Which field of science do you consider the most important for the *future*

[Antilogic]

What about biochem. I voted biology for that reason.

I think that's more chemistry than biology. At least the classes I had in Biochem seemed to pay homage more to their chemistry background.

 

[illram]

Hmm. Then I change my vote!

 

[Narz]

Haven't you watched anything Terminator-related?

Yeah, and I watched Back to the Future II too.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Humans last a helluvalot longer than most mechanical crap. And we can self-heal.

And we can't repair the body? Got to be easier than replacing an organ.

Also I've yet to meet a robot dame that got me going.

Augment the external side with human-like flesh then.

 

[Ramius75]

So, we live in an overcrowded world, and you want people to live even longer?

not really... only me... or those who can afford.

 

[Kerozine]

Interdisciplinary fields.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Biology mostly serves to extend life, and we have enough people already, so I'll put that in third place.

I'd say whatever helps get us into space the most. Physics could help greatly here, though chemistry probably will be most important by teaching us the reactions necessary to start terraforming, creating better energy sources, etc.

 

[Shadylookin]

computer science

once we get computers to think all other scientists will be out of business.

 

[Bill3000]

Interdisciplinary fields.

might as well put that under "physics" then

 

[Narz]

computer science

once we get computers to think all other scientists will be out of business.

heh, never put it quite that way before.

 

[frekk]

In the immediate future, or something like 1 million AD?

I expect that in the immediate future it will be biology mainly, but I'd bet the most surprising aspects of 1 million AD would have more to do with physics.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Spoiler :

All three of these fields can also be used for as much "evil" as they are capable of making lives easier. I guess this thread assumes that advancement in the fields are assumed to be beneficial overall.

I watched a show on tv the other day about impending global epidemics of disease (it was just trying to be sensational I think), but it made me want to change my vote from chemistry to biology.

 

[emzie]

Biology mostly serves to extend life, and we have enough people already, so I'll put that in third place.

I'd say whatever helps get us into space the most. Physics could help greatly here, though chemistry probably will be most important by teaching us the reactions necessary to start terraforming, creating better energy sources, etc.

Terraforming would be about... biology. All the physics and chemistry in the universe won't keep a human alive on an extended space flight.

 

[Fetus4188]

Biology has the most untapped potential. Chemistry and materials science can probably make the most significant impact. Physics can contribute mostly to nuclear power generation (fission or fusion) and spacefaring engines.

So, there's a lot of low hanging fruit (literally) in biology and probably some significant breakthroughs to be had. Materials sciences impacts everything imaginable, breakthroughs here are pretty much always the most important.

 

[El_Machinae]

Physics, easily. I'm saying this as someone who's in biology.

The biological sciences very nicely recursively feed into themselves. Biological research would progress nicely, but progress would be linear (except if we get more biologists). Biological research is not linear, though, it's accelerating. Much of this, though, is due to the toys that physics gives us. New fancy microscopes are entirely dependent upon principles of physics. The rapid sequencing of DNA is due to breakthroughs using lasers. And, of course, progress in computing power is its own feedstock.

Physics gives us the toys that we use to get our science done. That said, I think that biological breakthroughs are going to be foundational and important in the future. A lot of the cool stuff we want to do requires biology.