How science will help us find our way to the future

The most ambitious scientific mission may be to inspire humanity to act, says the author, a co-creator of Cosmos.

Published February 13, 2020
6 min read
This story appears in the March 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine.
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.
SUBSCRIBE NOWto get access to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos.  Already a subscriber?Sign In

Unlock this Nat Geo Premium content–and much more

Want to keep exploring? Unlock this exclusive story and more with Nat Geo Premium.
Already a subscriber?
Sign In

More from this series

To save birds, should we kill off cats?
‘It’s cool to be cold’: Confessions of frigid-weather fanatics
Why do we get annoyed? Science has irritatingly few answers.
The unappreciated legacy of African-American inventors

Go Further

Animals

Environment

History & Culture

Science

Travel

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

Read

How viruses shape our world

Read

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

Read

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

Read
  • Magazine

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Explore
See More