Emerging economic sectors in the third millennium: the mega‐materials era

Abstract

This fourth article in a series of six focuses on mega‐material technologies. Offering the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct matter at atomic and sub‐atomic levels to achieve desired properties, mega‐materials are set to radically transform the physical sciences, realising an alchemist’s wildest dreams. Advanced understanding of the bio‐chemistry of life’s instructional genetic codes will be followed by parallel developments in physics and chemistry involving mastery over quantum mechanics, to enable the construction of “designer” materials. Harnessing nanotechnologies will introduce new and novel types of artefact that were previously the stuff of science fiction. Fully understanding and adroitly manipulating sub‐atomic matter will take time, but these technologies are expected to move to a dominant position in the economy between 2200 and 2300.

Citation

Molitor, G.T.T. (2000), "Emerging economic sectors in the third millennium: the mega‐materials era", Foresight, Vol. 2 No. 6, pp. 619-626. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636680010802942