Next Question
RSS
An engine that can run directly from any liquid. Fruit Juice, salt water, gas, tap water, beer, Pepsi Max, etc etc.
But a more approachable version would be an engine that can run directly from salt water.
One guy (John Kanzius) found that salt water could burn by accident while trying to find a cure for cancer, by the use of radio waves, but it required high amounts of energy, so much so that it takes more energy to cause it to burn than the salt water puts out. Once ignited, the salt water would continue to burn until it was depleted, and got so hot it melted the test tube it was in.
If there is someone out there that can cause salt to burn or create an ignition system that can create salt to burn without taking much energy to do so, we could use salt water to run I.C.E's (internal combustion engines).
The exhaust emissions from salt water would be very low, and the exhaust would just be steam.
It would be like the hydrogen systems, except wouldn't require the high PSI pressurized systems and complex filling stations.
That would be a groundbreaking invention I think, that could be possible. The only problem you'd run into I'd think would be preventing corrosion from the salt water.
Source(s):
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/salt-water-...
Helpful Answer?
(2)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Helpful Answer?
(5)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Drastically improved data communication pathways.
Wireless has a long way to go and if it can be perfected (or close to it), our digital lives would evolve again. I'm not talking about "wifi everywhere" or metropolitan wifi, but rather the improvement of physical data communication connections. Cat6, Fibre, etc are inadequate but more so, the devices that connect them (routers, switches, dslams, etc) also limit what we are currently capable of.
Permalink | Report
So, you can see how long this process takes to make a world changer, and even so everybody has to change. You might say the light bulb is a world changer, yet I wouldn't doubt there are still people who light up their room with candle lighting, and do not use the light bulb in some locations. Then, every time I present a "world changing" idea to a big company, they have their legal team send me a letter saying they would need to see a working prototype, not just a drawing or a model. I think the challenge with world changing inventions is that they are not invented by one person, they are invented by a team of people, thinkers, doers, and dreamers. They may be imagined by one person, then built with others, and manufactured by others, and funded by others, and distributed by others. If one person did it all, then there would never be any of the above world changing inventions.
One thing to understand is that everything invented now is built from prior art nowadays, since everything technically has been invented.
The other thing to understand is that "world changing" inventions are sometimes harder to market, because they change the way people think, the way the world operates, etc. which causes people to have questions, and doubts about inventing the next big thing. Once a world changer gains momentum, that's when people take on the next big world changing invention, and become consumers uniting for world change.
The problem with humanity is that most people think the status quo of what we use today is ok, and they refuse to see the changing world, simply because they can make use of what they have, even if there is a significant improvement over something.
Many people dispute change, are afraid of change, and don't like change, simply because they do not know how to deal with it. There are always costs to make changes in our world.
For instance, if we would all escape from gasoline and put hydrogen everywhere, that would be world changing, but then the people who own the oil wells wouldn't be too happy. Nowadays, world changing inventions have a barrier to entry sometimes, and it's not because the invention or the idea is world changing, yet the people who they are up against, the powers that already operate a certain way are driven by something other than change, which is their business. How do you explain this to someone who has been doing something the way they've been doing it for years?
Helpful Answer?
(4)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15744871
I was having a discussion about this with a friend and they brought up an interesting point.
For a murder trial:
Some time in the future, there will be no need to get up on the stand. All they would need besides the current DNA and other physical evidence, would be a brain scan.
I guess this would fall under the 'creepy but true' breakthrough if or when it happens.
Tags: inventions
Helpful Answer?
(3)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Permalink | Report
My favorite one was the hydrogen car. Instead of emitting exhaust, it emits water vapor.
Permalink | Report
Permalink | Report
1.Time machine or
2. Human brain reader.
If no1 will invented we can visit our past or future. I wish I could meet with Michael Jackson or Shakespeare.How nice! or,
If no2 will invented ther will be no crime then world will turned into a haven but there will personality because there will be law to use this.
Source(s):
www.mahalo.com
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
M$1
July 02, 2009 11:42 PM
What do you think will be the next "breakthrough" invention?
I'm thinking on the order of inventions like:
The Lightbulb
The combustion engine
The microprocessor
Is there anything that "world changing" left out there?
The Lightbulb
The combustion engine
The microprocessor
Is there anything that "world changing" left out there?
Interesting Question?
