPILLING. THIS CAN BE DONE BY ATTACHING A HEAVY DUTY HIGH PRESSURE PIPE TO THE VESSEL AND TRANSFER THE BULK OF THE OIL TO LIMIT THE DAMGE OF THE SPILL.
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