Lost futures

We were promised jetpacks: 10 futures that never arrived

Image: isaac.

From jetpacks to robot servants, past generations had big dreams for the 21st century. Magazines, sci-fi writers, and even scientists once imagined a future far flashier than today’s reality. But many of these predictions never came true—or at least not in the ways they expected. Here's a roundup of 10 things we were supposed to have mastered by now… but haven’t.

Image: SpaceX

In the 1960s, Bell Aerosystems developed a working jetpack prototype, and the media rushed to predict that personal flight would soon be common.

The Bell Rocket Belt was even showcased at the 1964 World’s Fair, but its 21-second flight limit and high fuel consumption prevented it from achieving mass adoption. Modern versions exist but are expensive and impractical for daily use.

Image: MeSSrro

Popular Mechanics and other similar magazines predicted that flying cars would fill the skies by the turn of the millennium.

Despite prototypes like the quirky Aerocar of the 1950s and today’s advances in vertical takeoff and electric aviation, flying cars remain more dream than reality.

Image: NASA

Another 20th-century dream cut short: after the 1969 moon landing, many experts expected permanent lunar bases by the year 2000.

However, while NASA and many other space agencies proposed moon settlements, political and financial cuts halted long-term plans. Only robotic missions have visited our cosmic companion since 1972.

Image: Mick Haupt

Post-WWII futurists believed that humanity would eventually engineer the weather using satellites or ground tech. Projects like "Project Stormfury" attempted hurricane modification, but the results were inconclusive.

Cloud seeding exists, but its effectiveness is debated, and large-scale weather control remains out of reach.

Image: Possessed Photography

Since the 1950s, popular media such as The Jetsons have promised human-like domestic robots. While Roombas and virtual assistants like Alexa exist, most prototypes of humanoid home robots still struggle with dexterity, reliability, and cost.

Unfortunately, for now, the bulk of household cleaning still falls to humans rather than their long-imagined robotic helpers.

Image: Jerrick Castillo

Visionaries like Jacques Cousteau imagined thriving oceanic cities by the 21st century.

Though experimental habitats like Conshelf and SeaLab were tested, persistent challenges such as pressure and high costs of building make long-term underwater living largely unrealistic.

Image: Riku Lu

Sci-fi from the 1980s often portrayed people learning languages or skills in seconds with the aid of advanced technology.

Brain–computer interfaces do exist, but they remain in early developmental stages, and the idea of "downloading" information directly into the human brain is far beyond the capabilities of current neuroscience.

Image: Michael Pointner

Inspired by shows like Star Trek, people thought teleportation might be real by now.

Quantum teleportation has been achieved at the particle level, but it doesn’t move matter—only quantum states. For now, human teleportation remains firmly in the realm of fiction.

Image: Daniele Franchi

Einstein’s theories sparked dreams of real-life time travel by manipulating relativity.

While time dilation is a real phenomenon observed at extreme speeds and in strong gravitational fields, constructing a machine capable of traveling into the past remains impossible under our current understanding of physics.

Image: Ksenia Yakovleva

Mid-century futurists expected food to eventually be replaced with efficient tablets.

While nutrient pills and protein bars exist, actual meals still require bulk calories and texture, something a pill just can’t provide. Even in specialized environments—like astronauts aboard space stations—the idea remains highly impractical for real diets.

Hospital secrets

What is a "Code Gray" and what you should know if you hear it at the E.R.

A trip to the emergency room can be stressful enough without hearing doctors and nurses speak a language that sounds like a secret code. One minute, someone is asking for medication "STAT," the next there’s a "Code Gray," and another patient is suddenly "NPO." What do those words really mean? Some are official medical terms, others are insider slang, but they all help hospital staff communicate quickly when every second counts. Here are 10 of those codes explained.

The E.R. can be hectic and unpredictable. Most patients are frightened or uncomfortable, but now and then someone becomes aggressive because of pain, confusion, mental illness, or the effects of alcohol or other substances. That’s when you can hear "Code Gray" announced over the speakers.

The code is used to summon security officers to help manage a violent or combative situation. While color codes vary from one hospital to another, Code Gray commonly signals that staff needs extra assistance to protect patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. Even if you know it now, most people in the waiting room never know what happened, and that’s exactly the point.

You have a scheduled surgery, you’re in your bed waiting to be taken to the surgery room, and you ask for a cup of coffee to make the wait lighter. The nurse will probably tell you you’re an NPO. You may think it’s serious, but it’s simply a procedure.

