In 1969 it was a one-hit-wonder called: “In the Year 2525.” In its dystopian view of the future artificial technology will replace the usefulness of humans. As relates to procreation one verse goes:
In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
We already saw that coming 20+ years ago with Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) and IVF. Now the innovation is an artificial womb. Researchers from Australia and from Pennsylvania, apparently working independent of each other, have made announcements this year that great progress has been made in being able to continue fetal maturation in a machine or artificial wound.
Both sets of researchers hope developments along this line will help in caring for prematurely born infants who otherwise might not be able to live. What a wonderfully blessing that would be! It also raises new challenges about the way we talk, practice and legislate abortion. You can check out what I wrote about it here.
Also, if you are ready for a flashback experience, you can relive 1969 and listen to “In the Year 2525” on YouTube.
