The tsunami disaster reminded us that the future is shaped by unforeseeable events, not predictable ones. Shane Hegarty imagines five scenarios that could change everything.
Twenty years ago, if you had predicted that the Internet would revolutionise the planet, that telecommunications would mean we are in constant touch with each other, or that economic powerhouse Ireland would be the world's largest exporter of a drug that helps you have better sex, you would have been laughed off the stage. With that in mind, it's worth attempting to foresee some of the unforeseeable things that may change our world over the next 20 years.
THE EU COLLAPSES
This could happen, if, for instance, the euro fails in a Europe that has become politically split, or one in which one or more countries cannot operate within the single currency, so sparking a currency crisis. If major countries begin to vote themselves out, as their populations continue to react against the loss of sovereignty, then it could have major economic consequences across the continent, and possibly bring the US economy with it, triggering a world depression. Cheery thought.
A PLAGUE KILLS MILLIONS
It has happened regularly through the course of human history: a pathogen emerges, kills millions and disappears again. Of course, in many parts of the world, AIDS is bringing almost biblical devastation, but we in the First World can't be complacent about the possibility of a pandemic causing major damage. It might come from terrorism or from nature, but it could kill millions, de-stabilise economies, bring down governments, trigger wars and ruin your chances of getting that report to your boss by Monday.
WE LIVE TOO LONG
If we're worried about an ageing population now, it'll get a hell of a lot worse if we start living well into a second century. Advances in medicine and gene therapy, and the developments in treating heart disease or cancer, could mean that we start living longer - much longer, with suggestions in some quarters that significant numbers of people will live to 120. Such changes in demography could have catastrophic economic effect. Some analysts have suggested that where once there was class war, there may be "generation wars" between those expecting to put their feet up and enjoy the second half of their lives, and those who refuse to foot the bill.
WE CREATE SUPER-INTELLIGENT MACHINES
Scientists are divided on the probability of us creating highly intelligent, even sentient artificial life. If it does happen, and there are plenty who reckon it will be in the next 50 years or so, we may face the possibility of the machines themselves creating ever-more-intelligent versions, that will ultimately see the human race as a piffling species, of no more consequence to it than a gnat is to us. That most of humanity struggles with the timer on a video recorder suggests that we might not be best equipped to strike back.
WE DESTROY THE UNIVERSE
You might snigger, but scientists are doing experiments on the beginnings of the universe using powerful particle accelerators and some day one of them could, accidentally, create a mini-black hole that could rapidly expand and destroy the entire universe. Whatever the consequences, it'll certainly scupper that scientist's chance of a Nobel prize ...