Technology improves at an overwhelming pace. The prospect of exponential growth has some people making fantastic predictions. Eg. “In 15 years, life expectancies will start rising faster than we age”.
I’m a big believer in the power of human invention. But I stumbled upon a somewhat sobering magazine article a few days ago.
CAN WE CRASH THE DEADLY FLAME BARRIER? (Oct, 1955)
Fly a plane fast enough and friction will melt it. Can we “put out the fire?”
As near as I can tell, the answer is no. Worse, maximum airspeed has declined over the years. For example, the absolute air-speed record of 2,194 MPH was set in 1976 with a currently retired aircraft. In 1976, we came up against the heat barrier, and could not break it. Since then, we have also retired the only two models of supersonic transport aircraft to see active service. The minimum time to cross the Atlantic is higher today then 20 years ago.
Now it’s safe to say that miles per gallon of fuel, and speed / gallon, have increased since 1976. This is almost certainly of more practical importance to the world. But I think it’s worth noting an example of a purely-technological dimension that has regressed with time. Not everything in technology doubles every two years.