Buzz
From the moment our ancestors first emerged from their caves into the bright light of day, humanity has been determined never to face that painful experience again.
Over the ages, countless efforts have been made to avoid the discomfort of venturing outdoors or exerting even a tiny bit of effort. The Egyptians attempted to use slave labor, but unfortunately, the slaves rebelled and escaped. Meanwhile, the Europeans introduced the Industrial Revolution, but it still meant sitting at machines and flipping countless switches.
Even today, scientists continue to chase this elusive goal. With each passing day, we come up with new technologies, all aimed at eliminating the need to use our arms to lift things... and we're making progress.
10. A Medication That Simulates the Benefits of Physical Exercise
When you start exercising, people often offer all sorts of bizarre advice. You’ll hear things like, 'Be careful you don’t get hooked on it,' as though there’s a real risk of someone enjoying exercise. And let’s be honest, scientists are no more keen on lifting weights than the rest of us. That’s why they’re developing a pill to replace exercise.
Progress is being made, however. Scientists have studied the signals our bodies send when we exercise, using scans of people doing cardio. With this data, they’ve created a map of what happens in our bodies during a workout and are now finding ways to replicate the same effect using a pill.
The most promising 'exercise pill' so far is a synthetic molecule known as 'compound 14.' In simple terms, it fools the body into thinking it’s exhausted, as though it just completed a marathon. Once the body believes it’s worn out, it boosts metabolism, which leads to weight loss.
In tests, scientists tried the molecule on mice, and one particularly lazy rodent lost 5 percent of its body weight in a week, without lifting a paw. To put that in perspective, it’s like a 90-kilogram (200 lb) human shedding 4.5 kilograms (10 lb) in seven days while binge-watching reruns of ThunderCats.
Researchers argue that their creation is a medication, intended only for the obese and diabetic. However, since 'obese' describes one in three Americans, this pill could easily become a common household item if it hits the market.
9. You Won’t Have to Work
If you reside in the United States, you may have noticed a decline in job opportunities. But it's not just that jobs are relocating overseas. They're being replaced entirely by robots.
Leading voices in the tech industry predict that this trend is only going to accelerate. In fact, many of today's most common jobs could disappear within the next 20 years.
This isn't a distant future—it’s happening right now. Amazon is replacing its human drivers with robot drones. China has built a fully automated factory run by robots, which outperforms human-staffed factories. And in response to an employee's request for unionization, Target has begun replacing the staff with robots.
It's not only factory workers and drivers who are at risk of being replaced. One technology innovator phrased it this way: 'Tell me something you believe robots can't do, and I'll give you a timeline for when they'll be able to do it.'
While that may sound alarming, it could very well be the best thing that ever happens to us. The real shift is not that we’ll lose our jobs; rather, we may not even need them. Many in the tech industry are preparing for a future where work is unnecessary. In addition to robots, they're advocating for a government-backed basic income so that people won’t have to go to work at all.
Governments are starting to take notice. Ontario is currently testing the idea of basic income to evaluate its feasibility. Meanwhile, a project in Germany, called 'My Basic Income,' is giving select individuals $1,100 per month to see how they use the funds. The goal is for people to make thoughtful use of their money and focus their newfound time on creative endeavors. Even if they don't, these experiments are preparing us for a future where we no longer need to work.
8. Drive-Through Grocery Shopping
Climbing into your Rascal scooter to navigate the local Wal-Mart or using a reaching stick to grab items off the shelf is a real inconvenience. It’s more than anyone should have to endure.
Thankfully, scientists are working on a solution to this problem.
A Russian inventor has already patented the concept of a drive-through grocery store. The idea is to place every product on a rotating belt, allowing you to park your car, press a few buttons, and receive everything you need.
This plan is marketed as a way to increase 'convenience,' and it certainly does—by ensuring you never have to get out of your seat.
Drive-through grocery stores are likely to become a reality soon. Both Wal-Mart and Amazon are showing interest in the concept, so there’s a high probability that one will be opening in your neighborhood in the near future.
7. Robots That Cook For You
Once your robot brings groceries home from the drive-through store, you can’t be expected to cook the meal yourself. The effort of pouring macaroni into a pot might lead to serious injuries.
Fortunately, we’re also developing a robot to handle that, and it should be available by next year.
A company is already creating robot arms capable of preparing nearly any meal you can think of. Engineers have trained these robotic arms by mimicking the movements of professional chefs. The best part is that you won’t need to move a muscle—these arms are controlled through your iPhone. Just enter a code, and a gourmet meal will be ready for you.
