On the Tech Horizon—Health, Space, and Environmental Innovations

Technology is rapidly evolving—raising questions for policymakers about how to promote innovations while also protecting Americans from harm. Perhaps no example is as striking as the debate over Artificial Intelligence (AI).

But AI isn’t the only emerging technology that could dramatically affect human health, the economy, or environment. Here at GAO, our team of scientists and experts are looking beyond the trends of today to identify emerging technologies that could have broad impacts in the future. While we regularly report to policymakers about emerging technologies, we recently issued our first periodic report for Congress about major innovations and the policy questions they raise.

Today’s WatchBlog post looks at this first report, which highlights innovations in gene editing, space-based manufacturing, and bioplastics.

Image

Gene editing could treat previously untreatable diseases

Gene editing shows promise for treating and preventing diseases that have previously been hard to treat—such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, cystic fibrosis, high cholesterol, and more. Gene editing technology alters DNA to change the characteristics of a person’s cells. Perhaps the best-known gene editing tool is CRISPR, which was developed in 2012 and has led to new and improved ways to edit DNA.

So far, gene editing is only approved in the U.S. to treat sickle cell anemia. This treatment involves editing some of a patient’s DNA to correct a genetic mutation in cells. While the treatment shows promise, it is costly—about $2.2 million per patient. This high price tag is due to the high costs of the treatment’s development, manufacturing, and clinical trials.

Costs like these are just one obstacle that could slow the availability of gene editing treatments. Advancements and use of gene editing treatments will also depend on policymakers’ decisions affecting health care, reproductive rights, public health, and health privacy. For example, policymakers may decide new policies and regulations are needed to streamline the regulatory approval process to help bring gene editing treatments to market. They may also need to decide whether publicly funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid will cover these more expensive treatments.

We outline more of the policy questions and key developments for gene editing in our new report.

A Multichannel Pipette is Used to Prepare Samples on a Microplate

Image

Space, the final frontier… for manufacturing?

Decades after humans launched the first satellite, research, exploration, and national security issues have dominated space activity. But what was once described as the final frontier is now the new frontier—for commerce.

In recent years, private entities have increasingly commercialized space. An emerging application of this commercialization is space-based manufacturing.

Space’s unique microgravity environment could improve certain manufacturing processes such as crystallization. In microgravity, liquids and gases behave differently, which can result in improved materials or crystalline structures.

And research continues in manufacturing semiconductor materials, pharmaceuticals, fiber optics, and biological tissue in space. In our new report, we specifically looked at space-based manufacturing of semiconductor materials. Semiconductors are widely used in products such as computers, consumer electronics, communications equipment, medical devices, and automobiles. Demand for semiconductor technologies is growing—especially in areas like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and 6G communications. Space-based manufacturing may help meet that demand.

NASA Astronaut Uses Microgravity Science Glovebox for Experiment

Image

Although promising, the advancement of space-based manufacturing faces some key hurdles. For example, space-based manufacturing requires developing and launching specialized facilities and transporting materials. While launch costs have decreased significantly over the decades, they are still costly. Additionally, the semiconductor supply chain could still rely on foreign entities for raw materials.

We outlined these challenges and more in our new report. We also look at key policy questions for policymakers.

Biodegradable bioplastics could reduce pollution, but may come with tradeoffs

Plastic pollution is a big problem that has continuously increased over the past 50 years. Biodegradable bioplastics may help downgrade this issue. These plastics are made from biological materials that break down more quickly than conventional plastics. But they only comprise about 0.5% of global plastic production each year.

Artistic Rendering Comparing Bioplastic Degradation to a Banana Peel in Soil

Image

Having the prefix “bio” doesn’t necessarily mean that a product is better for the environment. Consumers and policymakers will need to be informed about the tradeoffs when considering plastic alternatives. For example, while bioplastics may biodegrade faster, they could end up releasing CO2 into the environment (the ocean, for example) more quickly than other plastics. If this breakdown and release occurred at a high volume, it could lead to acidification of ocean water.

Learn more about the different kinds of materials being used to create biodegradable bioplastics in our new report. And check out GAO’s additional Science & Technology work for Congress by visiting our special topic page about this work.

• GAO’s fact-based, nonpartisan information helps Congress and federal agencies improve government. The WatchBlog lets us contextualize GAO’s work a little more for the public. Check out more of our posts at GAO.gov/blog.
   
• Got a question? Email us at blog@gao.gov.