How Can Science and Technology Help Fight Global Problems - Term Paper Example

Science and technology Science and technology are assumed to be associated with each other. Whenever the term science is used the term technology also strikes in mind. But actually these two are different from each other. Science is a systematic knowledge based on the series of experiments in order to get the predicted results. It has various branches like biology, physics, and chemistry and so on. On the other hand, technology is considered as an applied science. It is based on the knowledge and application of the study of a particular science. For instance, energy is a subject in science and solar panels can be used as its technology, like solar-power lights. If science is the base of knowledge and experiment then technology is its application which is focuses more on developing a use for something. Science is more about the analysis, hypothesis, theories and concepts whereas, technology relies more on analysis and fusion of design. Technology is an applied science so it explains how these experiments are applicable on the species and how it controls them to adapt to its environment. We can find best examples of technology and science in daily lives of human. Firstly comes the internet, it is technology and to create it the experiments were done which is called science. Furthermore, the example for mobile phones can be taken. Mobile phone is a technology and the experiment accomplished to make it is a science. Hence, technology is incomplete without science as they both are incorporated with each other. 2) Pick one of the following natural events and describe how large events help to shape the Earth as it is today. Make sure to explain what causes the event and how scientist try to predict such events. Earthquakes: An earthquake occurs when two blocks of earth suddenly dislocate from one another. Fault or fault plane is the surface from where they slip or dislocate and the location below the earth’s surface where earthquake begin is known as hypocenter and location directly above on the surface of earth is called as epicenter. Earthquake has three shocks: foreshocks, main shocks and aftershocks. Foreshocks are the smaller earthquakes which are later followed by the larger earthquake known as mainshocks. Mainshocks are always followed by aftershocks which are also the small earthquakes which occur at the same place and continue for days, weeks, months and years. The earth consists of four main layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. The top of the mantle and earth crust compose a thin skin on the surface of the earth which is further divided into many pieces. These pieces are called tectonic plates and their edges are known as plate boundaries. The pieces cover the surface of our earth and also they slowly pacing around and slipping and encountering over one another. High precision GPS is use to measure the positions of surface features around the fault zone. They also use terrestrial laser scanning equipment and a technique called synthetic aperture radar interferometer which can help in measuring the changes in the shape of ground. The use of radar technique involve the use of a radar to create a chain of exact relief maps of the surface of the ground and then compare those maps to create a final plan indicating changes occur between them which record the deformation of land surface. To observe ground deformations they may also use strain gauges and tilt meters within boreholes. Also, an electrical technique known as time domain reflectometry is use to indicate damage and deformation occurred in electrical cables which in return can be used to measure sub-surface deformations. This information will help seismologists to estimate the risk of occurrence of an earthquake on the fault zone. But still, it is still not possible for the scientists to predict the earthquakes. 3) Trace the development of the following areas. What were the motivations to explore this area? Did competition between scientist or the ego of a particular scientist aid or hinder in the development? View of our solar system The story revolving around our solar system dates back to 150 CE. It started from the geocentric system by Cladius to the heliocentric system by Copernicus to geoheliocentric system by Tycho to the last and final Starry Messenber by Galileo. The motivation to explore the correct system was designed by Galileo as he believed that the last system given by Tycho was just a rigged system because the distances between planets could not be simply measured by the naked eye. Tycho used the words of bible as a motivation for him whereas Galileo did not attack the theory directly as he believed that the masses would be fevered. Using the telescope, Galileo was able to view the solar system as we view it now and the motivation for him came from the wrong theories that he had sensed already (York et al 2011) Determination of the dimensions of the Earth The determination of the dimensions of Earth is referred to as the study of Geodesy. The study of Geodesy started from the times of Greeks in 580-500 BC. At this time it was generally believed that the earth was spherical in shape. However later on when scientists