For centuries, scientists have strived to predict the future.
But to what extent have they succeeded? Can past events-Hurricane
Katrina, the Internet stock bubble, the SARS outbreak-help us
understand what will happen next? Will scientists ever really be
able to forecast catastrophes, or will we always be at the mercy of
Mother Nature, waiting for the next storm, epidemic, or economic
crash to thunder through our lives? In The Future of Everything,
David Orrell looks back at the history of forecasting, from the
time of the oracle at Delphi to the rise of astrology to the advent
of the TV weather report, showing us how scientists and some
charlatans predicted the future. How can todays scientists claim
to anticipate future weather events when even thee-day forecasts
prove a serious challenge? How can we predict and control
epidemics? Can we accurately foresee our financial future? Or will
we only find out about tomorrow when tomorrow arrives?
關於作者:
David Orrell, Ph.D., received his doctorate in mathematics
from the University of Oxford. His work in the prediction of
complex systems has been featured in New Scientist and the
Financial Times, and on BBC Radio, ABC Radio Australia, and NPR.
He now conducts research in the area of systems biology.