What if drinking water could be drawn from desert air easily, without requiring enormous amounts
of electricity from a grid? What if a doctor could do a biopsy for a suspected cancer without a
blade of any sort? What if we didn't have to wait too long to find out? Technologies that make
these visions a reality are expected to become increasingly commonplace in the next few years.
This special report, compiled and produced in a collaboration between Scientific American and the
World Economic Forum's Expert Network, highlights 10 such emerging technologies.
To choose the entrants in this year's emerging technologies report, we convened a steering group
of world-renowned technology experts. The committee made recommendations and elicited suggestions
from members of the Expert Network, the forum's Global Future Councils, Scientific American's
board of advisers and others who are tuned in to burgeoning research and development in academia,
business and government. Then the group whittled down the choices by focusing on technologies that
were not yet widespread but were attracting increased funding or showing other signs of being ready
to move to the next level. The technologies also had to offer significant benefits to societies and
economies and to have the power to alter established ways of doing things. We hope you enjoy the
result, and, as always, we welcome your feedback. Read the full report on the Top 10 Emerging
Technologies of 2017 here.