Opinion : Is science a blessing?

Published September 20, 2014

ALTHOUGH science might provide solutions to innumerable situations, it creates numerous problems too

Since advancement in science, the days of a common man have literally changed overnight. The days of tough life and hard work were placed with those of ease. But it was not instantaneous. Science evolved daily and then reached the so called era of science and technology today. A lot of the basic work and research for the development of science was actually done by Muslim scientists. For instance, we owe algebra, logarithm and the very important mathematics digit ‘0’, to Muslim scientists.

Machines have made the lives of people easy and efficient. Surely nobody can deny the influence of science into our life. For example electricity, the most basic need of a man in daily life. We need electricity for everything. Then advancement in transportation has made movement easy and fast. Fertilizers and high yielding seeds ensure a good yield of crop.

But everything has a dark side to it too. Although science might provide solutions to innumerable situations, creates numerous problems too. Machines and technology have their demerits. Say for example electricity, we burn tonnes of coal and fuel just for the sake of a few mega watts of electricity.

Increase in different modes of transports, especially cars and motorcycles have also increased air pollution. Fertilizers have adverse affect on the human body and also aquatic life when these fertilizers mix with water sources.

Cellphones are the best and the most easily accessible source of communication, but their rays are harmful to the human brain, and they also disturb the eco-system.

The fact is that each machine can cause problems and one day we reclaim it as inefficient, for we, over time, come to realize more of its disadvantages. For instance, steam engine trains, when first invented were considered as a very efficient mode of transportation. But today for the reason that it’s slow and outdated, creates air pollution, its shape and design is in conflict with the laws of physics, it is today almost discarded.

The good part is that we are moving towards a more efficient tomorrow by just enhancing present resources. Hybrid cars, solar cars, hydrogen cell cars, euro series of cars and T-series engine cars are more environment friendly; and we have introduced renewable methods of producing electricity such as through solar, wind and tidal energies, H.E.P, bio thermal, etc.

With this, what I suppose is that, we are beginning a new era that can be regarded as ‘The era of efficient development of technology’. Now maybe we have started to limit the problems caused by technology. And again it can be said that ‘science provides solutions, even as it creates problems.’

Opinion

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