recognized the exact nature of the world they put forward the theory that the earth could not be spherical. Many expeditions were sent all over the world to measure the dimensions of the Earth and the study of dimensions was then raised to the status of Geodesy by Gauss (Wellenhof & Moritz 2006) Discovery of atom and particles The discovery of atoms and subatomic particles was made by John Dalton. The motivation for the discovery of atoms and particles revolve around the complex nature of these tiny particles. It has since then taken a new turn as nowadays the scientists even now about the different valencies that these atoms possess (A world of particles) Cambrian Explosion Cambrian Explosion is a theory which revolves around an explosion after which major phylas have appeared all over the world. The motivation behind this theory was to find out the exact cause as to how different phyla have developed. It is believed to be a one-time phenomenon because of which other phyla have not appeared in the world over these years (Tobin & Dusheck) Discovery of DNA The discovery of DNA can be dated back to 1800s when Friedrich Miescher isolated a molecule from the cells which he called a nuclein. Later on Crick and Watson were able to find out about the exact nature of the DNA molecule. The motivation for this discovery came from the pursuit of a single molecule which made life (Nobel Prize) Evolution The history of Evolution can be dated back to the early philosophers such as Socrates. However evolutionary thought was more famously laid down by Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin was a major contributor to this field but he was rather motivated by the excerpts of Russell Wallace. When Darwin realized that Wallace was a competing him in giving a theory of evolution, he finally ended up in providing the whole world with his perspective on evolution (Darwin & Wallace) Classification of Species The classification of species started from the time of Aristotle and has ever since taken a new turn by including species, organisms and other nomenclature. The work of Linnaeus is still appreciated all over the world relating to this classification. The motivation behind the classification was to ease the system by providing group names to the whole kingdom (Roberts 2007) 4) Defend the following statements "people are destroying the Earth." Include 5 major points to support your position. People are destroying the Earth: Humans are responsible for endangering the ecosystem. There are plenty of factors, leading to the destruction of the world. One way in which humans are damaging the ecosystem is the Pollution. It includes all kinds of pollution: air, water and noise. Millions of people use personal or public automobiles, trains and airplanes to travel. The fumes generating from them such as nitrogen oxide leads to acid rain which reduces the fertility of the soil. Another reason is the availability of the lack of resources. To fulfill the basic necessities of life these resources are required, without them survival is impossible. Human beings are utilizing these resources like energy, coal, fuel, minerals etc so quickly that it seems difficult for future generations to surviving. Then comes deforestation, which is another cause of destruction. Humans are cutting down the forests and reducing the plantation. Forests are habitat for many animals and other species and cutting them means leaving those animals homeless and promoting more pollution. This has become the one of the reasons of the animal extinction. Plants are the source of oxygen and provide food and shelter to other creatures. Destroying them means wiping away the source of living a fresh and oxygenated life. Overpopulation is another major reason for destroying the planet. It means consumption of more and more limited resources, more pollution, more littering, and demands more space to live for which deforestation is demanded. Hence, these people suffer because their requirements cannot be fulfilled properly. Last but not the least, littering is also contributing towards the mass destruction of earth. Garbage and littering is getting a major issue nowadays, as due to over-population, everybody is not literate enough or provided with the resources to overcome such issues. They liter anywhere and dump garbage which is dangerous for the fertility of soil. It is strictly prohibited to use plastic bags and dump them as it is dangerous for our planet earth. References: Difference Between Science and Technology. Earthquakes by Lisa Wald. Green Frog News History of Evolution. Charles Darwin and Russel Wallace. Top of Form York, Donald G, Owen Gingerich, and Shuang-Nan Zhang. The Astronomy Revolution: 400 Years of Exploring the Cosmos. London: Taylor & Francis, 2011. Print. Top of Form Hofmann-Wellenhof, B, and Helmut Moritz. Physical Geodesy. Wien: SpringerWienNewYork, 2006. Internet resource. Top of Form Tobin, Allan J, and Jennie Dusheck. Asking About Life. Fort Worth: Saunders College Pub, 1998. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form The Discovery of the Molecular Structure of DNA - The Double Helix Top of Form Roberts, K. Handbook of Plant Science. Chichester, West Sussex, England: Wiley, 2007. Print. Bottom of Form Read More