"NPO" is an abbreviation that comes from the Latin phrase Nil Per Os, which means "nothing by mouth." It tells patients they cannot eat, drink, or sometimes even take medication until doctors say it’s safe. The rule is most common before surgery or certain medical tests, when food or liquids could increase the risk of complications or alter the results. It may be frustrating, but it’s an important part of keeping patients safe.

You’ve probably been through the experience of visiting an emergency room, either to get checked or to visit a loved one. In that part of the hospital where everyone is rushing to save lives, you’ve probably heard a doctor asking for the R.C.P. cart or medication "STAT!" It sounds urgent, and that's because it is.

The expression comes from the Latin statim, which means "immediately" or "without delay." Hospitals have used Latin medical terms for centuries, but STAT is one of the few that remains part of everyday conversation. When a doctor says it, the request jumps to the top of the priority list. It doesn’t always refer to a life-or-death situation, but it does mean the medical team needs something done as quickly as possible.

Newborns are always a reason to celebrate at the hospital. Parents usually rest happily next to their child as they receive congratulations from close relatives. However, the hospital is always prepared to handle extremely rare emergencies under "code pink."

If you hear a "Code Pink," it usually means a baby or young child is suspected of being abducted from the hospital. Within seconds, security officers respond, exits may be monitored or blocked, and staff begins following carefully rehearsed procedures. Although different hospitals sometimes use different color codes, Code Pink has become widely recognized across North America as one of the most serious alerts a hospital can issue.

If you’ve ever spent a few days in the hospital, you’ve probably noticed that some patients are walking up and down the halls, while others need help just getting out of bed. When a nurse refers to someone as a "walkie-talkie," it’s actually good news.

This informal expression refers to patients who can walk on their own, use the bathroom without assistance, and handle most basic tasks independently. It’s not an official medical term, of course, but it’s commonly used among healthcare workers because it quickly tells the next shift that the patient requires less hands-on care than many others.

As nurses change shifts, you’ll often hear them give a quick report about each patient. One person may only need medication, while another is described as a "total."

The term is short for a patient who requires total care. They may need help eating, bathing, getting dressed, turning in bed, or moving from one place to another. Although the expression sounds impersonal, it’s simply a practical way for caregivers to communicate how much assistance someone needs.

Most people hear "frequent flyer" and think of an airline reward program. And that’s correct, but in an emergency room, the phrase has a very different meaning.

A frequent flyer is an informal nickname for patients who repeatedly return to the hospital, often due to chronic illness, recurring medical conditions, or other ongoing health issues. Behind the light-hearted nickname is often a difficult reality. Many of these patients are simply dealing with medical problems that require regular emergency care, and the expression is just a way to make the experience a bit lighter among the familiar faces of doctors and nurses.

Not all codes are for patients. The next time you’re in a hospital, look closely at what the nurse is pushing from room to room. It may look like a small rolling desk with a computer on top. Staff often call it a "WOW," short for "workstation on wheels."

As hospitals switched from paper charts to electronic medical records, these mobile computers became essential. Nurses use them to review test results, scan medications, update patient charts, and check doctors’ orders without leaving the bedside. The name sounds funny, but the technology helps caregivers spend more time with patients instead of walking back and forth to a nursing station.

After getting a shot or having blood drawn, most patients never think about where the used needle ends up. It certainly doesn't go into an ordinary trash can.

Hospitals place needles, scalpels, and other sharp medical instruments into special containers designed to prevent accidental injuries. These sturdy, puncture-resistant boxes are sealed when full and safely disposed of in accordance with strict health regulations. This not only protects nurses, but it also protects cleaning crews, waste handlers, and even the public from dangerous needle sticks. It’s one of the most important safety measures in every hospital, even though most patients never notice it.

If you’ve ever watched a medical drama, you've probably seen a patient become so agitated that several staff members rush into the room. In situations like that, a doctor or nurse may ask for a "B-52." But the name has nothing to do with numbers themselves; it actually comes from a medicine.

B-52 is hospital slang for a fast-acting injection used to calm down patients who are severely combative or at risk of harming themselves or others. The nickname comes from a commonly used combination of medications that usually include diphenhydramine, haloperidol, and lorazepam. It’s strictly reserved for when other methods of calming the patient haven’t worked.