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What is chemistry?
This is called Chemistry.
The togetherness of these branches is not only in the case of simply preparing a lime juice, but also in the case of every event that we see, perform or experience in our lives. Yes, they are like friends who work in harmony. Now, whether its Physics, Chemistry or Biology let’s have a look at the two main categories of Science: One is based on asking questions about the origin of what, how and why things happen, as discussed earlier like Sir Isaac newton. This is termed as Basic science, where you find crazy scientists experimenting in the laboratory like in the movies. The only thing is.. they are not crazy. Basic science always follows a cycle: Let’s see what Basic Science is using the same example of lime juice. The first step in the cycle involves asking questions about the origin of lime juice, for e.g.: what are the ingredients used to make lime juice, what can be used to dissolve lime juice ingredients and how much of those ingredients can be used?
Could the lime juice do well to the body if consumed? The next step involves making an assumption or a hypothesis about the origin of lime juice. For E.g.: We could use the juice of lemons to make lime juice, the lime juice may taste a lot better if we used sugar and salt. It could be that half a glass of water could be sufficient to dissolve all the ingredients. After we have made the assumptions, they need to be verified by experimenting - i.e. we must try making the lime juice based on our assumptions and test to see what we assumed/ predicted is true or rather false. After performing the experiments successfully, a conclusion is made where verified facts are established i.e. in this case one can say that the lime juice is made only of juice extracted from lemons, it does indeed taste good with sugar and salt, that half a glass of water is sufficient to dissolve all the ingredients and that drinking lime juice does good to the body. Basic science always follows this cycle.
Fun fact: Do you know that all the facts that are there in our educational/ text books have undergone this cycle of research before it is printed???? Let’s move to the second category of Science that involves determining the various utilities of the now prepared lime juice. The answers might be Making fruit juice concentrates, marinating fish before frying, curing indigestion, reducing blemishes on skin. This category of science is called The Applied science that simply looks at the various uses of what is already established. Simply put, Basic science is concerned with knowing something and applied science is using what you know. Applied Science depends on Basic Science and vice versa. Well so far, we have seen that science can be all fun and games. So, it’s about time we ask the most important question of all is science always this good or does it also have a not so good side to it? To understand that, let us look into some examples: Let’s take nuclear energy for instance:
1) It can be used to make Nuclear power which can act as a substitute for electricity and which can be much cheaper or it can be made to make nuclear bombs which can have devastating effects,
2) Technology/pollution -the cell phone- Yes, it is true that the advent of the portable phone also called the cell phone has made our lives a lot easier by allowing people over long distances to communicate more effectively and faster. But do the benefits really outweigh the risks that cell phones are likely to cause to our body like the high probability of brain tumours.
3) Genetic engineering/opposition: Though genetic engineering is concerned with trying to improve existing plants and animals in terms of obtained and derived products. It disturbs the natural ecosystem best suited for the original type of organisms. The question here is not about science being good or bad. Because now we know science is knowledge. And knowledge is never bad per se. The real question we must ask ourselves before we utilize science should be are, we using science for something good or something that will cause harm. Science has the power to both destroy and heal. But, it only depends on how you view it and more importantly, how you use it.
We do have a choice! If science is pursued with a generous and compassionate heart, it can change our world in more ways than one. The true potential of science is beyond our imagination. But then we can always start, by letting the scientist in us, ask these three fundamental questions WHAT, HOW & WHY., Do like this session and post your comments about the best use of science. Share it with your friends and follow to our blog lets tute for more such sessions. Keep reading. enjoy learning and challenge everything.
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