“Science causes more problems than it solves.
” What
is your view?
The Anthropocene age has consistently been marked by unprecedented
scientific breakthroughs. While some left us in awe, others plunged us in
melancholy. Indeed, the advent of science – unravelling the secrets and
mechanisms of nature chiefly through logic, experimentation and observation
– was a watershed moment in the history of humankind. Scientists even claim
that it will continue to accentuate, making the fortune of our species. Luddites,
however, vehemently refute this; they qualm that science never solves a
problem without creating more. Who should we lend credence to?
Tragically, the rise of war science has ushered in a new era of devastation.
Among its most harrowing legacies are the nuclear weapon and chemical
warfare. These weapons did more than destroy cities; they scarred the
collective conscience of humanity. The atomic bombs that decimated several
innocent Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, relied on the famous
equation “E= mc2”. Similarly, Bio-terrorism is no longer hypothetical – it is a
stark reality. Its impacts are more than deleterious. For instance, Agent Orange
– a powerful herbicide used by the United States (US) military in the Vietnam
war – killed or maimed around 400, 000 people. Worse, half a million children
were born with serious birth defects: cleft lips, and single limbs, amongst
others.
To animal rights’ activists, animal experimentation is sheer murder. The
practice of using animals for scientific research dates back to ages ago. Back in
time, the term “animal rights” did not exist. Later, Peter Singer’s book, “Animal
Liberation” in 1975, sparked global concerns. Laypeople and the scientific
community alike called for the better treatment of out fellow creatures. Yet,
each year, 120 million animals are still victims in pharmaceutical and diagnostic
laboratories. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have a
dear message: animals are “not ours to experiment on.” Formerly, immoral
scientists have made dogs to smoke. The aim: to investigate the negative
impact of tobacco on health. Sadly, humanity have hurt – and still hurting –
those defenseless poor creatures.
Thomas Browne once remarked, “Nature is the art of God,” a reflection of his
reverence for the sublime beauty and order within creation. Yet, in its
relentless pursuit of progress, science often overlooks—or even undermines—
this divine craftsmanship. Fueled by science, technology has surged forward –
revolutionizing industries at an astonishing pace. Regrettably, these advances
have also contributed to the worsening of environmental degradation. Data
centers account for 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in the global Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) sector alone. This leads to a high carbon
footprint as much of the energy comes from fossil fuels – the primary catalysts
of climate change. If left unchecked, such progress may come at the
irreversible cost of the very world it seeks to improve.
However, objectivity prompts us to look beyond the ordeals engendered by
science. The foremost argument is that it liberates people from the fetters of
ignorance and superstition. Our early ancestors tried to understand the world
around them, through their explanations – often spiritual, religious, or magical
– which would not be interpreted as scientific today. For example, people
under the stranglehold of Tourette’s Syndrome were believed to be possessed
by the devil. Today, research has successfully refuted these baseless claims.
Scientists explained that it occurs because neurotransmitters in the brain are
not able to properly communicate between nerve cells in people with
Tourette's. Similarly, a hole was drilled in the skull of patients with headache.
The reason: to ward off any evil spirit. Thanks to scientific inquiry, these
practices are only stories.
Modern medicine already owes so much to scientific discovery. Röntgen’s
accidental discovery of X-rays transformed diagnostic imaging. Similarly,
Fleming’s breakthrough with penicillin paved the way for antibiotics. Vaccines
—rooted in pharmacology—have helped combat diseases like smallpox, rabies,
and COVID-19. In the future, nanotechnology may soon introduce nano-robots
capable of performing microscopic procedures such as biopsies. Presently,
scientists are investing “brains and brawn” in CRISPR-cas9 – the
groundbreaking gene editing tool that has revolutionized biomedical research.
If gene therapy develops according to plan, they will be able to weed out
undesirable traits and insert desirable genes. It will be possible to treat Down
Syndrome at the blastocyst stage itself. Thus, in this age of reason, medical
science stands as a remarkable boon to humanity.
For most of the world’s meat-eaters — around 85% of the population — a beef
burger is hard to resist. Paradoxically, even after a United Nations (UN) report
from over a decade ago linked livestock farming to a staggering 40% of global
methane emissions, meat consumption continues to be at an all-time high. In
response, scientists are turning to alternatives like lab-grown and plant-based
meat to address the environmental impact. Pioneers such as Beyond Meat and
Impossible Foods are leading this sustainable food movement. The industry is
certainly burgeoning. Moreover, Genetically Modified (GM) foods could be a
way of dealing with world hunger. They have increased nutritious levels; their
crops are more resilient to extreme weather conditions. The Golden Rice is a
good case in point. It can be grown in barren land whilst possessing a high level
of protein content.
Why is the sky blue? How did life begin on Earth? We are all curious explorers
by nature. In that sense, we are all in-born scientists. From the discovery of the
fire to the observation of the “Aloft World”, our history is replete with
awesome discoveries. Interestingly, science also explores and tries to
understand everything about how the world and the universe work. Today, we
understand the motion of stellar bodies thanks to Newton’s laws of Universal
Gravitation. ‘Time-travel’ is also a, theoretically, proven reality; Einstein’s
General Relativity describes the flow of time and how it slows down near
massive bodies. Curiosity – or the “engine of achievement” according to Sir
Ken Robinson – is thus kept alive thanks to science. It births both questions
and answers.
Undoubtedly, the topic statement reflects only a partial truth. It is a radical
take on science. The study of the natural world certainly churns out more
queries and solutions than creating problems. Qualms only arise through the
misuse of scientific knowledge. Truly, as any other aspect of life, abuse breeds
complications. Global authorities also need to impose legislations against its
uncontrolled weaponization. To many, the UN is just a big white elephant; it
should assume its responsibilities. Only then can we envision gleams of hope in
a scientific world.
