A real world example of how science has been misused and report on the subject - Essay Example

A "real world" example of how science has been misused and report on the Modern developments in the field of science and technology have accelerated human progress and made man’s life more comfortable. On the other hand, scientific developments have also made it possible for people to misuse them for purposes that threatened human life and security, and to perpetrate various crimes such as cyber crimes and internet trafficking etc resulting from them. Similarly, scientific developments have brought about a large number of technological innovations which have rendered communication and information sharing so easy.

Many of the modern information technologies, which are obviously the by products of the growth of science, are very effectively employed by governmental agencies and the international bodies of administration. But, it is alarming to note that information technology devices are so effectively used by terrorists and criminals as well all over the world, which obviously is a serious misuse of science and its development. Two major areas where science has made drastic changes are in the fields of nanotechnology and information technology and there is no doubt that these are two areas where its misuse takes dominant forms.

Between the two, scientific develops in nanotechnology assumes greater significance as many of the scientific inventions that led to the making of atom bombs, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction has posed great threat to international peace and security. My attempt in this short essay is to deal with the misuse of science with regard to nanotechnology. Nano-science and Nano-engineering form the basis for nanotechnology. Nano-technology applies to many fields and its misuse can turn human life into misery.

Developments in nanotechnology have given rise to the formation of new atomic and nuclear weapons. When Albert Einstein developed the theory of mass-energy equivalence, E=MC2; no one thought that it would pave the way for a nuclear age. But the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United states during the second world war (August 1945) was a shock to the international community and from then onwards we do find an international competition among world nations to be nuclear powers, and many have attained nuclear power so far.

The great amount of funding spent on nanotechnology and related fields (very often in the name of national defense) by world nations is quite shocking. A research conducted by US nanotechnology consultancy revealed that “the total spending on nanotechnology R&D worldwide exceeded $8.6 billion in 2004. US federal funding for nanotechnology R&D has increased six fold from 1997 to 2004. The US government will spend almost $1 billion within the framework of its National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2005, making NT the largest American scientific program funded from the federal budget-surpassing even the Human Genome Project by a considerable sum.

Japan is also investing approximately $1 billion. Developing countries such as India, China, South Africa and Brazil have also joined the race.” (179 STCMT 05 E, 2004). The statistics should be pinpointing to an insecure future for the humanity and it is high time that international organizations like the U.N take effective measures to bring about radical changes to the present scenario. It is necessary that world nations do not maintain hostile attitude towards each other. As Sean Howard remarks: “the bigger danger is the intentional hostile use of nanotechnology.

Once the basic technology is available, it would not be difficult to adapt it as an instrument of war or terrorism. . Nuclear weapons, for all their destructive potential, are at least relatively local in their effects. The self-replicating nature of nanotechnology makes it a far greater danger”. (Howard, 2002). Thus, the misuse of science to develop weapons of mass destruction is a ‘real world’ example for the various types of science’s misuses practiced today. One should not forget the fact that science and its developments are to be used for the good of the whole humanity.

Science is capable of carrying man to unexplored areas, new horizons of knowledge and understanding, but any scientific invention that causes threat to man’s natural habitation-his peace and security is to be regulated and kept under control. But, one should not forget the positive outcomes of nanotechnology in medicine and health related fields and the effective use of nano devices in both public and private sectors. ReferencesNATO Parliamentary Assembly. (2004). 179 STCMT 05 E - The security implications of Nanotechnology.

Retrieved March 05, 2008, from http://www.nato-pa.int/default.asp?SHORTCUT=677Howard, Sean. (2002). Disarmament Diplomacy. Nanotechnology and Mass Destruction: The Need for an Inner Space Treaty. The Acronym Institute. Retrieved March 05, 2008, from http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd65/65op1.htm