The Next Big Thing

Experience the world's most promising technological innovations and the science behind them in this entertaining photo-rich book.

For futurists and sci-tech enthusiasts, every page reveals advances powering our future, with on-site interviews, deep explainers, and helpful visuals.

What will our future look like?

In The Next Big Thing, meteorologist and science reporter Rob Marciano invites readers to take a journey through the innovations that will change our lives for the better in four key realms of science:

• Energy - How will we power the planet? Marciano ventures inside a nuclear fusion reactor to learn about sustainable, near-infinite energy.
• Electricity - Marciano goes airborne in an electric one-person aircraft—could be tomorrow's Uber!
• Infrastructure - Can we build cleaner cities? Marciano visits Ascent, a timber skyscraper in Milwaukee.
• Information - Is AI friend or foe? Marciano meets android SOPHIA and asks her that question.

Complementing Marciano's reporting, physicist James Trefil unpacks the science behind each innovation and highlights other promising developments: solid-state batteries, quantum computers, 3-D printed homes, and robots.

By the end of this book, you won't just hope for a better future. You'll believe in it—by understanding the bold science and technology making it happen.“Like many people, I’ve been finding the future a little terrifying of late. But this book leaves me reassured and even excited!” - Dan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of 10% Happier

"In The Next Big Thing, swashbuckling meteorologist and storm chaser Rob Marciano flexes his science geek side, taking us to, and through, the fascinating and technological innovations that will change our world. With vivid color photos and first-person accounts, this book is a great read for science geeks and novices alike." - Dan Abrams, chief legal affairs anchor for ABC News and New York Times bestselling author of John Adams Under Fire


"The Next Big Thing is an optimistic look into the future with a preview of the technologies that will make the world a better place . . . an inspiring journey that clearly and smartly describes the science and engineering that will make it all possible." - Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut and New York Times bestselling author of SpacemanRob Marciano (author) is an American science journalist and meteorologist who reports for CBS News, providing forecasts for CBS Mornings and reporting on the latest weather headlines across CBS News broadcasts and platforms. He worked previously for ABC News, CNN, and as co-host of Entertainment Tonight. A Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, he lives in Rye, New York.

James Trefil (coauthor) is the Clarence Robinson professor of physics at George Mason University, internationally regarded as an expert in making advanced scientific concepts understandable to the general public. The author, coauthor, or editor of dozens of books and articles, he recently coauthored Cosmic Queries with Neil deGrasse Tyson. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia.