THE LAUNCH of Sputnik by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957, sent shockwaves through the United States, not the least of which was a fear of being overshadowed in science and technology. In 1960, a small group of them formed an independent organization, known as the Jasons, to help the U.S. government solve its most vexing technological problems. For more than six decades, the Jasons have labored every summer to tackle mind-bending challenges. Today’s technology enigmas are no less daunting than those of the 1960s: climate change, antibiotic resistance, cybersecurity, genetic engineering, privacy and more. The United States imprudently abolished the Office of Technology Assessment two decades ago.

Source: Washington Post April 16, 2019 00:00 UTC