Currently, the robotic arms are capable of preparing up to 2,000 different meals, but soon you'll be able to download even more recipes via an app. So, the next time you find an amazing recipe online, you won’t need to learn it yourself—your robot arms can handle it for you.
6. An Enzyme That Prevents Fat
Thanks to a new scientific breakthrough, you may soon be able to indulge in cake without worrying about calories. How, you ask? Scientists have recently discovered an enzyme that actually prevents sugar from being stored as fat.
Normally, when you devour large amounts of ice cream cake, the excess glucose in your body is directed to your liver and converted into fat cells. Your body, still operating as though you're living in the wild, stores extra sugar as fat reserves, just in case you can’t find food next week.
However, we descended from the trees ages ago, so when you consume even more sugary delights, your body gets overwhelmed by all the extra glucose. You gain weight, your lifespan shortens, and it becomes harder to catch your breath when you climb stairs.
But now, scientists have discovered an enzyme called G3PP. Instead of allowing sugar to accumulate and turn into fat, G3PP converts that sugar into glycerol, which your body can easily dispose of.
G3PP also detoxifies the sugar. While consuming excessive sugar can damage your body’s ability to produce insulin, potentially leading to diabetes, this enzyme helps eliminate the toxins. So, in the future, cake could be nearly as beneficial as vegetables.
5. A Machine That Plays With Your Pets
What do you do when your dog wants to play, but you just can’t muster the energy to move? Well, now your dog can play with a machine! And this isn’t some far-off concept. You can actually purchase this invention right now.
Clever (and lazy) inventors have developed machines that automatically throw balls for your pets. They realize that picking up a tennis ball, tossing it, and watching your dog run after it can be exhausting. Now, with this machine, your pet can enjoy endless playtime without you lifting a finger.
Surprisingly, this isn’t just some quirky gadget. These machines have gained popularity, and numerous companies are producing them. So, the next time your dog starts barking, don’t panic. He can keep himself busy with the robots.
4. Lights That Mimic The Sun
In this future world, we might not venture outside much. But don't we still need the benefits of sunlight to stay healthy? Fortunately, inventors have created something called full-spectrum lights, designed to replicate the effects of natural sunlight.
The creators of these lights claim that they are designed to protect our eyes by offering a more natural glare. They also emit UV radiation, much like the sun. Additionally, full-spectrum lights are said to provide a psychological benefit, helping to improve your mood and make you feel like you're basking in natural sunlight.
There’s some debate about how much these lights truly impact us, but the real concern is that natural light may not have any effect on our mood at all. Some argue that the so-called “benefit” of natural light is just a psychological effect. In other words, mimicking sunlight might make you happier only if you believe it’s essential to spend time outside. Eventually, once you accept your indoor life, you won’t even miss the Sun. Instead, you’ll bask in the warm glow of your various screens.
3. Robots To Get You A Beer
We’re moving toward a fantastic future. Soon, drugs will take over our exercise, robots will handle our chores, and our only task will be to roll around in our motorized chairs. The final touch to this utopia? An ice-cold beer—and the robots will handle that, too.
Researchers at MIT have developed robots specifically designed to fetch you a cold drink. These machines, known as “Turtlebots”—one blue named Leonardo and the other red named Raphael—are programmed to wander around dorm rooms, searching for anyone in need of a refreshing beverage.
The robots are designed so that you don’t have to lift a finger. When you want a drink, there’s no need to press any buttons, clap your hands, or even utter a word. The robots will find you. They’re programmed to actively search for anyone in need of a drink. Once they detect someone, they’ll offer a little reminder, essentially saying, “How about one more? You’ve earned it.”
So, when the futuristic world finally arrives, you’ll be able to relax, take a sip, and enjoy a beer. After all, you’ve more than earned it—you almost moved today.
2. Furniture That Moves On Its Own
Imagine how much easier life would be if we lived in a Beauty and the Beast fantasy world where furniture took care of itself. Well, Stanford University is working to make that dream a reality.
Stanford has developed a range of furniture that responds to your every command. They’ve created couches that move, a table that can set itself, and even garbage cans that roam around seeking trash. There’s also a footstool that slides right under your feet whenever you need it. So, the next time you’re looking for something, you won’t have to go to the dresser—the dresser will come to you.
1. A Chair That Drives Around The House
There are times when you’re sitting at your desk and realize you should probably get up and move around. But thanks to recent advancements, soon you may never need to stand up again.
Nissan has taken the self-driving car technology and applied it to office chairs. These chairs are equipped with sensors and self-parking capabilities, and Nissan has already put them to use by having them park themselves at office desks.
In the future, these automated chairs might help us move around our homes. After our robot arms cook us a delicious meal, we could simply glide over to the dining table for dinner.