Yes (6)
No (0)
Interesting: robbrown, buddawiggi, jeffhoard, stanar, easyeboy, harmonydawn
- In Technology & Internet |
- Tags: invention, ideas |
- |
- Report |
-
Share
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| July 03, 2009 03:14 AM |
But a more approachable version would be an engine that can run directly from salt water.
One guy (John Kanzius) found that salt water could burn by accident while trying to find a cure for cancer, by the use of radio waves, but it required high amounts of energy, so much so that it takes more energy to cause it to burn than the salt water puts out. Once ignited, the salt water would continue to burn until it was depleted, and got so hot it melted the test tube it was in.
If there is someone out there that can cause salt to burn or create an ignition system that can create salt to burn without taking much energy to do so, we could use salt water to run I.C.E's (internal combustion engines).
The exhaust emissions from salt water would be very low, and the exhaust would just be steam.
It would be like the hydrogen systems, except wouldn't require the high PSI pressurized systems and complex filling stations.
That would be a groundbreaking invention I think, that could be possible. The only problem you'd run into I'd think would be preventing corrosion from the salt water.
Source(s):
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/salt-water-...
| Asker's Rating: |
• Some really interesting answers, so it was hard to choose.
But this answer was not only very interesting, the style of the answer was also very good.
@some_anchovies made an excellent summary of a long article on something that could happen in the near future to change our world.
But this answer was not only very interesting, the style of the answer was also very good.
@some_anchovies made an excellent summary of a long article on something that could happen in the near future to change our world.
Helpful Answer?
(2)
(0)
Helpful: brian san, buddawiggi, jeffhoard
Tip some_anchovies for this answer
Reply
Other Answers (14)
July 03, 2009 12:09 AM
Without naming the technology, it will be that device that allows us to get out of our gravity well in a way that is so cheap as to completely change our concept of where we can live.
Helpful Answer?
(5)
(0)
Helpful: brian san, buddawiggi, bunnyphuphu, nushka, interzone
Tip morriss003 for this answer
Reply
July 03, 2009 12:14 AM
That brings up some interesting issues, like who owns the airspace above your property? How high up?
If your house can float freely, then do we have to do away with property ownership?
Report
If your house can float freely, then do we have to do away with property ownership?
July 03, 2009 12:20 AM
@brainsan I have always wondered the same thing and @morris003 I'm with you on the escaping gravity idea. I'm nowhere near a scientist and I can't exactly put my finger on it but I would bet electro-magnetism will help us do just that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KECS0pp1rU
Report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KECS0pp1rU
July 04, 2009 05:39 AM
I saw this video on flying cars. This could be promising.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/paul_moller_on_the_skycar.html
Report
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/paul_moller_on_the_skycar.html
July 03, 2009 12:18 AM
In my little world... Drastically improved data communication pathways.
Wireless has a long way to go and if it can be perfected (or close to it), our digital lives would evolve again. I'm not talking about "wifi everywhere" or metropolitan wifi, but rather the improvement of physical data communication connections. Cat6, Fibre, etc are inadequate but more so, the devices that connect them (routers, switches, dslams, etc) also limit what we are currently capable of.
Permalink | Report
Reply
July 03, 2009 01:07 AM
There was an interesting part of NovaNow on Tuesday that discussed using artificial diamonds to speed up communications.
Report
July 03, 2009 01:09 AM
Whoa! Thanks for the heads up.
I think the problem they're having with optical communication is timing. Fibre is almost unlimited but it's the end point hardware that limits things down. There are also a lot of physical problems with any sort of cable.
Report
I think the problem they're having with optical communication is timing. Fibre is almost unlimited but it's the end point hardware that limits things down. There are also a lot of physical problems with any sort of cable.
July 03, 2009 01:17 AM
Since we're really talking about breakthrough technology, I am going to guess that the real breakthrough will be something "wireless", but using some other medium that we just haven't though up yet.
I think the only reason we use some sort of cable today is really the speed benefits. But if a wireless medium had the same capabilities, then there probably wouldn't be much point in the cable.
I don't think it is out of the realm of reality to believe that some day wireless information will be available in much the same way sunlight is freely available.
A bonus would be if it was similar to short wave radio in that a satellite would not be needed in the process.
Report
I think the only reason we use some sort of cable today is really the speed benefits. But if a wireless medium had the same capabilities, then there probably wouldn't be much point in the cable.
I don't think it is out of the realm of reality to believe that some day wireless information will be available in much the same way sunlight is freely available.
A bonus would be if it was similar to short wave radio in that a satellite would not be needed in the process.
