FutureTimeline.net. 21st Century. 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | 2030s | 2040s | 2050s | 2060s | 2070s | 2080s | 2090s The 21st century The 21st century began with the United States as the sole superpower in the absence of the Soviet Union, with China emerging as a potential superpower. The debate over what should be done about fossil fuel pollution and alternative energy raged in the new century after most of the 20th century was marked by rapid industrial expansion. As the Cold War was over and Islamic fundamentalist-related terrorism on the rise, the United States and its allies turned their attention to the Middle East.
Digital technology – in its early stages of mainstream use in the 1980s and 1990s – became widely adopted by most of the world, though concerns about stress and anti-sociality from the overuse of mobile phones, the Internet and related technologies remained controversial. A new set of crises would emerge in the 2020s. By 2060, the world's population had begun to level off and plateau. 22nd Century.
The 22nd century A move towards post-scarcity and resource-based economies, further growth of transhumanism, and major developments in space all mark the 22nd century. Practically all of the world's energy comes from either fusion or renewable sources now. Artificial intelligence – having begun to merge with human intelligence in the previous century – now surpasses it, reaching whole new levels of cognitive and intellectual capability. Though lacking the raw emotions and subtle traits of organic human minds, the sheer depth and power of AI begins to profoundly alter the course of history.
Almost every high-level decision by government and business now comes directly from these sentient machines, which oversee vast swathes of virtual employees, robots and heavily automated systems. The speed and magnitude of progress now occurring, both on Earth and throughout the Solar System, is creating what earlier forecasters would have named a technological singularity. 23rd Century. The 23rd century The entire Solar System and surrounding interstellar neighbourhood is being transformed by an ever-expanding sphere of influence produced by massive levels of artificial intelligence.
It completely dominates the Earth now, with every aspect of world affairs controlled by superintelligent entities, formed of billions of inorganic minds working in unison. These "Artilects" operate at speeds and scales that would be incomprehensible to observers from earlier centuries. Global issues that persisted for years or decades in the past can now be resolved on timescales measured in hours, minutes or even less. The medium which used to be known as the Internet has evolved into something quite profound: for many people, it has replaced their physical reality entirely.
Reverse engineering of the brain, combined with advanced nanotechnology, allows human minds to be fully detached and immersed within digital environments. Far Future. Superhuman powers are available to common citizenry The nanotechnology of recent decades has conferred powers to citizens that would be considered superhuman by 21st century standards. These upgraded "transhumans" could perform feats regarded as Godlike to denizens of earlier times. A suitably upgraded individual - if transported back to the year 2000 - would be impervious to weaponry and nearly impossible to contain.
They could morph their body into a seemingly infinite variety of forms depending on the situation encountered. If trapped in a maximum security prison, for instance, they could alter their own molecular structure, allowing them to walk through walls.* They could broadcast electromagnetic pulse waves to disable electronic devices, vehicles and other objects. They could sprint at lightning speed and cross a variety of dangerous terrain types: even molten lava would present no obstacle to them. In many ways, they would resemble a comic book superhero or video game character. 10,000 A.D.+ The hypernova of Eta Carinae is affecting our region of the galaxy Eta Carinae is among the largest, most volatile stars in our galaxy.
Its temperature is so high that it is unable to hold onto its own gas, with constant streams being ejected from the surface. It first came to attention in 1843 when it flared to magnitude -0.8, becoming the second brightest star in the night sky. It subsequently died down, before brightening again in the late 1990s. This fluctuation continues – with periodic flaring and dimming – until one day the inevitable happens. Unable to maintain its cohesion, Eta Carinae erupts into one of the deadliest known forces in nature: a hypernova. For a brief period, this colossal explosion outshines the entire galaxy. Of much greater concern, however, are the lethal jets of gamma radiation released by the dying star. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Dana Berry Our Sun is exiting the Local Interstellar Cloud Click to enlarge Betelgeuse is colliding with a dusty wall Credit: NASA Credit: NASA.