Submillimeter astronomy is developing very rapidly. With roots in the 1960s, and pushed along by a few pioneering experimentalists in the 1970s and 1980s, the field is now undergoing a major transformation and is entering the mainstream through large projects such as the Herschel Space Observatory being prepared for launch and the ALMA interferometer under construction in Chile. The submillimeter/far-infrared background radiation, discovered just over a decade ago, represents a huge but largely untapped source of information about the formation and evolution of galaxies over cosmic history. Indeed, some distant galaxies are extremely bright in the submillimeter but are inconspicuous or essentially invisible at other wavelengths. The submillimeter band also holds essential clues regarding the formation of stars and planetary systems.

After briefly reviewing the history of submillimeter astronomy and the scientific opportunities, I will focus on several technological developments that are driving the field forward, with a special emphasis on superconducting detectors. These developments will reshape the field once again: while Herschel and ALMA rely on 1980s and 1990s technology, the emerging technological landscape provides strong motivation for several major new projects on the ground and in space.