Over the years, human demands have changed and multiplied simultaneously. This has been possible due to the wonders that science has put in front of us. No idea can now be called unrealistic, thanks to science. However, the journey from the conception of an idea to its fulfilment is not an easy one. Several challenges present themselves in front of the scientists who try to convert an amazing idea into reality and these scientists put in all their knowledge to dodge these challenges. There are several such ideas which are being worked upon. Here are the ten hottest fields of science research.
1. NUCLEAR FUSION
Energy has been a prime concern for the humans, especially in the past few decades. The non-renewable sources of energy are used recklessly and face a danger of being completely exhausted. The renewable sources have either not been fully developed or haven’t established themselves in many parts of the world. Nuclear fission reactions provide a form of non-renewable energy but pose several dangers. In such a scenario, nuclear fusion can become a very good source of energy as it produces no radioactive waste like the fission reactions. This is the reaction by which sun and other stars generate energy in the form of heat and light. In the sun, hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium nuclei. However, this reaction takes place at high temperatures of about 108 K and no container can sustain such high temperatures so far. However, many countries are conducting researches in this respect and if they succeed, we can have an almost unlimited energy supply.
2. DEFENCE MECHANISMS
Defence is one of the most important field that the governments of all nations look after. Large proportions of budgets are set aside for defence mechanisms and a considerable part of it is used for research in the field of defence. Several countries are in the race of producing equipment and machines that provide better and more guaranteed security. Apart from bringing in more advanced and effective jet planes, tanks, aircraft carriers, submarines and missiles, the development of new type of defence machines has become a hot topic of research. Countries with border issues are investing their money to design smart border fencing. Equipment that fails the enemy’s missiles in the sky, spy machines like smart drones and better satellites to keep an eye on the enemy’s activities are also some of the items that researches are working upon. These researches not only boost a nation’s defence, but also its economy as the countries tend to sell their technology to other countries in need.
3. MEDICINE
Ever emerging new lifestyles and eating habits have led to various new communicable and non-communicable diseases that make the humans sick. The field of medicine, therefore, has to conduct constant researches to find the cure of such diseases. It has done so over the years and is still doing it. An extensive amount of research in the field of medicine is presently towards finding a cure for the AIDS and a number of medical researchers are working on this. Medicine is also conducting researches in the fields of genetics, which can help us understand our vast genetic code and cloning, which has helped scientists to grow organs in laboratories. Researches on several kinds of allergies and syndromes, their causes and their eradication are also being carried out.
4. GRAPHENE
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon and is made using graphite. The interesting thing about this material is that it is purely two dimensional as it is only one atom thick. Earlier, it was considered that such materials can’t exist in stable form but in 2004, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov isolated graphene and got the Nobel Prize for it in 2010. Since then, there have been a large number of researches on its applications. This incredibly light material is actually incredibly strong and an amazing conductor of electricity. Several researches are being carried out to use its novel properties into our benefit. Since it has proved to absorb a large amount of solar energy incident on it, its use in solar cells is being researched. Researches on using graphene in touch panels and LEDs are also being conducted. Several other uses of graphene have been put forward are being researched upon which if successful, can produce big changes.
5. DATA STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION
Researches in the field of data storage have produced better, more efficient and more convenient products over time. From the computers of the size of a room that stored a very less amount of data to small microchips that can now hold hundreds of gigabytes of data, storage devices have come a long way. Cloud has provided another source of data storage and access. However, growing data that the humans are producing needs more compact and efficient data storage and a lot of researches are going on around this topic. Moreover, the speed of data transmission is also a big factor in the field of electronics. Development of optical fibre was a major step that quickened the flow of data. Now, researchers are working on photonic integrated circuits which use the optics technology and can help devices to run faster and use the power more efficiently.
6. STRING THEORY
Scientists have researched a lot to find a single theory that can help us understand the behaviour of every object in the universe. The standard model of particle physics can easily explain three of the fundamental forces namely, electromagnetic, weak nuclear and strong nuclear, at subatomic levels as the fundamental particles act as carriers of these force. However, the gravitational force can’t be explained at microscopic levels. String theory proposes that the quarks have a vibrating energy in them which looks like a string. The derivations of this theory make way for a massless particle, named graviton, which is thought of carrying gravity in the subatomic levels. However, several ambiguities like a number of dimensions, particle with speed higher than that of light and no way of experimental proof have made this theory doubtful. Researchers are working on it and if successful in proving it, they will make a big breakthrough.
7. SPACE EXPLORATION
Space has always intrigued us in several ways. We are always fascinated by the questions of space travel, extra-terrestrial life and the events that led to the formation of the universe. Space exploration has thus become a very sought-after field of research. NASA has launched and wishes to continue launching missions beyond our solar system to explore the vast universe that lies beyond our imagination. Several planets are being studied for their environment and the favourability of life on them so as to get some clues regarding the presence of extra-terrestrial life or to see if humans can survive there. Telescopes which are more powerful than the Hubble are being developed to observe the vast universe. Space exploration is a field with an almost unlimited topics of research and every finding is a big leap forward.
8. PLANT SCIENCES
Growing human population has taken a toll on earth’s resources, especially food. Depleting farming land has added to the problems. Hunger is a big problem for large parts of the world population. In such circumstances, researches on plant sciences are essential. Such researches are being carried on all around the world, especially China. They not only aim at making the fields more productive but also at increasing the nutritional content of the food. Researches are taking the help of sciences like genetics, molecular biology, chemistry etc. to overcome the problem of hunger which will grow exponentially in the coming decades. Impact of the changes in climate and global warming on the food crops is also being studied and efforts are being made to minimise the harm that these factors cause the plants. Seeing the future ahead, this field is without a doubt a very active field of research.
9. WIRELESS ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION
Nikola Tesla’s dream of wireless electricity transmission is a big field of research today. The world looks forward to the days when we will need no wires for the transmission of electricity. Apart from overcoming the power loss, wireless transmission of electricity has several other benefits. With it, electricity can reach to very remote areas. It is also cost-effective as compared to the traditional transmission techniques. With the development of this technology, electric automobiles can be charged while they are moving on the roads. Many researches are going on in this direction and a start-up in New Zealand called Emrod, which is backed by the government has developed a long range, wireless power transmission system that does so using electromagnetic energy. Certainly, many more organizations will follow this achievement in the future owing to the intensive research work going on.
10. ROBOTICS
Robotics is possibly the field whose developments are highly looked upon by the people. It is a field of immense possibilities. Today, we have highly advanced robots and AI mechanisms that surround us. On the parameters of intelligence, today’s robots are very efficient. However, researches are under progress to make robots as efficiently and versatilely mobile as humans. Researches also aim at making the robots more cognitively active that allows them to take decisions more efficiently. If these researches turn out to be successful, robots can work at places which are too dangerous for humans, for example, in mines. Despite the fact that robotics as a field of research has high potential, some people fear that rapid advances in robotics might one day lead to robots replacing humans almost everywhere and maybe even dominate humans.
