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A list of subjects at the frontier of scientific discovery has been compiled in Table 16-01. It will be updated whenever new information is available.
| Subject | Objective | Projects | Measurement | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmological Model | To determine parameters in the model | Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy Probe (WMAP) | Age and geometry of the Universe, evidence for inflation | First detailed map released on February, 2003; mission has been extended beyond 2008 |
| Dark Energy | To identify the nature of dark energy (See "Vacuum Energy Density" for a 2015 update) | Wilkinson Microwave Anistropy Probe (WMAP) | Result seems to favour cosmological constant over negative pressure (quintessence) | Ceased communication on 2010, Final report on 2012 |
| Dark Energy | To confirm acceleration of the cosmic expansion | SuperNova Acceleration Probe (SNAP) | Discovery of many type Ia supernovae at redshifts greater than any yet found | Replaced by WFIRST, to be launched on mid-2020s |
| Dark Matter | To look for unseen massive objects | MAssive Compact Halo Objects Project (MACHO) | Brown dwarfs or planets in the halo of the Milky Way | On-going since 1992, Last update on 2012 |
| Dark Matter | To look for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP) | DAMA and other groups | Heavy supersymmetry partners | Inconclusive claim in 2000, second claim in 2008 with upgraded detector, phase 2 in 2016 |
| Early Universe | To observe the first stars and galaxies in the Universe | James Webb (formerly Next Generation) Space Telescope (JWST) | Highly redshifted and faint infrared objects | 2011 (2013, 2018, 2020), Finally launched on 24/12/2021 (video, Newsletter) |
| Extra-terrestrial Intelligence | To look for extra-terrestrial intelligence | Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence Project (SETI) | Radio signal of extraterrestrial origin | On-going since 1960 |
| Extra-terrestrial Life | To look for life in another world | ORIGINS | Habitable planets | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| Human Genetic Map | To compile the Human Book of Life | Human Genome Project (HGP) and Celera | Human genome | Working draft completed on Feb. 2001; 99.99% completed by 2003 |
| Quantum Computing | To conduct research into all aspects of quantum information processing | Centre for Quantum Information and Foundations (CQIF) | A quantum computer | On-going |
| Higgs Boson | To confirm spontaneous symmetry breaking in gauge theories | Experiments at CERN and Fermilab | Debris identified to be from the decay of Higgs bosons | Inconclusive, LHC will provide more definite answer in 2008, Found on July, 2012 |
| CP-Violation | To explain the dominance of matter over anti-matter | Experiments at BaBar/SLAC and Belle | Quantum interference between two decay modes of the B0 meson | Observed, but the result is not consistent with the matter anti-matter ratio |
| Neutrino Mass | To verify if neutrino has mass | Experiments at Super-Kamiokande, SNO, and other facilities | Neutrino oscillation between the three generations | Observed, but more measurements are needed to select competing theories |
| Proton Decay | To validate GUT (baryon, lepton conversion) | Underground detectors at Soudan and other sites | Spontaneous reactions which might indicate proton decay | No unambiguous event detected |
| Superstrings Theory | To unify the four interactions and beyond | Academic Institutions | No testable prediction | Not yet available |
| Spacecraft | Detector(s) | Observation | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cassini Orbiter | Radio Antenna, and Radar | Saturn and its Moons | 1997 - |
| Chandra X-ray Observatory | X-ray Telescope | X-ray Universe | 1999 - |
| Fermi Satellite | Gamma-ray Telescope | High Energy Sources | 2008 - |
| GALEX | Ultraviolet Detectors | Evolution of Galaxies | 2003 - |
| Hubble Space Telescope | Optical Telescope | Optical Images of the Cosmos | 1990 - |
| INTEGRAL | Gamma-ray Observatory | Gamma-ray Sources | 2002 - 2012 |
| Kepler | Optical Telescope | Habitable Planet Zone | 2009 - |
| Mars Express | Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms Analyzers | Water on Mars | 2003 - 2012 |
| MRO | Cameras and Sounding Radar | Water on Mars | 2006 - |
| PAMELA | Particle Identifier | Cosmic Rays | 2006 - |
| Planck | Microwave Frequency Instruments | Cosmic Microwave Background | 2009 - |
| Spitzer Space Telescope | Infrared Telescope | Infrared Universe | 2003 - |
| Swift | X-ray/Ultraviolet/Optical Telescopes | Gamma-ray Bursts | 2004 - |
| WISE | Telescope and Infrared Detectors | Infrared Sky | 2009 - |
|
Figure 01 portrays all the space missions past and future with the inner Solar System depicted on the upper right and the outer Solar System on the lower left pictorially. A short description of the future missions is listed below the image. Its first item is the date, follows by the name of the spacecraft, then the acronym of the mission with the planetary object at the end (the weird sounding name of "Churyumov-Gerasimenko" is a comet). The date is not listed after 2018. The acronyms are explained in the lower left corner. |
Figure 01 Solar System Missions |
| # | Quest | Odds | Comment(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Non-Darwinian Evolution | 5/1 | Epigenetics supplement to genetic changes |
| 02 | Acupuncture Vindication | 5/1 | To prove that it is not a placebo effect |
| 03 | Cloning Human | 10/1 | Scientific problem, ethical concern, and lack of commercial interest. |
| 04 | Psychedelics Licensed | 14/1 | Legalize mind-altering drug |
| 05 | Commercial Nuclear Fusion | 20/1 | Lack of funding, ITER schedule delays to 2027 |
| 06 | Colonization of Mars | 33/1 | Environmental problems with permanent colony |
| 07 | No Quantum Weirdness | 50/1 | To rectify the "Theory of Hidden Variable" |
| 08 | Better Theory of Gravity | 66/1 | Dark-Matter vs MOND |
| 09 | Alien Contact | 100/1 | On-going with SETI, no contact so far |
| 10 | Perpetual Motion Machines | 5000/1 | It violates the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics |