10 Greatest Technology Advances to Watch

From the newest technology from Google Maps, to Supercharged Photosynthesis, here are 10 of the greatest technology advances to keep an eye on. Subscribe for weekly wacky videos and learn interesting facts about the world with awesome top 10 lists and other amazing videos. 5 - Supercharged Photosynthesis - Supercharged Photosynthesis refers to a program conducted by a group of 8 countries to try to dramatically increase the production of rice and wheat, which combined feed nearly 40% of the world’s population. Unfortunately these crops yields are beginning to level off, while the Earth’s population continues to increase. But the scientists have made a breakthrough that will increase crop yields by roughly 50% and use less water to produce the same amount of food. They are able to accomplish this by utilizing a process called C4 photosynthesis, which enables plants to carry out photosynthesis in a more efficient manner. This process increases plant growth by capturing carbon dioxide and concentrating it in the plants leaves, speeding up the development process. 4 - Internet of DNA - The Internet of DNA is a system for sharing genetic information among hospitals. The system, also known as MatchMaker Exchange, allows doctors to compare DNA from patients around the world. For patients with very rare conditions, it is extremely helpful for doctors to review another patient with that condition, so that they can compare the DNA strands and see what is similar and what is different. MatchMaker Exchange was started by David Haussler who was frustrated that he couldn’t user the world’s greatest information sharing tool to help his patients. Prior to this system, genetic information was often moved around on hard drives. So far privacy concerns have limited data sharing, but Haussler is looking into ways of anonymously comparing the data. 3 - Car-to-Car Communication - Car-to-car communication is a new technology that will allow cars to communicate with each other, without the driver even knowing. It lets cars broadcast their position, speed, brake status, and other indicators to other cars in the vicinity. The goal is to help avoid the more than 5 million crashes that happen every year, in which over 30,000 include fatalities. Researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studied this new technology and concluded that it could prevent more than 500,000 accidents a year and more than a thousand fatalities. This technology is also being tested in Japan and Europe and General Motors has said that all of their 2017 model Cadillacs will include car-to-car communications. Even still, experts say it could take a decade before it became standard equipment in all cars. 2 - Liquid Biopsy - Liquid Biopsy is a new technique that is being introduced to detect cancer, even before symptoms arise. That is important because Doctors know that if cancer is detected early, patients are more likely to survive, whereas if it is detected at an advanced stage the cancer is largely untreatable. So scientists are using the Liquid Biopsy to look for the early warning signs, such as cancer cells in a person’s blood. The way it works is that scientists take a sample of the patient’s blood in order to sequence their DNA. The gene-sequencing machines then rapidly analyze the DNA in the blood and compare it to a map, highlighting specific patterns of rearranged DNA that are signs of tumors. Some doctors believe that this technology will become “the stethoscope for the next 200 years”. 1 - Nano-Architecture - Nano-architecture refers to building structures at the Nano scale. Currently a scientist at Caltech is building structures that defy reality. Julia Greer has made structures, using her specialized 3D printer, which she also designed, to make metal structures that are only 10 nanometers thick, and are as light as a feather. She has also created ceramics that are not brittle and bounce back into shape after they are compressed. These materials have a wide range of applications, from batteries, to building components, to scaffolds for growing bones, such as the tiny bones of the ear that cause deafness when damaged. Julia has proved the concept and now she is working on how to scale the production to make the technology both practical and affordable.