Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#1

Post by axiom » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 2:34 AM UTC

When the transistor was first introduced in the late 40s there was quite a bit of hype surrounding it, but I wonder if anyone fully appreciated the significance of the development at the time.

Same goes for the world's fair in 1893, when Tesla's AC generators were first introduced to the wider public. I can't imagine that anyone realized how significant this was. Well, maybe Tesla.

So what are some major research results from the last 10-15 years that you feel will have a large impact?

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#2

Post by aristus » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 3:16 AM UTC

0. Sophisticated manipulation of nanotubes.

1. Metamaterials (discovered in the 40s, but only confirmed in the late 90s).

2. Weird properties of DNA. Your DNA, for example, contains encodings of many of the viruses you are immune to; in certain cases they might even "spontaneously generate".

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#3

Post by derek » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 3:18 AM UTC

The Human Genome Project, or perhaps just its completion since it originated outside your window.

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#4

Post by nickb » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 3:47 AM UTC

Does Internet qualify? :) Probably the greatest thing that has happened in our lifetime.

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#5

Post by nreece » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 3:51 AM UTC

1. Internet

2. Human Genome

3. Nano-technology

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#6

Post by axiom » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 4:16 AM UTC

nickb wrote: post #4

Does Internet qualify? :) Probably the greatest thing that has happened in our lifetime.

The internet is definitely a great example. But I guess what I had in mind was more along the lines of things that haven't borne their fruit quite yet. Things that in retrospect people will see as seminal, but that are currently still hidden in research journals.

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#7

Post by AlexanderHood » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 4:23 AM UTC

The internet is just a more sophisticated version of the cave drawing. The Genome is a discovery, not a breakthrough. The last true breakthrough was splitting the atom. Perhaps creating life from Methane gas and electricity would qualify.

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#8

Post by axiom » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 4:26 AM UTC

nreece wrote: post #5

1. Internet 2. Human Genome 3. Nano-technology

Nano-technology is one of these buzz words that's been applied to everything from MEMS to car polish creams. It's so amorphous and vague that the only definition I can think of is "anything that's pretty damn small." I'm really not sure if it's a useful term at all anymore, or if it just obscures whatever it's used to describe.

One of my good friends is doing his PhD on MEMS micro-manipulators. But his work falls under non-linear control systems. Can it be described as nano-technology? sure, but what does that tell you? it hardly clarifies what his research is about, it just makes it sound like he's seeking funding from gullible VC's :)

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#9

Post by plinkplonk » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 4:31 AM UTC

Probabilistic Robotics (think the Darpa Car Races)

Re: Major research breakthroughs in the last 10-15 years

#10

Post by axiom » Thu, Sep 20, 2007, 4:41 AM UTC

plinkplonk wrote: post #9

Probabilistic Robotics (think the Darpa Car Races)

That's one that I definitely had in mind!

Some of the work done in computer vision in particular is pretty incredible. The SIFT result by Lowe for example has just barely started to become applied (take a look at Photosynth by Microsoft - that's entirely made possible through SIFT.) Particle filters in their various forms will become more and more widespread as computation becomes cheaper (the Condensation algorithm is a good example.) All of this is just now starting to add up to allow people to create truly intelligent systems that can interact with the world.