What does Science really mean? Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organized body of knowledge people have gained using that system.
Less formally, the word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it. (Science Made Simple, Inc. , 2006). Since in the beginning of time, we have conducted experiments whether we knew it or not and have come to conclusions about certain situation and why things are the way they are.
Science had impacted the life of humans and there very lifestyle and is evident everywhere in every aspect of it. Till date, science is making more and more discoveries that promotes development and saves lives. But without the past scientific discoveries which acts as a foundation, that has been tremendously built on, science will not have reach the heights, it is reaching in these contemporary times in medicine, beauty products and the many home interventions. Five major imperative scientific discoveries that have been made are electricity, vaccination, computers, motor vehicles and the telephone.
Electricity was not discovered by one scientist, but by various scientists who built on the knowledge they have of it. These were scientist such as Benjamin Franklin, Alessandro Volta, Michael Faraday, Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity with his famous kite-flying experiments in 1752. Alessandro Volta, an Italian scientist in 1800 soaked paper in salt water, placed zinc and copper on opposite sides of the paper, and watched the chemical reaction produce an electric current.
He created the first electric cell. By connecting many of these cells together and create a battery.Michael Faraday an English scientist was the first one to realize that an electric current could be produced by passing a magnet through a copper wire. Thomas Edison in 1879 focused on inventing a practical light bulb, one that would last a long time before burning out.
The problem was finding a strong material for the filament. Finally, Edison used ordinary cotton thread that had been soaked in carbon. This filament didn’t burn at all, it became incandescent. Edison wanted a way to make electricity both practical and inexpensive.
He designed and built the first electric power plant that was able to produce lectricity and carry it to people’s homes. George Westinghouse in 1895 opened the first major power plant at Niagara Falls using alternating current. (Intermediate Energy Infobook) The scientific discovery of electricity has changed the life of humans drastically. It has made life a lot easier.
With the use of electricity humans were able to have bright light at the night, as well as power electronic items that have been invented over time. With electricity came appliances to utilize in everyday activities, making it easier, such as washing machines, dishes washer, kitchen appliances, refrigerator, entertainment, and so much more.With the power of electricity life has become comfortable and easy-going. It can be said that humans have become dependent on electricity as they use it in almost every activity of the day, heating water to bathe, entertainment, chores, etc.
Even in the working environment, humans need to utilize electricity, as many jobs required the use of electricity in lighting, use of computers, printers, photocopying machines, air conditioning and so on. Therefore electricity is an imperative scientific discovery made by men, than has really impacted human life and affects every aspect of it.Another imperative scientific discovery made, was that of vaccination. English country doctor named Edward Jenner was the first to create a vaccine.
It was against the disease smallpox, for which kill thousands of people. After experiments, his smallpox vaccination became a success 1798. After overcoming the initial skepticism of the medical establishment, the Royal Jennerian Society was established in 1803 to give proper vaccinations. For the first time, vaccinations were done on a sweeping scale.
The triumph paved the way for immunizations, such as the chickenpox vaccine. University of Rochester Medical Center, 2013). Since the intervention of vaccines, the life of humans has been prolonged, and this has allowed the longevity and continuity of our existence. Many believed that human life would not have existed today if it wasn’t for vaccines, given that diseases would have wiped us out.
Vaccines have allowed humans to survive today, and that alone has really impacted on the longevity of human’s existence on earth. As a result it is one of the major scientific discoveries of all time. Computers without a doubt is indeed another important scientific discovery made by man.Charles Babbage, a mathematician designed and built a model of what was called the difference engine in 1812.
This invention was designed to perform calculations without human intervention. In the year1833, Babbage then designed the analytic engine. This machine had many of the same parts that could be found in modern day computers. It had an arithmetic unit which performed calculations.
Babbage became known as the father of the modern day computers. (Oracle Think Quest) Computer’s in today’s modern times are imperative and are dependent on by man.Computer programmes have been designed to assist in everyday activities and make things easier. With computers new technologies allows for new designs of cars and other transportation systems has been made, space exploration was able to be done, new development of machinery in the workplace has been made and new advances in medical science were accomplished.
Cures for a lot of disease would not have been found, plus surgeries are more successful than ever. It has also impacted the business world, in terms of records, storage systems, and production/manufacturing systems.As well as in communications such as email, video conference and fax. Computer technology has also impacted the entertainment industry as in terms of graphics, computer games, and internet social networking sites.
Additionally, the education system has been greatly impacted by the use of computers in areas such as research, presentations, typing, and reports. Therefore computers can be describes as one of the very imperative scientific discoveries/interventions made by man. In 1885, German mechanical engineer, Karl Benz designed and built the world’s first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine.It was a three-wheeler; Benz built his first four-wheeled car in 1891.
Benz ; Company, the company started by the inventor, became the world’s largest manufacturer of automobiles by 1900. (About. com, 2013). The intervention of motor vehicles has really impacted man.
It has offer a mode of transportation that is not as time consuming as walking or cattle transportation. In contemporary times, vehicles today are of all shapes and sizes as well as luxury. Motor vehicles today have air conditioning that gives comfort, as well as have music, DVD (entertainment) and GPS so that one may not get lost.Motor vehicles can carry a number of passages from one area to another in a certain time frames.
Today motor vehicles can provide an income such as a taxi service, as well as it is used in business for transportation purposes in goods. Therefore motor vehicles have made a huge impact on man, and such is an important intervention. In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone) However, Alexander Graham Bell intervention won the legal battle, and the telegraph and telephone are both wire-based electrical systems.By 1875 the goal of creating a device that would transmit speech electrically was about to be realized, Alexander Graham Bell together with Thomas Watson prove that different tones would vary the strength of an electric current in a wire.
To achieve success they therefore needed only to build a working transmitter with a membrane capable of varying electronic currents and a receiver that would reproduce these variations in audible frequencies. (Bellis, 2013). The existence of telephone had made communication possible in real time.Before to be able to communicate with another person it was time consuming and message could be interrupted and the wrong message could have been delivered.
Now conversations can take place in real time. The internet can be utilized with the aid of telephones; the use of the internet was made possible, with modems. Plus in cases of emergencies, help can be contacted immediately. Therefore telephone is indeed an important scientific discovery/intervention.
In conclusion, there have been many scientific discoveries made since the beginning of time that has contributed to our existence and the way life is today.Could humans have survived still today without science? The answer to that may be no. For without medical science and vaccinations the human population could have been wiped out, and even if it did exist, we would be living very simple lives. Five major imperative scientific discoveries that have been made are electricity, vaccination, computers, motor vehicles and the telephone.
All these discoveries have been revolutionary and have affected the life of humans. Therefore we must be grateful to the many scientific discoveries and interventions that have made life a lot easier for us humans, for we have become dependent on them.
