Man's understanding of time.
Time is one of the most integral parts of our lives, from work schedules to what we eat everyday, everything we do is based on time. Our species would not have survived to modern times without understanding time. Time has told us when to plant and harvest our crops, when the seasons were going to change, and to a very limited extent, how to predict the future. Every computer, clock and electronic device is based on time at one level or another. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese were pioneers in timekeeping, and their discoveries led to accurate sundials, which in turn led to more and more accurate time pieces. Today our world is built off the Atomic Clock (www.time.gov) which derives its measurements from cesium vibrations, providing timekeeping so accurate, it will not lose or gain one second for the next 60 million years.
Time is one of the most integral parts of our lives, from work schedules to what we eat everyday, everything we do is based on time. Our species would not have survived to modern times without understanding time. Time has told us when to plant and harvest our crops, when the seasons were going to change, and to a very limited extent, how to predict the future. Every computer, clock and electronic device is based on time at one level or another. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese were pioneers in timekeeping, and their discoveries led to accurate sundials, which in turn led to more and more accurate time pieces. Today our world is built off the Atomic Clock (www.time.gov) which derives its measurements from cesium vibrations, providing timekeeping so accurate, it will not lose or gain one second for the next 60 million years.
Bacteria
Ironically, time is one the most important aspects of our lives, and the one that we have the least amount of control over.
s hard to imagine doctors and surgeons performing operations without washing their hands or equipment, but at one point in time it was standard practice. Before the discovery of bacteria, thousands died from
mysterious illnesses that were often attributed to other causes. In the late 1600's Antony Van Leeuwenhoek had observed microscopic organisms with microscopes he had perfected. His findings and suggestions that these one-celled organisms existed were originally met with skepticism from the Royal Society of London, but were later tested and proven to be true. Today, we owe what we understand about bacteria to Van Leeuwenhoek, his initial work has lead to our modern advances in health care, biology, and how the world works. Bacteria play a vital role in our world from disease prevention and cure to unlocking the origin of life itself, and without our knowledge of these invisible life forms life for us would be very different, if possible at all.
The Atom
One the sharpest double-edged swords the human race has ever known is the discovery of the atom. Without this knowledge we would have very little understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, or anything else for that matter, yet the more we learn about it, the more dangerous it becomes for us. Some of the greatest minds on the planet have tackled the sub atomic theory from the Greek philosopher Democritus to Albert Einstein, and their work has brought us everything from cancer treatments to nuclear weapons. While there is great potential for negative uses of this knowledge, as with any knowledge, the benefits are far more numerous. Without understanding the atom we wouldn't have accurate timekeeping, modern electronics or most of the medical treatments we have today. The secrets of the atom have helped us understand the mysterious of universe, and in the very near future, may even take to the outer reaches of it.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Atom
One the sharpest double-edged swords the human race has ever known is the discovery of the atom. Without this knowledge we would have very little understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, or anything else for that matter, yet the more we learn about it, the more dangerous it becomes for us. Some of the greatest minds on the planet have tackled the sub atomic theory from the Greek philosopher Democritus to Albert Einstein, and their work has brought us everything from cancer treatments to nuclear weapons. While there is great potential for negative uses of this knowledge, as with any knowledge, the benefits are far more numerous. Without understanding the atom we wouldn't have accurate timekeeping, modern electronics or most of the medical treatments we have today. The secrets of the atom have helped us understand the mysterious of universe, and in the very near future, may even take to the outer reaches of it.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the collection of frequencies that correspond to certain energy levels of electromagnetic energy. The discovery of these frequency ranges, or spectrum, has come in stages over many years. Visible light is the most popular of the frequency ranges, and while extremely important to our way our life, it is only a tiny part of the spectrum. We'll take a quick look at each range in order from lowest to highest frequency. Radio waves are integral to every part of communication we know today. Every mobile phone, wireless computer, and mobile device we see today makes use of this range of frequencies. Infrared light has found applications in security, home electronics like remote controls, heating, and astronomy. Visible light, is of course, what lets us see the world around us, but the applications for this spectrum go much farther than just sight. Understanding the properties of visible light have led to lasers, optics, corrective vision and the basis of the universe as a whole.
