Science is incredible. If you were to ask me what breakthrough I'd love to see in my lifetime, I'd probably tell you that I'd love to see a cure for Alzheimer's and dementia. They're debilitating diseases and so heartbreaking for the families that have to care for their loved ones as they watch them slip away. Wouldn't it be remarkable if we could solve this mystery? On a more vain note, it sure would be wonderful if we could figure out a cure for baldness––something tells me countless men around the world would be ecstatic.
After Redditor kippersmoker asked the online community, "What scientific breakthrough would you like to see happen?" people spoke candidly about the ones they'd love to witness.
"Lightspeed space travel..."
Lightspeed space travel and spaceship technology, just imagine all the discoveries that would follow!
"A better alternative..."
A better alternative to plastics that's fully recyclable.
Also just the ability to break down and recycle existing plastics and garbage.
This would be incredible.
Anything that can effectively cut down on human pollution and waste and do so efficiently without any harmful effects would be A-OK with me.
"Actual cures..."
Actual cures for mental illness: Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson's, you name it.
"Experiments on mice worked..."
Toothpaste that triggers tooth regeneration. Experiments on mice worked, now we need the same enzymatic reaction on humans, and boom, we don't need to go to the dentist anymore.
Incredible, indeed.
Poor dentists, they'd be out of business. Tune in next week, when we get to watch them lobby Congress!
"I have several body parts..."
Integrated bionics. I have several body parts that I'd like to replace and upgrade due to bad joint health, and I'd love for the replacements to function as well as, if not better than the originals.
"Solar powered ships..."
Solar-powered ships that can pick up garbage off the surface of the ocean.
"Just cross your fingers..."
Worker in a safe injection needle clinic here: Nalaxone/Narcan are good responses to opioid overdoses. Besides trying to cool their heart rate down with an ice bath or something- we have no 'cure' for stimulant overdoses. Just cross your fingers they don't go into a seizure or their heart doesn't explode like a popcorn kernel. Having a stimulant equivalent to Narcan would be really nice.
"AA batteries..."
AA batteries that last for a week straight under constant 24/7 use without dying or needing to be replaced/recharged.
"I'm fairly convinced..."
Astronomer here! Finding intelligent life in the universe. I'm fairly convinced that we will find life elsewhere somehow in my life the way things are going, be it something in Martian ice caps or a biosignature in an exoplanet. But intelligent life is likely a much harder nut to crack than single-celled bacteria, and we have no idea by how much.
"Apart from curing some horrific diseases..."
Apart from curing some horrific diseases, probably MUCH faster air travel... this 9-10 hour flight stuff to London from Las Vegas/US west coast has not gotten faster in the last 50 years... there HAS to be a faster way.
There's so much that could still be done to improve the quality of human lives.
But doing so isn't easy. Money appears to be the biggest obstacle to accomplish anything. Wouldn't it be wonderful if scientific advancement wasn't so inextricably linked to funding? Imagine what we could accomplish.
Have some suggestions of your own? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments below.
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
reply to @yoalexrapz/X
reply to @yoalexrapz/X
reply to @yoalexrapz/X
@sciencesaveslives/Bluesky
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
