Compensation for those who lose out and sanctions on non-compliance are needed Wave-bending materials revamp satellite antennas and drones — as a start Cleaning up the oceans rivals climate change as a global problem Systems needed to manage up to 750,000 potentially dangerous objects in orbit Technology improves understanding of forests’ and oceans’ role in climate change Networks of sensors can predict earthquakes with greater precision Ocean ravines offer space and lower costs for projects to mitigate climate change Metal-organic frameworks allow precision filtering with less energy Minerals, metals and water on planetoids could support missions into the solar system Space signal detection project and astrobiology boost hunt for extraterrestrials Researchers inject tiny devices into the bloodstream to deliver drugs with precision Biotech companies plan to use the technique to treat blood diseases and blindness Routine genetic testing would save healthcare system money, says UK medical chief Precision psychiatry studies genes to see which treatments work best for individuals Prosthetics controlled by human thought via computer show promise in clinical trials Rapid detection would reduce unnecessary use and make drugs effective for longer Small ‘organoids’ grown in the lab could be used to treat chronic conditions Apps alert doctors to infections and help them keep an eye on the healing process Scientists are seeking combination drugs that would make for more effective treatments FT’s west coast editor Richard Waters tries on ‘Iron Man’ wearable robot Scientists see capacious and stable medium as potential answer to mountains of information Tiny pixel sizes, light analysis and blood flow maps mark big advance on MRI machines Tech revolution’s promise ranges from online encryption to modelling new molecules 3D images that can be manipulated with hand gestures blur the digital and real world A new understanding of circadian rythyms is helping combat the silent sleep-loss epidemic Data-heavy computers have ways to go to catch up with human thought and common sense Silicon Valley loves the idea but evidence is mixed on whether all children benefit Facial analysis software is being used to predict sexuality and security risks Glimmers of hope in search for means to conquer information overload Avatar enables pupil to watch and participate in lessons from home via a tablet Waste can now be mined for metals and to create fuel Artificial retinas and synthetic spider silk are among the lab breakthroughs Wake-up receivers, energy-harvesting offer electricity for billions of ‘smart’ things Scientists believe perovskite cells would get costs down to pennies per watt New designs means turbines can be installed in more places and at lower cost Hydrogen and graphene show promise for zero electrical resistance at room temperature Graphene and salt water offer promising advances Tight mesh removes chemicals, solutes, salts and compounds such as pesticides The gas may be best option for heavy transport such as trucks, ships and trains There is growing interest in exploring whether kelp could be used as an efficient new source of renewable energy. Maija Palmer visits a processing facility in the UK to investigate Scientists produce mice pups from synthetic sperm and eggs — and grow lambs in biobags Finland, California, Canada and Netherlands are among the countries staging trials Machines take the strain of careworkers’ mundane jobs Rivals vie to be first to put in place a new system, but technology is unproven US state leads the way with dongle that charges drivers by the mile 2.3bn people lack access to safe sanitation and women face additional risks New, long-acting contraceptives, mobile services and incentives make programmes more effective Companies such as Unbabel and Mymanu are helping us understand each other Technology offers agriculture higher yields and reduced gas from cows Western-style meat-rich diets will not be sustainable in 2050 when the world’s population reaches 9bn, so the search is on for alternative sources of protein. The FT looked to find the new ideas that will shape our world in the future From roads paved with energy-generating crystals to molecular modelling Volkswagen, Hersheys and Capital One are among the companies hiring futurists
