Your Guide to the Year in Science: 2008

Back to the Future

In 1998, a group of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory published a list of 10 environmental-technology breakthroughs expected by 2008. Here's how a few of them panned out.

The Prediction: Genetically modified crops will be widespread.

The Outcome: Most corn, soybean and cotton crops in the U.S. are genetically modified to resist pests or tolerate herbicides. But genetic modification is a controversial topic in many countries and is not in wide use throughout the rest of the world.

The Prediction: We'll live in a paperless society.

The Outcome: Sure, we have e-books and e-readers, but paper still rules cubicle-land. According to paper industry analyst RISI, U.S. consumption of paper products in the office peaked at 14.7 million tons in 1999 and declined to 12.7 million tons in 2006.

The Prediction: Cars will get at least 80 miles per gallon.

The Outcome: SUVs still rule the road, so average fuel economy this year will remain at a little more than 20 miles per gallon. But things may soon change, as 15 states have adopted or are considering emission regulations that will require a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions from new vehicles by 2016.

The Prediction: The world will be filled with "green" products.

What Really Happened: There are many green products available, and Americans now recycle 32 percent of their waste. This is double the amount recycled during the early 1990s.-Melinda Wenner

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