Science

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Key Contributors: Aarushi, Samaira, Rigel,
Swastik

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History of Science and Technology
• The history of science and technology can be characterized as an extensive narrative of humanity's endeavor to comprehend the workings of the world and
subsequently develop innovations to enhance daily life. This journey began with ancient philosophers, notably from around the 6th century BCE, who
engaged in contemplative inquiry into natural phenomena, such as the reason behind the colour of the sky. Their intellectual pursuits, driven by curiosity
rather than entertainment, laid foundational aspects of scientific thought.
• Scientists rely on evolving technology to conduct experiments and validate theories; for example, Galileo using a telescope in the early 1600s to upend the
age-old belief that the sun revolved around the Earth. While Galileo is credited with establishing the ground rules for scientific research, he was not the first
scientist to place the sun at the center of the universe. One century before Galileo, Nicolaus Copernicus’ study of the heavens led to the publication of his
groundbreaking theories of heliocentrism.
• The Scientific Revolution reached its zenith in the 17th century, with Sir Isaac Newton leading the way; his unveiling of the laws of motion launched the birth
of modern physics. William Harvey, an Englishman like Newton, established modern biology with his study of the circulation of the blood. Meanwhile, Dutch
physicist Christiaan Huygens’ work advanced the fields of optics and mechanics. Huygens also invented the pendulum clock.
• Technology and innovation reshaped the world over the next few centuries. The steam engine was the driving force that powered the Industrial Revolution
in the early 1800s, while the invention of the cotton gin hastened the coming of the Civil War. The locomotive and internal combustion engine led to the
development of railroads and highways, and transformed both economics and American society at large. Air travel would have the same effect decades
later. And the telegraph, telephone, radio, television, and motion pictures changed the way people conducted business and spent their leisure time.
• In the 20th century, several key figures further revolutionized science: Albert Einstein, with his theories of relativity; Max Planck, through his study of
quantum theory; and Werner Heisenberg, who all but created the field of quantum mechanics. In the life sciences, one of the most historic breakthroughs
was by James Watson and Francis Crick, who mapped the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule. Moreover, scientific research was vital in eradicating
dreaded scourges like smallpox and polio.

• The development of computers in the latter half of the 20th century led to even greater scientific progress. Computers allowed researchers to process data
and perform calculations instantly—and with greater accuracy. Furthermore, scientists could test their theories using computer models. In the early
21st century, the internet and social media have influenced the way people interact with each other.
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Some scientific discoveries that
changed the world
• DNA: The discovery of DNA didn’t so much change the world as it did our understanding of it — more so, our understanding of life. DNA is a term we’ve only started
using in the 20th century, though its initial discovery dates back decades into the 19th century. DNA was actually first discovered in 1869 by Swiss physician Friedrich
Miescher. He identified what he referred to as “nuclein” in blood cells.

• Earth in Motion: Earth in motion refers to the understanding that Earth is not stationary but moves in different ways. Earth rotates on an axis and revolves around a
star. An ancient Greek astronomer, Aristarchus of Samos, was one of the first to suggest that Earth orbits the Sun. An ancient Greek astronomer, Aristarchus of Samos,
was one of the first to suggest that Earth orbits the Sun.

• Electricity: Back in 600 B.C.E., it was the ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus who first observed static electricity when fur was rubbed against fossilized tree
resin, known as amber. British scientist and doctor William Gilbert coined the word “electric,” derived from the Greek word for amber. Regarded as the “father of
electricity,” Gilbert was also the first person to use the terms magnetic pole, electric force, and electric attraction.

• Germ Theory of Disease: Louis Pasteur discovered germ theory when he demonstrated that living microorganisms caused fermentation, which could make milk and
wine turn sour. From there, his experiments revealed that these microbes could be destroyed by heating them — a process we now know as pasteurization. This
advance was a game changer, saving people from getting sick from the bacteria in unpasteurized foods, such as eggs, milk, and cheeses. Before Pasteur, everyday
people and scientists alike believed that disease came from inside the body.

• Gravity: Isaac Newton didn’t really get hit on the head with an apple, as far as we know. But seeing an apple fall from a tree did spark an idea that would lead the
mathematician and physicist to discover gravity at the age of just 23. He pondered about how the force pulls objects straight to the ground, as opposed to following a
curved path, like a fired cannonball. Gravity was the answer — a force that pulls objects toward each other.

• Antibiotics: According to the Microbiology Society, humans have been using some form of antibiotics for millennia. It was only in recent history that humans realized
that bacteria caused certain infections and that we could now provide readily available treatment. In 1909, German physician Paul Ehrlich noticed that certain chemical
dyes did not color certain bacteria cells as it did for others. Because of this, he believed that it would be possible to kill certain bacteria without killing the other cells
around it. Ehrlich went on to discover the cure for syphilis, which many in the scientific community refer to as the first antibiotic. However, Ehrlich referred to his
discovery as chemotherapy because it used chemicals to treat a disease. Ehrlich is referred to as the “Father of Immunology” for his discoveries.

