Background
The late 20th and early 21st century have become a time of technological wonders.  From the end of World War II  to the present, man has begun to explore space, created an information superhighway, and has made advances in keeping humans healthy and long lived.  These advances are only a small measure of the scientific and technological achievements of the modern world.

Arms Race
After World War II. the United States and the Soviet Union began a program of arms building that lasted almost 50 years and costs hundreds of trillions of dollars.  The main focus of this arms race was the development of nuclear weapons, and systems to either protect against, or attack in case they were used.  The offshoot of this weapons build up was civilian applications for military products, such as nuclear energy.

The Green Revolution
Throughout the 20th century, scientists worked on improving agriculture, especially in areas with high populations.  Some of the technologies developed included better irrigation systems so farmers could get water to their crops.  New machinery was built to handle larger production and to take the burden of agriculture work off of humans.  New chemical fertilizers and pesticides were created to increase food production, and new varieties of grains and livestock were developed also for greater production.  The Green Revolution has had only limited success.  The high costs associated with many of these new technologies have kept the small farmer from taking advantage of them.

Information Age
Computer Revolution: Early computers were so large they filled up entire rooms and were incredibly slow.  Today, computers sit on desktops and can perform many complex operations at once.  Computers have allowed people to obtain, process, and disseminate information very quickly.  Businesses rely almost completely on computers for a variety of tasks, and they are becoming more prominent in homes and school.  The great increase in use of the computer is called the Computer Revolution.

The Internet: The Internet is a vast network of computers from all around the world that links individuals, businesses, and governments. It allows for the rapid exchange of information, it is used to conduct all levels of business, and is increasing becoming a new form of entertainment.  The Internet is also being increasingly used in education as jobs in industrialized countries move away from manufacturing, and into information services.

The Space Age
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, a satellite into orbit around the earth.  Soon after, the United States Congress created the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, or NASA to develop American space technology.  This created the Space Race during the Cold War.  The Soviets put the first man into space in 1961, and the U.S. put the first man on the moon in 1969.  Both countries also developed military applications for space, such as spy satellites.

Satellites and Deep Space Probes: From the 1970s through today many countries have sent satellites and probes into space.  The U.S. leads the way today with the largest space program.  In the late 1970s the U.S. developed a reusable space vehicle, the Space Shuttle.  The shuttle has been used to launch hundreds of satellites and probes.  Today these include, weather, television and communication, navigational, and military satellites. Probes have been sent to the ends of our solar system and have explored planets such as, Mars and Venus.  The Hubble Space Telescope has been able to send back amazing pictures of other solar systems, some similar to our own.

Medical Technology
Since the end of World War II, medical science have made amazing advances.  Today, people live longer, healthier lives, infant mortality is down, and the quality of life has been raised.

New Challenges
Genetic Engineering: The process of changing the chemical code carrier by living things may hold promise for creating new drugs and curing disease.  In 1997, the first complete clone was created, which has since caused a lot of controversy.  How far should science go to preserve human life?

New Epidemics: The biggest epidemic of modern times is AIDS.  Scientists continue to search for a cure to this disease which has cost millions their lives.  Other recent epidemics include both pneumonia and bubonic plague in India, and the spread of the Ebola virus through parts of Africa.

Drug Resistant Diseases:  The widespread use of antibiotics has allowed some types of disease microbes to become resistant.  Certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, which doctors once thought under control, have become a threat again.

Deforestation:  The destruction of the world's tropical rainforest could very well also be destroying potential cures to many diseases.  Also, many medicines available today derive from plants in the rainforests.  When the forests are gone, so will these medicines be gone.