HALLIE EPHRON: Last week, to a huge fanfare, NASA published the first photo of a black hole. Sounds like an oxymoron, right?
Because how could you photograph... well, never mind, there it is. Looking for all the world like a golden donut. Something I thought I'd never see. Like the Yeti. Or El Dorado. Or a purple cow.It got me thinking about all those things we never thought we'd see and then we did. Like:
- the dark side of the moon
- the Red Sox win the world series
- a 3-D printer
- fake hamburger at BurgerKing (apparently coming soon to an outlet near you)
- gene editing cures children born with compromised immune systems
I'm still waiting for ruby slippers, a time machine, and a cure for Alzheimers. So what are the things you thought you'd never see and the you did... and what remains elusive?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Hallie? I was hoping your darling
husband could give us a little black hole lesson.Anyway! I REALLY want to see the Loch Ness monster. And beings from other planets. Just as likely (maybe) I'd adore to have a dishwasher that empties itself, but I have to say I am grateful for mine (and the washing machine) every day.
Who'd a thought fax machines would be obsolete? And we have a stash of DVDs but no longer nay device to play them on. And now
I have gotten into the habit of telling appliances what to do, but only a few of them do it. And mapping the human genome--that's pretty amazing. Who'd have thought we could trace ancestors and relatives based on spit? And I still marvel at on demand digital TV--remember when "instant replay" seemed like magic? And when the Dick Tracy two-way radio seemed ridiculous.
Self-driving cars--I could do without.
What I wish for? A memory protector. And a device of some kind that would secretly remind me of people's names. And some way to make sure everyone has food and a place to live.
JENN McKINLAY: And let's give credit where credit is due - Katie
Bouman, MIT grad student, created one of the critical algorithms used by the team of over two hundred international researchers, to be able to manifest that photo. Can I just say - Go, Girl! And as for things I thought I'd never see? Myself as married or a mom. It was not on my agenda (shrug). I really thought we'd have colonies on Mars by now, so that disappoints :) And I really wish there was a way to have men birth the babies. It's their turn. I'm just sayin'.
RHYS BOWEN: Video phones! They seemed so cool when people on Star Trek and the like could see each other when they communicated. But now the reality of FaceTime, Skype means I have to spruce myself up to make a phone call.
I never thought we'd see cure for disease by altering genes, being able to map ancestry through DNA.
However I thought we'd see equality for women by now. Hah.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: Flying cars! I'm still waiting for flying cars! And transporter beams! I mean, we have "communicators" now, and "tri-corders (more or less)" so why not those?
LUCY BURDETTE: I have to say that the black hole business boggles my mind. I too would like a lesson from our resident physicist Hallie!
Speaking of cars, our Subaru does things I'd never imagined--it beeps like mad when it thinks you might back into something. Sometimes we accuse it of over-reacting, and sometimes I'm so glad I didn't run over the person it spotted! It will also slow you down if you're following too closely and slam on the brakes if it feels the need. I would like everyone to have those features so we're all a little safer!
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Can I say I never thought I'd see HID FROM OUR EYES finished? Ba-DUM-bump! Of course, the first things that come to mind in the "never thought I'd see" category are political, but I'll be good and elide over that topic. Some of mine are personal - I never thought I'd see my children grown (or nearly so) holding down real jobs, serving in the military, thinking of getting married. I mean, I know this stuff happens to 99% of all humanity, but when you're in the throes of child-rearing, the fact it might end never seems quite real.
I never thought I'd see China rise to compete with the US for the title of "Most Influential Nation in the World." Does
anyone else remember being told to "Eat your food, there are children starving in China?" There's a funny twist on this in CRAZY RICH ASIANS where a wealthy Singaporean Chinese dad tells his kids, "Eat up! There are kids going hungry in America!" (On reflection, it's probably not that funny...) On the things I still want to see: people on Mars! A cure for Alzheimer's! I can skip on the flying cars, but I'm totally down with truly autonomic vehicles that will enable me to read while on the road. Oh, and as I start planning getting the house painted, I'm still waiting for a safe paint that can match the coverage and long life of those terrible, wonderful lead paints. How's that for a specific wish!
HALLIE: So what did you think you'd never see and 'lo and behold, here it is? And by the way... YOU'LL NEVER KNOW DEAR is downpriced! Going for $1.99 starting Monday for one week only! Here's a link to booksellers.
