In a new national opinion survey about the next 40 years
conducted by Smithsonian magazine and The Pew Research Center,
most Americans said technology and science will provide
solutions for some of the worlds toughest challenges: 53 percent
believed most of our energy will come from sources other than
coal, oil and gas; the same percentage said there will be
computers that can carry on a conversation just like a human;
and a majority believed there will be a cure for cancer.
However, this faith in a better world does not extend to the
environment. Of those polled, a small majority said the United
States would face severe water shortages by 2050. Six in 10 said
the oceans would be less healthy than they are now, and seven in
10 foresaw a major energy crisis. Social change is expected to
be significant over the next 40 years, including a female
president (89% agree), a Hispanic president (69% agree) and
improved race relations (68% agree). Sixty-two percent agree
that in order to maintain the strength of the U.