The US National Intelligence Council, representing the 17 intelligence agencies of the US government, says that "we are at a critical juncture in human history" in its fifth Global Trends report. The report details the challenges facing the species in the coming decades; the council says that many positive developments in health, education, and governance will propel human civilization, but that the threat of conflict could emerge as supplies of food and water become more scarce. The world's balance of power is also expected to shift, as Asia is projected to surpass North America and Europe in GDP, population size, military spending, and technological investment. Head to the source link to read the rest of the US government's detailed predictions for the years ahead.