Today and Tomorrow and
Asimov's Today and Tomorrow and... presents science as humanity's evolving story, where today's choices build tomorrow's endless possibilities, guiding our survival and future direction.
Let us discuss Today and Tomorrow and..., a remarkable work by Isaac Asimov that invites us to ponder the very fabric of our existence and the paths we might yet tread. It is important to clarify, however, that Today and Tomorrow and... is not a fictional story with a traditional plot that can be given away. Rather, it is Asimov’s profound attempt to present science not as a fixed collection of facts, but as an evolving narrative—a living story that links humanity's present capabilities with the boundless possibilities of tomorrow. Thus, what we explore here is the "plot" of scientific discovery itself, a journey Asimov meticulously charts, offering both a backward glance and a forward vision rooted deeply in logic and wonder.
The "story" begins with a fundamental inquiry: What is science for? Asimov, with his characteristic clarity, posits that science is far more than mere accumulated knowledge; it is a fundamental method, a systematic way to understand the universe around us. Its purpose, he explains, is intrinsically tied to survival and control. From the moment our ancient ancestors first harnessed fire to the present-day marvels of spaceflight, every scientific endeavor has been driven by our innate desire to comprehend our environment sufficiently to shape it—sometimes with great success, and at other times with unforeseen consequences. This intricate dance between human discovery and the direction we choose to take it forms the very core narrative of Today and Tomorrow and....
To truly grasp the present, Asimov insists we must first understand the past. The book embarks on an ambitious journey through humanity’s scientific evolution, from the rudimentary tools of our distant forebears to the sophisticated technologies of today. We witness the transformative power of the Agricultural Revolution, which allowed societies to settle, observe the celestial dance of seasons, and ultimately lay the groundwork for written language. Then came the profound Scientific Revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, spearheaded by titans like Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton. This era marked a pivotal shift, as the universe, once perceived as magical and unpredictable, began to reveal itself as ordered and lawful, describable through the elegant language of mathematics. By the 20th century, revolutionary concepts such as relativity, quantum theory, and genetics had shattered older assumptions, forging entirely new frameworks for our understanding of reality itself. It is upon this cumulative mountain of knowledge that our current world stands, yet Asimov reminds us that we have barely begun to explore the vast expanse of what is truly possible.
The narrative then plunges into the biological present and future, a realm central to Asimov’s vision. He marvels at our monumental strides, from identifying the cell as life’s fundamental building block to the groundbreaking revelation of DNA’s double helix structure in the 1950s. While modern medicine can eliminate diseases like smallpox and perform heart transplants, Asimov projects a future where biology will be even more profoundly transformative. He envisions genetic engineering curing hereditary ailments, reshaping crops, and even, controversially, modifying human embryos. Neuroscience, too, may unlock new avenues for enhancing intelligence or modulating mood through biochemical interventions. And perhaps most tantalizingly, the control of aging might one day transition from fantasy to reality, should we unravel the cellular processes that govern it, potentially delaying or even reversing its effects. Yet, Asimov, ever the pragmatist, consistently reminds us that such advances invariably bring with them profound ethical decisions. Should we indeed create "designer babies"? Is indefinite life extension a desirable or even sustainable goal? Tomorrow’s breakthroughs, he cautions, will be as much moral as they are technical.
Next, the "story" shifts to the physical sciences, where our understanding of matter and energy has bestowed upon us unparalleled technological might. Nuclear energy, a potent symbol of this power, stands as a formidable double-edged sword, capable of illuminating cities or obliterating them. Asimov’s vision for the future lies in the mastery of fusion, a process that promises cleaner, safer energy generation, mirroring the very power of stars themselves. He describes how material science is actively forging substances lighter than aluminum yet stronger than steel, hinting at a future where machines could be constructed from "smart materials" capable of reacting, adapting, or even self-repairing. The challenges of energy storage and generation are also keenly addressed; with fossil fuels dwindling, Asimov foresees the necessity of solar power, hydrogen cells, and even space-based energy collectors. We are, he notes, steadily learning to manipulate the atomic, the molecular, and soon, the quantum. What was once the stuff of science fiction—force fields, invisibility cloaks, or ultra-efficient power—is steadily emerging onto the horizon of plausibility.
No exploration of Asimov’s vision would be complete without a journey into space: the final frontier. This was a topic that ignited his imagination like few others. While humans had reached the Moon at the time of the book's writing, Asimov boldly charts a clear progression. He predicts the industrialization of Near-Earth space, with satellites managing communication, weather forecasting, and navigation, long before GPS became a commonplace reality. The Moon itself, he suggests, could host permanent research bases, serve as a site for mining operations, or even become a crucial launch station for deeper space missions. Mars, in his view, is destined for human exploration and eventual colonization. Robotic missions are merely a preparatory step; Asimov was unwavering in his conviction that interplanetary travel is a matter of "when," not "if". In the far distant future, the ultimate ambition of terraforming might render other planets habitable, and perhaps humanity will even construct generation ships to reach the distant stars. For Asimov, space is not a luxury, but a necessity, our very survival potentially hinging on our evolution into a multi-planet species.
The narrative continues to unfold with the advent of computers and intelligence. Asimov, remarkably prescient, foresaw a world where machines would eventually store and process the entire corpus of human knowledge. He predicted automation not merely replacing manual labor, but extending its reach to encompass mental tasks. His vision encompassed artificial intelligence capable of mimicking or even surpassing human cognition, along with global networks of information—a concept strikingly similar to the internet that now permeates our lives. Yet, Asimov’s perspective remained clear-eyed. He understood that advanced computing would compel humanity to fundamentally redefine concepts such as work, education, and identity itself. If machines can truly think, what then distinguishes us as human? If all knowledge is instantly accessible, what remains essential for us to learn? The future of intelligence, both biological and artificial, will demand not just scientific ingenuity but profound reflection.
Finally, the "story" addresses the intricate relationship between society and science. Asimov keenly understood that no discovery exists in isolation; every scientific advance inevitably impacts society, often in unpredictable ways. He delves into the formidable challenges that await future generations, including urbanization, relentless population growth, and the looming specter of resource depletion. He champions the absolute necessity of global cooperation over conflict, emphasizing that the most pressing problems of tomorrow—pollution, pandemics, energy scarcity, climate change—are not solvable by any single nation acting alone. In this light, education becomes paramount. To navigate the future successfully, citizens must comprehend science, not necessarily its complex equations, but its fundamental attitude: one characterized by skepticism, reliance on evidence, and an openness to change. Asimov passionately advocates for a scientific democracy: a world where crucial decisions are informed by verifiable data, rather than by superstition or unfounded belief.
Despite his boundless optimism and fascination with the future, Asimov concludes Today and Tomorrow and... with a crucial warning and a resounding message of optimism. Science is not destiny. The very tools we create possess the power to destroy us. Nuclear war, ecological collapse, or rogue artificial intelligences are not mere fictional constructs but very real risks. However, he asserts these dangers are not inevitable. The profound fact that we possess the capacity to imagine such catastrophic futures simultaneously grants us the power to prevent them. Ultimately, Today and Tomorrow and... is not intended as a book of mere prediction. It is, at its heart, a testament to possibility. The future, Asimov asserts, is not a predetermined script; it is built, painstakingly, brick by brick, thought by thought, decision by decision.
Asimov’s central idea, the enduring message of this "story," is beautifully simple: Today determines Tomorrow. What we collectively choose to know, to explore, and to create in the present moment will shape not only our immediate future but the very destiny of humanity itself. The journey of science is not a straight, predictable path but a branching, ever-evolving frontier. Each new discovery opens a multitude of doors—some leading to profound wonder, others to potential peril. It remains our solemn task to choose wisely, to cultivate our innate curiosity, and to forever remember that science is not the adversary of humanity but its most magnificent achievement. Tomorrow, Asimov concludes, is not a fixed destination we ultimately reach; it is, rather, a continuous direction in which we relentlessly move.
