We who attended college during the whimsically labeled “turbulent” 1960s were fond of asking questions. This both freed us from finding answers and left time for more important endeavors, such as protesting.

The Next Fifty Years: Science in the First Half of the Twenty-First Century is a collection of essays by twenty-five scientists, edited b John Brockman. They like asking questions, too.

I particularly like this one:

Should we genetically engineer people with traits and abilities we deem desirable, such as contentment, optimal body shape, empathy…or do we benefit from biodiversity?

2050 is only 37 years away. Will we be expected to have an answer?

Good question.