Science Has A Lot To Answer For!

Every day in the news we see a new discovery or breakthrough for science. But is it really that helpful and do we really need it?

Well we think so yes. Here are a few things that you probably couldn’t live without if it wasn’t for science:

• Penicillin –its accidental discovery in mould growth is attributed to Alexander Fleming in 1928. Its antibiotic properties revolutionised the medical world and has undoubtedly lead to a reduction in death by simple infection and also probably has increased general life expectancy.


• General Relativity – Albert Einstein, arguably one of the greatest minds of modern times, published his General Theory of Relativity in 1916 and it has since become the standard definition of the way gravity works in modern physics.


• Plastics – probably the single most useful group of chemicals to be invented. The first plastics were difficult to make but after the First World War improvements in chemical polymer technology allowed a boom in the plastics industry and made commercially viable products.


• Evolution – Although the theories of evolution were starting to come together it wasn’t until Charles Darwin published his “Origin of Species” in 1859 that evolutionary theory became widely known. The theory explained natural selection in a way that eventually led to the possibility that humans were not always as we are now. This was seen as an abomination in the eyes of the church and even now in parts of America evolutionary theory is banned.


• Rules of Heredity – Gregor Mendel’s work on plant genetics between 1856 and 1863 was instrumental, along with Darwin’s natural selection, in the beginnings of modern genetics. With this theory researchers were able to discover and help to prevent and cure many inherited diseases.


• Human Anatomy - Andreas Vesalius, a Flemish physician, is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. His work dissecting corpses led him to realise that such knowledge of the internal works of the human body would help with surgery and treatment.


• Quantum Mechanics – The work of Max Plank, Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrodinger among others led to the development of Quantum Mechanics. This has enabled the development of the transistor and thus to modern electronics.


• The Nature of Light – The work of Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Young and Albert Einstein along with others have led to an intimate understanding of the nature of light and its wave-particle duality leading to developments in electronics.

Science is incredibly important in our day to day lives. Enjoy!!