So everyone talks about the increasing computer speed and power, Moore's Law as it were.  But there are many technologies that are following a similar path.  One that may not have the same visibility in the press is telescope power.

There has been a rapid increase in telescopic abilities lately.  We have seen the number of extra-solar planets discovered go from 1 (which was huge news) to tens to many more than that in just a few short years.

Now comes word that NASA researchers have demostrated that they have the technological capabilities to detect an EARTH SIZE planet.  This is a remarkable development. [linky]

Even the vaunted "Futurist" looks like he has underestimated accelerating change when he stated last October: [linky]

I believe that increasingly more powerful telescopes will ensure that we discover the first genuinely Earth-like planet in another star system by 2011, and that by 2025, we will have discovered thousands of such planets.

Well, we haven't found one yet, but I feel confident to say that we should smash that 2011 estimation he made.  Accelerating change indeed.