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A human celebrates his or her 130th birthday
They would have to be > 80 now. Too much deterioration.
A mile-high skyscraper is built somewhere in the world.
Too far to go. The ascent curve is too flat. Too big of a terrorist target.
A single war produces more than 20 million deaths
Yeah.
A third party holds the US Presidency
I voted no, but it wouldn't surprise me.
A U.S. president is assassinated
Yeah, we are way over due, not that I want it to happen.
Anti-gravity is brought into everyday use
pfft.
Artificial intelligence routinely conducts media interviews
This is a job humans would want to do. I don't think it will become a thing.
At least one dinosaur will be alive
Too tempting of a target to pass up.
At least one human will have their brain transplanted into a cloned version of their own body
Someone will be rich enough to try it. Tech leap isn't that great.
Brick and mortar stores will cease to be the major means of purchases in the U.S.
Certainly.
Chiefs win a Super Bowl
I'm an optimist.
Cure for cancer (Late-stage survival rates > 97%)
Too many varieties.
Earthquake of Magnitude 8.3 or greater strikes somewhere in the continental U.S.
Similar to presidency.
Evidence of a pre-Ice Age civilization is discovered
You can tell that youtube guy is a nut even before you hit play.
Faster than light travel is achieved (human transport)
Star Trek says 2063, I say no.
Flying cars
Jetsons say yes in 2062, I say no.
Food shortages lead to permanent ban on consumption of meat in at least one country (population > 10 million)
Not unless it precedes the war where 20M people die.
Households manufacture all necessary goods themselves, purchasing only raw materials and plans for 3D printing
Seems very reasonable given existing 3D printer technology.
Human sets foot on Mars
Yes.
Humans can communicate directly with at least two species of animals.
If it were just a math problem (signal processing) we could already do it. I think the basis upon which we perceive reality are too different.
Implantable computer/phone/internet devices are in 80+% of Americans
Plug me in.
Large scale nuclear bomb dropped or launched in a hostile act
Nukes are passe.
Major epidemic kills 10% or more of the US population
Odds are against, but it could happen.
Major epidemic kills 25% or more of a nation’s population (nation > 10 million people)
Odds are against. World wide the 1918 flu wiped out up to 80M, but 10M in one country would be a lot.
Major meteor strike or other interplanetary event kills 1 million or more people
Nope, odds are against.
One-world government is established
No way that will happen.
Prenatal selection of certain traits will be possible for the middle class (e.g., height, nose shape, eye color)
Tech now exists.
Peaceful resolution to the Israel-Arab conflicts is achieved
Nope.
Permanent cessation of Islamic extremism and terrorism
Nope.
Permanent human presence on Mars
Economics don't work out.
Permanent human presence on the moon
See Mars.
Poverty is eliminated in the U.S., based on minimum standards of living that are achieved
We will always have lazy people and greedy people, so no.
Proof of extraterrestrial life is confirmed
I think it is out there. I probably should have marked yes, but it will be though a radio signal or something.
Race is no longer an issue of conflict, contention, or policy in the U.S.
Nope.
Robot labor means that humans do not have to work to obtain basic needs (food, clothing, shelter)
Tech is possible. Social issues are tougher, but I voted yes.
Robot labor provides household servants for the middle class (maid, butler, etc.)
For sure.
Small-scale radiation dirty bomb set off in hostile act
I voted no, but probably should have voted yes.
Space tourism becomes a feasible option for the American middle class
Seems very feasible given the number of private space companies.
The US Senate OR House becomes majority female
Could happen, but I voted no.
The world ends as described in the holy book of your choice
Nope.
Time travel to the future (more than one day)
Nope. If time travel were possible we would already have visitors from the future,
Time travel to the past (more than one day)
See above.
U.S. adds at least one new state from territory that is not part of a current state
We are no closer to doing this than we were 50 years ago.
U.S. is no longer the world’s most powerful nation
Almost certain. China is growing like mad.
U.S. no longer needs petroleum products as energy source
Not that far away.
U.S. splits into two or more countries
Nope.
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