What breakthrough in science would revolutionize an industry?

fellupahill

Is there anything that comes to mind if you try to come up with something that would revolutionize an entire industry, or create an industry of its own?

Not looking for the super obvious choices such as nuclear fusion or Quantum Computers.

Pengwuino

Nuclear computers.

On a more serious note, high-temperature superconductors would probably have profound implications across many industries. There are other things but I think one would be better off thinking about a particular industry and then asking how that industry could be improved.

micromass

Quantum fusion

jhae2.718

Nuclear quantum fusion powered computers.

Gad

Pengwuino

You jerks.

jhae2.718

You have a problem with [itex]\frac{\rm{d}^3\bf{r}}{\rm{d}t^3}[/itex]?

WannabeNewton

plastic surgery on the go

jhae2.718

On a serious note, I'd say a cheap way to put stuff in LEO.

Ivan Seeking

In keeping with the news of Obama's reference to algae, there is tremendous potential in biologically-produced transportation fuels derived from algae and bacteria. Temperature sensitivity, yield rates, oil quality, and the energy required for growth and processing are all significant issues that can be addressed in part through hybridization, and perhaps through the use of designer strains genetically engineered for the task. So the race is on to develop the holy grail of fuel-producing bioforms if you will - one that can yield a practical fuel such as carbon-neutral biodiesel, at prices below that of traditional pertroleum-based fuels.

I think is one of the most siginficant issues for everyone on the planet.

wuliheron

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog...7628/?p1=blogs

So far physicists have found what appears to be 3 species of single cell organisms that use quantum effects for extremely efficient photosynthesis and 3 species of animals that appear to use the quantum Zeno effect for exquisite sensitivity to magnetic fields for navigation. Along with recent experiments indicating quanta are contextual the implications are staggering and could eventually apply to every branch of the sciences and industry.

We'll just have to wait and see...

Ryan_m_b

Tentatively I would argue that all scientific advances create and/or revolutionise industries. Reason being that just like men no discovery or invention in science is an island. Science is incremental, every development is made on the backs of others that are made on the backs of others etc etc. "Breakthrough" is a misleading label as it implies one big discovery in isolation that changes everything, in reality almost every breakthrough is just the straw/few final straws that break the camels back.

gravenewworld

If a glyco code exists for the cell, finding it.

Hobin

Sustainable muon-catalyzed fusion in a tiny box.

jobyts

Sustainable muon-catalyzed glyco coded nuclear quantum fusion powered computers in a tiny box.

f95toli

A dramatic improvement in battery technology?

wuliheron

The suppositories are easier to use.