Future World

What is the metaverse, exactly? Why is everyone going nuts over this? Why has it become such a fascination in the digital world? How do we content ourselves with the concept of the Metaverse? So, if these questions spark your interest, why not take on a quest to discover what it is? The metaverse is an idea that has been around for a long time but has recently gained attention.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of people and infected millions while also devastating the world economy. The consequences of the pandemic, however, go much further: they threaten the fabric of national and international politics around the world. What will be the consequences of the pandemic, and what will a post-COVID world order look like? No institution is better suited to address these issues than Johns Hopkins University, which has convened experts from within and outside of the university to discuss world order after COVID-19.

This book provides actionable solutions to most of the problems facing the world today, and it all starts with direct democracy. This revolutionary system of government aims to take the power away from short-sighted and self-serving politicians and bring the power to the people through online voting. We must change this broken system and evolve democracy to what it can be in this technological age.

In this uncompromising essay, Jonathan Crary presents the obvious but unsayable reality: our "digital age" is synonymous with the disastrous terminal stage of global capitalism and its financialization of social existence, mass impoverishment, ecocide, and military terror. Scorched Earth surveys the wrecking of a living world by the internet complex and its devastation of communities and their capacities for mutual support.

How can we, as parents, raise resilient, self-driven children who are truly prepared for a world that’s rapidly changing, when traditional schooling often prioritizes outdated facts and test scores over essential skills, character, and an entrepreneurial mindset? This book offers a hands-on, practical guide inspired by insights from technology, business, and psychology—equipping you with strategies that truly prepare kids for the future.

Humans depend on soil for 95 percent of global food production, yet let it erode at unsustainable rates. In the United States, China, and India, vast tracts of farmland will be barren of topsoil within this century. The combination of intensifying erosion caused by climate change and the increasing food needs of a growing world population is creating a desperate need for solutions to this crisis.

When Iranians overthrew their monarchy, rejecting a pro-Western shah in favor of an Islamic regime, many observers predicted that revolutionary turmoil would paralyze the country for decades to come. Yet 40 years after the 1978-79 revolution, Iran has emerged as a critical player in the Middle East and the wider world, as demonstrated in part by the 2015 international nuclear agreement. In Iran Rising, renowned Iran specialist Amin Saikal describes how the country has managed to survive despite ongoing domestic struggles, Western sanctions, and other serious challenges.

Our national security increasingly depends on access to the most sophisticated and advanced technology. Yet the next time we set out to capture a terrorist leader, we may fail. Why? The answer lies in a conflict between two worlds. One is the dynamic, global, commercial world with its thriving innovations. The other is the world of national security, in which innovation is a matter of life or death. The conflict is about secrecy. Innovating in a Secret World is a detailed examination of the current trends in often secret national security-related research and development (R&D).

Many of us have asked ourselves, am I managing my career the best way possible? Why am I exhausted? Is there more? As businesswomen, the obstacles and systemic roadblocks are countless, and the journey through the maze of business is treacherous - but not impossible. This book provides a roadmap for women's elevation and success who need guidance in their mission to become the leaders they may or may not know they can be.

Paul A. Pagnato has tapped into an incredible brain trust of world-renowned experts from a diverse set of challenging disciplines, each having encountered the intersection of exponential growth and transparency. Their honest assessment for turning challenges into opportunities is inspirational. Their work is changing the world, and now through the prism of transparency, the wave of the future is upon us.

Ethan seems like a normal ten-year-old, but he has a secret. It’s not that he’s the one who accidentally filled the sunblock container with glue last summer or that he cracked the screen on his sister’s phone and blamed it on their baby brother. (Those things may have happened, but they’ve got nothing on this.) No, Ethan’s secret is that he knows time travel is real—because his future self keeps coming back to visit him. Lucky Ethan, right?

Creating your magnificent future isn’t just about imagining or dreaming. It’s about aligning your daily decisions with your desires in a way that feels natural, exciting, and totally intuitive. Master motivator and empowerment entrepreneur Gina Maier Vincent created her Exquisite Alignment Blueprint to support high-achieving, success-oriented individuals like you to break away from adherence to external authorities and expectations so you can get centered on your purpose and gifts, lean into your “More,” and create a life that feels exquisite and magical every single day.

The story of the rise of modern navigation technology, from radio location to GPS—and the consequent decline of privacy. What does it mean to never get lost? You Are Here examines the rise of our technologically aided era of navigational omniscience—or how we came to know exactly where we are at all times. Filled with tales of scientists and astronauts, inventors and entrepreneurs, You Are Here tells the story of how humankind ingeniously solved one of its oldest and toughest problems—only to herald a new era in which it’s impossible to hide.

Ami Ayalon seeks input and perspective from Palestinians and Israelis whose experiences differ from his own. As head of the Shin Bet security agency, he gained empathy for "the enemy" and learned that when Israel carries out anti-terrorist operations in a political context of hopelessness, the Palestinian public will support violence, because they have nothing to lose. Researching and writing Friendly Fire, he came to understand that his patriotic life had blinded him to the self-defeating nature of policies that have undermined Israel's civil society.

Unraveling the many myths and misconceptions surrounding America's most iconic spirit, Bourbon Empire traces a history that spans frontier rebellion, Gilded Age corruption, and the magic of Madison Avenue. Whiskey has profoundly influenced America's political, economic, and cultural destiny, just as those same factors have inspired the evolution and unique flavor of the whiskey itself.

Curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) can impact your life or career, but overwhelmed by the jargon? This simple, step-by-step guide makes AI accessible and exciting, even for those who are not tech-savvy. AI for Beginners breaks down complex ideas into clear, practical lessons you can apply right away.

Welcome to Comic-Con: where the future of pop culture comes to life. Every summer more than 130,000 comic fans, gamers, cosplay enthusiasts, and nerds of all stripes descend on San Diego to mingle with the top entertainment celebrities and creative-industry professionals in an unprecedented celebration of popular culture in all its forms.

Take a look at the vehicle sitting in your driveway. It may be the last one you ever own. With an estimated 33 million fully autonomous cars and taxis projected to hit the road by 2040, an automotive renaissance is soon to be upon us. Personal car ownership currently costs the average sedan owner $9,000 annually. But car ownership may soon be a thing of the past.

Sixteen thought-provoking short tales that will make you question everything. Take a trip through alternate realities and into many possible futures. Your view of the world will never be the same again.

In Strong Girls, Strong World, Dale Hanson Bourke draws on her international leadership and reporting experience to offer personal insights we can all use as a road map to understanding the issues girls face―and the tangible ways we can each make a difference.