• The Big Bang Theory: The Big Bang Theory is one of the most widely accepted theories on the beginning of the universe. The theory claims that about 13.7 billion
years ago, all matter of the universe was condensed into one small point. After a massive explosion, the contents of the universe burst forth and expanded and continue
to expand today. This first mention of the Big Bang came from Georges Lemaître, a Belgian cosmologist and Catholic priest. Initially, in 1927, Lemaître published a
paper about General Relativity and solutions to the equations around it. Though it mostly went unnoticed.

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Some scientific discoveries
that changed the world
• Vaccines: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Edward Jenner created the first
vaccine in 1796 by using infected material from a cowpox sore — a disease similar to smallpox. He
inoculated an 8-year-old boy named James Phipps with the matter and found that the boy, though he
didn’t feel well at first, recovered from the illness. A few months later, Jenner tested Phipps with material
from a smallpox sore and found that Phipps did not get ill at all. From there, the smallpox vaccine
prevented countless deaths in the centuries to come.

• Evolution: Evolution is a theory that suggests that organisms change and adapt to their environment on
a genetic level from one generation to the next. This can take millions of years through methods such as
natural selection. An animal’s color or beak may alter over time depending on the changes in their
environment, helping them hide from predators or better capture prey. Charles Darwin is called the
“Father of Evolution”.

• CRISPR: According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, CRISPR stands for Clustered
Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Researchers use this technology to modify the DNA of
a living organism. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, CRISPR stands
for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Researchers use this technology to
modify the DNA of a living organism.

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Technology Breakthroughs
• The Printing Press: The machine devised by the German Gutenberg in the mid-15th century enabled the mass production of books. As a result, it led to the spread of ideas
(especially religious ones), the spread of knowledge, literacy and the creation of libraries in Europe. A key revolution that accelerated the transition from the Middle Ages to the
Renaissance. The first work printed with this machine was the Bible. The printing press introduced the idea that machines eliminate jobs, although it gave rise to a powerful industry
of printers, booksellers and writers, among other trades.

• The Steam Engine: The steam engine invented by the Scottish engineer James Watt (in 1775) revolutionised transport and machinery in the 19th century and drove the First
Industrial Revolution, rapidly moving from an economy based on agriculture and trade to an industrialised one with much greater production capacity. This technological invention
gave rise to locomotives, steamships and even the first automobiles. And the way was paved for the emergence of various types of combustion engines and aircraft. The effect on
employment was immediate, and the middle classes and urban centres were born.

• The Light Bulb: Before Thomas Edison many others tried incandescent lamps or bulbs. He is considered the inventor (in 1880), but it was not exactly so, but he improved on the
innovations of others in electric lighting, such as Humphry Davy, Matthew Evans, Warren de la Rue or Joseph Wilson Swan (with the latter Edison disputed the title of inventor). It is
considered the greatest invention since the discovery of fire: light entered homes and workplaces, becoming a necessity and an engine for economic growth (working hours were
extended, electricity generating plants and household appliances were developed, among other advances).

• The Telephone: The Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell worked as a speech and hearing expert (his mother and wife were both deaf) and, seeking to improve the telegraph,
researched voice transmission until, in 1876, he patented the telephone. This device revolutionised communication by allowing instant speech even over long distances. In its early
days, to establish a call, a person had to manually connect the wires, and this continued until the creation of the telephone network. It is one of the most significant advances of the
Second Industrial Revolution, to the extent that it marks the beginning of modern society. Without it, the world would not exist as we know it today: it laid the foundations for mobile
telephony.

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Technology Breakthroughs
• The Aeroplane: In 1903, the Wright brothers created the first human-piloted motorised aeroplane, the Wright Flyer. The flight lasted only 12 seconds, but with this experiment,
which defied gravity, they laid the foundations of aeronautical engineering. Their designs inspired others to develop commercial aviation. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became a hero
for his non-stop crossing of the Atlantic. This technological ingenuity boosted trade, culture, tourism and, today, the air transport industry is key to global economic prosperity.

• The Personal Computer: Computers have redefined people’s lives and the way they work, simplifying tasks, storing information and processing data quickly and efficiently. The
invention of the transistor or semiconductor in 1947 began the road to personal computers. This component replaced the vacuum tube and was the key to creating smaller, more
reliable electronic devices. John Blankenbaker’s Kenbak-1 is considered the first personal computer. Another key innovation in the development of the PC (personal computer) was
microprocessors (1971). The first personal computer with a microprocessor was the Micral (1973). In 1975, the Altair 8800 was launched, the first computer with the Microsoft
Basic programming language, developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, founders of Microsoft.

• Internet: As with most technological inventions that have changed the world, the birth of the network of networks would not be understood without earlier experiments and
technologies. The connection of four university computers to ARPAnet in 1969 was the seed for the birth of the Internet. In the late 1970s, Vinton Cerf developed the “transmission
control protocol” or TCP for sending files between computers. This breakthrough was key to Tim Berners-Lee’s introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991, transforming society. It
continues to evolve today, bringing new forms of interaction and economic, social and cultural growth. The launch of Telefónica’s Infovía service in 1995 popularized the Internet in
Spain and introduced it into Spanish homes.

