by Karen Frazier, Managing Editor
Paranormal Underground e-Magazine

I was listening to quantum physicist Brian Greene this morning (author of the Elegant Universe, which is available in our bookstore). Greene was talking about the implications of all of the discoveries made in quantum physics in recent history.

Teleportation is already fact. Sure, not in the Star Trek kind of way, but scientists have already teleported small units of matter. The catch: it destroys the original and creates an exact copy. String theory has postulated – and seems to point to – the existence of a multiverse. What does this mean? Parallel universes, baby. Seems like they may, indeed exist. Imagine it. One quantum event in some other universe and there could be a world where Hitler never came to power or the September 11 never happened. In the lab, scientists are growing body parts from tissue. They’ve grown an ear. A kidney. I’m guessing there’s hope for the Viagra crowd yet.

The implications of each of these things are mind boggling. This is the stuff of science fiction, and yet on a small scale, it is happening in our universe – in our world – right now. Ready or not, here it comes. Our sci fi future is on the way, and as these changes make their way from labs to real life, it can forever change the way that the human race lives.

When I look back at the past 100 years, I am stunned by the advancement in science and the profound effect it has had on human lifestyle. Often I’ve been left scratching my head, unable to imagine where on earth we can go from here. What will there be 100 years from now? How will our great-grandchildren live their lives, and will they look back at our ways as primitive and difficult?

Science continues to advance. Discovery continues, and we’re far from done with new technologies. Thirty years ago, I couldn’t talk on the phone while driving my car. Now, I shouldn’t – it’s illegal in my state without a hands-free system. Thirty years ago, there was no such thing as a blogosphere. Now, I’m gratefully using it.

Who knows where we are going as a species. Are we continuing to evolve, or are we hurtling towards extinction? Twenty generations down the line, what will humans be like? Some have postulated that the human species is, indeed, evolving. This evolution, they say, is a spiritual one. Is it? Maybe. Only time will tell.

Ready or not, science and technology are advancing. All we can do is hang on and go for the ride.