The first real moon landing was over forty years ago but many Americans are now skeptical that the technologies which fuel so many sci-fi franchises will be coming to Earth any time soon.
Warp speed rockets shifting vehicles faster than the speed of light, teleporters shifting our molecules from place to place and time travel are unlikely leaps for most Americans. 58% are sure that time travel is never going to happen and 45% never expect to see teleportation as a travel option. Vehicles traveling faster than the speed of light are almost as unlikely (43% think they will never happen).
From invisibility devices to fictional stealth technology cloaking devices, Americans aren’t convinced. 35% think that invisibility devices are never going to happen.
Despite the recent Virgin Galactic disaster, Americans do, however, have faith in the swift commercialization of space flight. One in five (21%) think commercial flights will be scientifically feasible before the end of 2020. Only 9% think that it is never going to happen.
Around one in five also think that human cloning (22%) and mind-controlled robotic limbs (22%) will be scientifically possible before the end of 2020. 17%, however, think that these won’t ever be possible.
What might be coming up in the much longer term? 40% of Americans think that it might be scientifically feasible to live permanently or at least indefinitely in space after 2025. 35% think that after 2025 robots will be created which could pass for humans.
Which of the following technologies and/or advancements do you think will NEVER be scientifically possible?
