
Cameron B. answered 04/22/21
M.A. with two years of Graduate Latin & Three Years of teaching
Christopher,
This is a cool phrase and I can certainly shed some light on the google translate versions as well as offer my own version with an explanation.
First, the Google Translate phrases are awkward at best. In the case of the first one, Quod posset provocare, the verb possum (to be able, have power, possible, etc.) is in the Imperfect Subjunctive, which is unusual to say the least. The word challenge, provocare, because it follows a verb of possibility/ableness, is an infinitive. Thus it should translate: What might be possible/able to be challenged. Clearly not a good phrase for Latin reading. The second is worse, as it has an infinitive verb with a noun in the accusative, which is a clear Subject Accusative construction (i.e. a Noun in the accusative that acts as the subject of the Infinitive. Commonly introduces Indirect Discourse.). Thus it should be translated "whatever that is challenged/provoked/irritated." I don't like lacassō as the verb here because it has the nuance of "irritated/frustrated" in a challenge, which is the opposite of the kind of challenge your phrase desires.
With all of that said, let me provide my own phrase with an explanation:
ars provahitur futurō "Discovery is driven by the future."
Here ars in Latin is pretty fluid in meaning. It generally is used to mean "skill, craft, technology, discovery, etc." I think it fits well here with the idea of technological/scientific expansion. Also the verb provahitur fits well since it means, "carry forward, propel, drive, etc." The verb is in the Passive Voice because ars is not doing the action, but rather the vision of the future, futurō. The word futurum, meaning "future," is in the Ablative Case. It is in the Ablative because the Ablative was used in Latin to denote agency and the means by which an action is performed. Thus, this is a perfect instance for the Ablative of Means (used with inanimate objects and/or animals).
There are other words which can be added, such as, scientia for ars. Also, the indefinite pronoun aliquis "whatever" could be added before sit "may be," if you want to emphasize the possibility/unlikeliness of the future; however, for phrasing in Latin, fewer words are better. For instance, "Semper ad Meliora" (Always towards Better Things).
Hope this helps!
~Cameron Brock

Cameron B.
Glad to help!04/23/21
Christopher B.
Thanks for the thoughtful response Cameron and great suggestion.04/23/21