Science and technology have influenced much
of our lives. The fruits of research from the different fields of science have
made people’s lives more convenient. Technology has definitely benefited
society. The automation brought about by technology has saved human effort and
time to a large extent. It has brought distant places closer and simplified
information access.
However, some products of science have also
caused human society pain and destruction. Technology was also responsible for
weapons and bombs that brought violence within and among nations. In 1945,
during the World War II, nuclear energy was used to destroy Japan via the
atomic bombing of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Over 200,000 people died
in the bombing.
Another problem is the development of
nuclear energy as source of power for homes, trains, and submarines. The worst
nuclear power plant accident happened in Ukraine, the Chernobyl disaster, on
April 26, 1986. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive
contamination in the atmosphere. The Russian publication concluded that more
than 985,000 deaths occurred between 1986 and 2004 as a result of
contamination.
One of the biggest problems is water and
air pollution. Pollution is not a product of science. It is just an after
effect. the burning of fossil fuels causes the degradation of our environment
because of air pollution. Furthermore, as we become a material-based society
where everything is man-made, we create large amounts of waste. Since products
are cheap, we opt to get new items rather than reuse or repair old and broken
ones. We have become a “disposable society”, which also contributes to the
worldwide solid waste problem.
The bottom line is, there are positive and
negative sides in everything, but it is up to humans as consumers of science
and technology to choose how they will be used.
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