The last three ranges are Ultra Violet, X-Rays and Gamma Rays. Ultraviolet rays are actually harmful to living things, even though we humans purposely expose ourselves to them for the sake of appearance each time we
tan. The dangers of UV light actually make it a great sterilization tool, allowing the use of light to eliminate bacteria on medical equipment. UV light is also extensively used in photography. X-Rays are familiar from their use in medical applications, and in the security systems of airports and other high risk areas. Discovered by accident in 1895, X-Rays have been used for everything from opera binoculars to shoe sizing machines, and even help us today to explain some of the mysteries of deep space. Gamma rays are the most energetic, and the most dangerous, of all the forms of electromagnetic radiation. Gamma rays are only found in few extremely violent situations like supernova explosions and nuclear explosions. A great deal of interest into the gamma ray and X-ray spectrum has been growing in the astronomical community, and if theories are correct, may help us explain the origins of the universe itself.
Penicillin
The discovery of penicillin is one of the most important breakthroughs in medicine for the human race as a whole. Penicillin is the oldest and most widely used antibiotic on the planet. Penicillin was actually first mentioned by a French medical student in 1896 named Ernest Duchesne, but it was not until 1928 when Sir Alexander Flemming noticed a mold contamination was killing the bacteria on a sample of staphylococcus, that the true potential of this fungus was fully realized. Today, penicillin is responsible for the majority of the antibiotics we know, and is being used to derive new ones all the time. Without this wonder mold, relatively common conditions like influenza could prove fatal on a pandemic scale, and simple infections would take terrible tolls in terms of lost lives.
The Structure of DNA
The discovery of the structure of DNA, or deoxyribo nucleic acid, has had a profound effect on the entire world, and while most of the high profile breakthroughs have been recent, study of the structure has been ongoing since as far back as 1868 with the discovery of nucleic acid. The actual structure was not revealed until 1953 when Francis Crick and James Watson unveiled the now famous 'double-helix'. Today, DNA has found many applications in law enforcement and the sciences, but arguably the most important applications are in medicine and biology. Understanding and manipulating DNA has led to treatments and cures that would never have been possible before, and allowed an entirely new understanding of the living cell. DNA is found in almost every life form except for viruses, and is ironically a prime weapon against them. DNA technology has opened up seemingly endless possibilities in genetics and biology, although some of these advances, like cloning, are still under debate as to their ethical use.
Hydrothermal Ocean Vents
Penicillin
The discovery of penicillin is one of the most important breakthroughs in medicine for the human race as a whole. Penicillin is the oldest and most widely used antibiotic on the planet. Penicillin was actually first mentioned by a French medical student in 1896 named Ernest Duchesne, but it was not until 1928 when Sir Alexander Flemming noticed a mold contamination was killing the bacteria on a sample of staphylococcus, that the true potential of this fungus was fully realized. Today, penicillin is responsible for the majority of the antibiotics we know, and is being used to derive new ones all the time. Without this wonder mold, relatively common conditions like influenza could prove fatal on a pandemic scale, and simple infections would take terrible tolls in terms of lost lives.
The Structure of DNA
The discovery of the structure of DNA, or deoxyribo nucleic acid, has had a profound effect on the entire world, and while most of the high profile breakthroughs have been recent, study of the structure has been ongoing since as far back as 1868 with the discovery of nucleic acid. The actual structure was not revealed until 1953 when Francis Crick and James Watson unveiled the now famous 'double-helix'. Today, DNA has found many applications in law enforcement and the sciences, but arguably the most important applications are in medicine and biology. Understanding and manipulating DNA has led to treatments and cures that would never have been possible before, and allowed an entirely new understanding of the living cell. DNA is found in almost every life form except for viruses, and is ironically a prime weapon against them. DNA technology has opened up seemingly endless possibilities in genetics and biology, although some of these advances, like cloning, are still under debate as to their ethical use.
