Science Enthralls!
Science Enthralls!
It is widely recognised that the ability to make tools set us apart from other animals in the course of evolution and set us on the path of civilisation. Scientists say that it happened about 250,000 years ago. That is using sharpened sticks or blades of stones tied to sticks for hunting, making fire and ability to create basic shelter with forest produce, etc., came about.
Real civilisations started with city building i.e., collection of dwellings with shared community spaces. Earliest known civilisations date back to about 10000years ago. In India, current understanding puts it at about 8000 years ago only. In the Earth’s age of 4500 million years, 10000 years is like a blink.
Humans progressed from being sophisticated apes to space faring species in that short span. All this could not be possible without our intellectual ability. Our intellectual ability gave us science and philosophy, the wheels of our progress. While philosophy tried to deal with abstractions like “Who are we? Why we exist? What happens to life after death?” and so on. It searches for meta physical answers to the events and working of physical world.
On the other hand, Science finds answers to the same in more tangible way with provable theories, experiments and reproduce-able results, using the scientific method. How this so called scientific method lends credence to scientific approach, sets it apart and at times pits against the philosophy is fit for separate discussion. But does the science is all mathematics and its applications? Or is it just some genius’ interpretations to things that exist and happen around us? Or does it dwells only on things we often fail to comprehend?
No, not really. It enthralls! Enthralling not just to scientists probing the deeps of oceans or beginnings of the universe or unravelling of universe’s building blocks but even elementary school students and lay-people alike. Science discourses simplified and disseminated to common folks through popular science brings it closer to masses from confounding realms of academics and labs.
Let us think of ten things that common people find awesome when science explains the phenomenon.
Why oil lamps and candles glow bright before dying out?
Why lightning comes first and thunder follows?
Why we always see only one face of moon?
Do u know if a paper cup filled with water put on flame water heats up without cup burning?
Let us think of a few things common people find awesome when science brings them to the fore or explains the phenomenon.
Sudden green flashes on the horizon that last for only a second or two during sunsets at certain times and places that would just be plain amazing. Ever seen?
Some plants can actually live out of air, without need for water and soil. Do you know?
Do you know what the eye of cyclone looks like? After the eye of cyclone passes over a place the wind direction reverses. Did you know that?
Do you know many animals can not see colours? Its just Black and White to them!
Do you know Dogs see clearly only upto about 20feet?
Do u know, about a third of all trees on planet Earth were planted by squirrels?
Do u know when a person dies, not all organs die at once? Instead they die at different instants.
Do u know the the Mt. Everest is highest mountain peak but not tallest mountain?
Do u know, in Quantum states, particles can be in two places far apart simultaneously?
DO u know, a teaspoonful of matter of Neutron Star will weigh as much as 550 crores Metric Tons?
Sometimes when science discovers new things or uncovers strange phenomena, even great scientists feel amazed and confounded! Sample these recent discoveries.
The Quantum Leap is not instantaneous as thought of by Einstein but actually takes a small amount of time.
Plants and trees communicate with each other via vast underground networks of rhyzhobiums and even share carbon among themselves.
