Science – Blessing or Curse
Everything in the universe has its uses and abuses. The same applies to science. Science has revolutionized the human existence. It has made man’s life happier and more comfortable.
Electricity is one of the greatest wonders of modern science. The growth of fast modes of transport and communication has changed the world into global village. In the field of agriculture, science has helped in increasing the crop production and improving quality. Science has enabled man to diagnose and treat many dangerous diseases. Information technology and computers have revolutionized our life-styles. But, the boon of science, in many cases, has been turned into bane because of its misuse. Science has posed a threat to the very existence of mankind with weapons-nuclear, biological, atomic, chemical etc. Cyber crime is the latest addition to crimes’ list. Misapplication of science has brought mankind to the path of destruction. We should use science to get its blessings and not misuse it to make it a curse.
Science has revolutionized the human existence. Much of the progress that mankind has made in different fields right from the stone age to the modern age is due to the progress made in the field of science. Not only material progress but also the mental outlook of man has been influenced by it. It has made man’s life happier and more comfortable. Agriculture, business, transport, communication and medicine to name a few are all highly indebted to the wonders, science has produced. We have become scientifically more advanced from our ancestors. This is because the world has undergone a tremendous change because of the rapid strides made by the science and technology.
Electricity is one of the greatest wonders of modern science. It is a source of energy. It can run any type of machinery. With the help of electricity, we can light our rooms, run buses and trains, and lift water for irrigation.
The discovery and development of a large number of powerful energy sources-coal, petroleum, natural gas, electricity etc. have enabled humanity to conquer the barriers of nature. All this has facilitated the growth of fast modes of transport and communication, which in turn has changed the world into a global village. Science has given man the means of traveling-cars, trains, aero-planes, ships etc. man has even traveled to the moon.
Science is a help in the agriculture field too. The food production levels and quality have improved by multiple factors. Soil analysis, hybrid varieties of crops giving higher yield, fertilizers, pesticides, advanced tools and machinery, irrigation equipments, etc. have increased the production of crops.
Today, we have scores of meteorological satellites in outer space sending data, pictures to earth stations helping agriculture scientists find and analyze soil patterns. They also help them trace progress of rains, winds and even locusts that endanger crops.
Satellites even forewarn about natural calamities, like hurricanes which cause mass destruction. Science has enabled man to diagnose and treat many dangerous diseases. Open heart surgeries, organ transplants etc. have all become possible. A number of killer diseases are now curable. Diseases such as smallpox, polio, plague, malaria etc. have now almost been eradicated. Hidden diseases in the body can be diagnosed easily with the help of X-rays. Scientists have succeeded in cloning animals. The methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment have developed with a rapid speed. As a result of this much progress in medical science, man finds himself more safe, secure and his average age has lengthened.
Man, with the help of science, has been able to increase longevity, arrest the gradual decay of human body and control the spread of lethal diseases by making extraordinary life prolonging drugs and medicines. Science has provided us with many means of education and entertainment. The television, video, radio, computer, internet etc. have enabled the human race to enrich its knowledge about various places, persons, birds, animals etc.
Information technology and computers have revolutionized our life-styles. Automation in banks and railway stations have provided relief to the public and staff alike. Ticketing and reservation have become more efficient and convenient. In medical diagnosis, computers are being used to locate and investigate accurately and precisely any abnormalities or diseases. Internet has some very useful applications in our day-to-day life. Mobile phones are outcome of information technology. But at the same time it cannot be denied that the boon in many cases, has turned to be bane. There are innumerous examples which prove that science-a blessing has been turned into a curse.
Sir Alfred Nobel experimented with dynamite to clear huge mountains to turn it into productive land. but modern man is using it to kill his fellow human beings and destroy nature. The destructive potential of atomic energy was witnessed in August 1945, when the United States dropped atom booms on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those who survived the nuclear bombing suffered from its aftermath. It is a horrible fact that much of the national income of even a developing country is spent on acquiring latest weapons, bombs and missiles. Guns, revolvers, tanks and fighter planes, explosives, nuclear bombs etc. were invented to develop a strong security system to protect the innocent masses, but their misuse is now crushing humanity. Apart from atomic weapons, man has also started stockpiling biological and chemical weapons. These weapons are also extremely dangerous.
Biotechnology is a great boon for fighting the diseases. But along with medicines lethal biological weapons have also been developed. Germs are deliberately released into the air to spread diseases. Anthrax envelopes are used for spreading terrorism.
The negative effects of the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, used to increase yield, are now evident. soil salinity has increased. Traces of DDT are found in plants.
Establishment and expansion of factories has resulted in all round pollution. Motor vehicles emit a lot of poisonous material into the atmosphere. This has led to the depletion of the ozone layer and global warming.
Television, a good source of entertainment, education and information, has its negative effects too. There are many programmes which promote violence and vulgarity, and teenagers are more interested in watching these programmes. Aggressiveness and violence at an early age have lead to shocking crimes. Sometimes, even the nature people learn and apply different methods of crime by watching serials and movies.
The power of the internet is being abused by the widespread use of pornographic material. Lots of people spend their time in chat rooms for obscene discussions.
Science has two faces-good and bad. It depends on us which face we want to see. If we use the gifts of science in positive direction with positive intention then it will provide us with sweet results but if we use it in the wrong way the results will definitely be bitter. To save ourselves and the world as a whole from destruction, we should follow the right way to use the gifts of science so that it appears as a blessing and not as a curse.