July 03, 2009 01:21 AM
High speed 802.11n wireless networks that can carry 300+ meg are already being tested. I have netgear 802.11n MIMO router that tested at 230 meg.
"It looks like AT&T is seriously exploring the use of 802.11n wireless connections to beam HD video around the home, potentially shaving hours (or at least minutes) off of a typical U-Verse install. AT&T currently uses HomePNA technology for in-home networking. The technology works over either traditional phone lines or coax and is obviously much less expensive than running Cat-5 cable. But according to Light Reading, in-home coax is often in crappy condition, so AT&T is about to begin trials of 802.11n networking gear from Ruckus:"
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Exploring-HDTV-Over-80211n-102470
I have also tested 802.16e WiMAX at 8-10meg down driving at 50-60mph. And watched live online TV.
So we are there, pretty soon we will get ride of all the wires.
Report
"It looks like AT&T is seriously exploring the use of 802.11n wireless connections to beam HD video around the home, potentially shaving hours (or at least minutes) off of a typical U-Verse install. AT&T currently uses HomePNA technology for in-home networking. The technology works over either traditional phone lines or coax and is obviously much less expensive than running Cat-5 cable. But according to Light Reading, in-home coax is often in crappy condition, so AT&T is about to begin trials of 802.11n networking gear from Ruckus:"
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Exploring-HDTV-Over-80211n-102470
I have also tested 802.16e WiMAX at 8-10meg down driving at 50-60mph. And watched live online TV.
So we are there, pretty soon we will get ride of all the wires.
July 03, 2009 01:23 AM
Yeah, I've spent a lot of time sitting on pop cases in datacenters thinking about this :)
I don't think that the solution is RF... too noisy.
Can't be IR - no line of site and what happens when someone walks around?
I agree with you, Brian... it's something else... if we can figure it out, we'll be RICH!!! ;)
Report
I don't think that the solution is RF... too noisy.
Can't be IR - no line of site and what happens when someone walks around?
I agree with you, Brian... it's something else... if we can figure it out, we'll be RICH!!! ;)
July 03, 2009 01:26 AM
@morriss003 yes, I too watched that program. Video is here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html
"Diamond has ‘exceptional electronic properties’, says Chris Wort, Technical Manager at E6. Unlike materials such as gallium arsenide and silicon, which are regularly employed by electronics manufacturers, diamond combines high charge carrier mobility and extreme thermal conductivity."
http://www.iom3.org/news/electronic-products-synthetic-diamonds-way?c=574
Report
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html
"Diamond has ‘exceptional electronic properties’, says Chris Wort, Technical Manager at E6. Unlike materials such as gallium arsenide and silicon, which are regularly employed by electronics manufacturers, diamond combines high charge carrier mobility and extreme thermal conductivity."
http://www.iom3.org/news/electronic-products-synthetic-diamonds-way?c=574
July 03, 2009 01:19 AM
I think we are talking about a bit different interpretations of the term "breakthrough".. But good point.
Report
July 03, 2009 01:22 AM
Yes, there is something. I have a few patents pending on world changing inventions, but need people and resources to help me build it. I'm pretty sure there is something elses that is "world changing" out there, but not everyone has the funding or the people power to build their dream inventions. I've been waiting 4 years on a patent pending on an invention from the U.S. Patent Office based off a drawing of an invention I have envisioned and dreamed of, but I do not have the resources to build it, or the manpower to market it to the point that it would scale to be a world changer if nobody knows about it, or it can't be fully built to perfection. So, you can see how long this process takes to make a world changer, and even so everybody has to change. You might say the light bulb is a world changer, yet I wouldn't doubt there are still people who light up their room with candle lighting, and do not use the light bulb in some locations. Then, every time I present a "world changing" idea to a big company, they have their legal team send me a letter saying they would need to see a working prototype, not just a drawing or a model. I think the challenge with world changing inventions is that they are not invented by one person, they are invented by a team of people, thinkers, doers, and dreamers. They may be imagined by one person, then built with others, and manufactured by others, and funded by others, and distributed by others. If one person did it all, then there would never be any of the above world changing inventions.
One thing to understand is that everything invented now is built from prior art nowadays, since everything technically has been invented.
The other thing to understand is that "world changing" inventions are sometimes harder to market, because they change the way people think, the way the world operates, etc. which causes people to have questions, and doubts about inventing the next big thing. Once a world changer gains momentum, that's when people take on the next big world changing invention, and become consumers uniting for world change.