Hydrothermal Ocean Vents
The ocean is responsible for a number of amazing and significant discoveries, but one of the most surprising was the discovery of hydrothermal vents on the floor of the Pacific ocean in 1977. The vents themselves were
not the biggest surprise though, what amazed scientists and the world were the animals living on and around them. These animals had found a way to survive in one of the most hostile environments on the planet, with pressures that would crush most life forms and temperatures that should be cooking them alive, but there they were. On top of these factors, these animals have built an entire ecosystem without the presence of any sunlight, previously thought impossible. These ecosystems have forced the scientific community to re-visit the accepted theories of how life may have began on our planet, as well as offering tantalizing clues to how it may exist on others.
Extra Solar Planets
It may seem like science fiction, but there have been over 300 planets discovered orbiting stars outside of our solar system. Now, this doesn't mean we can wave at E.T., we can't even see the majority of these planets, yet. These planets have been detected through various means such as measuring the gravitation force exerted on the star it orbits, and measuring the slight change in luminosity as the planet passes in front of its star. The first planets discovered were gas giants similar to Jupiter, and revolved very close to their stars, meaning no possibility of life as we know it. In recent years however, so called "Super-Earths" have been detected, with atmospheres and possibly liquid water. These discoveries have important implications for all of mankind, they show us that planets and solar systems are most likely very common, and that just maybe, life is just as common.
The Internet
There is no denying the internet has changed the world forever. No other aspect of technology has been as influential on the daily lives of people as the internet. Entire companies now operate solely online, and using the internet for financial transactions has become the norm. While originally designed as a file sharing program for the military, the internet has evolved and taken us into the age of information. Today, it is hard to think back to when there was no electronic mail or E-Bay, but I do remember the days when you had to go to a library and check out a book to see the planet Saturn. Now I can look at the planet, get a close up of the rings, and even fly along with the Voyager probe just by clicking my mouse. The miracle of the internet is far too involved to sum up in a few sentences, but it should suffice to say it is probably the most influential technological advance since the discovery of electricity.
1. Space Travel
Extra Solar Planets
It may seem like science fiction, but there have been over 300 planets discovered orbiting stars outside of our solar system. Now, this doesn't mean we can wave at E.T., we can't even see the majority of these planets, yet. These planets have been detected through various means such as measuring the gravitation force exerted on the star it orbits, and measuring the slight change in luminosity as the planet passes in front of its star. The first planets discovered were gas giants similar to Jupiter, and revolved very close to their stars, meaning no possibility of life as we know it. In recent years however, so called "Super-Earths" have been detected, with atmospheres and possibly liquid water. These discoveries have important implications for all of mankind, they show us that planets and solar systems are most likely very common, and that just maybe, life is just as common.
The Internet
There is no denying the internet has changed the world forever. No other aspect of technology has been as influential on the daily lives of people as the internet. Entire companies now operate solely online, and using the internet for financial transactions has become the norm. While originally designed as a file sharing program for the military, the internet has evolved and taken us into the age of information. Today, it is hard to think back to when there was no electronic mail or E-Bay, but I do remember the days when you had to go to a library and check out a book to see the planet Saturn. Now I can look at the planet, get a close up of the rings, and even fly along with the Voyager probe just by clicking my mouse. The miracle of the internet is far too involved to sum up in a few sentences, but it should suffice to say it is probably the most influential technological advance since the discovery of electricity.
1. Space Travel
For me, nothing has been more significant than the human species leaving the planet. This is a testament to our will, determination, and intelligence. I still get goosebumps every time I see a rocket launch, even if
it's only carrying a communications satellite. The amazing amount of effort, mathematics, money and pure drive it takes to leave our planet is staggering, yet we have accomplished this and more. Not only have we set foot on another world, but we have visited every world in our solar system through the use of space craft. We have landed our craft on other worlds, a feat previously thought only possible by advanced civilizations that would some day visit our world. By understanding the cosmos, we get closer to understanding our origins, and the origins of all that we know. Inspiring fantastic stories, striking awe in the hearts of people, motivating man to continue onward and outward, space travel is more than just getting from here to there, it is who we are. From the beeps of Sputnik and the breathtaking images of the Hubble Space Telescope, to the International Space Station, each step brings us closer to our true destiny, the colonization of the stars.
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