Predictions and Insights Did you ever notice that as we move along in space, we never seem to have many changes in our solar system? We don’t seem to catch up to anything else. Some objects like galaxies do move in different directions and the Andromeda galaxy is heading our way and the prediction is it will hit our galaxy in 4 billion years. This has the ability to create rogue planets and stars by getting them to eject from their positions. It is presumed the sun will not be a red giant by that time, but in another billion years or so might be. If the human race is still around in 4 billion years we might appear as gods. Just think about how much we have advanced in technology in the last 100 years. Now think about what could be in 4 billion years. This was an unfair question, because no one could imagine what we might be able to do by then. Not only that, but no one could even imagine what we might look like that far into the future. Years ago, I remember seeing some predictions about what the future might hold for us. These predictions were from the 1950s. That was a time when science fiction became very popular. The scientists and even just deep thinkers were saying we would not have legs anymore. They based this on the thought over the years people would become more sedimentary. One thing we have to admit, with the advent of computer games, some of us stay in our chairs all day. They also predicted our brains would get bigger. This would increase the size of our shoulders and necks I presume. They said we would become a lot fatter because of the lack of motion and our muscles would be a lot smaller since we weren’t using them as much. Another prediction was our lungs would get a lot larger. They based this on the fact buildings would get a lot higher and the air in the upper reaches of these buildings would be rarified. This meant those who lived on the lower floors would never be able to go above a certain level and might look a little different from the higher residents. Old time predictions are interesting, especially very old ones since we can compare them to what actually happened. Predictions can be about anything and predictions can be written in such a way they can either mean almost anything or nothing. I have to fit Nostradamus into this category. His predictions have been criticized as being fitted into events which already happened and claims after the fact, he predicted these events. Personally, to me they sound like nonsense, but I respect those who believe there is something in them. Who was the most accurate predictor of the future? One name which comes to mind is the scientist Nikola Tesla. When he was interviewed by the New York Times he told them soon it would be possible to transmit wireless messages. This was in 1901. In a way, when he invented the wireless remote control for a toy boat this was the beginning of wireless transmission. This eventually allowed us to get all sorts of remotes and remote devices and it changed the world. Other people who were great authors had their share of things they talked about in their stories come true. Some of the descriptions of what they dreamed up were uncannily accurate. I can’t help but think of the story 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, where he describes a futuristic submarine. The story was published in 1870 and it told of a man who built the most incredible submarine and sailed it around the world’s oceans. It was powered by electricity, much as future subs were powered when they wanted to stay silent and dive under the water. In ancient India it was said the entire universe started out in an egg. That egg somehow expanded and the entire universe began to spread out. This was said 3,000 years ago, does it sound familiar? To me it sounds almost the same as the Big Bang Theory. This was said before the advent of telescopes and most civilizations didn’t even know what the universe was, let alone how it started. This was not a prediction, more of an incredible insight. It is the Big Bang expressed in the terms of the time. There was a scientist who lived in the 1600s. He was very respected. He became known as the father of modern chemistry. His name was Robert Boyle. He made a prediction which must have sounded outrageous in his time. He said a day would come where humans would be able to transplant organs. It happened almost 70 years ago with a kidney transplant. Many of the other scientists must have thought he was nuts. Mark Twain, who was actually Samuel Clemens, was born on the day Halley’s comet became visible. He said he was born under the comet and when it returned, he would die. Well, he was correct. When the comet returned, he died in 1910. One man had incredible insight and his name was Alexis De Tocqueville. In 1840 he wrote about the fact there seemed to be two nations that were both coming to the point where they would be going against each other for world control and those nations were Russia and America. What would make him think this in 1840 puzzles me, but he certainly was right, and we entered into a cold war a little over 100 years later. Some people believe Leonardo de Vinci was the greatest prophet of all. It is not that he made oral predictions, that is not what I mean. It was his designs of devices which made his predictions. He created an early version of a machine gun by lining up several small gun barrels which could be fired at once of one right after the other. He developed an underwater suit with a breathing device, a two wheeled bicycle, a parachute, a type of helicopter, a very modern looking boat, the first tank, it was made of heavy wood, and so many other things. One has to wonder how he had time with all his other endeavors including his art. Edgar Cayce was known as the sleeping prophet. He earned this name from making predictions while sleeping. He predicted blood tests would be used in exams, and the stock market crash. In 1935 he predicted Austria and Japan would join Germany in a war. He predicted two presidents would die in office and Roosevelt and Kennedy did. One of his most interesting predictions which is yet to be proved was the pyramids on the Giza Plateau were built in 10,500 B.C.
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