• Mobile Phone: In 1983, the first mobile phone small enough to be portable was launched: Motorola DynaTac 8000X, designed by engineer Martin Cooper, with a 30-minute battery
life. The first generation of mobile phones was only for talking, but as it evolved, the terminals provided new functions, such as sending SMS or email, paving the way for
smartphones capable of browsing the internet, capturing photos, listening to music, guiding via GPS or updating social networks, among many other functions. Today it is one of the
essential technological inventions in personal and professional life.

• Artificial Intelligence: The precursor of modern computing, Alan Turing, is also the father of artificial intelligence. However, the term was not coined until 1956, when the first
artificial intelligence programme, Logic Theorist, was presented at a historic conference. Today, this technological invention has crept into our lives in the form of chatbots, voice
assistants, autonomous vehicles, real-time translators, artificial vision, ChatGPT, the Internet of Things… Machines capable of reasoning will further transform the world of the future
with applications and uses that we cannot even imagine today. Generative artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important.

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 Importance of Science and
technology in Daily life
• Science and technology are both closely related terms. Scientific studies & progress result into wonderful technologies! Science
and technologies are not only subjects. Rather, they are the means that provide us with ways and objects that help us live a
better life!

• While science is the study of entire universe from the cellular level to the highest level, technology is the application arising
from science! Hence, we need both of them in our life.

• While science involves explanation, phenomenon, analysis and predictions on various subjects, technology is something that
simplifies all these things. For instance, computers help scientists by storing big data, analyzing and organizing it. Thus,
science works better and keep progressing when technology keeps on supporting us.

Let us glance through the importance of science & technology in detail:

1. It helps us save time & money – Various contributions of science and technology have helped us save time and money. While
science has given us the knowledge why baked or steam- cooked food is better than the fried or oily food, technology has
gifted us with microwave and steam-cookers that help us bake and steam cook our food. Various objects and devices like
computers, modes of transport, washing machines or just anything else help us save our time and money.

2. Education – Science & technology have made significant contribution in the education field as well. Science has given us
immense knowledge and therefore, we have got important matter to study. Technology has made education itself easier. It has
provided us options like smart classes, multimedia devices, e-libraries, e-books, etc.

3. Internet – Information technology, including internet, is an excellent gift of technology. With the help of internet, we do not only
get immense knowledge on science and other subjects, but we also get to stay connected with our friends and family,
continuously.

4. Provides us devices for comfortable sleeping, quick cooking and fast commute – In short, science and technology have made
our life easier. With the help of objects like A.C, microwave, and vehicles, science and technology have made our sleeping,
cooking and commute process easier and faster, respectively!

5. It helps us live a better life – While science has made significant contributions in health by providing treatment for various
chronic diseases, technology has benefited us in receiving those treatments through various ways and devices like X-ray, scan
machines, operation devices, pacemaker and much more! We are also blessed with numerous exercising equipment, various
health apps, online doctor and other things that help us maintain good health and life.
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Promises and Pitfalls of Technology
• Technology can be a source of tremendous optimism. It can help overcome some of the greatest
challenges our society faces, including climate change, famine, and disease. For those who believe
in the power of innovation and the promise of creative destruction to advance economic
development and lead to better quality of life, technology is a vital economic driver

• But it can also be a tool of tremendous fear and oppression, embedding biases in automated
decision-making processes and information-processing algorithms, exacerbating economic and
social inequalities within and between countries to a staggering degree, or creating new weapons
and avenues for attack unlike any we have had to face in the past. Scholars have even contended
that the emergence of the term technology in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries marked a
shift from viewing individual pieces of machinery as a means to achieving political and social
progress to the more dangerous, or hazardous, view that larger-scale, more complex technological
systems were a semiautonomous form of progress in and of themselves

• The internet, designed to help transmit information between computer networks, became a crucial
vehicle for commerce, introducing unexpected avenues for crime and financial fraud. Social media
platforms like Facebook and Twitter, designed to connect friends and families through sharing
photographs and life updates, became focal points of election controversies and political
influence. Cryptocurrencies, originally intended as a means of decentralized digital cash, have
become a significant environmental hazard as more and more computing resources are devoted to
mining these forms of virtual money. One of the crucial challenges in this area is therefore
recognizing, documenting, and even anticipating some of these unexpected consequences and
providing mechanisms to technologists for how to think through the impacts of their work, as well
as possible other paths to different outcomes

• And just as technological innovations can cause unexpected harm, they can also bring about
extraordinary benefits—new vaccines and medicines to address global pandemics and save
thousands of lives, new sources of energy that can drastically reduce emissions and help combat
climate change, new modes of education that can reach people who would otherwise have no
access to schooling
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Conclusio
n
Undoubtedly, science and technology have made our life
easier and faster. We should always hope, make an effort
and ensure that the inventions and discoveries in these
fields are always used for the benefit of entire human
race! Henceforth, with the help of science and technology,
let’s make world a better place, for you, me & the entire
human race!

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