By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist According to a recent poll, 41 percent of Americans believe Jesus will return by the year 2050, 68 percent of younger Americans believe we will experience another world war during that time and 31 percent believe the earth will be struck by an asteroid. London’s Telegraph.co.uk is reporting that the Pew Research Center For The People and The Press/Smithsonian Magazine has released an interesting new poll about what Americans expect to happen in the near future. Overall, the poll reflected a dip in optimism with only 64 percent saying they were optimistic about life for themselves and their families, compared to 81 percent who were upbeat about the future in 1999. Some of the most significant findings of the poll include:  - 41 per cent who say Jesus Christ will return within the next 40 years while 46 per cent say this will definitely or probably not happen. - 68 per cent of those under 30 predict a world war by 2050.   - 70 percent believe cancer will be cured - 81 percent believe comp. -71 per cent believe cancer will be cured by 2050. - 81 per cent believe computers will be able to converse like humans. - 53 per cent say ordinary people will travel in space - 74 per cent, of those polled believe it likely that "most of our energy will come from sources other than coal, oil, and gas" while 72 percent expect to experience a major worldwide energy crisis by 2050. - 89 per cent believe a woman will be elected US president by 2050. - 86 per cent say it is at least probable that most Americans will have to work into their 70s before retiring. - 63 per cent anticipate the demise of paper money - 61 per cent say almost no one will send letters by 2050.   - 31 per cent expect the planet will be struck by an asteroid. The results were compiled from telephone and online interviews with 1,546 adults in April. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.   © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com