3.D: Grand Challenges
Harness science and technology to address the "grand challenges" of the 21st century. Other Information:
The President’s renewed commitment to science, technology and innovation will allow the nation to set and meet ambitious goals
that will improve our quality of life and establish the foundation for the industries and jobs of the future. Examples include:
•Complete DNA sequencing of every case of cancer; smart anti-cancer therapeutics that kill cancer cells and leave their normal
neighbors untouched; early detection of dozens of diseases from a saliva sample; nanotechnology that delivers drugs precisely
to the desired tissue; personalized medicine that enables the prescription of the right dose of the right drug for the right
person; a universal vaccine for influenza that will protect against all future strains; and regenerative medicine that can
end the agonizing wait for an organ transplant. •Solar cells as cheap as paint, and green buildings that produce all of the
energy they consume. •A light-weight vest for soldiers and police officers that can stop an armor-piercing bullet. •Educational
software that is as compelling as the best video game and as effective as a personal tutor; online courses that improve the
more students use them; and a rich, interactive digital library at the fingertips of every child. •Intelligent prosthetics
that will allow a veteran who has lost both of his arms to play the piano again. •Biological systems that can turn sunlight
into carbon-neutral fuel, reduce the costs of producing anti-malarial drugs by a factor of 10, and quickly and inexpensively
dispose of radioactive wastes and toxic chemicals. •An "exascale" supercomputer capable of a million trillion calculations
per second – dramatically increasing our ability to understand the world around us through simulation and slashing the time
needed to design complex products such as therapeutics, advanced materials, and highly-efficient autos and aircraft. •Automatic,
highly accurate and real-time translation between the major languages of the world – greatly lowering the barriers to international
commerce and collaboration.
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