Science and technology, together and individually, have the power to expand the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding of any field of study we can think of. From the concepts of space telescopes (such as the James Webb Space Telescope) to microscopes (for example, the Large Hadron Collider), we can study the most distant edges of our observable universe to studying atomic and subatomic processes. These similar but opposite inventions illustrate today’s strength and scope of science and technology. We have accumulated knowledge over humanity’s existence. As the saying goes, “the only constant thing in this world is change,” meaning technology and science will continue to innovate and lead to discoveries in the future. While many science-related discoveries, such as penicillin, dynamite, and even tea, are serendipitous, the remainder is achieved through rigorous calculations or hard work.
The more technology and science improve over time with further accumulated knowledge, the more discoveries we can find to improve life for future generations. That is the underlying premise of science, to improve humanity now, and in the future by increasing our understanding of reality and how to use it to our benefit and survival as a species and for other species on our planet earth. To quote Murphy’s Law, “Only things that can happen will happen,” meaning the limit of discoveries we can make are determined by the limitations of the world around us, which is science’s aim to understand those limits. Our imagination only limits the finite abilities of humanity, and given a long enough timescale, the innovation of imagination with technology can lead to infinite possibilities and impossible discoveries.
By: Jay Daniel, ESL Teacher