The problem with humanity is that most people think the status quo of what we use today is ok, and they refuse to see the changing world, simply because they can make use of what they have, even if there is a significant improvement over something.
Many people dispute change, are afraid of change, and don't like change, simply because they do not know how to deal with it. There are always costs to make changes in our world.
For instance, if we would all escape from gasoline and put hydrogen everywhere, that would be world changing, but then the people who own the oil wells wouldn't be too happy. Nowadays, world changing inventions have a barrier to entry sometimes, and it's not because the invention or the idea is world changing, yet the people who they are up against, the powers that already operate a certain way are driven by something other than change, which is their business. How do you explain this to someone who has been doing something the way they've been doing it for years?
Helpful Answer?
(4)
(0)
Helpful: brian san, bunnyphuphu, buddawiggi, bestpay
Tip easyeboy for this answer
Reply
July 03, 2009 01:57 AM
If brain scanning to detect lies becomes more reliable or main stream... think of the changes it would make within the government and US court system. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15744871
I was having a discussion about this with a friend and they brought up an interesting point.
For a murder trial:
Some time in the future, there will be no need to get up on the stand. All they would need besides the current DNA and other physical evidence, would be a brain scan.
I guess this would fall under the 'creepy but true' breakthrough if or when it happens.
Tags: inventions
Helpful Answer?
(3)
(0)
Helpful: brian san, buddawiggi, cypheron
Tip bunnyphuphu for this answer
Reply
July 03, 2009 02:19 AM
The atom-rearranging - "beam me up Scotty" transporter is still to be invented. That would really cut down on my commute. All of the Gene Rodenberry inventions such as a laser gun, warp bubble, holographic decks/rooms, food replicators etc. I believe all of these will eventually become a reality.
Permalink | Report
Reply
July 03, 2009 02:39 PM
There was just a television program on Planet Green:Discovery the other day. I think it was called Alternative Energy or Alternative Fuels. It was about a bunch of different vehicles that run on things that don't emit toxins in the air. Some of the alternative fuels they used were: solar power, compressed air, bio diesel, hydrogen, and even water. Some of these cars were the strangest things I have ever seen. My favorite one was the hydrogen car. Instead of emitting exhaust, it emits water vapor.
Permalink | Report
Reply
July 03, 2009 03:00 PM
Thanks for the answer and the video.
Hydrogen powered cars are an interesting solution to the transportation problem. The cars themselves are really engineering works of art.
The problem is the production of hydrogen is currently inefficient and transporting hydrogen around the country is dangerous. If a solution to those two issues is found, then it would be a true "breakthrough"
Report
Hydrogen powered cars are an interesting solution to the transportation problem. The cars themselves are really engineering works of art.
The problem is the production of hydrogen is currently inefficient and transporting hydrogen around the country is dangerous. If a solution to those two issues is found, then it would be a true "breakthrough"
July 03, 2009 06:03 PM
The first economically viable non-gas powered car that is easy to produce, safe, and cheap enough for everyone to afford. The power source would be used for everything else that would require oil, gas or diesel. So no more heating oil, for heat, natural gas, gasoline, diesel. It would be a huge breakthrough.
Permalink | Report
Reply
July 04, 2009 01:32 PM
No, I wish, 1.Time machine or
2. Human brain reader.
If no1 will invented we can visit our past or future. I wish I could meet with Michael Jackson or Shakespeare.How nice! or,
If no2 will invented ther will be no crime then world will turned into a haven but there will personality because there will be law to use this.
Source(s):
www.mahalo.com
Permalink | Report
Reply
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
-
Health
-
History
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News
-
NSFW
-
Parenting
-
Pets
-
Science & Mathematics
-
Services
-
Shopping
-
Social Science
-
Society & Culture
-
Sports
-
Technology & Internet
-
Travel
-
Video Games
Welcome New Members
- missswan, December 09, 2009 07:02 PM
- shonnagraham, December 09, 2009 06:53 PM
- codybruce, December 09, 2009 06:48 PM
- bigboobies, December 09, 2009 06:44 PM
- twilight415, December 09, 2009 06:40 PM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
Perhaps we will have to have a new power rating system, sea-horses...
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)
But seriously, a new type of engine that isn't harmful to the environment, uses a fuel that is abundant (there's quite a bit of saltwater available I believe) and produces power at or above the levels today's combustion engines would be a serious breakthrough.