5 surprising trends that could change the future

We're on the brink of a new year, so what better time to take a look at some surprising trends certain to change the way you and I perceive the future — even if that means envisioning your dearly departed hanging beneath an inverted skyscraper cemetery.

Your body could be buried in a vending machine: Cities are being forced to rethink how to — affordably — bury their dead as they grapple with growing populations, soaring funeral costs, limited plots of land reserved for new graves and, of course, the fact that we're all going to die at some point.

Gas for $3 a gallon — thanks, sheiks!: Oil prices are plunging these days and it's thanks, in no small part, to Saudi Arabia's 'do-nothing' oil strategy.

The Internet is changing how much you pay: We expect to get a better price when we buy in bulk. but in the data-driven economy, the more you buy, the more you may end up getting charged. Loyalty means nothing nowadays, too.

Could drones save wine?: By 2050, some 60 percent of the vineyards sprinkled across California could become unsuitable for wine production, while 68 percent of those in Mediterranean Europe and up to 73 percent in Australia could be in trouble.

Cop tech: The inevitable future of policing: After the Michael Brown incident and the Eric Garner case, it's become increasingly apparent that modern policing will continue trending toward transparency.

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