SINGAPORE – Singapore, when it celebrates SG120, is a floating green city where robo-animals roam and cars fly. Teleportation, often explored in science fiction, is becoming a reality. Social harmony abounds.

Singapore’s youngest citizens have imagined these scenarios for 2085, another 60 years from now.

Following a call by The Straits Times in July, almost 70 children aged six to 12 have described their hopes and dreams for the future Singapore.

While every response is unique, there are four overarching themes: green city, social harmony, advanced technology and cutting-edge transportation.

Many of the responses revolve around teleportation.

As 11-year-old Tan Hui En points out, with teleportation, there will be “no more long and tedious flights”, whether travel lovers are eyeing Tokyo in Japan or distant Quito in Ecuador. 

After all, space transportation company SpaceX is envisioning this as well. Founder Elon Musk reposted a Jan 17 post on social media platform X that said SpaceX’s future “Earth to Earth” system could ferry passengers from

“Tokyo to Singapore in 28 minutes”.

While astronautical engineers sort this out, Cedric Ng Jun Xi, 11, suggests taking a cue from the world’s most popular video game. “I predict that scientists will invent real-life Ender Pearls,” he says. “Ender Pearls are items in Minecraft that you can throw and they will teleport you to wherever you throw them.”

Many responses allude to current concerns: climate change, the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) and even rising GST (goods and services tax).

However, 11-year-old Heng Su Fern believes Singapore’s City In A Garden ...