Two researchers claim that humans in the future may have larger heads, Google Glass type contact lenses and sideways-blinking oversized Disney eyes that glow green with cat-like night vision.
"This is speculation based on reason," artist Nickolay Lamm told the New York Daily News.
"When I designed it I wasn't thinking of anime, but I can see the resemblance. It's kind of a coincidence that happened," he said.
Lamm collaborated with computational geneticist Alan Kwan to envision a future where zygotic genome engineering technology develops to the point where humans will be able to control their own evolution the way we control electrons today.
This ability, could result in more facial features that humans find intrinsically attractive: strong lines, straight nose, intense eyes and perfect symmetry. But other changes will be driven by function, the researchers suggest.
Kwan thinks that the human head might expand to accommodate a larger brain as our knowledge of the universe increases. This future human would appear to have a "subtly too large" forehead.
They also believe that millennia of space colonisation could also produce larger eyes to account for dimmer environments when humans live farther from the sun and darker skin in general to protect against UV radiation beyond the Earth's ozone.
Perhaps their most remarkable conjecture is that future humans could start to blink sideways like owls to "protect from cosmic ray effects," the researchers added.
However, Kwan and Lamm insist that their experiment was always intended to be more existential than scientific.
"I just tried to do this for fun. This project was more for entertainment purposes," Lamm said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
