The UK's Sunday Times has compiled a list of scientists' predictions for the coming decade and at the top is "zeroing in on the 2lb 14oz of grey and white custard-like stuff between your ears," writes Bryan Appleyard. Henry Markram, the director of the Blue Brain project in Switzerland, plans to reverse-engineer a brain using a supercomputer and James Watson adds that though sequencing "disorders like Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, unipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disease, attention deficit disorder and autism will finally have their genetic guts open for all to see."
Other goals for the coming years include combating global warming and space tourism, but Craig Venter has biofuels in his sights. "The debate on fuels and energy is blown out of proportion. We are very close to solving the energy needs in a way that will make our children enjoy cheaper and more efficient energy than what we see today," he says.